FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17430, 15 April 1922, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

; "A STRAIGHT-OUT FIGHT;" s lndicatkms aro depklcd that-there is going, ' to be a straight-out fight this season in Now •Zealahd-betWe«n the'administrators'of ■ Rugby - footballand those at.'thehead oftho.Nor- ; them. Union game (writes in the ' Wellington "Free - Lance"). And where the ' fight will principally ■ centra - will be around, the Maori boye who at present play the fßugby game. ■ ;■'_ *. ." '"A delegation ?s coming,,. Jo the from the New South Wales Rugby League, • with plenty. ( of . money behind them, to push on ; the fortunes of ' their game in New Zea<- , lafld. ,;It.,js recqgnised^itCjtho.paly thing. ! it it Shotiid is;for therplayersvJof.',be, given i ptonty.Vof 'toaVjeiLing,' iix thV- cdiiJonsating: 1 payment; for services rendered, - or- ra lieu: of wages'.lost. tlwough , beii« i absent* from their i usual employment for'tie' tintei:being. > li&ti- NeW team-,'thai. went to - Aug-. ; trails proved, the game, as'; far:> an the : quality of the, playetA:»;'oonoerii<id, '-.war nbt : • ! standard is not improved tho public in Byd- ; ney .cwill ; not patronise " ; New South • WalesNe* 2ea]aHd)mßtche».in;tho futmto.-. i. Again, England is*:t<jo, f«ur away; for » £r°qttefoWinterGhsnge' ofi'visite,. which -account?' for frtow»:-t<^'exploit* thisy Dominion;; X believe: thiy'aro coming- prepared to buy grounds ahd putthem in-shipshape order, so that ' even if game does not; go ahead as they d&sire'they willhave'landed security for the money' spent, which •-proves that there are businessmen; at tho head:■ of' Rugby League affairs- in Nem? South "Wales. The main'-'hope of the. delegation at this stage in amongsfcthe Maori : boys. I.believe, a tempting ofior is .to .bo made to a team of '©lassy" Rugby players •to travel' to N« Soujkh Wales, and Jit . all depends on Whose; influence is the, stronger, which way things will go. Ifr ° £ Kf [ finest supjSortew rt% #ug%VfcaW"has. in tho. Utoainion. is:;, worMijfc A bwd. to. combat the proposals -fit- is Kuigby League [ will bring, forward, ,and it iaup to the New I'ZSdaad Union to give hjm all' tho i financial and moral rapport they possiby cKT What" 1 1 have written is a 'bare, outline of what is likely -to happen .in the Dominion diimg tho cpfiin'g winter, and, as I have said, the indications ,aio for a straight-o>it fight - for Bagfty ' football or tho Northern game. -•

I BEVITAL OP RUGBY GAME IN WBIitmGTON. • (rffISSJ JJJBOCUTIOW TBUEOBAH.) I* '.Vv :» A« < sbonring the. j&irKed ' revival . in the fltiglw gam 6 wrW«llingt«n'; . 'already 97 tpama i &v*-e'nt«M& ! tar the. vfriwis .grade oompetiSoils during the -season. ' Further entries are it i# anticipated, will bntig the total nUiriber of teams up to 110. _ This ia ,: iiießMetive of v schools, which proTido a large' number of juvetiile players. No fewer thaav 33Q0 Vmaa i.tnd .youth* will < be -pwyinfif undet the-Wellington Rugby Union this' teason,* which ~ easily ■ constitutes * record. - " ViThoi Wellington and .Chriatchurch Marist Clubs ' will play a match ; at * St. Joseph's Home, mSSMm.t thitt' <aftfrnoon- ; The ground is reajphed.bj. 'taking the Sjweyaon