FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

During the past week, says a Canterbury writer, efforts to prejudice the League game have been prominent, and the influence brought to bear to check the code, has, unfortunately, been further exposed <by a misrepresentation of facts by a leading official of one of the city clubs. So far the League authorities have taken the views in the manner in which they have been placed before the public, a total mis-statement of facts, and from the League poiut of view all the remarks are improving the League position in public favour. The scurrilous remarks alleged to have been made by the chairman of the Wellington Swimming Centre place him in a position that is not creditable to an official in the control of any pastime, and taking the views that have been published, this gentleman belittles his opposition by inferring that his support would be given to the game if it were under entirely different management. If this gentleman is keen on improving the amateur standard, the League people have no objection, and his presence as a supporter will he welcome. Without going into details, I ran state with accuracy that the Auckland delegate who moved in the matter has the entire confidence of his Centre. There is reason to congratulate the Swimming Council and the Canterbury Swimming Association on the action they have taken, and knowing the full facts of the League control, neither swimming body need have any misgivings. 1 am, of course, basing my opinion on the local position, and the League authorities here comprise amateurs that are just as enthusiastic as those on the swimming Centres. It savours of a forlorn hope when one hears the mis-statements that arc being circulated.

The South Africans' reputation of being the luckiest side that has ever toured this country was not maintained at Swansea yesterday (December 26), when the Welsh side were victorioue by one try to nil, says an English writer. .Swansea went on the field with an unbeaten certificate, but they had difficulty in finding a side, for amongst those unable to play were Jack Bancroft, Willie Davis, Alt Thomas, Bryn Lewis, the Rev. AJan Davies, and Dicky Owen. They were forced to play a forward in the three-quarter line, and this circumstance, added to the fact that one of their three-quarters was off the lipid for a portion of the se'eond half, makes the victory of the Swansea team all the more meritorious. But they had what up to date has been South Africans' luck. They certainly had the better of the first half, bnt the South Africans were almost continually on the attack in the second half But tribute must be paid to the magnificence of the Swansea defence. Every man -was a stone or ho lighter than his opponent, and, indeed, the Springboks have not ibeen up against a lighter side this season. The visitors certainly had plenty of chances in the second half, but they failed to take them, and on that account alone deserved to be beaten.

The ground was in terrible condition, rain having fallen in Swansea for several days, but the home team were as much affected by the conditions as the Africans, for Swansea depended exclusively upon open play. I am one of those who beli-ve that Swansea would have won had the ground been hard. They were sadly overweighted, but they were as clever in attack as the Springboks, and their defence was better. What is more, thefir tactics were superior. I have seen the Spring--boks in. the majority of their matches, and say at once that they have never played (better than yesterday. They had their full international side out. with M'Hardy on the wing in place of Mills, and in winning Swansea have accomplished the best performance of the season. The South Africans were not stalp, as had been suggested. The idea is really absurd. What has been proved is this: Had their fixtures been with club sides instead of against scratch county teams, their record would not have been anything like as good as it is. They were no more than equal with

Swansea at forward, but there were times when their backs handled' with more accuracy. But the play of the Springboks in the main was stereotyped. The pity was that the conditions were not favourable, for then a game would have Ibeen seen that would have been worth going miles to see.

The attendance was remarkable. Despite a deluge of rain, a real hurricane, and a tidal wave in the hay, there was a crowd of over 30,000. Had the day been fine it is certain the gates would have had to be closed long before the kick-off. Unfortunately the game was not a nice one. For the incidents that occurred the Africans were responsible, and the forward who makes faces at the crowd ought really to know hetter. Such tactics only make for trouble. There were other things the Springboks did yesterday that were regrettable. They have not created the same good impression as the 1906 team did, and they will not leave the same sort of memories ibehind.-T.CW., in "Sporting Life."

It ie officially announced that the gate receipts for the Wales v. South Africans match at Cardiff amounted to £1,370. The record takings at an international match in Wales ie £2,867. This wae on the occasion of the South (African game at Swansea on Decemibei 1, 1900. The next largest gate wae in 1904, v. Ireland, at Swansea, £2,650. In view of the wretched weather the attendance ie regarded by bhe union membere ac eatiefactory.

The famous argument of payment for loss of time, which is alwaye with us in New Zealand, hae been revived in England by the English internalona-1, R. W. Poulton, advocating payment' for "broken time.' To this the "Athletic News" makes reply:—"The old Oxonian, if he be a logician at all, may be able to pen an article convincing to those who are ac unfamiliar ac himself with what 'broken time' means, and what it may lead to. It may seem to them very good sentiment to suggest -that the poor working man cannot afford time to spend playing football—that it ie hard linee he should be out of pocket for his pains. The old problem of professionalism is merely opened up afreah. Men may argue till Doomsday on this subject, and still get no further forward. Two aesertione will alvraye be made—(l) Professionaliem ie good and reasonable; (2) amateurism ie likewise good and reasonable; but there can be no medium. The one or the other, but no 'broken time.' Let R. W. Poulton call in at come gathering of the Northern Rugby Union—he will be made wplcome—and cock the opinions of the older officials of Hint body regarding 'broken time.' He will be told how impce&ible is the plan; how it ie merely the beginning of a proce«e which produces never ending abuses. 'Broken time' and 'enforced employment' were tried by the Northern Union. The favourable arguments in each case eecmed reasonable, but they would not work — any more than the playere!—and so out-and-out professionalism was happily legalised. Amateurs there stil! are in the Northern Rugby Union, but there are no 'broken time , men! There is no 'broken time' in any recognised amateur eport that we know of ra thie country, and wp were decidedly surprised to read the Poultonian sentiments. They wpre surely written without any consideration of circumstances; for so many other sporte are involved besides Rugby football a* to make a general system of paymente in the latter sport a.bsolutely impossible."

The English critics are eiow to recognise ability in colonial touring teame, n.nd, if recognising, are prone to withhold nraise until the conviction i<3 forced upon them. It wae co in the case of the All Blacks, who were a long time in forcing their merits on English writers of the game, although one knows that every opportunity wae nfforded. Tt wae co in the cnee of the Smith Africans of 1906, rind has again been exemplified in the r.iep of the South Africans of this season of grace. Only after the defeat of Scotlinrl. Ireland, and Wales did the English cities admit supervoritv in the South Africans, and then in their haste to do iivstice so belated they ran to extremes. For instance, after the match against Trpliind we find them describing the Springboks' forwards as "immenee." the half backs "unnaturally cleaver," the three-quarters "flyers to a man." Morkel. the full back, is described as being wonderftrl —not a showman, but cool and sure. The whole side wae tie nearly «c possible perfect. "Aβ great a side as we Ira re pver seen." cays one paper; "und this is said with a full and .intimate knowledge of the New Zpalanders. Firward they can do everything and anything; their strength, 'height, thp-ir hard play, their speed astonished tHe spectators."