SPORT AND PASTIME. Football.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 125, 28 May 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

SPORT AND PASTIME. Football.

[By Ex-Forwabd.] A few Beconds' deliberation was quite sufficient for the Postponement Committee deciding to put off all matches set down for decision on Saturday last. .As subsequent events proved, the action of the committee was fully justified. Very few people journeyed to the Park on Tuesday to see the inter-club match Cartertouv. Wellington. Thofact, of a very strong gale blowing is quite sufficient to damp the ardour of the most enthusiastic footballer from standing a couple of hours in that locality. Under such adverse circumstances, it is hardly surprising to hear that the display of Rugby was somewhat tame-. The<game was almost wholly composed of touc^-line aad scrum work, especially the former. Not much difficulty was experienced by the yellows in placing a win to their credit, the countrymen, though a willing combination, having much to learn in the fine points of the game. - M'Kenzie, a brother of the redoubtable wingniun, played a rattliug good game in the position of three-quarter. Those who saw his display say that if taken in hand by some of the local clubs he would make a reputation almost on a par with that of his celebrated brother. There is some talk of Wrigley, the Wairarapa back, joining the Petone Club's ranks. Johnny Baumberha3 joined the recentlyformed Junior team Kia Oras, so I am led to understand, in the capacity of coach. Unfortunately, there is little prospect of ' Wally ' Rhodes coming back to Wellington, which, for local football, io to bo regretted. Our old friend 'Tabby' Wynyard-is said to bo showing remarkably good form in the Auckland championship matches. At a recent meeting of the Auckland Rugby an example was made of a junior player reported by a referee for misconduct, ho being suspended for one month. Nothing tends more to lower the standard of the game than horseplay and ebullitions of temper, and the Union must be congratulated on itß firmness in thus dealing with the first case brought under its notice. Cheering. — A northern writer unblushingly tells his roaders that the medical fraternity are agreed that the football season in Auckland has opened promisingly. On both Saturdays since the Cup matches started there has been work for the surgeon. The Otago Union Management Committoe held an exhaustive enquiry, into the Priest-Sale incident, finally deciding that the referee did his duty in ordering both players off the . field, . and suspended the offenders for one week. From the Otago Daily Times :— ' Mr Falconer, referee in the Kaikorai-Dunedin match, did not meet with favour at the hands of players. He might also have been far more strict than he was, and the manner in which he allowed Stephenson and M'Laren to argue with him about the gauio was a distinct sign of weakness. There were complaints from all parts of the ground as to the way M'Laren was allowed to carry on, and had one of the well-known senior referees been officiating M'Laren would in all probability have been remanded. 1 Even if a referee does make mistakes it does not mend matters to allow the captains of the teams to argue with him on the field. I have noticed the same state of affairs on Wellington grounds, which a little firmness on the part of the referee would have quickly nipped in the bud. Ward, lato of Southland, is playing some great games in the Otago Rugby Union senior fixtures. I had a capital opportuuity last season to witness thiH brilliant young player's abilities in the match Southland v. Wellington, and on that occasion I unhesitatingly expressed the opinion that he was one of the best baoks in New Zealand. In reply to a communication from Jhe Hawkos Bay Union inviting the Otago reps, to visit Napier this year, the Southern body states its inability to accept the invitation. When the fixtures for the year are arranged it will probably be found that an Otago team will visit Wellington before or after the Canterbury match, which will be played in the Cathedral city this season. Stoddart, of crioket renown, talking to a representative of the Sydney Referee anect the probabilities of an Euglish team visiting the colonies said :— ' Your authorities ought to ask the English Rugby Union to take the matter up. If they do you will be visited by a team of International players who will show you some beautiful football.' He had no doubt that an English team would have a career of victory in Australia and New Zealand. Nor did he doubt that the colonials would be charmed by the brilliance and perfect combination of the Englishmen. To which the Referee adds: — J Nor need we ourselves question this latter. England will no doubt defeat our colony, and Queensland, too— that is, if it scuds a good team. The reverse of this is a possibility ; just as New South Wales's defeat of New Zealand is always a possibility. But England will need to bo a wonderful combination to go uncheoked through Maoriland, where football is played aa if to the manner born. Perhaps they will learn that, great exponents of Rugby as the Englishmen are, they have little to teach the men of New Zealand. 1 W. Ross, the well-known Alhambra and Otago full-back, who has been one of the most ardent supporters of the Alhambra since that club's palmy days, was presented last week with a handsome clock, suitably inscribed, by the members of the club. The members of last year's Southern touring team entertained a high opinion of the Alhambra Club's full back both off and on the field. Towards the close of the AlhambraUnion game Dredge had his ankle sprained, and Duncan, the centre three- quarter, sustained a dislocation of the shoulder. It is stated the injuries were not the result of any rough play. Certainly not, as the match took place in Dunedin. The Alhambra Club intends proceeding with the matter relative to the action of Q-. Stephenson. They have forwarded another letter to the Rugby Union Committee. That grand and evergreen little player • Davy Gage ' is playing as well as ever. Commenting on last Saturday's SuburbsParnell match, ' Lynx ' (Herald) reports of his play as follows : — ' The hero of the back division was undoubtedly • Davy ' Gage, at five-eights. I never saw him play a better game. Again and again he stopped the dangerous forward rushes of the Parnell vanguard, frequently smothered the passing of the backs, initiated many passing runs on his own side, and kicked with great precision and judgement.j udgement. While stemming a rush Gage was accidently kicked on the head, and a nasty gash across the right side of the skull juat above the ear caused the retirement of this player, who had up to the time of the misfortune been doing wonders for his team. He was attended to by Dr. Erson, and after a rest of some few minutes returned to the fray.' Two of the longest- standing matches in N.S.W. football were played recently, when the King's School mot Wallaroo and University F.C. for the 27th year in succession. 'Harrier,' in tho Auckland Observer, referring to the action of a local referee jin penalising Fred Murray for pushing auother opponent with his hands from behind, says that many people questioned the accuracy of the decision, but it was entirely in accord with the ruling of tho English Uuion. Tho last number of the Sydney Referee to hand has a picture, not altogether flattering, of Hardcastle. The ex- Wollingtonian is said to have shown a good example to his team by his dribbling in the Wallaroo Sydney matoh, won by the latter by 9to 8. .