RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

OPENINC OF CUP MATCHES.

Tho Rugby season starts in earnest this afternoon with the opening of the games for the championships of tho several grades. In the senior encounters, tho games- that'will probably attract the greatest number of patrons are Old Boys v. Oriental and "Wellington v. St. James, which are being played at Athletic Park. Last season's cup winners will placo a trong team in the field, composed chiefly of last year's players. Old Boys also have a strong team, their showing against Christchurch on Monday last being very encouraging to supporters. With the recollection of the meeting between tho two teams in 1909 and' 1910, when the collegians .proved victorious, a game of more than averago interest may be reasonably looT.cd for. The Wellington Club should show in-proved foim on that displayed dur'ng the last few seasons. Several now players hitherto unknown in Wellington have joined the club, and there is prospect of their putting up a close contest with St. James. At Petono Athletic ihujl the suburban representatives, and, alter tho good showing made by both team?, i.'. the seven-a-side tournament, a uuA even game may be expected. Train from town leaves Te Aro at 2.10 and from Lambton at 2.30. THE TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Tin order to ensure publication club secretaries should forward teams not later than 8 p.m. on Thursday each week/] The following is tho' personnel of Rugby' fifteens engaged in various grades to-day:— Athletic Club."' Senior v. Petone.—M'Vay, Pool, • E. M'Donald, S. Wilson, L. M'Donald, Evenson, Kerr, Murray, Irvine, Greeks, Rapson, A. Wilson, Bell, Levick, J. Cunningham. Junior v. St. James.—Aekins, Casey, Madden, Palmer, Riddick, Hutcheson, Johnson, Douglas, Duff, O'Leary, Schoch, M'Kay, Agnew, Woodcock; Luone; emergencies, Deihl, R. Robinson. Southern Club. Seniors v. Victoria College, at Polo Ground, No. 1— H. Mitchell, R. Macdonald, G. Bradley, J. Johnson, H. Houlihan, A. Russell, G. Gallagher, P. Turner, J. Orsborn, E. Houlihan, F. Slovens, G. Johnson, L. Campbell, C. M'Guire, J. Garwood. Junior v. Oriental, at No. 4, Polo. Ground.— C. H. Capper, H. Mortenson, O. B. Wetherell, F. Hylton, J. Parker, M'Mann-Box, F. Doherty, G. L. Morison, J. Lundon, J. Walsh, AV. Capper, J.'O'Flaherty, O. Johnson, F. Chirnside. H. Whiterod. Fifth v." St. Patrick's B, at Athletic Park, at 1.30 p.m.—lronmonger, Fog;den, Childs, Tuckwell, Howard. Smith, Tilyard, Harris, Passuiore, Johnstone, Patching, Ginders, Kirby, Chant, Johnston, Gruer, S. Robinson. Wellington Club, Seniors v. St. James, . at Athletic Park, No. 2.—Bridge (2), Hill, Carr, Lambert, Fraser, Christopher, Leckie, Munro, Kirkwood, O'Meara, M'Nab, Murray, Wilson, Sheehan; emergency, Boddington. Juniors v. Poneke, at Polo Ground.— Sheridan, Campbell, Shramm, Hunt, Durie, Ronayne, Gilbert, Wallace, Thompson, Smythe. Miller, Walton, Hunt, Maisey, O'Bn'on; emergencies, Hurley, Smith. Peione'i'Club." | ,'; Petone seniors, meeting Athletic on the Petone ground, will "be "represented by E. Ryan, Daley, Jas. Ryan, Corson, M'Kenzie, Ramsden, Nunn, W. H. Ryan, F. Ryan, M'Farlane, Wm. Ryan, Dent, Price, Aston, Hardh'am. . Juniors against Victoria College.— Parker, Fogden, Cudby, F. Mooncy, Martin, Whitley, J. Moonev, Lindsay, Dompsey. Guthrie, Coller, Moore, Scanlon, Taplin, Nankiville. / . Waiwetu Club. The Waiwetu Club will hold a practice on Young's ground. St. John's Club. St. John's (junior grade) v. Hutt, at Hutt Recreation Ground, No. 1. — Martin, Andrew, Mitchell, Rabono, Elliffe, Enting, Lovell, Fawcett, Dallas, Andrew, Neill, Hall, D. M'Kay, Watters, Crawford; emergency, Le Cren. Train leaves Lambton Station at 2.20 p.m.. THE BICCER RUCBY. ENCOURAGING COUNTRY - PLAYERS. The report of the sub-committee of the New Zealand Rugby Onion appointed to consider a scheme in order to give players outside of the main centres more opportunities for consideration in the selection of New Zealand and North and South Island teams runs as under: "As you> are aware, the, selecting of the above teams is generally confined to about six men, and, as the selectors aro generally located in tho main centres, it is not practicable for them to obtain a general knowledge of the whole of tho players, but in order, to minimiso this difficulty we have to suggest, a scheme on the following lines:— "(1.) That the unions of South Auckland, Poverty Bay. Hawke's Bay, Bush, Manawatu, Horowhenua, and AVairarapa should.contribute, say, each three men, making twenty-one in all, to form a North Island country team, . and play matches at Auckland, Taranaki," AVallganui, and Wellington. "(2.) That the unions of Marlborough, Nelson', Duller, -West Coast, and Soiith Canterbury contribute, say, each four men, making twenty-one in all, to form a South Island country team, and play matches' at Invorcargill, Duncdin, and Christchurch. "The matches named would be against the local unions. After the teams com-, plnte their respective matches at Wellington and Christchurch, wo would suggest that they should at onco play against each other at Wellington, at a date prior to the selection of players for the North v. South match. This would give the selectors of a New Zealand team an opportunity of making a selection fully representative of tho Dominion, and also doinu justice to the players as r. whole. If this scheme is acceptnbln to delecr-ites -these are matters of detail which can be easily arranged by tho Management Committee, but we havoto recommend that, after makina satisfactory arrangements i with the unions concerned for tho use of Hieir grounds, the whole of the proceeds be pooled towards payment of the travelling expenses of both teams. The financial risk to _ bo on account of the N n, v Zealand Un'on." The report will b" discusser) at the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Union. PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNION. ANNUAL' MEETING. MARIST BROTHERS' SHUT OUT. The annual meeting of the Wellington Schools Rugby Union was held on Thursday evening, Mr. A. Bary .presiding. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. Robert Darroch; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. E. H. Ward (re-elected); Selection Committee, Messrs. Arcus, Ohlson, and Baskiville, A deputation from tho Wellington Rugby Union, consisting of Messrs. S. 5. Brown and AV. Perry, was received in connection with the proposed admis-

