FOOTALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 510, 3 May 1900, Page 7

FOOTALL

LBV

Vigilant.

The Auckland Rugby Union Management Committee held their weekly meeting in the Amateur Sports Club’s Rooms on April 26, Mr Orlando Wells presided. H. Absolum’s application to play for City was considered at length, and ultimately deferred till next meeting. It was decided that the scheme for the insurance of players should be submitted at a special general meeting to be held on the fo lowing Friday. At a meeting held in the Newtown Town Hall, Sydney, some 200 people assembled for the purpose of forming an electorate football club. Aiderman H. A. Langley (vlayor of Marrick▼ille) presided, and was supported on the platform by Aiderman Howarth (Marnckville), Messrs J. R. Henderson, Roland Kean (secretary Referees’ Association), James Burke, E. Howe. R. P. Browne, B. Holland,. H. Marks, and W Partridge Mr Geo. Hay moved the first resolution—“ That, in the opinion of this meeting of senior and junior footballers, it is desirable, in the interests of the Rugby game, to establish a district football club. The speaker in a lengthy address referred to the advantages derivable from the formation of such a club. Mr E. Howe seconded the motion, which’ was supported by Messrs J. R. Henderson, H. Marks, and W. Partridge, and carried unanimously. Mr Boland Kean moved—” That the Newtown District Club be now formed and open to residents residing in the district as defined by the Metropolitan Branch Union.” Mr R. B. Browne seconded the resolution, which was carried. On the motion of Mr sparks a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor for presiding. At Edinburgh, On Saturday, March 10, the last of the trio of Rugby internationals in which England was interested resulted in a draw after a terrific straggle. This was unfortunate for the visitors, who in the earlier portion of the game should have totted up a nice little advantage; • but owing to the nervousness on the part of some of the players, a blank sheet prevailed at half time. During the second portion the Scots had the advantage, and had Gamlin not been at his best the I line would have been crossed on several occasions. Close to the finish England got dangerously near scoring (says a London Exchange), but the men seemed content to keep the ball too tight, and it was only when the opposing forwards made mistakes through bad dribbling that the game was opened out. No scoring however, resulted, and the twenty-seventh fixture ended in a draw. The style of play shown was not of that order for an onlooker to go into ecstasy over. 11 was a forwards’ game for the great part, consequently “ scrums were general. In the English line R. j W. Bell took the eye most for all-round work, and J. Daniell (the captain), Alexander, and Shooter were all good. W. L. Bunting quite justified his election, and was the best threequarter on the field, with Forrest a good second.

On the Scotch side Rottenburg tackled and punted finely into touch repeatedly. His fellow London-Scots, A. R. Smith, G. T. Campbell, and Tom Scott were prominent; but the shining light of the fifteen was B. Neilson at half. Mark Morrison made a welcome reappearance, and he with Willie McEwan stood out the most prominently. The Auckland Public Schools’ Rugby Union held their third annual meeting on Friday evening last at the Amateur Sports Club Rooms. There was a very good attendance of members. The annual report submitted by the secretary (Mr S. H. Ferguson) congratulated the union on the success of last season. Nine schools were represented in the A section and 10 in the B. Wellesley Street winning the championship in the A, and Onehunga securing for a second year the B. championship. The report stated that there had been a marked improvement in the play, as evidenced by the very close contests, no less than fifteen drawn games being played. To prevent boys joining a school for the sake of football, the committee decided that no boy shall be allowed to play unless he shall have attended three-fifths the possible monthly attendances, and that a boy attending school to the time of the

annual examination, be considered a bona fide ■ .scholar, and entitled to play. The committee ; desired to place on record its deep sense of | gratitude to the Auckland Rugby Union and • Referees’ Association for the valuable services . rendered throughout the whole season. The" balance-sheet showed a balance in hand of £1 14s 6d. The report was adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows.: —President, Mr F. J. Ohlson (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs T. U. Wells (re-elected) and William Mclntosh; secretary and treasurer, Mr S. H. Ferguson (reelected) ; executive committee, Messrs G. H. Plummer, N. McKay, and G. Brown. The meeting adopted the following resolutions :—l. That no boy over 15 years of age, unless under Bst in weight in his football costume, at the beginning of the season, be allowed to play for any school. 2. Schools with an average attendance of 400 and upwards must enter for the A competition. 3. Entries close with the secretary on May 5, and the contests begin on Saturday, May 19. The Waipu Bugby Union held their annual meeting at Te Awamutu on April 21. There was ' a large attendance, each of the five clubs comprising the union being well represented. In the absence of the president (Mr O’Connor), Mr

