FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 99, 27 April 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. The annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union, which was held on Friday last, passed off very quietly, the whole business being got through within tire hour. The only motions brought forward were those by Ponsonuv, which provided for club representation, on the management committee and a weightlimit for the fourth grad-e. In the discussion tliat followed the speaker* were brief and to the point, which siould be a good object-lesson for future meetings. Nothing is usually gained hy belabouring a point, especially when delegates have previously been instructed to vote by their various clubs, irrespective of their own personal opinion. Tihe voting on the first motion, that of ehlb representation, was. equal amongst the delegates, but the other official votes saved the situation. Had the motion been carried, it would have been a decidedly retrograd-e step, and would have had a most detrimental effect eventually.. In view of the motion, it is interesting to note that the new committee ,is constituted as thy Ponsonhy Club aimed nt. for each club has its representative, the personnel being:— Messrs. M. .1. Sbeahan (City). H. Clay (College Ritle*) F. .). Ohlson (University), A. Twiname (Parnell). T. Aitken ( Pousonby I. and T. Kuxton (Mariet Bros.). The new member* a-re Messrs. Aitken and Clay. The (former was connected with the Thames Cnion for years, working very hard in the interests of the Rugby game in the. goldfields town. Since he took up his residence in Auckland he has been connected with the Ponsonby Club, and has ateo acted as a member of the Junior Advisory Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, so that he should be a decided acquisition. Mr. Clay has been associated with the College Rifles for some veare. and shonild also prove a valuable member. The committee were elected unopposed, the old members to drop out being Messrs. T. H. Datmson and .1. 11. Payne, neither of whom stood for reelection, the former, of course, being absent with the Expeditionary Force. The various delegates spoke in the most optimistic strain in regard to the prospects of the coming season, and, from what could Iμ- gathered, the Cup contests, to which the season may be confined, should produce a high standard of foothnll. Quite a .lot of new men are available, and although a large percentage of players are away doing their duty to their King and Country, still there are so many juniors coming on. that the various clubs promise to be well up to the strength of last year. City. Marist Bros.. Ponsorrby, and College Rilles. in particular, an confident of being well up to the standard of former seasons; while University are hopeful, and Parnell intend making! strenuous efforts to raise a senior fifteen. Messrs. A. Twiname, A. C. Wilson, and 11. (.J. Chevis are the leading lights in the effort, and can be relied upon to do their best to get the one-time champion club going again. AH things considered, how-ever. the prospects for the coming season, which opens on M-ay 10, are decidedly bright. Mr. A. E. T. Devore. who was reelected president of the Auckland Rugby Union on Friday last, enters upon his twenty-sixth year of office, which must constitute a Dominion record. -Mr. Devore was a keen supporter of the game, long before he was elected to the high office he now hold 3, and his close connection with Rugby must extend over many years. May he live long to occupy the chair. i 3 the wish of all followers of twie game. .Mr. C. V. I-angsford. who is to again act as secretary and treasurer to the Auckland Rugby Union, is getting on towards the veteran stage as an official, it be'mg just IS years since he joined the managing body, and the greater part of this time he has filled the oneroilH position of secretary anil treasurer. Mr. D. (Jallaher" is to select the Rugby representatives again this season, if any are required. Mr. A. Tilley has accepted the position of junior selector. Mr. W. Hr-ath. who has taken over the secretary ship, of the City Club, having resigned the selectorship. NORTHERN UNION. Despite the fact that the Auckland Rugby League has contributed so liberal a quota to the ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, bright are its prospects for the coming season. Buoyed up by last year's achievements in regard to record gates and the enhancing of the standard of play, tlte management committee of the league is confident that this war's new blood will be found capable of maintaining a good class of tnotball and of ensuring the success of the code us a spectacular sport. Not the least important feature associated with the opening of the Northern Union season on Saturday week is the successful establishment of a ■featherweight" grade—a sound and enterprising step in the direction of enlisting recruits from the youngest blood available. To date as many teams have entered the various competitions as were found on the. final list at the opening of last season, and this despite the fact that Otahuhu. (irafton and Thames (lid Boys have not yet notified the League of the teams they intend putting into the field. It is probably safe to prophesy that the present toUil of ;J1 teams for the five grades will be increased by another dozen before the ball is kicked' off. The City Cluli has made a big rally, and lias entered lin fewer than six teams for tho fray. Those in a position to fairly accurately estimate the strength of the various grades anticipate that the final figures will lx , as follows:—Senior grade, (5 teams: second grade. !) teams; third grade. 