FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SOME INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS OF THE SECOND TEST. MR. HARNETT. "It was a splendid game," said tho mana- ■ ger of the British team, referring to * tho second Test match. "It was fought in tho best spirit, but I was very disappointed that we (tho bottor. side) were unable to gain tho victory we so woll doservod. Our men played at their best, every man of them. I am glad that they put up such a good fight, bccauso I was sure whon we left England that they would justify the English Ilugby Union in sending the team out hero to the Dominion."

r CAPTAIN HARDING. Captain Harding said that the British .fifteen was practically, the strongest, sido /which they could put in the field. The 4eam as a whole adapted themselves better ■, to the unfavourable conditions than the New Zealanders. Hs might mention .that his men were juofc ; as keen for a dry ground as their opponents may have beon. The visiting forwards seen red thfe ball most frequently,, and their dribbling was of a high order. 'Their showing in the looso was a decided ' improvement on their display in the first Tost, The backs, from tho half to the full back, played oxcellontly, thoir fielding being particularly fine. Jackott's kicking ■ was exceptionally good'. It was not untu • 3 o'clock on Sunday that Vassall again became thoroughly conscious. The only other 'injured member of tho team who had not recovered was Dibble, who was suffering as ■£. result of a kick on tho kneel It was probable that ho would not bo able to play I'again for a fortnight.

NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN. Hunter, the captain of the New Zealand fifteen, said that the ball could not havo been moro difficult to handlo. Now Zealand ; would havo shown to bettor advantage had tho conditions been moro favourable. Thoro could bo no doubt that tho Britishers played a bettor gamo than thoy did in Dunedin. ■ The respective teams wero, in his opinion, ovonly matched. As things happened, the visitors gained an advantago by playing eight men in tho scrum. THE REFEREE. : The roforeo, Mr. A. Campbell (of Auckland) thought that both sides gave excellent disconsidering tho state of tho ground. In his opinion the British forwards wero snporior to tho New Zoaland vanguard. The British bcck» also fielded and kicked slightly bettor than the Now Zoaland rearguard. If anything, tho visitors deserved to win. Tho mishaps were due entirely to the condition of tha field. Rough pl«y was conspicuously absent. E. J. JACKETT. "Considering tho state of the ground, it v, - as a magnificent forward gamo." This was the opinien of Jackott, who, continuing, said that tho Britishers liad haad luck in not winning.. In rierr of tho fact that the visiting pack secured tho ball eight timesout of ton , ho was under tho. impression that had tho ground been dry tho Britishers would -. mostly cortainly have won. Tho Britishers' were, he thought* a superior Bide

to that which mot New Zealand in tho first Test. There did not appear to be much differenco between tho' team which represented New Zealand in the first Test and that which did battlo for tho Dominion on Saturday. RECEPTION AT NAPIER. (BY TELEGRAM. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Napier, June 29. The British football team arrifed from Wellington this ovoninc, and had a_ cordial reception from the Rugu.v Union officials and footballers generally. Thoro is heavy booking of sents for the match on Wednosday, and the weather has been fine for somo days. The following is tho British team to meet Hawko's Bay:—Full back, Dyko; throequarters, J. L. Williams, J. P. Jones, J. Tnan Jones, and Chapman; half-backs, Laxon and G. L. Williams; forwards, Harding, Morgan; Oldham, F. L. Williams, Thomas, Smith, Ritson, Green. INTER-STATE. QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES DRAW. BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Brisbane, Juno 29. Tho return' Rugby match, Queensland v. Now South Wales, resulted in a draiy--nine points each. WELLINGTON REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. . FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. , A meoting of tho Wellington Referees' Association was held last evening, Mr. F. A. Laws presiding. Two complaints wero received from the Wellington Rugby Union of referees having failed to turn up for matches they were set down to control. Sevoral t speakers expressed the opinion that too many matches, wero lapsing through tho referee appointed failing to turn out. Tho matter of what should bo dono in tho caso of a man who/failed to attend without giving notice was discussed, and a suggestion was thrown out that members should bo called upon to explain their absenco to tho committeo. One of tho referees concerned in ono of tho complaints made, an explanation which was deemed satisfactory. The secretary was instructed to write to tho other referee asking him for an explanation. Tho chairman urged upon members the necessity of fulfilling their engagements. Tho Petone Association wrote asking if it was legal for a half-back to get the ball from the scrum and run into the scrum for protection or anything else. After somo discussion it was moved that a free kick bo given if the half-back carries tho ball back tho scrum. Tho chairman ruled tho motion out of order, and it was resolved to forward,-the query on to tho New Zealand Association for a ruling. ' Referring to tho matter/of tho Classification Committee, which /was discussed at length at the previous' meeting, the secretary said he had approached a number of tho senior. reforeos, but liono of' them could see : their way clcar to act on tho committee. The ohairman called for nominations, and Mr. Card wa3 duly proposed, but lie declined to accopt officc. Mr. Sievors urged the old committeo to reconsider its determination and to stand again.

