FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15349, 9 July 1913, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The Auckland Rugby Union has acted wisely in appointing W. Cunningham coach to the Auckland representatives, as judging by the form of the blue- and whites against the Maori team on Saturday, great improvement is necessary if the Ilanfurly Shield is to be retained. When Auckland defeated the. country team last month the backs, although not combining well, showed glimpses of excellent form, but on Saturday they were by no means convincing. True, two or three' very pretty tries were scored, but when the weakness of the opposition is taken into consideration the red and blacks' . lino should have been crossed a great many more times. Olsen did his duty manfully behind tho pack, the ball, whenever he laid hands on it, being passed out smartly, but the passing of the five-eighths and the centre left much to be desired. These men would make good openings, but time and again nullified their efforts with a high pass. Apparently the pass from the hip is a lost art in Auckland. On Saturday all the backs appeared to be trying to hurl the ball as high in the air as possible, and many excellent scoring chances were spoiled in consequence. It was just as well that the Maori backs were unablo to take advantage of the really bad passing, else the margin of points in favour of Auckland might not have been so. large. There was far too much of individual effort in the game, and not enough attention paid to combination. One can excuse backs trying experiments when pitted against weak teams, but it is inexcusable when a man tries to score on his own from the half-way line. McGregor offended greatly in this respect, as did Weston, but fortunately without any serious results to the side. ; One individual effort of Weston's, however, was full of merit, and on this occasion the College Rifles' man could not have done anything else but go on his own. The dash ended in a fine try, and when O'Leary added the minor points, it completely broke up the opposition. In all other departments McGregor and Weston played splendidly, and they can hardly be left out of the North Island team this year.

No doubt the weakness of the Maori players affected the whole of the Auckland rearguard, as even O'Leary at times was inclined to take things easy. Stewart, too, was not up to concert pitch, nor was Macky as convincing as in former games. Geddes, however, showed improved form, but he is still far from being a great fiveeiglftbs. He certainly runs straight enough, but he is really not tricky enough

to rise to any great heights. In th 9 writer's opinion Stewart would be a better man for the position, Geddes taking Stewart's place at centre. But what about Murray? the public will ask. The writer would certainly like to see the Ponsonby man in the team, and in his fifteen Murray would be preferred to Geddes. Still Mr. Gallaher is quite justified in giving the 'Varsity man another cliance.

There was something radically wrong with the pack on Saturday, and a change in this division is imperative. Of, course, now that the native 5 team has returned, Tresize will again, partner G. Sellar.s in the front row, but the selector should go still further, and pick out other weaknesses. For instance, is Mr. Gallaher satisfied with the present lock ? Wilson certainly shaped fairly well against the country team, but his form was poor on Saturday. It may not have been his fault, but the pack appeared to be very "wobbly," and. time .and again when the natives got in the first heave it collapsed like a pricked balloon. The writer would like to see Callaghan in the team to play Wellington, and another man he would select would bo'Barrett. The question then arises, Who is to be dropped? Apparently the only way out of the difficulty would be to play Carroll as wing-forward in place of Nesbitt, Barrett taking Carroll's place in the pack. Nesbitt did not play a bad game on Saturday, and as he is very he is deserving of even' encouragement. Still our beet team must "defend the shield, and in the writer's opinion, Auckland would be better served with Carroll on the fringe of the scrum and Barrett in the pack.

Over a week will elapse before the blue and whites meet the blacks, and probably there will be little to complain about when the big contest is over. Still, one "would feel more confident if the form of our men m the easy games was of a more convincing nature. Auckland has now played two representative games, each under a different captain. Against the country representatives Wvlic led the team, but on Saturday O'Leary acted as captain. The game was so much in the nature of an exercise canter, that it was not necessary for the captain to worry overmuch about tactics. On one occasion, however, he did a strange thing. Macky being brought from the leftwing to take a kick from the opposite corner. The strange feature of the whole thing was that Macky kicked for touch with his right foot. Surely there is a left foot kick in the team?

