FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

ASSOCIATION GAME. BROV/N SHIELD COMPETITION. WELLINGTON DEFEATS TARANAKI. IBV TBLEOKArn—PIIESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, September 10. Tho Association football tournament for the Brown Challenge Shield was continued to-day, when Wellington defeated Taranaki by four goals to nil. The weather was cold, and a strong wind prevailed. In tho opening stages Wellington attacked, but Camcross put in good work for the defenders, staving off several shots. Taranaki then had an innings, Egglesson getting to tho Wellington line, but the latter soon reversed the state of affairs, and, after Ash had shot over tlio bar, O'Shea missed a splendid clianco. A little later O'Shea scored a smart goal. Wellington 1, Taranaki-nil. Two minutes later, Jackson landed the ball beautifully in front of the goal, and Forbes headed it adroitly. Wellington 2, Taranaki nil. Taranaki then became aggressive, but Wellington cleared without difficulty, and a brisk rally ensued in front of the Taranaki goal, nothing resulting however. There was no further score in the first spell. At the opening of the second spell,, Wellington attacked, but Carncross, Collingivood, and Stapleton kept them m checks Taranaki eventually rallied, Bullot making a nico run to tho Wellington end, but Duigan relicyod. A little later tho Wellington 1 forwards romped down the field, and Reddy beat tho Taranaki goal-keeper with a sharp shot. Wellington 3, Taranaki nil. Another onslaught by Wellington ended in Carncross saving splendidly, and a bright flash by Taranaki shifted play to thoir opponents' end, Bullot shooting wide. Shortly before . the finish Forbes, after somo clever play, sent in a lino shot. Wellington 4, Taranaki nil. Tho final between Wellington and Otago will be played on Saturday. (BT TKI.EOKAPU.—BrECIAI. CORRESPONDENT.) Dunedin, September 10. No true estimate can be given respecting the merits of tho winning team, inasmuch as the elements'interfered with tho possibilities of passes, shots, and combination. Taranaki must be credited with putting up a strong fight against such a formidable team as Wellington. Lack of experience in the finer points of the game'deprived them of a mim-, her of goals, Stapleton, the hero of yesterday,v suffered from a sprained ankle, b'ut, novorthelcss, did yeoman servico for his team. Anxiety, to score'on the part of Ashunsupported was accountable for > Taranaki escaping. so lightly. Taylor, who is recognised as a good club player in Wellington, excelled himself at his post in the centre of tho back division. Duignan, tho youngest player in the team,' was to tho fore for his strong defence, as was Jackson ,on the wing. Tho forward division lacked that cohesion which was expected, but; towards the dying stages of the game,, it sohiewhat improved. Ash could have rendered his cimrades better service with tho ball, had ho passed before he was tackled. Forbos and O'Shea played well, the former's'kicking from the lino being responsible for a lot of play in the dangerous zone of the goal. - . CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. ' ' . IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. (BY TELEGRAriI—TOESS, 'ASSOCIATION'.) Duncditl, September 10. A conference of association football delegates from. various parts of tho Dominion opened here to-night. Mr. J. J. Roberts (treasurer, Now Zealand Football Association) presided. It was decided to make tho following recommendations to the New Zealand Football Association: — That tho present system of competing for the Brown Shield be abolished, and that, in futuro, the shield be a challenge shield, to bo played for On linos somewhat similar to those regarding.the Ranfurly and Plunket Shields, under rules to be passed by the New Zealand Football Association, and the'proceeds, from the shield contests to be apportioned'as follows:—s per cont. gross takings to tho New Zealand Football Association, 75 per cent, of not to the 'challenging association, and 20 per cent, to the challenged association. That winners of the present competition bo tho first holders of the shield. That, in the case of any clubs or association importing' a coach, tho coach bo permitted to play for tho club or association, but no club shall be allowed to play more than one coach. . That interprovincial school matches be encouraged. ' . That a referees' association be established, with headquarters at' Wellington', and that all expenses bo borne by tho New Zealand council. That payment bo made to representative players for loss of time if funds are available, no player in receipt of wages while on tour to bo included in this resolution. .

