FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14386, 31 May 1907, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

ELLESMERE v. ASHBURTON. The annual fixture between tho Elleemere and the Ashburton Sub-Unions was decided at Lancaster Park yesterday before a small attendance, the chief interest being taken in tho junior giimeß. The ground was in good condition, though holding. The play was not of a very high order, though Pengelly, Campbell and Berryman for Ellesmere, and Cordner and W. Fitzgerald for Ashburton were responsible for some good work. Asbburton kick«d off tcwards tho »un 3 with a light wind in their favour, but a sturdy forward rush hj Ellesmere carried the ball to th>- Blacbs' twenty-five, where play continued until ,"W. Fitzgerald saved by picking up smartly and taking tho play to the Ellesmere country. Oldridge relieved with a good kick, but the Ashburton forwards, with a loose rush, returned to the attack and Lanauze scored. Gudsell's kick failed. Play was taken to tho Aehburton territory, but a faulty attempt at a goal from a penalty kick allowed tho Blacks to work the ball to the centre. After a forward rush, however, Pengelly obtained the ball and transferred it to Campbell, who, beating the opposing back, passed to Rennie and a try for Ellesmere resulted. Oldridge failed to convert. From the kick-off the play was again taken to the Ashburton ..twenty-five, and Campbell, picking up well, dashed over the line and scored a second try for tho Light Blues. Oldridge again failed to add to tho score with his ldck. Cordner, by a good run, took the ball to the Ellesmere twenty-five, but Pengelly saved with a timely kick. Loose play followed, and after a good rush by the Ashburton forwards, Pritchard scored a lucky try near the corner. Gudsell failed to convert, tho hall striking the bar.- The first spell closed with each side having scored six points. Immediately after the kick-off play was taken to tho Ashburton territory, and erratic passing by tho Ellesmere backs spoilt a good opportunity of fiooring, and Berryman'a kick at goal from his own mark was unsuccessful. Wickliffe took a good mark in frontof the Ashburton goal from the kick back, but Oldridge failed to add any points. Loose play followed in the Ashburton twenty-five, and from a penalty kick Oldridge kicked a goal, making the Ellesmere score nine to their opponents' ■is. The play was then taken to tho Ellesmere twenty-five, but Pengelly, getting possession of the ball, mode a splendid run from the centre, and, outstripping the opposing backs, scored near the posts. Ronnie's attempt to convert hit one of the posts. Harper, the Ashburton full-back, was then transferred to five-eighth, and M'DonOld took his place. From a shot at eby Berryman, Cordner took tho to the Ellesmere twenty-five, and there a penalty kiok was awarded to the Blacks, but the attempt at goal was a failure. Good play by Campbell, Pengelly and Rennie took the play to the Ashburton country, but Harper saved by a good kiok. A solid forward rush instituted a little later resulted in Ashburton being forced down. A penalty kick was given to Ellesmere, but Rennie'failed "to increase the score, and the whistle sounded with the score--Elles-mere twelve points, Ashburton six. Mr F. L. Murray was referee.

NORTH CANTERBUBY t. CANTERBURY JUNIORS.

This game was played at Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon. Tho game was not a particularly interesting one to watch,. owing to tho fact that the visitors, who were much too heavy for the home team in the forward department, keeping the gam© as close as poseiblo. Although tho visitors had much the bettor of tho actual play, there was a total absence of scoring labilities in the team, and whenever the game became at all fast tho Junior backs proved far superior in combination, and consequently better on attack. In the first 6pell Buesell dodged through tho North Canterbury forwards and paused to Biltcliff, who scored, but A. Cresswell missed the kick at goal. As the match in front of the grandstand was finished, the game was transferred to the eastern ground for tho second spell. A tine piece of footwork by Maxwell enabled Barter to ecore, and A. Cresswell kicked a goal. Just Wore the end of the game W. Blackwell, who had played a fino forward game for the North Canterbury, dribbled "the ball through over the Canterbury line and. scored, and Jordan kicked a goal. The final ecore was—Juniors one goal, one try < (8 points), North Canterbury one goal (5 points). Mr J. F. Poake was referee. NORTH v. SOUTH. Mr J. D. Avery, tho secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union, will arrive this morning to make arrangements in connection with the match. The Otago and South Canterbury members of the South Island team will arrive by the second express to-night. It is expected that the North Island team will not arrive till Sunday. [Per Press Association.] WESTPORT, May 30. D. Dennehy, representative from the Buller Rugby Union, picked as emergency for tho South Island football toam ; has declined the position, considering himself unfairly dealt with, feeing that hs represented the South leland last year, and is this year playing in the best of form. Members of the Buller Rugby Union characterise the action of the selector as strangely inconsistent. ' ASHBURTON COUNTY RUGBY UNION. The junior match Springburni v.. Methven, played at Springburn on Wednesday, was won by the Methvcn team by five points to nil. On the Aehburton Domain yesterday the Southern Cross Juniors defeated the Hakatere Juniors by 3-1 points to 3. The Hakatere third grade defeated the Old Boys third grade by f 5 points) to u. TJie Kaknia third grade beat Southern Cross third grade by 12 points to 8. Tho following will represent the combined country team against a selected town team at Lancaster Pari to-mor-row, at 2 p.m.:—Full-back, li..Murray (Ellosniere); threoquarteivs, I. Cord,uer and P. L. o*r (Ashburtor-"' and G. M'Douald (North Cantorbui ); fiveeighths, J. Ronnie (Ellesmorc) and W. Fitzgerald (Ashburton); half, J. Pengeliy (Ellesmero): wing forward, L. Slunden (North Canterbury); forwards, H. Davie-, C. Howell a«d ~\Y. iemon (Eiksmc-re), J. Tipping ami, W. Blackweil (North Canter bury) and' G. M'Kerizie and J. Lanauze (Ashbmton"; emergencies, J. Campbell (Ellesmere) und S. Gudsoll (Ashburton). Thd Junior Flag game that was ordered to be replayed by the Canterbury Rugby Union Committee between Sydenham Second and Merivalo Second will be played at 2.4-5 p.m. Mr F. T. Evans will have charge of the countrytown and Mi- Peakc will take the Junior fixture. The annual meeting of tho PeninsulaRugby Association was held at Akaroa on May 24. Seven clubs wore represented, and Mr Goodwin presided. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £8 9a. Correspondence was read from the Canterbury Rugby Union regarding forming a sub-union, and after discussion it was decided not to form one at present. Messrs Gray, Thomas, Leonardo and Bonsheen wero appointed a Selection Committee. Fixtures for the Flag competition wero arranged to commence on Juno 1. (Tho two tmbeateu teams in the- junior

