FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 66

FOOTBALL.

BOTES SI EOLL BACK. According to a cablegram of Tuesday morning the football match between. England and Wales resulted in a win for the former by a goal, a penalty goal, and a try (11 points), to two tries (6 points). JPonty Jones and J. L. Williams, both out here with Harding’s team, were playing with the Welsh Fifteen in this fixture, while members of the same visiting team, in Archer, Davey, Dibble, and Jackettp found places in the English team, Dibble acting as captain for the Englishmen. The information, which came to hand some time back that an inquiry was to be held into the question as to whether Davey had infringed his amateur status must have ended satisfactorily for Davey, seeing that he again found a place in the English team. By winning this match England has broken a, long successon of defeats, and no doubt the win will be a source of intense satisfaction to followers of Rugby football in England, in the light of the many recent statements in the Horne press reflecting on the football abilities of the English players. The ex-New Zealand representative footballer G. W. Smith, who now plays for the Oldham (Northern Union) Club, was recently ordered oft the Held for striking a. Hull player. He had to stand down for two weeks. , In the opinion of a returned colonial who Vi well qua lifted to pass an opinion, Rugby football in England is on the decline, arid, will ultimately be eclipsed by the Association game. . Mr G. H. Dixon, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s Executive, who has been selected to represent that body on the New Zealand delegation at the Australasian Rugbv conference to be held in Sydney on January 25, is not yet certain whether he can make the trip, owing to business matters requiring his attention. If Mr Dixon can spare the time to go it will be his first visit to the New South Wales metropolis. I (says Athletic News) heard a story concerning & north country director who aavocated the removal of an outside player from the team, whilst another of his colleagues triad to point out that he was potbeing properly fed by his partner. His reply was, ‘Then he should see to at he is properly fed, and fell his wife that we pay him £4 a week so that he can atlord to pay for his food!” Even directors need educating- in football matters. Interviewed at Home, Jno. fetuntz, a Now South Wales interstate player who has accepted an engagement to play the Northern frame at Warrington, stated that there was a guarantee of £3OOO for a professional team which decided to four Australia. _ On a recent occasion a certain Home player had shown indications of sehishness. and, being in- possession, be was exhorted- to “Pass the bail! by ono enthusiastic supporter of the local team. The retort of the neighbouring spectator came along as follows: “ He’ll not pass l’ ha', man. Hs like "t House o Lords,’ and wein’t pass nowt! ” It is reported bv a recent Home exchange that the Northern Union- League Committee was to have brougnt to their notice a most interesting point which has arisen in connection with the arrival ot a colonial. The player in question was sought for by two clubs, and tn-s preliminary negotiations were -conducted by cable —a most expensive luxury even tor wealthy Northern Union organisations, and both clubs were of the opinion that thev had secured their man. He arrived in due course, and then came _ what we might term the peaceful persuasion oi the clubs interested who had representatives at the port of arrival. Eventually the announcement was made that the colonial had signed for one club, and in the usual order of things the Northern Union and the Northern League granted permits. So far so good. Now, however, comes the sequel. It appears that the colonial player—wh-o bad clearly been in communication with two clubs—-had accented tno disappointed club’s terms by cable. He ■arrived in England, and- signed _ ror t-ne other chib. The club who received the “accepted terms” cable, acting under p,edvic-c. had the cablegram duly stamp eel, and their legal adviser maintains thev'have a case for breach of agreement. The latest development arising out or the foregoing was that St.mntz —the colonial referred' to—was sued by < Barrow Club for damages for breacn oi agreement, ho having agreed to play for Barrow prior to accepting Warrington s offer. Stunts was ordered to nay £25 damages, -but the Wa-rrineton Club was exonerated from blame, and allowed to keen Stuntz, provided the money is naid by him. At the football match nlaved in New York between Harvard and Yale University teams there were 40.000 spectators. Enormous prices wore paid for the .bettor places. One man bought eight seats for £SO aoieo". A par-tv of members of theNow York Stock Exchange later offered £6OO for 15 'mat', but at that hour no tickets-were obtainable at any price. The -football season, test ended was the most fan-oai-in.-arv in the history of the game, despite the efforts made bv experts tins v A ar t-o frame rules to eliminate brutolitv Th.o. )i s t of victims, who were nearly all «ehoolhr>vs ami mute'-gra dilates. comprises 9/, killed and 208 -"“viocs!y injured, many being maimed for life. RUGBY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE. AUCKLAND, January 14. A meeting of the Management Committeeof" the Auckland Rugby Union was held this evening, the business being to consider the representation of the New Zealand Rugbv Union- at the- Sy-on-ey conference. After some discussion the- following resolution was carried The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union is of opinion that in the appointment of delegates from the North and South Islands to attend the conference in Sydney due regard should have been given that fch-e representation be such that it included at least one member who is, in sympathy with the amendments determined upon at the meeting held in Wellington at which this con-i'e-renoe was proposed and- adopted, seeing that such meeting was personally representative of the various unions in the Dominion.” it was also decided that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Now Zealand Rugby Union. NORTHERN ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, January 12. A mass meeting of bowlers was held tonight to consider whether the “ open-door policy at tour a aments should be continued.

Under this policy (which prevails at the present tournament) clubs are not restricted in the number of rinks they may have competing. The general opinion, though it was not quite unanimous, was in favour of the open-door policy, and a resolution to that effect was carried, both by individual and by club vote. The meeting decided to recommend that the next championship tournament he held in. Auckland. It was decided to instruct the council to take steps to present a- testimonial to Mr Mentiplay, who is retiring' from the secretaryship of the North Island Bowling Asociation after 15 wears’ service.