THE FOOTBALL WORLD.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 899, 30 May 1907, Page 12

THE FOOTBALL WORLD.

(BY '

“SCRUTATOR.”)

As anticipated the Cup match to attract most public attention was the meeting of the North Shore and Parnell teams on Saturday last. Despite the inclemency of the weather, a fair crowd turned out to witness the match, and keen interest was displayed.

Though Parnell had a victory which far exceeded expectations, the game was not devoid of interesting play, and in view of the fact that the ground was. as slippery as a week’s rain could make it, and a leather like the greased extremity of a porker, it is to the credit of both teams that they were able to sustain the interest of the crowd.

Parnell had the advantage in the pack. In fact, it can safely be said the maroon forwards won the game, for they simply over-ran the opposition. As the season advances the Parnellites are showing much better form and combination, and their forward rushes on Saturday were quite a treat to witness. Amongst the forward division Parnell has some very promising material, and their work in the match against the Shoremen was eminently satisfactory.

North Shore was considerably weakened by the absence of several prominent players. At the same time they put up a keen fight against the maroons, and though out-manoeuvred at every point, battled consistently to the end. They were no match for the

fast Parnell forwards, however, and while their defence was not lacking in stubbornness, they had no chance against the superior weight and combination of their antagonises.

The maroon back division played a very consistent game on Saturday. Stuckey was absent at Rotorua, and Smith filled the vacanqy. Though somewhat light, he got in some very creditable work. Hogan’s work on the wing called for special attention; he missed few chances, and possesses plenty of pace. Mowbray, as usual, played a steady game, missing few opportunities and giving none. Twiname played a particularly brilliant game. His kicking was always sure, and once or twice he got in some clever dribbling work, where an attempt to pick up the slippery ball would have been fatal. One try secured by these tactics was the result of excellent judgment.

L. Todd got in some splendid defensive work on several occasions when the Shoremen penetrated Parnell’s base. The clever five-eighths also shone out conspicuously in the several excellent passing runs the winning team managed to operate.

The maroon forwards covered themselves with glory, and bid fair to establish a new name for Parnell seniors. Mears makes an excellent lock, and plays a conscientious game. Pat. Walsh is another grafter, while Kinder and Bamford were responsible for some creditable work.

D. Miller, fullback for Shore, is one of the best players in that position we have in Auckland this season. He plays a heady, reliable game, and his kicking is rarely at fault. * * ♦ » Woodward, on the green and white threequarter-line, has any amount of pace, and put it to good advantage in Saturday’s match. O. Miller was particularly adept in his kicking. t . * * ♦ * Owing to N. Smith’s absence N. Todd had to fill the vacancy on the threequarter-line, but in the second half added his weight to the forward division, in the effort to stem the overpowering rushes of the maroon vanguard. Before the game was over, however, Todd received a kick on the ankle which necessitated his retirement. * * * * Mays, as five-eighth, did good service for the Shoremen, while Marshall and Jackson got in some fairly solid work. * * * * Yeoland, who has long been identified with Shore colours, played a solid game, and was ably supported in the forward division by C. Clark. * * * The Shore failed to notch a single try, while Parnell managed to run up 22 points, Hogan crossing the line twice, and Twiname, Bamford, Fox and Mowbray scoring once each. Todd converted twice. * * * * Newton put up a far better performance against Ponsonby than was generally anticipated would be the case. Ponsonby forwards did not show out with any special brilliancy, while on the other hand Newton, with three juniors in the pack, put up a very solid resistance, and played with any amount of dash and grit. * * * * Wilson, the Ponsonby throequarter, notched a very neat try towards the end of the second half, getting in a great run. Francis made an effort to convert, but failed to add the additional points. In the second half Newton livened up, and played brilliantly, with the result that operations were confined to neutral ground. During the last ten minutes, however, the Ponies worked into Newton’s base, and from some loose play Gillet secured and scored. Francis again failed to convert, and the game resulted in a victory for the blue and blacks by six points to nil. « * * * Rowe played a great game for Newton, and it was only sheer hard luck that in the last ten minutes of the same he did not score for his team, rrevarthen and Hayward made a great game of it amongst the forwards. The Ponies seemed to be lacking their usual vim and pertinacity on Saturday, and except for Fran?is, Cunningham and Nicholson, the ’orward division did not show up brilliantly at all. The backs, however, svere all there, and Gillett, who was stated to have had enough football his season, played an excellent game, landling the wet ball with the greatest coolness, and showing out with iis old dash in the open play.

