FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

( RUGBY. ' (By Aristobulus.) ' THE BRITISHERS' TOUR. To-day—Otago Union, at Dunedin. Wednesday, Juno 3—Southland Union, ai Invercargill. Saturday, Juno.6 —New Zealand, at Duncdin Wednesday, Juno 10—South "Canterbury Union, at Timaru.■ Saturday, June /13 —Canterbury Union., ai Christchurch. , ' Wednesday; June 17—West Coast and Bui- .. ler Unions, at Greymouth. . Saturday, Juno 20.—Nelson and , Marlbor- - ougli Union's, at Nelson. . Saturdaj', Juno. 27—New-Zealand, at Wel- , lington. Wednesday, July I—Hawko's Bay Union, at Napier.- . ■ Saturday, July- 4—Poverty Bay Union, at . Gisborno. ■ . Wednesday, - July B—Manawatu and Horowhenua Unions, at Palinerston. Saturday,' July 11—Wanganui Union, at ". Wanganui. ' Wednesday, July 15—Taranaki Union, at ■ New Plymouth. " Saturday, vJuly 18—Auckland; Union,' at ■Auckland/ ■ . ■' ' ■ ■ Saturday, July 25—New Zealand, at Auck- . land. Wellington will'meet Auckland at' Auckland on August 15. ; '■ " All Black " M'Donald will captain Otago . against, tho Britishers to-day. .. ' ' • _ Bsnnet, the Otago centre three-quarter, is reported to have attained the form which made his reputation in 1804, when. he played so sensationally against Bedell-Si vright's ; British,team. The/Northern Union has decided to play . three tost matches with the Australian pro- : fessional team which is to visit England next .. season'. - ■ ■■ . Arthur Hudson, the, Gloucester and English wing _ three-quarter back, has partnered M'Gregor, the professional "All ulack, m a . sports .outfitting business in' liioucester. . ■. . Queensland has played eleven .matches against ,N«w. Zealand, inclusive of tho two Bgaanst the Maoris, and was defeated in all. The biggest defeats were 35 to nil in 1893, - juid 28 to nil in 1903. Tho : New Zealand professional team re- - ccived £541 as their share of the proceeds • of-the three matches in Sydney, recently, re- - presenting 50 per cent, of the gate. : The hero of the Wellington team was wit-h---t .' Clem • Green, whoso display was ' characterised by ability and industry throughout. , It seemed as if-h© could do nothing wrong. ' ( / ° The-members of "the New Zealand team to ■ PPSu*""? 0 ® rl tishers' on Saturday, June : 6, jn the first test miatch will arrive in. Dunedin on Thursday evening, and will be quartered Hotel 6 ' 11 " Stay iU at the . The team _ to represent ■ the' combined nmversifcies Zealand for the Sydney, tour will be selected abopf'tho end of Juno. For the Otago-British match to-day the local Union has decided to admit schoolboys in at bd., and a snecial plank has been set down for 'them where : they. will ; :have a. good ■ view>of. the game,' and' , yet be quite free from ;'tho. general >body of ' spectators. •' ... _No: fewer'than eight players — Jackett, M Evedy, Gibbs,- ." Pohty,','' Jones, and-Dmi-n (iintishors), and Wallace, Greeny and Roberts (Wellington)—were temporarily put out of action in Wednesday's inatch. The game was well contested, but -rpxigh play "was, - it. Ib pleasing; to';record; absent;. E. E., Booth, the New 1 Zealander, is re- - ported to have dropped happily into his place' in the Newtown (Sydney) team. He is playing centrei 'three-quarter. Not quite so fastas some,of ; the other, backs,, he is, nevertheIcss, .shaping; well, and the other Saturday was promirient m sonio of the passing oouts. !rhe team selected to represent Otago bgamst- the .Britishers to-day is x considered as strong as,could have been-chosen. The vangjiard is reported to be the best , pack which, has: been .selected to-represent the province for some years. If anything the backs . are .weak in defence. Following is . the teamFull-back—Kindley; thrce-quar-ters-Dwyer, Bennet-, Q'Sullivan; five-eighths —M Leod and Dansey; half-back—Eckhold; forwards Casey, Ivimov, Pa-' ton, Patterson, M'Donald (captain), M'Een- . zie, Tansey (wing-forward)., : Tho. British forwards do not varv theirplay on . tho line-out; sufficiently .