Football

Southland Times, Issue 19551, 4 May 1905, Page 4

Football

All tho senior clubs practised yesterday afternoon, but in do case did there appear to bo a surplusage of members, the only club that provided more than a score of players being tho Blues. The Blues and I'irates practised together on tno Western Reserve, and the Star, Biitannia and Athletic on their respective grounds. The practices Lave revealed very little to furnish a guidance as to the relative strengths c-f the teams that will commence the matches next week. They have, however, made it plain that there is not likely to be brought to light any new player of surpassing brilliance, though there are several colts who will, with coaching, moke sound serviceable footballers. Generally speaking it is in the back division of the teams that the accession of new blood will bo most conspicuous. It is likely that by the re-arrange-ment of the old players and the advent of new ones the Blues, Star and Pirates will bo almost unrecognisable as last year’s teams ; the Athletics, too, are reported to have lost a number of formerly prominent members ; the Britannia, th is said, will put on the field a team practically the same as ,’ast year’s, while the Waikiwi combination is as yet an unknown, quantity in senior football.

The standard of play last year certainly did fall below that of previous seasons and in football circles, where ex-players predominate, gloomy anticipations concerning the coining season are freely indulged in, but there is no reason why the younger generation should not do fully as well as the warriors of by-gone days, making up by worth what they lack in weight. As regards the inter-club games, those who have within the last week or so Ijopn “ counting heads " freely express the opinion that the Britannia will come out on top. Per United Press Xsso Jiiti >n. WELLINGTON, May 3. At the annual meeting of the N.Z. Rugby Union E. Wylie was elected secretary. The President said there had not been enough energy shown in checking misconduct on and off the field. Cases of misconduct had occurred in which he had looked for disqualification, but some Unions seemed to deal with such matters with kid gloves. The annual report was agreed to. A motion on behalf of the Hawkes Bay Association to institute a black list on which Unions would record the names of individuals guilty of offences, such persons not to be eligible for representative honours, was negatived.