FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

. « RUGBY. (By Ahistobulds.) '• , REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. THE NORTHERN TOUR. August 22, v. Wanganui. OTHER FIXTURES. August 22. —Wellington B v. Horowhenua. August 26.—Wellington .v.- Southland. August 29. —Wellington v. Canterbury. September s.—Wellington v. Manawatu. September 19.—Wellington v. Otago. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. August 22, v. Horowhenua, at Levin. THE'BRITISHERS IN AUSTRALIA. August 22,, v. New South Wales; fit Sydney. August 26, v. Queensland, at Brisbane. August 29, v. Queensland, at Brisbane. September 2, v. Queensland, at/Brisbane. AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. The Wellington team, which was defeated 80. handsomely by Auckland last Saturday, apparently played a better game than tho wide difference, between the scores would indicate. ' Commenting oil the match, the Auckland "Star" says:—The final scoro, though se heavily in Auckland's favour, gives littlu idea of the real character of the game. Bofore play started it, was generally believed that Auckland's forwards would pull off another victory, but" by half-time Auckland was leading by only five points to three, and could not, bo said to have had much tho best of the argument. ,The Wellington' forwards certainly played with great aash for the first half of the gamo. They frequently beat our men in footwork and on the line-out, and they used their weight in the: scrums for all jt was worth. Auckland generally succeeded in rushing the ball down towards the Wellington end, when it became absolutely necessary to clear the lino, but on the whole our forwards certainly did not at first display that marked superiority over Wellington that they were expected .to. show. Up to half-time tho Wellington pack had successfully kopt our forwards at bay for most of the game; and as the Wellington backs, more especially Green, Roberts, and Mitchinson, wero distinctly better than our. own, Auckland's supporters had a good-many anxious moments to get' through before the tide finally turned in our favour.•

A different.story was told in the second, spell. , Wellington made a good stand for a time, but after the' second try had been gained it. ; was•,evident that-,the.dash of tho Wellington men was fading away; Another Booro followed,- and from that on the Auckland forwards absolutely controlled the game. The spectators_ wero treated to one. of the finest exhibitions of passing rushes- seen for many day.' Breaking away from the line-out, or pushing up in the loose, the fast, heavy Auckland forwards Bimply overwhelmed the opposition. ThoWellington backs tried to open up the game, and make use of their superiority in this respect, and the Auckland backs-had thus a good deal of defensive work to do in the first half of the game. Tho Wellington backs,- on the whole, played as well as could be expected with their forwards badly boaten towards the end of the game. Green is a decidedly clever half, though rather small for so hard-worked'a position. Roberts was as good-as ever, j: and one opening which ho made in tho first spell was a particularly fine effort that would have inevitably ended in a score if tho wing three-quarter had not dropped, the ball. Mitchinson, who, like Green, is on the light aide, made! some fine dashes,' and is : -evidently a hard m&n to stop. Magee and Even son tvero fair in all departments, and Ryan, tho full-hack, except for running back behind bis own goal-lino on one conspicuous occasion, did his work well, and kicked coolly and accurately till he was rushed by the forwards at the end of the game. The Wellington forwards all worked, very hard, tho most noticeable being "Ranji." Wilson, who on his play should be good enough, for the New Zealand representative team. But it was evident when tho decisive struggle camo in the last half of the second spell that'the* could not keep, up their end against tho Aucklandcrs.

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Tho junior, championship 'contest is now almost concluded, there remaining only ono match to decide to whom tho honours aro to fall. At present Kia Ora lead by ono point, but Petone may reverse the result of last Saturday's game and thus placo themBelves a point ahead. Tho following table shows the positions of the various teams:— .o • £ *3 g' c . a .. o * w . rt .-h —. • • bo .. u o Pi • £ G * Kia Ora 10 9 1 0 18 Petone .. -....1...... 10 8 11 17 Melrose 10 6 2 2. 14 Solwyn 10 7 3 0 14 St. James"".. 10 ' 5 5 0 10 Athletic ............ 10 5 5 0 10 Oriental? 10 3 4 2 8 Old Boys 10 .4 6 0 8 Wellington 10 4 6 0 ' 8 Poneke ' 10 3 7 0 6 Victoria College... 10 1 9 0 2 Southern 10 0,9 1 1

