FOOTBALL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XX, Issue 2850, 4 July 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

As the season advances the interest taken in the game of Rugby increases, not only amongst players, but the public generally. It may not bo out of place here to state that at least one of the reasons why so many onlookers are to be found taking quite a deep interest in the play from week to week, is the remarkably good conduct of the players during the game. We have been interested in the srame for upwards of 20 years bstween the Old Country and New Zealand, have witnessed matches between the crack ♦ Varsity bojs, ' from the oultured cities of Britain, as well as between the 'country cow lads' fr^sh from the bogs and the heather, and we have no hesitation in affirming that tho spirit and good feeling shown by ' our boys ' this season surpasses anything we have seen on football fields elsewhere. This is as it ought to be. When ladies and gentlemen visit the scene of athletic games, they wish to see an exhibition of the game, and so long as our footballers play tLe game and stick to the rules, there will be no lack of spectators, and we shall be proud to endorse a sentiment we overheard passing between some onlookers, ' I have not heard a player utter a word today but what I would allow before my family in my own parlour. ' The game on Thursday last was of on exciting character from start to finish, but there was something about it which is very difficult to put on paper. There was some first-class play among the backs, but there Was such a combination of ' all sorts ' in the forward divisions that to desoribe their play would be to libel Rugby; with the exception of a few, the forwards were miserably slow in lining up ; they kicked far too hard in the scrums ; not once did they heel out the ball to their backs, and as for backing up a dribble each player had to do that for himself. Possibly it may bo owing to the want of ' form ' of players, but whatever may be the cause, one of the most noticeable defects among the forwards was their complete failure to rush tho ball after a kick out or a kick off. Three times in succession H. Tanner returned tho ball behind the vice's go d lines. "No forward division, with any pretensions to seniors, should give a ' back ' time to play the last trick. The forwards while individually playing a hard game were out of it altogether so far as combined, all round play was concerned. The backs had a field-day ; it was a backs game from the kick off until the whistle blew no time. The back divisions in both teams were short manned, each side played without centres, . We were pleased to notioe that moat of the baoks profited by oar advice last week and kicked instead of running all over the field. Still we must instil into the mind of every player in this division, that he should never be collared with the ball, When he gets it, he Bhould do one of four things ; run forward and kick j — run forward and pass ;— -paes at once, or lastly, kick at once. A back should always get rid of the ball before he is collared. Not one of the backs played n correct game on Thursday, but with more practice, and paying more attention to our criticism, we have no doubt but that we shall make a good defence when f called on to appear before an Auckland au- : dience in about a month's time. i as our space is limited we shall confine i our individual criticism to a few of our prominent backs. H Tanner, ( Capt, ) as wing i half, did a tremendous amount of work, but » he will not use his feet when running with > the ball ; some 19 times he was collared with > the ball, and almost every time he had an ) opportunity to kick or psss. Of course he • got 3 tries, which may seem to redeem him, r but it was when taking a forward's place on i each occasion thnt he scored, and it con- : firms what has been our opinion for long I enough, that he should play forward, and we have no hesitation in stating that he would be one of the best forwards in New i Zealand, and would be a tower of strength > to a team, a regular demon on the wing, > F. Robertson is the best improved back in ■ the team ; he kicked and collared splendidly, i if he keeps going on he will be a good f l that Frank will have to retire in favour of, ? bnt he must get rid of the ball quicker at t times, and not attempt too much Carbine > work. '• S. Tannar is a consistent all round back, but is just as inconsistent in his persisting to 1 stick to the ball ; if he would only pass be- • foie he is collared when he cannot get his . punr, ho would be a slashing wiug half. i Home made fewer mistakes, but is out of his place at wing. We have no doubt but with a few more practices he will bhow his old form. F. Norris treated the opposing side to some of the finest drop kicks we have seen ; his picking up and tackling were fair, but his weakness is a determination to never pass the ball. On several occasions when he got a good run he failed to kick in time and of course was collared . This player is a splendid kick, and he should remember that ho can drop kick muoh further than the opposing side will allow him to ran. ;

W. Darragh is without doubt a sure collarer, a magnificent kick and about as rough a customer as any in the Club, but he fanoies at times that he can run through the fifteen, and makes the mistake of having to kiss Mother Earth, and lose the chance to kick and the ball to boot. The game ended after a well contested match in favor of the Captain by 13 to 12. The kicking for the arold medal was an improvement on last week's performance ; , the scoring at present stands ;—F. Robertson, 6 points ; S. Darragh, 4 points ; P. Norris, 3 points ; H. Tanner, 2 points ; W. Home, 1 point.