FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 August 1924, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE WANGANUI MATCH. Time was when, in their rather superior way, Taranaki were wont to look on the annual match with Wanganui as a practice game, not looked on very seriously, and with victory almost considered a foregone conclusion. Of .'late years, however, the position has changed, and the standard of Wanganui football has improved so much that Taraanki have had on several occasions to lower their colours to the men from the south. This year Taranaki football has been on the whole improved, and the team has not been nearly so often altered, with the result that they have shown more combination. This is noticeable both back and forward.' The pack this year is one of the best Taranaki has had for some considerable time. They have a number of young players who have heaps of dash and show a good deal of that football “sense” which differentiates players into separate classes. They also have the benefit of the leadership of Jack Kissick. He has great dash and the knack of coming through the ruck just when wanted, and also a feature in which all the players might strive to emulate his example, the ability to institute dribbling rushes and to keen control of the ball. It is an acknowledged axiom that a strong team will keep the ball to themselves, not give into the opposing hands, and attack with it amongst their players, remembering that they cannot score -constructively), so to speak, without the ball, but rather only by spoiling tactics, and if two teams are of a high standard and well matched this is not in the main that at which they aim. They always strive to secure and keep the ball, and only when, unsuccessful do they use the spoiling method. It is in a measure a confession of weakness and used to counter the constructive move of the opposition. A .less competent team may by dash and hard play, possible by first-rate physical fitness, keep a more combined team from scoring by these tactics. The classy team will, however, endeavour to have the hall in their hands or at their feet during as much as possible of the game. There are times, naturally, when kicking is the game, but a judicious use of such tactics is necessary, and if a player cannot get the line with his kick, he wants to kick such a distance that he or his co-players who are on side can get, by hard following up, down to the man waiting to receive the ball. In this last feature is embodied, quite a lot of the success achieved by Sinclair, which has marked him as a full-back of class. When he is in a position to do so he finds the line; when he has to kick down field he gallops after his kick and very often muzzles the waiting player. Returning to the play of the back team against Wanganui, it may be said generally that they did quite well. The half stood up to his work, and in the main got his passes away quickly and accurately. Oliver is a young player who would with coaching improve a lot, and Johnston, as we have said time and again, has the ideal style of the five-eighths, and his swerve and cutting in might well be copied with advantage. They are the essentials of a player in that position. The three-quarter line shaped very creditably. All have pace, and Ross especially is very dashing and always liable to get through. Often, however, the wings were too crowded on the side line. The whole defence was, however, hadlv caught napping when Wanganui scored their first try, and they were altogether out of position. But they are a team which should go far, provided they keep fit and play together for some time longer,

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. The Hawera school have reason to be proud of their victories against Stratford on Wednesday. The latter have been playing third-class, while Hawera were rated fourth, and the first team secured a great win. The forwards showed plenty of clash and scrummed well, thereby giving their speedy backs every opportunity, and many of the passing rushes were really excellent and showed their quality by ending in tries. Their kicking at goal was not too good, and they, like most other' teams representative, senior, and junior, might well pay more attention to this most useful and effective feature of the game. It should be added that the Hawera team have been coached mainly by Mr. Thomas, and he has reason to be satisfied with liis work. PASSING NOTES. (Otago Daily Times.) The 192-1 general election may perhaps be regarded as over, though there is room for differences of opinion regarding the significance of the results. Acknowledgments for the figure of speech are due to Mr. Solomon, who remarked at a football social on Saturday night that the tussle between League and Union had been marked by the excitement usually incident to a general election. .The genial K.C.—author of the memorable phrase, “Dunedin for devilment'’ — certainly did not exaggerate. On the contrary, it may be doubted whether any political contest, 6ince Dunedin became Dunedin, has equalled, in point of all-embracing grip, the power of the Rugby versus League controversy which culminated at Taliuna Park on Saturday afternoon. Is “culminated” the same as “finished”? In this case it is devotedly to be hoped so—as in the case of .Jutland. Mr. Solomon, though a professional litigator, set an excellent example as a peacemaker. “They were brothers in sport, though, he added amidst laughter, they had during the last week been ‘brothers in law.’ He hoped yet to see them brothers in fact.” May it be suggested that one or two of the subsequent speeches were not couched in iquite similarly conciliatory tone? I. j for one. am philosophically impartial. Give me Rugby League at Taliuna and Rugby Union at Garish rook —but. please, not on the same day. It is an axiom, and must be a postulate, that you cannot be in two places at the .same time. Football controversies are all very well in their way. but- Ranfnrly versus Nasoby is the really vital issue of the hour. 1 have been trying to keep a balanced mind in regard to a subject of Imperial import, but Ranfnrly has won me over to its side by appealing, with outrageous vigour, to my poetic susceptibilities. While a part of Ranfnrly is admittedly bare and barren there is a belt of some 40 acres of land, encircled by trees .that compare more than favourably as regards beautv with anything that ISaseby can show, and this is where the hospital is to

be built. These 40 acres are to be the great redeeming glory of Ranfurly iu the future. Along their beautiful walks poets and romancers can be bred, and under their leafy shades ardent youth can kindle the gentle flame as well as in the “bowery hollows” of Naseby. Naseby has answered: the fight between Great and Little Pedlington still goes on pending the editorial closure; but, taking it for all in all, contemplating rival attractions, I have decided to go to Ranfurly for my next umbrageous and amorous holiday. Naseby must forgive me, and take consolation in the fact, if I mistake not, that Ranfurly was once a mere “Eweburn.” EVen now it does not know* how to pronounce its own name. Emphasis on the first syllable, please. As the popular ex-Governor once remarked, “I don’t rhyme with ‘surly.’ ”

