ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8556, 2 May 1891, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

FOOTBALL.

The proposal for the division of Auckland into districts, with a club for each, still hangs fire, and though it evoked a good deal of discussion at the general meeting on Friday last, the matter is no further advanced than at first. There is, as I have before ..mentioned, a strong dislike on the part of old club men to split up the institutions which they Have helped to build up, and been connected with for years, but a few minutes' quiet thought on the question must convince them that the proposed innovation will do a great deal for the welfare and progress of the Rugby game in the immediate future, and it therefore behoves them to sink their private feelings, and join heartily in the endeavour to raise strong teams in each of the districts. The trimming measures which were advocated by Mr. Hyams met with a good deal of favour from those present, and they seem, doubtless, plausible enough at first, but actually they leave matters exactly as they now stand at present. The effect of allowing all present members of existing clubs to play for the same club under the district system, and in future to allow recruits to be drawn only from within the boundaries of that district, would be a first-class compromise if we only had enough senior clubs. The change was however proposed, purely with this end, and if the existing clubs are to keep the players which they now have drawn from several districts, in which no clubs are now formed, these divisions would be unable to raise a team of anything like senior strength. I can illustrate my argument better by showing how it would affect, say the Newton district ; the Ponsonby and Auckland clubs between them now possess about ten residents of the Newton distriet playing for them as seniors ; what chance would Newton have of raising a fifteen representative of the district if these ten were to still play in opposition to it? The same argument holds good in regard to city, Grafton, and other districts, and proves very conclusively that if there are to be district clubs there must be no half measures, but a thorough change. The matter is now in the hands of the players themselves, and if they reflect, they must see that if the proposed alteration proves to be impracticable, their existing clubs will suffer no harm, as the experiment would cease at the conclusion of the trial season, and next year they could resume on the old basis.

Owing to the main ground not being ready for play the Union has decided to postpone the start of the Cup matches till the 9th inst. The majority of the club will not be sorry as all will be better for more practice. The news that the draw for matches brings those two old rivals Ponsonby and Grafton, together on the first Saturday, has been received with pleasure bv all followers of the game, and there will be sure to be a good attendance at Epsom next Saturday to see the contest. I predict it will be a most interesting one, as both clubs have strong fifteens to place in the field. Ponsonby's forwards are almost the same as last year, and their back division, though it has had several changes, is a clever one. Grafton, behind the scrum, has also several new men, but these will, I fancy, prove an improvement, while as of yore their forward team is a heavy and fast one. • I am glad to notice that the vice-presidents of the maroons have showed their interest in the game and in their club by offering several trophies for proficiency in the various branches of the game. A prize has been offered for the best dribbler, the best allround back, and the best " potter." The Union is endeavouring to secure the services of a number of gentlemen who will act as referees during the season, and is inviting any willing to undertake . the duties to send in their names. It is to be hoped that they will secure sufficient to go over all the matches.

Messrs. J. Arneil, E. McCausland, and O. Wells have been chosen as the match committee for the year, and I don't think anyone will be heard growling at the selection. This trio will have the selection of all interprovincial teams and the general control of all doings of the Auckland " reps." At the A.R.U. meeting a strong opinion was expressed that they should make a point of being present every Saturday, so that they will be duly conversant with the form displayed by individual players. One of the committee has expressed his intention of playing in practice matches in the scrums to see who is working there and who is "loafing," so that the forwards will need to do no shirking. It is very probable that during the present season the practice in vogue in England of abolishing umpires will be adopted, the sole power being left in the hands of the referee. This system has been used in England this year, and has been found to be an improvement upon the old. The only assistants the referee has are two touch judges,, and these are responsible only for locating the place where the ball goes out of play. The recent big matches Bradford v. Blackheath and Oxford v. Cambridge were played with the officials as a bove.

Secretaries of all football clubs, particularly juniors, are requested to notice that a column will be opened in the Herald every Friday morning for the publishing of the names of teams, so that all lists must be sent in early on Thursday evening. All playing teams will be included if sent in time. It is anticipated that there will be very active practising this afternoon 1 at Epsom. The Auckland and Grafton clubs have arranged a scratch match, while Ponsonby and Gordon will indulge in practice amongst their own members.

Jervois will take a trip to Panmuro to play the local club, and will leave Ponsonby Three Lamps at 2 p.m. The following players have been picked for the town club : —Worms, Fairweather, Gibbons, Bell, Greenhough, Lonergan, Farquhar, Jackson, Warner, Griffin, Corbett (2), I). Kelly, Gray, Lowry, Cobraugh, Hales, Miller (captain)! Griffiths, Gill, Carlaw. ' Gordon 11. have arranged a fixture with Orient, and will be represented by the following : — Atkinson, Airey, Adcock, Barnes, Belcher, Briton, Dickie, Duffin, Hammond (captain), Hawkins, Meldrum, Morton, Dacre, McCorinick, Wynyard, Ramsey. Boone.

MISCELLANEOUS. The cricketers are still lingering over the finish of their programme of cup matches, but interest has been: almost wholly transferred to doings in the football field, though the result of the Auckland-Gordon fixture should prove exciting, that is if the game be played out by the full strength of each club. The English Southern Counties Crosscountry Club championship was run on February 21st, at the National Athletic grounds, l Kensal Rise. After a great race Kibblewhite, of the Spartan Harriers, finished first. The order and time of the first six men being :

in. s. 1. Kiliblewhite, Spartan Harriers .. 59 57 2-5 2. A. Bruce, Finchley 60 2 3. JH. A. Heath, South London .. 1 _ 4. Sid. Thomas, Ranelagh .. /60 7 5. K. J. Dermott, Polytechnic .. 60 49 ' 6. S. Swaitt, Spartan.. .. „ 6111

T he result of the running was to deprive «, Spartan Club of the championship Ti n li he heading them by one point. The nine y noting clubs were placed as follow - C ° m " mehley; 2. Spartan Harriers- 3 pi heath ; 4, Polytechnic : 5, South'London'fi lighgate; 7, Lea, Ranelagh, and Cavendish'

This afternoon, which is the last dav the season for the Helen and Epsom J 0 Tennis Club, the following matches willfT' place Miss Hitchings, of Hawke'a p who beat our Auckland champion \r y Mowbray, at Parnell a fortnight play a friendly match against Miss Sni Messrs. Patterson and Sullivan, ot "tti« \v 3 End Club, will play Messrs. Carr and Ar esl farlane, of the Eden Club. Visitors will 1° heartily welcomed by the club, and re»il J during the afternoon with a cup of tea The , Manhattan Athletic Club of V York proposes to send a representative w of athletes to the English chamnionsh;,? next June. If a New Zealand team had en home this year, the pick athletes of En* land, America, and New Zealand wonS have been competitors on a common meeti ground. _ Jasos.