FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S PRACTICE MATCHES. Tab A and B teams chosen by Mr. F. S. Murray ia view of the inter-union fixtures of Saturday against Northern Wairoa at Epsom and against Goldfields Union at Paeroa— a practice match at Alexandra Park this afternoon. It is hardly necessary at this stage to comment on th* selection made as far as representative honours are conoerned, as it is possible that one or two country players will claim the attention of the selector, and that changes may be deemed desirable after to-day's game, but one or two matters of interest may be touohed upon. The first is that Mr. Murray has not yet been able to place his hand on a suitable man for the position of full- . back for the representative team, as evidenced by the fact that entirely new players are being experimented with to-day. Howell, of Parnell, and formerly of the Linwood Olub, Christchurch, is to be custodian of the sticks for the A. team, while Riddell, of ' Suburbs;, is to be given a trial in a similar position in the B team. The experiment will "bo followed with interest by support- • era of the game, and it is to bo hoped that 'j one or other of the players mentioned will be found suitable. Earlier in the season • Nicholson, of City, showed a lot of promise ■ ~'in club matches, but did not reach the required standard when tried against the New Zealand team on July 1. The inclusion of ' Absolum in tho B team's threequarter-baek line clearly points to the difficulty Mr. Murray is experiencing in getting togethor a suitable back division to do battle for the ■' ! province in the forthcoming representative • matches. I do not wish it inferred that Absolum is not 1 worthy of his place, as a few seasons back the Suburbs' threequarter- .\ back was one of our strongest and most dangerous attacking players—albeit his defence was not always sound—and it is quite on the cards that lie will still be found cap- : . able of giving a good account tof himself, v ,■ At the same time the selection of one who 1 ■ might well be classed among the veterans I emphasises tho fact that the standard of • play among the backs in Auckland during v' the past two or three seasons has deteriorated greatly, and that the younger gei.eration of players do not compare with those of a few years back. The teams for to-day's " match aro as under: —

A Team: Fullback, Howell; threequarters, McKenzie, Gerrard, Twinamo; five-eighths, •Mageo; halfback, Kiernan; wing-forwards, W. Tyler, Heath; forwards, Dunning, Herring, Trevarthen, J. Maguire, Francis, Wells, Bonella.

B Team: Fullback, Riddell; threequarters, Little, Murray, Absolum; fiveeighths, Todd; halfback, Young; wing-for-wards, Doran, Mcllhoneforwards, MacOormick, MeCluskey, Marshall, Yeoland, Eaton, Hearne, Maguire. V-Emergencies: Nicholson, Gladding, J. R. /Wynyard,' O'Meara, Jackson, 0. McDonald, Oucksey, Warren, Conquer.

: In response to the request that junior football should be more closely fostered and . • encouraged the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union have wisely decided to send a junior representative team || to Whangarei, and I believe to the Waiikato ' district. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, as for some time past junior football has been in a very unsatisfactory position, and unless something is to be done to bring about a revival of interest among the players it is clear that in the course of two or three seasons great difficulty will be experienced in getting together a senior representative team worthy of the k province.' I cannot speak with any degree of authority as to the merits of the players chosen for this afternoon's practice match, but am assured by those more closely in ■ i touch with junior football that the selection made is on the whole a good one, and c trust that the juniors will show their ap- .; preciation ■of the action of tho Management Committee by turning up in force this after--110011, and by training assiduously in order . that they may bo in a position to give a good account of themselves during the country tour. The teams for to-day's match' are as follow:—

A Team: Miller, Webb, Freeman, Ash- . down, Cowan, Jackson, Harris, .Wright, , Hooper, Marshall, Boyle, Dalton, Winter, iffilhs, Woodward.

B Team: Young, Sprague, Donovan, Walsh, Rowe, Farrant, Barlow, Notion, Quirke, Nields, Weaver, Warbriek, Sands, Callaghan, and Andrews. Emergencies: Henderson, Magee, Mcintosh, Hurley, Stewart, Farrant, Vosper, Smith, Brown, Melville.