Last Saturday tho two leading teams met at Petone, Kia Ora gaining the victory. The game was of a fast forward nature, the pace being equal to that made by most well-trained senior teams. . Kia Ora, having no senior team, are able to put their best material into the juniors. Their main strength' lies in the forward division, three of tho_ team, Driscoll, ' Hayes, and Turner, junior representatives. The training of the pack has had a lot to. do with the victorious- career of tho team. In the backs there are one or two good men, Cudby being the most heard of, but other junior .teams exist with better combinations; Petone, the runners up, for instance,, possess a much better set, but aro net so solid in the vanguard. The championship last year went to Petone, and that team this year have put up a good fight. "Taking the season as a wholo it has been a good one for junior players. There has been l the same difficulty, in some cases, of keeping the same fifteen throughout tho season, without having it broken into to supply tho vacancies caused by defaulting seniors. Other clubs again havo entirely overlooked the existence of their juniors, some really good men having been allowed to remain in the second grade when they might iritb advantage have replaced seniors. A instance. of buried talent was afforded by two Oriental players, who, wben promoted late in the season, completely out-distanced the majority of the men who had been in the higher team from tho beginning. In this regard it would pay all clubi to keep an eye not only upon tho juniorj but also on ths third-class teams. A little encouragement does wonders to aronse tho enthusiasm of the younß&r members. One of the best teams for scientific and skilful play was the Oriental, which gave Kia Ora their only beatin* and also drew with Petone. Had tho wholo of the forwards r.hown tho form of some individual plajers, the team should hare been much' higher m the list. As a set of backs who worked connistently together, Athletic deservo mention. ; Tho team's passing and attacking was an object lesson to many older players. Th# spectators at tho Athletic Park last Saturday deserted tho Victoria College-Can-terbury College fixture in favour of tho more spirited contest between the Wellington and St. Patrick's Colleges. The only barrackers who were faithful to Victoria College were

a fow ladies, who followed tho game from\ start to finish. , The gamo was fairly interesting, but th'o visitors left the field victors mainly through tho efforts of their rearguard.

Of the local backs Prendevillo was the best all-round man. His display as wing three-quarter was excellent, and some of his work was almost brilliant. Hitchings also did somo good work, but was not at his best. Goodbehcro was very -poor, and so was A. Tudhopo, whilst.M'Morran was fair. O'Leary played a solid gamo at five-eighths, and was tho mainstay of the local team's defence. Do la Mare and W. Tudhopo were the pick of tho local forwards, but Fathers, Wilson, and Brosnan also put in some capital work. On tho wholo tho Victoria College forwards did remarkably well, and could not bo expected to do much more in view of tho way the backs lot down on them.

The visiting forward team was fairly solid, and played a good averago game. Collins was tho best of tho scrummers, and stood. out by himself on several occasions. Tho backs put up a fine showing, some of their efforts leaving Victoria Collqge standing. M'Konzio, Grace, and Williams wero tho best man in this department.

The Y.M.C.A. ranks, which are gradually growing stronger and stronger, offer a big inducement to soccer players and wielders of tho hockoy stick. Rugby is about to put in a claim for support, Mr. F. C. Atkinson, an old Athletic player and an enthusiastic llugbyito, having made up his mind to try and get a strong Rugby Club formed at tho Y.M.C.A. Trezise and Hardham wore both slightly injured during tho course of tha Welling-ton-Auckland match last Saturday. At the annual meeting of tho Welsh Rugby Union a resolution was adopted prohibiting any member of the committee from contributing to tho Press articles on current football happenings. Dibble, the British international forward, played against his brother in the match Britishers v. Western Districts of New South Wales recently. The Sydney "Referee" says that Dyke's line-kicking from the full-back position and that J. L. Williams's line-kicking from tho left wing, in the second match between Britain and New South Wales, havo never been equalled in similar conditions on tho rugger fields of Sydney. ST. PATRICKS COLLEGE v. WELLINGTON COLLEGE. Tho match between St. Patrick's College and Wellington College, which resulted in a win for the former by 9 points to 6, furnished an interesting exposition of sci«ntiflc rueger. Of the 25 contests which have been hela between teams representative of th» institutions the fonaer hare ir*n 15, and the latter 8, the other . two g*ia»s taring been drawn.

Fraia the outset both sides did thoir utmost t« open up tho pky. In tho earlier staees «f tho'gme the : "Wellington Golleg* hooliors were moro successful than thoir opponents, but subsequently neither sido c»uld claim an advantage in that department. The St. Patrick's College representatives used tho long line-out effectively. Time 1 and again one of the players on that side secured the ball in clean style, and cither went off on his own or passed out smartly to one of his backs.

A featuro of the play was the kicking of tho backs on both sides. There were occasions when, however, better; results might havo accrued if the player in possession had instituted a passing rush or Kicked down the field and followed, up. • It was a treat also to watch the tackling.' Players who wore collared with the ball were invariable brought down in an effective manner. Not onco/'libweverj could 'the " tackling be said to have.been unduly hard.

Tho forwards were. sufficiently evenly matched to provide a keen strugglo right to the close of the game. They, packed well in the scrums, and. in other. departments acquitted themselves, creditably. Some of them showed a good turn of speed. For the winners, Cullen was easily tho best of the backs. Ho mado a number of fine runs, and defended in good stylo. Baker, Devoy, and Gallagher also did well. Of tho forwards, Rocbford. and Coakley wero prominent.

For tho losers, Collins was a tower of strength. His line-kicking was especially fine. Stainton and Stewart also gave a good showing, the try scored as a result of their ©forts being very meritorious. Montion ihould also be made of Bernard's display. All the forwards worked hard.

