FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14958, 3 April 1912, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The City Club's team to play Athletic in Wellington on Saturday will bo as follows : —Fullback, Fitzgerald ; trcequarters, Stewart, Power, lfwerson; five-eighths, Barclay, R. Ma gee; halfback. Thomas; wing-forward, S. Magee; forwards. Forsyth, Poutney, Campbell, Bruce, Desmond, Rasmusseu, Gallagher, The annual general meeting of the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Club will be held at the chibroom to-morrow evening, at eight o'clock. Members and intending members are invited to attend. London Hospital defeated Oxford in February by three tries to a goal ami a try. A. C. Palmer, t!w New Zoalander, played a groat game for the hospital. A number of prominent New Zealand players an* joining the Glebe Club, the run-ners-tip for the Rugby championship in Sydney last year (writes" our Sydney correspondent). Seven have already been included in the senior team, their names being: Wvhe. Walters and BucHanan (formerly of the City Club, Auckland), Eraser (Coldfields), -darken (Thames). Wogan (Poneke, Wellington), and Adams (Wellington). Endean (formerly of Parnell) will probably also be selected.

The Auckland Rugby Referee* Associationthe new body—has about 30 members'At present, an "increase of six or eeve*> .on the number at the end of last season: Referring to the standard of Canterbury football last year. Mr. ¥■ i. EVans, who presided at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby-Union, stated that the standard of one or tiro Of the province's representative teams last year was deplorable, and certainly not up to ''the' standard of the province. lie did. Y.ot blame the players, nor the select but all of them, .including the executive!, for not taking enough interest in the f teams. "Our men played a clean,.honest• game," continued Mr. Evans, "but they don't, put enough spirit into it. We must find some way of improving, matters, especially if we -wish to retain the support of the public. The way pur men played against Taranaki and Wellington last year was simply awful."' Mr. C. Lafferty suggested that if the union gave money towards obtaining training-rooms for the clubs, it would do a great deal of good, because by helping the clubs the union would be "helping itself. This remark met with general approval. The uart which pate plays in modern Rugby football has rarely been more fully demonstrated than in the match between England and Wales (says an English writer). Many excellent judges have attributed the defeat of Wales solely to the superior pace and greater individual excellence of the English threeqnarter-backs. They certainly made most intelligent use of their pace in defence, but their excessive indulgence in tie high punt into the open was checkmated by the wonderfully intelligent anticipation of Bancroft, and Ids equally wonderful fielding helped to make the plan ineffective. A more remarkable display of fidlback play in terms of the modern idea has perhaps never been given by any back. Against any other back the device might possibly have, proved profitable, but. an understanding was lacking between the English backs, and more than one kick ahead was not followed up except by the kicker. It may well be doubted whether there ever was an .international in which "less combination and less understanding were shown by two clever ami experienced divisions. Colin Gilray has been chosen by Scotland to play in the International against Ireland (wrote our London correspondent on February 21}. The Morning Post remarks: — "The bringing in of Colin Gilray to play inside to J. G. Will, the brilliant Cambridge left wing, should be a success. Wo all remember what Gilray did for Poulton in the University match at Queen's Club three peasons ago. In the glamour of the Poulton and Martin, scoring powers sufficient credit was never given to Gilray and Cunningham for their shcro in that great Oxford victoryAt. Richmond last Saturday (iilray showed that he has not been forsaken by cither his genius or his soundness in centre threequarterback play." There is immense faith -in the great Scottish packthe best that Scotland has had for some seasons.

