FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

Tttl second round of matches in the A.R.U. district cup competition will, he commenced this afternoon, and should be well patronised, as two particularly interesting matches, both bearing directly on the championship honours, have 'been set down for decision. In view of the important programme of outtide fixtures to be-played here this season, the Management Committee of the Union, at a meeting held on Tuesday last, curtailed the round, and the struggle for supremacy will now be between North Shore, City, Newton and Ponsonby, the three remaining first-grade teams, Grafton. Paimell and Suburbs, already hopelessly out of the running, having been placed together in a second draw in order that the players concerned may not be without a game, and those of them Who maw be regarded as iikely to find inclusion in the representative team may have an opportunity of keeping in form. The Management Committee is to lie commended on the line of action adopted, as in all probability the cup contests will now be concluded on July 9.. This will enable the representative team to play a couple of interunion matches, and then have one playing day in which to get the final fifteen into shape before the provincial "reps." play their first outside fixture, that against the Wellington team, a very important game ■ad one involving the coveted Ranfufly challenge shield, now held by Auckland. And now to return to the events of to-day. Ponsonby and City will meet or. the No. 1 ground at Alexandra Park, and, given a fine afternoon and dry ball, the game should be one of the most interesting of the season. When these teams. met on May 21 (first round) City won by 5 points to nil, but in lite interim Ponsonby have shown most improvement, and may be expected to give a better account of themselves than on th» occasion of the first meeting. Possibly City will have a trifle the best of it in the forward play, but this advantage should 'be counteracted by the superiority of the opposing rear division. Newton and North Shore meed at Devonport, where the game should also be strenuously and closely contested. Newton just managed to win when pitted against the players; of the marine suburb in the first round, bit it will come as no surprise to find the positions reversed this afternoon. The remaining first-grade fixture will be that between Grafton-and Paraell, to be played on the No. 2 ground at Epsom, and Grafton should not find it a very difficult matter to win. Appended are the grounds and referees for to-day's A.R.U. matches: first f trrSHjta. >' ; No. 1 Ground: I'onsonby v. City, Mr. Blakey. No. 2 Ground: Fa moil v. Grafton, Mr. Knox. . .-.. . At North Shore : Newton v. North Shore, M. Slatterns. ' "' SECOND m FIFTIEKB. ',. No. 3 Ground; S iburbs v, North Shore, Mr. Oram. No. f* Ground: Grafton v. City, 'Mr. Greertfaough. *' No. 5 Ground: Newton v. Pamell, Mr. Pitts. ' ' ■' ' .' THIBD FIFTKMS. No. 6 Ground: North Shore v. Suburbs, Mr. Pslham. ■'-'■'' -'''' : No. 7 Ground? Newton y. Parnell, Mr. Sutherland. " v . At Norfchcote: City v. North Shore B, Mr. Lusk. -'.' < ; . : - "■..'/*■■"*!