competition of the South Canterbury Rugby Union met at Tomuka yesterdey, when tho Tomuka 11. decfated the Celtic I. by 23 points to nil. [Per Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON, May 30. Writing to tho New Zealand Rugby Union, the Union's representative in England says with reference to a visit of an English team to New Zealand, fch-e matter is well on the way, being discussed at committee meetings of the Union. An announcement will be made at the annual meeting of the Union at the end of June. " I think yon can u-ak* it that a team will visit you during too coming year." A letter \ss been received by tho New Zealand Rugby Union from the South African Union stating that it was not thought advisable to send a, team to New Zealand, as the next few years should be deroced to improving local football. THE PROFESSIONAL QUESTION. A FmCTHER STEP. NEW AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED. The secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union, Mr W. G. Garrard, has received the following further communications from the secretary of the New Zealand Union, dated at Wellington, May 28:— ' . '.I have been instructed to ask your Union to hold immediate inquiry into the matter of players under your jurisdiction refusing to sign the declaration, as requested by this Union, and thereafter to take such action as your Union deems necessary. I would draw attention to Rule 2, Subsection 1, Clause 1, in the rules relating to professionalism. Kindly advise me of the result of your inquiry." The committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union will meet on Tuesday evening to consider the matter. The rule quoted reads, acts of professionalism are—(l) By an individual asking, receiving, or relying on a promise, direct or implied, to receive any money consideration whatever, actual or prospective; any employment or advancement; any establishment in business, or any compensation whatever for (a) playing football or rendering any service to a football organisation; (fa) training or loss of time connected therewith; (c) time lost in playing footbalL or in travelling in connection with football; (d) expenses in excess of the amount actually disbursed on account of reasonable hotel or travelling expenses. The other letter received reads:— " Please note that P. Schrafft, on the motion of the Poverty Bay Union, ha« been suspended until further notice. 1 have to advise you of the following resolution, passed by this Union on May 27:—'That A. H. Baskerville be expelled, under Rule 2 of tho rules of professionalism, and that all Unions bo asked to pi-event him from entering football grounds under their control.' " Mr Garrard has also been requested to obtain the signatures of all the South Island.players in the inter-island match, as well as those of the emergencies, to the following further agreement : " I, : , in consideration of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union having selected me to be one of its representatives to take part in the match North Island versus South Island, on June 3, 1907 do hereby promise and agree with the said Union: —(l) That I will not form one of the projected team of footballers which is to leave New Zealand to play against the Northern Counties of England. (2) That I will not enterinto any negotiation with any person with a view to my becoming a member of any such team. (3) That i will not actively or passively he a party to or assist in anyway tho promotion of any'such team. (4) That I will, to the best of my ability, assist the said Union in its desire to put down any attempt to induce any footballer in Now Zealand to make a breach of the rules as to professionalism as adopted by tho Rugby Football Union, and to this end will give the said Union all information hearing on the subject of the said projected tour to England."

AUCKLAND PLAYERS SUBMIT. [Per Pbkss Association.] AUCKLAND, May 30. The twelve Auckland football representatives who refused _on Saturday to sign tlio declaration, signed Inst evening, and Mr Langsford, secretary of the local Rugby Union, pointed out the necessity of tho Rugby Union taking up the attitude it had in requesting all representative footballers of the colony to sign tho declaration. The " All Black" playera pointed out that they had objected, on Saturday because they could ndb conscientiously sign tho declaration, inasmuch as when on tour in Great Britain they had received money from the New Zealand Union itself. It was also ex7>lained by those of tho twelve who had not been members of the " All Black " team that they had not signed because they, realised the position of the New Zealand representatives. Mi' Langsford then added a clause to th© declaration which removed the risk tho players thought they were running. This clause read that "they had nover received any moneys, except moneys received by the members of tho ' All Black' team from the New Zealand Union during the tour of tho New Zealandens in Great Britain." With this amendment all twelve players signed tho declaration. They also framed and signed a letter to tho New Zealand Union, in which they pointed out that they had never, in their long service, abused tho confidence placed in them. They also expressed the opinion that the step taken was uncalled for, and, In their own case, none of them will bo able'to play in the North Island tea-m, but when tho declarations have been accepted by tho Union, they will ba eligible for future representative matches.