NORTHERN UNION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 22 August 1912, Page 23

NORTHERN UNION.

The match between Auckland , and a Waikato thirteen on Saturday at Eden Park did hot attract many enthusiasts, as it was generally agreed that the local men were much the superior. Thi£ proved to be the case, and the Aucklanders had matters all their own way, and won by 41 points to 0. The scores indicate the respective merits of the two teams.

In the second-grade competition on Saturday Ellerslie defeated Otahuhu by .8- points to 3. For the 1 winners tries were scored by Ballantyne and Tinnans, one try beig coverted by Timms. Absolum and Hill, the respective captains of Otahuhu and Ellerslie, were ordered off the field.

In the third-grade Ponsonby B defeated Ponsonby A by 17 points to 5. For the winners R- Clark scored three tries and kicked four goals.

One member of the Rugby League management is chortling to himself these days at the expense of the Rug by Union, says the Wellington writer “Fleetfoot.” “Some years ago, Mr M. J. Reardon was a delegate at the annual conference. He there proposed that out of their banking account of £12,000, they should devote the sum of £3OO per annum to encourage the Rugby game among schoolboys. The proposal was defeated. But after much talk they eventually agreed to vote £2OO. The whole thing was done in that sort of superior way which would say “We are not here to bother about boys.” Recently, however, some of the managers of the Rugby Union decided to tell the small schoolboys of the fearful consequences in store for them if they glanced sideways at the League game.

One of the League players who visited England with A. H. Baskiville’s team in 1907, recently tried to sum up the sporting instincts of the crowd in Great Britain, in Australia, and in New Zealand. “In England,” he says, “the crowd will go to see its own team win; in New Zealand the crowd will go to see its own team beaten.” From this, he argued, that the New Zealander was the best sport, because if he thought the home team were going to have a walk-over, he would not bother going to see it.

Hitherto the League management has not been taking much notice of the threats issued by the Rugby authorities, but this time they are going to hit back. On the recommendation of Mr Reardon, it has been decided to issue invitations to every school boy in Wellington to visit Newtown Park on Saturday next, when New South Wales and Wellington meet, and see for himself what the game is like.

WANGANUI LEAGUE NOTES.

Since their defeat by Hawke’s Bay a fortnight ago several alterations have been made in the local League team, a noticeable absentee being R. Siddells, one of the most prominent players here, and a member of the team that toured Australia in 1911. However, the alterations were, generally speaking, all for the better, as was seen by the very creditable showing the local boys put up on Saturday afternoon against the Wel-

lington touring team, when a very exciting game ended in a draw —14 points each. The game was the best exhibition of League football here this year, and the large attendance was kept thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The locals scored first blood, and had six points (unconverted tries by Hogan and Buckland) to their credit before the visitors retaliated, which they did with a will, piling on 14 points in good style. Irvine, Gilmour, and Bradney crossed the Wanganui line, the two former converting their own tries.

The scores remained thus till up to about ten minutes of the call of time, when livened up by the barrack cf their supporters, the local men pulled themselves together, and made a determined onslaught on their opponents’ citadel. Their efforts were rewarded, and from very fine combined play the ex-Auckland-er, Robinson, penetrated the solid defence, and scored between the posts. Hogan did the needful with his foot. Wanting three points to draw, and with as many minutes to go, the excitement was intense, and loud cheering greeted Robinson when he again got over. Hogan failed with the kick, and the game ended with the scores as above stated.

•The game was fast and open from the start, both sides throwing the leather about freely, though the local men lacked the accuracy of their opponents in taking and accepting passes. In both forward and back divisions the teams were evenly matched, the visitors gaining their small advantage by their combination. Wanganui felt the need of a goal kicker very much.

[Kerry and Co., Photo., Sydney. NEW SOUTH WALES LEAGUE TEAM. MANAGERS DURING TOUR. The New South Wales League team, who commence their New Zealand tour at Wellington on Saturday, will be under tne joint management of Messrs H. R. Miller and J. E. Blue, whose portraits are reproduced herewith.

Mr H. R. Miller has occupied the office of treasurer of the N.S.W. Rugby Football League for the past four seasons. He was one of the earliest members or the League, and has been a member of the Management Committee since that body was formed. He was assistant hon. secretary in 1908, during the “Kangaroo’ visit to England. His playing record is a good one, being as follows: —Rugby Union code: Played for University and Eastern Suburbs (first grade). League: Represented Eastern Suburbs 19 08 and 1909; played against the Maoris 1908. He played at threequarter and during the season 190 8 scored more tries than any other man in the game. He is a life member of the League, and was for some time a prominent member of the Amateur Athletic Association, on which body he represented the Redfern Harriers. At various times he was secretary, treasurer, and handicapper of the Redfern Harriers. Mr Miller, a few years ago, was regarded as one of the State’s greatest sprinters, and tied with Nigel Barker, Australasian champion and representative at the Olympic Games, over two hundred and twenty yards, in record , time. He was a strong candidate for the managership of the Australasian team to England last

year. He managed the New South Wales representative team to Queensland 1910. A keen New South Welshman, in order to stimulate the local players against the visiting team in 1910, he gave a handsome medal for the most consistent per- . former. The medal was won by A. Broomham. Mr J. E. Blue is one of the founders of the North Sydney District Club, of which body he is hon. treasurer and representative on the head body. He was never much to the front as a player, but as a legislator he has always taken a prominent part. He is a life member of the League, and one of its most devoted advocates. He is also a great supporter of the junior footballer. The New South Wales team, which has been chosen to leave for New Zealand, is a capital one. Football enthusiasts throughout the Dominion (says a Sydney writer) will probably never have an opportunity of seeing the mighty Messenger in action. They have been looking forward to the pleasure for a number of years, but the famous three-quarter has dropped out of the combination. Messenger has signified his intention of retiring from the game at the end of the season. He has had so much strenuous football during his career that he must have lost most of his enthusiasm by this time. And after all it is enthusiasm that keeps a man at the top of his form. It will be a long time before we look upon Messenger’s like again in New South Wales.