FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 247, 11 July 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY.

(By Aristobulcs.)

THE BRITISH TEAM.- , RESULTS OF MATCHES. - o 3 . a - rt -a ' * ' B-.-O .. g 2 ..... -w j? te ' ? Q Wairarapa Bush . \..\Yl 3 1 — Wellington ... ■ ... 13 19 — 1 — Otago ... ... 6 9 — 1 — Southland ... ... 14 8 1 — — Test Match .... ... 5' 32 — 1. — S." Canterbury' .12 6 1 —- — Canterbury.,' ... : 8 13 — 1 — West Coast and Buller 22 3 1 —. — Nelson and Marlborough 12 0 1 — — Second test •••":',■ ••• - 3 3 — ; — -, 1 Hawko's'Bay ... ... 25 3 1 — — Poverty' Bay :... ... : 26 0 1 — —. Manawatu and Horowhonua .■' ; ... 12 3 1 : — — : . Totals ... ...175 102 8 4 1 REMAINING NEW ZEALAND FIXTURES. To-day—Wanganui Union, at Wanganui. Wednesday, July. 15—Taranaki .Union;', at. Now Plymouth; . Saturday, July 18—Auckland , Union, ( at Auckland. ; Saturday,' July 25—Third Test Match, at 'Auckland... : .. AUSTRALIAN FIXTURES. Wednesday, August 5-r-New South Wales., f . Saturday, August \Br-Team .for England. ~ Wednesday; August .12—Western'District. Saturdaly, August :15—Metropolitan Union. "■ Wednesday, August. 19—Northern '' ■ Saturday, August,-22—Now.' South Wales... Wednesday, 'August' 26—Queensland. • :' Saturday,. August-2S—Queensland., . Wednesday, September : 2—.Queensland. ' REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. . To-day,—Auckland v; Thames, at Auckland. : . July, 15.'—W'airarapa Thursday Union v. Wellington Wednesday ropreseiitativo team, at Wellington. ; -. July 16.—North Otago v. South Canter-' bury, at Timani. : • r : . : July ,18.—Auckland B v. Waikato, at Auckland. ', - July 23.—South Canterbury v.i Wairarapa, at Timaru. -'J . July 25.—Franklin v. Auckland B, at Auckland, Wairarapa v. Canterbury", at Christchurch. " ■■ \ July 29. —Wairarapa v. Southland, at Invorcargill, South 1 Canterbury v. Manawatu, at Palmerston North. ; ' August I.—Auckland v.'South Canterbury, at Auckland.. ■' August 5. —Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill. August 6.—South Canterbury v. Taranaki,at New Plymouth.'. . . , ' ' • ' August B.—Auckland v. - Marlborough, at, Auckland, South Canterbury v. Wanganui, at Wanganui.. - • > August 12.-VWelilngCqu. •fe.'-'&nth'.VCanter-' bury,, at Wellington;.' v., ■. •: .• - , August l3.—SSuth -'Canterbury v. Ashburton, at Ashburton August 15. —Southland- v. 'Canterbury, at Christchurch,., Auckland, v.' Wellington: at Auckland ' '7 ' J August 19.—Southland'''-v;'' Wanganui, at Wangaiiui. / , August , 20.—.Wollihgton v/ Taranaki, at Now Plymouth.', ' :. v: August -'22.—Auckland v. Thames, at Thames, Southlaud v. Manawatu, at'Palmorston, Wellington v. Wanganui, at Wangaimi,' Horowhenua v. .Wellington B team, at Wellington. v '' . ' August 26. —Southland v. Wellington, at Wellington. • '-, August 29—Auckland v.:Taranaki, South-, land v.- Otago,• at' Dunedin,' Canterbury v. Wellington, at Wellington. September s.—Otago v. • Canterbury, at Christchurch. V ; . '' September -12.—Wellington v. Wairarapa,' at : Wellington, Auckland ,v; Otago, at Auckland.'' . 16—Otago v. Taranaki, at New Plymouth..-. : . , , . , , -. . September. 19.