FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 896, 9 May 1907, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

Nothing could well have been worse than the weather for the opening of the season on Saturday. it rained all the morning and most of the afternoon there was a steady drizzle. Under the circumstances one wanted to be a thorough-going enthusiast to brave the unspeakably dreary conditions which prevailed. Moreover, to make matters worse it was an easy matter to forecast the results of all three senior matches, which resulted, as was generally expected, in somewhat one-sided games. Ponsonby met Parnell at Alexandra Park, and won easily by 17 points to 3; Gillett (2), Pater, and Sellars scored tries for Ponsonby, one being converted by Murray, while Francis kicked a penalty goal. Kinder got a try for the losers. * * * * City defeated Newton by 17 to' 3, a margin which might have been greater had the former their full team in the field. Little, Magee, G. Tyler and Smith scored for the winners, Magee converting the latter’s try, while he also kicked a penalty goal. Rowe was responsible for Newton’s try. . * * * * North Shore had a fairly easy win over Grafton, getting home by 13 to nil. R. Wynyard, Mays, and W. Wynyard scored tries for the Shore, Marshall converting two of them. * * * * The junior matches on Saturday went as follow: — SECOND GRADE. North Shore v. Grafton: North Shore won by 13 points to 5. Ponsonby v. Parnell: - The latter won by 9 points to 3. City v. Newton: City won by 15 points to nil. THIRD GRADE. North Shore A v. Grafton: The former won by default. North Shore B v. Newton: The latter won by 9 points to 3. Parnell V. Ponsonby: Parnell won by 3 points to nil. FOURTH GRADE. . Newton v. Parnell B: Newton won by 15 points to 3. North Shore v. Grafton: The latter won by default. Parnell A. v. Ponsonby: Parnell won by 3 points to nil. . * * * * ■ - At Wellington Poneke defeated Oriental by 6 points to nil. : Melrose beat Wellington by 20 points to 3. The “Old Boys” (14 points) beat Victoria College (nil). * * * * Saturday’s matches at Christchurch went as follows: —Sydenham (11 points) beat Christchurch (nil); “Old Boys” (17) beat Linwood (8); Merivale (20) beat Canterbury College (3); Albion, a bye. • * * * * The following were the results of the Dunedin senior football matches: —Southern beat Kaikorai by 7 points to 6; Pirates beat Zingari by 11 to nil; Dunedin beat Union by 22 to nil; University beat Port Chalmers by 16 to 6; Alhambra beat Taieri Rovers by 17 to 6. * * * * There were several matches won by default on Saturday. This looks bad for the opening day of the season. * * * * G. Hayward, playing for Newton on Saturday had a rib broken, and was compelled to retire. * « ♦ ■» . At North Shore W. Wynyard got a nasty kick on the face, and had to leave the field. * * * * Chairman M. J. Sheahan and Secretary C. V. Langsford, of the A.R.U., returned. from Wellington on Sunday, after attending the meeting of the N.Z.R.U. < ♦ < * . Mr. J. F. Macmanamey has been represident of the New South Wales Referees’ Association, and Messrs. J. R. Henderson and R. Armstrong vice-presidents. Mr. J. F. Chapman is again hon. secretary and •treasurer. * * * * The feeling is growing in Australia ("says the “Referee”) that the New Zealand Rugby Union is developing financial canniness not in keeping with the higher development of the game. :lt is the more surprising seeing that ' that’ union had several thousands re-

cently planted in its coffers, as a result of the campaign of the “All Blacks” in Great Britain, etc (not forgetting Australia). The New South Wales Union has abandoned the idea of playing the match New Zealand v. New South Wales at Melbourne. The official reason is embodied in the following resolution of the Council, viz.: “In view of the difficulty set out in the letter from New Zealand, this Council is of the opinion that the match should be abandoned for the present.” The difficulty referred to is getting the extended leave of absence for the New Zealand players.

