STRIKING AT OPPONENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 14

STRIKING AT OPPONENTS.

Mr. Conder's in ordering Crqss (a Petone forward) off the field for hitting out at a St. James opponent last Saturday must bo admired by all thoughtful lovers of football. Even if Cross had tho "justification" alleged for him— some unfair kicking whilo ho was down — he could not, of course, bo permitted to spring up and swing a clenched fist at an opponent. Tho toleration of Lynch law in football would speedily mean tho degradation of the game and its relegation to the ranks of hoodlums alone. Striking at opponents by persons who fancied that they had a grievance has been far too common during tho season. Detection by the referees is difficult, . and therefore when a culprit is caught tho punishment should bo severe enough to discourago tho 'others. The Cross incident was, in o way, tho natural sequel to on event that happened./ in tho early part of the game. Hardham 8 hand came into contact with an opponent's jaw 'with such force that the St. James player was prostrated. The Petone back alleged that he had been tackled aftor ho had kicked the ball, and merely meant to push off his aggressor. However, he was tried summarily by the crowd, and was found guilty of unfairness. Then for half an hour, rightly or wrongly, Hardham, wa3 severely , barracked by tho spectators, and the hooting and yelling undoubtedly had the effect of exciting tho players. Hard kicking in the ruck was very noticeablo afterwards. The players, as a rule, do not need any excitement from tho crowd to put unnecessary vigour into their tactics at the wrong times and places. ST. JAMES v. PETONE. St. James pleasantly surprised the spectators ot the Athletic Park by their energetic display against Petono. Tho older team had an advantage in the scrimmages, and Green got tho ball well laway,' but usually, after it loft J. Ryan's hands, it was fumbled. The handling of the Potone backs, 'with the exception of J. Ryan, Grean, and M. Ryan, -was much below their standard. The St. James backs tackled very safely, and flid some "clever intercepting and individual sprinting, but spoilt many a good chance by ill-judged kicking. The forwards fought, pluckily all through, and went away in some very admirable rushes. Tho younger team had been well groomed, ant\ stayed rather better than even the Petono men, who have a reputation for keeping themselves fit. Tyne, on the wing of the Bcruin, was very prominent. ORIENTAL v. MELROSE. Tha meeting of Oriental «.ncr Molrose did not produce much sparkling football. When they managed to keep' the play open Oriental had no • difficulty in scoring, but tho complexion of the game was changed whenever the Molrose forwards could keep the ball in close quarters. Tho Melroso backs were deplorably weak. Wjth G. Spencer away, everybody was away. PONEKE v. ATHLETIC. ' . Tho contest between Athletio and Poneke fell short of what was anticipated, the game developing into a casual holiday encounter with an occasional dash of spirited work by the forwards. On tho day's play there wae little difference in tho merits of the two teams, and it was hard to believe that the Athletic men were the same combination, with ono exception, that extended Petone two 'weeks previous ly. The back play on both sidps was quite lacking in concerted attack, although the various men performed well enough individually. O'Meara, Cunningham, Evenson, and Pownall were the pick of the Athletic rearguard. O'Meara started out well, but half way through, tho game ho was injured and had to ,be removed from, fiveeighths to scoring threequarter. Bell, Baker, and Wilson were tho best of the blue pack. Baker was off-side a great deal, and on several occasions i his team had to pay the penalty O Sullivan, usually a conscientious grafter, had a day of comparative rest. Tillyard, at half, was the best of tho Poneke backs. Toohill and Magee aUo put in Eomo creditable work. The red rearguard included two new men, Wogan, promoted from junior threequarter, and Patrick, also a, threequartcr. Tho latter Bhowed up to adva-ntage on Beveral occasions, but Wogan was oDviously ill at ease. Griffiths, Mentiplay, Skinner, Rush, Trezise, and Sweeney put in some good work amongst the Fpneke scrivmmers, but each man usually operated by himself. ifIx^OELLANEOUS. Tho practice of punting over an opponent's head^ is good within reason but it is littlo advantage to drive the ball into the people's stand. On 'Saturday St. James threw away several good opportunities by putting far too pmch energy into the kicking. Two or three of the backs got away with only a man or two to beat and .punted. A gentle tip would have served their purpose woll, but the ball was booted violently over tho line, and was, course, los>t. If tho ground had been' another forty yards longer some of these 'wild shots might have produced a try. A. pathetic figure is the man who pauses when he sees something which ho •fancies is a, broach of the rules, cries out, and holds up his hand to attract the reforeo's attention. On Saturday men endangered their side by these dramatic tactics. Many a gamo has been lost by players who have waited in vain for the whistle. "Go on till the blows" is advice which should bd remembered by every player 'JThe Hamilton Tigers, who won tho Rugby championship of Canada, last 'seasony, are to be signally honoured if they win,"the championship a second timo (says the North American). A Rugby enthusiast hero"- has volunteered to reward the heroes by financing a tour of England, which will last", several weeks, this fall. Should tho team decide to go, it will not cost the players a cent. Tho tour will likdly "bo undertaken even if tho locals lose tho championship, as tho enthusiastic Hamiltoman is confident that, they would make ■*. great hit in the Old Country. Ho asks in return for his support that should tho '.tour abroad prove a financial success he be given interest oa his monoy. It is difficult to understand why the English Rugby Union altered the rule to allow of any ono on tho sido making a fair • catch to take tho kick, Bays a Southern writer I fail to see what improvement it has mado in tho play except'breeding a "specialist" in tho kicking lino to tho detriment of tho other players. Decent kicking by most players, especially, forwards, will soon bo a Jost art. Three New South Walos teams have played matches against New Zealand representatives in Now Zealand, and on five occasions prior to tho present trip Now Zealand teams have visited Australia. In 1884- threo matches wore playod in Sydnoy, Now Zealand winning by 11 points Co-Mil, 21 points to 1, and 16 points to nil. Tho next meeting of the colonies was in 1893, again"in.Now South Wales, and tho tour emphasised ""(h-qi,uncertainty of football, for after, winning- tho first match by 1? points to 8, Now Zealand wore badly beaten by 25 point* to .3, but ~ won the rubber with 16 points to nil in tiie final matoh. In 1884 the New South ■Wales representatives made their third Visit ( to New Zealand, and played their first match in tho colony against a New Zealand team, winning by 8 points' to 6. Throo years later New South Wales was again visited, with a result similar to that of the tour of 1893, for New Zoaland won the. first and third matches by 13 points toi 8 . and 26 points to 3, and lost, the «bcond"by 8 point* to 22. That was the' last victory of the Now South Welshmen oVor New Zealand. In 1901 tho teams mot at, Wellington, and Now South Wales was beaten by 20 points lo 3. Two yearn later- Now Zealand sont a team to Australia, and two matches wore ' played against Now South Wales, New Zealand winning 'by -12 'points to nil and 3 points pi nil, Baffue leaviasr for England iv