Keen interest was displayed in the match between King's College and the Grammar School, played on No. 1 ground prior to the representative fixture. As in previous vears, the grandstand was packed with partisans of both sides, and the colours of the rival teams were displayed in profusion. It was a friendly rivalry, however, and when time was called, with the Grammar School 6 points in the lead, the King's College supporter* were tho first to give the victors three hearty cheers. Grammar School won, but King's College played up to the' ■ -editions, and fought hard till the end. The match was .->t so interesting as many previous contests that have been seen* between the schools. There was a OTeat deal of uninteresting forward play, and the spectators were treated to too little of the fast, open play which usually characterises the meeting of the two teams. The heavy nature oi the ground probably accounted in the main for the lack of brilliant play, and it can only be hoped that when tho teams meet airain in the second round the conditions will be more favourNeither of the two tries scored by the Grammar School were the result of any brilliant combined play. The first, scored by Neshit, was the outcome of a ragged piece of forward work, and not of any clever movement. The second score, which was notched by Barker, the Grammar School captain, was more the result of his own effort. When any combined work was essayed by the Grammar back division, the" passing was generally weak and hesitating. Numbers of passes were dropped. Lake being the worst offender in this respect.

The King's College backs handled the ball better than their opponents, but did not have many opportunities of proving their mettle. In the final stages of the game they got going on one occasion, and the result was a very fine passing rush, the most finished piece of play of the day. No score resulted, but the Grammar School supporters experienced an anxious few minutes.

In the forwards, Grammar School held a pronounced superiority. They shaped bettor than the King's College pack, both in the loose and in the close work, though their hooking was not so strong as it might have been. * *■ The Auckland Union has been advised that the Wellington team to play Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday week will leave Wellington on Wednesday, the 16th, arriving in Auckland on the 17th. The team will return home on the Sunday after the match.

The second grade match between. Marist Brothers and City on Saturday was rather interesting, and had City been able to put a full team on the field* at the commencement a, real good game must have resulted. The Marist Brothers team was strengthened by Clarke, who has been rograded, and it will not be surprising to see the team giving Ponsonby a,'great game when they meet again. W. White, who has also been regraded, should further strengthen the Tykes' backs. With McNab and Hawkes absent, all the vim was out of the City team, and time after time the Tyke forwards found no opposition from the City backs. Mullins was the best City forward, and the halfback was the only reliable member of .the rearguard, although Hill sometimes showed up. Sullivan (forward) stood alone in the Marist Brothers team, but the others are a very fair lot. The backs should improve wonderfully with Clarke and White guiding them. Ponsonby are now a clear win ahead in this grade.

Chatting with Mr. Parata, manager of the native team which recently toured Australia, the writer gleaned some interesting information anent the Rugby game in New South Wales and Queensland. In Sydney the old game is rapidly regaining its lost ground, and signs are not wanting that it will soon be as popular as it was when the Wallabies set out to conquer England. There are bigger crowds at the matches than was formerly the case when the natives last crossed the Tasman, and the standard of play is.much higher. - Although the backs are not yet up to the best New Zealand standard they are fairly good, and Mr. Parata thinks that the team which is to tour the Dominion this year will give a really good account of' itself. It should certainly be very strong forward, as both New South Wales and Queensland have fine packs this season. The selectors of the team to tour NewZealand intend to do their utmost to get a really representative side away, and already they have paid visits to the outlying districts to note the form of the country players. .Mr. Parata speaks highly of the open nature of the game played by every team met on tour. The backs handled the ball in delightful style, and the forwards also shone at the passing game. Another pleasant feature was the absence of rough play, it being the rule for games to be played without stoppages through injuries to players. This feature of the Australians' game appealed strongly to Mr. Parata, as well as to every member of the team.

The native team was most hospitably treated in every town visited, and the members were so popular in Brisbane that the citizens asked that a special match be played with Queensland. Time, however, would not permit of the game being played. The members of the team earned great praise for their behaviour, both on and off the field, and their temperate habits earned for them in Sydney the soubriquet of "All Sartos.'' Sartos is a temperance drink very popular in cafes and hotels in Sydney.

' The game with the City and Suburban Union was the most enjoyable of the games played, and it was in this match that the tourists showed their very best form. The City and Suburban players are mainly drawn from the banks and mercantile offices, and they play the game for the game's sake. There is a competition, but there are no trophies, and when a team goes on tour each man pays his own expenses. The union is affiliated to the New South Wales Union, which can draw on the teams for players when representative fifteens are being selected. The results of the tour of the native team have been so good that already an- • other tour is mooted. Mr. K. Martin, of Huntly, is interesting himself in the movement, and in conversation with the writer he stated Haunui Mahuta, a brother of the Maori King, is prepared to finance the tour to the extent of £1000. It is proposed to visit Australia next year, but no .arrangement will be made until the New Zealand Union has been consulted.

