NOTES BY FORWARD.

'Advices from Home are to the effect that J. F. Byrne, who has frequently played fullback for England in international matches, is not coming to Australia with Mr Mullineux's team, which he was said to h'av© joined. The following are the flag points scored Jjo far by the teams engaged in the O.R.F.U. senior contest: — Kaikorai ... 7 points Dunedin ... 4 points Union 6 n Pirates ... 2 v Alhambra ... 6 n University ... 2 n Sou hern ... 5 v Zingari - Richmond ... 0 ,ii It is desirable, I think, that the attention ]bf our refereeß should be drawn to the fact .that the practice which many of them adopt iof ordering a scrummage after a throw-for-iTvard.or knock-on is cdntrary to the terms of •the laws of the game. There has been some 'discussion- on 'this poinj^in the north •lately, and a case" .was stated- for 'the 'opinion of the -New Zealand Union's' I' Appeal .Committee,- .Which ruled tftat ia scrummage should riot follow a' throw-fo'r-',-ward. but that the ball should .be brought Jhack . to the place of the . breach and there giut down. This decision is .strictly in. AcJeordance with the- Taws bearing on' the 6ubfcject, and I would urge the local Referee's ('Association to enjoin on its members the necessity for constant compliance with it. It, Btands to reason that if the ball is simply put sdown where the infringement occurred in a <case of this kind,- and if the erroneously-or-dered scrummage is entirely abolished, the .effect will be to make the game faster.

The Nelson Rugby Union is sending a team South this season to return the Canterbury (visit of last year and nlsd to play South Canterbury. Is not the Nelson Union overlookling the fact that an Otago team .has twice (visited Nelson?

The international match under Association *ules~ between England and Scotland was played at Birmingham on April 8, and was (Won by England* by two goals to one. ■ The senior matches at Christchurch last Saturday resulted aa follows:— Lin wood; (13) v. ChristchurcH (15), Merivale- (32) '* v. Albion (nil), Kaiapoi (nil) v. Sydenham (5). " A Wellington telegram states that in the' feenior' football matches Athletic beat Poneke by 5 ppints to 3, the Wellington and Melrose Clnbs played a draw (3 points each), Petone beat Orientals by 27 points to nil. The weekly meeting of the committee of the Otagc Rugby Football- Union, held on MonHay afternoon, was attended by Messrs Gallq.way, sTi»aren, Payne, -Strong, Young, and Hutchison. The business paper for a special meeting of the New Zealand Union on the Both iiist. was considered, and it was resolved to instruct the delegates to oppose" the proposal for , the formation of an Australasian Kugbjr Football Union. A letter was readIrom Mr E. Bremner, referee in the match Union 'A v. Port Chalmers on the 13th May, reporting that he had had to order A. Collier, of the Port Chalmers Club, off the field for rough play. The referee was present at the meeting, and made a statement. It was decided to summon Collier to attend a meeting iof the committee on the 29th inst. A letter ffrom the Pirates B team, protesting against" Ifche decision of the jeferee {Mr Scurr) in disallowing a try in the second-grade match Union B v. Pirates B, was referred to the referee. A grant of £5 was voted to the i Referees' Association. A letter* was read from ! the New Zealand Rugby Union covering the iruiir.g of the English Union on the North Dtago-South Canterbury appeal. A letter *vas read from the Oamaru Club stating that the three clubs in Oamaru had arranged a ftrogrammo for the season, and that it (the Oamaru Club) preferred to carry this out rather than enter for a flag contest, and that it believed the other clubs were of the same way of thinking. It was agreed, under these circumstances, to abandon the proposed flag matches in North Otago. A letter was read from the Alexandra Club stating that, owing to the distance by which the up-country" clubs were separated, it would be impossible fsr it to enter for flag competitions. The committee defer -ed for a week the consideration of the proposed rules for flag matches in Central and South Otago.

At last meeting of the commict?e of tli'e Otago Football 'Association it was decided that a trophy be procured for competition by the junior eleven?. The competition will be run on the same lines as the Charity Banner contest, -and will commence on the same dateT-Tviz., June 10. JOonsidering the state of the ground and .the greasy condition ef the ball.ihe play in the DHnedin-Uniyersity match waa of a high order, i The teams were far more evenly matched than the disparity in the scores would indicate, but the luck favoured the •Dark Blues. The Diinedin backs were in

good form, their fine kicking being the feature of the game. In passing rushes they did not handle the ball with the same precision and neatness as their opponents. Mackenzie was the best back, showing both good defence and attack. Mackay, on the other wing, used his kicking abilities with great judgment, gaining a great deal of ground every time. Stephenson played in the centre, but was not so much at home there as" on the wing. The Dark Blue vanguard was slightly better than their opponents in the scrum, and were about equal to them in the loose. Rogerson seemed to be the most consistent worker. The University were considerably weakened by the absence of Hunter, J. B. Macdonald, Fisher, and Shand, the latter having received an injury on the previous Saturday, which will probably terminate his footbalL career. O'Shea made his first appearance on the football field this season, and played a good game, which was marred at times by a tendency to speculate. M'Ara played his usual ,brilliant game, but an injury to his knee in the second spell considerably crippled him. H. Allen, at five-eighths, was good on defence, but spoilt several good passing rushes by hanging on to the ball too long. Armstrong was safe, both on defence and attaok. Of the forwards," Sale, De Lautour, and Tomlinson played the best game. Buck, a Maori player, followed up and tackled All the forwards had a tendency to overrun the ball 'in the loose, and 'might indulge in some dribbling practice with advantage.