the district, oup competition. TIIO senior cup matches under the district scheme, brought to a close on Saturday last, were, taken on tho whole, the most uninteresting fixtures played under the auspices of the Auckland Rugby Union since tho ■ inauguration of tho scheme. _ some quarters it is claimed that the distiics scheme has outlived its usefulness, but i cannot see eye to eye with those who ho this view, and would, indeed, bo soily o See the authorities going back to club 100 - hall. We have had some keen and interesting football since tho present scheme wa initiated, the rivalry has been strong© , and; on the whole, tho publio have given the game a more liberal measure* ox supPort than when we played club against ciup, and players made it a practice, at least in many cases, to throw in their lot with strongest team when opportunity otterca. The scheme has certainly not outhvoc ■ usefulness, and all that is required to place the teams on a more even footing t during the past season Or two is to r©vib the existing boundaries in such a man that players of note will be more eve V distributed over the several districts enter g teams for the competition. Ihe I )10^ may be a somewhat slow one, and a •" son or two may elapse before we will k see tho stirring struggles of a. few y ago, but the time will come again. As ™ 1 ' ters stand, tho City team is easily too strong for. other teams taking part in the comp tun, and, although it majr .not be-founo possible to interfere with this club s " aries, the authorities should be able • readjust the boundaries of other districts as to materially improve prospect future years of the weaker clubs, notawy Grafton and Parnell. Right through tho competition it was City and nothing > tie red and blacks carried everything Leloio them, and their strength-lay in their wards. Prior to the departure of been „ and Nicholson the pack was fit to rep • the province, not only because the men we individually good, but because they Played with fine combination, worked pack systematically, played with # fine . A in the open, and, what is equally imp ! gained thoroughly, 1 and were always 111 the pink of condition and ready „ _ a hard game rig-lit out to the end. m the absence of the pair mention, . Were still too strong in the forward d for other competing teams. " itn . 'i; n o Smith in the centre of the threequa the backs made a creditable shown. ?, Zealand "rep.'s" experience a ~ knowledge of the game proving 111 v ' »V. hut when lie dropped out to go. o r tralia, the,play of the rearguard as an tacking division sunk to mediocrity. . . ,] other teams, Ponsonby, Newton « hmtn Shore showed the best form, but th fornianees of the two first-mentioi not always consistent, - indicating ■ there was a screw loose somewne ~ n forwards of both teams were '"d, wQl ,j c y°ry. fair, but they did not seem • ns fl ie , i' l harmony, while in the back djvi

I™ (Qodorately gSfrtSi"?'• ~ s ° me - = and the team should 7 amount of promise, experience. The Newton'T® * th , ey gain *ot, however Z to w teaitt ' play was albeit the bulk of tin seo ?' 8 standard, the field in Sol ftf play , ing ere in seem to pull toimtiin,.T members do not and it was oft In " ? W f l as the might, of the players had nXf °t r j hat certain The North SW not tram Properly, sistently and nlavprfV' 6 ' I ? e d more conin all matches Fn whfnWi® 0 ' even game sttt th?l ii, 7 enad - Their team not forflifV gra<3e and > had the the Shore ieSd'liS if two »■««», better than it does Tim f V6 rath ? outer" and "tH " laVerS ' °™" leS rifling that if +l, a °I s GVery to hope wtogflS'SS ll ■»„»» t tTb\ er ' *>•' vantage next seism! n * 0 ad " Quite a lot * flirts ii 'i Grafton went back vision but' »f a decent forward diwffiut MSLS ZT T? 0 '" 11 ' "i*who SSJ°£ °?;® on tlraso rssi ft, u, ?r i '"'« concealed fluf t'l t' s n °t to be Softball SU^ as a wllol ° is SofolM i.required for senior position at tliA f t ari ! ol l h°ld their usual position at tie foot of the list, but this is the Koohfortu^ 11 - T , hey llave nofc had nf „? fortune to enrol any new players with a ™ aVO battled, along gamely" with a very moderate lot. Suburbs a ter fading to muster a full team on one or two occasions towards the close of the S lound, were struck out, and wisely so as fiTn ° £ i Past two or three «? S>s tl? ?u° arly l , hat the district, earrv ol S ' COuld uofc be ' expected to inff tt?»« i • fl an y l? ros pect of success. Havcerned T Silt i , nissed the teams conattention ir! Ji y onco more ' drawing to backs Ti-nr 6 P °° onooura given ward, »nrl V, past it has been forSL ,« n * ? otlung but forwards, and our S have been neglected to such an ex! S " "*» that ' with six clubs to S , '?' M i urra y will find it a difficult matter ° got together a decent back coming ;,?J'— \ ho province in forthS«fl!!iT engagements. The matoV S° od forwards can not be overcstitlmm'to ™ ?r ust have th backs behind I*? 1.™5 tw h °l lo the attack - and it is to will not th^." ext season somo of our clubs thi cater a mi tie more for the men behind the pack. The appended list shows the positions of the competing teams at the close or the cup contests:—

AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY TRADES' ' UNION. The results of this week's matches leave the competition in a most interesting state, the Bakers being still in the lead, but by only half a point from the Butchers and bracers and Milkmen, , the latter having gone up from third place. - The following is the tabulated results to date:—

The Butchers meet the Grocers and Milkment next Wednesday, and the Bakers play the latter team on the following • Wednesday—the last fixture of the ' competition. Under the' circumstances the union officials were well advised in deciding to charge for admission to the latter matches, ; as both should be fine exhibitions, and' the decision should lead to an increase in the finances.

One of the largest attendances of the season as far as the Wednesday Union is concerned turned up to see the Bakers-Butchers match of last Wednesday, but the game, though very close and exciting, was hardly up to the anticipations of the majority. Over-eagerness was'responsible for the frequent breaches of the rules which occurred, and which robbed the contest of the finish and brilliancy of the first match between these teams. However, the excitement occasioned by the Bakers' try in ! a good position' and subsequent attempt at goal towards the close of the game will cause the 'match to stand out as certainly the most stirring of cither round. ;

..The ,Bakers can. ascribe their success in pulling the match out of the fire to the fine play of their forwards; the Butchers kept the ball in the scrum and did not realise until too late in the game that their opponents were too strong in the vanguard to fear much from close play. The match • was really a battle between - the forwards (though both tries were scored by good back play), and, despite the fact that the Butchers - were slightly heavier than their opponents, their men (with the single exception of Griffiths) did not know enough to make any headway against the clever Bakers' front-rankers. Pierce again stood out as the pick of the Bakers' forwards/ and, though he met a doughty opponent in Griffiths, came out ot the struggle with credit. Savory. played better than ever, his weight being used judiciously, and J. Wilson did all that was asked of him creditably. . Stubbing at centre-threequarter was handicapped by a weak leg, but nevertheless handled the ball and kicked in his usual artistic style. His try was an exceptionally fine piece of play. Greenhough at wingthreequarter made no mistake, while McKeown at halfback defended stubbornly and put plenty of dash into the attack. •• ■ ■ The Butchers' forwards .willingly, but had r.ot the cleverness of their opponents. Griffiths was easily the best, Ins work being of the solid nature, while Harm did his share in the rough, but did not have many chances in the open. Bridgens on the wing was the 'best man in his position oil the ground, and played with dash and juag'Taing. ' who has played some brilliant games this season, eclipsed them all ill 111. last effort, his rush-stopping, tackling ; and running being all that could be desired Purdie at oentre-threequarter was the best man on the ground, and gave a grand exhibition, his fine kicking and running taint particularly noticeable. 'HairFor the first'time 'this-season tho liar dressers and Hotelkeepers ; failed to • .put their full team in the field, and made thai worst showing since their opening match f. ha 4 u tt Sejohn and Aylett were t-lfe best of'the Grocers and Milkmen's backs, a sone Ja orthe Iferdier and Hotelkeepers' men showed £ K,*, White Plant also rff&SL Will now to latter succeed in T|"\ K ch6rs w m be level game the Bakers a.id B on . SSS Th? WMfh.™ the bye next week.

WW ZEALAND TEAM COMPARED' 1 WITH THE BRITISHERS OF 1904. It has "been stated■ that-w jn NewZea- !«»< d " zss r & interestmß to its best, and 4it is «' Australian experts on note the opinio;| ede 11-Sivright's men corathe me - tlm 1905 New Zealand team for pared with the MUD 1 & wril m the England. On til's si J_ How do t [ ie , NeW Sydney Referee say . British team Zealanders compare with t ® f ll^ here 011 °f, 1? u KSwffl&rf ! hei : all sides. Wednesday match (against best form 111 the . (-earn) in which the Metropolitan Umo teai ), ssi boill „ backs were at then top, > i But very smart and the cajdung were, in my the Bntishers aj- better team than the opinion, a slight ym> is not a shadow New Zealandeis. m 0- a more powerof a doubt that the Uttetthaii Mf those . ful team on Britishers, the backs , which opposed the a gystematicaHy and , playing much mo * clayed in Sydney solidly than any " t [ ie British hacks . last season Nevert eless, i : no faster , on the whole were in my I g But the B than the New Zealand by reason 0 , tishers were m°re ua ain making use 0 ; their greater efficient 3 > t ting purposes. the centred £ to "e ££** that the : Of course it has to be i practically British ' threequ?xteis V «„d the New the Welsh thrM ,Sllv to encounter anyZealanders are "i» k ® -. 3 . The New Zeathing better then have & {pr landers are su ards are most unhappy at present /? W^ n „ ia ging. An Eng. in packing and i • ,ft er the match, lishman remarked iU g0 through them. "The Scotch fowwds *»l D^ t them „ Y et Cardiff and Swansea . 0 the team the Australian expenenc.es goo( j_ It has should do - n the forwards, ! shown out the ; e jJ e „ t j lo means, of bring- ,■ Moreover, it has 1 j f ac t, which they , ing home to them discovered until .5* Bnlleod-thT. is that the they Play*," L ijgn side , and must . SiS" ~il" »o ppo 1