N.Z. RUGBY UNION MEETING.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held on Thursday at Wellington, Mr. G. F. C. Campbell presiding. The finances of the union showed a profit for the year of £302. Loans amounting to £3450 had been granted to the following unions:—Auckland, £1000; Taranaki, £400; Wanganui, £750; Southland, £l3OO. The sum of £9300 had been placed on fixed deposit. The chairman read a letter from the Stanford University, offering to send a team to New Zealand to show the progress. of the game in America through the visit of the New Zealanders. The Stanford University team hoped to leave San Francisco on June 10, arriving at Auckland about July 1, and staying about six weeks in this colony. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. G. H. Dixon, on behalf of the Management Committee, moved, “That the New Zealand Rugby Union become incorporated under the Unclassified Societies’ Registration Act Amendment Act, 1906.” The motion was carried.

Mr. R. M. Isaacs (Otago) moved as an amendment to rule 3 (control of the game), providing for the appointment of referees, “Such appointments to be made by an appointment board consisting of two members of the Management Committee, arid one member of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, to be nominated by that body.” The motion was carried on a division.”

Mr. M. J. Reardon (Bush), moved to amend rule 5 (officers), by providing “that the secretary of the union be not an honorary, but paid secretary.”

Dr. Newman (Wellington) moved that the shield regulations be amended to provide for the following:—“The competition for the shield to be between the provincial districts of New Zealand, the shield to be held in the first place by the union of the capital town of the province winning same. Any union within that province defeating the union holding the shield to obtain possession, and hold the same on behalf of the province, the shield match to be played on the ground of the union that at the time of the match holds the shield.” The motion was lost by 38 votes to 19.

A motion, “That the match committee of the union shall be elected by delegates,’ was lost. The location of the Appeal Committee was fixed at Christchurch. The sum of £2OO was set aside for fostering football in primary schools. The amount will be distributed among various unions, to expend in any way they think fit, but each union must render an account to the New Zealand Union. Messrs. G. Campbell, G. Fache, and A. Campbell were appointed members of the New Appeal Council. It was resolved that in all matches under the jurisdiction of the union the Management Committee shall make special provision for representatives of the press. The sum of £25 was voted to the New Zealand Referees’ Association. Mr. A. Bayly, of Wanganui, was elected president, and Mr. N. Galbraith treasurer. The Management Committee is as follows: Messrs. Dixon, Isaacs, Lyams, Wylie, Wallburton, Laughton, and. Laurenson The appointment of secretary was left to the Management Committee, to whom was also referred the appointment of a representative in San Francisco.

ENGLAND V. SCOTLAND.

The glorious traditions of England v. Scotland were fully maintained in the great struggle at the Rectory Field, Blackheath (says the London “Sportsman”). This was no spectacular game, there were none of those thrilling rhythmic three-quarter runs so dear to the heart of a Welshman, the ball was not constantly heeled for the backs. Indeed, one saw a genuine forward fight —the men in the, van were determined to play the “star” parts after the fashion of a bygone era. And they played them wonderfully well. In the long series of matches—this of Saturday was the thirty-fourth—there has never been better scrummaging; the force was tremendous. Imagine 16 men of superb physique trained to the hour contending for possession, disputing every yard of ground, attack and counterattack, rush and counter-rush, each man using every legitimate endeavour to check nis nearest opponent when invasion set in. Imagine this, and in the main you have the chief features of the first half. The English forwards deserve every praise for their herculean efforts during this gruelling stage. They more than held their own —indeed, they had the better of the play, and this, too, in the teeth of half a gale of wind. The Scots were pushed as never before this season, but with it all there was the dogged striving fore and aft, the unflinching determination, the unconquerable defence. Afterwards came the reckoning. England wavered in the second half. Forwards cannot do everything in these strenuous games where pace is of so much importance, but they did enough to show that efficiently equipped behind the match might possibly have been turned. As it was, the splendid stamina of the Scottish pack, the remarkable individuality of their halves, the neat opportunism of their “threes” prevailed. Scotland beat England by 8 points to 3.