The contest at Bishopscourt between the Kaikorai and Union was one of the most keenly contested, club matches ever witnessed I here, and unusual excitement prevailed among the spectators. As neither team had been beaten this season curiosity was keen as to the result of the match. The chances of the xedoubtable hill men -were in most favour, haif, not a few of the Maroon supporters bad faith ' that the tables would be turned on the -Blue and Blacks. However, the game resulted in a draw, which was the natural outcome of so evenly contested a game as this one proved. The feature of the p_lay was the vigorous and effective .collaring of. both sides. Ab a matter of fact, after the first few minutes' play the backs were seldom allowed .to run more than a few yards with the ball before they were grassed. The Union forwards were a good deal lighter than, their Opponents, and as a consequence suffered in the scrum work, but were much superior in the loose. The Kaikorai generally got the ball in the scrums; but this , ad vantage was counter-balanced by the good tackling of the Union forwards. Most ground was gained by, the Union by dribbling rushes and good kicking by their backs. Jackson, the Kaikorai full back, was rather slow, and clid not take the ball well, but his kicking was excellent. Armit had too much attention paid to him to allow him -to do much beyond kicking. Wood played one of his usual games, while Sims, who is a recruit .from the junior team, showed, a fine turn of foot, and promises to become a useful member of the team. The Kaikorai Club are much indebted to Duncan's generalship and fine play for their high posi* tion in the football world, ,and that player's capital display on Saturday places the club under a further obligation to him. He was on -many occasions during the game the means of either stopping rushes . or 'else gaining ground by ''judicious passing.' ' Sinclair's work as not. generally of the class that calls; forth applause,, but it is solid and of much service. Mason's play was not that of an ideal- scrum" half back, and though, he had a good many opportunities little 'came of them, for he stuck to the ball ,'too loi\g; Adams,-" the Union "full back, was the most heartily cheered, a player in the sratfie. 'He took the leather admirably, and kicked into touch with great precision. Doig and Armstrong were not seen at their be&t. Walker, at centre, played a capital game, while Bennett showed improvemput. T. Davis tackled in the most approved style, and with more experience will most likely make a good player. The forwards all played well, and it would be invidio'uft'to mention names.

The Southern and Zingari-Richmond met \ on Fraser's paddock. The ground, notwithstanding the heavy rain during the week, was in good order. It was predicted that the Southerners would win, but the strongest supporters of the Black arid Whites must have been well pleased with the exhibition given by this promising team. The' game ] was very fast from start to finish. Fast drib- j bling rushes were the principal feature of the play. In this respecir the Southerners carried everything before them, and for the most of the gafne kept %heir opponents defending. Over-eagerness to score lost several good chances. Owing to a shower in the early part of the game the ball was very greasy, and little ' passing was indulged in. The Zingari, though playing a hard game right to the last, were without doubt fairly beaten. The dash characteristic of the hill team in days gone by was' conspicuous by its absence, and. with the exception of G." Smith, ' the forwards seenied to play half-hearted, and had it not been, for the way their' "backs stopped rushes and, used j the line, a larger score wotild no doubt have had to be recorded. Goodman, the Southern full-back, played splendidly, his kicking being" perfect. Bennet, on the wing, played ( his usual fine game. His try was the outcome oL-a fine run 1 , and if well fed should prove very dangerous near the line. Duncan was the best of the halves, Burgess putting in some good work at times, but he wants to look where he is passing. Of the forwards, Willett, Olson, Neil, Allen, and Cavana^h were j perhaps the pick. For the Zingari Fordyce, at full back, was far -and away the best back on his side. He stopped rushes and kicked faultlessly. Smith and Reid at three-quar-ter put in a lot of useful work. Austin at five-eighths played a hard game from start to finish. G. Smith, of the forwards, waß head and shoulders above his comrades, his following up and all-round play being much ad-, mired. Mr West held the whistje, and gave every satisfaction, his decisions never once being questioned.. The slippery state of the Carisbrook ground on Saturday prevented anything like a good exhibition of football in the match between the Alhambra and Pirates teams. Alhambra, however, had decidedly the best of the game. All their backs rendered excellent service, while Dey at wing three-barters and M'Laren at full back both playea a good all-round game. The pick of the Alhambra forwards were Hobson, Lawrie. Phillips, Fahey, and Given. On the Pirates'' side the forwards all gave a creditable account of themselves, Priest and Macleod being, perhaps, most con-, spicuous for their play. The backs, however, did not seem to be in anything like first-rate form. The game was controlled by Mr Harris.