RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “All Black.”) The long summer is over, and there is talk of football in tho air. The clubs have held their annual meetings and begun preparations for tho championship competitions, which will start in earnest this day fortnight. Tho prospects for the season are rather got d. About seventy teams arc entering, and 'no difficulty regarding grounds is anticipated. The union as obtaining tho use of eight new grounds at Miramar, in addition lo the ten already in commission, and it is thought that these, with tho others around tho city, will be sufficient lor tho next two seasons. In the senior grade, tho teams, from present indications, should bo fairly evenly matched, and a good contest should result. I am voiy pleased to see the Ordnance Shield matches being resumed. Every vohintocr company should have one or two athletic movements attached to it; games snob as football and cricket aro splendid things for helping along that spirit of genuine camaraderie without* which no corps can hope to succeed. Of late years tho competitions for the shield have been somewhat spasmodic, and I therefore hope that this year’s matches will herald the dawn of an era of increased interest taken by volunteers in football, and a regular arc] uninterrupted series’ c/± annual competitions for the shield. The games will start to-day. Two will be played at tho Athletic Park —Permanent Artillery v. Royal New Zealand Engineers, and Wellington, NavaJs v. D Battery—and one match at Pelone—Peton? Naval* l v. Wellington Field Engineers. The Submarine Minors hare drawn a bye. Tho efforts of the players at the Athletic Park last Saturday to pick up tho hall wero rather amusing. Now and again an exception proved the rule. Tho players generally, however, showed that they had had very little practice. Although they were the first games of the season, one would think tho teams would endeavour to get a little training beforehand. Wrigley was easily tho pick of the Red Star backs in their match with Melrose. Tho sturdy three-quarter went down to rushes in good stylo, and varied this with some fine runs, one in particular almost proving successful. George Spencer played centrc-thrce-quarter for Melrose. The position seemed a little strange to him occasionally, but lie was tho best of the hlpe-and-red backs. Tire best game at tho Athletic Park last Saturday was undoubtedly that between St. James juniors and Kia. Toa (Palmerston North). The play, which ended in a draw, 3 points each, was fast and open, and a decided contrast with that on tho adjoining field. Pownall, tho Wanganui representative, will play for. the Athletic ‘Club tJiis year.

It is said that Skellcy, the Manawatu three-quarter, will bo in the Ponekc rear-guard this season. I understand that J. O’Leary, the ex-Wairarapa representative, will play in the St. James' Club’s new senior team this year, probably as five eighth. A little bird whispers that the Ponokc Club will mako a bold bid for championship honours this year. Its team is said to be very good noth hack and forward. Several city clubs are said to be finding good backs very scare© this year. Tho Potoiie Club, for instance, has lost several of last year’s players, while tho Melrose team, I hear, is having difficulty in filling places behind the scram, fho*vanguards of both clubs, however, remain good. An Auckland exchange states that Grergo W. Smith, the crack threequarter, has decided to play again this season. Rugby has established itself in West Australia, and tho Now South Wales Rugby Union has been asked to send a team to that State. The game is also extending Lvto Victoria. '•To commemorate the visit of flic South African team to England a fund is being raised to endow bods in hospitals. and it is proposed that they shall be resolved for tho use of football referees. s '—London “Punch.” " When the last New Zealand mail left Sydney nothing ixad been regarding tl.c proposed rtsit of » a New South Wales team to England. I was gird to re?- that Jack Sponsor's marriage last month did not prevent his turning out for Melrose against tho Rod Star team. By-the-way, I must congratulate tho happy pair. The North Shore Club (Auckland) seems to be making good progress. Throe yc* rs ag> it was in debt and without assets. Now it has a credit bnnk balance and property valued at £3OO. Last season tho club was second in the Auckland championship competitions. P; Anderson, who played in the three-quarter line for Oriental last season, will not be seen h the arena this year. It will be remembered that Anderson fractured a collar-bone last rear. Alcthinks tho Melrose forwards were

a little unnecessarily vigorous against iho lighter Red Stars last Saturday. Perhaps it was through exhilaration caused hy the return to the joyous football field. At the recent thirty-third annual meeting of the Ne.v South Vt ales Rugby Union, the president, Mr J. J. Calvert, stated that a matter upon which ho desired to congratulate the union was the fact that one of the leading papers of Victoria, the “Australasian,” had come to recognise at last that Rugby was quickly becoming iho world’s game. Mr Calvert also remarked that formerly lie was an admirer of tlie_ British Association game, hut professionalism Unvisjg crept into that and destroyed its character, ho was now an ardent supporter of Rugby. Up added that any difficulties which may have existed with Now Zealand wore at an end, and Now South AValos now recognised in tur players worthy and determined fics, but kindly enemies withal.^ At the same meeting, Mr C. W Oakes, M.L.A., a vice-president cf the union, said that the outlook for the game was never brighter than to-day. and it was the duty cf those concerned in its management to keep' it free iron taint of professionalism. Ho declared that if tins were done, and the game fostered, within hvo years from now the nick- of England, Prince, America, South Alicia, and New Zealand would ho playing in New South Vales for tho suprenuicy of the world.