So well did Paki play against the New South Wales team that he was presented with a valuable trophy by supporters of the Rugby game in Sydney. This trophy is now in the possession of King Mahuta, to whom it was given by Paki during the sojourn of tho team in Auckland.

Reviewing the tour of the native team, the Sydney Morning Herald says — Mr. Parata has every reason to bo pleased with the success of the tour of his second Maori team in Australia. Like the 1910 combination, the team has left behind it a record of good, clean conduct on and off the field; in addition, it has played the game in that delightful spirit which makes Rugby what it is. In 1910 the team played nine games in New South i Wales and Queensland, winning four, ! losing three, and drawing two. Two games I were also played and won in Melbourne. I The tour on this occasion was limited to this and tho northern State, and eight j games were contested, five being won and I three lost, so that from the playing standj point the 1913 team has the slightly ■ better record. The New South Wales ; team won in'both years, and the visitors I defeated the Queensland side on each j visit. This season, however, the Northerners had two matches, and ! honours were easy. One of the lessons i of the tour has been to bring home the ! fact that local football is quite good ! enough to seriously challenge that of New Zealand. Tho backs of New South Wales have rarely shaped better than they have done this "year. Several new men have been unearthed who should be a tower of strength to the Australian team in New Zealand. Our standard of play, not only in our first fifteen, but also in The second team, is considered by Mr. Parata as being higher than when he was here last. The selection has been systematic, with the result that four countrymen have beeni chosen in the' New South Wales team to visit Brisbane. The tour of the Maoris has offered facilities for studying country form, and has given our team opportunities of playing together that will be of benefit in the near future. To the inexperienced nothing is more essential than a number of games in first-class company; so that with at least six representative games by both Queensland and New South Wales this season, the selectors will be greatly assisted in their task of securing the best possible talent for the visit to the Dominion. That the form has been so good early in the season is gratifying. In the case of the Maoris, their efforts have been hampered by the wretched fields and the most persistent wet weather that the Rugby season has experienced ni recent years. Yet there were many of them who showed that they merited the great reputations that preceded them. Grace showed such good form as centrethreequarter that his selection in the New Zealand representative team seems assured. Ryland also showed remarkably fine form on the wing, and French, in the forwards, is fit for any company. Among the younger boys, many of whom are yet in their teens, great promise was shown by Wood at five-eighths, Blake, who filled the halfback position after Piki's accident. Bu Kingi on the wing, and Jacobs in the forwards. The last-named, aged 18, is a giant, and has all that freedom of movement and even temperament which distinguished such players as Seeling, Francis, and Jas. Hughes." The Taranaki Rugby Union intends placing a B team in the field this year, and the Auckland Union is to be asked t/> send a B team to New Plymouth. The matter will no doubt occupy the attention of the union at this week's meeting. The second grade competition is now drawing to a close, and it will not be long before another representative game is arranged. Therefore it is to be hoped that the selector will make it his business to visit all the grounds on which junior games are being played in the future in order that the best possible team may be selected. A junior representative team has already played a match this year, but it cannot Ix 3 paid that it gave a good account of itself. As a matter of fact, the personnel came as a great surprise to most of the junior players. Although the one-selector system has been a success so far as the seniors are concerned, it has not worked well with the juniors, dissatisfaction being rife among the second grade teams.

FIFTH GRADE NOTES. Parnell continued their victorious career on Saturday by defeating City by 60 to nil. The red and blacks were below their usual strength, and this gave the maroons the chance to parade their backs. The

game was simply a try-getting procession for Parnell and needs no description. The Parnell backs were in their element, White, Cameron, Bovaird, and Stretton, all playing splendidly together. The'decision of the Rugby Union in awarding the match won by Shore to Parnell leaves the maroons still in the lead, a point ahead of Newton, who have two matches to re-play at the end of tho season.

