A NOTED FOOTBALLER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 90, 13 October 1916, Page 2

A NOTED FOOTBALLER'S DEATH

INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF "DAVY"- GAGE. The death of Mr. D. Gage, the wellknown Rugby footballer, recalls several incidents of some of the games that the j Poneke back took part in " (writes "Old Hand "). "In conversation with the \yriter Gage always considered the Wel-lington-Auckland match, played on Newtown Park in August of 1889, the hardest contest he took part in. Wellington had not played the Northern province since 1886, and on the- return of the Wellington team the' Auckland referee was burned -in effigy in Manners-street. In consequence of\his incident the '89 fixture was played without any ' beg pardons.' During this historic battle Gage was struck by an Auckland forward, which caused a stoppage in the play. The Wellington forwards at once appealed to the late Tom Ellison, another of our best-known players, and a fine athlete. He significantly remarked, ' The man who hits Davy, hits me. Go on.' . The trouble did not recur. Wellington won by 3 points to 1. . On the 12th May, I 1888, on the Basin Reserve, Wellington drew with Stoddart's English team. Gage was the last line of defence that afternoon, and one .of his after-matcu regrets was that he did not tackle his man five yards further out and prevent the score. The, Poneke man was under his opponent, whose length enabled him to ground the ball over the line. Gage replaced Joe Warbrick on the following Monday in the three-quarter line, and R. Sim went full-back for Roberts's team. In this match A. D. Thomson broke.his collar-bone, and A..D. Whatman his leg. In 189Q Poneke withdrew from the championship contest, as the club did not agree with the union's decision that Gage was not a bona' fide I z'esident of Wellington. Gage was a I member of the 1891 Wellington team which was defeated by Ota-go and Canterbury. The obituary list of this combination now is F. Pownall, H. T. M'Cardell (manager), T. R. Ellison, Frank Smith, and D. Gage. In the 1892 season the Canterbury tea-m defeated i Auckland by 24 points to 6. The Wei-. [ lington fixture was played on New'town Park, on Monday, 12th September. Owing to the state. of tie ground tan was placed on various portions of the playing area, which was laid out north and south, and not the usual east and west. The Wellington team excelled themselves, and won by 12 to 3. The line kicking by Gage in this match was superb. In the second spell the Poneke player .received a shock. A. Hobbs, the Canterbury centre three-quarter, sent a high kick down to Gage, who failed to hold the ball, which "fell at his fee-t. When the whistle went for "knock-on" Gage's face was a study in astonishment. This match saw the introduction of the five-eighth position in Wellington. Price, of the Canterbury team, was the exponent. G. 11. Forbes (now the member for Hurunui) played half-ba-ck for Canterbury. Gage visited Australia in 1893. The Poneke Club was also represented by Ellison, Wynyard, Stuart, and Oliphant. Dave Gage was a favourite with the public, and his advice was frequently sought by the members of his club. He took more than a passing interest in the lower-grade divisions of the Poneke Club, and on ' gym ' nights arranged what form of training- should be indulged in. To old followers of the national game no name appeals more than that of ' Davy ' Gage. They have all heard of his passing away with great regret.