\ At Ma - terton, where they met a team which could not lay claim to .much, skill, they found the deep throw-in -/very: advantageous. In tbeir match against .'Wellington th'ev were at first very successful, with 'the'.long but when they ..found' that -tho Wellington" vanguard were , adopting :,tactics, which thwarted their design they , lost { considerably through not varying thoir methods. ',n?l° 'h a v e ' to^''acknowledge of the 190s .annual of. tlie New South' Wales Union;. Tho-annual;is-a bulky booklet of 340 pages and contains a large assortment of Jiteraturo, of interest to players and followers of the game.. ./> _ Even, prior 'to .meeting with the accident/ lull-back Jackett did not play' so brilliantly as had-been expected. It was considered to be bad judgment on his part '■ to - use:. such high punts - against the wind. The ability' of tho ' South -, African Rugby TJnion_ is spoken highly of by. Peter Ward,' tho I\ew ' Zealander who i played for_ New South Wales in Australia in 1899 against Mullineaux's British:'-team, and is now playing _ for the Newtown-.(Sydney) Club. It is his opinion that on hard, fast, dry grounds they would beat: either New Zealand or Australia • but on New Zealand grounds ho not so suro' He considers their forwards ' to be faster than New Zealand fonvards. , The; amateur Sporting Federation of New South Wales recognises the Rugby Unions as the amateur bodies in Rugby football. The ainateur definition provides for a sum not exceeding ss. per ; day for "wino and' sundries allowances" to representatives of New South Wales in any sport away from tho. State. . Recompense'for loss of time is not permitted.' ■ In all'' "games" recog-' nised -by tho Federation an amateur will not;Ioso' his, status''by competing with or against a professional where no money prize is offered, i Instead of' holding.a;trial match the Can-, terliury Rugby Onion Committeo has, this year, mado a change in the procedure to bo adopted before the Canterbury team is selected to meet the Britishers.' Thursday/ June 4, will bo devoted to the representatives of the affiliated sub-unions, the Peninsula playing 1 North Canterbury and Ellesmore meeting Ashburton at Lancaster Park. On Saturday, June 6,, there will be a match between Town and Country, and that evening the team to meet, the* Anglo-Welsh. fifteen will.bo chosen.'■ The following numbers mil apoear on tho jorseys -of the Britishplayers "during the whole tour:—J. C.'Dyko 1, E. J.. Jackett 2,' H. H. Vassall 9, J; L.-WilliamsMO, J. B. Jones. 7, 'R. A. Gibbs 4, F. E„ Chapman 3 P. F. M'Evcdy 8, R. B. Griffiths 5, J. P. Jonra (Guy's) 6, W. Morgan 13, G. L. Williams 14, H. Laxon 12, J. Davey 11, A. F. Harding 19, J. i\ Williams 27, W. L. Oldman 23, R. Dibble IG, R. U. Green 18, J. A. S. Ritson 24, G. V. Kyrko 21; H. Archer 15, P. J. Dowan 17, L. S. Thomas 20, E; Morgan 22, F. Jackson 20, T. W. Smith 25, and G. R. Hind 28. , . . v - <. Th# Now South Wales Union has sanctioned the visit of the Ponsonby team of Auckland to Sydney, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Rugby, Union. They are bo leave ; Auckland on July 20, play at

Sydnoy oil Saturday, July. 25, "Wednesday, July 29,. and Saturday, August 1, ''the matches not yet having been allotted. Possibly one will bo against Sydney "University, ionsonby will bo captained by D. Gailahcr, wno led the famous All Blacks, and may in- ' i '-'""ningham, H. Francis, and G. " ■ Nicholson, tho Now Zealand representative forwards, who are members of the team. It will bo remembered that, recently, tho Englishjßugby Union, at tho instance of the uouth Africa 'Rugby Union, : had' agreed to allow Northern Union players, who had not played under professional rules sinco their doparture from Home, to join amateur clubs during their stay in South Africa. When this announcement was mado, wonder was excited as to whether tho New Zealand Rugby Union and the Unions under its jurisdiction would permit Northern Union players to assist clubs in the Dominion. Tho first application of the kind was made last, week to the Otago-Union by the Kaitangata Club, which pointed out that, as only Northern Union football was played in the district from which the player in question hailed, lie had no option, if ho .w'ished to indulge in tho pastime, but to join a Northern Union club. It was resolved-that, the