FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 895, 2 May 1907, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

The Cricketers v. Non-cricketers match, which virtually opened the football season as far as Auckland is concerned, took place at Alexandra Park on Saturday, the attendance being very fair. The teams were as follows: —Cricketers (red and white) : W. Brooke-Smith, W. E. H. McKenzie, r. Wynyard, R. McGee, M. Gray, E. Mac Cormack, Joyce, Doyle, Williams, Walsh, Kinder, Francis and A. Haddon. Non-Cricketers (red and black): Murray, Twiname, Rowe, W. Wynyard, L. B. Todd, Hill, W. Tyler, Mcllhone, G. Tyler, Mackrell, McGuire, C. Seeling, Trevarthen, Hall, and Dean. The game proved interesting right through, although, of course, most of the players were out of form. Rowe, W. Tyler and Murray scored tries for the Non-Cricket-ers, who won by 9 to 3. R. Wynyard getting the Cricketers’ late try. Mr A. Campbell was referee. At Wellington on Saturday Oriental 13 (two goals from tries and a, penalty goal) drew with the Athletic representatives (two goals from tries and one try). Petone easily defeated the Old Boys by 31 points to nil. Poneke (11 points) beat Wellington (nil). Melrose (34) also defeated Victoria College (nil). * * * * At Christchurch (10) beat Old Boys (5); Sydenham (15) beat Linwood (nil); Albion (17) beat Canterbury College (nil); Merivale a bye. * * * * The Dunedin matches on Saturday were as follows: —Alhambra beat Zingari by 6 to 3; Southern beat Port by 8 to 3; University beat Pirates by 40 to nil; Kaikorai beat Dunedin by 14 to 7; Taieri beat Union by 8 to 3. * * * * The annual general meeting of the Franklin Rugby Union was held at Pukekohe on Wednesday evening. Mr. C. Munro was elected chairman. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season: —President, Mr. James Roulston, jun.; vice-presi-dents, Dr. Reekie, Messrs. J. Molloy, I. Motion, H. Lilley, E. Quinn, F. Gimblett, S. Morris, J. Graham, W. G. Abbott, A. Waller, H. Walsh, and Brown; hon. secretary, Mr. A. H. Tapper; hon. treasurer, Mr. Penman; hon. auditors, Messrs. W. Roulston and G. Blake; Management Committee, Messrs. G. Morgan, Abbott, Tooman, J. McGuire, Kenealy, Larsen, and the president, secretary, and treasurer ex officio. A new set of bylaws was set up and adopted by the union. Mr. Penman was appointed sole selector of the representative teams. The cup matches will be commenced on May 11, two rounds to be played. The following is the draw: ---May 11: Drury v. United, Wairoa v. Tuakau, Pukekohe a bye. May 18.: United Wairoa v. Tuakau, Wairoa v. Pukekohe, Drury a bye. May 25: United v. Pukekohe, Tuakau v. Drury, Wairoa a bye. June 1: Tuakau v. Pukekohe, Drury v. Wairoa, United a bye. June 8: United v. Wairoa, Pukekohe v. Drury, Tuakau a bye. * * * * The balance-sheet of the Southland Rugby Union showed that the expenditure amounted to £2720, which included £1342 15/2 purchase of new grounds, £BO5 5/ work on new grounds, and £268 12/3 expenses of Northern tour. Receipts included: Rugby rally profits £202, and loan from New Zealand Rugby Union at 2% per cent. £l3OO. The overdraft at the bank is £690 10/8. The balance of assets over liabilities was set down at £llB9. * * * * Next Saturday’s matches will be played as follows: — FIRST FIFTEENS. No. 1 Ground (Alexandra Park): Ponsonby v. Parnell. Referee, Mr. C. W. Oram. No. 2 Ground: Newton v. City. Referee, Mr. W. Pitts. At North Shore: Grafton v. North Shore. Referee, Mr. H. Frost. SECOND FIFTEENS. No. 3 Ground: Ponsonby v. Parnell. Referee, Mr. Austin. No. 4 Ground: Newton v. City. Referee, Mr. Sutherland. At North Shore: Grafton v. North Shore. Referee, Mr. R. McGregor. THIRD FIFTEENS. No. 5 Ground: Parnell v. Ponsonby. Referee, Mr. J. Laing. At Kingsland Cricket Ground: Grafton v. North Shore A. Rr B eree, Mr. Freeman. Newton v. North Shore B. Referee, Mr. Greenhough.

FOURTH FIFTEENS

No. 6 Ground (Alexandra Park): Grafton v. North Shore. Referee, Mr. C. Martin. No. 7 Ground: Newton v. Parnell B. Referee, Mr. H. Williams. No. 3 Ground: Parnell A. v. Ponsonby. Referee, Mr. N. McLean.

