FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1307, 13 May 1915, Page 20

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. The Auckland Rugby Union held a seven-a-side tournament at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, in which nine teams were enfered, honours eventually going to the City representatives, who defeated University by 13 points to nil in the final play-off. A number of last year’s senior players were included in the various teams, but it was apparent by the standard of play that very little training had been indulged in. The six teams entered for the senior competition will be considerably lighter than last season, but there is no reason to anticipate any great falling off in the standard cf play, as a large number of juniors are available. The success of the competition depends upon the clubs keeping up the enthusiasm amcngst their members, as once the teams are compelled to take the field with one or more men short interest will ouickly disappear. Another important matter which , the Union officials should bear in mind is the necessity of the teams filing oui on to the field right to time, for it is certainly a hard task at the present time to keep up the public interest in football without breaking fa l th with those who journey out to Eden Park and naturally expect to see the ball kicked off to time. Unless the matches are started punctually, little patronage can be expected frcm the public, and this fact should not be lost sight of. The results of the seven-a-side tournament held at Eden Park on Saturday are as follows: — First Round. —City B beat Ponsonby B by 3 to nil; College Rifles B won by default from Marist Bros. B. Second Round. —Marist Bros. A beat Parnell A by 13 to nil; University beat Ponsonby A by 13 to nil; City A beat College Rifles B by 21 to nil; College Rifles A beat City B by 21 to nil. Semi-final. —City A beat College Rifles A by 6 to nil; University beat Marist Bros. A by 1& to 3. Final. —City A beat University by 13 to nil.

University, who .have always . proved formidable in seven-a-side' tournaments, made a bold showing on Saturday, despite lhe fact that nearly all of their senior team have enlisted for service at the front. They defeated both Ponsonby and Marist Brothers A teams by wide margins, but in the final were fairly easily vanquished by the City A team, who had several of last year’s senior players to assist them. The University senior team’s record in regard to the number of members who have enlisted is one of which the light blues may well feel proud. With Gray’s departure on Saturday last for Tren*ham last year’s back division is completely disbanded, for Ross, Lambert and Wilson are all serving their country, while Pearce is in Wellington, Macky is unavailable, and Geddes is endeavouring to get away with the reinforcements. Of the forwards Bilkey and Sexton have joined the Expeditionary Forces, while N. McLean has also enlisted, while McKenzie is now stationed in Dunedin. Much interest is centred in the likely personnel of the teams that will represent the various clubs in the senior grade when the Rugby season opens in Auckland on Saturday next. While all the clubs are experiencing some difficulty in getting together their senior teams, it appears that Parnell and College Rifles are faced with the greatest difficulties, although both are hopeful of being represented in the senior comnetition on Saturday. College Rifles have been the greatest sufferers of any of the clubs, thirty of their members hav'ng enlisted, yet they are sparing no effort to keep a team in the field while their fellow members are away on active service.