sion of the Marist Brothers' School to the privileges of the union.. Mr. Brown stated that'his union was very desirous that tho Marist boys should play Rugby, as otherwise they would probably play "soccer," and this would mean a distinct loss of somo 300 boys from tho Rugby ranks. Ho appealed to tho delegates to take a broadminded view of tho question. Mr. Perry stated that ho had communicated with Auckland and Canterbury, where he had found that the Marist boys had, for some time, taken part in all public schools' contests. They wcro quito prepared to submit to any age limit, and abide by all the rules and regulations governing tho "Wellington Public Schools Union. They were as well behaved as other boys, and now thero was no difficulty in Wellington about grounds. Ho trusted that the delegates would see eye to eye with the Wellington Rugby Union and admit tho Marist boys. Mr. Arcus moved, and.Mr. Baskiville seconded, that tho Marist Brothers' School bo admitted. In seconding the motion, Mr. Baskiville, of the Terrace School, spoke for the good conduct and behaviour of the Marist boys. The president (Mr. Bary) remarked that ho could see no reason why they should not be admitted. Mr. M'Kenzio said that he must oppose the motion as- he had done on former occasions. Ho did not know that he could advance any particular reason, but ho supposed he was conservative. Mr. Hempleman also opposed tho motion as ho Lad always doiie before. He fully recognised the attitude of the Wellington Rugby Union, but he was looking to tho interests of the schools for whom the Schools Union was formed, and, as a matter of fact, ho was ' not wedded to Rugby. Mr. Bums said that he had failed to grasp any reason why the boys should bo shut out. Mr: Darroch' traced tho history of this difficulty and stated that, in former years, tho only insuperablo difficulty had been want of grounds. This obsta-. cle had now vanished and he therefore once moro advocated the inclusion of the Marist Brothers' team. Tho Marist Brothers' schools were tho oldest public elementary schools in the world. Their doors were open to all boys without restriction. They were even "State-aid-ed" in so far that they were inspected and examined by State-paid inspectors. Ho appealed to thoso in opposition to bo generous, and admit the Marist Brothers' School to-tho competition. Mr. Caddick opposed the motion, especially because it would increase tho number of teams in the competition by two and mako it unwieldy. The motion was lost by seven votes to five. On a division, the voting was:—Ayes: Arcus, D.arroch, Baskiville, Burns, Melody. Noes: M'Kenzie, Ward,Hempleman,. Caddick, Longhurst, Brown, OTilson. It was decided that every senior school in the competition must pay an entranco fee of ten shillings. .- Tho committee resolved to begin matches on Friday, May 5.