Grafton failed to notch a single try against City on Saturday, and were downed by the crushing score of 27 to nil. Fortunately for the losers, only short spells were played, or the result might have been more like 107.

The Graftonites started off badly this season, no less than half a dozen of their best men going out after the first match. On Saturday they had five or six Maori boys from the Three Kings’ College, but the infusion of fresh blood availed them nothing.

The wearers of the black and white put up a good fight, but City was never really out, and the winning team did not at any time exert itself. Smith and Little each scored twice,

and Seeling crossed the line once. Out of five attempts, S. Magee kicked four goals. Smith added a neat field goal, which brought the score up to 27 points, to Grafton’s nil.

My goldfields correspondent writes: —The first round of inter-union matches under the Goldfields Rugby Union commenced last Saturday, when Paeroa visited Waihi and suffered defeat at the hands of the local team by 9 points to nil. Paeroa winning the toss, elected to play with the wind behind them, but the first spell ended without any score being registered, although Paeroa had decidedly the best of the game. In the second spell Waihi, with the wind to assist them, clapped on the pressure from the start, and play had not proceeded far when the ball from a long kick crossed Paeroa’s line. The fullback was baffled by the direction in which the ball bounded, and Kneebone following up fast, drew first blood for Waihi. The shot at goal failed. Immediately after this the Waihi forwards broke away with a fine rush, and the Paeroa fullback, slipping in the act of taking the ball, Truscott was enabled to score. The attempt at goal resulted in failure. For some time play was confined to neutral ground, but eventually the Waihi forwards swept down the field and registered the third try for Waihi. No goal resulted, the game ending in a victory for Waihi by 9 points to nil. * * * * For Waihi, S. Darby (wing threequarter) was the best of the backs, playing a heady game, while in the forward division Kneebone and Hamilton were the most prominent. Silcock (on the wing) was of great assistance to the Paeroa team, and Whitmore and Pennell (forwards) were responsible for some good work. PERSONALIA. A. Twiname, whose portrait appears in this issue, has long been associated with rep. football. For eight years he has played in senior competitions, and for five years has held the captaincy of the Parnell seniors. He played with the Auckland team which met the “ All Blacks” before their departure for the Old Country, and was a member of the Auckland rep. team in the 1905 tour. * * * * The two Wynyards were both missing from the Shore team on Saturday, with the result that the green and white combination was anything but formidable, and fell an easy prey to the Parnellites. • • * * In this issue an excellent picture is reproduced of the crack forward, A. Francis. This is doubly interesting in view of the fact that it is the first time Francis has permitted the camera fiend to tackle him —with what goed results is apparent from the etching. He has figured prominently as a Ponsonby rep. for several seasons, and represented Auckland in 1904, 1905, and 1906. Francis was a member of the team which succeeded in recapturing the coveted Ranfurly Shield from Wellington in 1904. * * * * Stuckey did not play for Parnell on Saturday, being away at Rotorua with the King’s College cadets, who were encamped there for the mid-winter vacation. * * * * Amongst our portrait gallery this week will be found an excellent likeness of the redoubtable “ All Black ’ forward, W. Cunningham. For several seasons connected with senior football in Auckland, Cunningham has for six years been an Auckland rep; 1903 was the only season he did not figure in representative football. He has established one of the best records as a forward, and this season is playing with as much dash and brilliancy as he did on first gaining a position on Auckland’s roll of honour seven years ago.

