ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14103, 3 July 1909, Page 8

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. THE RUGBY GAME. TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. The following arc the fixtures for to-day's matches:—- . SENIOR GRADE. City •v. Famed (at Alexandra rarfc. Xo. 2 ground), reieree Mr. X. McLean. _J Pcns-onbv v. Newton (No. 5 ground), referee Mr. A. Campbell. „ '"„. ■' .■ -, Grafton v. North Shore (at Noitb i>hore), referee Mr. I*. Mn-ckie. . „■'"'.■ SECOND GRADE. City v. Fonsonby (at Alexandra Fart, No. 4 ground), referee Mr. A. Jaggs. I'amell v. Newton (No. 5 ground), referee Mr. D. Donaldson. - ' ■„, " * '„. . North Shore v. Grafton (at North bhorci, referee Mr. F. Bridges. :-;:,.„ third GRADE. City v. North Shore B (at Alexandra Park, No. 6 croufid". referee Mr. J. lVHiani. ' Uanukau v. Ponsonby (No. 7 ground), referee Mr. H. l#nihan. ■ - . , Newton A., Fairnell (No. 8 ground), referee Mr. W. Conway. FOURTH GRADE. Clarence v. Chelsea (at Alexandra Park, No. 9 ground), referee Mr. W. Kcnnerley. , ■' Newton v. City (No. 10 ground), referee Mr. G. Kaiterus. * , ' ,* Graiton v. Farnell (No. 11 jrioimd), referee Mr. F Chelsea. ; ■ '~ St. Fatru-k s v. Tonfonby (at Richmond Road), referee Mr. J. Mcrhail. ' SECONDARY SCHOOL MATCHES. Grammar School I. v. Kins'* College 1., at three, o'clock (No. 1 ground, Alexandra Park), referee Mr. H. Frost. „ Grammar School 11. v. Kings College 11., at two o'clock (No. 1 ground), rcferes Mr. D. fe. Donaldson. ---.-"■-■ ■ . - ___ NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho senior grade matches to-day do not promise to provide any exciting contests. Ponsonby should have no difficulty in deeating Newton; City should defeat I arnell: while Grafton ought to score a win against North Shore. ■.. • . ; ..- A footballer 'with a wooden leg is' somewhat of a raritv, but such is the case (says the Christ- hurch Tress)- A member of the Linwood fourth-class team has one, and plays very well with it too. Auckland s onelegged cricketer will now have to accept a secondary position. Everyone will ■■-.admit that football is more strenuous than -mcket.The Aucklond Rugby Union has decided to make to-day known as "College Day.* The Rugby representatives of the King's College and Grammar School are great rivals, and there is never a very great margin of points at tho conclusion of the games between the teams. The union was wise; therefore, in determining to play to-day's match on No. 1 ground, particularly in view of the small amount of interest taken in the senior games. To-day's contest promises to be as keen as its predecessors. The players have received special preparation. Kind's College team having the advice of D. Gallahcr in their framing, and Grammar School fifteen that of G. Gillett. With such *rood material to work on, : the veteran " All Blacks'' should train the sides so that an almost perfect exhibition -of Rugby should result. ;'' "'■".,'' ' ... ; ; Some humorous incidents happen occasionally at the Rugby Union meetings. On a recent-evening, the secretary laid a telegram on the table, winch stated that the Poverty Bay team was coming to Auckland for certain, and was .signed *' Maud." Members grew hilarious, and. the merriment only partly .subs when the secretary explained 1 that, the secretary of the Poverty Bay Union ' was a' Mr. Maud. " Last week a- North. Shore player, ; who' wanted to tome down'*; from one grade to. a lower, asked to be r* degraded.*' Some ago the Auckland : Rugby Union received itf letter from the 1 Ota go Union in rcfer-jnee to playing : only 3 provincial representative when on tour. The Auckland Union TepJied'to~tho i effect that they were willing, ~providing_, other provincial unions would fail* in with the scheme. Yesterday Mr.. C., "V., Langsford. secretary of the Auckland Rueby Union, received a letter from, the Otago Union, stating that most of the other provincial unions had agreed to the suggestion. The Auckland Union- has received a 'letter, from the Wanganui Union, asking that the date of the match with the Wanganui Union bo altered from August 30 to -31., and offering to' arrange to get the train,' delayed it Auckland was agreeable. It is probable the Auckland Union' will agree to Wanganui's wish, as ~ tho alteration of the day., from Monday to Tuesday will , not affect the Taranaki match. . -\- , " - _ -« •• - Northern ' Wairoa Union has f accepted August 28 as the date for the match- with the Auckland B team, and Maniapoto Union has agreed to July 31 as the date for their match against the B team. The Bclehsvill© Union has accented August 28 as "the da'.o for a match with" Auckland junior representatives at Auckland/ ;,- -t ■•:■ -< : ;.'"•■ - ;i ""

