Football RUGBY.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1905, Page 14

Football RUGBY.

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Tho representative team which visited Carterton last Saturday left town by the 8.5 train. Rain fell when the train got out into the country, and lasted until the Rimutakas had been left behind. On arrival at Carterton the visitors were driven up to the township, and, after loitering around aimlessly for a while, the team made a vigorous attack on the luncheon table, where some remarkably fine work was put in. Lunch over, the members of the team again braved the mud which abounded in tlie main 6treet of tho township, and then set out for the convincing ground. The turf was in capital order light up to the time of starting, when a heavy shower of rain fell and turned the ground into a large grease spot. The teams dined together after tho match, ami a number of toasts were honoured. The various speakers remarked upon the good feeling which had characterised the game, and members of both Unions spoke of the capable manner in which the referee, Mr. P. Mackie, had carried out his duties. The game was an attractive one, and at one stage it looked as though it was going to result in a run-away victory for the country men, whose backs are cleverer than of yore, but whose forwards as a whole show a falling off. The heavy going told on the big Wairarapa forwards after the first half, up lt> which time they had given a very good performance. The Wellington vanguard played with fino dash and combination at the beginning of the second spell, and at a lively pace to the end of the game. The Wairarapa full-back, M'Kenzie, gave a good display, his handling of tho ball, tackling, and kicking being up to the mark, but he is not a man who inspires one with confidence. The three-quarter line performed well. Wrigley proved himself a strong runner and altogether was better than the average. J. O'Leary, at centre, also played a fine all-round game. Smart, the other wing, was not up to representative form. P. O'Leary, at five-eight, was right up to the mark, his attack and defence alike being sound. Logan ig probably the best half in the province with Roberts out of the way. He gets the ball away nicely and stops rushes fearlessly. The forwards were mostly an even lot. Gray played a great game on the wing, and Spaeknian was about the best of the pack of forwards. He follows up in great style. Cadwalladex also showed up well. George Spencer, the Welington fullback, was not up to form. He redeemed himself by fine place lacking, which practically won the match. J. Ryan came through his first representative game with distinct credit. He mad« one mistake, which led to the final Wairarapa score, but the greasy ball was responsible for the slip. Barber, in the 'centre, waa the pick of the rearguard. He handled the ball and kicked without a mistake, but on two occasions he failed to give his wing three-quarter good passes. Anderson was uot a 5U'/ess on the wing. Sharpe could not get going in the first half, but b* showed improved form in the second term. The final try was a fine piece of work, the credit for which was solely due to Sharpe. - Ramsden negotiated his first representative game with credit. He had some heavy work to get through, but never •went back on it. The Wellington forwards all played •well. Warner and Wells, on the wing, were both above the average. Dodd and Watkins beat the Wairarapa hookers time and again ; in fact, they did as they pleased with the ball. Dodd put in some fine line work, and shone in the heavy hustling play. He is now playing np to the form of a couple of years ago, when he was at his best. Watkins showed plenty of dnsh on the heavy ground, and followed np and tackled splendidly. Driscoll also followed up well and tackled like a back. Nobody could find any fault with the play of Cross, Manning, or Gillespie. The selectors of the Wellington provincial team which is to play against New Zealand will be able to get together a team which shonld give the New Zealand elect a hot time. Wairarapa should get several men in the team, and amongst them the following may be found :— J. O'Leary (centre three-quarter), Wrigley (wing three-quarter), ., P. O'Leary (fiveeight), Logan (half), Gray (wing forward), Spackman (forward). A forward team with three smart followers like Spackman, Watkins, and Driscoll should considerably hamper the fast New Zealand backs. The allegation was made at last week's meeting of the Wellington Union delegates that the examination which bus to be passed before a man can be elected to the Referees' Association keeps a number of old players from carrying a whistle. The said old players appear to think that it is undignified to have to pass an examination to qualify to control a game of Rugby. The Dunedin correspondent of the Canterbury Times states that prior to the departure of Casey, Booth, Johnston, and MacdonaM, Otago's representatives in the New Zealand team, the Otago Union presented each player, including James \ Duncar (coach) with a gold football pendant, inscribed on one side with the player's name and on the reverse "From 0.R.F.U., 1805." The football writer in the Canterbury Times is not satisfied with the generalship shown by captains of local clubs, and rubs it in to the following effect: — "It is about time that at least one of our senior teams found a capable captain. I don't mean a player -who tosses for choice of in-goal or kick-off, and decides^ — sometimes — as to who is to have the kicks at goal, but a real live capable captain, one who has the respect of his team and can pick out the weaknesses of the opposition and generally engineer hia team to use its best points. I am well aware captains — like good players — are not discovered every day, but still it is about time a capable captain was unearthed in Canterbury." Rugby appears to be at a fairly low ebb in Caaterbury, according to the following, taken from a Christchurch weekly : — "After carefully watching the play all the season, I have come to the conclusion that we have not a 'clasa' forward playing in the competition) and yet there are plenty of players who should fill the bill satisfactorily. The heavy, -powerful forwards to be found in the teams are lazy, or too slow, the fast dashy ones dodge the work of the pack, and yet they have plenty of opportunities, as only the O3d Boys team play what is now commonly known as the back game. The province possessed a capital lot of forwards in 1901, but since that time the standard has deteriorated, until forward players find 1 a. place in the representative teams who shou'.d experience difficulty in retaining places in senior club teams." At the annual meeting of tho English Rupby Union on 18th May the changes mado by the International Board in tho scoring rule, which come into effect next year, were unanimously agreed to. Tlie new rule (which wns published in full some time aigo) provides that a try shall count 3 points ; a goal from a try (in which case the try shall not count), 6 points; a dropped goal, 4 points: a

mark goal or. a .penalty goal, 3 points. The field goal' is abolished. It was decided that a goal shall not be disallowed by the ball, in its transit over the bar, "being touched by one of the defending aide. The proposal to abolish charging in general was' lost, as was also the marginal note to the law that "players may lift their feet when the ball has passed the first forward in the scrummage." The attempt to make it possible for a player to make a mark from a rebound was negatived.