FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14453, 20 August 1910, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

THE EANFURLY SHIELD.

SOME HISTORIC MATCHES.

The handsome shield donated to tho New Zealand Rugby Union by Lord Jvanfurly chiring his term of oflieo as Governor of tho Dominion added zest to tho int-erprovincial matches. Tho New Zealand Rugby Cnion deluded to award tho shield to the champion proviiu-o at the ond of season 1902. Th':'. Auckland Union were notified at the conclusion of that season that they had: Ixx'tt awarded the trophy, and according to the rules all match.es for the, shield since then have taken place on the grounds of tho holders. Auckland did not moot with serious trouble in 1903, but in 1904 the Wellington team came North and secured tho coveted trophy, winning by 6 points to 3. In 1905 Auckland sent a "forlorn hope" after the shield, and to the surprise of tho Rugby world of tlx l Dominion they were victorious, beating Wellington by 10 points to 6. Since then the shield has remained here, despite* numerous attempts made by challengers to wrest it from tiro grasp ot the holders. The most noteworthy attempts have been made by Wellington teams in 1906 and 1908, the interest in each match being -exceptional.

WELLINGTON'S SHIELD TEAM. The history of the two teams which nave won the .shield from the holders is interesting. The writer saw the Wellington team which won the shield in 1904- play at Palmerston North, when on their way North. They wore lucky to defeat. Manawatu that day by 8 points to 6. The team wore under the control of .Mr. A. Stevens (manager), now connected with (he Railway Department at Auckland. There is only one nieml>er of that team playing in to-day's match (F. Robert.*). •'■ Sweeney, manager of tho Wellington team, took part in that game. Seven of the- 1904- successful combination have .since played tin" .Northern Cnion game, viz.. T. Cross, Wright, E. Wat kins, George Spencer, D. Gilehrisi, J. Barber, while Duncan McGregor, W. Wallace, A. Melntyre, A. Grilliths, Calnan, H. Driscoll, S. Wil.son. and E. Best ha\e all retired from active service, Wilson and Best being lx)th away from Wellington, the former flaxmilling somewhere about the Manukau Heads, and tii-e latter in tho bicycle business in the Marltiorough district. I). Gray is still as good as ever, and the old Poneko player is expected to bo seen once again in W e!iingn>u as a Canterbury represent a! iv-e inis .season. \\. Jlardham is playing just Olio more year, aft-er. definitely retiring, ami his lonu is good enough to get him a place in the B team. R. Mlaekloek has turned out a couple of limes this season as fullback for the Old Boys.

THE YHTOMOrS AI'CKLANDERS. The team which 101 l Auckland in 1905 in search of the shield was under the management ol Mr. M. ,1. Shealntn. The departure of the " All lilaek" team for England earlier in tie* season rubbed Auckland of eight, firstclass players, wiiile Wellington's contribution to that team was only three. When Mr. .Sluahan was departing the selector's (Mr. F. ..Murray) parting words were, when referring lo tile team: "Oood-bye! You have the best 1 can give you, but that's not much." The fullback was Newdick, he was here the oilier day as fullback for Thames re pre sen t tit ivos ; K. was eeiitret hreeqiiartor, a posit ion he will fill to-day; while others ol the team who will h-e playing to-day are Francis and Maguire (I Jrafton). both New Zealand representatives now. Of the other members o f the 1903 team, R. W.vnyard (t lire-(pia rterl. L. Todd (fiveeighths), \\ . Tyler. 0. Dunning, and Trevui't hen (torwards) h';!\'o sitic-o turned prof,e -lonals, the wliol-e five going to England v. ltli the "All (Jold" team. Todd and Trc\anhe:i are new in Emriand. while Dunning was captain oi the New Zealand team v. iie-h played recently against, the .British learn. 'L.he retire., members of the ream, are Seobie .McKen/.n\ J-'. H'erring. and A. ("Scotty") Btmelht. Seobie McKeuzie is now iu Wellington, Herring has started in business, and wisely admits that football and business won't mix. He was selected as a member ot tlv> Xew Zealand team this year, but re! used the posit ion fir business reasons. " Xcotty ' iSonella is to be seen at, Alexin dra Park every .Saturday urging on the players with the greatest enthusiasm. The other members si ill playing are: M. Eraser (now in Sydney). Maguire (City), and 11. Kiernaii. The team were well coached in tactic-; by the captain (11. Kiernan), and finally won by 10 points to 6. It was stated in Welbngton at the time that ore member o! the Aw klai'd team was ;-o> elated over the win twit. unable lo wait for the ordinary moans of transit, lie packed the shield on his back and walked overland to Auckland. The rn.ie.st ion agitating the minds of in---i football patrons to-day is whether there will be another shield team to-night.

