FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16624, 22 August 1917, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Tire representative match between Wellington and Auckland on Saturday, while suffering by comparison with former historic struggles which will come to the recollection of old supporters of the game, contained much to cheer tho Rugby enthusiast. It was a complete proof that tho interests of tho game are beins well looked after, despite war conditions.'

Notwithstanding the rigid ago limit, both teams wore lairly heavy. Tho visitors carried most weight in tho back division, while ■.he Auckland forwards were the heavier part ul the combination. Oi the Walling ton team. Porter, at fiveeighths, was the most conspicuous player. He is clever with tho ball, kicks with judgment, and has a . promising swerve. His greatest disability is slowness in getting into his stride- Next to him were Thomas, the roving half, and Cowio, while Coles did good defensive work. Of the forwards, Desmond and Black were most often to the fore. In winning the game by a margin of 13 points. Auckland was lucky. Had the whole team displayed the quality shown by two men. Bins and Wilson, it would have been another matter. lling was undoubtedly do hero of the Auckland side. Especially in the earlier stages of the game, when Wellington looked decidedly like winning, he was. the mainstay of tho defence. Time and again he robbed the Wellington forwards of the ball, proving very difficult to stop, while hia line-kicking was excellent. Wilson played with coolness and judgment. It was fortunate for tho homo team that, with an injured shoulder, he escaped trouble so long, and was able to se»> the greater part of the game through. The first try was lar>gely his work. By cuttinc-in at the right moment ho drew the deience. and passed to O'Connor in a position which enabled tha latter, with his pace and strong running., to make a try a certainty. Wilson also had a hand in the try secured by lnclisOf tho home forwards. McLean was the most conspicuous. His height and reach made him always dangerous in the line-out, while he kept going at top pace throughout. Lock played a hard game, especially in the second half. For a start, Wellington hooked the ball cftenest. getting it clean away. Later trie Auckland hookers succeeded better, but there was something wrong with the packing of the scrum. Many tunes when the front row men got the ball it went astray further back, and either camaout at the side or was lost at the collapse of the scrum. The elimination of the wing-forward proved little but an interesting experiment. Saturday's experience goes to snow that one of three things will be necessary if the wing is to be dispensed with permanently. The alternatives are to pack eight men in the scrum, to play four three-quarters, or to reduce the team to 14 aside. Tho two firstnamed would interfere seriously with the whole scheme of Rugby tactics as accepted in New Zealand. Whether the last alternative is too revolutionary in nature for the authorities remains to be seen, but it is the only way to reach a satisfactory rearrangement of a team if no wing-forward is io bo played.

UXDEE LEAGUE RULES.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Th« Seal of tie " Roope's Booster " tonxney on Saturday means that the serious oompetitious of the Auckland Busby League are closed for the season. Ponsonby United har<s emerged with double honours, tha senior crade championship and too "' Booster. The. .game on Saturday was an excellent einibition of tne code, though somewhat marred by the rain towards tie conclusion. Ponsonby a aciieTenient is an excellent one, especially es the standard of the play tiiroughou. tise eeason has been Temaxkafciy good. To ka-re eon« through trith. but one de»eat speaia well beta for the consistency »sd the jxoaoty of the Ponaonby men. Yet Interest in the came throughout has been stimulated cry the fact that at no time baa Use margin between \k# champion team and lis nearest XTTals beeni a huge one. City ■ad >€Trtcrt generally managed to extend «M P<3nsonby men. tahjie North Shore on * *£*»•« occaijo&s played within a. point or rio ci a Ttsicry oxer them.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Afier having been more snccesrfnl in & VTtn-jzrsi eoEsie of matches. Biehmosd •offered tsftsit at tae sands of E-ertczt- The «»=* «m a fairiy ckae- cne, bat the eoiamg °* 413 foamasM oonsiderabiy -risk the Qvtiitr ci the gameThe nwjMtaMi Wild Ec ; and North Siei *» Pi*7<w »■* DeTosport, was * peculiar «m«- The home team ran well ahead for a Jcng fame then Wild Rose ckaed up the ««t=« en-iing—2>»oTth Si ?- 7 Wild Bow. 4, 1183 " 7 E<:oria S for Association matches thia eeascs.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The T.-ejkly meeting of the Execute Committ*- of ti. Auckland Football Assoc*. £? s£" k'£ atth ? Sport. Club last ¥*£■ Mr. i. C. Jacobs presiding. The meet*i r6e rob«r of delegates of th* different dabs wore, present. The arrangements for the Falcon Cup competition were completed, the first mScJUTISSg£i down for decision, on Saturday. Altocetl-Wr eight teams, have entered: al tie senior team* and three of the third jrrado. *l£ Lfi-Si,-' an 4. E If rtox !.- Tn* Everton team ??2«5&l a » ETC, A. A* no further registrations have been received, it is m «h «umed that the teams will be 'the same? m have- played throughout the season. Deri! sion regarding th ? misunderstanding:in respect to the Y.M.C.A. v. Everton third grade match «M held over until next meet me. The arrangements for Saturday are?— FALCON CUP. rth W rt Sh i° ro v - Brotherhood. Victoria Park. No. 1. 3 pra.. referee Mr. KingNlrth OB V Xo Devomort Presbyterian. Axortn snore. No. 1. 3 r> m W Ham~ i eU 3 : m d % Ba SF«r«n« m M p .- Sutherland; Richmond v. tverton. Domain. No. 2. ? p.m.. Mr - Jacobs g? n V s X, fin , alß ., wlll >« clayed on Saturday. SS3rS be S*} 19 J nnerß of the first two Si of -,, the latter two Playing off The Fifth la *& the *>"°™£ week. Th ° Takanun? W Devonport Presbyterian v. Takapuna. North Shore. No 3 p£ re'fereo Mr Howie: Tabernacle v. \VHd Rose .Sixth Grade: North Shorn A - T„„r, meal North Shore, No. 1 o £m' K" v de 3£ %|# a; '?& i: W.X M.I. Domain. No. 2, 1 D m mThw), 120 le D !?o 00rt 8ho^ 8 fc e H P - m - Mr " Burnett: Takapuna a bye E - Mr "