FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 842, 26 April 1906, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION.

There was a capital attendance at the annual meeting of the A.R.U. at the Sports Club on Friday last. President A. E. Devore being in the chair. The committee’s report stated that, taking into consideration the fact that last season was what is

usually looked upon as an “ off” season, interest in football matters generally was well maintained. The visit of the New Zealand team to Great Britain was, of course, the great feature of the year, and the splendid performances of the team excited enthusiasm, not only in football circles, but among all classes of

the community. The following Auckland players were included in the team as finally selected:—Messrs. D. Gallaher, U. W. Smith, G. Tyler, G. Nicholson, C. Seeling, W. Cunningham, and W. Mackrell, Mr. Gallaher having the honour of being appointed captain. The team, which returned to the colony via America, had a remarkable reception from the public on its arrival in Auckland, a compliment which it had thoroughly earned. There were a larger number of representative matches than usual, and with better results than in the two previous seasons. The New Zealand team played Auckland prior to its departure, the home team making a good fight against its formidable opponents, but being beaten by 9 points to 3. The first visit of a combined Australian team to the colony took place last season. The visitors defeated Auckland by 10 points to 8. Auckland also received a visit from Hawke’s Bay representatives, the match ending in a win for Auckland by 28 points to 3. The usual return visits to Taranaki and Wellington were paid, and a match with Wanganui was also played. The match with Taranaki was won by 6 points to 5, and that with Wellington by 10 points to 6, while a loss was sustained against Wanganui by 4 points to nil. By defeating Wellington the Auckland representatives recovered possession of the Ranfurly Shield, lost to Wellington the previous year. The senior championship was somewhat easily won by City district, which won all its matches, while Newton district was successful in the second and Ponsonby in the third grade. Ponsonby district has the distinction of being the first holder of the silver challenge football presented to the union by Mr. Moss Davis, and which the committee decided should be held annually by the district having the best combined results in all grades of championship matches. The secondary schools’ championship was won by Auckland College and Grammar School. In the public schools* matches the championship in the A section was won by Ponsonby school, and in the B section by Bayfield school. The public schools’ old boys’ competition was won by Devonport team. An important step was taken at the end of the season in the direction of altering the district boundaries. The number of districts was reduced to six by the elimination of Suburbs district, which found itself unable to carry on. The ground trustees have, entirely out of the ground revenue, paid £lOO off the debt on the ground, the capital account of which now stands at £2356 15s Bd. The balance-sheet showed receipts to have totalled £1371 5s Id, including £463 14s 4d carried forward, while the expenditure was £1167 14s 2d, leaving a net credit of £203 10s lid. The receipts included £4lB 19s 3d proceeds of matches, £250 debentures returned, and £ll6 9s Hawke’s Bay match. The expenditure included: Southern tour £143 14s, percentage to Tramways Company £lO2 9s 9d, guarantee to New Zealand team £250, expenses of matches £l4B 16s lid. The ground fund showed land at Three Kings at cost £3424 12s sd, against which is a mortgage of £llOO. It was suggested- that the A.R.U. should be represented at the N.Z.R.U.

annual meeting. Some discussion, arose as to the distribution of the £lO,OOO profit made by the “AH Blacks,” but it was ultimately decided to wait and see what steps the New Zealand Union intended making in the matter.

A letter was read from Mr. D. Hay, asking for permission to play a football match, cricketers v. non-cricket-ers, at Alexandra Park on May 5 in aid of the cricket coach fund. Messrs. Ohlson, P. Fraser, and J. Arneil spoke in favour of the application, and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the committee. Mr. MacCormick resigned from the position of secretary, and Mr. C. V. Langsford was unanimously elected to fill the position. On the motion of the chairman, Mr. MacCormick was elected a life member of the union. There were three nominations for the position of treasurer, namely, Messrs. F. S. Murray, D. Forsyth, and C. Jackson. A vote was taken and Mr. Murray elected. Other officers elected were:—President, Mr. A. E. Devore; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. J. Arneil, C. Hesketh, and H. Jervis; committee, Messrs. S. Somerfield, M. J. Sheahan, F. J. Ohlson, D. Conquer, C. Stichbury, and McLean; auditors, Messrs. P. F. Fraser and Macky.

There is always a huge crowd of spectators at the English Association Cup finals. This year the contest lay between Everton and Newcastle United, and it is said that there were 75,000 people present to see the game, a total which, vast as it is, yet is considerably lower than one or two of the matches of recent years. The game was a very close one, Everton winning by one goal to nothing, and it is not difficult to imagine the scene when that solitary goal was kicked. Ldst year the Newcastle team got into the final also, but on that occasion was beaten by Aston Villa by two goals to one.