NOTES BY FORWARD.
'■■ The following table sho\ys -th-e positions of ihe clubs engaged in the O.R.F.U. first grade flag competition : — '
In the second grade contest the following are the positions of the leading teams : — Alliambra 17 points, Union A 16, Kaikorai 16, '"Union 0 14, Port Chalmers 14, Ravensbourne 14, "Pirates 13, University 12.
The following table shows the positions of 'Seams for the O.F.A. Charity Banner: — Matches. Goals.
In this issue is commenced a series of articles on "Rugby Football," by Mr Arthur •Budd, who was the joint author with Mr •Harry Vassall of the "'Hints on the. Rugby Game ". which were reproduced in the .^jp.R-.F.U. Annual some years ago. There are lew greater living authorities on the vgame j than Mr Budd; who has- beau both a dislin- ; guished player and a highly capable administrator. He is a frequent contributor to the Reading athletic . papers in the old country, | and is a forcible and incisive writer. His articles will be found of exceptional interest and, with the season of interprovincial footijall just at hand, their appearance will be acknowledged to be veiy opportune. " Footballer, ' writing from Orepuki, submits three questions. He wants to know (1) if a Rugby union has power to altfer match ] iixtures without the consent of one or both clubs ; (2) Can a Rugby union order a match to be played at a distance of, say, twenty miles from the place originally fixed upon? and (3) Can it order a match to be played over which one club claims by default? The only answer that can possibly be returned is that it all depends on the by-lawE of the Rugby ■ -union. It may be that the Rugby union has power under its by-laws to do all the things .which " Footballer ", questions.
The New Zealand, Union ha 3 referred the proposed alterations in the laws of the game to the Appeal Committee to report. It seoma an extraordinary thing for a body to refer any subject that comes before it to a body that, even if appointed by it, is completely outside it in the respect that no ona individual is a member of both bodies.
The possibility of a visit being received by Otago from the Taranaki team this season is good nowa. For years the Taranaki footballers have bean about, if not actually at, the top of the tree in the North Island, and they have at'all times, since the formation of -their union, been a formidable combination. The only occasion on which Taranaki and Otago have met -;ras in 1£96 at Hawera, when Taranaki won by 8 points to 6, but the Otago players declare that they had been led to overrate their opponents, and that they were deceived in consequence into a style of play that was foreign to them, otherwise they arc confident that they would not have bee:i defeated. However that may be. the result cf that match has only made Olago players the more anxious to again meet the Taranaki man and it bju uot diminished the desire on
the part of the Otago public to ser the redoubtable Northerners. Under the circumstances no" exception is likely to be taken anywhere to the decision of the O.R.F.U. to allow the Taranaki Union a portion of the gate receipts towards their expenses, even although that step involves a departure from the principle on which the Otago Union goes to neither give nor receive gate money.
The announcement that the match between Wellington and Otago will be played on "Wednesday, August 2, means probably that a large number of ardent admirers of football, who are engaged in factories, will be precluded from seeing the contest. On the other hand, the perhaps equally large section of the public that gets its weekly half-holiday on Wednesdays will be delighted- to know that it will have the opportunity of witnessing at least one of the important matches a£ the season.
The University team is notoriously the most in-and-out team in Dunedin. I have before this remarked'— last, season, I think— that if the ethics of the racecourse were applied to the football ground the members of the team would certainly have been hauled up for inconsistent jjerformances, and without a doubt their defeat of the Kaikorai last Saturday, following on a defeat from the Pirates in their previous match, would have led to their" disqualification. On the other hand, their play a month ago against the Union was just of the kind to create the belief that on their own day they would' be good enough for tli6 Kaikorai. Their "day came on Saturday, when they were fortunate in meeting" the Kaikorai while the latter could not command the services of Sim, their speedy "new three-quarter back, who' wa3 suffering from an injury, as a result of which- J.' Torrance came into the team, and played noi/ among the forwards, but at wing three-quarter back where he was tc distinct and complete " frost." ' Ido not suggest that if Sim had been playing the Kaikorai would not have lost. Such a suggestion would not be .warranted, for while the University played . iowards White's wing, which was Torrance's the Kaikorai secured the ball four timos out of every five in the scrummages, md their play was directed towards Armit's wing, which is at all times their strongest wing. When the Kaikorai were in arrears Mason, the scrum half-back, most unaccountably chose to strive to get away himself with the ball, but before that he had almost invariably got the ball out smartly, and the passing on the Kaikorai side was clean and sure. How, then, did the attack fail? Simply because the University defence was quite superb. Time after time Armit seemed the ball but his characteristic dash, with which he has repeatedly bowled over the players who have tried to stop him, availed him not. If he got past everybody else he found Wi Repa impassable, the Hawke's Bay man proving his worth in a way he had not previously succeeded in doing. To their splendid defence rather than to their attack the University owe their win, although it is impossible to withhold from White unstinted praise for the cleverness with which he nipped up the chance that produced the try ho obtained.
