Football

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 66, 15 September 1906, Page 14

Football

RUGBY. [By DaorKicK.] The Wellington representatives completed their northern tour this week, and came back with a creditable record of wins. The only defeat of the tour was experienced at Auckland, the other four matches resulting in fairly easy victories. Although defeated by Auckland, Wellington players put up a plncky struggle, and stuck to tho northerners to tho finish. The Wanganui, Manawatu, aiid Hawkes Bay matches were won by big margins, and Taranaki, a strong province alsd, went under before the Wellington players. The final representative match of tho season is being played to-day against Otago. The Wellington representative team has played tho follow big matches to date : — Wairarapa won -„. 62 to 9 Canterbury won ... 34 to 0 Southland won ,„ 22 to 3 Wanganui won ... 22 to 3 Auckland lost ... 11 to 5 Taranaki won ... 14 to 6 Manawatu won ... 17 to 6 Hawkes Bay won ... 23 to 3 The team has scored 199 points for in the eight matches and has had 41 registered against it. The Auckland Herald says several of the players who assisted Auckland to retain the Ranfuily Shield tliis season intend folding up their jerseys for all time. Geo. Smith, W. H. MTKcnzie, H. Kiernan, G. Gillett, and G. Tyler have announced their intention of retiring, while others who will probably be missing from the field in 1907 aie Cunningham, Nicholson, and Seeling. A correspondent forwards the following comments on the Wellington-Mana-watu representative match : —'"There was not -a great deal to choose between thu two sets of forwards, but the Welling ton backs fairly outclassed the Manawatu rearguard. At the same time, had H. D. Thompson played up to form, the superiority and the winning margin would have been greater. The black forwards were weakened by the absence of Watkins j>nd Manning, and, apart from that, undoubtedly a bit stale — b?sid«s which they knew they had the game in hand. They hooked the ball consistently, but in all other departments of the game (forward) the greens more than held their own. Byrne worked hard from whistle to bell ; Cross was only spasmodic, but was the pick of the remainder, clossly followed by Alexander, who was playing his first game on tour, and Hardham, whose try was a well-merited reward for fast fol-lowing-up. He lucked rather hard on a couple of otlier occasions, on one bf •which a score would otherwise, have ■resulted. Of the backs, Roberts \though . he hung on to the ball once or twice) was the bright particular star. He did a tremendous amount of defensive work, and also fed his backs well — a- great deal better than usual with him. His dropped goal from a mark near halfway was a grand effort, . whil&t his brilliant run from near his own 25 to within striking distance of\the line (where H. D. Thompson missed his pass), electrified the onlookers. Nothing less than a try should have been the reward of such a brilliant effort. Ramsden, at centre, played headily, and mado a- fine 1 cut in when he scored his try, j fooling half-a-dozen opponents, who quite expected him to send the leather on to Ryan. He could have scored on at least one other occasion, but elected to pass to Thompson, and/ the latter again missed a sure try by not taking a good pass when he had no one to beat. A. M. Thompson also played his. first game on the trip, and came off with flying colours. He atood up to the heavy work pluckily, and passed out eurelj and cleanly. Ho made a great dash, for the line on one occasion after taking an almost inipos T sible pass, but his luck was out, and so was he — on the corner flag (touch-in-goal). Spencer, at full-back, w.is safe, though he mulled rather badly on two' occasions, but the ball was greasy. His goal-kicking was excellent — three over out o| four attempts, the fourth landing a foot under tho bar. For Manawatu, Skelley played a fine game, though h© escaped being penalised for offside play several times. Stalker, at wing-three-quarter, took the high kicks of the city backs in great style, and also kicked splendidly, though he shirked anything in the shape of a 'Combined forward rush. Winiata and Hewitt were the pick of the remaining backs, the latter saving his side from imminent danger on two occasions by taking the ball from the ruck and finding touch well up the line. Of • the forwards, Smith, M'Nae, and Ward were the best all round. Swainson was good in the loose, but could not last out the pace. Ward is above the average as a plauekack." J. Dufty, the Auckland representative full-back, has put up a goal-kick-ing record in the interprovincial matches this season which will take a lot of beating. Tabulated, his performance reads as follows: — From From From From Total Penalties. Mark*. Field. Tries. Oo^2 of 4 3 of 7 1 15 o( 19 21 of 31 This makes 49 points to the goal-kick-er's record. In the Canterbuiy match he hacj seven shots at goal, and converted six., In the Taranaki .match he kicked 4. of" 7, against Southland 8 of 12, and against Wellington 3 of 5. The', record of tho Auckland repreaentative team for tho present season reads as follows: —Played 4 matched, won 4, and scored 106 points _ against 28. The details are as follows: — Against Canterbury: Won by 29 points to 6. . * Af?ain«t Taranaki: Won by 18 points to 5. \ Aeainst Southland : Won by 48 points to 12. Against Wellington : Won by 11 points (a goal, penalty i?oal, and goal from mark) to 5 (a goal). Commenting on the Wellington-Tara-naki match, the Hawera' Star says the was one of the finest of fine exhibitions of Rugby. Tho Tarnnaki News considers the pamo was easily the best Been in Taranaki thin year, being fast, open, and interesting. For Ihe winnora Ryan was an excellent full-back. The three-quarter line gave' an excellent display of passing and tacklinp, ■with perfect combination and in touch with the whole of the back system, but Wallace has been seen to preater advdntagre. Roberts, at half, diaplayed all hi» old- cleverness and rapidity> of move-, rijenk and the, five-eighths^ Mibchinson.