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR NEW

ZEALAND.

+ Q^J! e f me i? -Ft the Australian Rugby , .i the ISew Zealand tour leave Sydy lor this colony on August 12 under the management of Mr. J. R. Henderson. The . rn6!3 , °* the players, several of whom o^ ec L , r -^ ew South Wales against the /.ew Zealand team, were published in our cable columns a few days ago, but will bear lepetition, together with the States from „f U O7 , • y. are drawn. The team consists ■ Paying members, as follows: — .Fullback: A. P. Penman (N.S.W.). <3 P Oarmichael (Q.), L. M. ?' mi SJ : N.S.W.), P. Ruthven (N.S.W.), D. J. McLean (Q.), c. Russell (N.S.W.), S. wick bam (N.S.W.), and F. Nicholson (Q.). Halves : A. Anlezark (N.S.W.), M. Dore (Q.), and F. Woods (N.S.W.).': 11 01^ a Qw V- K. Lamb (N.S.W.), A. Bur?m«wW't A - 1 oxlade (Q-), J- darken n\ to (N.S.W.), W. Richards Im w'\ Swannel! (N.S.W.), P. Burge fe W -)> C- rn - Murnin (N.S.W.), E. B " e1 ) (Q-), T. Coltoll (Q.), and B. LuCaS [I^,l, After the fine stand made by the Welshmen against the New Zealauders last Satur.clay week we may confidently look forward to the 1905 Australian representatives to give ■ a good account of themselves against the teams they will meet on this side, and with some of the leading players on the way to the Old Country our provincial teams will have to be on their best behaviour if they are to stave off defeat. Speaking of the Australian combination • a writer in the Sydney Referee says:—There are 14- New South Wales and nine Queensland players. Considering that the Selection Committee numbered six, ' the : team chosen must. be deemed very satisfactory. In Sydney a great deal is not known about the form of the -- Queenslanders. Among those not chosen are a few players one had thought would be certain of selection, viz., F. B. Smith (centre threcquarter) and P. Walsh (forward). If this pair and E. Mandible and W. Ilirschberg were included in the party one would be better satisfied. It appears to be simply a fluke that F. Wood is in the team, for he only got a place in the New South Wales team through S. Wickham being unable to play. Why the selectors excluded Wood after last Wednesday's display is one of the biggest puzzles followers of Sydney football have over had placed! before them. In selecting Penman for the post of fullback the selectors appear to me to be robbing the threequarter-line of the player with the strongest possibilities we have in that position. Wickham's selection is not to be grumbled at, for he is such a' strong man on . a side. With the other threequarters showing good form, he would, one believes, be of greatest service at. fullback. _ Of the players who performed so ably agaihst Now Zealand in the second match Ilirschberg and W. Burleigh are omitted. It would appear that Hirschberg lias had to give way to a Queenslander. But Walsh's exclusion is simply a Chinese puzzle. The following programme has been arranged for,the\ team:— 19, against Nelson, West Coast, Buller, and Marlborough Unions; 26th, at Christchurch, against Canterbury; September 2, against New Zealand, at Dunedin; 6th, at Palmerston, against Manawatu, Bush, and Hawke's Bay Unions; 9th, at Hawera, against Tarnnaki and Wanganui; 16th, at Auckland, against Auckland province.

HERE AND THERE.

