FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

EASTER MATCHES. The Rugby season was ushered in on Saturday, when » number oi friendly matches were played, most cf them at Lancaster Park, where there was a fair attendance, j For so early in the season, the form shown ■ was surprisingly good, and the football, ] though perhaps a little scrambling, was interesting all through. ALBION v. TEMUKA. Albion met Temuka on the oral, and tb° local team, though nst nearly up to what is expected to be its senior strength, put up a very good display. The forwards worked well together, and the backs, though a little patchy, allowed plenty of promise. "With a little more practice, and combination, the team should be well removed from the bottom of the list this season. Albion won by 18 points (six tries, scored by N. Bayliss 2, Sincock, Burke, Pitt, and Buntard) to 0. Mr A. C. Fuller was referee. OLD BOYS v. TIMARTr. Chief interest centred in the meeting of Christchurch Old Boyß and Timaru Old Boys. The local team got home by 17 points to 10. Old Boys have a very young team, but their men know the game, and have plenty of tact and speed, and all they need to make them a champion side is a. little experience. Timaru put up a splendid game, but the good play of their forwards was spoiled by individuality instead of combination, amongst the backs. Bowes (2), Werren Harris, and Carleton scored for the local team, Carleton converting one, and Stewart ond Lawson scored for Timaru, Lawson converting both tries. Mr L. W. Guiney was referee. MEBIVALE v. ALHAMBBA. These old rivals, Merivale and Alhambra, had a good game on the west ground, but Merivale, though under senior strength, wew not particularly impressive. Their forwards were too scrambling, and there was a lack, oi cohesion amongst tho bocks. They won by 0 points to 8, but they will have te improve considerably to cat much ice in the competition. Ford potted ft goal, and R. Hardy scored a try, which Lodge converted, on a Smith kicked a penalty goal for Alhambra. Mr W. B. Fuller was referee. JTJNIOB MATCHES, Christclvureh Old Boys and Timaru Old Bovs played a hard fought game, which ended "in' favour of Timaru by 6 points to 6. Jones and Burns ecored tries for the winners, and Johnston scored a try for Chris*churcb, whioh Condlifie converted. Mr C. W. Allard ww referee. , . . Merivale defeated Linwood by S3 points to 8. Tries were scored by_C. Oliver IW» Styles (2), Mitchell- (2), Wickenden and Roberts, Keys, Styles, and Roberts concerting one each. Adams and Robertson, scored' tries for Linwood, the latter converting one. WELLINGTON v. CHRISTCHXTROH MABiSTS. Representative teams from the Christchurch and Wellington Marists Clubs met at the St. Joseph's Orphanage grounds, Middleton, on Saturday,' tho local team winning vcomfortably at the finish by 24 points to 3. Play was a bit ragged in the first half, the Christchurch backs handling the ball very badly, and losing m&ny opportunities of scoring. Blazey.and Kirwan each scored a try, neither being converted, while Creed scored for Wellington. Iu the second half the Christchurch men played up much better, and neat passing between backs and forwards enabled Bhzey to score three tries, two of which were converted by Ellis and Peterson, respectively. Fitzgerald also scored a try, which Kirwan converted. Mr J. F. Peake was referee.

CHRISTOHUBCfH DEFEATED. (special to "she peess.") DUNEDIN, April 15. ■Dunedin Pirates beat Christchuroh by 83 points to 3. Shand scored for Christchurch. WORTH CANTEEBTTBY SVB-VMQJX. The delegates to the North Canterbury Rugby Sub-Union met at Sefton last week. It was decided to delay the < opening of-com-petition matches until .May 6th. Although only two teams have been nominated for the junior competition, it is expected that mors will bo offering-, and tho arrangements for tho junior matches were left is tho hands of the president and' eeoretary. AfteT some discussion a motion that only Gilbert No. 2 balls should be used in competition matches wrb carried unanimously. The draw for tho first round of senior matches resulted as follows: May 6th—Oust v. Woodend, at Cust; Oxford v. Kowai, at Oxford; Waikari v. Amberley, at Waikari. Mav 13th—Woodend v. Oxford, at Woodend ;"Kowai v. Waiksiri, at Sefton; Amberley v, Cust, at Amberloy. May 20th—Oxford v. Amberley, a* Oxford; Cust v. Waikari, at Cust; Kiowai t. Woodend, at Sefton. _ May 27th—Kowai v. Oust, at Sefton; Amberley v. Woodend, at Amberley; Oxford v. "Waikari, at Oxford, . June 3rd—Waikari v. Woodend, at \\nkari; Amberloy v. Kowai, at Amberley; Oxford v. Cust, at Oxford. The Befeie«s' Association alao met, when H was announced that eight referees were assured for the coming season, and it was expected to obtain three or four more. The secretary was instructed to again ask Wooaend and Cust for nominations.

