FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8827, 23 June 1894, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

" Weekly Press and Referee."

! FACTS BY 44 DROP KICK." Fine weather was experienced in Christchurch at the latter part of last week, but Saturday broke dull and a heavy •iriz_!e came on at about ten o'clock which increased to such an extent that the postponement, committee of the Canterbury Kuifby Union met, aud decided to put all the matches off. At'houitu some v£ the i matches have beer* play.dlhU seaton on •lamp grounds, Saturday wax the first lime t bis year that tbe rain has put a stop to football in Chri.tchuvch. | Some weeks ago I mentioned in th.sa columns that W. Sutherland, who a few years since was one cf the best forwards in Canterbury, was cot-lined to hia bed with .sickness, aud that he hadbeen ill for some time past. Footballers will l.am with regret that "Su-hy"*—as hi- intimate friends used to call him —is still in a very ! bad way. He is suffering from an attack of dropsy and Bright'- disease, aud ii »o bad that he is almost blind. Mr W. M. Allr-rdyce. the ex-cs.p*-aiu of the Sydenham F.C.* brought tbe matter under the notice of the Canterbury Ritj-.by Union, with the result that that body has generously decided to give the whole of their share of the takings at the gates at Saturday week's matches for Sutherland's benefit, while the Lancaster Park Company have promised to give one half of their share of the takings. The object is a worthy one, nnd it is to be hoped that the public will roll up in force and thus assist to enlarge a badly needed fund. Sutherland, I may state, first joined the Sydenham Club in 1834, and he made such rapid strides in the same that he quickly pot into the club's First Fifteen and before j the scasou closed h*e~"was chosen to repre--1 sent Canterbury againsr O*ago, a match that will ever be memorable from the fact that it was the first time Canterbury scored a win over her southern rivals. Sutherland continued to play for Canterbury up to 1833, when he left New Zealand for Sydney, where played in the big matches.' -He returned to New Zealand last November, but a few weeks arterwards he was laid low with his present illuess, from which, it ia to be hoped he will now soon recover. At a meeting of the Hokitika F.C., held on Juue 9th, the hon. secretary reported that the financial return from the match and ball on the Queen's Birthday showed a profit of £10. The treasurer reported £50 was now available for the proposed Canterbury tour, and the secretary was instructed to ascertain cost of coach fares, &c*. It was resolved to enforce the club's rule that non-financial members be not -elected to play iv matches. Ie was decided to caution memb.ra against misconduct; when travelling, and that any future case* being reported the club shall at once recommend to the Union the disqualification of those responsible for the misbehaviour. In reference to the cable which appeared in the last issue of this journal saying that the New South Wales Rugby Union would pay their own expenses when they visit New Zealand, I notice that at a meeting of tin- N.S. W.R.U., held in Syduey on June 11th, a letter was read from Mr Hoben, who asked, with regard to ternaa, whether New South Wales would give the same as the New Zealanders were allowed when they visited Sydney, or whether the system should he inaugurated of each colony paying the expenses of its team, the proceeds to be bunked in a trust accouuT us a guarantee! of the return visit. On the motion of Mr R. Arnold it wm decided that New South Wales pay their own expenses in New Zealand, the latter Union to take the receipt-), beitix that the New Zealanders come here on a similar arrangement iv 1895. "It is said that since Southland has decided to withdraw from the New Zealand Union Canterbury will probably follow suit, and that therefore both inter-pro. matches will take place as usual." Thus an Otago paper. Howavnr much Canterbury people and her union might wish to sco the time-honoured match with Otago continued, I should say there is no likelihood of the match being played unle.s New Zealand's governing body grants the pertninsion asked for. And I feel sure, lookina* at its present constitution, the O.R.U. will not secede from the N.Z.R.U. as suggested. The Hon Sec of thp. New Zealand Rugby Union has addressed the-following letter to various Northern Ru_rby Unions :— 4 'You will remember that lasf*year it was proposed that the- South Canterbury Union nhould be invited to visit the northern Unlays aa of its loyalty to the \wcw -J^ralarid''Union una-r somewhat difficult circumstances, and it was futber understood that the various Unions should assist with the proportion of gate money, or a definite guarantee towards the finance of the tour. The South Canterbury Union was compelled to postpone its vi.it until this seasoo, but tbe Union has intimated to us that it would like to send its team north as far a* Auckland during July and Auaust. Kindly let mc know whether you would like a match arranged for your Union and what assistance you can give the South Canterbury Union under the exceptional circumstances." At a meeting of the management