—Otago v. Wellington, at Wellington. V • ATHLETIC—PETONE. LAthletic have been an " in arid out " team this season, and thoy'had one of-their days in on Saturday, whon thoy accounted for Petono, ; s6mewhat to the surprise of followers of the game. There is no gainsaying tho fact that Athletics are a side which are capable of extending the best team in the competition,, but at the same time they-.are just as likely to'be beaten ,by a woak combination when thoy should 1 have an easy win. ' The teairi is young and vigorous, 'with a dashing set of fonvards and a sound rearguard. The whole team shaped well oh Saturday—in fact, the performance wrs" ieasily the best thoy- have given this season'.. ;. . .. Petone plaj'ed a good hard game, especially in the second spell, when they had hard luck in Jnot putting on more, points, but the Athletic, men had tho most loft'in them at the finish. ,Eb. Hales played a gpod solid game at fullback for Athlotics, putting in some excellent line kicking. ■ Tho threo-quartor line, Poole, Gordon; and Evenson,' .was all that could be desired. Even-' son played with considerably more dash than usual, and when lie got the ball'set off for the line as though he wanted to score a try in, spito of tho opposition, which was a decided improvement on his usual style, which . cap. be best expressed, as being half apologetic, for the fact that he has got to trj' and score.' Gordon, despite an injured kneo, played splendidly, and Poole got through a great amount-of'work witl] credit: ' Clark put in a big-afternoon's work at five-eighth 3, and stood up to everything that canio along riri plucky style. ■ Richairdson,'tho diminutive Athletic half, shaped,exQeptionally well in all departments. The way ho drew the attack on to himself when ho gave Evenson a try under tho posts wan a treat.''. Murray, on the wing, was-one.of tho most prominent men ori tnb : field, and; showed a surprising amount: of dash arid-staying-power. A -game or : two ;more' like', last "Saturday's and ho will have to .be .reckoned'with' foi; ropresentitive honours. : • ■ . Th'ero was absolutely no;doubt .about the, effectiveness of.' the Athletic pack; some' of their combined/efforts being as good as anything seen on the Park this season. Wilson, Bell, Kivell, arid Shadbolt were repeatedly to the fore in the smashing rushes of tho Blue arid Black pack, which appears to be trained to'tho minute: Tho Petone backs were not as sound as osual, tho opposition ■ finding several weak spots., M. Ryan v/as called-.upon -repeatedly and. on the whole, acquitted himself with credit. J. Ryan also performed well, but, like House, he was not quite as reliable as usual. Green - got through a lot of -work behind , the. scrum. ' : ': The Petono forwards grafted hard, especially Ready,'.Mngill. Hardham, Knight, and Sullivan, but they had not the combined dash of tho opposition. • ORIENTAL—OLD, BOYS. Oriental and Old Boys both had weak teams in the field at Petone last Saturday. The former- team wero short of Roberts, Thomson, and Mathcson in tho back division, and Hamilton and M'Coll were missing from tlic forwards. Old Boys allowed thoir opponents to score two very easy tries in the first fivo minutes, but after that there was not much to choose between'the two sides, both, of which missed Goveral chances to score in tho Bocond spell.