The fallowing is the draw for the first round of the Malvern Sub-Union competitions:— _ „„ ~ April <S2nd—Glentunnel v. Daifield, MoHugh; Hororata v. Springfield, Longstaff; Greendalo v. Sheffield, Doody;, Kirwee a April 29th—Springfield, v. Kirwee, BuUer; Greendale v. Gientunnelj Osbourne; Darfield v. Sheffield, Reynolds! Hororata ft bye. May 6th—Sheffield v. Hororata, MoNwu Kirweo v. Greendale, McMeekan; Glentunnel v. Springfield, MoGee; Darfield a bye. May 13th-Hororata v. Darfield, Springfield v. Sheffield, Glentunnel ▼. Kirwee, Greendale a bye. May 20h—Darfield v. Greendale, Kirwee v. Hororata, Sheffield v. Glentunnel, Springfield May 27th—Greendale t. Hororata, Sheffield v. Kirwee, Daifield v. Sprinfleld, Glentunnel a hire, June Brd—Hororata v. Glentunnel, Kuwee v. Darfield, Springfield v. Greendale, Sheffield a bye. Matches to be played «n ground of team mentioned first.

RAXAIA CLUB. The annual meeting of the Eaiaia Footbait Club ttas held in the Library, taere being » r y large attendance. Mr A. Shannon was in the chair. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £l2 18s 7d. The Aahburton County. Union wrote that to oe eligible for the 4th Grade player* must be under 16 years of age on May Ist. It was resolved to enter a junior team and.» 1 grade team for the coming season. Tha membership fee was fixed at 6s. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Mr i». White: president, the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes; vice-presidents, Messrs J. ConnoUy, J. Cromie, P. Galligan, A. Marshall, G. Pluck, W. Black, W. Dunstan, J. Cameron, A. P. K«nnett, and C. Shannon; secretary and treasurer, Mr B. Breach; committee, Messrs R. Smith, S. Nanamith, S. Connolly, 8. Ford, Vf. Bills, E. MoSweeney, R, Street, B. Smith, A. Mead, and J. Allen; owitodiart, Mr S. Naismith; chib captain, Mr A. Shannon; selection committee, Mesaw J. Allen, A. Shannon, A. Mead, and R. Breach; delefate, Mr R. Page.

THE WELLINGTON SEASON. (?*ISB ASSOCUTWH TSUW9AV.) WELLINGTON, April Tha Rugby Football w»«ni_w«a «P«g*» «0-day with a W-sal match PeadWj l»si ye*r'» okampwna. and AthteUe. AW» WOO peopl* witnessed tha game, whi<* w~ a fairly good one, though »<Hn»whftt ****** at tinns. Poneka won by 9 point* to 6. SCOTTISH CUP FINAL. .•■CM*- ***s&&?&*■* In the Scottish Cup final,! Rangers were defeated by Oreenookmorton n * «°*» to nil.

"AIJL BUCKS."

MALVEBN STJB-TTWION,

BEPOET BY.THE SELECTORS. Some suggestions -for the future benefit of New Zealand representative teams axe contained in a report which last season's selectors—Messrs D. Stuart, A. J. Griffiths, and G. W. Nicholson—have submitted to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Their report is as follows: "In submitting our report in connexion with our duties as New Zealand, North and South Island selectorsj we wish to make several suggestions which we hope will be j beneficial to future committees of the New Zealand Union. Dating back from the inter- I island fixture, we consider that, to give the desired satisfaction to the minor unions, and i to enable the persons, whom the New Zea-i land Hugby Union appoint as selectors, to have an opportunity of seeing players from tho smaller unions in action, that two teams should be chosen from .each island—one from the larger unions, which we will call 'A,' this team to be picked by the selectors drawn from these unions; and one from the smaller unions, which we will call 'B,' the earns picked by selectors who are in touoh, with the workings of these unions. The 'A' and 'B' grade teams in the South Island to meet each other, and the same in the North Island. From these games the North and South Islsnd teams would be chosen. We are certain that the extra expense entailed in carrying out the aforesaid suggestion is amply warranted; and will be the means of bringing prominent players outside the large centres before the New Zealand selectors of your unions. "The experience we hare had in connexion with our duties as New Zealand selectors makes us emphatic in our declaration that in international contests, if our players are to uphold the honour of our national pastime, we must go into strict training as was done on the evo of the third Test, assembling footballers for a week or longer. Accommodating them at hotels and allowing them to walk the streets with its accompanying temptations is useless. "We cannot speak too highly of the benefit the All Blacks obtained at Day's Bay. "Your union deeerves every credit for. the thorough manner in which they looked after the players' interests. "In international contests, such as the one just closed, we think that the procedure of appointing referees is not a correct one. Wb, in New Zealand, are proud of the consideration we always give l our visitors; but to allow them to have the same man in three matches (two of which wer» Test, games) is overdoing it. "The players during the three tests have all, wo aro certain, done their very best for 'New Zealand. True, the best of some has not perhaps been up to international form, and whilo on i this phase, we might mention that several of our players were not physically fit to don the All Black jersey—particularly was this the oase in the first and second Teste. We consider it mandatory that every player be medically examined by the union's medical officer, as was done on the eve of the third Test. Players, in their anxiety to gain the~N«w Zealand caps, forget the duty they owe to their country, and mates when they go on to the field in an unfit condition." THE LEAGUE CODE. (Received April 16th, 5.S p.m.) BRISBANE, April 15. The football letgue team which recently returned from a. visit to England boat Queensland by 45 points to 82. The play was fast, the visitors showing marked superiority once they got going.