ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

-. % —, — FEARS FOR RUGBY. WANGANUI REMIT. • CONTROL BODY NEEDS HELP. WHAT SUGGESTIONS? Tho welfare of Rugby was again a topic last night. At tho meeting of the Management Committeo of tho New Zealand Rugby Union tho following letter from tho Wanganui: Rugby Union was rend:— "That a letter *bo written to the N.Z.R.U. asking what steps it intends taking with a view to improving tho game of Rugby and bringing same moro into favour with the public from a spectacular point of view, and so meet tho growing competition of the Northern' Union game, and at tho

s'amo timo reducing tho players' risk." "What is .tho good of sending a letter liko this?" was tho first comment. "If they have any proposals to mako lot thein submit thom to a meeting of delegates." It was mentioned that Mr. D. Weir's idea was that a meeting should bo called in Wellington to discuss "this severance from tho English Union." Mr. N Galbraith: The position is that we aro'only hero practically to carry out tho'instructions given ns'by- the delegates, and any fundamental alterations must necessarily be discussed by the wholo of tho delegates from tho affiliated unions. Mr. H. Kelly: If they havo any suggestions to mako which they consider will benefit the game, let them bring them forward. "Don't rou think it is time to sever from tho English Union?" someone asked . seriously. • "Sever what?" was the only response to the query. 1 , "You can't get away from this, that the game is getting very 'risky," observed a member. "Kisky in what way?" was asked at once." ■ Mr. Kelly: I reckon it is a parlous gamo to what it was. It would be nothing for tho front-row men in the scrum to get a jab. Mr. Galbraith: What aro wo going to do with this letter? Various views werg expressed. One was: If they have any alteration to make, that is a matter for tho consideration of the delegates. If they have any suggestions to mako they should bring them forward by ■notice of motion. Mr. Kelly: Tho Management Committee havo no power to alter laws of the prame.-anc'i if there are to be alterations they should he made by notice of motion. Mr.. Galbraith thought that the reply might ho : 'more explicit. ' "We might tell them,";he' said that alterations to rules have been discussed, and' suggestions sent Home, some of which were adopted; and that if they havo any alterations to mnko the proper course is to do so-and-so. We don't want to bs too bold with them.