Drake • and Avory were tho pick of tho Old Boys' forwards. The first-named . followed up ill good stylo throughout t-hecamo, and placed some of the Oriental backs -in trouble moro than once. Ho was also prominent on the • line-out, .from which ho started a couple of passing rushes. Avery was always among tho forward rushes, and was unlucky not to score during the match. . • , , • Alexander and Marchant also , did good work. ' ■ , : Thomson," Dawson,' and Paterson were the best of the back division. Paterson especially played a solid game at centre threequarter. Oriental havo two promising forwards in Warbrick and Tyrol I. Both. did' a lot of good work. AVarbrick broko away from the scrum with tho ball at his feet several times. Tyroll has considerable pace, and took part in passing rnshos. He, however, lost a certain try in the second spell through looking round to pass instead of going alone. Daley, who is a fairly fast forward, was' conspicuous in some of the rushes, but ho showed a tendoricy to got offside. Anderson appeared to lack training. He has a reputation, but did nothing to maintain it on' Saturday. . Heenan is a consistent grafter, and can always ba doponded; on to do his share of tho work. ' His try was the result of a good run ffom the line-out. Sturrock was about the best of . the Oriental 1 backs, and played a nice game at centre , throe-quarter. ! . M'Leod and Gibbons both did useful work at five-eighths. ' • Highefc's , play was patchy, and Collerton at u'mg three-quarter was in trouble" on a couple of occasions. . Verroe-was quite safo-'at full-back. He was; entrusted with : all the place kicking, but only succeeded in sending tho ball over the bar on one occasion; ' PONEKE—SOUTHERN. ' „ ' ;Southern were never;in the hunt in the match' against Poneke. • The younger team made spasmodic dashes,• but Poneke .invariably: wore them down and frequently started loose .rushes, w;hich , swept' tho ' field,. not so much as • a.. result of - the expertness of th e attacking, party, as through the weakness of the Southern defence." ■ . Rush, O'Brien,, Hunter, Trezise, and. Meritiplay - were; conspicuous for; good allround, work, and Gardner, had a day out and put in several , strong gallops, which the St. James men made poor attempts to check. Morris, Mitcbinson, and Flanagan were 'about'the best of the Poneke backs. Magee's love for the ball spoiled his play, and Toohill marred his work by failing to take passes on several occasions. . ST. JAMES - VICTORIA COLLEGE., If Victoria Collego had been able , to place their usual team in the field last Saturday the xontest with St. 1 James would have-been an .interesting', one, but' with only five senior players the Greens could hardly bo expected to make a good showing against St. James; The most noticeable feature of tho game was the passing and running of the St. James backs. Victoria College- had no attacking' men, so' that' their ; opponents ■ wero enabled to. monopolise that branch of the play. In fact;: they fell to ■ striving with each other as to-who; should have the honour of scoring, and. indulged in' moro than tho :usual. amount of talk. ' Bogle, M'Morran, and Prendeville, tho only seniors of the College'rearguard, made a ; valiant' struggle .on , behalf of a losing team. 1 . Defence is M'Morran?s forte,, and he and Bogle were' I ' eqiVally V prtmineiit' in breaking up the Red iand- White-attack. In linekicking . Bogle was especially serviceable. . •;Prendeville did'-his share of defending, and, in. addition; started tho only attempts at'passing 1 rushes , which were mado. All the. St. James backs, were in good form; - since attacking' is undoubtdly their best game. E. ..Itoborts was,' perhaps, tho best, snd 'Thomson,'Neilson, and H. Roberts were also. seen to advantage. ' , There was nothing.surprisingly brilliant,in the forward;game of either side. The ground being dry, the play, was open and: rather in favour of 'the: Red and White pack.... • Oho or two Green attacks wero made, and in. these Curtayrie',' Kennedy, Revell,' Short, and 'W. Tudhope were tho leaders. ; Individual play rather than good combination distinguished tho St: James pack: Indeed, their opponents, though mostly juniors, and players who had not. practised "together, gavo a better display of concerted wort. The most, prominent Red and Whites were Bruce, Manning, and Perry. . MELROSE—WELLINGTON. ■ As anticipated, Melrose defeated Wellington at Miraraar on Saturday. The ground was in a greasy state, with the consequence that play was chiefly confined, to the .forwards. ..... : It,must bo admitted that in the first spell .Wellington put up a good fight, and wero unlucky in nots'adding to their- score- by Malfroy missing a, very easy penalty, immediately in front of their opponents' goal. As it was, the spell ended with Molroso leading by only three points. In tho second half, . howevor, Wellington faded-away, and lot their opponents cross their lino repeatedly. The kicking of George Spencer at'fullback was a particular feature of the game, and his tatikling. was also very sure. Of • tho other Melrose backs,* Murphy and Greeks were prominent, especially Greeks, whose work : near tho scrum was a decided help to his side. J. Spencer lod all tho Melrose forward rushes, and his two tries were the result of some capital play. De Blois and P. Murphy were also responsible for some'good forward play.: The Wellington backs were'' sadly out of form. Sheridan did not maintain his reputation at full-back, his handling of the ball being very faulty. Lawrence and Abcrcrombie, were the only backs to display any dash at all. Wilson worked very hard in the vanguard, and was ably assisted by Carey. The Canterbury-Wairarapa match will be played at Lancaster Park on Saturday next. Albion (Christchurch) havo not lost a match this season. They have scored 69 points, and 6 have been put up against .them. Sydenham ai;e ruuners-up. "All Black" Glasgow, who.is a member of the Star Club, the leading team in Southland/is reported to have re-attained.his best form.. "On Wednesday last," .observes the '"News," he' led' the Star ' forwards in all departments of .the game, attracting the admiration of friends arid-foes alike. ' In the southern province; he is considered to have a rosy chance, of being' included in the New Zealand. team for the.third, "test." , ' A ' correspondent, writing from' Mendip Hills, under date July 6, saysi—"A most 'exciting'match: was played at Spotswood on Saturday last between the Leader and Cheviot Clubs, resulting in a draw, neither side scoring. . For the. Leader, Rutherford and Pocklington played best-, and for Cheviot M'Adam and Arnst showed good form. 1 Mrs; Robinson and Miss Rutherfo cl provided afternoon tea for tho spectators, who numbered about ono hundred and fifty." ; Go where you will in England in Rugby circles, and you will find tho New Zealand team of 1905 unpopular (writes G. V. Portus, •tho New South' Wales Rhodes scholar, in tlio "Sydney Referee"). Men who played . against them, men who watched them, and :the proprietors of the - hotels whore, thoy stayed, nave'all more of criticism than praiso ■for tho ..silver fern men of two years ago. Various reasons/are advanced/as the cause 'of this. People say it was their stylo ofplay, in .which case the blamo is to the English referees for allowing it. Others maintain that the team starting with such'phenomenal wins and achieving such wonderful records began to get big-headed off tho field and on. And one prominent English International, with whom . I was discussing tho question, remarked that ' he thought much

