FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. THE. ALL. BLACKS' TOUR. A special meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union will be held at the Chamber of Commerce .this evening to consider important questions relative to the me. also matter* relating to the tour of the New Zealand team for England and the Imperial Rugby Conference. The Management Committee •will meet at 6 p.m. in the Amateur Sports Club rooms. The ann.till meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Rugby Union will be held »< Wellington on Thursday. The meeting is of special interest and importance, as the selection of the manager of the All Blacks team will be made. The Auckland Union will nominate its candidate this evening. The question of allowances to players will be raised again, although the English Union has definitely decided that no payments lor out-of-pocket expenses will be allowed. It it felt by the various. unions in New Zealand that some recognition should be made of players' responsibilities and thud unless such is made the best team will not bo available for the tour.

ENGLISH COUNTY CONTEST. CUMBERLAND WINS FINAL. (Iteuter.) (Reed. 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. In the final of the Rugby county championship, Cumberland beat Kent by 14 points to 3. INVERCARGILL OPENING. BELL'S BRILLIANT DISPLAY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] INVERCARGILL. Saturday. The Rugbv season opened to-dav in fine weather. The Prime Minister attended at Rugby Park, and was officially welcomed by Mr. T. Meredith, president of the Southland Rugby Union. . A fesluw of the afternoon was a. brilliant displayoy Bell, tha Maori, and All representative, who scored one of the most Temarkable tries ever seen on Rugbv Park. FRANKLIN V. TE AWAMjJTU. [BI TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AWAMUTU. Saturday. . The first Rugby football match of the se&son was played here to-day. Frankton Juniors met To Awamutu Juniors. The match ended with the score 3-all. The senior match, Frankton v. Te Awamutu, resulted in a win for the visitors Frankton 11. Te Awamutu 0. ... Heavy rain fell during the morning, but cleared off. MATCHES AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "WELLINGTON. Sunday. The Rugby season opened on Saturday, matches in aid of various club gymnasium funds being played. At athletic Park, where the late Dr. Newman had attended at the officials' stand for many years, all the players wore mourning bands. The day's play was ragged, but gave promise of close contests when the championship matches commenced. The following are the results:—Athletic li, v. Poneke, 3; Varsity 11. v. Selwyn 0; Old Boys 18, v. Wellington 7; Marist 13. v. Berhampore 9. , In the League game Central B defeated the A team by 14 points to 3.

THE LEAGUE GAME.

THE GAME IN ENGLAND. Australian and 3?. Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. In the Northern Union contests Widnes beat Barrow by 24 to 2: Hull beat Wigan by 13 to 3; and Sslford beat Oldham by 18 to 8 points ' • ;

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

PONSONBY V. NORTHCOTE. A practice game between Ponsonby and North cote ■ vrw played on Victoria Park on Saturday. Despite the unfavourable weigher a fair number assembled to witness the play. Though the ground was soft and sodden, play was of a fair standard, several of the players showing pood form. Ponsonby won by 2 Koala to 1. Mr. J. Ball was referee NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. The annual meeting of the Npjv Zealand Council of -Association Football will be held at Wellington on Wednesday. The Auckland Association will be represented by Mr. Bagrie. ■ . ' ... ■ .• With a vie*" to selecting the best t»«m to meet the British Squadron's team. Mr. B. L. Salmond. Hon. secretary of the council and sole selector, will visit Auckland to witness players in action. RESULTS AT WELLINGTON. [BT . TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' * WELLINGTON, Sunday. .Diamonds 5 points, defeated Hospital 2. In the second grade Diamonds 2 points, beat Thorndon. 1 point. BRITISH CUP PINAL. N \ CLAPTON VICTORIOUS. (Reuter.) (Reed. 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. In the amateur association cup final, Clapton beat Erith and Belvedere by 3 goals to nil.