and Walshe, tho former particularly, did their work well. Of a brilliant pack the best men were Watkins, Cross, and Byrne. ASSOCIATION - NOTES, [By Y.VNGTJASD.] The Association football season closed in Wellington this week. It was a season full of interest and one which should have the effect of giving an impetus to tho game. In all .there were five different grades of players ■ who" competed in eight different competitions, improvement of play being noticeable in each grade. There were six' senior teams, eleven junior teams, five third-class teams, ' six fourth and six fifth-class teams. Diamonds won both senior competitions — the League and the Charity Cup ; Ramblers won the Junior League, Swifts the Junior Challenge Cup, Marist Bros' Old Coys the Third League, the Henderson Memorial Cup (which was a second thirdclass competition), and the Fourth League, whilst the Marist Bros.' School won the Fifth League. The improvement was not due to the , influx of Homo players, although they were an inportant factor, but chiefly to : efforts of players who have learned their football in the colony and worked up through th& junior ranks. The writer had occasion to witness some of the ■Sixth League matches recently, and he was surprised at the attention given by the boys to detail. They threw the ball in correctly from the. line, kept their positions and showed a knowledge of tho rules of the game which is only expected in the higher grades. When such conditions exist in the younger players, the promoters of the game may rest assured that it is on a firm foundation. The senior and junior competitions were improved remarkably by the teams entered from the Wanderers' Clvb — a new organisation composed of players who had .studied their football in the Old Country. Their play, as the writer has pointed out on former occasions, supplied the attractive element to tho matches, inasmuch as it produced pietty foot work and heading. It lacked the dash and determination of some of the other teams, but it had an educative value which is sure to have an elevating effect on tho stylo of colonial football. The number of first-class players now in Wellington is large, consequently there was plenty of material to make up a strong representative team. At the beginning of the month the Wellington representatives competed in tho Brown Shield Tournament at Yaranaki, and won each of its matches in a. decisive manner. It was unfortunate that neither Otago nor Canterbury was able to take part in the tournament in order to give Wellington an opportunity of testing its strength against all the teams of the colony. Had they ' done so Wellington would have given them a good game and — the writer is of opinion — lowered their colours as it did th© colours of the northern teamd. Next season the game is likely to be hampered for the want of grounds. It is doubtful if the polo grounds will be availiibls next year, and the Association will have to grapple with tho looming difficulty at onte, and bo prepared for any emergency that may arise. The final for the Junior Challenge Cup played at Miramai- on Saturday was spoiled completely by tho high wind. Porirua defended against the wind in the first half, but did not use the bncks to advantage ; they, brought the ball up too near goal befcro shooting. Poiirua players seemed at sea on the full-sized field, and the ground not being marked out appeared to puzzle sonje of them. Not knowing the Porirua members by name, the writer is unable to do justice in mentioning somo of them. Hicks, in goal, saved well, but was a bit. slow in clearing. The full-backs both gave a fair exhibition, the left being responsible for the best work. Elliott, at centre forward, ga.v^ one the impression that in good company he would be a hard man to beat; he was too well marked by J. Pye-Smith to shine. Tho goal he scored for Porirua was tho best shot of the day, giving Jameson no chance to 6avc. Jameson, in goal for Swifts, had not much to do, but saved well, on one occasion dribbling tho ball right down the field.' Hunter, at full, kicked too hard, time and again sending the ball over the Porirua line. J. Pye-Smith \ros the besjb of the 'halt-backs, and was well backed up by Churchward. The forwards were a good lot, Goddis in the second half being the best. Some of his centres were beautiful, bu,t were allowed to go begging by the right wing. Rogers and tho man on the left gave the bebt exhibition of combined play seen at Miramax for some time. Tho Wellington Junior Rep. team played a match against tho Dannevirke Swifts on Wednesday and won by two goals to nil. For the losprs Duff and Greenwood play well at full-back and at times Paton, right half, showed up to advantage. Thompson in goal saved many hot shots. Tho forwards individually were good but did not combine well. For the reps. M'Lean in goal was not overworked but he did what was roquirod of him in a businesslike manner ; both Guise and Duignan at fullback played well, the latter being particularly safo. Of a good half-line Jackson was the best. Waters had the misfortune to injure his anklo before the match started and consequently did not play up to form. Tho two inside forwards Shaw and Robinson played well, each scoring a goal. Wills centred well and put in some good shots. Elliot at centre-forward has played better games. Tho team was entertained at a social and danco on Tuesday evening, a very sumptuous supper b,oing provided by the ladies.

New South WaJes, in consequence of tho Commonwealth Government taking over only tho Meteorological Department of tho State (aaya the Sydney Mail), continue to control, at least for some time to come, tho astronomical services of its historic Observatory. Astronomy was tho firstborn of New South Wales' scientific children. It, received habitation and name immediately on the arrival of tho first fleet. An elevation near Dawes Point was set apart for the of the study, and a small collection of instruments wai placed at the disposal of a military lieutenant, from whom the Point derives its name. Lieutenant Dawes^ had a reputation in England, and the Board of "Longitude of the day commissioned him to undertake certain branches of th© special work in which it was interested, as well as attending generally to such investigations a 6 tho new aspects of the heavens would suggest. But- tho new earth seems to have absorbed more of tho lieutenant's attention than th« now heavens. He did tha specific work the Board of Longitude set him, and did it well; but 'there is no record of h}s having accomplished any other astronomical labour of importance. It is probable that in bringing the new settlement into order 'the demand for military labour was more 'exacting than for planetary knowledge, and tho lieutenant, who, according to accounts, was a modest, en&y-going man, fell in with tho more pressing demand. At the same time, it in highly probable that ho did much work which hns not found its way to tho records,, simply because tho circumstances of tho time made- tho preservatibn of document* difficult. In >any case his quarters at Daweo Point soon ceased to be known' «b an astronomical