SPORT AND PASTIME.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 137, 11 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

SPORT AND PASTIME.

Football. [By Ex-Fobwabd.] Tho meteorological conditions were perfect for last Saturday's games, typical football weather favouring a first-class exposition of play. A great deal of interest was cont-ed in tho Melrose- Wellington match, the much improved form of the yellows warranting their supporters in the sanguine expectation that the champions would have their work cut out to put down the reps, of Die older club. Thebe anticipations were amply verified, and not for a long time has the invincible forward contingent of the Newtownites got such a big shaking up as it was their fortune to receive at tho hands of tho sturdy opposition pack. It speaks volumes fof Wellington that its Hue was not crossed during tho game, and though beaten by two penalty goals, the yellows had the satisfaction of breaking through the red and blue defence and scoring a well- deserved try. Every inch of ground was stubbornly contested on both sides, the encounter being carried on with an unusual amount of vigour, and fought right up to the finish with a grim determination and earnestness that roused the respective partisans to a pitch of excitement and enthusiasm gratifying to a well- wisher of a good straightout struggle for supremacy. It was a treat to see the excellent combination of the yellow forwaids. There was not a -weak spot in tho crowd, though a tendency' to frequent breaches of the rules counteracted many advantages gained. The scrums v.-eie well formed, and when they got possession of the ball, which was oftener than the other side, it came slick and clean to the half. On tho line-out the yellows beat the led and blue contingent, but several attempts to initiate a passing rush were promptly nipped in the bud by M'Guire and Warwick. Why the Wellington players persisted in keeping tho play open when by making it close they could have gained much more ground, especially against such safe backs as Warwick, floss, 'and Howe, was a puzzle. Several good openings were lost to the yellows by not using their feet, and this weakness the Molrose team quickly took advantage of. When fairly under way the Newtownites brought tho ball along in one tine sweeping rush. The red and blue forwards were quicker on the ball, their collaring was more accurate, and in screwing the scrums they had a' jgood deal the best of the bout. Their heeling out was somewhat slow, but iv the open the obbnVpions played with as great dash aB ever. tr On the whole it was an evenly-balanced contest, Melrose having slightly the best of the first spell. Coming to the individual players for Melrose, Warwick was the pick of the bunch umougßt the backs. He got rid of the ball at tho right time, and ui-ed the touch-line with effect and accuracy. On this season's form he is entitled to be ranked as one of the safbst backs in the city. Another player who improves with acquaintauce is M'Guhe. His defeuce was veiy sound, and best when sorely presbed He also showed great dash in attack, and but for ono or two wild passes to his fiveeight could bo set down as playing an almost perfect scrum-half game. That sturdy little full-back, Howe, gave a very satisfactory account of himself. His kicking was good, save for that placekick, while his collaring abilities were severely tested by his opponents. Howe is a cool player, and uses both head and feet to advantage. ' Of the other backs, Ross cut a very respectable figure, and took full advantage of whatever chances oaine in his way, which were not many. M'Kouzie pleased his friends with his reliaolo and valuable Work at full, and showed a variety of resouroe which in a player in his position is often called for. On two occasions he brought down the houHe with brilliant runs. The cent re three-quarter, Meredith, played a safe game, while Bird at five-eight gave a first- clans exhibition. Tho exMerivale player shaped well right through the game, taking the passes cleanly from his half and feeding his three-quarter very judiciously. Duutian made no mistakes behiud the scrum, and handled his team excellently. It would be invidious to partioularise any forward for special excellence on the Wellington side where all did well. Fisher played a great game, and was perhaps a little more noticeable than the rest. At times the play wan none too gentle, but earnestness more than malice might be expected where two, such btrong forward divisions met, and I do not characterise tho game as a rough one ; only in idividual cuses did rough play crop up. The referee's actiou in ordering Adams off the field was a proper one, but why this official did not oxercibe his power with two of the offender's club- mates as well as two Wellington men was a mystery to nio&t of the spectators. Their offence was a much more serious ono than that for which Adams went off. Candidly, I consider the referee should have exercised his powers iv rogard to breaches of the law which were all too palpable. In the Poneko-Athletic match, Porter, Who comes with a good name from Gisborne, made his first appenrimce, and, although handicapped, gave promise of some-thing-good iv tho luture. Davis played an exceptional game at full-back. The way this miniature player grasped his, m many cases, big opponents was a treat to witness. * Sullivan aud Slattery made their reappearance m the team, and played good games, the latter especially proving a tower of strength on the defeuoo at five- eighth. The play of the red forwards was much admired, M'Anally esppoially beiw^ promiuent throughout. 'Mac' shoud find his place iv the reps' without, much ado Hales, at full, played a good, safe game, Kelly and Pntohard being the pick of a good combination. IJales, on the wing, promises, on Saturday h form, to supply a fit substitute for M;Ke;,zie in rep. matches, his two tries being the outcome of sterling work. Quin also impressed me aa being a vastly improved player. Tucker, apart from place-kicking, did not shape at all well. His neglect of Fntchard was very noticeable. During the match Athletic v. Poneke at Petone, Dr. Perry, the referee, stopped the game -upon seeing a player who had been knocked out-while tLo ball was in play in a Poueke player's hands who was running £2S,t if T1 ?,V eferee °Wmed this as 5 & i ? Wlll be rem embered that the New Zealand Appeal Committee decided in the match Wellington v. Poneke last season where the referee called time when tho ball was in play that he had no right to do so a deoiHion afterwords backed up by the English Union. In any case the referee was clearly wrong, us in years past when Ellison, M'lutyre, aud Lee scored many a try by 'bunting' the opposing full-back, none of their tries would have been allowed according to tho dictum of Dr. Porry A™ n°P eva , U P a question as to whether the Referees' Association, before dealing severely by a ro rie 8 of laws of their own making with players, should not make provision for supplying referees with a (list net knowledge of the laws and thus merit the confidence of players. Some dissatisfaction was apparent at Petone when the referee decided that the kick at goal by M'Anally was a poster. Without expressing an opinion, I think rofereos would do well to ask the assistance of correct judges to uid them in such oases. The College ranks contain some promising boys— Dennehy, a strapping, fine forward ; Pitzpatriok, a good three-quarter ; at tho same time a curiosity iv the person of Rogation, a Fijian prince, who has taken to our national game in a natural manner.,,