FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. (By Aeisiobulds.) TO CORRESPONDENTS. "A.E.A." —Tho Northorn Union rules state that "No professional shall bo allowed to reccivo payment during the close ■ season, or when under _ suspension." Tho maximum amount which can bo paid to a player under the E.F.A. rules is £208, which may ba spread over tho whole year. "Jack."—Auckland' held Ranfurly Shield 1902-3-5-6-7-8. In 1904 it fell to Wellington. It is a fact that during tho courso of an inter-Island match, at Wellington, P. Roberts - (a North Island player) took tho place of Harvoy, an injured South Island man. THE BRITISH TEAM. RESULTS OP MATCHES.

REMAINING FIXTURES. To-day—Nelson and Marlborough Unions, at Nelson. Saturday, Juno 27—Second Tost Match,- at Wellington. Wednesday, July I—Hawke's Bay Union, at Napier. Saturday,, July 4—Poverty Bay Union, at Gisborne. Wednesday, July B—Manawatu8 —Manawatu and Horowhenua Unions, at Palmorston , Saturday, July 11 —Wanganui Union, at

Wanganui. Wednesday, July 15 —Taranaki Union, at New Plymouth. Saturday, July 18—Auckland Union, at Auckland. Saturday, July 25—Third Test . Match, at

Auckland. ■ Wodnesday, August s—Now South Wales, at Sydney.:' Saturday, August B—Team8 —Team for England, at Sydney. Wednesdayj August 12—Western District, at Bathurst. Saturday, August 15—Metropolitan Union, at Sydney. Wednesday, August 19—Northern District, at Newcastle. Saturday, August 22—New South Wales, at Sydney. v Wednesday, August: 26—Queensland, at Brisbane. Saturday, August 29—Queensland, at Bris-' bane. -Wednesday, September 2—Queensland, at Brisbane. , H: Messenger, the star Australian professional player, is reported to be gotting stale after practically 15 months of football. - A section of ihe crowd which, witnessed the match between South Canterbury and thci Britishers so far forgot themselves as to laugh uproariously when Archer, o'no of the ■visiting forwards, was irijured. Tho manager'of the Maori team states that tho team is playing practically as amateurs. He adds that the Now South Wales Lcaguo -is paying the expenses, and -that the 3\&ioris have practically no interest in the "gates." It is repotted that somo of tho players do not understand this to bo the position. ■ Jackett, t-ho crack visiting full-back, acted as one of tho judges in connection with the Southland amateur boxing championships.- It was his intention to participate in an exhibition bout, but the injury to his ear had not sufficiently, hoalod to permit him to do so.

It is practically certain that the South Canterbury representativo team will go ou tour towards the end of July. Tho programme will bo something as follows:— Wairarapa, in Timaru, July 23 ; Canterbury, in Christchurch, July 25. Then will follow matches against Manawatu, Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington, j The captaincy of the New Zealand- team would appear to bo an unenviablo position in one respect. No sooner had tho first test match concluded than .the leader of

the victorious team was inundated with cablegrams and tolograms conveying messages of congratulation. Of course, the most important had to bo answered, and, .if it be correct that no allowance is made by the Now Zealand Union to meet tho expense, the captain must, have, been out-of-pocket to the extent of a tidy sum. - It is surely only fair_ that tho' cost of replies to messages which are sent to the captain on behalf of the team should be defrayed by the Union. If that is not done, players will bo loth to' accept the honour.

