FOOTBALL FACTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL FACTS.

[By Drop Kick.] The curtain was rung down on football as far as Christchurch is concerned on Saturday, when a large number of spectators assembled at the North Park to witness the contest between the Albion and Kotahitanga Maori Clubs. The gam. does not call for any extended criticism, as the natives held the upper hand throughout, and eventually won by 17 points to 5, which about represents the merits of the competing teams. The football exhibited, on the whole, was not- of a very high order, serious mistakes being noticeable on both sides. In their match against N'tu Ahuriri a feature of the northerners' play was the fine manner they handled the wet, greasy ball, but, although the ground was dry on Saturday, fumbling was the most prominent feature of their game, several good chances of scoring being lost through this cause. Gage, however, was an exception, and the way he got possession of the oval and the clever manner he either passed or kicked were fully up to his reputation. Without further individual criticism I may stale that the winners had a lot the best of the opening spell, but in the second term the local players got on some fine dribbling rushes, and the try they obtained was due to Donnelly's clever play. As is usual with mat-lies played on the North Park, the spectators encroached on the field of play, notwithstanding the efforts of several Natives and others, who did their best to keep the spectators behind the lines.

Donnelly, the well known half-back, who has so often represented Canterbury, and who has been residing in the North Island for some time past, has returned to Christchurch, and on Saturday played for the Albion Club against the Kotahitanga Club. I understand he will play for Sydenham next season.

The spectacle of one of the Kotahitanga backs smoking a cigarette at the start of the second spell was not a very edifying one from a spectator's point of view on Saturday.

Craig, who has played full back for the Christchurch Club, and who left recently for the North Island, has returned fsouth again.

It is probable that the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union will abandon their proposed visit to Taranaki and Auckland this season.

The annual match between North Otago and South Canterbury was played at Timaru on Thursday last, when the game resulted in a draw, neither side scoring.

"Our Own Correspondent" writes: —In reply to " Fairplay's" letter in your issue of August 13th, I should say that he could hardly have witnessed the game in question, or on the other hand, if he did, he has written what he must know to be quite opposite to facts. ' I will let his remark about the unfairness of the report pass, for I am sure that the general reader is blessed with more common sense than "Fairplay" appears to be. The report he refers to was full of praise of the fine work of the. Wellington team. With regard to Orchard missing Roache, I still hold that it was the result of- his slipping, as there was not the faintest sign of a dodge in the whole of Roadie's run. To write that the ground was especially dry at the spot shows that the writer knows nothing of his subject, for I defy anybody to say they could have found one square inch of good playing ground on the whole of the playing part of the park. I have the assurance of O'Brien that it was a hole that his foot went into when he fell, and if " Faii-play " had been what he signs himself, he would have quoted mc correctly, instead of unfairly trying to prejudice the readers of my notes. I may, too, say that I was only quoting the remark of a leatherlunged Wellington supporter when I wrote (and as I stated at the time) that the ground was a "frog - pond." With regard to the Canterbury grounds, I might inform " Fairplay " that the C.R.U. can supply a dry ground at any time, wet or fine, and so could the Wellington Union if they would play for the game and not the "gate." The match in question could have been played at Petone,where a better ground was obtainable, and it was well-known on the Friday the state the Athletic Park would be in. There was ample time to change the place of meeting, too. If the Athletic Park was in such grand order as "Fairplay" would wish to make out, why was it found necessary to place large squares of turf at various parts of the ground ?

The football contributor of an Otago country paper writes :—As in former years the old cry has been raised as to the neglect of country clubs by the Otago Union. It is several years now since the Milton Club came to the conclusion that the Union did them no good, and other country clubs also are now fast coming to the same conclusion. Some of these days we will find some enthusiast in the country, who will come forward with a workable scheme, whereby country football may be benefited without help from the Union, but until that time arrives, I suppose we must jog along in the same old groove which we have been traversing for years. One of the chief causes of complaint against the Union this year, has been their failure to carry out the promise made a considerable time back to send a team round the country districts. The excuse put forward was that the tour round New Zealand prevented anything being done thiß season, but surely the Union must admit that the country clubs are entitled to a little consideration, which they certainly do not get at present, the whole attention of the parent body being devoted to the senior clubs in Dunedin. However, it is rather late in the day to hope for anything this season. Perhaps, if we wait for a few years more, something may be done by the Union to encourage football in the country districts.

Emissaries, ambassadors extraordinary, and plenipotentiaries from English olubs are still scouring the Land o' Cakes in quest of the harmless but necessary signatures of players great and small (says an English paper). Which reminds ns of a tale—no fiction, but a true narrative. Some time ago an agent in advance, whom we will call Smirks, representing what was at that lime a crack League club, went north with an open hand and a big fat cheque and was introduced to an individual who was pointed out to him as being So-andSo, of SuchandSuch a place. It whs a difficult job getting the fish within the net, and after blandishments came prayers and entreaties before the man was induced to put pen to paper. The consideration was two crisp five pound not.3, which being pocketed, the new capture lifted up one what-do-ye call-em with the elegance of a Gaiety girl and displayed a icooilen leg ! Th. " tenner" was spent in refreshments.

The English Rugby footballers signalised their advent in South Africa by meeting and defeating a team composed of Cape Town and District players. The weather was fine and the attendance largo. The contest was very even, but the Englishmen secured a victory by one goal, two penalties, and a try, to one penalty and two tries obtained by the home team.