FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 10 February 1906, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

Karl Brill, one of Harvard's most famous players, in retiring from the American Rugby game, said: "I believe the human body was never meant to withstand the strain football demands. Moreover, I don't believe the game is right. I dislike it on moral grounds. It is a mere gladiatorial combat. It is brutal throughout. When you are opposed to a strong man, you have got to get the better of him by violence. I fail to see where the grey matter in a man's head is exercised at all. I do not see how the game can be reformed or remedied- Sooner or later, I believe, we shall come to our senses and abolish it from all American institutions of learning. Football is war, and war is hell. But football is worse than war, because it has no redeeming features." "It is a great pity," says the "Athletic News," regarding the dispute as to the referee in the Glamorgan match, "that anything of a controversial ' nature should have cropped up to mar the smooth senerity of the New Zealanders' tour. They have done so well, played so brilliantly, and given the game such an .impetus in the land that it is extremely I unfortunate the closing fixtures should | have been marked by protests that might have ended in the abandonment of the matches. There may he faults on both sides, for the hone of contention, apart jfrom the selection of the referee, is undoubtedly the fairness or otherwise of I Gallaher's methods at the scrum. The New Zealanders have taught footballers many things in the art of playing the game, but there is not the slightest chance of a wing forward becoming popular. He. i is at best only a stumbling block, and what is wanted is a player and not a wrecker." I Hamish Stuart, the Scottish international, in a criticism of New Zealand methods, and particularly of the wing system, says: "Gallaher, as everyone knows, is one of the best and frankest fellows to meet in a days march. The man is a contradiction * of his methods, and I have a shrewd suspicion that his sense of humour, as an individual, salves his conscience as a player. Yet, as a player, one would be forced to describe him as habitually, intentionally, and consciously guilty of breaches of those sections of Rule XL which deal with putting the ball into the serum and obstructing opponents. Moreover, he never hesitates to take advantage of his breach. Indeed, he makes and takes such prompt and frequent advantage of his opportunities on the blind side that he could, and should, be penalised every time he puts the ball in, and nearly ( every time the opposing half or his own is given possession. He either never puts the ball in at all, or puts it in in such a way that bis forwards are bound to get it, and can heel at once. Gallaher maintains that, whether he merely throws the ball against one of his own forward's legs, picks it up again, and passes to Roberts, or puts it really into the scrum in the way that ensures possession for his forwards, he is guilty of no breach of tbe laws. His contention is based on New Zealand custom. If so, tbe custom clearly overrides the law. Now, this raises the point: *Must we admit that "two All-Blacks make a white?"' In other words, must we accept as legal and fair actions which we consider, and the _*■* plainly -tates, are

both menl and unfair s'n^TT^ ■^*^«i^26_iS« actions .as necessary to th?!*!* ,,,^«. *»*» .*i"^|! Hainish Stuart may have , pion footballer, but it, dL_*? * c ** Ma. one familiar with GaUaher*B that he is any too impartial h, P thod » cism. It is absolutely Gallaher should be penSsJ *& B scrum, so palpably absurd that §_*_** such a statement is $*** That the team beli-ved Gili_L playmg the game is shown by th» _* s of the manager regarding the tmH*"* o *' tho ball into the scrum F n „ tt . m 8 "* the text of that co_-mumc£ Wg -_ great many untrue, unfair, and manlike statements have been m_ A • various papers, aUeging, amon^ltv* 1 * things, that the New ball unfairly into the 'scrum' ? I th ' suggested to the Welsh Footb» u rjv that in any of our future Wales the referee be asked to mittt hall into the 'scrum' on every oL_v If this is done, the public will be « abled to judge by the results which gu! has been the greater offender in this »». spect. I desire also to correct staU ments made regarding our attitude _■>» the appointment of the referee for Si Glamorganshire match. All that wehat. ever asked, and still insist upon, is I*|*__ we should be allowed a voice in the ap. pointment. In other words, that the referee should be mutually agreed upon as provided in the laws of the game."