FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 168, 16 July 1921, Page 18

FOOTBALL.

BTJGBY. The Springboks' backs are reported, from Sydney, to be far less orthodox in their attack than Australasians had been led to believe. Most of the forwards of the South African Rugby football team are brawny miners from Joliannesburg. They average Oft in height and a trifle over 14.1 in weight. "The South African forwards have plenty of devil jn ruck work, and use their feet well," said a Sydney paper, in commenting on the Springboks' first match against New South Wales. "Every time the ball was in a ruck there issued from the South African pack a deep Dutch guttural which sounded suspiciously like 'the boot.' Had our men put the same weight into their lashing at the ball the results might have been different. In their matches iv Sydney, the South African toeballers showed that their backs are a clever lot. The inside men are nippy, and the wings have any amount of pace and dash. One commentator remarks that van Hcerdcn is a star, and would be a great man on any ?ide. At the reception to the South African Rugby footballers in Sydney, the captain of the team, J. R. Picnaar, asked pert mission to speak a few words in Dutch to several South Africans, now resident in Sydney, who were, present at the function. At a later stage. Sir Henry Br.addoii, the chairman, said that the incident recalled a ftory of the famous Maori footballer Jack Taiaroa. Back in the SO's Taiaroa was with a Xew Zealand team at Newcastle, and tho Mayor of the city insisted upon Taiaroa making a speech in Maori. The footballer did not like the idea, but at last acceded. With the exception of two present, none knew what Taiaroa was saying. The two who did had difficulty in suppressing their laughter. Rater it was discovered that Taiaroa's speech was the Lord's Prayer in Maori. Sir Henry Braddon hoped that Mr. Picnaar had not sprung something similar on them. ASSOCIATION. The following is the position of the A.F.A. Senior Championshjp to-date:—

V.M.C.A. BOYS' LEAGUE. The following is the championship position of the various teams at the conclusion of the third roupit of tlie Y.M.TT.A. Boys' League:—

p. N'nrtliCrtte ... JM •ICuntly 10 I'onsonby ... JO IIJM.8. PhllomcJ .. 10 Old Iinyn ... 30 Y.M.t:.,A. ... 10 ■Norih (Shore. 10 Kohl 10 w. j.. <> o •i 1 r> a 5 4 •"i 7 1 t> 1 O D. .1 i 1 1 0 o 0 Goals P. A. 2S !) 12 00 10 25 11 •24 21 is nn H 31 11 5.-J Ch. P. IT 15 11 11 l>

SECOND DIVISION. Goal* Goals Teams P. w. I.. D. for. agst. Tts. 8«Wt» ....!) 6 1 2 13 10 U Spur* !) 4 2 3 20 11 11 Hangers .. !) 2 5 2 10 Iβ 6 Ulvale 0 i> 6 1 8 15 5 third division. Swifts .... 0 5 'I -2 13 13 12 Kpiirs 9 r> H 1 2-J 11 11 Hangers .. 0 :i r> 1 io 14 7 IHvele !» i 3 _■ 11 10 u POL'UTO DIVISION. .Hungers .. 0 7 O 2 2S I Iβ Kn-ifls 0 IS 1 5 1!) r> 11 ltWals !) 2 5 2 10 18 « 8i>ura !) 1 6 2 j 30 4