Football.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 38, 13 August 1910, Page 14

Football.

RUGBY. """ (By Dropkick.} As a result of last Saturday's matches, Oriental are virtual champions for 1910. They still have to meet Poneke, who are one point behind them, but who have played one match more. That should settle the matter, though it is difficult to see how the match can be worked in satisfactorily, with the rep. season at hand, and likely to occupy the park for the rest of the football yrite 1 . It is regrettable that financial considerations prevent the Rugby Union from arranging a full and complete series of matches, so as to constitute the senior championship as oHe of two rounds both to be played out in proper sequence. That would make the competition fairer than it is at present. The gate weighs strongly with the union, and must do so with so great a burden as the Miramar "white elephant," or "dead horse," to work off, and other heavy financial liabilities. Still, Miramar is done with this season — the lease expires — and the union should have a freer hand next season. They ought then to do away with the arbitrary arrangement of matches and the shifting of them about like so many pawns. Each team should meet each of its opponents twice during the football season. If there are too many teams to permit of thiß, well, those at the bottom should drop out, in the same way as the First and Second Leagues in Association football are managed at Home. At present half the teams in the championship have played 12 matches, the other half 11, barring Southern, which has played only 10. The Athletic-Poneke match was a very strenuous struggle, marred by a regrettable incident— really one of a series. As D. Calcinai's case is the subject of court proceedings, "Dropkick" cannot comment on this particular matter. Still, the game was excessively rough, and the joltings in. the scrum were obvious to the spectator on the bank, if not to the referee, who was too much engrossed with the ball to notice it. On general principles the incident may do_ good in exposing rough play, and in bringing the referees to a sense of duty in regard to such play. There has hitherto this 6eaaon been too much leniency in the treatment of amateur pugilists on the football field. Lower Hutt has been the scene of several good games this season, and not the least inteiesting was last Saturday's contest, when the local tear* suffered defeat at the hands of Petone — Lower Hutt's rivals in more than one walk in life — by a fairly narrow margin. Forward play largely figured in a game which seldom rose to a high standard in regard to passing. Of the two sets of backs, that of Petone was easily superior, but the same could not be said in regard to the respective forward teams. The vanguard of the home team were indeed in excellent form^ grafting | continuously from start to finish, and they played together with a combination that was sadly lacking among their rearguard. Turner, in particular, 'showed that he is capable of good football — nearly approaching representative form. Tannahill also proved a valuable member of his team, but of the two players the style of the former should appeal more than that of his confrere to an observant follower of the game. M'Gurk, Sullivan, and, perhaps, Judd, wouli* also be a credit to any senior team. Touching on the backs, it was noticeable that Harnetfc, after a spell on the bank, and benefited too, no doubt, by well-meant press advice as to the ethics of Rugby, had considerably improved. Hikita'3 light went out early in the game, in marked contrast to Cudby, who, that day, was the bright star of his side. Boutley has played better games, and Logan, an ex-Walra-rapa player of some note, did not shine conspicuously. Both full-backs were poor. Langford I (Hutt} displayed a marked disinclination j to get down to rushes, and Miller — his vis-a-vis — who is not usually a subject for complaint, obviously had a "day off." The leather was too greasy for I accurate handling by Petone's rear- I guard, and added to this was a. tendency — which developed as the game progressed — towards off-side play. Another feature of the combination lay in the fact {hat many attacks were rendered fruitless owing to the chain of attack travelling too far over towards the touch line. The scoring chances of the threequarters were thus often reduced to a minimum. J. Ryan was very strong, both in the defence and attack; he appeared to fit his position very well, and it is difficult to imagine why the selectors of the representative fifteen relegated him back to the "full-backship. ' His right-hand man, in the person ot Jack M'Kenzie, made few mistakes, making a point of always using his head as well as his feet and hands, and many are wondering why he has so completely fallen from grace in the eyes of the selectors, in not having been honoured with a commission in the B representative' team. Behind the scrum, Nunn gave a very fair exhibition, although never attaining that degree of efficiency which made the name of his predecessor (Clem Green) one to conjure with in his club. As regards the remaining backs, Joe Ryan infused plenty of life into his play, and next to him came Daly, and then Corson. Playing at wing-forward, Hardham quite justified his subsequent inclusion in the IS representative team. One thing that strikes a spectator about this player is the manner in which he "generals" his charges. Few captains exercise the functions of their office as diligently as the Petone skipper. In Prouse, Petone has a valu- j able acquisition; his policy is hard work and little talk. Price and Ai'Farlano also deserve favourable comment. Hutt's tackling, although' it has plenty of room for further development, is deserving of a word of praise. At least one of their number, however, .-h^uld learn not to show nis excessive londness fox- his opponents by hugging ttein around the neck. A SET-OFF TO CHARGES[BY. TELEGBAPH—PKESb ASSOCIATION.] KEW PLYMOUTH, 12th August. As a set-off against the Manawatu Union's charges of discourtesy to their touring team by the Taranaki Union, the hotelkeeper where the Manaw t tu team stayed at Hawera has forwarded to the local union a report of alleged disgraceful conduct of the men, which has been forwarded to the Palmerston body.