The annual meeting of the Goldfields Rugby Union took place at Karangahake on Thursday, Mr. T. Sheen presiding. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £l4. The following officers were elected for the incoming year: —Patron, Mr. W. H. Herries, M.H.R.; president, Mr. H. Poland, M.H.R.; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. R. Bush; chairman, Mr. Field. The first round of the in-ter-union fixtures was arranged as under: —May 25: Waikino v. Karangahake, at Mackaytown; Waihi v. Paeroa, at Waihi. June 15: Waihi v. Karangahake, at Mackaytown; Paeroa v. Waikino (ground to be fixed). June 22: Waikino v. Waihi, at Waihi; Paeroa v. Karangahake, at Mackaytown.

At the annual meeting of the Waihi Australian Football Club on Thursday (Mr. G. Lowe in the chair), the financial statement submitted showed a credit balance of £3 6/8. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —Patron, Mr. W. H. Herries, M.H.R.; president, Mr. A. B. Buckland; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. White, T. M. Pattullo, G. Wurm, E. McLeay, M. Crimmins, H. Meyer, J. Kelly, Fitzpatrick, and Mrs. Pilling; treasurer, Mr. H. Swann; secretary, Mr. T. O. Pock. Five representative matches will probably be played at Waihi during the season, including contests with teams from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

The annual match between Ireland and Wales, which was played at Cardiff before some 25,000 spectators, ended very unexpectedly in the utter rout of the Irishmen. The surprise was not so much on account of the visitors being defeated, but because the defeat was such a severe one, namely, by 29 points to nil, which is a record figure in the annals of the matches between the two countries. The Welshmen opened the scoring within three minutes of the start of play, and, despite a stern defence by the Irish team, half-time was reached with the score standing at —Wales, 6 points; Ireland, nil. On resuming, the home side fairly smothered their opponents, the score mounting up with extraordinary rapidity through the complete demoralisation of the Irishmen, who eventually left the field defeated by the great margin stated above. The winners’ score was made up of two placed goals, one penalty goal, one dropped goal, and four tries. Of the 22 matches now played, Wales has won 13, Ireland 8, and 1 was drawn.

DRAW FOR THE SEASON.

At the last meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union the draw for the ensuing season was made. The following was the result: — FIRST AND SECOND FIFTEENS. May 4: Grafton v. North Shore, Newton v. City, Ponsonby v. Parnell. May 11: Grafton v. Newton, North Shore v. Ponsonby, Parnell v. City. May 18: Grafton v. Parnell, North Shore v. Newton, City v. Ponsonby. May 25: Grafton v. City, North Shore v. Parnell, Newton v. Ponsonby. June 1: Grafton v. Ponsonby, North Shore v. City, Newton v. Parnell. THIRD FIFTEENS. May 4: Grafton v. North Shore A, Newton v. North Shore B, Parnell v. Ponsonby, City a bye. May 11: Grafton v. Newton, Parnell v. North Shore B. City v. Ponsonby, North Shore A a bye. May 18: Grafton v. Parnell, North Shore A v. Newton, City v. North Shore B, Ponsonby a bye. May 25: Grafton v. City, North Shore A v. Parnell, Ponsonby v. North Shore B, Ponsonby a bye. June 1: Grafton v. Ponsonby, North Shore A v. City, Newton v. Parnell, North Shore B a bye. June 8: Grafton v. North Shore B, North Shore A v. Ponsonby, Newton v. City, Parnell a bye. June 15: North Shore A. v. North Shore B, Newton v. Ponsonby, Parnell v. City, Grafton a bye. FOURTH FIFTEENS. May 4: Grafton v. North Shore, Newton v. Parnell B. Parnell A v. Ponsonby, City a bye.

May 11: Grafton v. Newton, Parnell A. v. Parnell B, City v. Ponsonby, North Shore a bye.

May 18: Grafton v. Parnell A, North Shore v. Newton, City v. Parnell B, Newton a bye. June 1: Grafton v. Ponsonby, North Shore v. City, Newton v. Parnell A, Parnell B a bye.

June 8: Grafton v. North Shore, Parnell B v. Ponsonby, Newton v. City, Parnell A a bye. June 15-. North Shore v. Parnell B, Newton v. Ponsonby, Parnell A v. City, Grafton a bye.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Appended is a list of the results, from which it will be seen that England is still the weakest of the nations at Rugby Union football: — Scotland beat Wales, 6 to 3; Scotland beat Ireland, 15 to 3; Scotland beat England, 8 to 3; Scotland beat South Africa, 6 to nil; South Africa beat Ireland, 15 to 12; South Africa beat Wales, 11 to nil; South Africa and England drew, points all; Wales beat Ireland, 29 to nil; Ireland beat England, 17 to 9.