Ponsonby put up a good fight against j the Tykes," only being beaten by 8 points to nil. The blue and blacks have greatly improved their combination, and the game was much closer than the points indicate. Hunt was much in evidence, in the Ponsonby vanguard, and played a rattling game, while McGregor was again the bright star of the backs. Birnie, Culhane, and Dooley were the pick of the Tykes. Newton surprised their supporters by decisively defeating Shore by 12 points to nil. In the opening stages of the game Shore had all the best of matters, but Newton livened up and made the pace hot. The game was a fine one to watch, there being splendid back play by both teams, while the forwards also worked with a will. This game was probably one of tho fastest played in this grade yet-, and at the conclusion both teams were palpably done. There are only two more rounds to be played in the fifth grade competition, after which Newton meet Parnell and Marist Brothers in re-play matches, and as most of the teams are now arranging their country matches the only fixture likely to create any extraordinary interest is the game between Parnell and Newton on Saturday week. Things pointed to Parnell coming out an easy winner, but Newton's win against the Shore team that defeated the maroons, has raised the hopes of Newton's supporters, and a close, interesting game should result.

KAIPABA UNION. In Saturday's cup match, Parakai beat Waimauku, after a very even game, by nine points to six, one try being scored just before the final whistle (writes our Helensville correspondent). ihe scorers for Parakai were H. Newman, L. McLeod, and E. McLeod, and for Waimauku, Fletcher and Peritt. An Auckland Railway team, which played capital football, defeated Helensville Club by six points to nil. MANAGER FOR CALIFORNIAN TOUR. []JY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. It is understood that the official who will control the New Zealand Rugby team, as manager, during its tour in Califoaiia, will !be Mr. G. Mason, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Since the Auckland Rugby League's fir3t grade competition was closed three weeks ago, and North Shore Albion annexed the championship, there has been a vast amount of comment a3 to which was really the best team in the competition. North Shore undoubtedly were at the beginning Ol the season, but most of the other teams improved as the season went on, Ponsonby and Newton particularly bo. Many followers of the game were convinced that Newton was the best side, while others fancied Ponsonby. and both North Shore and City had no lack of supporters. The Auckland Rugby League then hit on the happy idea of playing a "knock out" round, which would prove which team had the best right to term itself the champion without affecting the positions of the various teams in the usual competition. The first matches in this round disposed of the claims of Ponsonby and North Shore, leaving Newton and City to thresh out the question. Last Saturday a crowd of nearly 4000 spectators journeyed to Victoria Park in the hopes of seeing a hotly contested game, which would end in one team or the other whining by a small margin. Newton had the majority of the support, and their followers expected them* to acquit themselves valiantly, but they received a rude shock. The City co*nbination worked as smoothly as a well-oiled machine, and ended up 20 points to the good. Except for a few minutes at the commencement of the game, last year's champions never looked like winning. Their forwards were literally played to a standstill, and even though playing behind a, well-beaten pack, their backs, in whom their chief strength lay, were considerably below the standard of their opponents. Nevertheless the whole team hung on bravely till the final whistle.

The red and blacks were all at the top of their form. Their backs worked smoothly, and their forwards were in fine fettle, Individually and collectively, the team was much superior to Newton. Ernie Asher, at scrum-half, was by far the best back on the field. He made openings, stopped rushes, and kicked goals in great style, and made hardly a single mistake through the game. He has been playing at the top of his form ever since the first two or three matches of the season, and the selector' will find it very difficult to keep him out of the representative team. At present he is playing much better than Webb, the Auckland half, who, however, has the advantage of having a reputation to assist aim.

Kenealy, the ex-Eden skipper, took ! every advantage of all Asher's good work, and played a clever dashing game. Rogers, who is a sound little player of the nippy type, and very quick to take advantage of an opening, was also invaluable to his side, as in fact were all the backs. The work of the forwards left nothing to be desired. They wore down the opposing pack and harassed the backs, makifig: the task of their own rearguard much lighter. It would be hard to single out any for special mention, but one could not overlook Rukutai. The big ex-Manukau skipper was here, there, and everywhere, at times dribbling the ball in masterly fashion, at other tunes feinting and dodging like the most accomplished five-eighth. He also showed that he had not forgotten some of the finer tricks of the game, a fact which did not always escape the notice of the referee, and officials on the line.

