FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XVIII, 4 May 1901, Page 827

FOOTBALL.

The opening of the football season will be later than usual this year, the date fixed for the opening matches being May 18th. In the Southern centres Cup contests have been in full swing for a couple of Saturdays. As a rule, we start a little later than the Southern provinces, but the trotting races at Potter’s Paddock next month makes ns even later than is generally the case.

It is stated that Mr J. Arneil will not act as selector of the rep. team this season, and if that is so the local Rugby Union will experience considerable difficulty in filling his place. Mr Arneil has certainly been most successful in the performance of his (as a rale) thankless duty, and has de-

servedly earned the confidence both of the players and the football public. One might differ from him over the selection or omission of individuals, bit it must be admitted that in the past results have proved that he was not very far astray in his opinion. I still have hopes that the powers that be will be able to induce Mr Arneil to reconsider his decision.

The Ponsonby players hope to be able to induce their old skipper, Albie Biaund, to again don the jersey this winter. Needless to remark that, should their hopes be fulfilled, it will be a great gain of strength to their ranks.

Two of the local teams have arranged for outside matches prior to the start of Cup matches. Karangahake meet City at Potter’s next Saturday, and on the following Saturday, at Devonport, the local team will meet a team from Aratapu. Suburbs will (on paper) have a much stronger team than usual this season. However, they have so much difficulty in keeping their men together, owing to the scattered nature of their district, that it is hardly safe to predict for them any great measure of success. However, everyone will be delighted should they prove capable Of showing a strong front. It is rumoured that Cunningham, the Thames and Auckland rep. forward, intends playing for Ponsonby this season, but I believe that he has not yet definitely decided upon his movements, and it is quite possible he may go to reside at Waihi.

It has been suggested on the other side that instead of a team from New South Wales visiting New Zealand this season it should be a team representing the Commonwealth. This would mean selecting the team from New South Wales and Queensland players, as these are the only colonies in which the Rugby game is played. On this side such an arrangement would, I think, meet with general approval; bnt Aucklanders would not like the further suggestion thrown out, viz., that the Australian team should only play three games, and those against teams representing New Zealand, and that such matches should be played in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.