Ryburn presided. The secretary and treasurer. Mr D. Hockett, read the report and balancesheet. The balance-sheet showed total receipts for the season of £2B 18s lid, and expenditure £23 8s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £5 10s. The report showed that three inter-union matches were played during the season, two against the Waikato Union, and one with Botorua. All three contests resulted in victories for Waipa. With regard to the club matches, Te Awamutu again carried off the championship for the second year. Taken all through, the union has been most successful since its foundation in 1898. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Mr P. O’Connor (re-elected) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. W. Lang, M.H.R., W. Taylor, F. O. Germann (re elected), H. Forde, J. W. Ellis, G. McKinder M, Gorrie, W. Mackay, jun., J. Greenslade, J. J. Storey, E. H. Aubin, and W. G. Park; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Forde. The election for the Management Committee resulted as under:—Messrs. J. J. Ryburn and 8. C. Mackay (Paterangi), F. Oorboy and J. Gardiner (Kihikihi), 8. Con and A. Smith (Piro_gia) f H. Burton and S. Bond (Te Awamutu), H. Carr and D. Bockett for Otorohanga. At a subsequent meeting of delegates, it was decided to commence the cap rounds on Saturday, May 12. On Wednesday evening of last week the Auckland Referees’ Association held their sixth annual meeting in the Amateur Sports Clubs’ Rooms. Mr F. Ohlson, chairman-, presided, and there was a large attendance of members. The annual report, which was read by Mr G. Pelham, secretary, stated that the season had been almost successful one from a referee’s point of view, the average attendance of members having far exceeded all previous seasons, while one and all had acquitted themselves most creditably, the young members giving much promise. The interest taken in the study of the rules and the game in general was most marked. The association has sustained serious losses through the removal to other parts of Messrs Major, Katterns, and Beck, the first-named having gone to South > Africa with the New Zealand troops, where it was to be hoped that on the whistle sounding “no side,” Captain Major would cover himself with glory. A matter to be regretted was the fact that the New Zealand Rugby Union had failed to call on any Auckland referees to officiate in interprovincial matches, and It was to be hoped that at least one of its members would have charge of one or more of the outside fixtures during the incoming season. It was a pleasure to report that the members of the association had won golden opinions whilst acting in their official capacity in country matches, several expressions of approval having been received from the country. Mr F. J. Ohlson was re-elected chairman, Mr G. Pelham secretary and treasurer, Mr F. Boyce assistant-secretary, and Messrs. Ohlson, Campbell, and Mackay an examining committee. Messrs. F. Murray and Hemmingway were elected members of the association, subject to the usual examination. The weekly meetings will be commenced on Wednesday next. Albert Asher, the City back, is in town. The game is being taken up very half-heartedly by senior players in Parnell, Ponsonby, and Suburbs districts. Many players seem to think that practice is unnecessary, but, as past results have proved, practice is one of the greatest essentials in winning the matches. On Friday evening last the Auckland Bugby Union held a special general meeting at the Amateur Sports Club, when the question of the accident fund, which had been referred to the Union by the management committee, was dealt with. The regulations framed by the committee were discussed and adopted. A new by-law was adopted, entitling senior players to free passes to the ground and grandstand at representative and practice matches. The committee reported on the question of altering the boundaries of the Suburbs district, and they had no recommenda-

tion to make. 4 proposal to send a New Zealand team to England was discussed, and it was decided to request the New Zealand Union to communicate with the English Union and ask what terms a visit would be received upon. ‘