The first round of the district championship matches- was completed on Saturday last, and left-the final result of the struggle for" the honours a more open question than for some seasons past. City started out fa--vourites, but have bean compelled to give place to North Shore, who now lead by half a points from Newton and City, with Ponsonby only half a point "behind, next in* order, a matter of but one point separating the four teams. The football has not been as interesting from an ' onlooker's point of view as might have been wished, owing to the fact that one or two of the leading clubs have catered almost solely, for their forwards, and spectators have been treated to but little of the clever attacking work on the pant of the backs that »lew years ago was on« of the feature* of the Rugby game in Auckland, and certainly more attractive than the present day play. A strong forward division • is desirable and necessary to success, but it is to be regretted that such a pronounced change of tactics should have 4>een adopted, as the persistent catering for the vanguard has certainly led to a deterioration in the standard of our back play, and sooner or later the' province will suffer as a result. The one team in the competition to recognise the importance of a sound back division, as well M a good forward team. » the Ponsonby Club, and if the authorities had to award the season's honours on points for all-round skill in the game as it should be played, they would easily come out at the head of the list. Let us hope that other of the clubs will take a leaf from the Ponsonby Club's book and remember that their teams embrace backs as well as forwards, and that science will often prevail where brute force fails. The positions of the competing teams at the close of the round are shown in- the appended ta'ble: — • Played. Von. Lost. Dr'a. For. Ag»t. ' Kortt. Shore ... 6 5 1 0 78 .9 City 6 4 I 1 « « Kiwi* .... 6 * I > " " Pon.mby ... 6 4 3 0 97 27 Grafton ... 6 2 4 0 43 J* Parn, ? ... 6 0 6 I ° 116 Babu% ...» 0 6 1 , 0 125 The results of all matches played during the Sr*t round are given below: — May 7: City, 8, v. Grafton, 0: Newton, 18. v. Parnell, 0; North Shore, 21, v. Suburbs, 0. „ r ' May 1*- City, 0, v. Newton, 0; Grafton, 16. v. Suburbs, 0; Ponsonby, 27, v. ParBall. 0. . ~ ~ • May Hi Oity,-5, v. Ponsonby, 0; North Shore, 17, v. Grafton, 0; Newton, 42, v., Suburbs, o.' „. „ ~-., „ May 28: Newton, 3, v. North Shore, 0; Ponsonby, 32, v. Suburbs, 0; City, 23, v., ParnelJ, 0. . „ „ June 4: Newton. 5. v. Grafton, 0; Parnell, 8, v. Suburbs, 0 North Shore, 5, v. Ponsonby, 3- ,-, «. a : June 11: ?onsonby, 2*. v. Grafton, 8; City, 14, v. !:iuburbs, 0; North Shore, 29, v. Parnell, 0. ... « t' „ Juna 18:' Ponsonby, 11, v. Newton, 9; North Shore, 6, v. City, 3; Grafton, 19, v. Parnell, 0, , ~ Already followers of the game are discussing the prospect* of the Auckland provincial team in its forthcoming engagements against the tepresentativer of the sister provinces and the English fifteen, now in Australia, and some of the critics are apparently not without; their misgivings lor my own part I should say that with the material available Mr. Murray will be in a position to get together ft eornDination quite M formidable as the teams that have done battle for Auckland during the past three or four seasons. In forwards we appear to "be particularly strong, and though there do not appear to bo as many backs up to ' topform as in some years, there are still a sumcient number of players j.bove the average to enable the selector to form a sound rearguird. " None of our club fullbacks have ortated a sufficiently favourable impression to warrant their being singled out as fitted ; for such an important post in "big" foot•bail. but Renwiok, of Ponsonby, should fill the bill with credit, as he possesses all the necessary qualifications and is thoroughly acquainted with the duties. For the three-quarter-line the names of li«ndrura, McKentie, Gerrard. Asher, Carlaw, Murray, McFike (if in form! and possibly Abpolum come readily to wind as among those from whom a selection *aight be made, though one of the number (Ashar) will have to show better form than during the past two or three weeks if he w to claim Mr. Murray's favourable considera-

tjon. There are also other young players in the town competition ho nSght prove TquaJ £ *&** Wfty 'J 1 ' 0 a WncW team S«n T !L!i 0 ' and P° SBi blT one or two Sc^^t^'l* 6 ™ Bo >»y «>« found "in r«S»h2^ °' £* *«*«>» Playing for affiliated country unions, but of these more non. W.S 'J*? ha *» no* seen the best of Peter i.« k 7"? S& VI injur y to ODe of his legs, but should the injured memW be throughly sound again Wore the team is chosen I; think the; Grafton player will be found quite equal to filling the position to the satisfaotioh of the selector. Had Merry .Wood been playing Mr. Murray might well have considered the wisdom of adopting the thnse-halfback system, but in ms absence the chances are that the two wing forwards will be played. As I have already remarked, everything points to & fast, weighty and powerful forward division, and if satisfied that in this department the Aucklanders will prove quite equal to holding their own against allcomers, I should have no hesitation in singling . out Riernan as the man to play behind the serum. With & winning forward team in front of him he has no equal as an attacking player in Auckland, and as far as I have seen of them ranks second to none in the colony. My application to the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, to have the weekly meetings of that body thrown open to the press, was considered on Wednesday evening .font and refused. Though surprised at the line of action adopted by the governing body in dealing with what must appeal to all right-thinking persons as a fair and reasonable request, and one in the best interests of the sport, I have no intention of accepting the decision of Wednesday last as final,' and shall continue with renewed vigour the campaign against the closed-door system. In my last week's notes I drew the attention of the committee to the fact that in all other .leading centres of the colony the Rugby Union meetings are open to the press, and that the utmost publicity is courted, and can see no reason why the Auckland Union should not come into line. I have asked those opponed to open meetings to give some valid reason why the meetings should be held in camera, and they have failed dismallyin fact, not one member was found equal to advancing a tenable argument in favour of the continuance of the closed door. The best they could say was that they feared that the publication of their views on certain matters might meet with the disapproval of the particular clubs responsible for their election as delegates, and jeopardise their scats on the committee at the next election. Until this weak-kneed excuse was advanced I was under the impression that the members of the committee were ore and all prepared to let their opinions go forth to the world when fortified with the conviction that they had acted in the best interests of the game as a whole, but I had apparently misjudged the situation. It is, however, gratifying to know that there are those among them who do not fear to ventilate their views in open meeting. In the course of a week or two I hope to be able to publish information which will go to support my contention that the doings of the union should be made public property through the press. A journalist of Glasgow, who has had exceptional opportunities of giving an idea of how Rugby is played at Home, was initiated into the tactics of the Maorilanders on the football field on Saturday, when he saw the Ponsonby-N«wton match played. The visitor was greatly impressed with the style of play, and the vigour and dash of the players, and predicted that if the Englishmen arc pitted against such teams they will experience a particularly lively hour and a- • half. However, he thinks, perhaps, the English team will outwit the local players in a scientific game and by superior combination.