club be informed that the request could not bo acceded to. ; Tho visiting British team adopts , a rule which is universal in English Rugby, viz., when a man is injured and has to leave' tho field his place must not be filled by a'substitute. New Zealanders, on the other hand, lay it down as a general rule that an injured player can be replaced with the consent of tho opposing captain. Neither of these ideas seem to meet the case.. In the first case, if a man cannot be taken on, the opposite side, even if it wins, has its victory discounted by: the fact that the losers played a man i-hort? Then, again,: two or more men may be injured, and the game .is practically spoiled. ' An unscrupulous side could tiade on this system, and if not strong enough to win by fair mean's, could set about to injure its opponents, and thus leave them short-handed. As to, the New Zealand system, it is manifestly unfair to allow a man to be replaced when thb game is well advanced, and, few opposing captains would refuse the request of an opponent to' bo allowed to take on a • substitute. Then tho idea presents itself, why not adopt a system which is already in existence in some "other branches of sport, and lay it down that 'f a man is injured so severely that he'has to leave . the ,field, the side-which 'liflicts the in|ury must ;,also senVl a man off the field? This would be a strong check oil- foul. or,' rough play, and to, cover mishaps which could not be termed other than accidental, such, for instance, as & twisted ankle in the open field, a reservation ..might bo made that in such a case a man could be replaced uo to half-time. The suggestion' should form a. subject for consideration at a conference ivhich is to bo held at an early dato between ' £ Zealand Union and the manager )f the- British team, with Iho object of cumulating proposals having for their object :he/improvement of the'game.. The inter-provincial .match, Wellington v. iVanganui, will tako pjaco on Wednesday. Fixture's to-day :—Petone v. Wellington, at Petone; Oriental v.-. Victoria College; Poncko r. Athletics; Melroso v: Old Boys; St. James r. Southern: ' v ■ - Interviewed prior to the departuro of tile ! tfaon team for Australia, Mr. Asher, tho irganiser, said . that; the combination had aken'a considerable ambunt of getting to;ethor, but tl}at it-could produce a good all-, •ound team. Every member was of Native' ■' >ngin, either full-blooded or half-caste, and ■ rereiruly the ; .rea;l-/'All...Black^ ,; The Now South Wales Professional Leaguo had invited hem over,, and, wero, making tho financial 1 rrangoments for tho trip, which would be 'i arried out under thoir guidance. The play- < rs had signed 'on- for thre6- •months, and i hey - expected 'to be away for_ that' period', i f the New. Zealand war cries given by 1 lembers .of .-pakeha. football'- teams were * bought thrilling, then the Australian pub- 1 ic. were going;. to have their eyes .opened, ' or war cries and dances were to be one of <■ ho features of the team's visit. '. "We, 1 tope, said Mr, Asher, , "to show- them omething sensational in that, line, and it hould be quite a draw to the grounds. It ertainly will be a , unique opening to an rdinary football match." There are a num- ! ier of well-educated' Maoris amongst the cam. ■. -

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. (By Gentri; Half.) ; . SENIOR LEAGUE-tFIHST DIVISION. i , j? . £ ■ ' ; ,r H< \ ■ ■ jj' - a ' ■ « ; o to '~ , •' a . 1 ' ° - a 3 a -pv 2 S !J O 2 ? 5 <3 <3 S pi jo J d o Diamonds 4 3 — 1 12 3 7 Rovers .........5 3 1 1 14 4 7 Swifts- 5 3 1 1 8 4 7 Wanderers 4 3 .->1 — 19 9 a Y.M.G.A. 5 .3 2 - 18 8 6 Potone 5 1 4 — 5 12 2 Itamblers ....;. 4—315 is i Tliistle 4. - . 4 _ _ ' 30 - ' The. ,British International Championship results for 1907-8 (show .'that Scotland tied with England in ■ points, and led as regards goal.'scores. Wales occupies'a hopeless position ,at'the bottom of'the list. The results are as follow:— ' _ ' • Goals, c i.i P" For. Agst. Scotland ... 3 2 1 0 5 8 2 England ... 3 2 1 0 5 11 3 Ireland ... 3 1 0.2,2 2 9 Wales 3 0 0 3 0 s 2 10 ' . 