FOOTBALL NOTES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10012, 16 April 1898, Page 2

FOOTBALL NOTES.

[Br Dropkicx.] .. , | : " Weekly Press aad Referee." \{ The weather ia Chrietchurch was- fine ; ,- for' Saturday's matches, but a*etrong norV. west wind was blowing, which made a> good exhibition of back play almost, impossible* «_ The annual match between the MerivluV and Alhambra Oluba was played at the North Park, but the football shown watvery poor, the forwards having possession of the ball almost from start to finish. At times the backs attempted passing, but the high wind or fumbling caused their efforts in thie direction to be resultless, and the chief features of the play were scramblingforward rushes, in which the home team usually carried' the day. For Merivale, Voyce played a safe gaifte at full-back. He did not have much tackling'to do, but his kicking was good. M'Cree, .. the centre three-quarter, made a few good runs, and his defence was good; and the same remarks apply to P. Henzies, on th/ 5 wing. Morland handled the ball with greater certainty than was his custom last season, and he also kicked well. Bird and Forbes, at. half and five-eighths respectively, were good at stopping rushes, and the former made some dodgy runs, but he was inclined to hold on to the ball too long. Drake and Johnstone, on the wing of the scrummage, started some good dribbling rushes, and bbth were smart on getting down on the opposing backs. The forwards , all played up well in the first spell,, but in tue second term they tired a good deal, although .they fairly held their own through* out. There was "not much to choose in this division, but Bush, Fraser, Breaker, and Marriner were perhaps the best of ap even lot. . .. . ~.*.•" For Alhambra, Dodds, at full-bacfc, played a safe game until he was JcnocKed , . out towards the close of the first spell, and M'Cree, the Merivale captain, allowed llose, to take his place. Stepbenson was tne, pick of the turee-quarters, making some > smart, dodgy runs, and his kicking «w tackling were also good. The other three* • quarters did not have niuch work t0 *>• Mason played a clever game at five-eighths, his kicking frequently getting hie side out of difficulties, while Webber, at half, showed - sound defence. The forwards lacked com* bination, but at times Hobson.Given and Watson made some good dribbling rushes. The game was played in the best of spmt, and Mr* Hiddlestone's decisions as referee appeared to give universal satisfaction. A strong nor'-west wind, a ground from which the dust with little provocation ro» in clouds, and players in but second-rote form, are elements not conducive to goo? football. These conditions prevailed on Easfer Saturday, when the Dunedin Union and the Linwood First Fifteens met on Hagley Park. Since the opening of the eeasor. in Christchurch the weather has not been of a. football character, which is come excuse for the form displayed by Linwood, and as they showed superior to that of their opponents the con- , elusion suggested is that Dunedin has not afforded any better facilities. The game - - was very much to the advantage of the home - team, for comparatively speaking their paw '■ t ing, tackling, and following up were tbe better, but their forward, dribbling, and line work were inferior. Under all the existing circumstances, however, it is well nob to be - too critical of the performance, which m*J lead to something better in the near future. • In glancing over the teams engaged there „ ■ are not many members who shoae very con- - spicuously above their confreres. Of the (&>f who did J. O'Brien, Orchard, Ormandy and . Fanning for Linwood are deserving of mention. The two first-n*med, McClenahan, gave one or two. decent exhibitions of passing, while the othefr two were the best *~ in the loose, forward work, and E. O'Brien successfully filled the dual position of fullback and place-kick. Of the vanquished team the Stewarts were best among the forwards, and Stalker played a creditable three-quarter back game. Lumb's place-kicking was also good, though somewhat unlucky. In the pack, and on fcne ; . line, the visitors more than held their cwn, ■ but failed when the ball began to move among the backs and in the looee. c The Auckland "Special" of this journal ;: wire3:—Some of the football clubs hold ..'; practice matches next Saturday, and the new .- ' comer who will rtwnjr*. * Pwnell* senior J team is F. A. Lawe ,' i- waited Auckland ,£ last month with the Kawke c Bay cricketers. <£ Lawes is an ex-Wellington rep., and played in the match against Auckland last season. % Parnell have decided to purchase a piece o , v .;p. ground, and. build a gymnasium and duf , igji room. The dob has raised over £80 in sub- •■ ;r|i|j scriptions, and they intend to supplement this with another £50 from their funds. ' i^p The following officers tuwtoen appointed^j|p|

