NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

THE HEADQUARTERS QUESTION. ' The Auckland League delegates -who were responsible, a fortnight ago, for carrying a resolution which suggested the removal of the New Zealand, headquarters from Auckland to Wellington, had an opportunity, on .Friday night, of reconsidering the matter at a special general meeting at which the chairman moved, according to notice, that the said resolution be rescinded. From the temperate tone of the debate it appeared as if the provincial body was likely to come down quite gracefully from the perch to which it had flown in heated moments. Indeed, if there were any inclined to adopt an inflammatory attitude, they were not among those who had been prepared to vote the headquarters away from Auckland. The latter claimed that their sole purpose in carrying the resolution was to ensure that at the next annual meeting of the New Zealand League the question of the most suitable headquarters might be openly considered either in favour of Auckland, Wellington, or any of the other centres. That sounded very well, and might have passed for a fair enough proposition. But some of the delegates appeared to be chafing under the instructions which they had received from their clubs and country leagues, directing them to vote for the rescinding of the resolution which they had precipitately helped to carry. So they worked the point of adjournment, and left the matter hanging fire for another week. Had the meeting voted on the chairman's motion, it would undoubtedly have been carried. The question, therefore, arises as to whether this was a sportsmanlike action. In the first place, proper notice had been given, and ample time allowed for the ! clubs aud district leagues to carefully [ instruct their delegates. Secondly, the meeting had been called for the sole pur- ! pose of dealing with the special motion, and all who desired to vote thereon should have attended to their votes either in person or by proxy. Strangely enough those who manoeuvred for an adjournment of the debate were the very ones who, when the proposal for the -removal of headquarters came up, -were willing to rush the resolution through in one night without giving the slightest opportunity for consultation with clubs. Perhaps some of the delegates who temporised with their in-structions-will be handed "please explains " when their clubs and leagues next meet. Before passing on, it might be remarked that the Eden delegate hit the nail on the head when he suggested, in the course of the discussion, that .it would be time enough for the Auckland League to take up the headquarters question when some of the other leagues expressed a desire for a change. N.S.W. REPRESENTATIVES. News received by cable of the selection of the New South Wales representative team confirms earlier advices that the management over there intended to send a strong combination. The personnel includes names already -wellknown on New Zealand grounds, but there are in addition a number of stars, whose debut in first-class football dates only from the beginning of the present season. The inclusion of "Dally" Messenger, the idol of the New South Wales League crowds, in the three-quarter line will lend additional interest to the tour of the visitors. The other members of the team who will visit the Dominion for the first time are: O. Deane and Algie, three-quarters, both of whom have played brilliant football for their respective clubs this season; Cubitt, fiveeighth: Johnson, half: and Pearee, Murray. (Jraig. Ford, and o'Ma.lley, forwards. Amongst those who were here last year is S. Deane, the brilliant North Sydney centre three-quarter. It will be remembered that when the blues beat the New Zealand combination at the Domain so decisively, Dean initiated many of the movements which resulted in scores for the visitors. Then there is A. Hallowav. the ideal type of a League half-back' who hails from Eastern Suburbs! Broomham, the North Sydney wine three-quarter, proved himself excellent alike in attack and defence. Hallett has been claimed to be the finest full-back in the -world, and his exhibitions in the Dominion left nothing to be desired D. Frawley, the Eastern Suburbs' threequarter, maintained his reputation here .as a fast, strongTunner.- and surertaeklar*

Ray Norman, as a five-eighths, displayed an all-round knowledge of the requirements of the position; he is tricky and fast. The remaining backs, Fraser and Thompson, play first-class football in their positions at full and three-quarter,; respectively. P. MeCue, who captained the visiting team, plays a hard, determined game in the forwards, and is said to be the fastest forward in.the game in New South Wales. Of the others, W. A. Cann is fast and tricky in the loose, E. Courtney is clever in the pack and open, C. Sullivan is a great tackier and a useful man in the pack, while A. Curran is seen to advantage in the open. This year the blues will be without tbe assistance of the Glebe centre three-quarter, T. Gleeson, who has been a "star" in English football this season, as a member of the Huddersfield line. A RECONSTRUCTED TEAM. The Auckland selector is to be commended on making some radical, but wise, changes in the back division of the local team, which is to defend the cup against Canterbury on Saturday. One or two men who 'have rendered worthy service in past seasons now ":nd .themselves among the emergencies as a result of lost form, and it is well that they are not blocking rising players. Of these latter, Tobin has been given judicious consideration, and he may be expected to perform creditably as first five-eighths, exhibiting, as lie does, great solidity in defence. The removal of Ifwerson from centre three-quarter to second five-eighths is a good idea, especially as he will in all probability resume that position in the forthcoming test matches with New South Wales. His dash and skill in manoeuvring should help to open up tbe game well. Woodward (Rotorua) has been called down to centre three-quarter, and, as the exAustralian rep. is said to be at tbe top of his form, it is well that he should be tried out in representative football once more. Although Cookes showings in the big matches have not been up to. those of his club games, his inclusion on the wing is still justified. Weston has not yet been convincing as a wing man. but he is, perhaps, the best Mr. McDonald can find at present for the position. it is to be hoped that the backs (especially the serum half! will embrace all opportunities of perfecting the combination. A few more systematic movements could be worked out with profit to the team and with credit to the rearguard, which so far has certainly not approached the high standard of play set by the Auckland forward division. THE NELSON TOURIISTS. After what the members declare to have been a most pleasant stay, the Nelson touring combination left Auckland this morning for Hamilton, where they are to meet the Hamilton representatives to-morrow afternoon. The visitors were very pleased with the cordial reception they got at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. It is worthy of note that the crowds at League fixtures display a sportsmanlike cordiality towards visiting representative teams. In view of the display of the Nelson team in the wet, it will be interesting to hear of their performance at Hamilton if the weather is fine. The backs gave the impression that they would be capable of great things on a dry ground, while the forwards, with Mason in the van, managed to keep the redoubtable Auckland pack busy under the worst of conditions. THE ENDEAN SHIELD. The match for the Endean Shield, played at Huntly on Saturday between Lower Waikato (holders) and Rotorua (challengers), resulted in a win for Bower Waikato by 17 points to nil. Tbe Lower Waikato team will play a return match at Rotorua on August IC. At Erankton the Lower Waikato junior representatives defeated a lla'milton team by 11 points to 0. CONGRATULATION'S. Mr. Sam Houghton, now a member of the Clive team, Hawke's Bay, has returned to Auckland on holiday-bent, and it is understood that he hopes to score the try of hie life in a "match" which it' to eventuate under sacred auspices on Wednesday next. Mr. Houghton, who is a son of the manager of the Northern Union team which toured New Zealand in 1910, is bringing yet another sporting personality into the family circle, for the lady in the case is one of Auckland's leading representative hockey players. So berets to "The Northern Union-Hockey Alliance.''