FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES.

The Auckland Rugby Union's representative programme is as follows: —

August 7: Auckland v. Thames (at Thames); Auckland B v. Franklin (at Pukekohe). August 14: Auckland v. Poverty Bay (at Auckland); Auckland B v. Lower Waikato (at Huntly); Auckland junior representatives v. Wliangarei (at Whangarei).

August 21: Auckland v. Thames (at Auckland): Auckland B v. Rotorua (at Rotonia); Auckland junior representatives v. Waiuku (at Waiuku).

August 26: Auckland v. Marlborough (at Blenheim).

August 28: Auckland ▼. Wellington (at Wellington); Auckland junior representatives v. Kaipara (at Auckland): Auckland B v. Northern Wairoa (at Auckland).

August 31: Auckland v. Wanganui (at Wanganui).

September 2: Auckland v. Taranaki (at Taranaki).

September 4: Auckland junior representatives v. Waiuku (at Auckland).

September 11: Auckland • B v. Whakatane (at Auckland); Auckland v. Taranaki (at Auckland).

AUCKLAND V. THAMES.

The Auckland-Thames inter-union match, which will bo played at tho Thames this afternoon, is sure to provide an interesting game. Tho Auckland representatives will leave by the p.s. Wakatero at 7.15 a.m., and go under the management of Mr. M. J. Sheahan. During tho stay at the Thames Mr. Sheahan will present H. Hayward with his Now Zealand representative cap. The team will return to-morrow, leaving Thames at 10.30 a.m. Tho following are the teams: —

AUCKLAND. Fullback: Miller. ' . Thrcequarters: Robinson, W uson, Twime. Five-eighths: Mageo and Skillen. Half: Young. Wing-forward: Wilkes. _ Forwards: Herring, McGuiro (City), McGuiro (Grafton), Waddel, Capill, Seeling, Williams. Emergenciesßhodes and Baker. THAMES. . Fullback: Ncwdick. Threequarters: Mcrriman, Lennard, and Kinghan. Five-eighths: Snowling. Half Winder.

Wing-forwards: F. Hayward and McCol.um. Forwards: Farley, McKeown, Williams, T. Crawford, Clark, Hayward, and Miller. Emergencies and J. Crawford.

AUCKLAND B V. FRANKLIN. The Auckland B team leave by the Rotorua express at 10 o'clock this morning for Pukekohe, whore they meet tho Franklin representatives. Mr. S. W. Somefield will go a# manager of the Auckland team, and Mr. R. W. Barry will act as referee. The following are the teams: — AUCKLAND. Fullback: Sinclair. , Threcquarters: Hanlcy, Hardwicke, Crawford. Five-eighths: Stewart and Armstrong, Halfback: Oitersen. Wing-forward: Estall. , Forwards: Smith, Clark, Pople, Grierson, Eaton, Bamford t Thompson. Emergencies— Grey, Marshall, Yates, Deans, Muir, and Tonks. • FBAXKLJN'. Fullback: R. Cranston. Threequartors; A. Cranston, D. Coakley, R. Jackson. . . Five-eighths: J. Taylor and J. Pirritt. Halfback: Haeata. Wing-forward: E. Pollock. Forwards: F. Lauer. H. Carter, J. Parker, D. Markham, F. McGuire, S. Gill, W. Bilkey. Emergencies—Backs, Harris, Greenwood, Fitness; forwards, J. Beatty, G. Carter, E. Fanssett. KARANGAHAKE Y. WAIKINO. The following will represent Karangahake in their match with Waikino at Waikino today : — Fullback, W. Gribble; threequartera, Anyon, McClymont. Dilamoro; five-eighths, Bailey; halfback, Barbour; wing-forwards, Keating, Bramble; forwards, Purdie, MoNeil, Maloney, Alexander, McNeil, Pennell, McNamara. Emergencies— Matliioson.

KARANGAHAKE B V. PAEROA JUNIORS. The following will represont Karangahake B in their match with Paeroa Juniors at Mackaytown to-day: — Fullback, Jackson; threequarters, Gilmore, J. Gribble, Evans; five-eighths, MoMahon; halfback, Rode wall; wing-forwards, Wilson, Purvis; forwards, Anderson, D. White, Meagher, O'Neil, Griffen, Lewis, Clarke. Emergencies—Ryan, Bunting, Sparkes.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho chief items of interest to-day are tho opening matches of tho Auckland Volunteer Rugby Union's competition. The matches will take place at Alexandra Park. Keen rivalry is always shown by members of tho various corps. Additional interest is lent this year by the presence in tho competition of teams from the Franklin Mounted Rifles and Highland Rifles. Tho public schools A grade championship is in an interesting position, Devonport and Onehunga having an equal of championship points. Both teams have defeated and drawn with oacli other, the thrco games played accounting a win, a draw, and a loss each. To-day's match is creating no end of interest among the schoolboy Rugbyitos. Tho annual dinner of the Briscoe football teams will be held at the Tiffin to-night. A. Benwick, the well-known Grafton and provincial representative back, will not assist tho City Union at the Thames to-day. It is his intention to join tho ranks of the Benedicts this afternoon. Mr. S. Hinton, secretary of tho Newton District Football Club, was the recipient at the annual " smoker" of a memento of his connection with the club. Ho was made a life member, and presented with a gold modal bearing an inscription setting forth the object of the presentation.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has sent an invitation to the South African Union to send t>. toam through Australia and New Zealand in 1911.

Following are the dates arranged for the Wellington representative team's matches this season: August 4: Taranaki, at Wellington. August 28: Auckland, at Wellington. September 4: Canterbury, at Christchurch. September 8: Southland, at Invercargill. September 11: Otago, at Duncdin.