FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8578, 27 July 1891, Page 2

FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

Pirates v. Zingari was a very even game, the former having if anything the best of the luck, and, thanks to a good place- kiok of brabble's, winning by 4 points to nil. The spectators were limited .to biz Indies and about twenty red-hot Ricumondites, as I notice the wearers of the parti- colored jerseys bow delght to style themselves. Bad the gathering of onlookers been larger they would have been wofnlly disappointed with the charaoter of the play in the first Bpell, which was of the "rale* old-fashioned" stylo. Scrum followed scrum in quick suc- , oession, the half-backs on both sides totally ignoring their three-quarters, who for the most part simply stood and fumed with impatience. The second spell was as different in its style aB one could well imagine. The Pirates opened out, and their opponents following suit, some excellent running, passing, and dribbling ensued. The "Mercurial Jim" was the first to show up* and good passing between CraWßhaw and himself put the Colors on the defensive. Not for long, however, as Esquilant was equal to the occasion, and cleared his lines by a grand kick. Charley Morris, in return, got fairly away, and streaking down the touchline had the ball in chancery before Fordyce could get within hugging distance. The old story of appealing and waiting for the whistle was mainly the cause of the Blacks being allowed to score the second try, from which Drabble placed a goal. The Colors made gallant efforts to retrieve the fortunes of the day after this, but without avail, Cran in particular staving off attack after attack. Moloney played a very fine game forward for the losers, and took the ball from the line-out splendidly. Henney should remember that a lone hand does not count for much in football, two or three capital chances having been lost on Saturday by his consistent disregard of Esquilant's advice to pass. Drabble makes an ideal captain, and ib just the man, I should say, to bring back the Blacks to the deeds of the days that are gone. _ Some of the yonnger members of his piratical orew would do well to note that, although in a multitude of counsellors there may be wisdom, yet it is equally certain that too many cooks spoil the broth. Cran is forgetting how to pass, and must wake up and develop that most important arm of the service.

Dunedin v. laieri was well worth seeing, and although the soore would imply that the winners were muoh too good for the vanquished, yet such was not the case. It was the passing of the visitors that did the damage, and that portion of their play was certainly of a high order. Sterenson was in great form, and W. Elder tried his hand at half back work not unsuccessfully. Findlay has the making of a great forward, and will be heard of yet. Matheson has got into something like 1889 oondition, and Bhould be well up among the candidates for interprovincial honors. Beck's retirement was a great loss to the Blues, as he oan always be relied on for good, honest work. What has come over the dons ? Are we not to have the pleasure of witnessing their gallant struggles again this season? It is time that Montgomery was getting his men into condition for their annual bout with Canterbury College. Caveraham v. Pacific was a very exciting contest. The shouts of the partisans could be distinctly heard at Hillside, so that the Flat must be favorable to the production of good lung power. Arnold Williams very narrowly escaped bringing disaster to his side on Saturday by hie endeavor to make a good run. The latter he accomplished, but at the cost of leaving his goal completely at the mercy of the opposing forwards, who must have scored but for the timely intervention of Cran. Unquestionably the finest piece of play on the Northern Ground was the intercepting of the pass from Restieaux to Crawfurd by Lang, which evoked thunderous applause from all parts of the field, the supporters of the Red-and-Black vieing with their opponents in acknowledging the brilliancy of the move, whioh was mainly responsible for the try so Boon afterwards obtained by Grieve. The ex-three-quarter of the Pirates played a fine game throughout, and ought to go very near inclusion in one of the interprovincial teams this year. Standing immediately behind the bar at the southern end of the ground, I am decidedly of opinion—a view that was shared by many of my companions—that Restieaux failed to convert Esquilant's try. However, Baker later in the day got an unmistakeable try, which was disallowed, so that it was nearly as possible a set off. The second spell was started with the Maroons at a great disadvantage, the score Btanding 6to 1. Hanning's try was a smart piece of work, which was loudly cheered by the Union barraokers; and Thomson's success in converting was even more appreciated. The Reds played with more vigor after this, and had their opponents in difficulties several times. A pretty feature of the game was the passing between Restieaux, Downes, and Noel. Downes might have potted a goalhe had a splendid chance to do so—but he resorted to the more certain method of transferring the leather to Noel, who was over the line like a shot. The kick by Restieaux was a most difficult one, and it was not surprising to seo that the ball fell short. Another incident of the second spell was a good rush of Union forwards, but it availed nothing. The game ended in a heavy downpour of rain, with the Alhambra's score standing at 7 points, and the Union's at 4. The game was one of the roughest I have witnessed this season, and, if my ears did not deceive me, more than once there were overt threats used that ought not to be heard on any football field. Other unpleasant features were the exoeßsive appealing and the uncalled-for talking and squabbling. It was very much like a return to old-time squabbles. In aB many minutes there were no lesß than three or four distinot appeals from different quarters of the ground, so that it was quite impossible for the referee to give immediate or decided answers. Once, in particular, the Union captain (Henderson), not content with appealing, took upon himself to lay down the law a duty which obviously does not belong to the captain of a team.