Mr. D. Gallaher, one of the selectors of the North Island team, returned on Monday from Wellington. It was not until his arrival in Auckland that he learnt of the decision of

the local players not to sign the declaration. He says the action of the Auckland players will cause a sensation in Wellington. At the same time Mr. Gallaher is hopeful that when these players go into the matter and realise all their decision means, they will think better of it.

H. L. Abbott, once well known in Auckland football circles, and one of the immortal “ All Blacks,” is this season playing for the Pirates, a Wanganui club. Abbott’s name was amongst those mentioned in connection with the North Island team, but does not appear amongst the final selections.

“ We parted on the Shore,” a popular Opera House ditty, was the murmur meted out from Parnell’s supporters on the stand last Saturday, when the North Shore team went under to the maroons.

The excellent picture of the Auckland selector, Mr. D. Gallaher, reproduced in this issue, was taken during the tour of the

“ All Blacks” at Home. No name is better known in the New Zealand football world than that of the “ All Black” captain. It was with the Parnell juniors that he first made his appearance, and from thence graduated into the Ponsonby seniors. In 1896 he received his rep. cap, and played with the “ Ponies” every season after, with the exception of 1901 and 1902, during which period he was in S’Africa with the contingenters. Since his return from England the genial “ Davy” has not been seen in the football field, but Rugger enthusiasts will not content themselves to the belief that the last has been seen of New Zealand’s foremost wingforward.

L. B. Todd, whose portrait is reproduced in this issue, is one of the nattiest players in Auckland football. His first appearance was with the junior reps, in 1901, and his reputation as a footballer dates from that time. In 1904 he played senior for Suburbs, and the following season made his appearance amongst the City first juniors. Before the end of the season he had been promoted to the City seniors, and also played in the Auckland reps. Todd’s star ascended into the higher football spheres that season, and he was a member of the team which brought the Ranfurly Shield back from Wellington. Last year the brilliant five-eighths pledged his faith to the maroon colours of the Parnell team, and was chosen as one of the City combination to visit Sydney, where he played ip two out of tne four matches there. This year Todd is vice-captain of the Parnellites.

NEWS AND NOTES. It is satisfactory to see more than one good team amongst the Auckland seniors this season. Newton’s performance against Ponsonby on Saturday was a most creditable one. Likewise Parnell is not going to be at the foot of the Cup competition list this year, as last, but bids to be something more like the old team of ten seasons back, when the maroons were the crack team of the Northern Unions. * * * * The Buller Rugby Union has issued a challenge to Auckland to play for the Ranfurly Shield on July 12. Mr. Vic. Langsford, secretary of the Auckland Union, wired back on Monday that the date mentioned would not suit the holders of the trophy. The Buller Union is situated on the West Coast, of the South Island, and is credited with being able to put a strong team into the field. * * * * The following players have been selected to represent the North Island in the North v. South Island match: —Fullback G. Spencer (Wellington); threequarters, Wallace and Mitchinson (Wellington), Dive (Taranaki); five-eighths, Hunter and Mynott (Taranaki); half, Roberts (Wellington); wing-forward, Coleman (Taranaki) ; forwards, Wilson and Spencer (Wellington), McNae (Manawatu), Bailev (Hawke’s Bay), O’Sullivan (Taranaki), Hogan (Wanganui). Emergencies, O.’Leary (Wairarapa), and Guscott (Wanganui).

A North Island team without the inclusion of Auckland and Goldfields reps, seems something of a farce, since on last year’s form these two unions could put a team into the field

which would just about run over the rest of New Zealand.

Something akin to a sensation was caused by the news that the twelve Auckland players called upon to sign the statutory declaration with regard to the professional tour had refused to do so. After the Cup matches on Saturday afternoon the dozen players nominated for inclusion in the North Island team were asked to sign the declaration, and as a body they refused to do so. G. Tyler, Dunning, Seeling, Francis, Nicholson, Cunningham, Trevarthen, G. Smith, R. Wynyard, R. Magee, G. Gillett, and L. Todd were the players who declined to make the affidavit.

