FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. meeting; OF AUCKLAND UNION. The annual meeting of delegates from clubs affiliated with the Auckland Rugby Union v.as held in the Chamber- of Commerce last evening. Mr. A. E. Dcvore, president, occupied llic r'l'ir. and there was a full attendance o. ('(locates present. The annual report and balance-sheet—a resume of which was published in the HERALD on April 16—was read and adopted. Speaking in regard to the balance-ahsct, the president said now that the union had a ground of its own and in consideration of money borrowed, the committee should be careful during the next two or three yeais to save enough money to pay oft the mortgages. He had noticed that a football official had said there should be'moro players and fewer spectators. There was nothing in such a remark. The majority of those seen around the ground on Saturday afternoons were old players, men who Intel taken part in. and assisted to build uo, the game.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. A. E. Dcvoro: vice-presi-dents—Messrs. J. Arneil, D. J. L. Clayton. and V. 11. Eraser; secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. V. Lungsford; management committee Messrs. M. J. Sheahan, F. J. Ohlson. T. Buxton, A. Twiname. T. Aitken. H. Clay: auditors, Messrs. T. Macky and P. R. Fraser. selector. Mr. D. Gftlluher: junior selector. Mr. A. Tillcy. The honoraria for the secretary and treasurer and for the auditors wai fixed nt the same as last year's amounts.

Mr. W. Cunningham, of t'onsonby, moved, in accordance with notice given, to the effect that Kute 1 be so altered as to read that the management committee be composed ot one representative from each senior club. Mr Cunningham wished it to bo understood that the proposal was made on democratic principles, not Irom a desire to Unci fault with the oid committee. .Mr. T. Buxton (Maris! Brothers Old Boys) seconded the motion, and it was supported by Mr. M. O'Connor (Marist Brothers Old Boys), who thought it was necessary to liavo new blood on tho committee, but this was not possible under the present system. Mr. Langsford, in speaking against tho motion, said it was a good idea, for each club to be represented on the .committee, but there was a danger of rule by juniors if the members of the committee were appointed at the annual meetings of clubs at which there was always a preponderance of junior nlayers. Mr. M. J. Sheahan (City) said the old committee had done well, and as the union was now established and growing it was wise to let well alone. Messrs. F. J. Ohlson (University). A. M. Wilson (Parnell), P. R. Eraser (Parnell) and W. Arnold (City) spoko against the motion, which was lost on a show of hands by 14 votes to 9. A r>ropp"'il to make a weight limit of 9-:t 71b with the fourth grade was lost by 9 votes to 7. Mr. R. G. Cox wrote offering a set of cans for a sevon-c-sid" tournament, the procoeds of which should go to the Belgian Fund. Mr. ,T. Arneil, n. vice-president of the Auckland Union, who wis elected president of tho New Zealand Rugby TTnion last ear. was congratulated on the high honour conferred on him. Mr. Arneil suitably replied. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Management Commute", held at th« close of the annual meeting, Mr. M. ,T. SWia« was elected chairman. It was decided 'hat entries for the season's competitions close on May 10. and th«t the competitions stnrt on Mnv 15. The next nmetine of Mie committee will, owing to Wednesday Wine- municipal election day, be held on Thursday.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club will hold a practice at the Sacred Heart College ground to-day. All members and intending members are requested to attend. The Auckland University ColleEe Football Club will hold a practice at Eden Talk today at 3 p.m. All members and intending members arc urged to attend. The third practice of the North Shore District v Football Club will be held at Devonport. Domain to-day at 3d m A pood muster is expected, as several Taknmrna players intend joining the club, and others from the Post and Telearaph Department have intimated their willingness to play. It is also expected that several old players now in retirement will play this season. *■

THE LEAGUE GAME. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho Sunnyside Club will hold a practice at tho Dcvonport Domain this afternoon. All members and intending members are requested to attend. The clubrcom was opened on Thursday evening, and much useful trainins work done. Players are requested to note that the committee has decided to make Thursday compul'ory training night, and due preference will be given, when selecting teams, to those members who attend regularly. The players selected to meet the North Shore Albion fourth eradc team today are requested to note that tho match will commence at 1 p.m. Tho Grafton Athletic Football Club, (Northern Union rules) will hold a practice at th" Domain to-day. The Ponconby Club will hold a practice match at Victoria Park this afternoon. The Newton Rangers Football Club. Northern Union Rules, will hold a meeting in tho Alexandra Hotel, Federal Street, on Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock, the business being in connection with the formation of a senior team. The senior members of the club will hold a practice at the Domain to-day. New members are especially invited.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Association football will bo given a start to-day. when tho various clubs will play friendly matches. The association hopes to commence the competition games about May 1, a fortnight earlier than last season. At present there arc only likely to be six clubs engaged in this year's senior division, a decrease of two on last season's first-grade number. Last year's clubs who so far have not taken stops to affiliate with the governing body arc Thistle, Corinthian, and the defunct Carlton. An addition to senior ranks will be Tabernacle, and they should give a good account of themselves. They have several well known soccer players in their ranks. Owing.to enlistments the personnel of the clubs will be much altered, but the existing teams have secured the services of several of last year's enthusiasts, and so the football this season should bo as interesting and of as high a standard as formerly. Evorton will meet North Shore to-day at tho latter club's ground in first, second, and fourth grade matches. Brotherhood has been granted the use of Victoria Park for the match with YMC A. The former team will have the assistance of Haliday (Corinthien). McPher'on (Thistlo), Dove, a new player to Auckland, and Jackson (Carlton). A match will be played a Richmond, where Adult School and Tabemaclo will try conclusions. Tho attention of club officials is called to affiliation and registration fees which are now due and must be attended to without delay. The Adult School has vacancies for forwards, and any player who has not been approached will bo welcomed at the Richmond ground to-day. The Brotherhood Club is to be congratulated upon having secured a ground of their own nt Richmond. With two ground* in the district Association football should aet fre;h support, and thus give an impetus to tho game. Brotherhood still has a few vacancies in the second and third division team* and would be pleased to hear from intending players. A meeting of the North Shore Association Fcofball Club was held on Wednesday, when it was decided that it was in the interests of the club that the captains of teams he appointed by tho executive and vice-captains by the teams during the first match. The following were appointed captains to the various teams:—Senior. Gibbons: s.?cond division, H. Lockwood; fourth grade, H. S. Perritt: sixth grade. Burgess. The third and fifth divisions not having forwarded a complete list of members, it was decided to elect captains when the personnel of their teams is available During the last four I seasons the committee has endeavoured to secure tho services of a selection committee of non-players, but have failed to locate suitable members. Messrs. K. Wallace and E C. Bennett having retired this season from participating in the play, they have been appointed to act in conjunction with the captains of the first and second divisions as selectors for their respective teams. A member of the committee. Mr. Bert. Woolley, departed for training at Trentham during the week. It was resolved that he be communicated with and thanked for his past services to the club, and that, while the circumstances which have necessitated his departure are regretted, the club wish him a safe and speedy return to his home