j Rarely does it happen that the excitement of a crowd is-maintained from the very commencement of a. game until its close. Such 'a game was the one on the Caledonian ground - four years ago between Aucklalid and Otago, in which' 'the visitors, it will- be remembered, :*tecored eight points within ' as many minutes from -the kick-off. That brilliant opening- to the match put the spectators on the tiptoe of expectation for sensations throughout the whole game and they got them. For~a sensational opening, however, that match wae> not a circumstance to the Kaikorai-Univer-sity match la3t Saturday. From the first ] scrummage the Kaikorai backs got on a fine j passing rush which ended in a try that was converted. In another coiiple of minutes an equally fine passing rush had produced a try to the University, and it also was converted. Less than four minute"' play at the ! very beginning of the game had produced ten points. The spectators were as much delighted as surprised at this sensational start and both sides were loudly cheered. From that moment onwards the game furnished a splendid exhibition. The University backs' fine defence has already been noticed, and I j should like to commend the good play shown by the forwards in the loose. In the scrummages the Kaikorai forwards completely worsted their opponents, and their superiority in this respect enabled them on two occasions to get their side out of a fix, for the University backs had carried the play up- to the Kaikorai's lino, and as a result of the heeling, out of the latter's forwards they escaped with i a touch-down. The Kaikorai got very close j to scoring on one occasion at the bowling green corner, and is was difficult to say to j whom the ball really belonged when it was j taken across the line. The referee solved the j problem in the safest way by ordering a scrummage outside the line. This was the nearest approach the Kaikorai had to a tcore after the try they gained at the very outset. On the other hand, the University had hard lines in not having "another goal to their credit, a penalty kick by O'Shea landing the ball on the crossbar whence it bounded l»ack into play. As to the penalty goal the. University did get opinions differ as to whether the referee should not have decided that it was a poster. If, however, the University did not actually get the goal they deserved it.
An impression has gained currency among members of football clubs that the Kaikorai and Alhambra Clubs, now being level in the competition for the senior flag, will have to play off next Saturday. This is a mistake. The flag matches, as arranged for July 8, will be played then, and the two following Saturdays will be devoted to trial matches in view of the match against Wellington on the 2nd August. It is hoped that the Southland Union may be induced to postpone its visit for a few weeks, so that the matches against Southland, Auckland, Wellington, and possibly Taranaki may be played on successive Saturdays, and in that event a couple of Saturdays in August will be available for flag matches, on one of which the Kaikorai and Alhambra clubs, if still level, would meet. The match between the Kaikorai and University teams proved a very exciting one, and when it became known that the Light Blues had defeated the Kaikorai for the first time during the season their well-earned victory was received with loud cheers. The spectators were treated to a capital all-round exhibition of football, the passing and tackling of the backs on both sides being much out of the ordinary. Wi Repa, the "'Varsity full back, proved the right man in the right place, tackling and kicking with unerring judgment. White, on the wing, played a truly fine game, his running, collaring, and handling the ball being the principal features of the match. O'Shea, at centre, exhibited great head work, beating his man very cleverly on several occasions. Orbell was not a success on the wing,. hi 3 principal weakness being taking the ball. The halves, Macdonald, Armstrong, and M'Ara, were in brilliant form, their attacking and defensive powers leaving nothing to be desired. Of the forwards, all of whom showed good form, Gregg, Fenwick, and
Fisher were about the best. On the Kaikorai side Duncan did no" end of hard," honest work on the defence, and was ably supported by Sinclair, Mason, and A'rmit. Of the forwards, D. Torrance, Murphy, and Cross were the most conspicuous. Mr, H. Harris, as referee, gave every satisfaction.
