ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

REPORT ON RIXiBY 1911-12. BY CHIEF CONTROL. HOW THEY SEE THE GAME. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union will be held on Thursday, May 10. Following is the text of the. twentieth annual report, to be presented to the delegatus by tho Management Committee. Laws of the Game. The past year has been a fairly busy one. Though activities have been mainly confined to New Zealand football, certain negotiations were entered into with bodies outside the Dominion. These are. dealt with separaioly in this report. As evidence of the desire of the English Union to meet in .some way the claims of this and similar unions to representation iii matters affecting the laws of the game, the English Union has set up a laws subcommittee, whereon there shall be one accredited representative of the combined unions of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales, and one of tho South African Board. This sub-committee reports its rulings to the full committee, meetings of which the accredited representatives nro invited to attend when rulings of the sub-eoimnitteo are being considered, and may voto thereon. -By mutual arrangement, Mr. C Wray l'alliscr holds the appointment of representative for the combined unions of Now Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales on the Laws Sub-committee. Inter-Island Match. The annual North v. South Island match was played in Wellington on October 7. It was intended to havo played the match earlier in the season, but intertuiion fixtures prevented this. The result of the match was a win' fur the North Island representatives by 19 points to !). Of the eleven matches played to date, the North Island has won six and the South Island four, there being one drawn game. Country Representative Teams. As directed at last annual meeting, tqlirs were arranged for n South Island country representative team in the South Island, and for a North Island country representative team in the North Islnn'd. The former played three matches against representative trams of the Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Unions, the North Island team playing four matches against the Auckland, Taranaki, AVangainii, and Wellington Unions. The two country teams then met in a test at Wellington. Tho results of the matches were:—South Island Countrv 3, Canlerhurv IS; South Island Country 13, Otago It; South Island Country !). Southland It. North Island Country 8, Auckland 8; North Island Country 0, Taranaki 11; North Island Country. 13. Wanganui nil j North Island Country nil, Wellington 20. North. Island Country IS, South Island Country, C. The aggregate results of tho North Island team's matches are interesting, on account of their exact balance, the figures being:— Matches—Won 2, lost 2, drawn 1. I'oints—Tor 43, against 45. While these tours resulted in a financial loss there is no doubt that the innovation was productive of good to Ilugby football, and tho scheme may lie regarded as a success. The question of the continuation of these tours is a maiter for the consideration of delegates, ,Tours. Tho Management Committee sanctioned a tour of the North Island by the Maori football team. The tour was conducted in a very satisfactory manner. Through this union, an invitation was sought from the English Union for a Maori team to visit the United Kingdom, but the English Union could, not see its wnv to extend on invitation to them._ The question of sending a representative Now Zealand team to (he United Kingdom was also raised,'but the International Board has decided to invite a South African team during tho coming season.- The South African Board was again invited to send a representative team to this Dominion, but the invitation was not accented. The hoard pointed out the difficult!- in getting a team to visit New Zealand, as the seasons coincide. Appeals. Six appeals.were made to the' Management Committee. Of.these, one was up-, held and one dismissed, while in four cases this union had no jurisdiction. The Appeal Committee had two appeals on the laws of the game to consider. Ono of these was upheld and one dismissed. There were two appeals to the Appeal Council against decisions of the Management Committee. Both of these appeals were dismissed.

Ranfurly Shield. The Auckland Union still holds th* Ranfurly Shield. Two "special challenge" matches were played against tho holders In- the South Auckland and the Poverty Bay Unions. School Football. The following amounts were allocated for the encouragement of football in tho primary schools:—South Auckland, 4:9; Bay of Plenty, 4!5; Hawke's Bay, .E5; Bush Districts, .CO; AVanganui, .£10; Manawatu, •£(!; AVairarapa, .£10; Marlborough, 4:3: Nelson, 4!G; AV>st Const, £6; Buller, .C 8; South Cnntcrburv, 4:10; South, land, .£10: Tolal, .£IOO. Finance. The financial operations for the year are fully disclosed in the statement; of account. An adjustment has not yet been arrived at with the New South AVales Union regarding tho finances of tho American team's tour. Tho following amounts are now on loan to various unions:—Auckland, 4:550; Hawke's Bay, ,£1045; Otago, 41500; Southland, 411150; Taranaki, .£225; AVanganui. ,£500; Wellington, 411950: Total, 4J5929. Thanks. Once again the thanks of the union are due to Mr. C. AVray Palliscr. our representative in London. Mr. Palliser has shown a keen regard for the interests of this union, as disclosed by the very full correspondence received from him from time to time. Tho union is fortunate in •having his services. Thanks aro also due to the selectors, to the members of the Appointment Board, and to the members of various referees' associations who have rendered services. The committee also desires to exprss its appreciation of the co-operation extended to it by the officials of the various affiliated unions. Point Not Disclosed, [The reference to finance in the above report does not disclose tho amount in dispute as between the New Zealand Hngby Union and the New South AVales I'ugby Union, in connection with the visit of the American Universities team's tour in 1910, and the tour of the New Zealand Natives' team to Australia in the some year The amount is ,£513 2s. 2d. The year *A»vs a loss of 4)93 Bs. lid., brought about, it would seem by tho country teams' tours, which resulted in a loss of 451.1 i fc. id. Assuming that the Now South AVales Union pay the sum demanded the accumulated fund at the opening of'the war will bo £11,218 lGs. 2d., being the amount at the beginning of last year less the balance from profit and loss account.]

WHERE TO GO TO-DAY. The official Rugby Union note states:— This afternoon will see n continuance of the 'championship games, the principal attraction betas: the first meotinß this season between Athletic and Petone, nt the Athletic Park. Both- teams showed considerable improvement on Saturday as compared with the previous week, and there should be a eood muster.to see this afternoon's strnpcle. On X». 2 ground Old Hovh meet Victoria College, evenly, matched teams, which should prove a close game. AI IV.one the solid Melrose team meet Poneke. KEW ZUALAND REFEREES. A iMceMi'g of the New Zealand Referees' Association was held last evening. !tfr. ft M Isaacs presided. Others present wore: Me«'c- J - - M \ 'J- 'V/ 1 - Al Noil.tnn, fi. Siovcrs, J- H. A. l/nigHton. CfirtiiiMtoj Kurt awarded to ilmtitt tt,