FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 30 May 1914, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY.

In connection with the burning down of the stands of the Hull City vSecond Deajnie Football Club, significance is attached to a letter received by the club a few days before the occurrence, bearing the postmark of Newport, a neighbouring village, wherein the writer ex-presst-d disgust at the form of the club, and added. "1 should like to burn evevy player. I have lost £20 over the result." The players treated the letter as a joke, and it" was stuck on a noticeboard in their dressing-room. It is pleasing to note that even the critics in England are now admitting Runbv's indebtedness in that, country to the New Zealand All Blacks of 190u, whose astonishing performance-, have apparently reinstated in public favour a game .that was fast going back. The day before the last Wales v England match am English critic, evidently not on. of the radical order, wroto:— "The intercountrv games are npw vastly different from what they were, for they have come to be everybody's affair. And co this afternoon when England plays Wales, there, is every indication of something splendidly near a record crowd. Twickenham to-dify will be a common rendezvous: all London Rugby men will be there; Wales is sending over an army of enthu-siasts; and from) the North, the Midlands, and the West many people will come. It will be a glorious reunion, iii that it will serve, as perhaps nothing else can do, to show what a tight hold the good old game of Rugby football has taken of the people. We uf the old school perhaps do not like the idea of any change: it is possible that it will be denied that international Rugby makes a greater appeal than it did. But it does; it nxake-s a greater and a wider appeal, the immense popularity of "Soccer" notwithstanding. Englieih Rugby during the -past few years bias undergone a remarkable change. It is a change that has caused it to shed slackness and indifference: the change set in after the visit of that astonishing eside from New Zealand under Gallalier, and now I make hold to say that we play Rugby as well as, if not better than, ever. It is faater, more enterprising, more yentUTPsome, more epriginal. There are tmore ideas in it, I think; ideas perhaps not all for good, 'butideaa that at least smack of greater subtlety, indubitably ideas that have captured the people. It is very properly held that Rugby football was never intended to 'be made a spectaclei unquestionably it is a game to play, but the idea that it does not matter whether people go to see it or not ir- so much a)Te»"taJ,ion_ For players who feel that the public are interested in their doings, and turn out to watch them, arc, in spite of themselves, sharpened up: with the public looking on there is lojs3 danger of sieackness creeping in; and 1,, for one, attribute the marked improvement in English Rugby to the fact that it now brings the public to it. The ploasiurp one feels in playing before a "full house" is natural, and 1 will never lament tho fact that Rugby "gates" are getting bigger and bigger every week. Nothing is so thoroughly in kreping with 'the times than the likelihood of the Twickenham ground being packed this afternoon: such a prospect is the best possible proof—if proof these days were needed —that our Rugby football has come into its own."

PTTBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL.

The second series of the first round of the Primary SchooLs' championship was played on Saturday last in weather contrasting in a marked manner with that of the opening day. With perfect weather conditions prevailing the various teams had a chance of displaying their abilities on a dry day, and in a few matches good football was witnessed. Although early in the season, it is already possible to note the. talent among the boys, and -low teams in the competitions are without at lpast one player conspicuous for good work in one department or another. A good representative team should be gathered from the teams competing this season. At the Show Ground, Mr H. Frost held a class for school-boy players, but it was but poorly attended. This was probably owing to the fact that the playint areas are so scattered at the Show (.'round, and many of the boys were unaware of the place of meeting for the class, the Remuera boys waiting at the referee's dressing room. By attending this das* on instruction in the rules of Rugby, the school-hoy player cannot bnt help pick up valuable information and hints con<_eniing the great winter game, particularly as the class is being handled by so capable and experienced a person as is Mr Frost. In the A grade. Vermont Street, though posscstdng few of last year's stars, and though promoted from the B to tbe A egrade, werp just too good for Remuera, after a very even game, Frost managing to get across for the winners. Parnell notched another victory, this time at Grafton's expense, the black and whites going under to the tune of 11 points. Por the winners, Wehitham, Taylor, Wallace. O'Corman and 'McLeod secured th. points. It is interesting to note that the scorers are prominent members of Pa m ell's cricket eleven, and are evidently rather good all-round. Mount 'Eden again suffered defeat, 'Ponsonby prevailing. As usual, the Eden eboys played pluckily, but the iblue and blacks were the better team. The points were obtained by Davidson (2) and Hutchinson. Though playing at the Show Ground, Devonport had a runaway victory over Newton East eby 37 points. This is an instance of the rise and fall of teams in these competitions. Newton East were A grade champions in 1912, finished third in Ifll.l, but this seeason appear to he very weak. At Fden Park, in the B .grade, Avondale played against big odds, Napier Street boys being much 'heavier all round, beside... knowing more about the game. The city boys won by 22 points. For the losers, all of whom playod up well from start to finish, Hassall and Stacey worked particularly hard among the forwards. Anderson again shone out for Napier Street, getting in some very clever and nippy work, .but is inclined to try and do too much on his own. At the Show Ground Newton 'West hoys took matters 100 easily, and though defeating Epsom by 14 points, £a.c but a poor display. The small Ep-

som boys battled akrag gamely, collaring in great style, but had too much .weight against them. Smith, for the loseiß, played a very fine egame. Gribble t was tbe pick of Newton West's forwards, Lock and Noyes failing to wake up until well on in the game. Stewart and Campbell spoilt good play 'by hanging on to the ball, while Poolcy would do much better if 'lie would run witb the ball occasionally. Normal again proved that they possess a reliable team by defeating Mount Albert by II point 3. The game was fairjy even, Normal getting more chances, which were availed of by Robinson (2), and Gamble. Bayfield secured their second victory ■by defeating Richmond Road by 14 to nil. The losers put up a better egame than on the previous Seaturday, and if they continue to persevere, tbe writer predicts a win before long. In the C .grade, playing at Eden Park, Point Chevalier proved much too heavy for the Newmarket boys, though the latter did not stand up to their opponents as they shmild have done. Of the winning team, Aspden, Dawkins and Sauift were the pick, the first named being a fine stamp of forward. At the (Show Ground, Mount Roskall'e heavier forwards worked their team to victory, prevailing over Maungawhau in the lattpr's first match of the season. Nelson Street, 16, knew too much for Te Papapa, the boys of the latter team, however, playing with plenty of pluck. The position of the respective teams in the competitions is as foUows:—

A GRADE. Schooles. P. W. D. Beresford Street 2 2 Vermont Street ..2 2 — Devonport _-_. 2 2 I'arnell . _. 2 2 — Ponsonby 2 1 — Newton East .-.„ 2 1 .— Grafton . 2 -- — Mt Kden 2 - — Onchnneg_...___ Defaulted Champ. L. Pis. 4 — 4 — 4 — 4 1 2 1 2 B GRADE. Schools. r. W. D. Bayfield ._.„_ 2 2 Normal ........ 2 2 — Newton West ._ 2 2 — Napier Street ._ 2 I — Avondale ........ 2 — 1 Mt. Albert 2 — 1 Epsom _ 2 — — Richmond Road ...2 — — Champ. L. I'ts. 4 — 4 —- 4 t 1 1 1 1 C GRADE. Schools. P. W. D. Pt. Chevalier ._ 2 11 Nelson Street 2 11 Te l'apapa . _-- 2 1 Mt. Roskill 2 1 — Elierslie — 11 — Maunsawhau .... 1 —■ —■ Champ. L. Its. 1 2 1 2 1