Finally the following was agreed to as a resolutionV "Proposed alterations have been considered at tiro special meetings of delegates,'.tho result being'that cortain suggestions were sent Homo to the English Union, some of which suggestions were adopted. • If the Wanganui Union proposes to make any fnrther alterations they should bring them before, a meeting of delegates by notice of motion." AUCKLAND-TARANAKI MATCH. ! PLATED IN"THE RAIN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NeW Plymouth, September 14. Tha TaranaSri-Auckland representative football teams met at the Recreation Ground this afternoon in the presence of about three thousand.spectators. Eain fell during nearly .the wholo afternoon, arid there had been heavy rains' jester-■ day "and' during the night, so that th® ground'wis 'very greasy and not n day for much handling of tho ball. This' was against Taranaki, who depsnded on tho fleetness of their backs to.win the match for them, "believing that the forwards could, on a dry ground, hold' th«if"l>frtf*nith thg'^lsitliig"^ck'.'- , -i""Th£ visitors had air the advantage'of weight, but were also more skilful in scrum work and in footwork generally. They made th«.'pac6.;hob#ojn-'the-'start,.ittnd kept- it going, throughout. ' . Their, backs,' whilst not brilliant ■. in attack, and lacking scoring ability, were a very solid set, and very safe on defence, their fielding' and line-kicking showing marked superiority over that of Taranaki, whoso line-finding was generally inaccurate. ' Taranaki Soundly Beaten. Taranaki; however, was sonndly beaten, both back and forward. With a little luck and. a little greater scoring ability on the part of tho visitors, the disparity in the scores must have been much greater. Whether the local men would liave won on a .dry "round is a matter for conjecture, but they were never in it in getting tho ball from .tho scrum, and seldom set their backs in motion. • On such a ground, arid with such a ball there was; of course, very little passing, but what there was of it was more accurate amongst tho Aucklonders. Those who saw the teams on tour are of opinion that Taranaki had a ''day off," and that they did not play up to tho form shown at Wellington, or Christchurch. Mynott certainly was not himself. He was guilty' of missing tho ball several times, and passed badly too. Stohr got only three chances at goal, for tho simplo reason that his sids was generally defending, but, of the three; he landed one.. .A kicker of his' ability would havo hugely-increased . tho Auckland score, for shots at goal from marks end penalties were verv numerous, especially in the second spell. Auckland was fortunate in having Tyler to strengthen tho forwards, arid he and Herring had tha hooking nearly all to themselves. During the gauio \Vhitting-" ton was injured and had to retire, Taylor. taking his place. Tho game, though vigorous right through, was not spectacular, consisting mostly of forward rushes. The First Spell. Taranaki won tho toss, and Auckland kicked off, and, from a mark by Thomas, Auckland invaded Taranaki territory, where, as it turned out, they were destined to be for the greater part of the game. Within fivo minutes of the start (owing to a misfield by Hill, tho Taranaki full-back), Murray just failed.to pot a goal for Auckland.' Taranaki wero thus forced, and wero forced again soon afterwards, after a scrum right up at tho corner flag. Auckland kept up a hot attack, and,, from closo work at tho corner flag, Stewart dived over, O'Leary kicking a pester. Auckland, 3 points; Taranaki, nil. Tho homo backs tried to get in somo passing, but Geddc3 intervened, and wero scon defending again, having all they could do to stem tho rushes by the northerners, who wero playing with more method and generally, giving' a better exhibition of footwork. After twenty minutes' play. Taranaki had invaded tho .Auckland eiid onlv twice, and then only for a brief spell, and after a lengthy series of serums and line-outs, in-which tho AuckJantlers generally had tho advantage, the Amber and Blacks wero forced again. Brown, Mynott, Camero-n, and M'Lcod raised the hopes of tho crowd momentarily by a' fast passing movement, but this proved inconclusive, and soon the Auckland pack was hammering hard at the home goal. A scrum gave temporary relief, and presently Stewart made an unsuccessful attempt to pot a goal. Tamil, Young, and ITawfcins then made a vigorous rush, but Hurray robbed them of the ball, and changed tho defence into attack. Play scc-sawed,' generally giving Auckland the heavy end till just on halftime, when Cameron rashly speculated, and missed tho ball near his own line, and Jl'Grcgor_ shot over. O'Loary failed to add the points. Stohr's Chance. The second spell opened with a brisk attack by tho home t°a:n, who looked likely to shake things up, but it did not last long. Stohr placed a goal from a penalty kick, given for obstructing Colman, but, for the greater part of the second spell, Taranaki was outplayed, and tho gams endsd: Auckland, 0 poiiits; Taranaki, 3 points. Canterbury Boatsn. Timaru, September ItCanterbury were defeated to-day by South Canterbury by 1!) points to 3. In the,'first spell tho score was 3 points each. Jn the second spell the home team added

four more tries, the backs unci forwards playing finoly. Guthrie scored a try lor Canterbury, and, for the winners, tries woro scored by Lynch, Maze, Da Hon, Niall, and Coles, Spillnno converting two. Jaeobsen and Dooll were the best Canterbury backs, and Maxwell the best forward. Lynch and Spillnno played fino games among the local back division, and Dalton, Niall, and Horgan among tho forwards. Mr. J. Duncan was referee.

WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES. WAIRARAPA AND MARLBOROUGH. The team selected to represent Wellington -against Marlborough is:— Full-back, Lambert; three-quarters, Daly, Bradley, and Poole; fivc-eidiths, Kelly and J". Ryan; half, E. Roberts; wing-forward, A. Wilson; hookers, Elliott and Houlihan! lock, Gillespie; supports, O'Brien and Cunningham; bock row, Bell and Donaldson. Emergencies: H. Roberts and T. Price. . The team is to Isavo for Blenheim by the 12.45 p.m. boot to-dny. ; The team to play AVairarapa here on Saturday is:— Full-back, Evenson; three-quarters, Ramsden, Jlitchinson, and Grace; fiveeighths, J. Jl'Kenzio and E. Jl'Donald; half, F. Roberts; wing-forward, F. Wright; front, Hills and W. Sullivan; lock, D. Sullivan; supports, Dent and Perry; back, King a.nd Levick.

U.S.S. COMPANY'S ANNUAL MATCH. To-morrow forenoon a- team representing tho local office of tho Union Company will meet representatives of the head office in tho annual match at Cnristchurch. The local fifteen, who leave by the Maori this evening, are as follow :-Orr, Paterson. Gilbert, Young, Aickin, Simon, Leys, Bender, Pickering, Hutton, Fennel!, Laing, Murphy, Douglas, Smith. - Lineumpire, Mr. Brown.

