FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

{By "PaitduL.^

"Siß* (Chrißteimrcli}--Thß Scottish itugby , Union's endorsement of the scheme to send a British team to South Africa was conditional on there being equal representation upon the international committee, when making the necessary arrangements for the tour. "J.J." (Auckland)— Will, look up. records. Speaking from memory, I should say it was highly improbable. "Wager" (Auckland)e-0 wins the bet, the r>''thern player's scoring record being ;cts ahead of the Auckland man's t..11y. ; "K.E.P." iCDunedin)— The appointments were made by the N.JZ.R.U. managing committee. Many of your statements are too "hot" lor publication, without more complete verification.

Troubles are reported to have arisen m. the management camp of one of Wellington's senior clubs, which may, or may not, mean tie loss of some of the best players, and their going over to the rival. forces.

During a recent West Riding cup-tie it is alleged that one of the linesrren was subjected to something more than pinpricks. Enthusiastic female barrackers, taking exception to his decisions, harpooned him with hat-pins.

For the first time m about 20 years two Sunderland Rugby teams were opposed to each other on December 13.

Commenting on the Scottish Rugby Union's approval of the project to despatch a British fcotball team to South. Africa this year, the "Athletic News" says : — "Whether there is not more m this modification than meets the eye at the first glance we should not like to say. What we do know is that the Scottish and Irish Unions are desirous of les- ! sening the representation of the English Football Union upon the International Board, that this is a matter which has yet to be inquired into and deliberated upon, and that the organisation of the team to visit South Africa may be made the basis' i for hastening the discussion. So far as we can see, the arrangement of details for a powerful side .can .'only be made with the hearty co-operation of all four Unions, and m this matter there should be no otw jection to equal representation. South Africa deserve well of oar Rugby folk ; it is to be hoped no differences of opinion will arise to interfere with the tour, but that a powerful team will be found m South Africa oext summer. A makeshift team such ask the Harding Australasian party will not\do ; the side must be representative." ' ,

For the match between Chelsea and Newcastle United^ last month, at Stanford Bridge, there^ was a record crowd of fully 70,000, the pressure being so great that numbers had to be allowed on the running track.

Bertram Joaes, one of the sSy-pilot brigade, and captain of the Wlgton Rugby Union Football Club, who was married on November 30, and sailed three weeks later for Chili, had the somewhat remarkable experience of captaining every club he has played regularly for.

| An Englishman has written home an amusing description of an American match, from which are taken the following extracts :— "ln the afternoon 1 went to seen an American Rugby football match on the Athletic Club's ground, Woodward-avenue— price of admission 50 cents. The ground had evidently been covered with coarse hay to keep out the frost, but we had had some rain and snow, which had then melted. The hay had been burned on' the ground, transforming the whole into a black quagmire, inches deep. In this thirty 'men wrestled and rolled for an hour or so, seemingly trying to bury the ball m the mud, principally with their heads. It was kicked at least six times. During the remainder of the game it was invisible. Several men walked about the field with buckets of water and cloths, to wash out the players' eyes every few- minutes. There were five referees or judges and three photographers plodding about on the field of play l .. Several players were carried off, and their places immediately filled by fresh men. The goaL posts were decorated like barbers' poles, with, I presume, the club's colors. It was impossible to tell one man from another, m their armor and coating of black mud. Result, about 37 points to 52, but 1 saw no scoring" and heard no cheering. Attendance about 4^00. " For the matter of meanness to its representatives the New Zealand Kugby Union would take a lot of wiping out, but, according to the "Athletic News," the English Rugby Union's economy goes still further, and as regards trial arrangements, not even the Scottish or Irish Rugby Unions could be iribre rigid. The men who played for "England" m the trial matches were arrayed m white ; they had to provide their own uniforms. Bach man received a number ; that had | to be stitched . to a jersey which he had ito obtain for -himself. The men who played for the "JNorth" and "South" were clad m "colors." Thus the cost to them was nothing ; their club jersey sufficed. Even m the international engagements, the "News" understands, the emblem of England is despatched to the player, but ' the latter has to provide the jersey to which the "rose" must be stitched. The New Zealand Rugby Union was too confounded mean to provide lemons or soft drinks on the occasion of a match at the Park a few seasons ago, and this threatened to be a Rugby record for all time. And is so still as far as the Dominion is concerned.

T. H. Vile, the half back with the British team cap.taincd by Bedell-Siv-wright, which came round these parts m lUO4, got his hand lacerated very severely on December 23 by the bursting of a lemonade bottle at the aerated water works, of which he is part proprietor. Vile skippers the Newport Rugby Club. T. Richards, the crack forward of the "Wallaby" team, is taking a run across to South Africa this season, and will not be available for the Australian combination when it visits New Zealand next winter.