-. G. H. Dixon. The New Zelannd Football team is ,__ in Auckland three weeks from next Mot day- Auckland is preparing 'to gw_ them a royal welcome, a welcome \as warm as their marvellous achievements deserve. I fancy, from what, one heat, that the return of a South African coj! tingent will be child's play compared with it. The. official reception to the team ".vill an alfl, probability! take place at the Grey Statue, the Auckland Rugby Union having recommended tiui to the New Zealand Union. The New Zcalanders play a match against British Columbia next Tuesday, The unions in the Southern centreare each giving there represent--tives a reception when they arrive home, and it would be well if tho Auekan. Union followed up the public reception here with .a special welcome to the returning Aucklanders. I suppose that this matter is under the consideration of the local executive. The American colleges—Harvard, Haverford, Columbia, Cornell, Pennsylvania, Yale, and Princeton —have all taken up the Association game.N Soma of their elevens belong to all nations. Two championship cups, says "The InterOcean" of Chicago, have already been provided for. The first ofthese is given by Fred H. Milnes, of the Pilgrim team of England, which recently visited, the 'United States. The cup will be held for a year by the winner of the America* inter-collegiate championship. The majority of the New Zealand.te-n accepted the Rev. W. Carlisle's invitation to be present at a service at St. Mary-at-Hill Church, and a huge crowd gathered round the church to see thementer. The whole service was devoted to the subject of "All Blacks." Tha Rev: W. Carlisle, after complimenting them on their victory, thanked the New Zealanders for the brilliant example they had shown to our sportsmen. Their victory on Saturday had given our. insnlar self-satisfaction something dqfaoa blow. "Fifteen-love," he said; "was a horrid thrashing, but if we learnt tha lesson of co-operation and combination, which alone won them the game, we may, perhaps, one day bring back the Rugby 'ashes'." The Church of England wai greatly indebted to them for ', the lessons in manliness which they had taught during their tour.. This is the first public visit to church the New Zealanden have paid in this country, and a look •' mild surprise crossed their faces as they, listened to the Church of England service, with brass and string banda, drums, magic lantern, and living: p» tures, as- conducted by the Rev. W. 9_f\ lisle, who, in the pulpit, led the orchestra with a trombone. If you sing a wronj note," he said, turning to the team, "it doesn't matter. We will drown it." _•_"■ ing the service special prayers weri offered for Rugby and Association InV ball. "Don't aak which is WaHaee,'* aajr-i waggish scribe. 'If you see a man dash past four Englishmen, throw another; into touch, and then, when tackjed -X five more, kick a goal, you may be ninth* t is Wallace." .' Thus the "Westminster Gazette," tltik England's defeat at the Crystal R-laa*! "The fact seems to be that the He* Zealanders are, individually, pUyeM «l remarkable physical aptitude and skjH and that, moreover, they play a mere intelligent game than do our own JB6B» hampered by a stereotyped sefceme o! combination (and that not a very goei one), and seldom daring to make innt* vations. The New Zealanders have hj| this time taught 'the Britisher 1 to think' about the game he plays; aiid'ninegood is likely to come of the 'KgM they have been knocking into him'M mercilessly." The following letter in defencei of-tw New Zealanders' method of putting tfl« ball into the scrum appeared/in thai**' don "Sportsman":: —"I have now *** the New Zealand team play eleven of «• matches, and I have no hedtotiouiß saying that not only does the wing*** ward always put the ball into the scrnra properly, but that he does so in *£jj* finitely fairer manner — i.e., straight* in the centra of the scrum, and _ ul £ without any screw on the ball, to rnal» it turn into his forwards' fa^- 1 the majority of our own half-bacKS* most decidedly more than the **«*£ Welsh and Devon half-backs do. Tnui. too. is the opinion of most players .*». have met the New Zealanders. 4*5 New Zealand team will go down to n» tory as, on the whole, the deMf--"J fairest, if vigorous, team that «■*"* graced a Rugby football ground. .1J" not a New Zealander, have ncycr oera in that country—to my loss, be it saw and do not know any New la ?**L' but I am. I hope, an English sportsman, and that is why I write _ to the Bp*K man' in the name of 'Fan- Hay -l« have received several more teterewapa ly upholding the style of the JgMg landers' play as quite fair in accordance with the rules of tha Rugby aW JL regret that lack of space omission; however, they do but.empM sise what very few seen the team in the field.— m. ""- u . "Sportsman.") . During the battle of Waterloo _ there was a frightful panic in Bruneiwas reported that the Allies were beaten, and people were "" > s directions. The Duke of cook went on quietly with his data* He was begged to save himself, hut plied, "I hive served my master wnii he fought a hundred battles, and* never -vet tatted *_«Wi**'****