by the Greytown Football Club for the engine season:—Patron, Mr J. V. Fviis<sen; president, Mr C. Rogers; vice-presidents, fklessri Hart, Udy, Izard. Beard, and Tullv: secretary.' Mr A. L. Webster ; treasurer, Mr (J. Beard: captain, Mr E. Udy: rireraptain, Mr hi. Haigh; matdi committee, Messrs Webster. G. W. Nicol ami -I. McUmre . auditor. Mr W. A. Tate: custodian. Mr T. J. Wright: delegates to Union, Mesas Webster, Haigh »nd Duff. The Napier "Special" of this journal writes: —The Hawke's Buy Rugby union held their annual meeting on Wednesday night, when there was a good attendance. Mr F. Logan was re-elected president, and the position of selector of teams, that he was filled for »o many years, again fell to his let. The other officers appointed were: —Hon. secretary, Mr H. C. Wilson: lion, treasure/. Mr S. Fleming: finance committee. Messrs Mitchell. Swan, Hallomore, and Wilson, managing committee. Messrs Allen, Fleming. Swan. Logan, and Wilson; classification committee, Messrs Fleming. Logan, Wilson. gwan, and Mitchell; delegate to Sports Protection Committee, Mr G. Fleming. It was decided that the weekly meetings of tne Union be held on .Saturday evenings. *: satisfactory arrangements can be made a junior representative team will be chosen to play outside teams during the season. Referring to the international Kugby match between Scotland and Ireland aLondon paper gays: The collapse of Ireland in the second half was certainly not expected, but the «ame thing has been seen often before, and a team that has played with conspicuous ability against a strong wind in the first moiety of a game has gone completely to nieces in the second portion, and after flattering its supporters with the idea of achieving a brilliant victory a bitter defeat has been the result. This was just exactly what happened on Saturday. Ireland shaped splendidly from the start to the interval. The forwards put in some dashing work, and if the backs did not distinguish themlelves too greatly, they did not make any mistakes. The tackling was keen, and the Scotchmen were completely baffled in their efforts to break through the line of defence. The attack was kept up without intermission, and the gallant manner in which Ireland resisted the strong Scotchmen was very encouraging to the supporters of the green jersied warriors. When ends were changed most people anticipated that the Irishmen would simply romp through their opponents, and preparations were made for cheering. But there was no opportunity to indulge in any shouts of joy, for the Scotch forwards began to play a game which had its effect in demoralising the front rank of the Shamrock wearers, and when there were only ten minutes to play, so utterly helpless had the Irishmen become that T. Scott had no difficulty in running in a grand try. This Scotch success roused the Irish to a great pitch for a few minutes, and they really made an effort to get on terms, but they had shot their bolt; they were completely beaten, for, lacking stamina, they failed to keep up the bold front, and Tom Scott again getting possession ran in a second try, and thus put the last straw on the Irish backs. To see such a complete change in the game in the last ten minutes was galling to the bulk of the spectators, and no doubt plenty of fault will be found with the team. True, the forwards were not quite so dashing in the second half, but they played a rattling game in the first portion, and one can only account for their poor show after the interval to lack of condition. There was nothing like the devil in their tactics which was seen at Richmond, and even there the great rushes which have been a characteristic feature of Irish forward play for many years were not so desperate. The other evening (says a recent Sydney paper) at a meeting of the Metropolitan Rugby Union, a speaker stated that professionalism was creeping into the game of football, and, although there were indignant denials, it is impossible to say that the statement was not true. Acts of professionalism are, of course, difficult to prtove, except by those who are parties to them, and who obviously would be the last to loosen their tongues on the subject. But it is clear to any observant person at all in touch with the football world that professionalism does exist. In some cases undoubtedly it takes the gross form of cash payments to players Saturday after Satur-. day: but more frequently men play for clubs whose officials can get them the best billets in civil life, and, before the beginning of every season, these people may be found hawking their services round the town. Worse than this, however, the New South Wales Rugby Union has given its sanction to acts of professionalism. When the representative team to meet New Zealand was picked last year, a sum of money was placed at the disposal of the selectors to provide training for the players, and subsequently the Council decided that when an intercolonial team visited another colony, cacu player should receive an allowance of 6t per day. In strict equity this may be all right, but technically it is all wrong. The New South Wales Rugby Union, and with it its branches, is affiliated to the English Union, and in the eves of the English) Union the players who profited by these votes of money are professionals. That is to say, all the players who represented the colony last season are professionals, judged by the standard which the English Union has set up, and which the Union her© has nominally accepted. On Friday evening a resolution to tne effect that the Metropolitan branch union should make grants of money to clubs for training purposes was opposed chiefly on the ground that it was "the thin edge of the wedge of professionalism." But the tliin end of the wedge is already there. ~ This is particularly important in view of the contemplated visit of an English team in the near iuture. The English Union has stipulated that the tour shall be conducted on a strictly Amateur basis, and to this the N.S.W. Union has agreed. Ifc would be awkward, therefore, if the visitors were called upon to, meet players whom they, and their anion, regarded as professionals, and difficulties might ensue. As was shown in the recent instance of Gould, the Welsn international, the union at Home is apt to act very strongly where professionalism, direct or indirect, is concerned. It will not tolerate professionalism in any shape or form; and the union here so long as it remains affiliated to the parent body, must not countenance it eittter. If it doea, there will be trouble ahead.