The reason given for the refusal was that the declaration was felt to be contrary to all sense of British fair play, and while they were willing to a man to sign the agreement with regard to professionalism, as contained in the Auckland R.U. rules, they declined to accede to an agreement that was arbitrary and unnecessarily binding. * * * *

This occurrence casts an undoubted gloom over the football horizon. What is going to happen ? Will the delinquents he suspended, and prevented from even participating in the matches between teams to which they belong ? The outlook in Auckland would be anything but cheerful, with such a possibility in view. To fill the vacancies such action would

cause in our senior teams with recruits would mean that football would lose half its fascination for the Auckland public.

Another. serious view the situation takes is with regard to the Auckland rep. team. With the players above mentioned under suspension, what would be the result ? The Ranfurly Shield, of which Auckland is at present the proud possessor, would simply be carried off by the first provincial team that took the trouble to come along and secure it. * * * *

Last night a meeting was held by the twelve players in question, and the subject was to be then further considered by them. Possibly after further consideration they will think better of their decision —those, at any rate, who have no intention of making the professional tour. In the case of those who have made up ■their minds to leave for England, well, they have no option but to hold out. It is to be sincerely hoped, however, that any who are innocent of such motives will reconsider their decision, and make the declaration before incurring the wrath of the Rugby Union, which has powers that are far-reaching, and brooks no insubordination. * * * ■ * The Canterbury players who signed the declaration against professionalism include R. G. Deans and G. T. Harper, of the “ All Black” team. Two Dunedin selections for the interisland match refused to sign as to their amateur status; D. McGregor, the N.Z. rep., has also refused to s'gn. H. H. Baskiville, of Wellington, refused to divulge what he knew of the professional tour, and has been “ passed out” under the rules of the union as regards professionalism. * * * * It is the opinion of Auckland’s selector that the back division of the North Island team is all right, but the forwards are practically an untried lot, with the exception of O’Sullivan and Spencer. McNae, for instance, has no performances worth noting, but has a great name in the Manawatu district as a dashing player. As the selector points out, however, the unfortunate contretemps which has arisen gives a number of young players a chance they would never otherwise have had. Mr. Gallaher leaves again on Thursday for Christchurch, to be present .at the inter.islahd match. * * * * The goldfields should furnish a fairly strong forward division this season, but the backs will be comparatively iweak. * * sj: :Jt A meeting is to be held at Karangahake on May 31 (to-morrow night) to discuss the formation of a Goldfields Referees’ Association. Delegates from each centre have been invited to attend, and I understand several referees are assisting. THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM FOR ENGLAND. A NEW LIGHT ON THE SITUATION. INTERVIEW WITH AN ENGLISH REPRESENTATIVE. LOOKED AT FROM A BRITISH STANDPOINT. At present the most important and most debated of all questions in the football world is that of professionalism in football. With a view to obtaining the opinion of one of the leading English authorities on Rugby, a “ Review” representative interviewed Mr. F. C. Belson, who is touring the colony, upon his return from Rotorua, and elicited from him some very interesting expressions of opinion on the view which would be taken in England of a professional team’s visit to the Old Country. Mr. Belson has long been closely identified with representative Rugby at Home, and visited Australia in ’99 with Captain Mullineux’s team. It can therefore be understood that he takes a keen interest in all matters connected with the game, and is qualified to give an expression of opinion. Asked what he thought of the proposal to send Home a professional team from New Zealand, Mr. Belson answered emphatically that he hated the thought of professionalism. “ When it comes to playing games for money,” he said, “it is a retrogressive step, and takes one back to the times of the Gladiators in the old days.”

“What are the prospects of this New Zealand team’s reception in England ?” the “ Review” representative asked.

“ Their movements would be absd-"•

lutely confined to the Northern counties,” replied Mr. Belson. “ They would not be allowed to make an appearance elsewhere, and would simply be compelled to concentrate operations to Lancashire and Yorkshire. After that I don’t know what they would do. Admittedly a representative New Zealand team would be a great draw anywhere, such is the reputation the ‘ All Blacks’ established on their triumphant tour, but if the professional team is to play only in Lancashire and Yorkshire —well, I can’t possibly see how the enterprise is going to prove a financial success.”

