FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

The 'takings' at Potter's Paddock on , Saturday last on the occasion of the Newton - Parnell match totalled £77. This beats the record for a Cup match, tho previous best being the £75 taken last season, when Ponsonby and Parnell played off for the championship. I noticed that Mr Ohlson, Avho refereed in the Parnell-Newton match, strictly enforced the rule with regard to players dropping on the ball to stop a rush. If a man does fall on the ball, the rule requires that he shall get up again immediately, otherAvise the opposing- side may be given a free kick. A strict reading of the rule tends to make the game more open and is to be commended. Referees clown South have not, I am told, been so strict in this matter. In the Alhambra-Pirates match, for instance, at Dunedin, Aye find that 'the favourite and most successful method of stopping dribbling rushes Avas by a player dropping on the ball.' In this connection the 'Otago Witness' urges referees as a body to deal much more strictly with this class of play, which is opposed to the spirit, if not to the letter, of the law. The point is this, hOAve\-er. Auckland referees should not enforce the rule so strictly unless Southern referees do the same. OtherAvJse, when Auckland meets a Southern team, our men Avill be at a disadvantage, having been taught that to drop on the ball gives the other side a free kick. Should a Southern referee have charge of the game the Southern players will do it AA'ith impunity.

Armit, one of the three-quarters last year's New Zealand team, is sail to be, on present form, far and away the most brilliant back in Dunedin. Duncan took his place in the recent Kaikorai-l'nivcrsity match (when tincrack Kaikorai were defeated), but appears to have been nil indifferent substitute.

The Auckland Rugby I'nion have aft-reed to alter the rule a.s to residential qualification of players arriving during1 the season or within six months prior to May Ist. Hitherto the player has had simply fo satisfy the Management Committee that he intends to become a bona fide resident in the district he wants to play for: but tbe Union have now decided that nfter this season a player must also have resided in the district for four Aveeks before he am become eligible to play for that district. It was at first proposed to make the period six Aveeks instead of four, but a motion to that effect was defeated. This rule will not come into operation till next season.

W. McKenzie, the well known Wellington wing forward, is in town at present. lie intends remaining here for some weeks.

Provided satisfactory replies arc received from the Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wairarapa Rugby Unions, the Canterbury team will leave. Christchurch on July 110; play Taranaki at Ilawera on August 2, Auckland August 6, Wanganui August 10, Hawke's Bay August I.'!, Wairarapa August 17, and Wellington August 20, reaching home on August 21. The team will, therefore, be aAvay exactly three weeks.

If any further proof Avere needed of the success of the district scheme it could be found in the varying fortunes of the Newton Club this year and last. When the competition closed in 1897 Newton Avere at the bottom of the list, Avith but tAvo Avins to their credit out of nine matches played. This year they are at the top so far, Avith an unbeaten record of six Avins. If they only stick to their training, there i.s no reason Avhy the Newton team should not retain their lead to the close of the contest, and carry off the championship. Thanks to the district scheme, a team is rarely a fixed quantity lavo seasons in succession, and a fifteen that Avas weakest one year may be the strongest in the next.

In the two matches played between _N.eAvt.on and Parnell last year, Parnell Avon the first by seven points to nil. The second was a draw, each side scoring a point.

The Avay that Asher streaked away from Koberts Avhen he scored his try on Saturday Avas an eye-opener to those Avho judged the little threequarter's sprinting capabilities by his size.

F. Surman, who went to Sydney a Aveek or lavo ago, Avill probably play for his old club, Kandwick, in the Badge matches.

S. Orchard, a Ncav Zealand rep. last year, is playing Aving three-quarter for Linwoocl (Christchurch) this season. He scored the only try in that club's match Avith Sydenham, the other Saturday. Mendelssohn, another wellknOAvn Christchurch footballer, is playing for Christchurch Club in the President's Cup matches, but appears, from all accounts, to have lost a good deal of his old dash.

Morland, f ulbback for Merivale Club, is spoken of as a likely man to gain representative honours in the forthcoming Northern tour of the tChristchurch team. He. is playing a splendid game this season.

