FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11056, 23 August 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph — Copyright). SYDNEY, August 22. The New Zealand professional team are advised by cable that their headquarters have been fixed for the Grand Central hotel, Leeds. The following are the fixtures for representative matches : December 18, Yorkshire; January Ist, Wales; Bth, Cumberland; 11th, England; 18th Lancashire ; 25th, Northern Cnion. The following team will represent New Zealand m Saturday's match : Back, Turtill; three-quarters, Smith, Rowe, Laverv; five-eighths, Wrigley, Wynyard ; halves, Kelly, Tyler; forwards, Watkins, Mackrell, Cross, Johnston, Wright, Thevarten, Byrne. WELLINGTON, last night. At a meeting of the management commitee of the New Zealand Rugby Union a letter was considered from the secretary of the Council of the New Zealand Athletic Association, pointing out tlie evils of professionalism m sport, and suggesting that a conference be held at Christ; church With the object of promoting legislation during the current session-' of Parliament. A sympathetic resolution was passed, and /the Union, is prepared to be represented at such a conference, and suggests that it be held m Wellington, s° that members of Parliament may attend. The committee decided to expel eight footballers who had been suspended by the Wellington Union for professionalism; also to ask the various unions to supply the full names of persons from their district who have joined the professional team. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. The representative Rugby match, Auckland v. Taranaki, was played here to-> day m the presence of several thousand spectators. The weather was dull, rain falling during the second spell, making the ball difficult to" handle. The game was hard-fought and exciting, but except occasional flashes did not reach a very high standard; The game resolved itself into a contest between the fine pack of Auckland forwards and the Taranaki backs, and the latter lasted the longest, the visiting forwards being run practically off their legs m the finish by the heartbreaking line-kicking of the losal backs, particularly Hargreaves, whose all-round exhibition as full-back has never been excelled locally. In the first spell Cameron scored for Taranaki alter running right through his opponents. Hargreaves converted. McCormack scored for Auckland midway through the second spell after a good run by Murray, the game ending Taranaki 5, Auckland- 3. Btfth teams leave on southern tours to-morrow. WELLINGTON, last night. Mr Edgar Wylie, m his report on the recent tour m Australia, said the enthusiasm of tbe people for the Rugby game is very warm, and tliere is a marked improvement m the play, particularly m New South Wales. Mr Wylie said tlie rulings' of the Australian referees varied considerably from those of New Zealand referees. It was hoped the recent conference would bring about a- more uniform interpretation of ,the laws of the game m Australia. AUCKLAND, this day. Sheahan, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, stated at a social gathering of footballers that last season Auckland Ruby Union gave players a large number of trips, involving an expenditure of £561. The ground at the Three Kings, purchased by the Union a few years ago for £3360 was now valued at £9600.