“ Would it not be possible for the professional teams to meet on neutral ground, somewhere outside the Northern counties ?” was a question put to the English rep. “ No, I do not believe the Rugby Unions of England, Ireland or Scotland would countenance it for one moment. They would never tolerate the use of their grounds by professionals. The same difficulty would present itself in either South Africa or British Columbia. Amateurism is the ruling spirit in both countries, and the Rugby Unions would never acquiesce to any such proposal. It is only necessary to play once against professionals, and ostracism follows. These players who contemplate going to England must simply drop out of the game when they return.” PROFESSIONALISM AT HOME. “ At Home Association football is nearly all confined to professionals, with the exception of the Corinthians and one or two other teams. These professionals are always bought and sold. The leading men are paid so much for their services. One club says ‘We will give you £5OO for that man’s transfer,’ and at the price he is bought. “ Professionalism not only kills sport,” continued Mr. Belson, “ but it has many other disadvantages. For instance, it militates against the improvement of the young man’s physique at Home. The big Association matches draw crowds of 20,000 and 30,000 every Saturday afternoon. If the young men who patronised those matches were to devote their time to the game itself, the results would be much more beneficial.” HOW IT WILL AFFECT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. “ How do you think it will affect Rugoy in New Zealand, should this professional team leave for the Old Country ?” inquired the interviewer. “ Well, that involves a subtle point. It remains to be seen what effect such a contingency will have. I am sure it is not going to create a favourable impression in Rugby circles at Home. The feeling against urofessionalism there is very strong. Your Rugby Union has taken a firm and commendable stand, and has done all that it is possible to do under the circumstances. The men who do go will be cutting short their career as footballers. In all parts of the Empire amateur Rugby is gaining ground. South Africa, Canada, and Australia have been making wonderful strides, while it is even improving on the Continent, and France can now put some very strong amateur teams into the field.” AN UNBIASSED OPINION. “ What are your impressions of Rugby in New Zealand?” was the query put to Mr. Belson. “Well, what can I say?” laughingly replied the -English exponent of the

game. “ I saw the great match between the ‘All Blacks’ and Wales. There isn’t much need for me to discourse on that great struggle. Enough to say that the high opinion I found then of the New Zealanders has not suffered since I came.to the colony. The recent game between City and Ponsonby at Alexandra Park was a most interesting match, and apart from your standard players, of ‘ All Black’ fame, I was able to judge that you have some very fine players One man who particularly caught m eye in the match referred to was Murray, one of the Ponsonby backs. . I should very much like to see the South Africans come out here. I am satisfied there would be some keen struggles, provided that the Springboks’ always had the good fortune to play on dry ground.” ENGLISH V. COLONIAL TACTICS. “ How does the game strike you here, compared to the principles followed- rt Home?” was asked of Mr. Belson. That gentleman laughed a little before replying, and then said that he was prone to admit that the Englishman was a little slow in catching on to any new ideas. Wales, however, was more inclined to open out, and had been experimenting with the New Zealand system of putting seven men into the scrum, with an odd man outside. This idea, he added, is much favoured by Gwyn Nicholls, the famous Welsh player. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION. VIEWED FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT. ANOTHER INTERESTING INTERVIEW. FULL PARTICULARS OF THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR. The “Review” is in a position to place before its readers the first authentic and definite information pub-

lished with regard to the professional tour of the Northern Counties of England. A team of 25 men, comprising many of our most prominent footballers, ig,., to leave for England early in July. On Saturday next, June 1, a'guarantee?" of £3OOO is to be deposited in Ehgland to cover all risks in connection with the forthcoming tour. The tour will extend over eight months, during which upwards of 40 matches will be played; 70 per cent, of the gate money is to be handed over to the visitors, and this sum will be equally divided between the 25 players. The other 30 per cent, goes to the professional unions. Either Blackpool or Salford, near Manchester, is to be the headquarters of the team, and they will tour the Counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Lancashire and Yorkshire, at least 40 matches being guaranteed. Each player receives a personal guarantee of £5O to cover all initial expenses, the unions augmenting this by putting up the £3OOO guarantee mentioned, to be deposited on Saturday next?

THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. A “Review” representative had the opportunity of eliciting some facts on this subject from one of Auckland’s best-known exponents of the game, and the other side of the argument, looked at from a professional point of view, is given in the following interview: — “They say that this tour can’t be made a financial success,” said the player under interrogation. “Well, there is a guarantee of £3OOO to commence with, and even if they don’t get a penny above that the team which goes Home will have a very nice trip, and come back with a little to the good. But is there foundation for the allegation? Last season 32 clubs took part in the Northern Union competitions. These would all be played against. Then there would be the big rep. matches, first against each of the four counties, and then a test match against the combined counties. Now the Oldham-Halifax Club match on March 11 last drew a crowd of 22,000. Three inter-club games on March 4 drew 33,000 spectators. Official reports prove that £7OO is an Oldham Club match gate, and where a 22,000 crowd is not out of the common in the smaller towns, how would the New Zealanders draw? No, there is nothing in the cry that the venture will not be a financial success.”

“Now, another thing worth noting is this —we are going on pretty well the same footing as the Australian cricketers. They were considered amateurs. Yet they drew from £5OO to £9OO each man out of the different tours. The “All Blacks” went Home and received 3/ per day. The soreness seems to exist in the fact that this professional team is going to earn something more like £3 per day. Does it make one atom of difference in the mcrals of a player if he receives £3 instead of 3/? In the last issue of the “Review” it was stated to your representative by an ‘All Black’ that the tour had cost some of them £2OO. This means that their savings were in the majority of cases swallowed up—and possibly that some of them had to borrow the wherewithal to participate in the tour. Meantime the Rugby Union

pocketed £12,000. Well, this team doesn’t quite see the force of that argument, and its members are going to put that sum, or more, if they can get it, into their own pockets.” A STRONG ARGUMENT. Another aspect which might be reasonably taken is this: Several of those who are going to make this tour have been playing for years, and they have never secured a penny out of it. Some of them have been down with broken limbs, and had to cope with big doctor’s bills. When their day is over they get nothing out of it. The Rugby Union doesn’t even make them life members. Well, some of these players, whose football careers cannot last much longer, naturally think that now they have the chance of earning £5OO or more it would be an insane policy to refuse. Into the bargain these players will possibly tap America, and thus prolong the season.” “And what about the grand finale — the termination of this brilliant career? The team cannot shut its eyes to the ultimate penalty.” “Well, like the rest of the arguments brought up, that is something of a bogey. Possibly the best of the New Zealand team will be retained in the Northern counties as professionals. Further than that, they can always return, even as the Australian cricketers returned, season after season, to the Northern Counties. And, what is more, a professional team might even come out to Australasia in alternate seasons. Now you have the other side of the argument, and you can give the public the fullest information it has yet had on the subject of the professional team for England.”

WELLINGTON CHATTER.

My Wellington correspondent writes as follows: — Mr. J. D. Avery, who has just been appointed the paid secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union at a salary of £75, was for nineteen years in the service of the Post and Telegraph Department, and was intimately connected for many years with the production of the “ Katipo,” the magazine journal issued by that department. As a matter of fact, I believe he still holds that connection. When the Wellington Rugby Union decided on having a paid executive officer, he was selected from thirteen other applicants, and he did excellent work during his term of office with the local

union. The colonial body is to be congratulated on its choice, and in Mr. Avery’s hands the executive work will be well done. W. J. Wallace, the Wellington “ All Black,” who added to his reputation on the Home tour, has scored to date 261 points for the first fifteen of the Poneke Club, of which he has been captain during the last three years. The way in which he has scored these points is as follows: —Tries, 27; goals from tries, 52; goals from marks, 5; goals from penalties, 18; potted goals, 1. Of the goals from marks three were obtained when a mark goal was worth four points, and two goals when three points obtained. Wallace first played senior football in 1897, and, as he has since then spent one winter in Dunedin, and another year was laid aside with a broken leg, it will be readily conceded that his scoring abilities proves him to have been a great match-winner for his club. I doubt whether there is or ever has been a player in New Zealand whose tally of points in any way approaches Wallace’s. The only Aucklander whose figures should loom as large is old Bob Whiteside, but, as the old Ponsonbyite was a try-getter pure and simple, I doubt if his tally was above 200. The late “ Tom” Ellison gathered together 111 for Poneke in his playing days.