Newton played gamely., but there was obviously something the matter with them. Individually the backs were mostly good, hut their concerted efforts were far Mow their usual standard. Farrant played a plucky game behind the scrum, but Blakey and Tobin were a little off-colour, and Cooke was obviously hampered by an injured knee. H'ealey was, perhaps, the soundest of the lot, but Brennan, .the fullback, handled the ball shockingly, and his kicking was also poor. Of the. forwards Bradburn shone out conspicuously. He is a fine, dashing player, and on Saturday occasionally took his place in the fiver eighths line with success- Bennett also worked hard, but the others were not nearly as good as usual. It must be agreed by all who saw the match that City gaiiu-d a meritorious and very well-deserved victory, and that they proved their unquestionable right to be considered as the best team now in th.3 province. It is understood that they will issue a challenge for the Thacker Shield, for which Newton have already announced their intention of competing and North Shore will probably follow suit. Jim Rukutai has now completely recovered from his recent serious illness, as his dashing game on Saturday proved conclusively. The second representative match of the season will be played at Victoria Park on Saturday, when Auckland will meet Taranaki. The local team will not be selected until the Auckland section of the Now Zealand team returns. They will probably be back this morning. The Taranaki team will be as follows :— Fullback, C. Foreman (Hawera) or M. Malone (Kaponga); threequarters, W. Gredig (Ngaere), J. Booker (Stratford), G. Hooker (New Plymouth): five-eighths, T. Nicholls (Kaponga), L. Moir (Eltham) ; half, R. Frewin (New Plymouth); forwards, B. Bukere (Waitara), H. Gernhoeper (Eltham). A. Osborne (Eltham), W. -Milne (Kaponga), G. Robinson (Eltham), M. Kyle (Waitara). Emergency, H. Rich (Eltliam). The combination is a fairly strong one, and a good game should result, Iho Inter-Provincial Challenge Shield w involved in the contest, so each team should be on its mettle. ,

G. Hooker, the New Plymouth wing, threequartter, hails from Queensland, where ho captained tho representative team two seasons ago. .■••'•■ *

PLAYERS' EXPENSES,

IN DEFENCE OF LEAGUE SYSTEM.

In the athletic columns of nearly every issue of Australasian and particularly New Zealand dailies, writes Mr. W. Roope one sees remarks purporting to emanate from Rugby Union officials, concerning the pernicious influence of what they are pleased to call " the professional game." by which they mean Rugby League foot-

There is a trite saying that " There are none so blind as those who won't eee," and for the benefit of that portion of tho general public which honestly believes that league footballers receive payment for their services in cash or kind, I would ask von to kindly publish these facts :— In New Zealand no Rugby League player receives any payment whatsoever, nor any gift of uniform, nor travelling allowance, for playing in club matches. No Rugby League player receives any payment whilst playing in representative, inter- island, or international matches, unless playing away from home, when the maximum amount he may receive is IQs per diem. No player receives any payment on account of any accident incurred whilst playing football, unless he is a financial member of some insurance scheme. No referee receives any payment whatsoever, except actual expenses incurred whilst officiating in representative matches. At Home, in the past, most sports were indulged in by the leisured classes, and class distinction then, even, more so than now, being much more strictly observed there than in the Dominion, the rules dealing with professionalism were no framed that the working classes were for the most part debarred from taking pari in sport. For example, in. rowing, not only could no one row as an amateur who had previously rowed for cash, but anyono following tho occupation of a waterman, or even a boatbuilder, was prevented from rowing as an amateur, though he may never previously have rowed a race of any description; arid though rowing in NewZealand in considered, and rightly so. as one of the most amateur of sports, at tho present time, no New Zealander could compete amongst amateur rowers in England. As a matter of fact. I defy any of our self-appointed ciwmpions of clean sport, to give a strict definition of either amateurism or professionalism, applicable to every branch of sport. Each body appears to draw up its own in the past. to keep out "social undesirables," and, at present, to prevent its rivals from reducing its gate money,

Sportsmen and athletes in this country, or the most part, are not men of means, and though they should, and do, play their games for the amusement they deriyb from them, when they are required to represent their province, it should not be at , a pecuniary loss most of them can ill .. afford. .. ".i. ■ -..-":. This is considered a democratic country, - and conditions retaining her©' are. totally. " different from those in an '.old', country.." such as England, and if we are progressive in other things, why not in sport /No level-headed man can say that the receipt* of a small daily allowance for loss of time, / in many instances less than t the recipient « would make if lie were working- should X constitute him a professional, and,. if 'this S is eo, then the original '* All Blacks," and all those who have since played with■ them, are professionals.