In Wellington the result •_ of the Senior Championship up to date stands as folloAvs:—Melrose, 5 wins, 0 losses; Petone, .4 wins, 2 losses; Athletics, 3 wins, 3 losses; Wellington, 3 Avins. 3 losses; Poneke, 2 Avins, 4 losses; Oriental, 5 losses.

The date of the match between HaAvke's Bay and Canterbury has been fixed for August 13th. The'game Avill be played at Napier. ManaAvatu Rugby Union purposes sending a team to Canterbury this season. _

Concerning football in Wellington, the Wellington correspondent- of the Otago 'Times' writes as follows: — 'Whatever may be the facts in regard to the charges of rough play preferred against the Wellington representatives during their last Southern tour, there can be no doubt that on their own grounds Wellington Rugby footballers are frequently guilty of brutally rough play. To such an extent has this growjx ifchat many;, respectable people

who formerly played the game and took considerable interest in it have tioav almost ceased to countenance it. The play in 'at least two of the matches here on Saturday Avas extremely rough. The combatants even came to blows, and one of them had to be ordered oil! the field. ..Not. Content with what he 'had done on the field of battle, one of the offending Melrose players waited for a Wellington Club man to punch his head after the match, and a fight was only prevented by the intervention of some of the friends of the pugilistic ones; In another match — that between the Athletics and Poneke Club—the play Avas also unnecessarily rough, and the opinion is generally expressed that the referee was all too lenient with some of the players.'

For interfering with a referee in Christchurch during the progress of a game, a spectator Avas disqualified for life, and was debarred from attending matches on grounds under the control of the Union.

The final round for the English Football Association Cup was this year between the Notts Forest and Derby County teams, and Avas played on 16th April at the Crystal Palace in the presence of an immense croAvd of people, resulting in favour of Notts Forest by three goals to one. The game was marred by illegal tactics. The 'Field' says:-^'The players on both sides rarely hesitated to push or hold each other with their hands Avhen they thought, it expedient, and more than twenty free kicks were given for fouls, though no cognisance was officially taken of a number of little wrestling matches which were manifest enough to the spectators. As this kind of play regularly takes place in a game conducted under the immediate auspices of the executive of the Football Association, and no steps are. taken to discourage it the only conculsion that can be drawn is that a lower standard of sportsmanship is officially adopted in this branch of football than in other out-door games.'

The defeat of Parnell last Saturday has acted as a stimulus to local 'wits,' and the members of the beaten team have been the recipients of pleasant tokens of condolence, plentifully illustrated with coffins and other cheerful objects. One of the smartest of these effusions has been sent (anonymously) to ilr P. S. .Murray, captain of the Parnell team. Here it is: — GREAT EXPLOSION AT EPSOM. PARNELL MINE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. The folloAving anent the ParncllNewton match is contributed by a facetious correspondent: — Great consternation prevailed throughout Auckland on Saturday Avhen it became known that the Parnell mine, lying in close proximity to the Newton property, was completely destroyed by a heavy fall of earth. Throughout the week shares were at a premium owing to Ihe fact that three new reefs had been struck, showing good traces of gold (goal). By order of the Mine Manager (Mr V. H. Murray) blasting operations Averp being carried on when tlie accident occurred. A number of minor., who were working on No. 1 level were Hodge.sld in by the falling earth. After vain long (Laing) tries at feeling (Phclan) their way out. help was brought from the Newton mine, when it was found thai one of the men was reduced to Ashe(r)s, while the other.-:, though mark-cd for life, had a miraculous escape. An enquiry will he held, when the mine manager, who has not yet recovered from the shock, will be ero;-.;----oxnmined by order of the Law(s) Court. Rumour says the explosion occurred through the blasting operators placing too much confidence in the condition of ihe forward machinery. Parnell shares went down at 0, and are consequently a drug on the market; heavy losses aro reported by tlie shareholders. Startling disclosures tire expected regarding tho salaries paid to some experts avlio were operating at the time of the explosion.