Mona Thomson, well-known in Auckland, is not playing this season, but there is just a possibility that he may put the jersey on before the big matches come along. There are a great number of ex-Auck-landers in Wellington, and, judging by the interest at present being displayed, the “ barrackers” will be in a white heat by the time the Auckland-Welling-tion match is played in September next. The Wellington representative team will be a pretty good one this year if it is properly selected. It will be exceptionally strong in forwards, in which aepartment of play some fine form is being shown in the championship matches. In Roberts, Wallace, and Mitchinson there is a nucleus of a fine back division, but for the other positions there has been nothing exceptional offering so far. It is said that the lessee of one of the biggest hotels in Wellington is finding the major portion of the money in connection with the financing of the proposed professional team to tour the Old Country. Also, that a very prominent Wellington player is one of the main promoters of the tour. In the meantime, the ultimatum of the New Zealand Rugby Union has been received in varying manner by the players interested. The declaration is being signed all right by the players, but should they decide to go with the team even after they have given their signatures, what action would the New Zealand Union take ? Methinks they would fold their hands and say “ We have done our best.” So perhaps it would be just as well if the declaration had not made its appearance at all. O’Meara, the ex-Newton player, gave his best showing in Wellington foot-

ball to date for the Athletic team last Saturday. His play was more nippier than before, and he showed a tendency to run straight.

Mitchinson, the Poneke player, who is considered a certainty in Wellington for the centre-threequarter position in the New Zealand team, did not show his usual good form against the Athletics.

The two brothers Wells—Brook and Albert—sons of “ Fred” of that ilk, who has been an institution on the North Shore for how many years I am not going to say, were playing wing-for-ward for Oriental when they vanquished Melrose in Wellington last week. Albert is reckoned to have a good chance as representative wing-forward in the windy city.

Skinner, who, it is said, comes from Auckland, plays wing-forward for Poneke, but his team would be. better served if they played him in the pack. A fine, willing forward, but he knows not the finesse necessary to make a good “ winger.” He is a brother of the wrestler of that name. There is a football writer in Wellington who delights to tilt at the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Evidently his mana in the football world—which he personally thinks is great—must be on the wane, for, despite his declarations for many weeks of the sins of omission and commission of the colonial body, the whole of the members that offered themselves were re-elected at the annual meeting. The writer will be recognised by Aucklanders if I say he is identical with a gentleman whose photograph was published at one time in connection with an Auckland-Welling-ton match, the lettering under the picture containing the information that “he was the one man in the colony at the present time fitted to pick a New Zealand team.” A new player in Wellington last Saturday was Eccleton, who, I am informed, had just come from Rotorua. He played five-eighth for Melrose, but did not cause a sensation. An ex-Auckland player who is showing good form so far is Barclay, who found a place as wing-forward in last year’s Auckland “B” team. He is, however, playing on a weak side—the Wellingtons. Con. Byrne, a Petone forward, who is voted a likely member of the New Zealand team, learnt his football in Waihi. The followig table shows the position of the various teams in the Wellington Rugby Union’s senior championship up to and including last Saturday’s matches:— Matches. Points.

Poneke P. 5 W. 4 L. 0 D. 1 For. Ag. 56 19 Petone 3 3 0 0 73 15 Oriental .... 5 2 2 1 42 29 Melrose 4 9 2 0 59 26 Athletic .... 4 1 1 2 66 52 St. James’ . . 3 2 1 0 23 18 Old Boys .... 5 2 3 0 33 81 Wellington . . 5 1 4 0 19 71 Victoria Col. 4 0 4 0 0 60