121,452 FEOPLE AT A MATCH. ■ The English-Association match which drew the world's rkiord ,crowd at Glasgow last month was:' the League'lnternational, Scotland v. . England. It is thus referred to by the "Sporting Life"What an extraordinary sight Hampden Park, Glasgow, pre- : sentedj. Never in tho history of-the game had such a crowd assembled towatch a match. The huge terraces were packed with a mass of humanity that had foregathered from all parts of.'Scotland, from. England, Ireland, Wales, and from more distant spots; When I, left Glasgow the exact official figures had not been got out, but I was authoritatively informed that' the attendance was 121,452 and that tho_ takings were £5500 admission! and an additaaUlSOO in stand money, or £<300 for'-the .match; •• It is prodigious 1 what will football become? Figures such as those I have auoted suggest a problem before ■ whiclr other problems arb easy of solution, no matter how difficult they be Does it mean doubling the capacity of the grounds of leading clubs? Is there to bo no limit to the expansion of the popularity of tho game.. This is a speculative subject, winch requires the most' careful consideranesfc'" t0 b ° taok!cd in earaNe:rt season the -Columbia University boccer 'teain proposes to tour in England, and, among other clubs, m<wt Oxford and Cambridge , Universities.- In parts of Amorica tiie faoccor game is very popular. NOTES. Tho Thistle v. Y.M.C.A. match last Saturday was farcical. Thistle had only four regular players on the ground, but, after considerable trouble, secured tho balance from club supporters prosont. \ .M.C. A. had it jll their own way, and notched 10 goals. Tho Thistles have been most unfortunate-this season. So far they have been defeated in every match played' Last Saturday four of their players; who arc employed m tho Telegraph Department, wore unable to get away from business. ' Two others were working, at Day's Bay, and reached town too late to take nart in the match. However, the Thistles are confident

they, mil place a team bn tho field this season that will astonish the "socccrites." ■ Swifts v. Diamonds match at tho Athletic lark was a good match. Both sides played hard to win, but, after ah interesting struggle, Diamonds wero declared winners by 3 to nil. ' Roberts at full back for Diamonds was safe, and played his usual solid gamo. Taylor did a lot of useful work at half. His forwards wero well attended to. Of tho forwards perhaps Roddy and Hathaway deservo special mention. Tho latter player is fast recovering his old dash, and sent in some fine shots on Saturday. Reddv scored a pretty goal from a well-delivered centre from Black. For Swifts, Graves was a tower of strength in defence. White was conspicuous throughout tho game, and fod his forwards well. Rogers played tho best forward gamo for tho Swifts, and seemed to bo ono of the few in good condition. Little interest was taken in tho Basin Roservo fixture, where Rovers and AVanderorj' met. Both teams had hard luck, and Wanderers' win by ono goal to nil was deserved. In Rovers back division, Penlington in goal had plenty to do, and .did it well. Duignan and Martin at full both played an excellent defenco, but their attacking kicks wero accompanied by too much pace when with tho wind: Bethell at half was conspicuous at times, and managed, some fine lacks against the wind. Barry is undoubtedly ono of the hardest grafters playing senior " soccer" this season. Last week he was at'it from start to finish, and was a constant source of trouble to the Wanderers. Wandorers in all departments played good games. They wore out to win, and of the two teams wore in the best nick. The forwards had lots of chances, which only went close. Ramblers succumbed to the powers of the Petone men last Saturday. It was a vile Jay for football—heavy rain squalls, a slushy ground, and a greasy elusivo ball. Sauniers, Anker, and Mouatt were the live men Dn the Ramblers side; Renai, Hawkins, and M'Kinnon did good'work in tho , suburban back division, and Sparrow, well supported by laplin and Smythe, boro tho brunt of the forward play. Joyce and Bethell wero also ;ood men on the Petone side. Saunders s not yet up to his last season's form.