FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Bt TTni.i, Bicx. I hear that the Waiiaki High School Boys intend, ii possible, lo compete as seniors this year. Notwithstanding the facl that this club would have the assistance of iwo cx-Universiiy senior men in George Utilcy and M'Uulloch and perhaps the Oiago rep. It. Ongley may also throw in his lot with his old schoolmates— I am afraid the other three Oamaru teams would prove rather too heavy for Ilio School boys. 1 have not heard any more of tho probable arrival in Dnnedin, with tho object of taking up his residencfl here, of tho All lilack and Taranaki representative 11. I/. Abbott. I notice that. Abbott has entered for several footraces on ihe West Coast, and lie may make his way south after these have been dccided. Crammond. who has recently returned from Australia, will be playing again with the Port. The foam which hails from the town where iliey go down to the sea in fillips will be much tho same as last- vear's lifteeu.

_ Thompson, lalo ot the Taicri F.C., who is a good lock man, has joined iho Kaikorai. Alhambra are reported fo have secured Iho services of Milne, who last year played in the Southland team. Milno is a weighty forward who plays . with plenty of dash. A couple of players from tho Maniototo are also, I understand, io he found in tho ranks of tho Eed-aml-blacks. .And to onsure lliaf. thero will ho a judicious blend- ' iiig of old and new players, veteran Fred Given turns out for tho Bamas once more. W. Jhturo informs me that ho will play wnli his old t'Wim again this year, his injured knee having become much stronger during the past'l2 months, and wiil accompany ihe Union Io Chrisiclmrcli at Easter ! to play against Limvood. It is Io he hoped Iho Maroons get. together a sufficiently strong team this season Io ensure a. somewhat, equal division of Iho brimfc of battle amongst the whole fifteen, Mttnro during the past season or two scorning Io bo left to carry iho. wholo load tor his learn. The following Ciiristchurch matches have been arranged for Easter, and will lw played in Ihe following order:— Saturday afternoon-Christchurelt v. Wellington and MvrivaJe v. Alhambra on Exhibition Sports (..ronnd; Monday morning—Linwood v. Union on Exhibition SporVfiround: Monday afternoon—Southern (Dunedin) v. Albion and High &hool Old Boys v. 'Wellington College Old Boys, on 'Exhibition

Sports Ground. At the annual meeting of ilie Canterbury Rugby Union the following office-bearers wero elected for the coming year:— President, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes; vice-presi-dents—Messrs P. T. brans, J. R. Kvans, and G. 11. Mason; Commit roe—Messrs P. P. Wilson, P. Mcnzies, K. R. Guthrie, F. L. Murray, and W. Walton; Selection Committee—Messrs P. L. Murray, S. P. Wilson, and G. Mathews; hon. secretary, Mr W. G. Garrard; hon. treasurer, Mr G. Scott; delegates to New Zealand Rugby Union — Messrs P. G. Walbnrton, W. Walton, G. H. Mason, P. T. Kvans, and W. G. Garrard. Tho council or the Now South Wales Rugby Union has decided to invite tho Combined American Universities to send a team to Sydney. Mr G. H. Oram, who is at present in New Zealand op a holiday visit from Natal (says Sydney-Town and "Country •Tournall, comes accredited for tho purpose of making inquiries as to the prospects of arranging either for _ a Now Zealand team to visit South Africa, or for the South Africans to como to this colony. Before returning to Natal Mr Oram will have an interview with tho secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union on tho subject. The following avo the dates decided upon by the council of tho New South Wales Rugby Union for tho matches against the New Zealandors this year, but they wilt have to bo agreed to by New Zealand; — New Zealand v. Now South .Wales, in Sydney, Jul}* 13 and 2D; Now Zealand v.' Australia, in Sydney, July 27; New Zealand v. Australia, in Sydney, lAugust 24. It is suggested that on' August 3, 10, and 17 tho New Zealand team should play in Brisbane. Tho Canadian Ritgby Union has reduced tho drop goal from 5 points to t, and raised the penalty from P. points to 3. Speaking at a reception given to tho South African football team on their return home to Capetown on January 29, Mr Roos, the captain of 'tho Springboks, said the tour had certainly drawn the Bnfi'sh and Dutch closer together, and ho hoped that now all differences would bo forgotten, and that they would feel themselves united. _ lie did not know whether South Africa was satisfied, hut I ho was certain that tho team had done its liest. He was glad their conduct had api-.ealed to the British public, and hoped it had earned for South Africa a name it novev had before. The following are the conditions of the competition for a out) to bo played for ' among tho Rugby football nations of the Umpire:—The enn to be known as the | "Good Hope Challenge Cup." It will be | of the vciuo of £200. is presented for comI petition between the States and tho | colonies of the British Empire, and is open to thvi'' representative Rugby teams, Tho UniM Kingdom and the several federated or unified Slates or colonies will count eae.h a* a whole, and will bo entitled to be represented by one team only. The Cun, in tho first, instance, shall be handed Ito the governing body of tlie South African ! Union a-s their temporary properly, until j elialNu'ed. and shall be kept at or near ; Can,•'town '-vhilo in their vewssion, but j it mav bo sent, to any other centre in Routit Africa where and while a enp match is being played, to be reh:rne<l to its colon in I home tbe v if successfully defended by South Africa. [The ti'onhy hiw been presemet! by a well-known South African wntleman who is at present in Knglund.] ASSOCIATION. By Lift \Vr:;c. Tho schools football movement is still growing. Fairfield and St. Clair have apj plied for pepv'ssion to enter. This brings the school ' up to 27. Tho new , ml, Corinthian Park, is expccted to> .n uso for senior matches shortly after the commencement of the season. Several drains across tho aroa will havo to bo tilled in, and if tho sanction of the annual meeting is obtained thi6 work ivill be proceeded with on tho 27th iiist. It is proposed to dig a 3ft trench round the ground, using tho excavated earth to fill in tho cross drains, over which the turf will be replaced. I understand that tho association already has an offer to buy the property at an advance of £500 upon tho ■ purchase money. M. Chadwick is not likely to bo playing for Northern this year, having intimated 1 his intention of standing down. j The Wakari Club is not likely to suffer in point of numbers. The annual meeting brought together an attendance of about SO. Tho weakness is likely to bo in tho personnel of the .First Gra<l? team, of j which so many of last year's members have intimated their intention of retiring. With such a largo body of young men to mould, and witli a 'club captain combining, as does P. Ussher, experience and the faculty for communicating to others his own j enthusiasm, there is every promise of a j strong club in tho near future, even although there may be a timo of weakness to bo passed through. The officers for the ensuing year arc as follow;— President, Mr A. Washer; vice-presidents—Messrs G. M'Millan, U. F. Greonslade, J. Hunter, T. Harrison; secretary, Mr P. Rourke; Selection Committee—Messrs P. Ussher, P. M'Millan, J. Armit; General Com■mittce—Messrs 11. Morrison, J. Armit, P, Ilourke; delegates to the 0.P.A., Messrs A. Washer and 11. Morrison. Tho balance sheet showed a credit of £2 12s 6d.