Tho Rugby Union's coffers wore not swollen much by tho takings for last Saturday's matches, the matches being deserted in favour of the exhibition game under Northern Union rules, which was played on tho Athletic Park. It-was supposed to be a day of "off matches" at Mirainar, but tho gamos were moro interesting from the spectators' point of view than many of tho previous contests which had' been boomed as being star "turns." Tile results of the gemes havo, however, altered the positions of the teams very little, the leading pair, Melrose and Oriental, both leaving the field with wins to their credit. Athletic havo come i a step, displacing St. James, who are forced downward by their loss against Oriental. WELLINGTON-PONEKE. The Weilington-Poneko contest provided an interesting game. The Wellington men started out at a big bat, and for a portion of tho first half it looked as though tliey were going to outpla!y Ponoko with tho superior work of their rearguard. As the spell wore on, ■ however, the Poneke forwards improved a Hreat deal, and in the second half they had Wellington in distress, but it was not until just on tho call of timo that Toohill scored tho winning try for Poneke. , The Wellington backs played an excellent game in tho first spell, the best of the side boing Abercrombie, who was . playing wing three-quarter, and showed himself to bo a dangerous scoring man. His try was a good one, ■ and it was due to his effort that Lawrenco scored. Aborcrombie cut straight along the touch line, and after beating several Poneko mon cleverly passed in-field to Lawrence, who dived over the line. Lawrence was responsible for somo good work, and so was Sheridan, full back.' Wilson was the) pick of tho Wellington scrurainors, and Carey put in somo fine looso work. The other forwards Were much of a muchness. . Probably tho soundest back on the Poncko side was Morris, a diminutivo full back, whose-handling of the ball and powerful lino lucking was a treat. Toohill, who has been in tho background this season, came to light on Saturday, and showed what a valuable asset pace is to a three-quarter when it is used. _ Three tries in ono afternoon was good going, and should tompttho fleet-fot'oed Ponoko back to mako moro use of his undoubted speed. _ Mitchinson was flashy, and showed a decided tendency to hug the ball. Oil club displays this season Mitchinson is a good wnv off bis best form. ■ The Poneke forwards took a long timo warming up, but onco under way they did some capital work, none performing better than Rush and Gardner. ST. JAMES-ORIENTAL. St. James were out to givo Oriental a shako-up, and beforo play had been going threo minutes a try had boon registered against tho older team. Tho St. James men kept up a long attack, but could not pierce tho Oriental defence again. Subsequently, Oriental evened things up by scoring n try, k and then, in the second term, Thompson.

broko the spirit of St. James by potting two goals. Varcoc at full back for Oriental played a good gamo, making no mistakes. Thompson, who did all tho scoring for his side, played a capital game, his lino kicking being a featuro of the match. , Roberts also put in somo acrviccablo work, two sides of his play being brought into prominence. On ono occasion, after Oriental had wiped off tho debit balance, play became rough, and Roberts was what, in Rugby parlance, is known as " taken t-o." The Oriental half can hold his own with most iu this business, and responded "willingly. Tho other side was the attitude of the Oriental man to E. Roberts, diminutive half-back, playing-for 'St. James. Roberts tho cider had several opportunities of getting clear away had he chosen to bump the littlo boy (and few half-backs can bump as Fred Roberts can), and chargo rough-shod over him, but in each occasion it was noticed that rather than take the chanco of injuring tho lad Roberts went round or up to him and passed. Anderson, a big forward from .Wanganui, was the best of the Oriental forwards, and played a fine all-round Game. Ho appeafbd to be on tho beefy side, but lasted out well, playing even bettor in the second spell than ho did in tho first. Hoenan also played-well, but lacked tho balance which would have allowed him to turn his hardest work to advantage. Gillespie and Hamilton also put in some good work. The best of the St. James backs wero Thomas, Ferguson, Noilson, and Warwick. E Roberts at half did well for a midget, but is on ,tho light side. H. Roberts showed a tendency to overrun the ball when going for it in front of the Oriental forwards, ostensibly with tho idea of picking it_ up and kicking or running round the advancing pack. Ho got his sido into trouble several times.

?errv, Wighton, Bruco, and Manning were usually to the foro in the best of the St. Jamos rushes. MELROSE-VICTORIA COLLEGE. That Melroso managed to' score a victory over Victoria Collcgo need not necessarily detract from the merits of tho University men. As a matter of fact, tho losing team gavo a much better exhibition of scientific aud open football than their opponents. It was only tho superior weight of the Red and Blues that eventually wore down tho light Green men, so that in the_ last twenty minutes eleven points were registered. It was in tho scrumming work that Melroso had any dccided advantage. In that department of tho gamo they fairly pushed their opponents down, and were, thereforo, more successful in securing the ball. Looso work, however, proved tho Collego men to bo both smarter and trickier, and it was looso work which enabled thom to keep on tho attack for tho greater part of the game.