of their bad reputation was duo to jealousy. For 'myself, I am inclined to think tliero is an element or this last naturo in tlin opinions freely given about them. And yet for tho Springboks of 1906 men havo nothing but praise. Also, I think, tho subsequent re-appearanco of some of tho All Blacks as professionals is responsible for tho wliolo of the present feeling. I daro say that in New Zealand there is much to say on the other side of the question'; but I only toll you what is my experience, and I write all this to show you in what a curious position tho Now South Wales team of 1908 will be. It will be a test to see if Colonial Australian footballers are to be popular and well-regarded by Englana or not. .

Tho following paragraph (which appeared in the Auckland "Weekly News") throws some light on the action of tho Auckland Union in urging that tho team to represent New Zealand in tho third "test" should be selected at Auckland"With regard to tho selection of tho second team, Mr. D. Gallaher, of Auckland (0110 of the selectors) has complained that iio was ignored when it camo to the final choosing of the side. He had, ho said, travelled to Wellington, and also to Dunedin, this season'in connection with the picking of tho first test team, and when ho found that business would prevent another visit to Wellington he wired to Mr. Kelly, ono of the selectors, explaining his inability to attend, and suggesting that Mr. Humphries, of Taranaki, be asked to fill his place. Mr. Humphries was unable to accept the position, and it' was then offered to Mr. F. S. Murray, of Auckland, but he also was unablo to allow himself to bo appointed. Ho then received a wire from Mr. Kelly to the effect that his co-selectors were anxious for his attendance at the inter-Island match. He again wired that he could not go, and atthe same time suggested a team for selection. To this communication, ho had received no reply, neither had lie had a single line' from his co-selectors, since, and he considers he has been treated in a. very discourteous manner, and is sending-a protest to Wellington'regarding the matter. His suggested: selection, he'considers superior to that finally chosen to represent New Zealand." WALLACE'S RECORD. A SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT. At the present juncture, when a national testimonial.-fund ,is being raised on behalf of W: J. Wallace,'] who has definitely retired from the field, the record of tho largo number of important matches in which he has played and of tho points which he has scored during the whole of his Rugby career will be reau with especial interest. Following are the figures:— As a New Zealand' Representative;.-

' COUNTRY NOTES. CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS. Following are the., records of the seiiior teams in tho Wairarapa championship coinpetition won by Carterton:'— ; la J2

. Masterton (retired). : The Carterton Club, which has .won tho Senior Rugby championship • in- the Wairarapa this year, has been tho most prominent football organisation in the Valley district. during tho past' eight years. The senior fifteen has won tho championship on many occasions, and, in ' addition, has brought out somo very good players, notablv L. Armstrong and Archie M'Minn, both of whom represented. New Zealand when our men established the first clean slate record in Australia since the days of the '84 combination. Cadwallader and E. and J. M'Kenzie are also well-known players who have established rather more than a local reputation. This year's Carterton team-had a number of very serviceable'players. Tlioy were .nearly all powerful young fellows, but they neglected the fino aggressive points'of the game too much, and consequently their exhibitions were not so brilliant as they might have beon. Their most brilliant bacit was V. Fairbrother, wing-three-quarter, who is very fast, and with plenty of scoring ability. N. M'Kenzie and Groube were very good . defensive backs, as wero tho Mason brothers, but all seem to lack in a great degree tactics which go towards constituting tho art of Rugby. It will bo seen, however, by the record that as the team scored 124 points, and had only 19 points scored against it that it was a much superior combination to any of tho teams which opposed it. Amongst a good class of forwards fino work was done by 0. Cadwallader, H. M'Kenzie, Levick, and Henderson. THE WAIRARAPA REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. The Wairarapa representative team which has been selected to tour the South Island

