ITEMS OF SPORT

New Zealand Tablet, 22 May 1913, Page 31

ITEMS OF SPORT

-;■ FOOTBALL. < :■■: V ' * The match beween Hibernian 111. and- Gore High School B, resulted in a win for the Greens by 12 to 3. For the winners McGrath and W. Poppelwell scored and W. O'Neill kicked two penalty goals. In ; first grade Rug by ,in Dunectin on Saturday Southern beat University by 6 points to 3, Alhambra and Port Chalmers scored 3 points each, Zingari. defeated Dunedin by 9 points to nil, and Kaikorai scored 13 points to 5 points by Union, In first grade Association the following were the results of the various matches:—Kaitangata 4 goals, Northern B 1 goal; Mornington A 4 goals, High School Old Boys 2 goals; Roslyn-Wakari 1 goal, Maori Hill nil Mornington B 5 . goals, Northern A 4 goals; Christian Brothers 4 goals, Ravensbourne 1 goal. In the second grade Christian Brothers defeated Roslyn-Wakari by 7 goals to 1. Newman (2), E. Salmon, J. Walsh, P. O'Connell, and J. Salmon scored for the winners. In the third grade Christian Brothers A (6 goals) beat Christian Brothers B (nil), and in the fourth Christian Brothers (nil) suffered defeat at the hands of Southern (1 goal).

CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB, HASTINGS. The annual meeting of the Celtic Football Club was held in St. Patrick’s Hall on May 2. In the absence of Rev. Father Mahony, Mr. T. Bullick occupied the chair. There were about 50 members present, and 16 new members were elected at the meeting. The secretary (Mr. H. E. Seed) presented the report and balance sheet, which showed the club to be in a sound financial position. The following officers were elected: Patron, Very Rev. Father Keogh; president, Rev. Father Mahony; club captain, Mr. T. Bullick; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. E. Seed ; committee, Messrs. A. Hislop, P. Blake, J. Maggin, D. McMillan. Mr. Hislop reported that Mr. M. E. Wood (formerly of the All Blacks) had kindly consented to act as coach. It was decided to enter teams in the senior, junior, and third grades. At a further meeting the following selection committee was appointed:--Senior, Rev. Father Mahony and Mr. B. Hedley; junior and thirds, Mr. W. O’Donoghue and Mr. J. Maggin; delegates to Union, Rev. Father Mahony and Mr. E. R. Daniels. The club has now a membership of 67 playing members’. On Saturday, May 10, a match was played between Celtic senior and High School Old Boys. After a hard-fought game the latter won by 12 points to 9. The junior team journeyed to Napier to meet a formidable Napier team, Okura. The game, which was a very fast one, resulted in a win for Celtics by 10 points to 6. The third grade game against Rovers Kautuki resulted in a win for Celtics by 19 to nil.

CATHOLIC PUPILS AND RUGBY UNION. To the Editor. * Dear Sir, —I enclose two paragraphs from the New Zealand Times, Wellington, of May 9, dealing with a matter which seems to me to demand instant and aggressive action on the part of every Catholic athlete in New Zealand. I am not familiar with the details of the case, my only information comes from the enclosed paragraph and casual conversation with a few Wellington friends, but on the face of it the position is intolerable. It simply amounts to this—our Catholic boys in Wellington are debarred from playing Rugby while they attend the Catholic Schools, but 'if they attend the Public Schools they become eligible. What are the consequences—(a) a distinct and powerful appeal is made to the youngster with football ambitions to go to the public rather"than the Catholic schools; (b) next generation will see Wellington Rugby purged of Catholics altogether, and we will no longer be able to point with pride to the physical superiority of our Catholic youth, graduates of our Catholic schools. These are the two direct and immediate consequences of the action of this little coterie of bigots. But beyond these, there is the gross insult to the Catholic community involved in this discrimination against our children. In their persons we are to be treated as outsiders (vide Mr. Weir's report, 'and did not feel like taking in outsiders ') on

the Rugby football field in New Zealand. Ye shades, heroes of past famous battles, cover your heads !\ The Irish' and the Catholic element 1 ; are outsiders.' The Wellington Marist Brothers' boys are playing the Association code because the committee 'formed for the object of providing a game for the primary schools (vide report) did not feel like taking in outsiders S The Auckland Marist Brothers' boys are holders of the senior championship for last year, and have begun this season stronger than ever. Has the latter fact any bearing on the former Some say it has, and that it is the athletic prowess of the young Tykes that is feared and resented in Wellington. The Wellington Rugby Union says it deplores this unsportsmanlike action of the schools committee, and practically we say 'thank you' to them for not approving of the insult to us. Let us make it known, through our accredited representatives, to the New Zealand Rugby Unionand subordinate unions throughout the land,that if within say one • month from date this Wellington bigot committee is not brought to book and our children admitted as any other children in New Zealand to the Rugby schools competition, then every Catholic player, every Catholic member of a union, and every Catholic supporter of the Rugby code will be called upon to ' down tools,' and transfer allegiance and support to the Association or even Northern Union code. What has Mr. Sheahan or Mr. Buxton in Auckland or the Management Committee of the Auckland M. 8.0.8. Football Club to say to it. Let them speak out. If the N.Z. Rugby Union can compel the schools committee to open the competition to Catholic children, and. will not do so, then they are parties to the insult put upon us. If they are powerless and cannot compel them, then they do not deserve our support for there is something rotten in the state of Denmark.: We are as Catholics grossly insulted manner of receiving the insult will tell whether we deserve it or not.l am, etc., 'lndignant.'

HOCKEY. At a recent meeting of St. Joseph's Hockey Club, Dunedin, Miss Oonah Murray was elected captain of the A team, and Miss M. McKenzie captain of the B team. The A grade match v. Ravensbourne. on Saturday week resulted in a victory for the latter by 2 goals to nil. Miss . Lees proved herself a most popular and efficient referee. The B team entered the arena for the first time, and had a most strenuous and exciting game with the new team, the Defiance, of which Miss Staunton is president, and Miss Duhig coach. The first portion of the game was controlled by Miss Duhig, with the Defiance 2 goals, St. Joseph's nil. In the latter half of the game Miss Munro held the whistle, and at the call of time the score Defiance 2 goals, St. Joseph's 1 goal. In a letter received by the secretary from Mr. Allen Doone, the writer expressed the wish that the club would meet with every success during the season, and also stated that he was most delighted in becoming an honorary member. Miss Edna Keeley also gives expression to her interest in the club, and hopes to make acquaintance with the members on her return to Dunedin. On Tuesday evening, May 6, the members of the B team were entertained at the Savoy Tea Rooms as the guests of the president (Miss Molly Murray) and the secretary (Miss Marion Munro).

HARRIERS. The St. Joseph's Harriers held their weekly run from the Gardens Tea Rooms, when there was a large attendance of members. The trail was voted , the best laid this season. It followed the Opoho road to the top, where a turn was made in the direction of Signal Hill to the fish hatcheries. Here a short stay was made. Following on, the trail led through some very fine native bush, coming over Mr. Richards' farm to the Main road. Here another stay was made, and the Motor Cycle Club's hill test trial watched. Finally, the course was directed by the road to the back of the Gardens, and was followed home. The members sat down to an excellent repast as guests of Mr. J. A. McKenzie, club secretary.

The result of the Ormond art union will be published in our. next issue.... •