Tho Wellington Rugby Football Union requests players to note that tho team for Marlborough leaves by tho Pateena at 12.15 p.m. to-dav. The union also notifies that the junior game against Levin is postponed-until September 23. Notico is to be given in due course to the team. ASSOCIATION. REPRESENTATIVES FOR SOUTH. Quite a number of Association players and supporters were on tho wharf last evening-to cheer the Wellington representatives off on their hunt for the Brown Shield in Canterbury. Tho match takes placs on the Showgrounds, Chrtstchurch, to-morrow afternoon, and is exciting some interest. Tho Wellington team is a strong one, particularly so in.defence, and as Canterbury is in real "form" a good "go" is anticipated. ' Pye-Smith and Kirsehberg were the only two on Wellington's side who did not travel south by tho Mokoia lost evening. They and several supporters go by tho Maori this evening. Tho team return by the Monowai on. Sunday. . SCHOOLS* COMPETITION. It has been decided tto declare the public schools' competition closed, and to award tho cup and medals to tho Marist .Bros.' School A team. As there is a set of medals to bo given for the team securing second placo in the competition, it is now necessary to havo a "play off" owing to South Wellington, Karori, Marist l B, and Thorndon being level in points. Matches will therefore be played tomorrow as follow: — Karori v. Marist Bros. B, at Anderson's Park, at 10 a.m., Mr. W. M. G. Smith. Thorndon'v. South Wellington, at Anderson's Park, at 11 a.m., Mr. W. M.' G. Smith. Tho final game will be played next week. • THISTLE CLUB. AND THE GROUND. Last evening members of the. Thistlo -Club held a meeting to decide what.,stehs, ; should be taken in regard to taking 1 up' shares in the rccently-forrned ,Associat.iqii. Grounds Company, pied tho chair. After discussing the pros and cons of •tho question, it was decided: "That tho club wait Until the Association Grounds Company, Ltd., give tho various Associa-' tion clubs ,in Wellington some definite idea as to what is actually to be done regarding tho business of tho company and future proposals before tho Thistlo Club take steps in the direction of taking shares."

LAWN TENNIS.

DAVIS CUP PRELIMINARY* WON BY AMERICA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright 'i London, September 13. In the Davis' Cup preliminary tho American tennis players won the series against the British players. The play .was of a.spectacular description. In Monday's match Dixoii and Beamish defeated Thomas Bundy (California) and Raymond Little (New York), G—3, 7—5, 7 —5, 6—4. Tho kills and volleys of the Englishmen were especially brilliant. To-day both closing matches went through four sets. M'Laughlin boat Dixon, S—6, 3—6, G—3, B—2. Larner defeated Lowe, B—3, I—G, 7—5, 6—l. M'Laughlin smashed round Dixon in tho most spectacular fashion. In the last set he held the Englishman 4 to lovo before tho latter had scored a singlo game. His speed at the net won tho game. RIFLE SHOOTING. IMPERIAL CHALLENGE COMPETITION\ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, September 13King's College, Auckland, won the eighth prize (ill)) in tho Imperial Challenge Senior Comnetition, with an average of 74 1-10. Tho winners averaged 83.27. In the Stato school competition. South Melbourne won fourth pmo (,£10), with an average of 78 4-10. Tho winners averaged 8G 4-10. NEW SOUTH WALES CLUBS. Sydney, September 14. Of 13,108 members of New South Wales Civilian Riflo Clubs who went through their musketry courses. 12,315, or 94 per centum, proved efficient. The year's percentage is 90. CRICKET. WARWICKSHIRE V. REST OP ENGLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, September 13. In tho cricket match Warwickshire v. Rest of England, the latter declared their innings close<l at 6.31 for five wickets —Warner 244, Fry (not out) 102. , Warwickshire has scared 4G for two wickets. The match will bo continued tomorrow. (Rec. September 14, 9.20 p.m.) London, September 14. Playing for the Rest of England against Warwickshire Mcr.d scored 101 runs. CYCLING. goulburn-sydni-;y race. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Soptcmlx>r 14. There are 152 entrants for the Goul-burn-Sydney road race. They include eight New /.calamlers, amongst whom aro O'Shea, Smith, and Prebble. Tho two first-named are on scratch. OLYMPIC SPORTS. The officers and executive members of th» local governing bodies of sports are invited to attend a meeting to be held in the Y.M.C'.A. building to : night. Dr. Newman will occupy the chair. Tho meeting is being held in connection with a meeting which was held recently in Otago,_ in regard to separate teproM-ntation for New Zealand at the Olympic Sports.