FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2122, 22 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Speaking at a. banquet tendered to the N Z. Professional team at xiamax the President of the local club made the following interesting remarks:— They had been extremely pleased to receive the New Zealanders who, lie thought, could take their defeat m the same spirit tliat they take « victory. He was deli gilt ed-uath the way in which the players had deported‘themselves on the field ; they had plavcd as gentlemen: (Hear, lieai.) He' thought they had given one or two little lessons which the Halifax team would take to heart as somethin”- of use to them. One_ thing which seemed to be against the New Zealanders was tho. miserable, vile weather that was just now prevailing. He had come to the conclusion, alter seeing the game tliat if the weather were all that they could desire the team would probably make bettei results. (“Hear, hear.”) Their quickness in getting themselves out of difficulties on that mud heap at Thrum Hall had appealed to him, and if they had had a beautiful ground to play on they, would no doubt have oriven the Halifax team something more to do. The game had been an oil lovable oue, and both sides, pia.Yaii<V 'in a manful way, had got the best out of the conditions. Tho New Zealand team should not be downhearted. They were better class than the previous New Zealand team met in tho Rubgy Union. In tho Northern Union they had the picked men of the country, and to his mind the Northern Union game of to-day was the game of the future, if the players would only take the advice of those at the head of affairs and make the game open and attractive whatever the results. (“Hear, hear. ) Whether they won or lost, let them make the game open, giving too spectacular view which the public wanted to see. and then Association would die a natural death. ( Heat, hear.”) Two years ago, when the rules were altered—and he thought ' wisely—they were “trotted fl’?' 1 : the phenomenal scoring, but now tliat tiie teams had found out tho methods of defence and. attack the scoring | was not so prolific, and tho mteicst I in -n <uinu' did not so rapidy evaporate. "Another pleasing feature was that their referees were more proliejent- than they used to be, and if nil games were handled as was the one "that afternoon, Northern Union football would rise still more in the estimation of the public. (“Hear, hear.”) The tone of tlie players was different from what it was twenty years ago. with all due respect to the good old amateur, who used to get paid behind the scenes. They respected the professional much more than the bogus amateurs’ —(“hear, hear”) —and the professional of to-day «as a gentleman. Players to-day were not young fellows who wasted their time in drinking and gambling, i'liev tried to teach them something batter, and to put them in a good position for making their way in the world in alter life. The training they had oil the football field was good training for business, and lie urged them to lift up the tone of football -ji every possible way. They had model rules, and any more _ tinkering would spoil the game. Neither the public lior the ulayers wanted any more- tinkering, for to his mind tho mire were ttlie best they had ever had. (“Hear, hear.”)