FOOTBALL FACTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 3

FOOTBALL FACTS.

[By Drop Kicx.]

"Weekly Press and Referee." A. E. White, captain of the Merivale had the misfortune to have his collar bone broken when playing in a scratch match between tlie Merivolo and Linwood 01u__ on- S_-.fci*-_rc-3.-_~_ -It -will _>es rcraember-cl he ___n-=t -wi-l- -»- -si___._!-_-_- _*x_*__*_»__i_ -w-_te-_ -playiog -Tor G-i*__.t:erl>-t-ir T - -__g-__i*_-»G _VXa,cia.-w-itx_ l-tst> I I ||i;i 111 •-. ]...^.|l'm»fWH. August. White tells mc he will now the game up. I am informed that Christ's College, who have entered for the President's Cup this season, will put a stronger team in the field than has been the case for some seasons past. -The College will not take part in any other of the Rugby Unions' competitions, but will play their annual match with Dunedin High School. In. Webber the Merivale Club have a halfback who promises to fill the position more satisfactorily thaD has bean the case since Cook plaj'ed for the club. Webber uses his head well and usually beats his opposing half before he attempts to pass. Movland, who last season played for .canterbury College, has joined the Merivale Club and will play wing three-quarter in the senior team.

The annual match between the Sydenham and Melrose (Wellington) will be played at Sydenham Park on Saturday. Christchurch and Wellington also meet in Christchui-ch on Saturday, the North Park being the convincing ground. Saunders, who last season played forward for the Linwood Club, has decided to give up the game. The Merivale Club appear to have a good lot of-forwards this season, judging by Saturday's game, when they fairly outplayed the Linwood pack. The team does not appear to be particularly formidable behind the scrummage and in White's absence they will be even weaker. White will be greatly missed as captain. Orchard played a rattling game at threequarter back for Linwood on Saturday and I hear he will play in that position throughout the season. Daniels took Orchard's old place at full-back on Saturday and performed very creditably. I hear that P. Hobbs has thrown in his lot with the Christchurch Pootball Club.

W. Macnamara, who played but seldom last season, was amongst the Linwoood forwards on Saturday, and he showed that his temporary absence has not caused him to lose any of his old form.

The hon. secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union, who is responsible for the compilation ot the " Annual," will have the volume out in a day or two so as to enable players to be acquainted with the new rules before the various competitions start. A North Canterbury Rugby Union has been formed on the same lines as the Union on the Peninsula.

Pohio ? the vice-captain of the defunct N'tu Ahuriri team, and also another member of tbe same club, have thrown in their lot with Albion arid were playing against Sydenham in a scratch game on Saturday last. -. . "-"Price,-■;'^pta_n---'bf' : -','the'-'' , Reps, at the latter end of last season, and who sustained an injhry to his 'ankle while practising a week or so back, will, he tells mc, be able to play on Saturday week for his club, Linwood. Young Chalmers, of the East Christchurch Club, who was picked to practice for the Rep. games last season, has joined Merivale, Sydenham, in view of the match against? Melrose on Saturday, played a scratch with whom they defeaied;- -x notice J. Donnelly Rowing he will;, no doubt,.;.be % -great'help to the suburban team. : -'.'.•■■ ,; ; '••-.■. ".'■' ' '■■■': '* : '" ■"•■

it is not at all probable that Lorimer will play this season. This is indeed a pity, as he was a very useful man to the province. I mentioned some few weeks back that R. Waddell, of the Sydenham Gliib, .would:* return to New Zealand shortly. He arrived last week, but, owing to "his having crashed his right foot rather badly on the voyage out, he will not be able to play this season. ' ... The East Christchurch Club's secretary wired to Wellington last week saying his club was unable to send a team to the Empire city to meet the Poneke Club. The Albion Club,. I hear, are sending a team to meet Poneke Second in Wellington during thl holidays.

A. Mason, who played half-back for Otago last season, left Dunedin for Wellington on Thursday last, and it is said he will? play for the Melrose Club this season.

Playing for the Cardiff (2nd) XV. against thePenarth(2nd)XV. R. M. Elliott (ayounger brother of the Cardiff captain) scored eight tries. This, however, is not a record (says a Loudon -writer) as 1890 furnished a score of twelve tries from one player, who also placed three goals and dropped a fourth. In 1893 a youth named Thompson gained ten at Ripon. The Auckland " Special" of this journal wires:;—The Auckland Rugby Union are making an effort to get the public schools under their wing this season, and have issued a circular with reference to the competition. They purpose providing for the school players, which will carry a trophy;

The annual Association match between. Oxford and Cambridge was playpd at the Queen's Ground, London, on February 20th, when the former gained an unexpected win by one goal to love. On the whole the Can tabs had the best of the play, but their goal-kicking was very weak and they lost several chances of scoring. On the same day the annual Association match between England and Ireland was played at Nottingham, when England won easily by 6 goals to nil. Of the 16 matches played between these teams, England has won 15 and the remaining contest resulted in a draw.

The international Rugby match between Scotland and Ireland was played at Edinburgh on February 20th, when the home team won by 2 goals (one penalty) to a try. This was the twentieth match between these teams and' Scotland have won 16, while Ireland have twice been successful and two matches have been drawn.

A fortnight ago "menticn was made in this journal of a referee being mobbed at Cardiff on the occasion of the match between the Newport and Cardiff Clubs. From later papers to hand I notice that, at a meeting of the Welsh Rugby Union held on February 22nd, it was decided to close the Cardiff ground until the end of March. In consequence of the stand taken by the International Board in connection with the Gould Testimonial, the Welsh Rugby Union has decided to withdraw from -the former body. The Newport Club has also decided to withdraw from the English Rugby Union, to which body the club was affiliated before the Welsh Rugby Union was formed.