FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 167, 15 July 1911, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

.(By ACTION.).

BUGBT!. Our friend Mr. G. Hartnett was defeated in the contest for the vice-presi-dentship of the English Rugbr Union, the voting being: Mr. E. Prescott 180, Mr. G. Hartnett 57. If the Auckland Rugby Union had a big army of creditors, they could hardly be more persistent than the smaller unions are in clamouring for a match for the Ranfurly Shield. This season the Auckland Union has been pestered for Saturday matches by a number of the smaller bodies, who have every right to consider themselves capable of lifting the trophy; but it is hardly fair that the Auckland Union should be called upon to treat these as special challenge matches. If the challengers are confident of their ability to beat Auckland they ought to be prepared to play on any date suggested, and at their own expense. That the possessors of the Shield, whether Auckland or any other union, should be called upon to bear part of the expense of a challenging union is all wrong, and some alteration should be made. JUNIOR NOTES. In the third grade matches, City created something of a sensation by beating Parnell, the team that gained the lead on the previous Saturday by beating College Rifles by the narrow margin of three points. Both teams have a bustling set of forwards, and tho match was fought out between them. Barrett, City's lock, was largely responsible for their success in the scrums, his engineering of the pack 'being a feature of the game. McGinnes, City's grey-hended forward, was always prominent where the baill was, but he is inclined to kick too hard in the loose, and one or twice on Saturday his opponent backs were able to save through the ball being kicked into their hands in this way. Of the City rearguard, Hodgson, the diminutive half, did some useful work behind the scrum, and got clown to forward rushes in great style. Kasirussen, at. centre-threequarter, is n fine stamp of a player, but had few chances to show what he coukl do. The other backs, except for occasional flashes, made a poor showing. Parnell did not play with the dash of the previous Saturday, and towards the md the forwards tired badly, and let their opponents through to score the winning points. Freestone was the best of the forwards, but like the others, he tired in the latter stages. Tt is a pity that this match could not have been arranged as a curtain raiser on No. 1 Ground, ns it would have proved much more interesting than the secondary school match between Grnmmar and St. John's, which was a walkover for the former tenm.

The scord grade match between 'Varsity and Parnell produced some good football. The game wns fast and open, the students' backs making an especially good showing. Finally University won with six points in hand, Parnell thus 'being beaten for the second time this season. Of the University backs Mathews at half played very well. His judgment was good, and lie managed to jre.t his "backs going. Fawcett, on tho right wing, has a burst of speed, and his line-kicking is good, but he makes a great mistake in waiting for the ball to bounce.

College Rifles ran over No. 3 Engineers in the first spell. Tt was a foregone conclusion that College would win. but nevertheless, it is a pity that the Engineers do not mako an effort to put a full team on the field instead of attempting to play such a team as College Rifles with eleven men.

In the secondary schools match between King's and St. Ster/hpn's, the Maori backs gave a fine exhibition. Their handling was beautiful, and they ran with great dash, but they appeared to be badly in need of a scorer. Time nfter time they would get almost to the line, but they seemed unable to push the attack home. Priest behind the scrum was most prominent, havins , the knnok of getting out and setting his I>aeks going, and when his side was in trouble his line kicking and tackling were of great assistance. King's forwards were superior to their opponents, and it was due to their work that their team eventually won.