MEMORIES AND OTHERWISE. TE AUTE! v. NEW PLYMOUTH. (Quidnunc.) While looking at the school match last Saturday, my mind kept travelling back to the ~Te Aute players of about a generation ago, and comparisons were being made as a matter of course. Generally speaking, the comparison was not in favour of the present day Te Aute team. As a small boy still at school I saw the famous Te Aute team of 1891 play some of its matches, and the memory of some of its great players is as fresh as ever. I often wonder just what some of our present day schoolboys would do if they had such a runaway steam engine, as James Kireka to contend with. James was one of the greatest humping wing three-quarters in the history of the game. He played for Hawke’s JBay in the three-quarter line, and no less an authority than “Off-Side” Mackenzie avers that James was one of the best plavers he ever saw. James stood oft lOin and weighed about 13st 71b: and as be was pretty fast and could use hip and shoulder, one can imagine the trouble he gave to liis opponents. Friday Tomoana of the club-foot was another star, who, in spite of his great physical handicap, was quite a fast runner and a wonderful kick. Wi Hapi and Hiroa were two more of that great team who were in the- front rank, and the latter attained fame as a wing forward in the New Zealand team in Australia in 1893. Just a year or two later came the great Peter McDonnell, a fast fending three-quarter who afterwards played for Wanganui and New’ Zealand. For a year or two Te Aute dropped out of the cup competitions in Hawke’s Bay. until in 1897 another galaxy of talent began to make its presence felt. There were no brilliant forwards of the Ellison and Hiroa type, but the backs were of the best class, and two or three, notably Alex 'Takarangi and Tutere Wi Repa, were in the first flight. The team improved. until in 1900 they had what would be the best college team, I suppose, that ever stood on a field in New Zealand. The forwards were bigger than the present team, and the backs were as dashing a lot as one could wish to see. I saw the representative match, Wellington v. Hawke’s Bay, in 1900, when the game resulted in a draw.’ and, if I remember rightly, about eight Te Aute boys were playing for Hawke’s Bay. Wepiha. Te Wainohu, Mitchell and Raana Walker were in the forwards, and three finer specimens of young manhood could not be seen anywhere in the wide world. The two first named were just on six feet in height and weighed over fourteen stone, while the last stood six feet two inches and weighed twelve stone nine. Walker was a clever wing forward, and his colleague on the other side of the scrum was Bob Oliphant of Poneke fame. The front rankers for Hawke’s Bay that day were Wepiha and “Paddy” McMinn, probably a« good a pair of hookers as ever went down into a scrum. Wepiha went to I the Great War as a padre and sleeps somewhere_ on the other side of ■ the world. He was a grand footballerand as grand a man. The outstanding back on the- field in that rep match was a beautiful figure of a. man in Ngatai, an ideal centre three-quarter. Te Aute have had some great players, notably Tom Ellison, Gage, Urn, James, Taku Pauapa, Wi Hapi, but Ngatai was in their class. He stood over six feet, and weighing round about thirten stone, could run like a deer. I can .still see him under way with his wonderful swerving runs, putting his wings into position for their dives over the goal line. If he had lived he would have- taken high honours. Ngatai was one of the group c-hosen to represent the Maori race at King Edward’s Coronation, and died soon afterwards. Again in 1904, 1905 and 1906 Te Aute had another great side, and one that played the best type ol football this writer has yet seen Their forwards were quite good aiui the backs played the passing game to perfection. Most of them played in i'akarangi’s native teams, and two especially, in Bongo Nuku and Kaipara, were in the very front rank of footballers. Kaipara was the New Zealand five-eighths afterwards. Tn 1904 the Te Aute team toured New South Wales and gave the public schools something to think about The only game they lost was that against Sydney University, who won Tbv 6 points to 3 after a most gruelling game. T have seen college teams all over New Zealand, but f have yet to see one that would compare with Te not tne same advantage in one respect, that is, they have not the guiding hand of Mr. J. Thornton, who. vear by year turned out great teams. " Quality was stamped over them, and-men like Ellison. Gage. Urn, Taku, Friday, James, McDonnell make up sufficient evidence to show that class was there. One thing that .struck me very noticeably ast Saturday was the evident attention given to forward work by the Te Ante team. In past days ‘the for’uart.s did not monopolise the game, and the endeavour always was to get, the call out to the three-quarters for them to do the scoring, and anyone who saw Te Aute for a number of years would remember the great amount of running indulged in. There was hardv any kicking, and the ball was sent backwards and forwards until the j opening came- for the final burst through the opposing backs. Some very fine forwards have been turned out in the past, but the forward was always a secondary element in the game, so to speak. The present threequarters are only a- .shadow of past heroes and it seems to me that until some of the past traditions of the Te Ante three-quarter game are revived so will they remain in the doldrums of the football world. The half-bark Potaka- seems likely to be a plaver of