is a fairly strong forward combination with ail exceedingly weak back division. V. Fairbrother, one of the wing-three-quarters who was picked and is unable to make tho journey, would have given tho three-quarter lino an element of aggressiveness. A\ith the. exception of Adams (half-back), and O'Leary (five-eighths), the backs aro very much ill tho position of triers, who have yet to prove their intrinsic -worth. Amongst the forwards, It. M'Kcnzio (a dashing winger), Wickens, Brenchley, Ross, and Levick should; do good work. Henderson is, comparatively speaking, a loose player of more than ordinary merit. M'Carthy is spoken of as a very good front-ranker. Mason has been probably selected as' either a back or a forward. He is a. very useful player,- whose great fault is inability to pass the, leather. Barry, who is selected as 0110 of tho emergency forwards, is energetic, and plays good football. He is rather small, however, for a representative forward team. Taking everything into consideration, tho team mil surprise its sup- ; porters if it wins more than one match on the tour. ' '

|§ 1 1 | I 1 , • | ° pi IVJ s | 1 B.O £ £ g £ With "All Blacks" 30 75 2 3 0 257 In.Australia ... . S 37 , 0 5 2 121 In New Zealand ... 0 0 0 / 1 0 3 ." . 83 112 2 9 2 381 • . As a Wellington Representative. , 1897 ... 0 0 1. 0 1 8 1899 ... 0 1 0.0 0 2 1901 4 7 1 2 0 36 1902 1 0 0 0 0 ; 3 1904 ... > ... ... 9.4 0 1 0 33 190 ... ' 4 6 1 1 0 31 1907,... ... ... 0 0 0 1 Of 3 1908 ... v ... " .... . 0 1 0 0 0 2 . ' ' .' ' ' '' ' 18 19 3 5 1 123 As ia North Island Representative. 1902 ..; ... ■... 0 1 0 0 . 0 2 1905 ...' ... ... 0 4 0 0 0 8 1907 ... .... ... 0 0 ' 0 1 0 3 0. 5 0 1 0 13 As an Otago . Representative. . . . . ... ... ... 2 2 0 1 1 17 As a Poneke Club Player. 1897 ... : ... '... 13 0, 2 : 1 19 1898 ...' ... ... 1 0 0 0 0 3 1899-..V. 0 0 1 '2 0 10 1901... . v... .... 2 12 0 2' -1 40 1902 ... ... ... 8 6 0: 0 1 40 1903 ... ... ... 1 7 0 1 0 20 1904 ■... ... . ... 4 6 0 0 .' 0 24 1905 ... ... ... 3 G'• 0 0 0 21 1906 ... 3 11 0 11 1 67 1907 " ... 7 7 0 0 1. 38 .1903 ... ... ... 4 6' 0 : 0 0 24 : 34 64 1 18 5'306 As an'Alhambra Club (Dunedin)'Player. 1900.... ... 2. 2 0 , 3 1 23 Total- Scores in all Matches. '■New Zealand Rep.'... 33 112 2 9 2 381' North Island Rep.- 0 '5 . 0 1 -0 13 Wellington Rep. ... 18 19 3. 5 1 123 Otago'Rep. ... 2 2.0 1 1 : 17 Poneke Club Player . .34 64 1 18 5.306 Alh'bra Club Player 2 2 0, 3 1. 23 Totals .... 94 204 6 37 10 S63

o fcj) ' .P* • i "5 "S S a -p g s a- g. o 2 'o'' . o jj !? Q , Pn Ph O Carterton ... 9 0 0 124 19 9 • Red Star ... 3 5 1 3S 108 3* Masterton ... 3 6 0 49 52 3 Greytown ... 2 6 1 32 64 2J JUNIOR. Following are tho junior records to date:— . , II ° ■ 1 Si i £* J 'P ?-i Red Star. ... ...' 8 1 0 86 35 -Dalefield ... ... 7 1 1 82 28 Martinborough ... 6 3 1 57.59 Carterton ... ... 4 4 '2 66 54 To Ore Ore ... 4 5 0 50 64 Greytown ... ... 3 6 0 29 74