FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5008, 4 July 1903, Page 5

FOOTBALL

TO-DAY'S RUGBY GAMES. ■At the Athletic Park to-Jay thb matches will be of a specially interesting character, thero being a junior representative game (Manawatu v. Wellington) sot down for decision on one ground, while on the second ground the Melrose amd Poneko teams will meet. The result of this latter match will' have a very considerable bearing on the championship, and for that reason it will evoke special interest. Athlectic and Oriental wore to have played on Newtown Pork, bat tho Oity (Jouncil’s officials having declined to grant permission for the game to be played theira, tho fixture has been postponed. Mr P. Mackie will act as referee in the junior representative match thi» afternoon.

WEDNESDAY MATCHES. The i following are the remaining fix* tures for the first round of the Wellington Rugby Union’s Wednesday competition:—July B—D.I.C. v. South Wellington, at Miramar; Oriental r. Potone, Peione; Scar v. Artillery (Berhampore). July 15—Petono v. South Wellington, Potone; D.I.C. v. Stars, Berhampore; Artillery v. Oriental, Berhainpore. The secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union informs us that the referee reports tihe Pelone-Artillery match last Wednesday to have resulted in a draw—three points each. The reports of the match stated that .the Artillery team won by six points to throe. The New South Wales football authorities have arranged an excellent programme for tho entertainment of tho New Zealand footballers during their stay in the mother colony. Tho New Zealanders will arrive in Sydney on the loth inst., and on tho same day there will be an informal reception m the Oity Council Chambers. Next day, the team will be officially received by tho Lord Mayor, and thereafter a round of entertainment will be given to the visitors, there being only half a dozen, days left vacant during the whole time of the team’s sojourn in New South Wales. From Sydney to Bathurst will be one of tho New Zealanders’ moves, a match against the Western Districts being set down to be played at the old quartz-reef city. A bar c-drive and a kangaroo drive are amongst tho outings to be provided for the visitors while at Bathurst. Some of'the sights of the Blue Mountains arc to bo shown to tho New Zealanders while they ate in the near Western Districts. The “Napier Tciegrapn” of Thursday states that A. Carlson, of Danuevirke, received a wire on IVednesday asking him if be would be willing to accept a place in the New Zealand team to visit Australia should one occur, and; ho replied in tho affirmative, provided he is informed in time. It ia rumoured in Wellington (and with some show of authority) that Garvey, of Christchurch, has found himself unable to obtain the leave necessary to enable him to accompany the New Zealand team to New South Wales, and that the vacant half-back position thus caused his been offered to Humphrey, of New Plymouth—who disputes with Duncan and Fanning the position of champion old-young player.