Fifteen new members wore elected. Delegates were instructed to support the motion imposing a registration fee of Is npon members of clubs.

Wakari is tho club, that is probably 'most adversely affected by tho operation of tho district sclicmc, and perhaps there will not bo _ great surprise expressed at the club giving notice of motion to tho effect that, the district seliomo bo abolished. It is claimcd that the district has not the population to compete with the others. And then there is an attendance of 50 members at

tlip annual meeting! Tho effect of tho district scheme will bs felt gradually as the old players drop out, and Wakari is proving one of the first clubs to experience a serious loss of senior men. How-

ever, there seems scarcely sufficient reason yet to condemn tho principle of tho district system. There was some talk concerning the advisability of the Wakari and Maori Hill districts being combined, l'lio outcomo of such an amalgamation would be a very strong club, and thero can bo no question as to Ihe advantage of having a few solid, healthy clubs in preference to a multitude of struggling ones. However. Wakari lias tho material, and the spirit of enthusiasm is evident, in tho

fact that various members have offered medals for the best player in each grade, another medal being offered by the club captain for the most consistent "trainer" in the second and third grades during the season. The medal for the best, player in the. Third Grade last year was, by the way, won by A. Gregory. The zeal of the Ravcmbourne Club is something to emulate. The condition of their ground, dry but- heavy with sand, has occasioned the members much ihought, but the matter has not ended in the thought zone, as is not infrequently the capo. A canvass of tha district resulted in the raising of close upon £7 for the erection of a shelter shed upon the 'ground. Forthwith the members of the club set to work, and on Saturday five of them performed the combined offices of architect, contractor, and artisan, whilst over a dozen busied themselves upon the ground. As tho result of the efforts of the latter a large patch in tho centre li'as been turfed i and the corners have been fixed up. It is I the intention of tho members to resume ! 1 operations again 011 the holiday morning, • 1 with a view to having a practice 011 the ' ground in 1110 afternoon. Visiting elevens will appreciate the. enthusiastic efforts of 1 tho Ilavensbourne Club. | The Northern Club had a very large ' , muster-quite 70—at the annual meeting, | It was reported that every subscription for 11906 had been paid—a circumstance creditI able to the secretary and treasure!'. ]t j was decided that- the delegates should sup-

I port j,lio/ proposal Hint each plavor pay to Iho O.F.A. an affiliation (co of Is. ]n tho matter of the Morniugion Ground motion, whilst a certain amount of svmpathv with tho Morninglon Club was expressed, 'it was resolved that tho delegate? would be in a hotter position to form a judgment at tho annual meeting, and should therefore bo left, a free hand. H. Ratloy was appointed . club captain. At the conclusion of tho meeting framed photos' of tho First Grade eleven, winners of the cup and Cliarily Banncr Inst season, were presented to Messrs 11. J. Duncan (president) and .1. Haynes (vice-president). There was uu attendance of over 30 nt i tho annual meeting of the ltaslyn Clnb. and under the genial presidency of Mr H. 11. Stables business was 'conducted smoothly. It was noticeable that there was not. a large band of junior members at this meeting. Tho registration fee of Is was approved, and delegates were, given a free hand in reference to iho improvement of Mornington Ground. This season tho club will have tho sorviccs of J. Usshcr, who was at one time a valued playing member, and now takes up the sport again. Maori Hill held an informal practice on Saturday, with about 15 men a-sidc. There is :i proposal to alter tho club's uniform according to a design by the president of the club, Judge Ward.