Finally, I earnestly commend to the con- - sideration of -every reader' of „ this letter, f. the following question: Does the Rugby; ~;, Union honestly fear that professionalism is.'£;& being introduced into New Zealand, or J ." does it. fear a further reduction in its gate ;.• receipts? '.. ~"',' i ,-',„' '**'£

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. tlfrgj Eight rounds of the senior championship -;\ have now been played .and Everton are still leading. The team gained another victory on Saturday, 5 Hotspur ? being the'vic;* tims, and' it looks as if " the champions'*""will again annex premier honours. The team well deserves all the success, as th© members train hard and leave very little* to chance. So far as combination is concerned the team " is out en its own," and with, say, two alterations it would worthily represent Auckland in a, contest for 'the '■■■' Brown Shield. ' :;;'■»-' ... .^j-* Brotherhood, the second team on the . championship table, has also showed good % form, but on Saturday fell from grace ( / somewhat, the Thistle team making the.-runners-up play all they knew to gain : av< victory. There was only a goal between the teams at the finish. Not a great deal \ of interest was attached to the remain-'.-: ing games, although praise is due to Corinthians for their victory over Carlton at Bayswater. ' ~'••, -, v -, K ±s* The following table shows the positions '■'■. of the teams to date ~' , ;■ „ ._'"■"' •; Goals v Cup P. W. L. 3D. For. Agst. Its Everton ... 8 7 0 1 31 '"'-. 7 ' 15 -'-' Brotherhood .8 6 11 23 11 13. Hotspur ... 8 4' 2 3 15" 12 10 ;" Corinthians 8 4 3 1 23 21 9 > Carlton ... 8 4 4 0 13 13 - 8.-.'.." Ponsonby ... 8 3 3 2: 19 10 8 : North Shore 8 3 ' 3 2'; 20 13 8 !'.'• Adult School 8 3.4 1 14 12 )' 7 ;'•'"-' Thistle ... 8 1 7 0 10 19 > 2 • '■"■"' Otahuhu ... 8 0 8 0 5. 62 '.0. , There were signs of promise in thesixthi .i grade match between Y.M.C.A. and Richmond at Edendale on Saturday last. Both teams were in good form, and right: out for victory, the ball travelling up and ; down, the field, first one then the other having advantage. The forwards combined well, and were well fed by the backs.. The ? two Y. M. C. A. backs were particularly •; noticeable during the latter stages of the -,'. game. The only score resulted: .front2a scramble in front of the Richmond goal. The Everton and Y.M.O.A; B fifth grade,, teams met at Edendale en Saturday, and • after a strenuous tussle the former won by:> two goals to one. Y.M.C.A. put up a merit orious' fight, as included in their ranks ' were several sixth grade players, who had '■'■ already played in an early mat£h. Of these Edmunds was very conspicuous, and ■' was quite the equal of, if not . better than, . any player on the field. The Everton forwards are showing much better combina-' tion, Barnes being very prominent. The, left-wing, O'Connor, tries too much org' his own. Ashby, at fullback,'shows - pro-> mise. He has a powerful boot, and kicks with judgment. The Y.M.C.A. forwards were an even lot, Ross being prominent. ': At times Wilcock was weak in defence, his ;' chief fault being mi" judgment. However his defence in the second half more than compensated for his previous mistakes. A noticeable feature of the game was the amount of unnecessary talk. . The Everton members were particularly to the fore, and! they would be well advised to remember that football grounds are not for debating" purposes. ••..:• ,-- • -~, ; ■ .

The Henderson Football Club met the' Railway United F.C. on Saturday last at Henderson. Owing to injuries received the previous Saturday the home club "took the field minus their two backs., B. Rountree and A. Haresnape, also J. Orrock (captain), A. Simpson back), and P. Haddock (outside left), nevertheless tbo team started the game with good heart, and after a hard fought contest they were returned the winners by one goal to nil, the winning point being scored by the veteran McLeuan, who received the ball from tho centre and put in a long dropping shot, which the goalkeeper slightly misjudged. The Railwaymen put more dash into their plav after this reverse, but the Henderson defence held out to the last. The goalkecoer. hick*, and halfbacks of the home team' played a real good game throughout, but the forwards were rather weak especially the pivot, who seemed to miss the, well-timed passes of his captain. The Railwayman were best served by Appleby, their centre forward, and thebacks.

BROWN SHIELD MATCH. / [BT TELEGBAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.! ; Wellikgtoj«, Tuesday. ; ,', The following officials have been appointed for the. Brown Shield Association JFootball match—Taranaki v. Wellington— on Saturday next:—Referee, O. Richard- -\ son (Christchurch); linesmen, S. F. Mc-* ! Lean (Christchurch) and J. East (Tara* naki). ' , .