ASSOCIATION NOTES. (BY Cemire-HALF.) FIRST DIVISION. The followinc shows the respective positions of the Senior League First Division teams in the championship competition. Two points for a win and one for a draw:— ... £ . to A' *** • • , Teain - ': s, a« I' I « ° §' 2; g.. § O C. ? 'J 3i QJ--CJ A. Y.M.C:A. ... 12 10 2 0 43 11 20 Diamonds ... 12 9 2 1 33 8 19 Hovers ... 12 8 1 3 29 10 19 Wanderers ...-14 5 7 2 20 23 12 Swifts ... ... 14- 5 7' 2 17 22 12 Ramblers ... 13 3 8 2 18 29 :8 Thistle 13 3 9 1 8/ 53 7 Petono 14 310 1 14 27 7 L „The goal averages,for and against are as follows (to the decimal place only):— - • For Ag'st Y.M.C.A. . ... 3.5' % Diamonds ... ... :.. 2.7 .G Itovors ... 2.4 .9 , Wanderers 1.4 1.6 Swifts 1.1 1.5 .Ramblers ... ... 1.3 2.2 Thistle ... 6 4 l'etouc ... 1 1.9 "Soccer" enthusiasts had an opportunity of witnessing an interesting gamo on tho Basin Reserve last Saturday. Rovers effected a surprise in defeating tho Diamonds by two goals to nil. They certainly deserved their win on the day's play for Diamonds seemed to be out of the race when Rovers secured tho lead early in the gamo; Penlington gave an exhibition of goalkeeping that appealed to the spectators. He was compelled to concede a couple of corners but throughout the game was very-, safe.: "Tommy" Duignan and Georgo Martin are two of the best full-backs at present plaving senior "soccer" in Wellington. they seldom have an off-day and though young have not much more to learn. On Saturday their solid defenco saved Penlington. an immense amount of work. • Of tho Rovers half division little pan be said excepting perhaps that they 'pkyed well. Bothell, an influenza sufferer, lasted the game out well and throughout did a lot of useful work, his comer kicking being very fine. Cnshman, Barry, C. O'Shea, Martin, and Miller were Rovers' set of forwards, and on Saturday's form are an excellent lot. They played tho ball more than opponents and successfully inaugurated and put into use soma lino passing rushes.

Diamonds-took thoir defeat in a thoroughly sportsmanlike manner and havo not yet given up hopes of securing tho cup. Some of the team appear to have predicted a loss at tho hands of Rovers on Saturday, giving ,ns a reason their inability to play their best against them. FitzGcrald played with his customary coolness and safeness_ on Saturday,, and the two goals scored against him wero very hot and practically impossible to save.Peter Roberta was ■ in good . form and always on the job. His partner Ovcrend was safo and did a lot of work, but was not as conspicuous as Peter. "Joo" Taylor quite excelled himself on Saturday and was a tower of strength to his side. Thorley. and Roberts wero safe,

but lacked "Joo's" judgment. Taylor makes a mistake in doing too much, and takes upon himself a sort of roving commission, but is always handy when wanted near the centre.

The forwards wero rather disappointing, inasmuch as they failed to tako innumerable chances of shooting when they presented themselves. Probably the two Low's wero the pick, although Hathaway and Duffy worked hard, but failed dismally in scoring qualities. Hathaway missed his first penalty kick on Saturday and had hard luck in doing so, The circular from tho Otago Association commends itself to all who understand tho true "soccer" game. Players complain of sprained _ ankles caused by playing on grounds which are covered by treacherous holes and cart rucks. Complaint is made by two clubs that applications for the use of Basin Reserve havo beon refused, and that tho other league clubs have enjoyed tho pleasure of playing on an ideal " soccer" ground to tho exclusion of tho less fortunate clubs referred to.

Wellington should have a strong team in the field for tho Brown Shield competition at Dunedin. The selectors' task is anything but an enviable one.

. Some fine junior players in Wellington would, with a little coaching, develop into first-class players, but they are neglected, and only called upon in cases of necessity. Ramblers' junior team should come to tho i rescue of tho first team now that all chances of the championship are gone. A correspondent, who states that he has studied with keen interest the form shown by tho senior players this season, is of opinion that the following representative team would bo hard to beat:—

Oldnall (Ramblers), goal; Roberts (Diamonds), and Duignan (Rovers), full backs; Jackson (Ramblers), M'Lellan (Thistle), and R. Gibson (Y.M.C.A.), halves; Taplin (Petono), N. Lowe (Diamonds), W. Gibson (Y.M.C.A.), C. O'Shea (Rovers), Gwilliam (Wanderers), forwards. (Taplin as outside right). Tile Ramblers Lady Hockey and Football Clubs held their ajmual dance in St. Peter's Hall tho other evening, when about 95 couples were present. The music was supplied by tho Opera , House Orchestral Society, under Mr. Woodward, _ Mr. Collins, of Dunedin, presiding at the piano, while Mr. Glass played the comet. During the evening Major C. D. Mackintosh, tho Club's patron, in a few well-chosen words, congratulated members on their successful achievements in the hockey and football fields. The dancing arrangements were iu the hands of Messrs. R. M'Lean, Fraser, Highet, and Kitto; Miss C. Cameron and Mr. S. F. M'Lean were the joint hon. secretaries. Messrs. James Godber and Co.. laid an excellent supper.