FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY.

It. M. Owen, the Swansea and Welsh International Rugby half-back, announced his definite retirement from the game to an English writer recently. Owen has been the hero of many haought games for his club and country, and his services are bound to be missed. He created a r-.*sord for International appearances, eclipsing the previous best held by W. J. Bancroft, the famonS'Swansea full-back, and he captained the Swansea team last season. It is an interesting feature of the battle of the codes now taking place in New South Wales that although the League game is at the height of its popularity the enthusiasm in the union ranks has quite flared up into a blaze. There was a muster of about 10,000 on a recent Saturday to see a Union match. It waif a remarkably clean game, and some of the writers were so taken up with the dash in it that they are predicting that the old game is coining back. Certainly while a crowd of 10,000 can be attracted to it, and such clean, sportsmanlike dashing play can be provided by the Union game, it would be absurd to say that it is dead. There is a curious difference of opinion between tire Otago Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union, concerning a motion passed at the annual meeting of the parent body respecting the validity of the by-law permitting others than the referee to report players. The Otego Union holds that the motion was intended to be submitted to the English Rugby I'nion for an expression of opinion whilo the New Zealand Union disclaims any such intention, treating it as a matter for the consideration of thn N.Z.R.U. In order to secure information on the subject, the secretary of the Otago Union wrote to the New Zealand Union, requesting the Dames of the proposer and seconder of the motion. The reply is to the effect that Mr. M"Grath (Otago) was the mover, but no record had -been taken of the seconder. Two ex-Auckliinders, in .T. Wylie -and M. Frasrr, are included in the Rugby team from Australia to visit America The team is as follows;— Dr. Otto Bahrsmann, manager: h. Dwyer (Orange), and A. R. Dimbar (Newtown), full-backs; D. B. Carroll (St. George), H. Jones (Newcastle), 11. J. Willcocks (Brisbane), L. Mjr.busch (Toowoomba), 1.,. Wogan (Glebe), three-quarters; Ward Prentice (Western Suburbs), and W. G. Tasker (Newtown). five-eighths: F. Wood (Glebe). .1. i-Tynn (Brisbane), half-backs; H. George (E. Suburbs), T. .J. UrilFen and J. darken (Glebe). W. Watson (Xewtown). A. Kent (Toowoomba). front row forwards; B. Fancy (Eastern Suburbs), R. B. Hil (New'town), (.'. Pugh (Newtown), J. Wylie (Glebe), M. Fraser (Glebe). A. Cunningham (Brisbane), T. J. Richards (Manly), and W. Murphy (Queensland), forwards. The Rugby football season will be concluded on Saturday, September 14, when a sporte fixture will be held at Alexandra Park. , A varied programme has been arranged, and as the proceeds ere to be i devoted to charity, the gathering should attract a large attendance. Nominations for all events close 'with, the secretary, Mr C. V. JUingsford, at the Amateur Sports Club between 7 and 9 p.m. on Monday next.