Tho forward division of tho College was not so strong as it had been tho previous Saturday, since Wilson was absent from tho wing. His : place was filled by Kennedy, who played well, but was hardly up to the standard of his predecessor. Short, in tho forward division, was well to the fore, as also were Do la Mare and Easthope. J. Spencer was tho most prominent of tho Melrose vanguard. J. 'Murphy, wing-for-•ward, also showed up well at times, especially when tho game was open. In the back division of Victoria College, O'Leary was again in his .place at full, Tudhope, who mado a good showing the previous SSturday, being ill. Goodbehero was absent from tho left wing. ' Boglo and Eitchinas were ,as usual tho hardest and most effective grafters, and it was largely duo to'their defenco that most of tho few attacks tho Molroso backs mado were rendered fruitless. i In attack Prendeville was successful, kicking in woll-judgod manner, and following up smartly. • Goorge Spencer was seen to best advantage of tho_ Melroso rearguard. His efforts at goal-kicking wero somewhat weak, but his line-kicking was a strong fenturo of the game. Only one really concerted passing rush was mado by the Maroons, and that culminated in. a try. Other rushes wero cither nipped in tho bud by the Collego tacklers, or spoilt by hanging-on. Next to G. ■ Spencor, Church and Greeks played tho best'games' for tho winning team. ATHLETIC v. SOUTHERN. Athletic had an easy team to beat whon they met Southeri at Alir'amar on Saturday. Tho score was no indication of the play, however, for Southern, although playing a very weak toam, were exceedingly unfortunate in not scoring on many occasions. The game was purely a.tussle between tho forwards, most of Athletio's tries being scored from scrambles on or about tho line. Both toams have vot to learn how to kick, the display in this department on Saturday being vory poor. Each had splendid opportunities from penalties and marks, -but m every instance a miserable failure was the rosult. "Eanji" Wilson, and Evenson, wero the most prominent of tho Athletio's backs. Both followed up well, and general'}- lad their opponents bustlod. Hales at full back played a saf ogame, his deadly tackling and well-judged linekicking boing a feature of his play. His sound play.saved two,certain trios. Of a hard-working pack of forwards Gordon, Rapson, Osborne, and Murray, were the most noticeable. The pack as a whole worked well, and generally had thoir opponents beaten in the scrum work. Without' the aid of Templeton, Bainford, and O'Flaherty, Southern bad a very weak vanguard. The match had just started when Huut (a three-quarter) had bis shoulder put out, but a substitute was obtainable. Tho team's play, however ,waa creditable, and, as boforc_ stated, they were unfortunate in not scoring. Of tho Southern back division Organ, at half, was tho only player to display any brilliancy. Ho is a very useful half, and on Saturday novo rmissed tho ball wlioc iu bailie his way. Houlihan and CondlifFo were most consistently on tho ball in the forward department, but they lacked support. • ASSOCIATION NOTES. (By Centke-Half.) The position of the Senior First Division toams in the League competition to date is as follows (two points for a win, and one for a draw:— '* ' .

Soccer Team for England, Tho most discussed topic in soccer circles this week has been the offer of a resident of Taranaki to 'finance tho sending to England of a representative soccer team to competo against Second League clubs in that country. Tho matter was very fully discussed by the Council of tho Now Zealand Football Association on Thursday evening, aaul tho general trend of tho remarks of delegates was, on tho whole, distinctly favourable. Crystallised, tho arguments for and against may be thusly :—For—Tho tour would afford the Now Zealand representatives a splendid opportunity of seeing soccer played as it should be played, and their expedience would; later, bo of material bonofit to followors of tho galno in New Zealand. Further, tho scheme itself would givo tho gamo a tremendous impetus locally, and dotermino not only our present standard of play, but also what it should be. Against— Tho arguments against were overwhelming, looked at from tho point of view of prostiyo, and it must be admitted that they aro incontrovertible. It cannot bo denied that tho best combination possible to select in New Zealand would bo hopolessly outclassed in English Second League football. Tho Wnlvertamptcru "Wanderers, for example, won the

English Challenge Cup, a trophy resembling, in conditions for competition, our own Charity Cup. The Wolverhampton Wanderers aro Second League players, but thev succeeded in defeating those teams of tho First League which entered for this particular contest. Another objection raised was the possibility that two or tlireo of our best men would not roturn. Again, granted that_ every member of the team returned, immediately upon ar-« rival it would disband, _ and its members so scattered over the various districts of the Dominion as to render impossible any chanco of learning anything from them by way of experience. These, in tho main, aro tho principal points of the arguments; their value depends entirely on what aspect of tho proposition is to be taken as. its chief rccommondation. As an advertisement for tho game, resulting probably in a stronger cohesion of its supporters, tho scheme lias much to recommend it. As an educational proposition it does not appear to be very practicable. As a comparative test of Now Zealand and English standards of plav it must bn admittod that it would hnvo less value than n visit from the Englishmen to Now Zealand would have. An English team in New- Zealand would leavo its .mark in ovory centre of the Dominion as against the individual test of some fifteen or twonty representatives who mijrlit be selected to tour England. _ All these considerations apart, however, if a sporting enthusiast is willing to.finance tho scheme, his olfer might as well be accepted, and such arrangements mado as' would, for example, ensure that our men all returned. There is nothing like "booming" a gamo which is fighting a wellorganised enemy for public favour, and there can bo no question that tho scheme would bo a hugo advertisement for soccer.