The New Zealand team play the Wellington provincial representatives at Wellington this afternoon, and sail for London on Sunday by the Eirautaka. Auckland teams play two matches on Saturday noxt, one team meeting the Northern Wairoa representatives at Alexandra Park, the other playing the Goldfields Union fifteen at Paeroa. Writing to a friend in Auckland a Wliangarei resident says that the standard of play in the Whangarei district has improved quite a lot this season, and that a young player named Palmer, who plays _ fullback, should, with a littlo more experience, go near winning provincial honours. Foote, a tln/eequarter-back, also claims- favourable mention by the writer, himself an old Rugby player, and in his day a very good forward. The Southern tour of the Wellington representative team will bo made during the first week of September. The Whangarei district is said to claim a dashing forward in W. Montgomery, a last season's Northern Wairoa "rep." His footwork is said to be excellent, and an old Rugby player residing in the district says of him: "It is, of course, hard to size up a man till one has seen him play in first-class company; yet I venture the opinion that Montgomery will. go near a place in the Auckland travelling team if lie plays for Northern Wairoa on August 5." The special general meeting of delegates to the Auckland Rugby Union to consider the proposed alterations to tho existing district boundaries has been fixed for Friday, August 18. The silver football presented by Mr. Moss Davis to the Auckland Rugby Union, and handed over to the district clubs for competition 011 the understanding that it should go to the club scoring most wins in the various grades, has been won by the Ponsonby District Club, with the following record:— First fifteen: Matches played, 10; won, ,6; drawn, 1. Second fifteen : Played. 10; won, 7; drawn, 1. Third fifteen: Played, 9; won, 9. The teams played in all 29 matches, of which number 22 were won, two were drawn, and five lost. The total points scored by the winners. were 256, and 103 points were scored against them. The public schools matches for this afternoon are as under: —A Grade.—First section— Devonport: Devonport v. Grafton, referee Mr. White. No 2 ground: Ponsonby v. Onehunga, referee Mi. Oram. No. 3 ground: Wellesley-strcet v. Nelson-streot, referee Mr. Moore. Second section—No. 5 ground: Pitt-street v. Newton East, referee Mr. Freeman. No. 8 ground: Newton West v. Napier-street, referee Mr. Broekctt. Richmond Road a bye. B Grade.—No. 7 ground: Epsom v. Mangere, referee Mr. McKean. No. 6 ground: Newmarket v. Ellerslie, referee Mr. Skinner. No.' + ground: Bayfield v. Remuera, referee Mr. Greenhough. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The championship competitions under the auspices of the Auckland Football Association will bo continued- as usual this afternoon. The principal matches will bo, Corinthians v. Ponsonby (Domain ground) and North Shore v. Tabernacle (at Devonport). Should, the Corinthians defeat. Ponsonby (hey will take the championship honours for the 'season. Although the scores (four goals to three in favour of Corinthians) would suggest a very evenly-contested game in tho match Corinthians v. Tabernacle last Saturday, this was by no means the case. Corinthians had the best of the game practically from start to finish One noticeable feature was the absence of free kicks to either side. Corinthians will probably have the services of Foreshaw in the match against Ponsonby this afternoon. At the weekly meeting of the Auckland Association last Tuesday evening a. Ponsonby player was reported for using unparliamentary language in the North Shore-I onsonby match, and was disqualified for the remainder of the season. . Nothing has been heard during the week touching tlw prospects of the Otago, Canterbury and Wellington Associations sendin" teams to Auckland to compete for the Brown challenge shield. The chances are that the only team will be from WellingThe winners of the second grade competition are, I hear, to be given the choice of medals or caps this year. On Tuesday evening last the Auckland Association dealt with the protest .lodged by Ponsonby against North Shore being declared the winner of last Saturday s match on the ground that the Shore team had the services of an unregistered player. Ill© committee decided to uphold the protest, and the match will be replayed at the close of the first grade competition.

. _ ' : Points:'; P. W. L. ,D. For Agst. City ... 10 10 o 0 196 16 Ponsonby ... 10 6 3 1 110 69 Newton ... 10 545 52 rr North Shore 10 4 5 1 31 50 Grafton ... 10 4 ,6. o\ 35 75 Parnell ... 10 2 8 0 13 97

« . P. W. 1. D. Bailors ... ... 7 ' 5 0 2 Butchers 7.5 1 1. Grocers and Milkmen ... 7 5 1 1 Drapers and Chemists ... 6 1 5 0 Hairdressers and Hotelkeepers ... ... ... 7 8 7 0