FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

WEDNESDAY MATCHES. 1 Another series of matches in the Wednesday contest was decided yesterday at Miramar. Owing to tho wet state of the ground, tho Tramways-Artillery fixture, arranged tb bo played on Newtown Park, was postponed. Tho other two games were .of tho nature usual in the case of the mid-week contests —willing and lively enough, but uninteresting and unscientific. STARS v. ORIENTAL. ' Stars, who aro leading for the championship by about six points, had a somewhat lucky win over tho Oriental team. During tho half, play was even. Stars pressed first,-but somo good, forward play oh the part of tho Black and Whites (Oriental), coupled with somo weak defending by Whittakor (Star), reversed the position, so that tho .Blacks v.'ero compelled to force, After this, Stars livened up, and got in close proximity to their opponents' goal. There an unsucattempt at a penalty goal was made, and Whittaker narrowly niisseel scoring, the leather being forced down. A little later, however, Richards scored for Star, Whittaker failing with the kick. This was soon followod by another scoro by tho samo man, who put in a good run and touched down in a good position. Whittaker's attempt to improve was fruitless. Uneventful play was then tho order of the day until Mclmanch succeeded in adding another three points to the Stars' total. Whittaker again failed with the kick, and no further scoro was registered in'(the spell.

In tho second spell all tho best of the game was with Oriental. All through they, .had been playing one man shorty and it was tho want of that man that gave their opponents the advantage in tho first half of play, After the chango over, however, Stars had their time fully occupied with defending, and had sovoral times to save their goal by forcing. Nevertheless, their lead was not lessened, and .the whistle sounded with tho scores:— . Stars 9 Oriental ... ... ' ... ' ... 0 Mr. F. Crowes was tho referee. BUTCHERS v. BAKERS. Tho contest between Butchers and Bakere may he best described as an unscientific exhibition of Rugby. Neither side could be said to have had the better of the play for any length: of time. O'Brien made an attempt, on behalf of the. Whites (Bakers) to score from a mark, but was unsuccessful. A like effect attended a passing, rush which was set going by Lambert. A little later, however, Salvia gavo Lambert a pass, and, .after a pretty piece of. work, a try was secured for tho Bakers. Tho scorer took tho kick, but failed. This put thp Butchers on their mettle, and they rushed play, from tho kick-out, scoring within a few minutes, Morris converted with a neat kick. .. v '-Tho second spell was of much tho same order as tho, first. Littlo back play was to bo seen, and tho forward work was not .of a brilliant order. Tho only score was by, Morris, for .Butchers, but was not converted. Tho scores at tho finish stood Butchers ... ■ ... ..- ... . ... 8 Bakers ... ... 3 Mr. W. Homig was the referee.

A football match was played at iliramar on Arbor Day between teams representing the cadets of tlio Lands Department and the cadfets of tho Agriculture, Public Works/ and Roads Departments. After a close game, the Lands Department were victorious, Mackenzie scoring a try, which was converted by Heenan. Mr. W. J. Adams carried out tho ( duties of'referee in a satisfactory manner.. WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION. ' The weekly meeting of the Management Committee, of-the ;'Wellington Rugby Union was hold last night.' •/There" were "present:— Mr. E. o.' Hales (in tho chair), and Messrs. P. Alp"e,"J;.'.Biinis t ','J7' Sweeney, . livan, and S. Brown. _ ' ' - - V It was resolved that eighteen players be ■sent on tho northern tour, and that tlio team leave Wellington on "Wednesday, August 12.' ; ' H. Kilmister was granted a-'transfer from, the Epuni third-class team to Kia Ora Junior team. ■ Tho Wednesday representative team, which offered to pay its own expenses, were refused permission to play a retui-n match at Mastertou with tho Wairarapa Thursday representative team. Tho Committee decided that, in tho event of Melrose defeating Orientals on Saturday (which would give tho forinor team the Cup Championship), tho Wellington-Wairarapa match bo played oil tho following Saturday. , Mr.'Brown that Mr. G. F. C. Campbell -(president of the 'New Zealand Union and a vice-prcsidont of the Wellington Union) had suggested that shareholders in the Athlctic Park be offered free passes to all matchos on tho Park in exchange for their shares in tho property; tho lease of which is being acquired by tho Union, as. follows':— Holders of two shares, until end-of 1909 season; iivo shares, 1912; ten shares, 1915; twenty-live shares ■ arid over, for life. Ho moved in favour of the proposal, which was. adopted, subject'to tho approval of the New Zealand Union..

Sydney Paul, of: the Poneke Club, stated that, on tho day of the Btiskcrville benefit match; ho was down from his Club match on account of influenza. Owing to the absence of R. Wriglej', tho full-back- for 0110 of tho Northern Union teams engaged, he agreed to fill the Ho was informed after'the game that as a result of his action ho had lost his amateur status. It whs, ho thought, unfair that he should bo placed on the same footing as' members of the professional All Blacks. He had not received one penny for the slight service which ho had rendered to charity, neither would ho consent to receive payment at any time. Since the match in question ho had not taken part in any game, which ho looked upon as a sevoro hardship. Ho would be glad to liear that lie could resume playing under the jurisdiction of the Union. It was resolved to refer the communication to tho Now Zealand Rugby Union.