The Opoho ground was not in the best of condition for the Alhambra-.Soutb.enx match which was played there on. Saturday, the snow having melted and left the ground very wet, which soon caused the ball to become greasy. It was expected that the Southern would majce a good stand, and those who witnessed the game were not disappointed. The hill team had a good deal the best of the first spell, the Southerns being placed at a great disadvantage in having to play tip hill with ] a strong sun in. their eyes. The Alhambra forwards were too heavy and tall for their opponents, which assisted them greatly in the 'line-out work. Their weight also gave them an advantage in the scrums, but in loose play the Southern were, if anything, the better. They did not,' however, play up to their usual form. There was a good deal of fumbling by the backs on both sides, and owing to the wet state of the 'ball very little passing was indulged in. Wilkins, the Southern full back, played well, especially in the first spell. Neither Bennet nor Chambers was very reliable. Morris was safe at fiveeighths, and Duncan also- did a good deal of spoiling ; while Burgess put in afcreat amount of. defensive work. .Of: the forwards, Ca.vanagh got the ball smartly in the scrum, but there was not enough weight behind him. Olson and Allen played well in the open. For the Alhambra, Ross, at full back, played safely. The three-quarters all played well. Johnston was the best of the halves, while Dey, behind the scrum, was very smart. The forwards one and all played a hard game, M 'Donald and Giver. Being perhaps the t best. Mr Croxford controlled the game, and gave every satisfaction.
The return match between the Pirates and Union, originally fixed to be played at Oarisbrook, took place at Bishopscourt, the former ground- boing in a totally unfit sta/te to play upon. The Kaikorai Club's (pound was, on the contrary, in capital condition,*! though there was a moderate amount of snow lying, which,- however, did not inconvenience the players much. There was only a- handful of spectators present, but these were amply rewarded by witnessing what was, perhaps, the fastest game of the" season, and, at the same time, very interesting and exciting right up to the call of time. The forwards on both sides infused a lot of dash into their play, the Pirates showing to greater advantage in this respect. As a consequence, any, mistakes made by the backs were promptly taken advantage of. _In the scrums the Maroonß got possession more often than their opponents, but the Blacks' backs generally prevented any great advantage being gained. The Pirates rearguard kicked much better than their opponents did, but their passing was distinctly inferior. M. Priest, at full back, though rather slow, kicked excellently. Of the threequarters, Buchanan showed to advantage on the wing, and it would appear that he is likely to be of more service to his side in that position than in the centre. His potted goal was the result of sound judgment and a good kick. Bragg was erratic, but rmt in some nice runs, and gained .a -good' deal of ground by fast following up. Thomson played a fine allround game, a.nd hifa kicking was especially good. Sutton is a promising half back. Of a ■good feet of forwards, Priest wa3 always prominent, while Farquharson, Matthewson, and Salmond did excellent work. Adams, the Union full 1-aek, had a large share of work, and, on the whole, did it creditably, and at time; brillia-illy. Bennett followed up well, and did useful work in that respect. His try was the outcome of a dashing bit' of play. W. Munro's play calls for commendation. He repeatedly beat Ins opponents under difficulties, and his passing left little to be desired. Armstrong was hampered by the attentions of Priest, but nevertheless did excellent, work. From among the forwards Stewart must be specially singled out. His play was of a high order, and quite unexceptionable. liowlatt, Beadle, and Munro also did sterling work, the latter's line play being first-class.
