THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 8

THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

(specul to "Tnr: mF.ss.") WELLINGTON, July 8. Tho profession-il football team, which is to visit tho north of England has >een selected, but the names will not bo made public lor somo time. J'ho promoter says it would not bo fair to« somo of tilmembers of the team to make their lamcis public yet. He asserts that the team is a etrong one. Thero are sixteen foi wards md nine backs, but probably two more players will bo added to the list before tlie team leaves New Zealand.

Acs at present constituted, tho __team comprises mostly North Island men. At least nino of the men selected have represented New Zealand, end several of the.m were members of the famous •All Black" team.

Th© team will leave New Zealand for. England next month after the return of tho New Zealand represent«tiv©team iTom Australia. It is under-stood here chat ono Southern player and perhaps ono or two others in the Rugby Union s .com now en route to Sydney, will join the professionals, and there is oiiio speculation as to how the presence 3f those intending professionals in the tMtii will affect tho result of the .Hatches in Australia. On Saturday, at Avonside, Boys' Migh School 11. were defeated by Wonside by 30 points to nil. Mr S. )'Callnghan was referee. A well-contested match was played at Lincoln between teams representing the Christchurch railway cleaners and Little River, and' resulted in a win .■or the former by four points (a potted joal kicked 1 , by Symo) to nil. On Saturday teams representing dessrs Manning and Co. and MessrvVard and Co. Richmond Park, th© game resulting in a win for Ward and Co. by 14 .points to 5. The Peninsula banner haa again been won by th© Okain's Bay team, who won -all 'their six mntche* by substantial margins, scoring in all 120 points to 11 They have put up tho good record cl having won all their matches for the last two seasons.

A meeting of delegates of th© Peninsula Rugby Association was held in Akaroa on Saturday. The chair was occupied by Mr Gray, and all th© clubs wore represented. It was ue tided to conclude the season with a seven-aside tournament at Akaroa on tho afternoon of July 20th. and to hold a smoke concert in the evoning, at which tho banner, won for the season by the Okain's Bay Football Club, will bo presented. The matchea.for the Challenge Shield in connection with tho Lllesraere Rugl-y sub-Union wore continued ou Saturday. At Soirth bridge, South bridg© wore •dofeated by Loeston by •■*■ points (a try and oonverted try) to nil Air F. L. Murray (Christchurch) wac rolcroe. At Lincoln. Lincoln defeated Irwcll by 3 points (a try) to nil. Mi R. Graham was referee. Lincoln Col lege, at College, beat Dunsandel by 11 _,oiiits (two trie's and a converted try) to nil. Dr. Hilgondorf was referee. Alilltown had a bye.