1905 tho Now Zealand team visited Sydney and played two matohe3 against N.cw South Wales. ' Tho first was won by New Zealand by 19 points to 3, »nd the second was a drawn game, each side scoring 8 points. The tour of the Canterbury team to tho ' West Coast has been finally arranged. The'toam will leave Christchurch on Ist August, play Puller Union on 3rd August, at Westport ; Inangahua Union at Reofton, on 7lh Augusts 4 and ,West Coast Rugby Union, at Greymouth, on 10th August. " -^ The Selection Committee of the Cantorbury Union appears to be inclined todepart from the usual lines adopted by its predecessors (says the Canterbury Times). Already at its instigation tho country playor3 havo had an opportunity of playing in' town, and the committee is "scouring tho country" in tho hopes of discovering some hidden talent. I should imagine, continues Iho writer, that its search is principally in the direction of forwards, as the backs playing in town appear this season to bo above tho average, juSt as the forwards sewn below the standard of representative players. ,If the Selection Committee can discover half a dozen suitablo forwards and lick them into shape for • tho representative games, it will have done a good season's work. The championship at Christchurch stands a3 follows: —

1 Sydonham ».. 11 Albion ... 11 Christchurch 11 Old Boys ... 11 Morivale , ... 11 Linwood ... 11 Can. College 12 rf <S fcO gM» P- jj Q a, Oj OOh 10 1 0 120 24 10 9 2 0 151 56 9 7 4 0 118 73 7 SSI 125 117 Sh 4 6 1 91 103 4i 2 9 0 61 150 2 111 0 55 201 1