CITY CLUB'S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho City Rugby Football Club was held in the training hall last night. Mr. M. J. Sheahan presided over a largo attendance of members. The following officers were elected: — Patron, tho Hon. A. M. Myers; president, Mr. A. E. plover, M,P.;' vice-presidents, last year's re-elected, with the addition of Messrs- Btagpoole, Koache, ,D. Stewart, and J. Rutledgo; hon. secretary, Mr. J. Mulvihill; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. H. Skinner; committee, Messrs. A. MoHhone, W. Arnold, J. H. Pagni, J. Maguire, W- Heath, It. Magee, J. Hoare, A. Bonella, and J. D. Stewart; auditors, Messrs. A. Power and E. Lye; delegates to Auckland Rugby Union, Messrs. M. J. Sheahan, A. Bonella., J. Mulvihill; club captain. Mr. (J. A. Tyler. It was decided to place on record the club's appreciation of Mr. Donaldson's 13 years of valuable service to the club as secretary. Mr. Donaldson was elected a life member. A similar honour was conferred on Messrs. M. J. Sheahan, A. Bonella, and R. Magee. . Tho ingoing committee was instructed to mako arrangements for the installation of a \ new system of'lighting in the shed- » Mr. A. Power was appointed manager of the club's team to play the Athletic Club in Wellington. THE WAIHI UNION. [BY TEL'-GRAriT.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAinr, Tuesday. The weekly meeting of tho committee of the Waihi Rugby Union was hold in tho Miners' Union reading-room last evening, Mr. Moor presiding, ft was that the cup matches should start on April 20, and the draw resulted as follows: April 20, City v. Mataura; April 24, City v. Waitote: May 4, Waitete v. Mataura. The weight limit for third grade players was fixed at 9st 71b, and the school weight limit , at Bst, as previously. UNDER LEAGUE RULES. NOTES AND COMMENTS. From 15 to 20 players attended a meeting last night for the purpose of forming a Northern Union Club in the Grafton district. Tho prospects of such a club were shown to be very good, but after homo discussion it was decided to hold ~ further meeting in flie Grafton district on Wednesday, the 17th inst. The Ponsonby United Club will hold its annual meeting on the l?.tb inst. Tho annual meeting of tho Auckland Provincial League will be held on the 16th inst. The Lower Waikato District League will hoid its annual meeting at NVamawahia on sisniair* >-

Tho approaching season, as far as tho Northern 'Union game is concerned, promises to 'bo an even greater success i than the. previous season, and the various clubs uro getting down to business in earnest-. It is anticipated that several new junior teams will compete, and in the senior grade, it is expected, there will be a substantial increase when the entries close.

Tho management of the league has been actively engaged in securing grounds for the coming season. Players and supporters of tho game- will be pleased to learn that, the league has been fortunate enough to secure the Eden Park ground at, Kingsland. In addition to this, two grounds at, Victoria Park, one on the Domain Cricket Ground, and one on the Dovonport Domain have been allotted to the league. These grounds should provide amnio accommodation for all matches.

A visit, from an Australian, team, anil a return visit to Australia of a New Zealand team are two probable events this season. With these, and also visits from Southern tennis, players have a big season ahead of them, and it behoves all to get into early training. Tito Referees' Association will be strengthened by a. number of new members this season. The recently-formed league in tho Goldfields has been busy preparing, and the City Rovers Club will send a team to Wat hi at, an early date, to Rive- tho Goldficlds players their first gamo in the new code. NEWTON RANGERS' CLUB. There was a satisfactory attendance at the annual meeting of the Newton Rangers Football Club (Northern Union rules). Mr. Mulholland presided. After the secretary's report and balancesheet had been adopted the following officers were elected:—President, Mr. M. Mottay: vice-presidents, last year's, with the addition of Messrs. Evans, Webb, Hinshaw, Adam, Oyer, Jenkins; secretary, Mr. Gerald Smith: management committee, Messrs. Ducaley. Broekliss. Linkhorn. Bennett, Cross; delegates to Auckland Rugby League, Messrs. Linkborn, Bennett, and Cross. Great enthusiasm was shown throughout bv the members, and there is every prospect of a successful year. A. H. FRANCIS'S TRANSFER. [FROM* OCR OWN CORRESrONUKNT.] London, February 21It is stated by "Forward" in the Athletic News that A. H. Francis, the New Y.e-j.-lander who cum© here with the Australasian Northern Union team, has concluded an arrangement to join a Lancashire club, for which he will play for two years. " Had the negotiations matured satisfactorily, ' says this writer, "Francis would probably have played with his new club on Saturday. A cable was sent to Auckland for the transfer, but tho reply of the New South Wales League was that £200 must bo paid, before Francis obtained his release. And as the Now Zealander was to receive a signing-on foe of £250, with a playing fee of' £80 for the season, to say nothing of a prospective bonus, the aggregate amount was so large that Francis had perforce, to return to Auckland to secure his own transfer. Savoury will alto. I think, be lost to Auckland foot ball. He intends to join tho Glebe Club for the coming season. As yet there are no transfer agreements between Australia and New Zealand, so that Savoury is a free agent."

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The committee of the City Association Football Club wishes all players and intending players to attend in the Outer Domain for practice on Saturday.