As stated in the report elsewhere, play in the Duuedin-Zingari-Kichmond match was chiefly confined to the forwards, and from a spectator's point of view decidedly uninteresting. Mackay, the Dunedin full back, saved his side rc-penteclly by his tplendid kicks. Stephenson played a good game, but had very little to do, the ball rarefy coming his way. - Rice, Dunne, Pringle, and Eyre were the best of a hard working set of forward.". Fordyce, the Zingari full back, had a good deal of work to do, and did it well. A. Smith, the centre three-quarter, was far away the best back on his s-^clp. £L Smith and Austin both played a hard game. The forwards were generally led by Hobbs, Caradus. and the Smiih .Brother*. Mr J: West made an impartial referee.
On one occasion during the international match on June 24 (naya the Sydney Evening News) an Australian throw the ball in from touch, notwithstanding that the English captain claimed the ball. The claim was disallowed by the referee, and the ball thrown in at some distance from the spot where the touch judge bad put up his flag. After the throw-in, the touch judge, .Mr B. I. Swannell, continued to hold up his flag, and Mr Garrard, the referee, when appealed to refused to have the ball brought back, and said that he overruled the touch judge's decision. There is no question that the referee has power to overrule a touch judge's decision, but when he does so, he must be quite certain that he himself is in the right. In the present instance, his decision was a slight to Mr Swannell, unless the referee's decision was given solely on the fact that the offending side had gained no advantage. Even in such a case, a referee should be very chary of overruling the touch judge's decision. He- should only exercise such power when the touch judge has shown himself to be manifestly unfair or incompetent. Mr Garrard seemed somewhat excited during the first half of the game. Probably he is not accustomed to such enormous and fashionable crowds of spectators as filled the cricket ground on Saturday. It is said he made another mistake when Mr Mullineux appealed to him to stop one of the Australian forwards from putting hi? arm in such a position in the scrums that when he raised his elbow he struck the English forwards in the face. Some of the latter state that they still have bruises from this cause. Mr Garrard said that he had no power to stop that sort of thing. That was a strange reply, because the referee had the power to order any man off the ground. But probably what he meant was that he did not think the matter serious enough to take notice of. For the sake of Rugby football, it is to be hoped that our own referees will not take the same view. The referee should take all care to see Uiai no unnecessary roughness is practised, and this is the Tirincipal part of his duty as a referee.
The Wellington Rugby Union has .uspended D. M'Gill for life, and warned him off all ground* for using iudecent language towards
the referee in a recent Senior Match. M'Gill was a- prominent - Petone Club player, and has represented .the. province, on more than one occasion, and would have represented Wellington in this season's interprovincial matches. Another player was suspended until the end of May next for rough play.
A Wellington telegram states that the following Wellington team has- been picked to play against the Manawatu Union at Palmerston North next Saturday: — Full "back, Hales; three-quarters — -Bonar, Bush, De Vere ; five-eighths, Wallace ; half, Fordyce ; wing forwards — H. Kelly and Hardham ; forwards — W. Spencer, .King, Soffe, O'Brien, M 'Anally, Jigger, and . Gallagher. ' Both Roberts and Calnan will be available to represent Wellington against Wairarapa on August 12, the day after the expiration' of their two years' suspension.
Northern «. Southern. .. Eoslyn . . Wakari Green Island .. iMornington £ I 3 3 3 1 4 2 4 0 4 0 4 0 o i-3 0 0 1 2 1 2 i o 0 2 1 2 3 2 I 6 6 15 5 4 (0 .S "eS t>« <; 3 4 5 9 5 14 !-, 1> C 6 4 6 2 3 2
- — ' • -' Jlatches. \ ■ /^*— ~N -rd ' S E ? J fl Kaikorai ..10 7 1 2 Alhambra ..10 7 1 2 Dunedin ..10 6 4 0 Union ' .. 10 3 3 4 Southern ..10 4 5 1 Univerßity ..10 4 6 0 Pirates ..10 3 6 1 ,Zingari - -Kh'md 10 0 8 2 Points. '•8 .2 v «s fi < 82 23 40 16 67 53 44 33 37 36 30 39 35 55 0 70 & "a I s 16 16 12 10 9 8 7 2
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18990713.2.112.1
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2367, 13 July 1899, Page 42
Word Count
3,317NOTES BY FORWARD. Otago Witness, Issue 2367, 13 July 1899, Page 42
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