NORTHERN UNION NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1056, 2 June 1910, Page 13

NORTHERN UNION NOTES.

On Saturday the Newton Rangers defeated North Shore by 11 points to 2. For the winners tries were scored by Smith and Houghton (2), while Bonner kicked a penalty goal. Griffen kicked a penalty goal for North Shore.

The match between City and Ponsonby resulted in a win for the former by 9 points to,nil, a large crowd assembling at Victoria to witness the game. The play was fast and exciting, and taken all round the game was a very fair exhibition of League football. For City tries were obtained by Britt (2) and Kean. Tfie junior match between Northcote Ramblers and City Rovers attracted about 400 spectators, to the Northcote ground, and those present were rewarded with some brilliant football. After a keen struggle Northcote Ramblers won by 33 points to 7, the score by no means indicating the play, which was very jv?n thro ighout. Byrne, whose name has been closely associated with the Petone Club, Wellington, for some years past, and who algo was a member of the late A. Hfifaskervillel’s professional team, has gone to Sydney, where he intends to join the North Sydney Club (Northern Union). It is more than likely that Byrne will sail for England at the end of the year.

James Leytham (Wigan), who is a member of the Northern Union team about to tour Australia is a very powerful threequarter back. He played against the New Zealanders in their 1907-08 tour on six occasions, and scored two tries in four of the games, and one try in each of the others. The first monthly general meeting of delegates to the Auckland Provincial Rugby League was held at the Northern Union Clubrooms, Camden. Chambers on Monday evening. Mr. George Seagar was elected the sitting member on the committee of management in place of Mr. Gladding in terms of the rules, while the appointment of Messrs. Graham and Jackson as sitting delegates on the committee of management were confirmed.

At a meeting of the committee of management of the Auckland Provincial Rugby League, Mr. Graham

(City) reported that one of the members of the City Rovers senior team had injured his wrist on Saturday. It was decided to pay the player’s medical expenses and to pay compensation in terms of the league’s insurance scheme.

The League are now in possession of the cup presented to them by Mr. A. M. Myers for competition among the various teams.

The following referees have been appointed for next Saturday’s matches: —Newton v. Ponsonby, Mr. Sharrock; North Shore v. City, Mr. Stanaway; Northcote v. Ponsonby Juniors, Mr. Hooper; and City juniors v. North Shore juniors, Mr. Jaggs.

Mr. A. Bonella, who has been appointed junior selector this season, acted as a line umpire on Saturday in the City-Parnell senior match, on No. 1 ground, while the second grade teams played away to their hearts’ content without the critical gaze of their selector to spur them on. With due respect to the keenness and judgment of the popular “Scotty’' on footbail matters, he will find that if he does not take more interest in the juniors than on Saturday last his appointment will not be looked upon as a satisfactory one.

City this week lost the services cf a valuable forward in Clark who has gone to Dunedin. On each occasion on which Clark has played for the City seniors this season he has given evidence of being a serviceable forward, and though a new player here he will be greatly missed in Rugby circles in Auckland-

“Hughie” Absolum, who is now playing for the Athletic Club in Wellington, does not seem to impress the local football writers, judging by the following reference to his play during the Athletic-Victoria College match: One of the last incidents of the match was a half-hearted attempt to score made by Absolum, the Blue centre, who sadly lacked condition. With the ball tucked under his arm, he came away at a tangent from a melee, and made for the College lines. A row of Green backs were picketed along the’ goal-line, and Absolum ran from one to another, and finally took the ball out to touch. From down the line a bit, it looked as if each of the College men had, in turn, said “Shoo,” for not a hand was laid on Absolum.

When the season opened everything pointed to Ponsonby again occupying the premier position among the senior teams. The players from the western suburb, however, have been dealt a severe blow by the Maori team taking two of their leading members— Sellars and Cunningham—to Australia, while two others in Francis, their captain, and O’Leary, leave Wellington to-morrow night for Sydney with the New Zealand team. To make matters worse, Nicholson has been undergoing an operation in the hospital, while Morse is reported to have retired from the game, making a total loss of half-a-dozen of their best payers. It will thus be seen that the Ponsonby fifteen will be only a shadow of their original team, and they may suffer more than one defeat before their members return from Australia.

Much sympathy was felt for Jim Ryan when he met with his iccid mt

in the Oriental-Petone match at Wellington (says the “Dominion”). As he was being assisted to leave the field of play the question arose: Might it prevent him from making the trip with the New Zealand team ' XHis numerous admirers will, therefore, be glad to learn that he is making' a rapid recovery, but will not be able to play again for a week or two. There can be no doubt but tha; Petone, would have been in a bad way,without Ryan, for he was in great form; ; I Lis accident (it is gratifying to record) will not debar him from going, ./lo Australia. K-v". ♦ ♦ ♦ * The following team have been selected to represent Wellmgtbn against the New Zealand team at Athletic Park, Wellington on Friday next (King’s Birthday): —■ "Full back, Thomas; threequarters, Dawson, Bradley, Matheson; five-eighthSj Evenson and Walsh; half-back,' Tillyard; wingforward, Avery; forwards, Elliott, Irvine, Rapson, Tannahill, Perry, Bruce, and McKellar. Emergencies: Forward, McFarlane; back, Kinvig.

The Auckland members of the New Zealand team left on Tuesday nigh, for Wellington by the Main Trunk Express. The quartette consisted ''of F. Wison, A. Francis, J. Maguire and J. O’Leary. The two members selected who were unable to make the trip are Hayward and Herring. '■ "

The places of Camefdn (Taranaki) and Fryer (Canterbury ) y two, of the threequartef backs for the New Zealand’s Australia have been filled;'by 'TV Wilson (Auckland) and Stohr (Taranaki) respectively. a *

Peterson, who a couple of seasons back was one of the Grafton Club’s leading forwards, has decided to don the red and black jersey for City on Saturday, and his inclusion in the front division should go a long way in strengthening that combination.

The Maori football team which arrives t in Sydney to-morrow (Friday) played their final match at Rotorua on Saturday before leaving for Australia. They were pitted against the combined East Coast representatives *■ whom they defeated by 26 points to 8. About 700 people witnessed the match, which was highly interesting despite the big scoring. For the Maoris tries were scored by Small, M. Winiata, Ryland and Rogers, ' while W. Winiata converted three of the tries, and Tamu one, while two penalty goals were kicked by W. Winiata. For East Coast, Hay and Purcell scored tries, one of which was converted by Z. Mitchell. * * * «

The New Zealand Maori team left for Sydney on Monday night by the Victoria, a large crowd assembling on the wharf to witness their departure. All told, the party numbered 28, Mr. W. T. Parata having charge of the team, every member of which is of Maori descent. As the steamer cast off the Queen Street wharf the crowd gave the natives three ringing cheers, which were replied to with the Maori’s war cry, which they will give prior to their matches in Australia.

With the withdrawal of the Newton team from the senior competition, it is stated that a re-draw will take place.