ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. ®HE RUGBY GAMES TO-DAY. The present positions of the senior %eams_in tho Rugby championship con"tests is such as to causc considerable interest as to which team will be tho ultimate winner. As a result of last greek's games Poneko are in the lead, closely followed by Oriental", St. James, and Petono, whilo some of tho teams hitherto regarded as lesser lights, are now putting up great games against tho leaders. Old Boys 1 defeat of Oriental on Saturday last, appears to have induced the union to play their fixture with St. James at tho park, and, if •they can in any way put tho same vigour into their play as on Saturday last, the St. James team will be fully oxtended if, they are to ward off defeat. iWhen Poneke and Oriental meet, they blways attract a crowd,,not alone because of being old-established clubs and the consequent keen rivalry, but because something out of the ordinary in the way of football is looked for. Some very fine games have resulted from their meeting in the past. It is of interest to note that the much-debated five-yards throw-in from touch is to be adopted to-day for-tho first time in Wellington, and followers of tho game will doubtless watch. the effect of the innovation with interest: In Auckland they have been playing the new rule for a couple of weeksj and the public are said to appreciate tho more open game which results. The Dominion results of all matches, Rugby and Association, will be posted this evening -on the window of Mr. G. Howe, tobacconist, Lambton Quay.

RtJGBY TEAMS, lie following players represent (rarious Rugby clubs in matches in and /near the city to-day:— Southern Club.

Seniors v. Melrose, Karori ■ (brake leaves Government Buildings at 2.15 p.m.)—Dwan, Wilson, Hylton, Johnson, Gallagher, Duncan, Mitchell, L. Campbell, Houlihan, Cunningham, Johnson, 'Guthrie, Black, ■ Chirnside. Juniors v. Wellington, Polo Grounds • —G. Warburton, J. P. Harris, Smitlr, Harris, Gray, l'\ S. Gillander,- Morri- ' Eon, D. Campbell; J. Luudon, J. O'Flaherty, Byer, Capper, "M'Leod, Mitchell, Mortenson. Third v. Athletic, Miramar Park—J. Peck, Alexander, AVctberell, Gray, C. Russell, Taylor, A. Russell, L. Barltrop, E. Russell, P. Parker, G. JohnBon, F. Stevens, H. Whitorod, W. F. Pope, 0. Beu. Fourth—A bye.

Fifth v. Hutt, Show Grounds—Amos, Overend, Maeey, Nelson, Smith, Murphy, Tilyard, Tavendale, Haigh, Patclifmg, Tronson, AVhittington, K-oberts, SRobinson, Guthrie.

Athletic Club. • Seniors v. Wellington, Polo Ground— Cunningham (2), Girdlestone, Wilson (2), Pool, Evenson, M'Donald, M'Vay, !A. Murray, Irvine, Murphy, Bell, Rapson, Osborne.

Juniors v. St. James —Aekins, Gilson, Leahy, Casey, Collins, Luxford, Johnson, J. H. Murray, Douglass, Thomson, Gadhill; Schoch, C. Murray, O'Leary, M'Hearn. St. John's Club. Juniors v. Melrose, Polo No. 2— Semmens, M'leay, Ellilfe, Martin, Lamb, Williams, Lovell, Fawcett, Dyett, Dallas, Crawford, Hall, Neill, Smith, N. Andrew.

Third v. Wellington, East No. 6— .White, Clapham, Toms, Charlton, Hay, Ryan, -Murray, Rowe, ; -F. Andrew, M'Kay (2),~Watters, Coad, C. Andrew, Pearce. Emergency: Pallant.

Fourth v. Johnsonville, at Johnsonville —Orr, Barr, Parker, Sutcliife, Slackay, Chapman, Carter, Douglas, Nolan, Bennett, Morgan, Salmond, Thompson, Nichols, Atkinson, N., Andrew, Savers. Emergency: Weir. (Drag leaves G.P.O. at 2 .p.m.). .-'■■■

NORTHERN UNION MEN FOR AUSTRALIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, July 1. . A. Asher and Pakakura are the only two Northern Union Ne\v Zealand, players chosen to represent the Dominion in the match against Australasia v. Britain in Sydney, on July 0, and the pair leave for Sydney by the Maheno on' Monday nest- , , ,

" ASSOCIATION. TO-DAY'S REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. All ordinary Association fixtures have been declared off to-day in connection .with the'senior 'representative football match, Wellington v. Wanganui, tho first of the 1910 Brown Shield challenge matches. The match, which is to be played at Newtown Park, will commence at 2.45 p.m. sharp,- and will be preceded by a boys' match, to commence at 1.15 p.m.. The representative teams for the senior event are as.follow:— •

• Wanganui—Goal, E. Beckett; backs, right Sliewan; left Oliver; halves, right . Robson, centre Waller, left Bamierr > man; forwards, Barrett, Adams, Gilli«on, Davis, and Martin. Reserves: E. Beckett', Thompson, and Webb. Wellington.—Goal, C. Webster; fullbacks, right W. C. Roberts, left A. Cornish; halves, M. Kerscnberg, J. Bradbury, "W. Jackson ;■ forwards, C. O'Shea, W. Gibson, E. Timperley, and W. Mouat. Reserves: Backs, W. Roberts; half,'' R. Paget; forwards, H. Smallbone, Swift. The visiting team arrived in town by the New Plymouth express last evening in charge of Mr. A. Aitken, manager, and wero afterwards tendered an official reception by the Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association, at tho New Zealander Hotel.