<Jf course there may be some advantage to " bluff" a referee, but it did not oome off very well on Saturday, and certainly did not tend to make the game either interesting or satisfactory. The referee, it is true, is armed with power to stop that kind of thing, and oan proteot himself by ordering an offending player off the field. The rule is an excellent one in theory, bnt does not work out in praotice. It would be most unpleasant to enforce it in a match like Saturday's, because to do so would be to place one side at a great disadvantage. And had the rnle been impartially enforced, I am sure nearly one-half the players mnßt have had their services dispensed with for the greater part of the afternoon, M'Cleary, however, was perfeotly justified in the second spell in maintaining his rights. Some people evidently thought that, judging by their free comments in my neighborhood, that Downes was not playing as unselfish a game as he usually does, and that he might have given Cunningham a show. He certainly oould hare done bo once, but as he scored himself where's the difference? He bad four tries at a "pot," and one of them was the closest thing imaginable, the oval "wobbling " just beneath the bar.

Noel was effectually "marked," but he revenged himself for his many disappointments by cleverly running in at the northwest corner a quarter of an hour before time.

M'Court being out of town, did not play. Johnson, than whom there is not a better forward in town, was in his old place, and helped his side materially. There is talk of raising funds to enable the Alhambra's to journey northward and try conclusions with the orack clubs of Wellington (the Athletics) and Masterton, and a concert is talked of for raising the necessary fundß. All the men have expressed their ability to get away. I do not, however, think that the trip will eventuate, for the sufficient reason that the best men in Wellington will be doing battle next month in the South,, aa'd the pick of the ATbambra men will be

palled on to uphold the honor of their pro* vince. And what about the trial matohes, which begin on August 8 ? Up to date the position of the several olubs in relation to the season's premiership stands thus:—

Matches Polnta. Club. Played. Win*. Losses. Draws; For. Ajrst Alhambra.. 8 8 o o u 10 Kaikoral ..10 ft 2 0 63 22 Tiieri .. 9 5 4 0 29 29 Union ..10 5 5 0 44 85 Dunedla ..11 i 6 1 25 41 Pirates ..11 S 8 0 27 62 Ziilfari ,; 9 1 6 2 12 36 'Vaisity ..6 1 4 1 10 48 I notice that the Star Club have gained the leading place among the Southland olubs, having beaten the Pirates by 2 points to nil. I also notice that the winners had the services of Cuff at half. Now, I should like to know what were the considerations which induced Cuff to go to Invercargill to play in that game. Cuffs action, if not professionalism, is sailing dangerously close to the wind. 'Anyway, I think that it is a practioe which ought to be nipped in the bud straight away, and that the Otago Union should act in the matter Under regulation 3.

Southland expects to have, if anything, a stronger team than that of last year. The backs are said to be a distinct improvement on last season's contingent, and the forwards to be equally good. Otago will, therefore, need to look to her laurels, as jubilation will be no word for the crowing that will go on in the City of Streets should her representatives prove victorious. Vincent and Maniototo counties meet on August 27. Eaoh side is confident of carrying off the scalps of the other. We shall see, but I fancy that the former county will be too strong for the curling distriot. When the parent Rugby Union framed their rules re professionalism it was found necessary, owing to the scheming and trickery of some of the North of England clubs, to insert a proviso that " every testimonial to any member of a club is illegal," and that both giver and receiver is to be considered as infringing the laws of professionalism, unless "'the presentation had been sanctioned by the County Committee in which the club is situated." What will be the effect of this law on several gentlemen on the goldfields who have lately been the recipients of presentations ? There is a bit of a storm brewing in o*maru over the last match between the Achletics and Oamaru Clubs. It wonld appear that in a rush of the Oamaru fir wards the inevitable small boy got in the way, and an Oamaru man dropping on the ball after it had struck the blamed young rascal, claimed a try. The referee disallon ed the claim, and Oamaru appealed to the Rugby Union Committee, who reversed the referee's decision, on the ground that no arrangements had been made re dead balls, other than are provided by the laws of the game. Moral: Captains should always be careful to make some such arrangement when playing on uninclosod grounds. Rbsekee.