FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 792, 11 May 1905, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

A commencement was made on Saturday with the District Cup matches, played under the auspices of the Auckland Rugby Union. The weather being very favourable a good crowd was pretent at Alexandra Park, the spectators numbering about 2000. The principal match was between Newton and Grafton, but the latter were defeated very easily. At the commencement Grafton rather more than held their own, but during the second half! thely, went to pieces completely. At half-time the scores were 3 all, Hooper having scored for Newton and Lovell fcr Auckland. In the second spell Grafton had to face the setting sun, a bigf handicap, and they also seemed to lack condition. Soon after play had been resumed A. Gray kicked a goal for Newton, and a little later a try, which Eaton converted. Then Rowe got over the line, and Eaton again l added the extra points. Trevarthen was the last to score with an unconverted try, Newton thus winning by 20 points to 3. * * * * Parnell played Suburbs at Alexandra Park, and succeeded in winning a fairly interesting game*by 8 points to nil. At half-time neither side had scored, but in‘the latter half L. Shera and , G. Sher a each secured tries for Parnell, Foster converting the' latter one into a goal. sjs * 3}t 4; At North Shore the attraction was a match between City • and North Shore, the former emerging triumphantly from the encounter by 19 points to 3. City’s first score was achieved by Mcllhone, but W. Tyler failed with his kick. Tyler next crossed the Shore line, Nicholson converting. Seeling then scored a try, which Nicholson failed to put over the bar. C. Little, by slmart following up, next got a try, and soon after C. Nicholson td.ok.the leather across, Tyler adding a good goal. Right on time, W. Wynyard got a try} for the local men, this leaving City winners by 19 points to 3. SECOND FIFTEENS. Newton v. Grafton : Neweon won by 24 points (six tries, three converted) to nil. City v. North Shore : City won by 5 points (one try, converted) to 3 (one try). Parnell v. Suburbs : Parnell won by 6 points (two tries) to 5 (one try, converted). # $ Sf! * THIRD FIFTEENS. Newton v. Grafton : Newton won by default. North Share A v. North Shore B : North Shore A won by default. Ponsonby B v. Parnell : Ponsonby won by 22 points to 5. Ponsonby A v. City : A draw, no score. In connection with the Secondary Schools’ Union, the following is the draw for the season (the matches being repeated for the second round) : — May 20 : King’s v. St. John’s, Prince Albert v. Sacred Heart ; Grammar v. University. May. 27 ; Prince Albert v. St. Johns ; King’s v. University ; Grammar v. Sacred Heart. June 4 : Grammar v. Prince Albert ; King’s v. Sacred Heart ; St. John’s v. University. June 11 : St. John’s v. Sacred Heart; Grammar v. King’s ; Prince Albert v. University. June 18 : Prince Albert v. King’s ; University v. Sacred Heart ; St. John’s v. Grammar. & * :ft * A meeting for the purpose of forming a Rugby Union was held at Waikino on Saturday evening, Mr J. McKenna being in the chair. It was decided to form a union with three clubs, viz., city, west and united districts. It was also decided to affiliate with the Goldfields Union. The following officers were elected : —Patron, Mr E. G. B. Moss, M.H.R. ; president, Mr H. Crouche ; Management Committee, Messrs J. A. McKenna, W. Geard, R. Lavery, D. Shaw, A. McDonald, and R. Stephenson,; hon. secretary, Mr H. J. Field ; hon. treasurer, Mr D. S. Shaw ; delegates to Goldfields Union, Messrs W. Geard and .). A. McKenna; auditors, Messrs H. Crawlev and L. M. Jollv. ‘ ♦ • • * Mr G. F. C. Campbell presided at the thirteenth annual meeting of the N.Z. Rugby Union, which was held in Wellington last week. In speaking of the team for Great Britain, he is/reported to have said he did not think constant

visits there would be of a benefit to the colony’s football, but an occasional visit would be very valuable. As for the team coming across from New South Wales and Queensland, he thought it would be the strongest which has come from Australia. He pointed out that with the pick of New Zealand players on their way to the Old Country there would be a decreased strength to meet visitors and a diminution of interest in the matches. He was not satisfied that sufficient had been done to put down foul play on the field, and misconduct off the field. He was quiteaware, however, that not very much could be done until increased powers were given to referees. At times he had been disappointed that more . rigorousaction had not been “taken in the part with regard to the misconduct off the field. There had been cases in the South last year in which he had looked for certain offenders to be disqualified for life, but the responsible unions had practically dealt with the matter with kid gloves. He hoped that in the future the New Zealand Union would take steps to clear up any offences reported. His experience went to show that newspapers in reporting offences were as fair to the offenders as possible, and when a newspaper made such reports as had been made it was the duty of the union to sift the matter to the bottom and mete out punishment to those deserving it. The following officers were elected for the ensuing 12 months :—Patron, His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunkett) ; president, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes(Christchurch) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Logan (Hawke’s Bay), A. Bayly (Taranaki), W. Empson (Wanganui), A. N. Gibbons (Manawatu), E. O. Whatman (Wairarapa), G. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), S. Connolly (Marlborough), C. E„ Harden (Bdller), D. J. Evans (West Coast), C. S. Fraser (South Canterbury), F. H. Campbell (Otago), A. F. Hawke (Southland) ; secretary, Mr E. Wylie ; treasurer, Mr N. Galbraith (re-elected) ; Management Committee, Messrs W. Coffey, D. Weir, R. M. Isaacs, A. Laurenson, G. Fache, G. Dixon (all re-elected), and a Campbell ; representative on English Rugby Union, Mr C. Wray. A number of speakers referred to the tendency towards rough play, and this matter is referred to elsewhere.