RUGBY. TARANAKI V. WELLINGTON. Taranaki play Wellington at tho Athletic Park to-morrow afternoon. No doubt this announcement will come as a surprise to most followers of tho game ( but, despite the suddenness of tho information, enthusiasts will no doubt bo pleased to have an opportunity of seeing a team which comprises some of the best backs in tho Dominion. Last year tho annual fixturo between the two unions was fought out in water and abandoned at half-time, and tho public had no chance of judging tho ability of the individual members of tho team. ■ The visiting .team is nearly the. same .that played against Auckland, the only notable absentees being their popular five-eighths, J. Mynott, and Coleman. Hardgraves, who. is said to bo tho best , fullback at present in the Dominion, will be in evidence, and, with tho reputation that has preceded him, his performance will be watched .with interest. Dive is another player who has not been seen in Wellington for some time. The full team is as follows:— Hardgraves, C. Sheahan, Dive, Buckland, Cameron, Hunter, Thurston, Cain, Whittington, Crowley, I'iikcre, Tamu, O'Sullivan, Kivell. Emergoncies, Stohr and Moffatt. NORTHERN UNION FOOTBALL. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE' TO BE FORMED. INTERESTING INTERVIEW. " Doubts were at first entertained as to the probability of. Northern Union football becoming popular in New Zealand. It would appear, however, from rccerit reports from various parts of tho Dominion that tho newer Rugby is obtaining a fairly strong hold. Interviewed last night, Mr. Horace .G. Jones, manager of the Auckland Northern Union team which is visiting Wellington, stated that 200 players had adopted the new game at Auckland. It was likely, he rx>ntinucd, that tho number would bo trebled next season. Already a very suitable ground opposite. Alexandra Park had been secured. Tho combination which was now on tour was, ho thought, tho finest which had ever left Auckland. It was practically tho same as that which' recently defeated Wellington, at Auckland, with the'exception that W. Wynyard and Gladding wore replaced by Opao Asher, captain of tho Maori team, and Barclay, tho finest forward in tho Native combination. Continuing, Mr. Jones said that in Taranaki tho now game was also making headway by leaps and bounds. Tho team which would represent that province against Auckland next Thursday w'ould includo Hardgravc3, the crack full-back, Coleman, tho Now Zealand representative player, and Frowin, a local representative, and the other players would be drawn from the senior teams thero. Northern Union football also seemed to bo very popular in Wellington, and from what ho had beard it was not unlikely that a great number of tho senior and lower-grade players would secede from tho ranks of the amateur Rugby teams beforo next season. If grounds were secured the success of tho new gamo was assured in Wellington. It was with a viow of interfering with the takings at tho mtitch between Auckland and Wellington at Petono to-morrow that the match Wellington v. Taranaki on the Athletic Fork had

been arranged. Ho doubted whether Hardgraves and Coleman, who it was stated would bo members of the Taranaki team, would make the trip. On Saturday evening, a CQnforeneo would, Mr. Jones continued, be held in Wellington for the purpose of forming a New Zealand Rugby League. Delegates would be present from Auckland, Palmerston, Wellington, Dunodin, and Invercargill. It was probable that tho gamo would bo established on an amateur basis, with payment °f out-of-pocket oxpenses. Another subject for discussion would be the establishment of a sound accident insurance scheme. WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. Considerable interest is being manifested in the match under Northern L'nion rules between Auckland and Wellington at Petone to-morrow. Following are the teams:— Wellington.—George Spencer, Tyne, Instone, Toohill, House, Barber, Kelly, liile, Gilchrist, J. Spencer, King, Knight, and M'Gill. Auckland.—Riley, Rowe, Delamore, Redwood, Tyler, Asher, R, Wynyard, Dunning, Mackrell, Trevartlien, Hooper, Barclay, and M'Donnld.