11 teams; fourth grade, 10 teams; fifth grade. S teams. There will be no lack of trophies for the encouragement of keen competition and a high standard of play, the patrons of the code having made generous donations in this respect. As a concession to the new 8.7 grade the League has decided to admit players to half insurance rates for half benefits. Several of the senior teams have had their strength depleted by departures for the war, but the six teams requisite for the first grade competition are now assured. The only doubt that was entertained was witli regard to Newton, and at one stage it was thought necessary to suggest that the Rangers and North Shore should discuss the possibility of amalgamation for the purposes of providing the sixth senior team. Since then the remaining members of last year's club have been enlisting recruits, and it is now believed that Newton will enter the. competition with a fairly strong side. The most notable removals from the League by the call of Empire are Savoury and Fricker (Ponsonby), Fox, Seagar. (North » v

Shore), and Rogers (City). Ifwerson will probably again captain Grafton, which club has a useful recruit in Parker, a dashing forward who played for New Zealand against tho British team last season. Otahuhu are reported to have a strong team, which includes Kelly, late of Napier, Hichardson, a Hawke's fiuy rep., and Ncilson, of South Sydney. Hardgrave and Cook are both said to be turning out again. The league has received notification from the City Council that a second ground on Victoria Park will be available this season. The Ponsonby Club is very fortunate in having the services of Turner, a Wellington representative. I'uckie, a New Zealand Maori representative, will also be donning the blue and black jersey. Cadman, a young player, caught the eye as likely to be a useful senior player, while McAVhirter and Webb seem to have already struck top form, both being well in front on Saturday's practice match. Fife, an ex-Rugby player, will most likely be seen playing for Ponsonby senior team this season. The Ponsonby Club is very unfortunate in losing the services of C. Savoury, H. Fricker, and E. Lambert, who are. now serving their country at the front. The club has also lost the services of C. Dunning. Auckland's veteran player, who has definitely decided to retire from the playing field.Evidence of the devastation of war is witnessed in the fact, btrat Cook. Arneil, Kdwards. and Jones, third-grade players, wore picked as likely seniors for' the coming year. McCallum. McOlymont. Cross, Montgomery, and Beecham, Uist year's .senior players of prominenve. are again donning th<> Ponsonby Clubs colours. Ai the practice of the Ponsonby Club on Saturday. Iladdiley. lnnes. ami Southernwood, junior players, showed good form. J. Clark, the Ponsonby player, who was injured las), season, lias retired from the tie-Id of play, and has accepted the position of chih captain, and his services as coach to the club should be very 'beneficial, especially for the juniors, from which the dub must look for our future senior players. A practice match of the fourth and fifth grado-i of the Ponsonby Club was a great success, and both teams promise to be very strong. ASSOCIATION. IIir.VTI.Y V. ITKEKOIIK. The Huntly Soccer team travelled to PukekiiUe on Saturday Inn: nml opened the font tin II season with a match npilnst Ihe local tram. Frnui the »Urt the name was fast, first ~no :ejni pn-ssini: and then the other. The Hnntl.v left-wing wns prominent, proving an effective combination anil from this source the flivt ~oal was scored after twenty minutes' piny. The centreforward. (I. Oflhert. put the finishing t»uch to a tine hit of play on the IJniitlv left. After this reverse I'ukeknhe prreecil hard for a time, but with h<> result. Iluntly again taking up the running. Wni. rlnini's neut re-half j got possession of the hall and drinhled right through the Pukokohe <le-f.-twe. .(coring a trraml eo;u. Ilnlf-rJme arrived with the Huntl.v uoy.i Jeatlioff or two goals to nil. Un resuming l'ukekohe looked us If they were to carry all before them, the Huntly defence being severely tested for some time bin they survived, mill the Iluntly <eani aKB In took np the role of atuickers. fillbert following up a mistake oy the mkekohe back, s.-orvd a third coal. This was added to shortly afterward liv a fourth guul from W. TimnMi. and a fifth by J Irvine W Guest scoring the only goal for Pukekohe live minute* from time. The end came villi Urrntly ea<jy winners by .-. ~oale to 1 ffoal.