FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15605, 11 May 1914, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. OPENING OF THE SEASON. SEVEN A-SIDE TOURNAMENT. WON BY UNIVERSITY. Tni Auckland Rugby Union opened the 191-1 eoason with a seven a-side tournament at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately the day was a very unfavourable one, and the heavy rain which fell during the afternoon made matters very unpleasant for players and spectators alike. Considering the weather, the attendance was very fair. The wet and greasy condition of the ground militated against good football, but the play was, considering '.he circumstances, very promising for so early iu the season. The tournament resulted in an easy victory for the University A team, which though only called on to take the field twice, was easily (he best team in the tournament. Following wero the results:— FIRST ROUND. Ponsonby A, 8, defeated Maris! Bros. B, 0. Candy scored two tries for the winners, M. R. Stewart converting one. City A, 11 defeated College Rifles u, 0. .7. D. Stewart (21. 0. Stewart and Church scored tries, Church converting one. University B, 12, defeated Parncll. 0. McKenzie, Doughty, Forsdick, and McKcchnie scored tries Ponsonby B. Marist Brothers A, College Rifles A, University A, City B byes.

SECOND ROUND. University A, 16, defeated College Rifles A. 8. Lambert, Ross Geddes,.aud Gray scored tries for the winners, Wilson and Lambert converting one each. Hill.scored for College Rifles. Marist Brothers A. 8, defeated Ponsonby B, 3. Prickett and Cornaga scored for the winners, J. O'Brien converting one try, and Button scored a try for Ponsonby. City B a bye. University B. 11, defeated City B, 8. Holland (2) and McKenzio scored tries for University, Forsdick converting one. For City tries were scored by McNab and Barclay, • Hancock converting one. Ponsonby A, 5, defeated City A, 0. Avery •cored a try which M. R. Stewart converted. FINAL. University A, 14, defeated Ponsonby A, 0. Marist Brothers A defaulted to University B, who then withdrew, leaving Ponsonby A and University Ain the final. From the kick-off University made the paco very fast, and Geddes, Ross, and Wilson did much good work. Half-way through the first spell Wilson was nearly over, but was held up on the line. The ball went- out to Ross, who cross-kicked to Lambert, and tho centre threeqnarter scored at the corner. He took the kick himself, but failed. Immediately afterwards Lambert went right through the Ponsonby team with the ball at his feet, and Gray finished up the movement by scoring near the posts. Lambert's kick was unsuccessful, and the spell ended with University leading by 6 points to 0. Ponsonby opened the second spell with much dash, and chiefly through the agency of Candy had University busily defending for , two or three minutes. The University backs I relieved the oressure, rind a dribbling rush took the ball to (he Ponsonby line, where Geddes was awarded a try for obstruction, no goal was kicked, but immediately nfter resuming Geddes got away a?ain. and dribWed to the line, enabling Ross to score.. Wilson converted. At this since, Ponsonbv retired, leaving University winners by 14 points to 0. !

SOUTHERN MATCHES. [BT TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] / WELLiyGTOx, • Sunday. Rugby players on Saturday had a day off from the championship contests, owing to the military camp at Talcapau thinning their ranks. Sixteen teams entered, however, for a seven-a-side tourney, in the final of which Wellington (8) beat Poneke A (0). Christcktech, Saturday. Following were the Jesuits of to-day's first trade matches:— Morivale. 26, beat Albion, 0; Old Boys, 12. beat Sydenham. 3; Lin•wood, 28. beat Christchurch, 0; Canterbury College, 25, beat Marist Bros., 0. Duxedix, Saturday. Rngby competition matches were continued to-day in perfect weather. • Results: University, 40, beat Port Chalmers, 6; Southern, 34, beat Union. 0; Dunedin, !), beat Alhambia, 6; Kaikorai, 14, beat Pirates! B. 'APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. [Br TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wanganui, Sunday. . A meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Football Union on Saturday discussed the question of referee appointments. It was decided to do away with the mutual agreement system which was in force last year, and to substitute an appointment board, consisting of a representative of players, the Referees' Association, and Management Committee, the last-named to have had no past or present connection with the Referees' Association.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES. THE FINAL PRACTICES. ' RAIN AGAIN INTERFERES. For the third week in succession wet weather interfered with practices on Saturday afternoon, but, nevertheless, some of the clubs had good musters, though the work done was not of a very helpful nature. City Rovers and Ponsonby held a short practice at Victoria Park, and Grafton and Newton did likewise at the .Domain, the games in most cases being between sides composed of all grades. North Shore Albion had between 30 and 40 members out at the Devonport Domain, and the seniors had a short match against the other grades. Sunnyside also had a good muster, and played a match with some of the North Shore junior players. In most instances the grounds were in very; bad condition, and scientific football was impossible.

'AUCKLAND RUGBY LEAGUE. "A meeting of the Auckland Rugby Football League was held on Saturday. Present: Messrs. P. W. Roope 'chairman), M. O'Brien, R. Benson, N. D. Culpan (honorary treasurer), A. Tatton, C. Strong, C. Baker, A. B. Cummins, P. Tyson, E. A. Spinley (honorary secretary), The resignation of Mr. C. Leversidge, as delegate of the junior advisory hoard, was accepted with regret, Mr. A. B. Cummins'a nomination as the new delegate for that board was accepted. Application for affiliation was received from the Mamaku Football Club, which nominated one third and two fourth grade teams; and the nomination of a first junior team, in addition to other entries, was received from the Sunny side Club. It was decided that the League should receive 50 per cent, of the takings of all club matches.

The appointment of referees for cup matches was left.in the hands of the Referees' Association.

It was decided, upon a suggestion from the chairman, that a recommendation be forwarded to the New Zealand League to alter the basis of percentages in connection with the Northern Union Cup challenge matches to 50 percent, to each team, the percentage to the New Zealand League to be shared equally.

COMPETITION FIXTURES. The following is the draw in the Auckland League's senior grade competitions for the first round: — May 16: City v. Otahuhu, Otahuhu; North Shore v. Ponsonby, North Shore; Grafton v. Newton, Victoria Park May 23: Newton v. City. Victoria Park; Grafton v. North Shore. North Shore- Ponsonby v. Otahuhu. Otahuhu. May 80: City v, North Shore, Newton v. Otahuhu, Ponsonoy v. Grafton. June 6: Grafton v. Otahuhu. North Shore v. Newton, Ponsonby v. City. June 13: Grafton v. City, North Shove v. Otahuhu, Ponsonby v. Newton. The second round will be the same, dates and grounds to be allotted later. SOUTHERN MATCHES. [BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington*, Sunday. In the League football first tirade championships on Saturday, Suburbs 128) beat Petone (10), and Newtown (33) beat Athletic (10).