FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 54

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AMERICA Wednesday, October 29.—Nevada. Saturday, November 1. —California (test). Wednesday, November 5. —Santa Clara. Wednesday. November 12. —U.S.C. Saturday, November 15. —All Stars.

Bi Ecu. Rack.

The New Zealand team at present devastating Rugby football in California evidently out to establish a fresh record. They are still maintaining a bold front to the enemy, and are apparently heartless in the magnitude of their scores. During last week they played Santa Clara College, and defeated the picked side by 42 points to nil. After this it is surprising to read in the cables that there was considerable dissatisfaction at the referee’s ruling, the New Zealanders contending that they were entitled to three more tries. Now, as this is a missionary tour, the winning or losing of matches sliou.d not be considered by the New Zealanders only in so tar as such wins or such losses would interfere with the work ol instruction,■ and as dissatisfaction over the referee’s ruling, the matter were better left alone. On Saturday the Now Zealanders played California University, ' which was by the way of being the second test. The Californians are said to have played fair football, but the New Zealanders overwhelmed them. New Zealand won by 37 points to 3. The only significant thing about this match is that New Zealand was scored against for the first time on the tour. The third test _ will be placed on Saturday, against California. S. Tiki, of Parata's Native team, is still an inmate of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. He was a member of the Maori football team tied toured Australia in June, and during the first match had his leg broken. The accident happened on Saturday, June 9, and he was immediatelytaken to the hospital, where the injury was, attended to, bur on the following .Thursday it was found necessary to reset the bone. Blooef-poisoning also retarded his progress, but a fetter received in Christchurch last week from Piki stated that he is now impiovmg list, and hopes to be able to return home in about three or four weeks. “It this tour can be arranged, it will arouse great interest all over the world is the comment of the Athletic News (England) on the proposed South African tour of New Zealand. Unfortunately, the South African Union has declined New Zealand s invitation on the ground that it is too soon after the English tour. At the Springbok inaugural dinner at Johannesburg last month, Mr H. G. Reid, a member of the 1906 team, in welcoming the members of the Transvaal Rugby U nion, said that ho considered it the duty of all eligible to attend and fraternise on occasions such as that, as it was essential in the best interests of the game in South Africa that the spirit of camaraderie which had characterised both Rugby teams sent from South Africa should be maintained. He noticed that the New Zealanders wanted a South African team to visit them. It was surprising to him how these invitations flowed in just after the return of a touring side. He hoped, however, that when the proper tune came a team would go to New Zealand, for he was of the opinion that over there they had not a proper appreciation of the standard reached m the playing of the game in South Africa. They might not be so brilliant as the “All Blacks’’ of 1905, but ho felt sure they had nothing to fear from sending a team to Now Zealand if the rules and spirit of the old British game were observed. In thanking the Springbok Union for the invitation to be present, Mr Devcnish Moares dwelt on the good sporting spirit which had always characterised South African football. Referring to the New Zealand invitation and Mr Reid’s remarks lie pointed out that the game in the British Isles had vastly improved between the visits of the “All Blacks” and the first Springboks. The annual report of the London Scottish Club made reference to the departure of its captain, Oolin Oilray, for Dunedin, who will be interested to hear that R. Gordon, the youngest of the London Scottish men to gain an international cap, got his commission from Woolwich, and is now in India, while D. C. Purvis, another international is off to Egypt to take up a Government post. The new" men in the London Scottish side this year include S. Steyn, an American, who has gone down from Oxford to Guy’s, and MTntosh, the Scdbergh three-quarter, who is claimed to be the best player that the school has turned out. MR A. DOWNES HONOURED. At a meeting of the Rugby Union held on Friday evening the president (Mr H. Harris) made a presentation to. Mr Alick Downes of a cheque for £lO6, being the receipts of the benefit match held recently. In making the presentation, the president referred to Mr Downes’s splendid services both as a player and a referee. Mr" Downes, in reply, thanked the union for arranging the match, the Canterbury Union for allowing its premier team to come to Dunedin, the members of the Old Boys’ team for coming, and also the Zingari Club for meeting the team. He expressed his appreciation of the work of all those who had assisted at the gates and in other ways, and said ho especially appreciated the kindness of the Ladies’ Hockey Association in sending along a donation. Mr Downes said he had played football for a number of years, and had. always endeavoured to plav the game in the proper spirit. Since giving' up playing he had been associated with the Referees’ Association, and had always boon well treated by both the players and the public. Ho trusted that ho would be able to give his services in this direction for some ysars to come.

THE CALIFORNIAN TOUR. SAN FRANCISCO, October 22. The All Blacks defeated Santa Clara College bv 42 points to nil. The New Zealanders led throughout. They displayed magnificent passing and o-ood combination, whereas their opponents were weak in both these departments. At half-time the score was 9 points to nil. October 23. There is considerable dissatisfaction with the referee’s ruling, the New Zealanders contending that they wore entitled to three additional tries. VANCOUVER, October 26. The New Zealanders defeated the Uni-

versity of California by 37 points to 3. The match was played at Berkeley. The Californians played fair football, but again the New Zealanders overwhelmed them. At the end of the first spell the score was 8 points to nil. Early in the second spell the Californians scored a try after a brief turn of speed, but afterwards the game developed into a monotonous record of New Zealand scores.

THE LEAGUE GAME.

ENGLISH TEAM TO VISIT AUSTRALASIA. LONDON, October 22. New South Wales has agreed to ths Northern Union’s terms. A representative team will be selected, sailing in April. AUCKLAND, October 23. The secretary of the Rugby League has received a cablegram from the secretary of the English Northern Rugby Union that the English team to tour Australasia in 1914 are whiling to extend their visit to New Zealand, provided that terms are suitable.