FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18147, 9 August 1924, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

— — s —. RUGBY. RAKAIA CLUB. Ai a meeting of the committes 01 ths Rataia Football Club," Mr €. Erisoa presided over a good attendance. Correspoii<lenco rraa reccircd from tho Ashburioa Rugby Sub-Union announcing tho the third grado _ competition, of which Rikai? , w ", Tho oongra.matcd the club on tho team's p.ucccsb.. It was agreed to enter two teams, a junior »nd a, .aird grada for the eeVcn-a-sido tournament at &era!dino on August 20th A match was arranged for August 16th at DunsMde;, betweea Rakaia third grade and Dansandel juniors. It -ivaa *%&& u, hoU the annual seven-a-aidc club tournament and sports at tho Rakaia Domain on SSrd. A smoke conoert is to bo held in tho horary m tho evening. The fcllo'sring commiltec was appointed to max© the neces«ary*"*nsoffl«nts:—Messrs C. Evisoh. A. A. Oliver, IJ. Breach, C. g. Counolly, A. GVMead, and J. Allen." A remit was prepared for the nost annual meeting of -.he Ashburton Sub-Union to tho effect that -all competitions be played out to <i finish in future. This year the senior and third grade contests wore declared dosed befors the anal ms ,tc.hes, and ao the lUhaia player 3 wero deprived of games. It wae also proposed to movo that all third prade teams should bo subject to tho earno weight limit. Toe following team has been ee'octed to represent the Rakaia <:iub in their match aga-ihßt ITmds at Ashburton on Saturdny: P. Smith, V. Boag, "W. Tatterson. L. S. Connolly, ~\Y. Rap'.ey, it. Brtice. Mood, S. Hooper, R. Sideß, B. Boag. A. Hooper, J". Cornelius, R. Cameron, and 13. Cornelius. Eaerg-enciea: P. Brcßdin=- aad E. Xerslake. °

LEAGUE. THE ENGLISH TEAM. A TPception and smote concert will be tendered tho managers and nmnibcrs rt the English Rugby Football League" team at tho Oadena tea roomß on Monday night. The Mayor, Mr J. A. Flesher, will be present.

I (P3B3S ASSOCIATION TELEOUASC.) DUNEDIN, August 8. The Britin'a I/cague team was accord"*! a civic reception. After two days' sjonny and wet weather, there is bright sunshine to-day, with a- good prospect for tha test tottOITO'.V. REFEREES' RULING. REPLY TO ENGLISHMEN. (SrECIAL TO "the PIHSSS.") . AUCKLAND, August S. In refcrouoo to tho Preflß reports' of (statements made by tho manager and players of the English Lcagtto team at present touring New Zealand, that they have not been ablo to understand the rulinga given by referece, and that such decisions are contrary to tho English rulings, Mr W. Curran, who has been a player for tho Wigan Club for two and a half years, writes aa follows:Having seen tho game at Hamilton and the Test Match at Auck.and, I wish to state that tho work of both lot'erees was firstclass, particularly that of ilr "W. Murray in tho Test Match under tho conditions in which tho match was played. ' The with which he controlled tho garao and hie interpretations and rulings were at all times in accordance with Iho English roles, and his display left nothing to bo desired. One particular rule in which tho English team eeems to bo trying to bluff the referees in New Zealand is that dealing with ofisido. As wo havo soen repeatedly during tho frames, their forwards, by waving their arms in tho air, show their back players where to kick tho ball or bring the play to. Thus j they havo a great advantage over tho opposing side. Thoy contend this has been | allowed by> : rcfe>ee3 in England. I hay® •jlayed under at least 30 first-class referee* n /England, and I have never eeen ono! vhb would allow tho players "to - u»e Safjtics. Having been associated with tho .-jlayers in tins' team and having heard other Wnls thoy haye raised in connexion with the rulings; all I can say is that they "novo received excellent treatment from the referees in Auckland. I have assured thpm that the referees in JTew Zealand are just as capable of interpreting, tho rules as the English authorities, and it is no at this 4 particular time . trying to teach New Zealand referees tho rules. ,

ASSOCIATION FIBST ROUND OP ENGLISH CUP. The first round of tho English.Cup koookovt competition will bogiii tq-d»y. Jiijgisli Park vill bo tho stage for the main attraction, for on that enclosure Thistle will moot Kftiapoi. These teams aro practically level jtt the League Association championship, and, as both play bright, clover football, »" good game should be seen. Moreover, even belter football is played in the knockout competitions, Kaioppi in p^tusular, plays fast. soccer, and the fopfafw olajea and Noblo is very fine. Tfiistfo is renowned for its defence, but tiro of the forwards, Thomas and Robertson, are good •coring men. If the ground permits, Marista A and St. Albaris will play the fourth-gTade final at 1.39 pro- aa a 'eurtain-rifspr SUNNYSIDB CLUB. The team to represent Sunnysid* r. Villa ii Sunnyside to-day -will be selected from: Csllagihan, Gould, Mitchell; Batten, Thompson, Bond, McLachlail, Purdie, Gibson, Browning, Mi?on, Hartley, Preston.