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. h AUCKLAND V. MAORIS. " / A match in j connect ion with the ; Auckland Rugby League (Nort&ern Union) "will ho played against a Maori team nest Saturday. Everything points to a fast, open *.. , game, A and with, good weather spectator should have a treat in Rugby ,5 football. ,' Although this is tho first match of the season f: under Northern Union rules, there will be -'"■'- at least two more,if this • match turns out y favourably. The proceeds go towards formi '-;'■• ing and establishing the, league for next, season. -So that there ni'od -be > no. mis- , understanding, league oflicials state that the sole object, as far as their players are concerned, is to pay them all expense?, in- % eluding broken time, and not a wage for. : actual services. Saturday's Auckland team V will probably include one or. two. surprises, I and as>the Maoris hove ; been training hard, in view of the coming Australian tour, an '. interesting game is expected. A unique* feature "of next Saturday's match will bo the Maori display, which precedes the football- The natives will give representations of hakas, etc. i THE ASSOCIATION GAME. t ■~-■'■. •' ■ ''*: ;^'; '-' .■•" ; TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. The following are to-day's first division ?'■'•■ fixtures':—-AT-,''■•'■■■''>■. r " ■'-'■/■'■' r >- " : '■'.'■ FIRST DIVISION. Caledonian v. W.Y.M.I. (at Kingdand, No. 2 ground), referee Mr. Scott. ; Ponnonbv v. Y.M.C.A. (at Kingnland, No. 1 ground), referee Mr. Quinn. - , . Corinthian v. North Shore (at North Shore), re. fcreo Mr. Speed,, v >'.,>,..< ■, .»■«,> At the recent international between England and Scotland at • the Crystal Palace H the number of spectators who paid for ad--5 mission was 23,667, and the receipts amount- ; ed to £2081. England defeated Belgium at Tottenham r on April 19 by 12 goals to nil. The West. Australian soccer footballers played two matches with South Australia, I both being drawn, the scores being 4 goals £ each in each match. It is a football . curiosity. " ..; Mr. R. Takle has been appointed manager pi of the representative team- which travels South in "an "endeavour to recover the :'■■ Brown shield. 5 ... Two vacancies on the Managing Committee have been filled by the election of , * Messrs. F. Morrell and P. Andrew. An application bv tha Morth Shore Club jff for a replay in the Carlton-Shore match has f , been disallowed. . A theft of money from players' pockets :- took place on the Shore ground last Saturday. "Players would do well to hand i..onoy '-," over to a responsible person. The last round of the second and third divisions will be played to-day. It has not been decided yet whether the rounds will be played as formerly, or whether the 'highest teams will be pitted against each other. v A table showing the positions of the teams "C will be submitted to the committee ou Tues- * day evening next. - I The AF.A. has decided to write to the ' governing body stating that no guarantee -.•mild be given towards financing the South African tour. • ■':.; ' General regret has been felt for Messrs!, (Jrac'iD and H. Mayer in their recent sad i bereavement. ' ','• ';- . The local body has decided to pre/cut ;i '-■ medals to the winners of the cup champ ion- ■? (hip. and also :to present a silver badge to |#f the Brown shield representatives. 1 The decision of the* Management Commit- ;.-.;■. tee of the Auckland Football Association to ,"velect a sole selector for the representative V: ■ team has not been well received 'by the players. Five of the six senior clubs sent -■■ : requisitions to the committee asking them |jf to reconsider their decision, ''end ■_ have a. .-■'. =eieetton committee of three or five- The iisociation refuicd,to.alter, the position, and n {.oviseinicnce an " indignation" meeting ft player? will ho held in tho YIM.C.A. rooms on j i Monday ■evening-. ■Ssr'J-'l'Sf*''-- 1 :' '-'■' "fj : - •: ■~ ■ .■■■■■■■" ■■-■■ ' '."/'"■"'■■■ - ■'