FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9169, 18 August 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

PROFESSIONAL RUGBY. For some time after the professional "All Blacks" returned from England, the professional movement hung fire, and in some quarters it was prophesied that nothing more would be heard of the "pro."' game as far as New Zealand was concerned. The mi j n who had made the English tour were tired of football when they returned home, and were glad of a rest, but after a spell of idleness they began to cast about for more football, and some of them took to "soccer." Of late professionalism has been in the air, and a good deal of progress has been made with this branch of the game. A short time ago it was announced that a team was being got up in Wellington to make a trip to Auckland, and the following strong combination will make the Northern trip*.—Full-back, George Spencer; three-quarters, Tyne, Inkstone and D. Toohill ;■ fiveeighths. House and Barber; half, | Kelly; forwards, Pearce, Lile, Gilchrist, Byrne, J. Spencer, and B. King. The whole of the players are well-known exponents of Rugby. George Spencer is an old New Zealand representative player, and has b-ien one of the leading lights in provincial representative football for many years past. Of the threequarters, Tyne was a member of the "All Black professional team which toured England, and was previously a Canterbury and Petone player. Instone played senior for Poneke for some tune, and latterly has battled for Petone. D. Toohill was hon. secretary of the Poneke Club up to a few days ago, and has played in the senior fifteen of his club for sev~ eral years. The two five-eighths are both Petone Club men. Barber played for the Wellington representatives for a number of years, and also took part in some of the games played by the "All Black professionals in Australia. House is a young player of great promise, and has done excellent service for the Petone seniors this season. Kelly, who fills the half-back position, made the English tour with Baskivilles team, and .prior to that venture was a senicr Petone player. Of the forward?, Pearce, of Canterbury, made the English tour wich the professional team, likewise Lile, Gilchrist, and Byrne, all of whom were well-known representative Wellington amateurs before the professional movement. Jack Spencer is an ex-New Zealand representative player, and captain of the Melrose team which won the senior championship this season. On his present form he is one of the best forwards in New Zealand; but for some reason best known to themselves the Wellington selectors did not give him a place in the Wellington representative team. B. King is another Melrose senior player, and one of the cleverest men with his feet in the city. The team is to leave Wellington for Auckland on Thursday, and will be under the charge of Mr D. Fraser, of Petone, who was another of the "All Black" professional team which visited the Old Country. The terms on which the players are making the trip are said to be very satisfactory. The match will probably be played on Victoria Park. It is probable thit a Southern tour will follow the Northern venture.—"Dominion."

ANOTHER TEAM. BY TIUjECIEtAPir—VItKBK ASSOCIATION. FEILDING, August 17. Private information was .eceived at Feilding, on Saturday, that the Wanganui representative football team, which was defeated by Manawatu by nine points to nil, are about to become professional, and play their first match against the Wellington team.

AUCKLAND, August 17. The Wellington representative football team left for New Plymouth to-day en route for home. A very large number assembled at the Auckland Railway Station to bid farewell to thy merrioers of the team, who, "wnile accepting their defeat in a very apurtdmaolike manner, are naturally disappointed at the largeness of the scorri registered against them. Mr J. Williams, of Dunedin, who refereed in the match last Saturday, also left U- lay for home. The representatives of the W. Wallace Testimonial Committee (Medsrd Ar old and Brown), who

came to Auckland last week, made a collection at the Alexandra Park gates, on Saturday, the sum realised being about £25. Several donations have been made, one being for £2 2s, so that the amount realised by the visit to Auckland must approach £3O. A number of lists have been distributed in Auckland.

AUCKLAND, August 17. The takings at the gates and stands on Saturday last totalled £894. This is easily a record for an interprovincial match, the previous best being £750, taken at the game between the same two provinces in 1904.

The Wairarapa school team to piny Wellington Primary school represent atives is as follows: —L. Beard (Carterton), Lorimer (Greytojvn). Ewington (Masterton), Nix (Carcerton), R. Giles (Carterton), Wickens (Masterton), Bassett (Carterton), Fly (Masterton), Ferrick (Grey town J, Pinhey (Masterton), Sievers (Carterton), Manning (Carterton), Terry (Masterton), Meyrick (Carterton), Denbee (Carterton). The Wairarapa District High Schools team to play Wellington District High Schools is as follows: Armstrong (Carterton), Sutton (Masterton), Burridge (Masterton), Baillie (Carterton), Ibbotsen (Masterton), Shaw (Carterton), Ah Lop (Masterton), P. Dudson (Carterton), W. Dudson (Carterton), de Lisle (Masterton), T. beard (Carterton), R. Miller (Masterton), G. Miller (Masterton), Wagg (Masteiton), Elliott EmergenciesBack, Yarr (Masterton); forward, G. Wagg (Masterton).