FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 80, 29 December 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

(By "I'akeha,") Mr Alf Bayly., t-he veteran Taranaki and New Zealand Rugby exponent, who recently disposed of his Toko prop.erticis aJid purchased a sheep' run near Wajiganui, v/here he is to reside |m future, is to be entertained a t a complimentary farewell smoke, concert. Presentations are to be made from tlie Rugby Union, of which MiBayly, is the retiring president- • the Start-ford Racing Club, and the Taranaki public. The function promises to be an immense success," and will probably be the most representative re-union of old-time and present footballers ever held m the province. ...

Mr I-lamish Stuart, the prolific writer on Rugby football m Great Britain,- who said some harsh : things concerning the "All Black's" tactics during their British tour, is said to have m his possession a small stone which invariably brings ?.;ood. luck to the. person into whose hands it is placed by the owner. Several instances could, if necessary, be - given to' substantiate this statement. The Shrrey men, . especially, have- good cause' ;t.o. Mow of the., peculiar properties of the talisman. One v/ellImowh'.f.ericketer. heard ;of these mysftic ' doingSj and, wishing '■ to cairn 't4leht7niofteyi. seized^^.the'stone^-at^tho ; same : time ; ; r^ma,rßinc "'tliat' "hb" -was glarttv; tihath 1 he~*shbuld :: '4o' 1 well -'-'• -Hr Stuart, ■ however; explained'- that 'the charm, would not" work m- v th^t' '.-'particular •■ •iiristance, "as:-"tl_e '''player,- by &eiwhg_-the stone, had -endeavored-' to '' 'force "'■ -"'the o magic"— a ; _ ■ sta-temerit which f p'r tu nate'-ci'icke te r was -'disriii ssfe'd •; by the second -ball > he received. -As -Mr. •SiiMri'.'Bd'- 1 ' Regularly- went -for the \N-fi*^j*2'ealia,»d&ts'-Md- ; -th6if.'-iiactKoas'-in 'tiie;:^feMv^.. s is.'rathß'r -a pity, from the- ScotcK^i^ ; hSttd';ihe feliifeaii round to'-themem-t .bers of Jifte,\.ScQiich..tean^.beTb're th^y tried coiic'lusi;cras v: vv ; ii.lf u; i'he representatives of M : oalandV ..''-.: ;

Mi* G-eotge...MiisQn,. y. r JtP.,is a- bit of a ''fluter" m .his way, has been airing his views't-6 a g pie-; representa-tive-anent, tlie letter from the Stanford TJriiv^rsitf ;'- CaliifoiTmai.' inquiring as'-to -tlic-'-'-pbssi-Uilitv of 'axr anting, for, a -series of international Rugby football '-^airres - : :^'be tween o& ! K picked all•Amerioan Uwiyersi-ty^' team^-and a New ' ' Zealand o team . ' With y; a good deal of what • he-said,', however, the writer condially. agrees u Mas.on. did not. think for a -moment ...that: the. •idea - was ..feasible. .The closes m April , and, ■as far as -:' , the Canterbury Clubs are '-concerne'd.Vthe season < does' 'not open' --until Easter . He went bh to say : ."So that would give absolutely "ho -opportunity • for practice, and m 'any case the .Easter matches are more m. the nature of social reunions -. than anything else.--visiting teams coming here one. year and 'our men journeying from home the next, and while our season nominally opens at Easter, m Auckland, Wellington, and .other North. Island, centres^ -the game is not . played seriously until muoh later. 'It will readily be understood from this how im--possible it: is to pick. a representative NeSv Zealand team to' meet' the Americans, and the only ; things that coubd be done .would be .to chose. . a fifteen'-on last dear's play.. I do not; ; thTnk,'-'':iih'der-.v'thiese ; circumstances, . that the;- Ke^.^ala^'di-Ru-gby-Unioiii .would. 1 consent ;;.-,to any thing, -belttg. done. It isa great pity the Stanford University people had hot .begun to inouire some months ago at least from the recognised -' football authorities." ■•■' /- - ■_ •■"■ • ; --',;_ Private letters received from. Sydney this tveelc poiiit to' the\likelihood pf one. of the University's 'best threequarters making Wellington his' future home a$ no distant' date: He -took ; a : great fancy to "New Zealand when .taajvelling with _. the 'Varsity . f obybali team this^ean / ' ■ v A Yorkshire ' back of undoubted - merit , has been writing 'to relatives m . "Wellington., .ihqU.irin'g' . as to; the prospects.^ /in /the .event/ of/ his -deciding'to'try hiiiuc'-t n "1 fie Polony. .lie has a decent; bi.-iot. i:i ;his own c'oun-. try, and his friends: artt-advisinpr,' him ;tb: stay: where: he i 5 ..:..%;. ■ ■-.;■'•: „- •■=•■:_' . : ; An -VEngl,ish % visitor^ to IWellihg. m was chatting to me ihe other day on the 'subject of the .Spfingbolv's t-jur; and m the course oi the conversa*oion 'I. giea-ned: oi&ti% the Aiiikan-ders were very anxious- for: a. New' •; Zealand team -to visit their country. If the colonials .would not respond to, their r.wishei, 'it- wa-s t-heir intention' to ■' in^ ; Jvade- 'New/, Zealand, either m 1908 or 1909. - „ . YWEir* fc.^W:*. /Bradburn:.' (' 'Bi'bwnic' ) , Who was secretary .of the Newton "Club for many year's, died during the weelfi ;Htf ; -was -"-'a ;st_rpng' supporter af:-.the./clUib f : '-'atoit : di4 - a £r«at deal to advance Rugby football m Auckland.^