The members of the British Rugby team opened their colonial campaign auspiciously on Saturday last, when they met and defeated the representatives of New South Wales by 27 points to nil. Clearly, the visitors are a good lot—stronger evidently than Mullineaux's combination—and the good reports that preceded them have not been exaggerated." At the same time we must not quake in our shoes because the fifteen led by BedellSivright have so decisively thrashed the Cornstalks, it does not necessarily imply that they will do the samii to the Rugbyeans of this colony { not by any means. Separated as we are by several hundreds of miles from the Commonwealth States, it is of course impossible for us to accurately gauge the strength of the New South Wales team that was pitted against the Englishmen last Saturday, but in glancing through the list of names cabled across I should say that the combination was not jjs powerful as either of the teams chosen to represent the State against the New Zealand touring team last season. Past experience has taught us that the forwards of Australia do not play with the dash and vim of the New Zealanders, those powerful dribbling rushes in which the whole pack goes bowling down the field with ball at toe, sweeping opponents over like ninepins, are not to be seen on the Rugby fields of Australia. With our wing forwards harassing the halfbacks, and our weighty fast scrummers on the move, too British backs are not likely to be given too many opportunities to indulge in those short, sharp, passing rushes, which appear to have formed one of the outstanding features of their play in the match against New South Wales last Saturday. They may beat the New Zealand team, but if selected and put in training in time to get the necessary combination, and settle down into their places, I feel confident that the representatives of this colony will prove a stiffer nut for the Britishers to crack than the team that went under to them in the opening match of the Australasian campaign. To-day 'the visitors from the Mother Country play a return match against New South Wales.

HERE AND THERE. British team v. Now South Wales to-day at Sydney. , The Auckland Rugby Union cup matches are exoected to conclude on July 9. Auckland "reps." will in all probability play Thames on July 16 and the Goldfields Union a week later. Te Aute College team (New Zealand) met with their first'reverse on Wednesday last, when they were beaten by University by 9 points to 6. This «m no disgrace to them, as University are leading in the first-grade competition under the New South Wales Union. ... The Britishers trained well during their voyage out to Australia, and were therefore in good form for the first match of the tour against New South Wales last Saturday. As several of i.he teams have dropped out the Auckland Riigby Union should consider the question of curtailing the. local junior fixtures. - ' The match of Saturday last between the British team and New South Wales was the fifth played. In all five games the Cornstalks have been beaten, The Te Ante College, team play the Fortstreet School representatives at Sydney today. ~'•'"■• _ . The New South Wales British Association team, now on itn way to Auckland, will play the North Island on the Domain Ground next Wednesday. The match against Auckland will be played on Saturday next. A Sydney writer singles Erekaua, the fiveeighths of the Te Aute College team, out as a player who would be selected to play for the State (New South Wales) if residing on the other side. It is suggested in Wellington that the New Zealand team to play against the Englishmen should be in the Empire City a week before the match (August 13), in order that two preparatory matches might be played. The suggestion is a good one. , The Thames Rugby representatives will play the Piako Union team on July 7, and efforts are being made to arrange a match against the Goklfields Union fifteen. The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union is to be complimented on the action taken las* Saturday with the object of suppressing anything in the shape of rough play. Players were warned, and referees were instructed to severely punish players guilty of rough play in any shape or form. . , , Our Whangar&i correspondent telegraphed yesterday as under:— The cup match between the senior teams of the Wbangarei South Ward and Whakapara clubs was played at Whakapara yesterday, Whakapara winning by 10 points to nil. The junior match between the Whangarei South Ward and Whakapara was played at Whakapara, and won by Whakapsru by 9 points to 3.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The New South Wales Association football representatives, who are to tour the colony, are due to arrive in Auokland from Sydney about noon tomorrow, and will open the campaign with the match against the North Island team at the Domain cricket ground on Wednesday afternoon next. The British Association game claims many capable exponents in the (commonwealth State, and as the selectors have succeeded in arranging with the whole of the men originally chosen to make the trip, the combination arriving here to-morrow will be a thoroughly representative one. The North Island team ha* been chosen as under: — . Goal, Dugmore; fullbacks. Cowan (Auck ; land). Ritchie (Auckland)! halfbacks, Renai (Wellington), Meldruro (Auckland), Ritchie (Auckland); forwards, left wing, Hathaway Wellington). Foreshaw (Auckland), .centre. Sale (Auckland, right wing, Whiter-ad (Auckland), Git-son (Auckland).. Reserve: Wright (Auckland). .„ The New South Wales team will come from the following r-Goal, Spencer; backs, McMahon, Robinson, Thorpe: halves, Byers, Hilde,. Timms. Harrison, Condon ; forwards, Rae, Medcalf, Moore, Waddell, Carey, Wishart, • *