OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 37, 1 June 1907, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

By Hareier.

SO far, this season, the Auckland Rugby Union have not been favoured with the best of weather for their Cup fixtures. Saturday turned out a very raw dav. heavy squalls of rain occurring at intervals. Nevertheless, a fair number of enthusiasts gathered at Alexandra Park, where the three senior fixtures were played. On No. 1 ground Parnell gave North Shore a sound beating by 22 points to nil. City did likewise in their contest with Graf ton — 27 points to nil. Tne Newten-Ponsonby game was more even, the latter winning by 6 points to nil.

Unfortunately for North Shore, they were unable to put their strongest fifteen in the field against Parnell, several of their best men being hors de combat. Parnell played against the wind in the first s^ell, and were inclined to play for safety, although they were very dangerous at times. Only one tr^ was secured in this spell — that by Twiname for Parnell. With the wind in their favour in the. second half, the Parnellites forced the pace, and scored rapidly from the outset. They -had easily the best of the "ame, and when time was called had -.put on another nineteen points. Parnell thoroughly deserved their win, and although the players were hampered by a greasy ball and the Blippery condition of the ground, the exhibition of football can be said to have been much better .than in the Ponsonby-City same of the previous Saturday. Coming to the Parnell players, Cleave is showing improvement in his play as full-back. Stuckey bejng an absentee, Smith was brought "in and played in the three-quarter line, Twiname up to five-eighths. Smith gave a much improved display, his handling being safe.. Mowbray shaped better than before, but he gets flustered when in a tight corner. Hogan again nlayed a sound came, and smart following up enabled him to score a couple of tries. , Twinanie i and Todd were very prominent all through. The first try for Parnell was the result of a clever piece of work on the part of. Twiname. 1 Todd made some clever openings, and his passes were well timed. Fox was given plenty of opportunities on the attack, and made the most of them. The Parnell forwards are now playing with fine combination, and they had the advantage of their an.tagonist^ right tnrough. Kinder ,gave" a very fine display, and pot . splendid backing from Muir, Walsh and Blampid. Rhodes- is a solid forward, but showed a bad fault in getting off-side too frequently. Armstrong shone in the open work, heading some serviceable rushes. Shore's back team had to be reorganised. "W. Todd was placing -three-quarter, whilst A. . Mays, "another forward, came out to fiveeighths. ;■: One of the most consistent backs : f or North Shore is D. Miller. He took the ball well and rarely failed in bis kicking. - - Q; Miller and Woodward were rev iapbldsible: for some 'good work, but ■"-'. /V: Tdcld will- never make a thrfee'iguairter. He was evidently filling = %,gapi "iot a success

as fiv&aighths. ■ Jackson had to pLsy ahard game, and now • a-hd again displayed much cleverness. The |Shore forwards were ratner weak, although they played doggedly. Tfeoland made his reappearance and his form was not too bad. Clark and Marshall (wing) worked well.

Ponsonby had not such a soft snap in the match against Newton. Tt was not till well on in the second snell that they were able to settle the matter by scoring tbe second try. There was a slight re-arrangemen<t of the Ponsonby banks. Murray was an absontee, and Kenyon took his place, whilst Gillet played fiveeiqhths, and- in this position a^ain displaced what a heady player he is. The first try. secured by Wilson, was the result of Gillet's clever work, and Ponsonbv's second try went down to the " All Black." Wilson shaped fairly well, but Rpnvou -will have to improve Coy did his.best with the greasy ball. The olay of the blue and black forwards was not im to their standard, notwithstanding that they met a weaker pack. At times thpv got too anxious. No player calls for special mention. Stannaway was fairly successful on the wing. "Tommy" Roberts did himself justice as full-back for Newton. He got in some sound kicking. H. Howe was undoubtedly the mainstay of the Newton backs. He marie one fine run in the second snell, lleing iusfc taken in time by Blakey. Woolgram was dashing about, and Gray and Farant played fair games The NTewton pack was reinforced by several juniors, and right well < they stick to their work. Trevarthen was the most conspicuous, but tho remainder were not far behind him.

The City-Grafton game was a sort of a canter for the former, and does not call for much notice. The City bucks handled the ball -well, and tlie three-quarters had a sreat time. Smith displayed his sprinting powers, and also' potted a goal from the field. The forwards were not pushed- and took matters rather quietly, Grafton are to be congratulated upon putting up such a good fisrht. There has been some talk of this team pulling out, but with the help of several juniors a full conrnlement was obtained. The backs were' mainly on the defensive, and " Pat " Sutherland did a large share of the work. In- the forwards, Comes, MeConnick and Eaton were a hardworking trio.

George Smith will not be playing for City on the next two Saturdays. Fred Gladding will probably be an absentee from the City team now, on account of a bad leg. Rumoured that a w^ll-known Auckland forward, now under the ban, rill probably go Home with the professional team. "All Black " Deans will not be available for the' New Zealand team's trip to Australia. Pressure of business prevents Deans from^play^ v ing regularly.. . Next Saturday's matches will conclude the first round of the „Senior Cud. Probably the most interesting game will be that between Newton and Parnell. The Auckland Rugby Union Annual is now published, and. l have to thank Mr V. Langsf.or.cl for a.copy. The .Annual is full of useful information 2 a,nd contains all the rules r>ertainiHg to the, game,, ■. . . . „ . The North v. South Island match, will 1© played at Christchurch ori Monday next. Owing to the Auckland selected .declining. 'to sign the affidavit drawn up by the N.Z. Rugbf TJuibn. our- province will rioi be represented. For all that, the-; Nortli . Island team appears to be fairly strong,; a.nd lf^he Southerners V . are to win" ther will have to put' thwl?«9t foot forjward.

The sensation of the hour in football circles has been caused by the refusal of the twelve Auckland candidates for the North Island team to sign the declaration prepared by the N.Z. Rugby Union guaranteeing their abstention from professionalism. The consequence is that a number of Auckland footballers, who have at least merited selection for the interprovincial and intercolonial teams, are now in the unenviable position of being ineligible for selection unless they recant, and sign the declaration.

What must occur to every true sport is that the N.Z. Rugby Union were thoroughly justified in taking steps to protect themselves and the game from the designs of footballing pothunters who were to conceal their identity, participate in the good things that are going this season in the shape of trips in the South and to Australia, and then join the professionals on their Home trrv The players who intended to join the professional ranks were within their rights in refusing to sign the declaration and incur the penalties it involved. Where they went beyond their province was in inducing other players, who would scorn the idea of becoming " paid sports," to assist them in thwarting the determination of the N.Z. Rugby Union to compel the intending -rofessionals to declare themselves.

That the players who had no intention of turning t>ot-hunters have been carried awa^ by false sentiment is apparent to anyone. It miy be loyalty to comrades, but it is not true sport. They were asked to sign a simple declaration, and in the interests of the game should have had no hesitaion in doing so. Exception was rightly taken, when the declaration first appeared in print, to a clause in which the signatories were asked to. become informers. This, liowever, -was expunged previous to 'the selectees beins; asked to sign it, and its removal should have satisfied every objection.

At the moment of writing, a number of old representative flayers, not officially . connected wit tbo A.R.U., are moving in the direction of endeavouring to induce the misguided; players to reconsider their decision not tp. sign the declaration. It is to be hoped that their counsels will prevail.