committee of the Marlborough Rugby Union, held in Blenheim on Juae 12th, letters were read from the Hawke's Bay and Manawatu Rugby Unions in reply to communications from the M.R.U. in respect to the latter body's pronosed northern tour. The Hawke's Bay Union said they were unable at present to fix a date, as they were waiting a reply from Auckland re the date of their annual match. They ' could, however, promise the Marlborough players a warm welcome and expressed their willingness to give the net takings at. the g&te for expenses. Tbe Manawatu Union also wrote saying they could not give a date afc present. Messrs* L. Griffiths, Carmine and the secretary were appointed a sub-com-mittee to arrange details of the northern tour. In connection with the tour of the South Canterbury Rugby Union it was decided to guarantee 3J15 towards tbe expenses of a match to be played in Bleu heim, and to suegest to the New Zealand Union that the match should be played either on a Wednesday or on a Saturday. A letter from the Nelson Union was read, asking when a v.3lt from a Marlborough team could be expected. After discus-ion it was decided to reply that Nelson owed Marlborough a visit, and if they would send a team the M.R.U. won Id arrange a return match to be played at Nelson during their northern tour, which would probably be at the latter part of August or early in September. The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union have decided to arrange their match with South Canterbury to fit. in with the Northern trip of the Hawke's Bay representatives. George Lusk the ex-New Zealander, scored the firAt9of the 12 points cot by the Pirates against Paddington at Sydney on June 2nd. He led off by getting a try and kicking a goal from it. Then he kicked a beautiful goal from a mark at a very difficult angle. An occasional correspondent writing from Danevirke, Hawke's B_y, tells of a rather curious occurence which happened in a match between a Waipa wa team and the Danevirke Pirates, which was played at Danevirke last week. One of the Pirates, Wareham, got a try for the home team* *nd the ball was placed for Goodall to take the kick at goal. Just as he was going to kick, however, the ball rolled over, so he (Goodall) picked up the leather, and before the charging forwards could reach him he dropped a goal. The referee very properly disallowed tbe goal, and rhe 3 points for the try alone were counted. The match was won by Waipawa by a dropped goal and a try 17 points) to a try. My correspondent adds: —"There has been a splifc in football circles recently, some of the members ot the Danevirke Club being dissatisfied with something (the management I presume) and they have put their feelings into a practical form by starting another club, the Pirates. The new combination's match against -Waipawa produced a tough struggle, and perhaps the old club can be pardoned for being glad at the defeat the Pirates ' sustained, as -bey would not amalgamate to play a foreign match." A cable from Sydney says:—Owing to the difficulty of obtaining leave of absence none of the University team will be included in the tour of the Ne\r South Wales football team through New Zealand. A correspondent sends an English paper the following extract from the North China Herald :— 44 Western civilisation is advancing apace, its latest development being an exhibition of Association football on the sandbank in front of Icbang City. The sides were the Er*k v. The (Ichang) World, and it was an excellent game, very eyen, and well contested for the whole game, except for five minutes, when the sailors went to pieces, and their opponents put on three goals. The crowds that assembled were in the bentof temper*), and their ground was easily kept clear by a few volunteer foreigners; Ooce the natives understood what was wanted they became perfectly tractable and entered into the spirit of the gams wi*h great ze«t. and wsmed to enjoy the ridiculou. element |rr.*Tien<ely." It is frequently the custom at Crouch

End (says an exchange) to hive a match between smail schoolboys before the greater match is played. When they have finished their g.tne iheyouugaters proceed to criticise the older players with great naivete, and are apparently cf opinion that the Crouch End authorities might introduce some of them into the team with advantage. On S-turday when Calderhead, the Notts centre half back, who is by many considered to ba quite up to interna' ionnl form, had made a shot at goal and failed, one of these youthful critics threw himself on the grouud lv disgust, and observed to a friend: '* Well, by Jingo, if I was to play like that they'd kick ma out of ruy team afore I knew where I was." Anotheryoung-*t«r remarked : 4 *N'**w what I always says about the Crouch Ead forwards "is they has no more combination than a sack o' br»aus, and if I had my way I'd 'ire a professional to show 'eoi'ow to do it." A listener ventured to say: 44 G*rn, professionals ain't all combination—look at these 'ere Notts men." The first speaker admitted that he did not think much of them himself, but added: 4 * Y*see they ain't got no call to cbmbinate now—thia ain't uo cup tie, and, what's more, they aiu't no first-league team."