FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 459, 11 May 1899, Page 7

FOOTBALL

[By

Vigilant.]

FIXTURES.

The following is the result of the draw in the Senior Contest: — ’

May 13 —Newton v. City, Suburbs v. Purnell, North Shore v. Grafton, P< nsonbv bye.

May 20—Newton v. Suburbs, North Shore v. Parnell, Ponsonby v. Graftm, City bye. May 27 —Newt n v. North Shore, City v Suburbs, Ponsonby v. Parnell, Grafton bye. June 3 —Newton v. Po sonby. '( ity v. North Shore, Graf on v. Parnell, Suburbs bye. Jne 10—Newton v. Grafton, C.ty v. Ponsonby, Suburbs v. North S' ore, Parnell bye. June 17 —Newton v. Parnell City v. Graf on, Suburbs v. Ponsonby, Forth Shore bye. June 24—City v. Parnell,Suburbs v Gra r ton, North Shore v. Ponsonby, Newton bye.

Our New Plymouth correspondent writes regarding the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union “ The change of headquarters

is a step in the right direction; I don’t mean in any sense of disparagement to Hawera, for several gentlemen there have always worked well and conscientiously in the interests of the game, but, because New Plymouth, during the last few years, has become the centre of Taranaki football. A hearty vote of thanks, and a well deserved one, was rassed to the former president, Mr G. T. Bayly. Undoubtedly, this gentleman has always done a great deal for Taranaki football, and I only hope that he intends to take as keen an interest in it as heretofore- I should say, even speaking so early, that Taranaki ought to hold her own in interprovincial football this season. The districts are the same as already published in the Sporting Review.

There seems to be a lack of enthusiasm amongst Thornes footballers, for only two senior clubs have so far entered for the cup contests. It has been suggested that the secretary of each senior club should send in eighteen names, that these players should be the club’s team, and that efforts be then made to form another club from the remainder of the players in the district. The idea has been favorably received, and it is thought that it will be carried through successfully. Mr T. Henderson, President, presided over the meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union held last week at the Amateur Sports Club-room. There was some talk about the improvement of the ac-

commodation for visitors to Potter’s Paddock. I expect that several alterations inducing to the comfort of patrons of the Winter game will be in evidence before very long. The draw in the senior cup contests appears above. The Piako Rugby Football Union have arranged the following fixtures for the ensuing season :— May 13, Te Aroha v. Morrinsville, at Te Aroha; May 20, Te Aroha v. Waihou, at Waihou ; May 27, Waihou v. Morrinsville, at Morrinsville; June 10; Morrinsville v. Te Aroha, at Morrinsville J June 17, Te Aroha v. Waihou, at Te Aroha; June 24, Waihou v. Morrinsville, at Waihou. The next meeting of the Union is fixed for June 24.

Mr W. G. Garrard, honorary secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union, has kindly forwarded me the Canterbury Rugby Union’s 1899 Annual, of which he is the editor. The little book contains a lot of information valuable to footballers, a record of Canterbury football, much interesting matter about New Zealand teams, and also the laws of the game. Mr Garrard has compiled a serviceable little volume, and is to be congratulated upon the thoroughness of his work. W. Hardcastle, the ex-Wellington forward, has been elected to ' the selection committee of the Sydney Football Club.

A. J. Gould, who has played for Wales for so many years, has been playing for his old club, Newport, this season. Not even the veteran’s presence in the team could stay, the victorious career of the Gloucester Fifteen, who this season

have vanquished four of the leading Welsh clubs in succession.

Mr W. G. 1 Garrard, the well-known referee, will make a trip to Sydney next month. He has a two fold purpose. He will see the English players, and he will attend the Referees’ Conference, which meets for the purpose of having a uniform reading of the Rugby Union Rules in all the colonies.

The Senior Flag matches at Dunedin were well contested, and provoked plenty of enthusiasm amongst the spectators. Kaikoura beat Zingari by 16 points to ni l , after a runaway game ; University defeated Pirates by sto nil; the Alhambra men scored over Dunedin by 9 to 5; and the match between the Union and. the Southern teams ended in a pointless draw.

The Wellington Rugby Union senior matches on Saturday resulted in victory for the Athletic, Wellington, and Petone teams. The Athletics put on 18 points to Orientals’ nil, Wellington defeated Poneke by 8 to nil, and the much fancied Melrose fifteen went down before Petone to the tune of 9to nil. Not a point was scored by the losing team in either match. At Christchurch on Saturday the senior football matches attracted plenty of spectators. Some good play was witnessed, the match between Merivale and Kaiapoi being particularly interesting. After a very good game Merivale were

successful by 15 points to 7. Linwood, as was expected, easily defeated the Sydenham team, the scores at the finish reading 24 to 4. The Christchurch fifteen was expected to have an easy win over the Albion men, but the latter showed improved form, and after a stubborn battle the game ended in a draw, each side scoring 6 points.

Our Napier correspondent wires : —No football was played at the Recreation Grounds on Saturday owing to the committee of that place and the Rugby Union failing to agree about the price to be paid for the grounds. Owing to West End withdrawing from the senior championship their match arranged with Clive for Saturday was consequently forfeited. Two second fifteen matches were played at Farndon on Saturday, Tomoana v. Clive and Guards v. Port Ahuriri, and one third fifteen fixture at the Spit, Napier v. Kiaora. In the Tomoana —Clive match, after a good game, the former won by a try to nil. Mr Mitchell acted as referee. The match Guards v. Port Ahuriri was won by the latter by 12 points to nil, three tries and a penalty goal. The majority of the Guards players being novices at the game, the Club would have done much better had it entered for the third competition. The third fifteen game at the Spit, Napier v. Kiaora, fell to the former by a try. It is evident that some of these who took part on Saturday are far from being third fifteen players, and the Rugby Union should see into the proper classification of p ayers.