Sir. Bell also argued that the committee should take office again, and ho considered tho meeting should ask the committee to hold office until the end of tho year. Threo other speakers pointed t out that' the Classification • Committeo had'been blamed whon the Appointment Board was at fault for not having given tho members of the Classification Committeo time to do their work.

Mr. Brown urged that petty jealousy between tho senior and junior referees should be dropped, and that-tho nleeting should look at the mattor from tho broad standpoint of the Association./'

Mr. Laws said he could see there was a deadlock,'and personally ho was prepared to meet . tho..gathering , half way,-.,and,.-for tho sake of the Association, he would bo willing to go back and do his duty if tho old committee was re-elected.; ' The motion that the old committee, Mossrs. Laws, Condor, and Weybourne, be re-elected, was put to tho meeting and . carried without a dissentient voice. ' f Tho following referees havo been appointed to act in nest Saturday's games:— Senior. - Petone v. Athletic, Athletic Park, No. 1, P.. Mackio; Poneke v. Southern/Athletic Park, No. 2, J. Condor; Wellington v.;Molrose, Miramar Park, No. 1, W. Roberts:; Victorifi College v. St. James, Miramar Park, No'. 3, W. p'Connell; Oriental v. Old ,'Boys, Petone; No. 1, J. Francis. " • • ' . ; j Junior, -f Athletic v. Old Boys, Polo, No. '2, T. Seivers: Oriental v. Petone, Petone, No. 2, H. Card; Ponoke v. Melrose, Polo, No. 1, C. Bell; Victoria College, v. Selwyn,. P010,,N0. 4, J. Brown;: Kia Ora vl Wellington, Hutt, No. 1, F. C. Atkinson; Southern v. St. James, Polo, No. 3, T. Quinn. .* » Third-class "A."-—Wellington College v. Joliiisonville, "Wellington- Collcgo ground, W. Spencer'; Potono v. Athlotic, Petohd, No. 3j J. Weybourne v.- St* James, Easts, No.' 1, R1 Seivors; Poljiiil v. St. John's, Easts, No. 2, J. J. Mahoney. Third-class "B." —Epuni v. Wellington, Hutt, No. 3, J. D, Fraser; Kia Ora- v. Selwyn, Hutt, No. 2, R. Greenwood; Melrose v. Star Boating, Junction; No., 2, T. H. Jonos; Poneks v. Karori, Karori, J. Hannan; Victoria College v. Railways, Easts, No. 4 F. Larway. Fourth-class.—Athletic v., Epuni, Epunij No. 1, H. Johnston; Melrose v. Wellington, Berhampore, A. Thompson; Selwyn v. Oriental, Easts, No. 5, J. lnkorsell; St. James v. Petone, Petone, No. 4, J. Collins; Polhill v. Old.Boys, Easts, No. G, E. Carman; Poneke v. Southoni, Easts, No. 7, 'F. Martin ; St; John's, a bye. Fifth-class.—Athletic "A" v. Wellington College "A," Wellington College, 3 p.m., H, Summerhays; Petone v. Boys' Institute; Nowtown Park, F. Summerhays; Epuni v. Athletic "B," Epuni, No. 2; T. J. Nuttall; Southern v. St. James, Junction, No. 1, It. Forfyco; Selwyn v. Wellington College "B," Wellington College, ,1.45 p.m., J. Slines. Referees for Wednesday are-Nowtown Park, W. F.'Hornig; Polo, No.'2, W. G. Talbot; Polo, No. 3, A. Moeller.