FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 24 June 1911, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

(BY ACTION.) lUTGBY. A writing to a Sydney exchange, makes the following: remarks of intcrrest on the New Zealand players now in England: — Of the New Zealanders, George Smith has worn -very wall. He has kept his position in the Oldham three-quarter line, and though last, week I thought liim less vpirtar-esomc than of old. he is yet a prejit wxnj; player, amd knows the direction of the line.

Lancelot Todd, who, by the, way, was married recently, kept up his end well until the l;\st month, when, like the other Wigan men, he appears Ao have gone stale. Charles Seeling is yet a great forward, with an eye to effective loose play, and always on the alert to take full advantage of any errors in the defence. He has .scared 18 tries for Wigan—a fine record for a forward.

"Massa"' Johnston, tt - ho left Wigan for Warrinpton during mid-season, ha_s unquestionably improved the Warrington pack, and I hear tha-.t he has agaiin signed for next season. Williams, who ia perhaps the least known of "the New Zealand players, is greatly liked at Wigan. Bryne has done good iservice at Huddersfield, and Wrigley though perhaps less prominent than last season, has on the whole reason to be giaitilied with his display.

Turtill. who has captained St. Helens nearly all the season, disserves sympathy. His team has Buffered to such an extent from injuries that I. should imagine a, record has been made, in this respect. But Turtill has defended' well, and has thoroughly satisfied the club officials. Kelly, who plays hali-b:ick with the same team, has also 'been out for some time through injuries, and that stalwart scriunmager. Waddel, was also regarded as a loading colonial till ho got "crocked" two or three months ago.

That Rugby has not lost iits charms in Invercargill was easDy noticeable on a recent Wednesday, when a number of hockey players turned up after their own matches to see the "muddied oafs" in action. Erra Harper, of the "All Blacks," played in Christchurch on Saturday last, but in no way resembled the "man of the past," says a Southern writer.

An English item of considerable interest to Aueklanders:—At Wigan Parish Church on May 7, Lancelot B. Todd, of Auckland, New Zealand, the centre three-quarter back of the Wigan Football Club, was married to Miss Amy B. Samuels, daughter of the late Mr. Charles Samuels, of Wigan. The happy couple have my 'heartiest congratulations and best wishes.

Although retired for a couple of seasons (says an Otagw scribe), Alex. McDonald, the "All Black," has "come back" in an astonishing manner, and is playing almost up to Jiis best form, albeit with a tendency to hang off at times. His tackling—clean, Jiard and low—is a treat to see. Otago is in hopes that McDonald will continue playing for the remainder of the season. Remembering the long list of interprovincial contests ahead— Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury, Southland, and Wangajiui—the "All Black's" services will be vastly worth while.

Mr. G. Classon, secretary of the Auckland Pteferees' Association so-scer football, has been in town, and made it his business to see to his association's interests in the capital city. Speaking to a "'.Dominion" representative, Mr Classen said that Auckland's great trouble was i-n getting referees to taice charge of matches, and, in some cases, the men who do come forward and ofl'er their services are unsuitable. He was much impressed with the methods employed by the Wellington Keferees' Association in regard to the coaching of players and referees alike at the fortnightly meetings held for the purpose.

The famous three-quarter 'back, R. T. Ga'be, in the "Athletic Hews," gives an interesting review of tiie season in South Wales, from which is extracted the following:—The decadence predicted in some quarters has not been evident in Welsh football this season, for the Principality has again won the Triple Crown, and the standard of play in club matches has not iv auy measure deteriorated. It is true that Swansea, Viewport, and Llanelly have not been so effective as in some years, but it is also equally true and matter for congratulation—that such sides as Aberavon, Pontypridd, aud Abertillery have juade rapid improvement, aud if these can retaiu their youthful talent they will make very formidable teams next year. Neath has shown the most consistent form, and the fact that they have been unbeaten on their own ground—the picturesque Gnoll—for four successive seasons conclusively demonstrates this. One cannot say with any force that they are the Welsh champions, simply because they have not encountered Swansea and Llanelly. Evidently there is every indication that the hatchets will be buried, and that next season will see a renewal of fixtures between the "All Blacks" and these two' AVestcm teams. It would certainly be to the best interests of Welsh football if such a sonsununation were realised.

The efforts made from time to time to induce the Amateur Athletic Association to recognise Rugby League footballers as amateurs has as yet produced nothing. It seems clear that the true amateur 'bodies can never recognise as amateurs League players under the existing method of conducting the League clubs. However, there is no reason why men who are real amateurs playing the League game should not in time be acknowledged as amateurs by other bodies, (says a Sydney writer). To bring this about they will need to use their influence to have a general code nf rules adopted by the clubs providing for amateurs an.l professionals playing together, stipulating the remuneration to be paid to the professionals in club matches, and the expenses to be allowed to amateurs in any matches, to have proper books kept, showing all the financial transactions of the clubs, and providing also for the abolition of voting power by professional players. .When, the Rugby League clubs do all .this.

and the Hugby League itself caps it by ! having- the accounts of each club ex- ' aniined by a special .committee and audit- j ed by professional accountants, Rugby League amateurs will be lifted above the | suspicion now felt by many people. And! there will remain no reason why they i should not be recognised in the same way as cricket amateurs are to-day. There does not appear to be an immediate like- I lihood of these things being adopted by I the clubs, unless it be forced upon them | by the Rugby League itself. The question [ is: Is it necessary that the League should lay down rules of this nature to govern the clubs 1 There can be only one answer. It is necessary, seeing that by the rule 3 of the League so much money is now handled directly by the leading clubs from their matches week after week.

The first round in connection with the Auckland Rugby Union championships was concluded this afternoon. The form ehewn in the first round was interesting, but there was a lot of inconsistency and hard to sum up definitely. One pleasing feature is the number of you-ng players coming on, and Auckland should have a fairly strong team to tour with. This is more noticeable in the bat-k division, and one or two of the younger brigade are showing really promising form. There is one point, however, which I wish to draw attention to, and that is the increasing foul play. By foul play Ido not mean rough play, but in several of the games I have witnessed there has been a lot of pointing and obstruction, ■which usually occurs on the blind side and out of notice of the referee. Thiis sort of play must bo put down with a iirm hand, for it will gradually develop if not nipped in tlio bud. However, now that attention has been drawn to the question, those-responsible may take the hint and drop it.