SECONDARY SOIiOOLS' MATCH. WHANOAHEf \". ST. JOHN'S. The Whangarei High School football team armed in invai last night in ordt k r to jilay St. John's Oillegiate School. The bods view Hie Auckland v. Wellington match at Alexandra Park t afternoon, and in tile evening they will be cut erta ined at a dinner .at St. John : Oc.ile;ruite School. 'I he maich will be placed on the St. John's ( dlegiai e Sclkiol trrtiund on Monday, at. Z.CiO n.in. As the teams are about equal in wcieht. a good game should resull. Mr. P. Me\ani"e will act refe-eo. The visiting leain is imtler the charge of one of the. Whangarei master-, Mr. If. E. O. Smith. The following are tl )r , players :--Hocken (catil a in). I'edlingion, If.aigh, Pull'. Taylor. S. Carter. Mctlregor. M'hit-e. W. Carter. Mr Ixinnon, Oarrnih, McDonald, Crawford, MeKenzie. and Hall Ilarilen.

WIIAXCARIOI V. lITK.T'RANTIT, [IIY 'I'PI. !-y; K A f'! 1. —() AV X CO I! I! K s I'() XUKN" T. ] Wir.vxr.AJti'i, Friday. The following team has 1 hhmi picked fo represcni Wliauoaroi in the representative mat eh against. Hikuramti : — Fullback. Calmer; t hr< oqnarter.-, l'eatnish, Dijjnan, ]{ichard.-on : live-eie lulls, Watchern. Ktorey : halfback, Dickey; forwards, Toi. Mel/can, I'rideau, llill, Reeve, Anderson. Codlin, Henderson ; emergencies. backs. Faulkner, •Massoy : i'onva rds, Woods, Jack. N'OTFS AND C'OMMKNTS. 'Hie rotuni match between llio Auckland and Thames represent al ivi's will be played next. Saturday at 'L'hames. The Auckland players will leave Auckland by the steamer Wakaterc al 7 a.m. returning ngniu at 11 p.m. from tin' Thames. The members of the City Football C'lui) arc holding a " iangi in tin' l raining hall (o-niohl. IJoy B"hn(ield. of ITn i ver-i i y flub. applied al the last Auckland Fnion meeting for pcrini.-.-ion to play for Franklin reprosonta(l \ (is. 'J'hc maltcr was deferred. but, permission has now been granted.

A cablegram from I'risbane during the week recorded the deatli of Michael Dore, the well-known Queensland Rugby halfback, and 'formerly captain of the Queensland representatives. Dure visited Now Zealand with the Australian 'learn which toured this country ii: 191)5 under Stan \\ iridium's caplaincy. A couple of minor accidents are reported to liave occured at Wellington last- Saturday. M 'Leod (Oriental) had his nose broken, and Tiiyard (l.'oneke) received slight coticussion (if the brain. This latter accident happened towards the end of the match, find was rather a peculiar one. Tho ball was very wet and heavy, and from a sharp short kick it hit Tiiyard <>n the tup of jhe head. He collapsed and had to he carried off the. ground. Regarding Mel,cod's hrokou nose, ii. i-, a. peculiar fact that, Milehinson was reported to have had his nose broken on the previous Saturday, and yet neither of the players--they are both in Auckland with the Wellington I earn—appear to have suffered injury. Th-cre is a referee in Wellington who is causing much amusement in a <piiet way to his fellows. Last .Monday night ho forwarded an apology heeauso he could not attend i he weekly meeting, and the members present, all stood up when it, was read. The motion to accept the aixjlogy was accepted, <in a show of hands being taken. It. was all done in fun, of course, but the incident shows how the wind blows*

The results of last Saturday's matches at Wellington place Oriental in tho position of being champions for the present peason. The Oriental Club was first formed in 1838, and in 1892 won the junior championship. It was not until 1898, however, that an Oriental team entered the senior ranks, and this is tho first occasion that, the club has been champion team of tho year. That it deserved the honour goes without saying, and it cannot bo said that it lias come to Iho top any too soon, considering that it has taken 13 years to attain tho object of its desires.

Mr. Sid. Orchard, who was asked by the Auckland Rugby Union to act as referee in to-day's big match, represented New Zealand in 1893. Writing of Orchard brings back a tale told the other day (says a Southern writer). In his first match in Sydney, Orchard, as he took up (ho fullback position, seemed to convey the impression that in its last, line of defence tho New Zealand team was well served. The first time the ba-ll came towards him, however, he allowed if to bounce, with tho result that the hardness of the Sydney Cricket Ground caused tho leather to go clean over his head, and before lie could recover himself the New South Wales forwards were climbing all over him. The same thing happened a second time, and the sequel is that not once during that tour did Orchard reproduce the form that won him his place in the New Zealand team.