The Athletic Park. Tho Rugby Union, after coquetting with the Athletic Park in a rathor unsatisfactory manner, has finally dccided to return to its stronghold, and, inter alia, upset the arrangements of two sister sports bodies, the Hockey Association and tho soccer people. For Rugbvites, the step was a wiso one, but the followers of the Association gamo have naturally not altogether relished the dog-in-tho-manger flavour of the Rugby Union policy. Iu future, one of the First Division senior matches will bo played at Miramar. Wanderers defeated Ramblers last Saturday by 2 goals to. 1. Tho match was played, on the Athletic Park before tho largest crowd l that has over witnessed soccer football in Wellington. Before the game was half through tho crowd began to get interested, and good play by either sido was warmly applauded. Ramblers, on tho day's play, should have won, chanco aftcv chance being thrown away through selfishness on the playors' part. Anker was tho worst offender in tiii3 respect j ho hung on to tho ball time after timo instead of either passing or lettiftg fly at goal, with tho result that lie was beaten for the ball. • Oldnall, in goal, saved well at times, but had no chanco with Taylor's shot. Standing in a good position ho coolly took the bfi.ll from a nico pass, and, surrounded by op[k>nents, let fly. Older players could well' follow in this direction; it was tho best goal: of tho I day. . •. ;

Edwards and M'Laren were onlv.;fair at full: Coward and Jackson were tho best of tho halves; tho latter plays vory iu-and-out football. Mouatt and Waters combined, well on the; left wing. The former is inclined to bo a bit selfish.' Kis run in tho first half ended by scoring a beautiful goal. • 1 Waters missed a very easy chanco by not steadying himself, a lovoly centre from Saunders being Bent anywhere. Anker, as mentioned hoforc, was very selfish, and. hung on till ho was robbed ox tho ball, ■ Smallbono and Saunders combined well'together, but kept tlie ball too much in tho corner. Tho latter is very fast, and should shoot more. . .

Irvine, in goal, gave us a glimpse of his old form. Tho shot that did beat him he could not get down to quickly onnugh. In the' second half he saved very neatly ""indeed. , Cornish and Jardine wero a very solid pair of backs; the former being tho better. Bruce was tho best of tho halves," his spoiling tactics'being very good..' Ho also'fed his forwards well and kept tho hall low. . Ash and Gwjiliain combined well together, tho latter scoring a protty goal. Reid was an improvement on previous displays, playing with somo of his old-time dash. Taylor and Pickering both justified their places in tho toam; tho former seems rather nervous yot m meeting heavy work. AUSTRALIAN GAME. Tbo following will represent the City Club against Wellington at the Basin Reservo to-dayCromie, Dooley, Hodge, House, Jack, Jacobs, Kerr, M'Dor.ald, M'Whao, Paul, Payne, Robinson, Spotswood, Webb, Wright. Emorgoncios: Hill, Galland, and Baxter.

. f U U, ! o y a "C -P • w * K* W PH v. Wsirarapa and Bush 1 — 17 3 v. Wellington — 1 13 19 v. Otago ... ... — -1 6 9 v.. Southland .1 — 1-1 8 ,v. New Zealand ... — 1 5 32 v. South Canterbury ... 1 — 12 6 v. Canterbury — 1 8 13 v. West ajid Buller 1 — 22 3 - Totals ... 97 93

O w * Ph ■ - . I' ! 3 Id- *■ - .2 "s "S o "> a d ej a i3 ° t. o o ,a ' , 1 1=5 P- P c5 C5 O Rovers 7 5 1 1 1!) 7 il Y.M.C.A. >.. 7 5 2 0 26 0 10 Diamonds >.. 6 4 1 1 15 7 9 Wanderers ... 7 4 3 0 14 11 8 Swifts 7 3 3 1 10 9 7 Ramblers 6 2 3 1 12 14 5 Potone 7 1 5 1 8 16 3 Thistlo 6 0 5 1 1 35 1