FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 31 July 1928, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY* VICTORIA COLLEGE V. 'VARSITY. Victoria College ("Wellington University), who are in second place in iiic Wollington Club competition, meet the local 'Varsity at Lancaster Park to-morrow nfteruoon. The visitors have perhaps the best-balanced team in the Capital City, having bright forwards and dashing backs. On a number of occasions this year ihey have dumonstrated that they are the most attractive side in Wellington. McKenzie, at lirst five-eighths, is spoken of as being among the best backs playing in that position in the Dominion. Ho is very fast, and has a good knowledge of tho game. Kamson, at centre-three-quarter, is a star who is generally acclaimed to be the most dangerous centre in tho eompetii tion. Tho backs aro all very fast, and are 1 well supported by a lively vanguard, who ill* i fuse plenty of spirit into their play. Early in the season the team defeated Oriental, then ieading, by 41 to 6, scoring 11 tries after whirlwind movements, in which both backs and forwards combined. The local 'Varsity arc suffering from a month V spell from competition matches, but may be relied upon to return lo form, and piay one of those brilliant games shown b> them earlier in the season. They eomplaiu of stalcness, and can be expected to do very much better than they did on Saturday last. Chesley will probably take the field, and his "inclusion will materially strengthen the side. The forwards havo not exerted themselves ol late, but they aro quilo capable of playing first-class football. MALVERN SUB-UNION. The following is the draw (or next Snturd«v Kirwee v. Darficld (Mr G. IX Marsh); Horornta v. Springfield (Mr Belgravo) , Sheffield B v. Sheffield A (Dr. Du-kson), Glentunnel, a bye. MEAT EXPORTERS' MATCH. At Lancaster Park yesterday llie New Zealand Refrigerating Co. was dofeated by the Combined Freezing Companies by 13 points to (I A Johnson scored two tries, and t. Martin one, the latter also kicking a penally goal. The referee was Mr S. Hollander. SEDDON SHIELD. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) i WESTPORT, July 30. Advice was received to-night that the Nolson Rugby Union, by seven votes to six, decided to bring the Seddon Shield to Westport for the match against Buller on August 25th. Hitherto matches liavo been played on the holder's ground. Westport is to have a surfeit of representative matches in the week ending August 18th, all three code 3 having fixtures (hat week—the League against England on Tuosday, August 14th, Rugby Union against Southland on Thursday, August 16th, and Buller Soccer Association against West Coast on Saturday, August 18111, for the Peter Dawson Cup. RUGBY LEAGUE. EXECUTIVE MEETS. A meeting of the exeeutivo of the Canterbury Rugby League was held last night. Those present wore: Messrs J. K. Worrall in the chair, P. Sheahan, N. Blazey, E. Jones, P. Kirton, H. Ponnalls, P. Smythc, and 11. W. Lawrenco (acting-Becretary). A letter was received from tlip West Coast Centre stating that arrangements had boon made to Tun a special train to Christchurch on August 25th for tho Test against the English team! To prevent those not desirous of witnessing the match taking advantage of cheap fores, the Centre suggested that tickets bo obtained for tho trip, inclusive of admission to tho ground. Tho Centro also asked the charge of .admission, and whether seats could be reserved for the Coast spectators. It was decided to supply the necessary information. Tho Otago Centre wroto asking that when players are transferred, from the Canterbury districts arrangements be made to inform the Centre, so that they could be met on arrival. Tub requost w?s acceded to. A letter was received from the Sydenham Club stating that the club had granted the request of a. O'Connor for a transfer to tho Wools ton Club. Mr Lawrence moved, and Mr Kirton seconded, a motion that the .New Zealand Itugby League Council conveno a meeting of tho Referees' Association in regard to the playing miles for tho English and New Zealand Rugby League, and to notify the Association under their control of the decisions arrived at. 1 ' Tho motion was carried. Draw for Saturday. The draw for Saturday is as follows: — Senior Grade—Morist v. Waimairi, Jlonica Park No. 1; Hornby v. Addington, Jerrold street; "Sydenham v. Wcrolston/ Woolston Park.

Junior Grade —Knock-out competition: Sydenham v. Marist, Sydenham Park; ExWest Coast v. Hornby, Hornby Park; Liuwood v. Addinjton, Linwood Park. Third Grade—Representative trial match, Monica Park No. 2. Fourth Grade —Knock-out competition: Sydenham v. Hornby, Hornby; Addington v. Riccarton, Sydenham Park, Fifth Grade —Addington v. Woolston, Jorrold street; Marist"v. Temploton, Templeton; Waimairi v. Linwood A, St. James's Park; Linwood, a bye. Sixth. Grade —Addington v. Riccarton, Monica Park No. 1; Marist v. Hornby, Monica Park No. 3; Waimairi, a bye.

JUNIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At a meeting hold last evening of the Junior Management Committee of the Can' terbury Rugby League, Mr H. W. Lawrence presided. It was decided to suspend H. Smith (Woolston) for one playing Saturday. C. McGuire (Sydenham) was reinstated from Junior to Third Grade. Marist were declared winners of the junior competition. It was decided that , the Junior, Fourth, and Sixth Grado 0 knook-outs start nest Saturday. Hornby were declared winners of the Fourth Grade competition, and Marißt B winners of the Sixth Grade competition. Mr W. Lagan was appointed manager of the schoolboy representative team going to Greymouth on August 15th. ENGLISH TEAM ARRIVES. . [THE PBBSS Special AUCKLAND, July 80. The English League football team arrived at Auckland by the Aorangi from Sydney. Tbey were met cm board by the president of the New Zealand Rugby Leaguo (Mr C. A. Sneddon) and the ex-president (Mr James Carlaw). "Financially, the Australian part of the tour wai a wonderful success, and new records were made," said the manager (Mr E. Osborne), who was out this way ivith the last English touring team. As proof of the team'B skill, he pointed to tho fact that they won the "ashes" in Australia, and said they were hopeful of recovering the prestige'that they lost In the Dominion four years ago, when the Dominion players won the rubber. "Wo have a good oil-round team," declared Mr Osborne. A proud possession of the English team is a massive silver onp, which has been presented by Sydney Tatter Ball's Club as a trophy for international contests. It is" to bo known as "Tto Ashes," and identified with its donation was Mr J. J. Gilitan, one of the founders of the League frame in Australia. Under the deed o! gift New Zealand will not get an opportunity to compete for it, but it promises to be quite an historic trophy, nevertheless. THE "PLAY THE BALL" RULE. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, July 30. The "play tho ball" rule—that bugbear of League football—was the subject for animated discussion on tho Aorangi this morning, when representatives of the New Zealand Rugby League mot members of the English League team. "The best thing would be to cut the scrum out altogether," declared Mr E. Osborne, manager of tfoo English team. "It certainly would improve the game. Tlioy will nevei do any good until they make the pi* yore who are after possession of the ball stand .erect, then both teams wonld have an equal chance. As it is now, the man with the ball has ninety-nine chances out of a hundred of getting possession." "Wouldn't they kick each other 1" hazarded one' of the New Zealanders in the group. "But they do that now,"- replied Mr Osborne.