the best type, and strongly reminded me of Poananga, a former To Ante half who was well known in his time. I he full-back shaped well, but it is a strange thing that I cannot call to mind any full-back of class other than Delamere, of the 1900 team. It seems to me that the really first-class native full-backs can be summed up iu one of the- Warbrioks. Another thing that was missing in the Te Aute boysin their recent match was the daMi usually associated with the native youths. J understand that they are quite a. young team, so it is possible that the greenness which was apparent will wear off and the requisite dash acquired. “Per contra,” the New Plymouth boys gave a very good exhibition of back p%, and the first five-eighths and full-back must be congratulated* on their wonderful fielding of the greasy ball. Tdo not remember seeing any five-eighth gathering in the greasy ball in all manner of positions as did Fookes last Saturday. He holds out great- promise as a player, and class shone in all that he did. The New Plymouth forwards are not such good class as are the backs, and some of their work is rather crude. They certainly have plenty of dash, but once out in the open their work falls away below standard. It would be a splendid thing for the boys to watch a nlayer like Kissick controlling the ball. However, the game was a iollv good one, and it reached a fairly high standard in spite of the mud. ” DEATH OF F. W. GUNN. On July 29, at South Yarra, Frederick William Gunn, an old Carlton nlayer of the 70’s, passed away, aged 68 years. He was contemporary with such . famous Carlton players as J. Qardiner, R*. Fravne. G. Coulthard, -T. Donovan, A. McMichael, W. Goer, B. Murphy, H. Nudd, G. Robertson. G. Smith, and many others of renown. He was born in Ireland, coming to Australia as a boy, and his snlendid and tricky nlav delghted thousands in those far-off times. There were several Irishmen in the ranks of Carlton when John Gardiner’s “Forward Carlton.” was the war cry of the old blues. B. Murphy, who died some little 'time ago in the West, and E. Murphy were born overseas, and made Carlton their football home. “Paddy” Gunn, for he was never called anything else—a name that stuck for all time, like “Patsy” Hendren, of English cricket fame—was very short in stating, hnt was strongly built, and exceedingly quick, clever, and resourceful. In the records of those “good old days” each player’s characteristics were mentioned. Gunn's eulogium being—“As a dodger, certainly unequalled; an adept at little marks, and particularly dangerous when near his adversary’s goal. Has fully shared the honours with his more stalwart companions.” Those lines were Written as far back as 1878. and it is well to remind present day managers and plavers what the game owes to those old-timers who kept the flag flying, and who are gradually dwindling in numbers. Like a typical Irishman, Gunn not only pleased the onlookers with his antics, but thoroughly enjoyed himself as well. As the poet of his day described him, he must have been as game as he was clever.

“And wee Paddy Gunn, With a brilliant run, Humbugging the players with lots of fun — A broth of a boy is his mother’s son! What more exciting than Paddy’s charge On Sillett, ■of Melbourne, twice as large?”

He was educated at Wesley College, was a commercial traveller by occupation, though he had retired many years ago-, and had been in ill-health for some time. He leaves a widow, two sons—both of them members of the A.l.F.—and two daughters. Personally, I was not acquainted with the quaint little Irishman, but all those who knew him well, such, as George Robertson, were loud in their praises of his qualities as a man and bis ability as a footballer. WELSH RUGGER IMPROVING. At the annual meeting of the Welsh Rugby Union, at Cardiff in June, under Mr. Horace Lyne, it was decided to alter the composition of the International Selection Committee, and in future Welsh teams will be chosen by five selected from the general committee. Mr. Lyne stated that he felt quite optimistic as to the future of Welsh Rugby. Wales had a fine forward team last >season, but the backs lacked initiative. He looked forward to much improvement in the coming season. BRITISH TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA On Wednesday the British team in South Africa won their fourth match in succession, beating Western Transvaal, at Potchefstroonß by 8 to 7. They drew with Transvaal, 12 all, on Saturday. The next match is to-day, against Orange Free State, whom they again meet on Saturday next. Their record is: Won 4, lost 1, drew 1. The first test with South Africa will be played on Saturday week at Durban, and the next a. week later at Johannesburg. A RUGBY UNIONIST. William W. Hill, the Rugby Union footballer of other days and official of the hour, has been selected by the New South Wales Rugby Union as its delegate to the Imperial Rugby conference to be held in England this year. Air. Hill has seen the game played in the Old Land and in America. He went over to California at the invitation of the universities concerned to referee the big match between Stanford and California Uniyer,sites some few years back. Tt is likely, however, that Air. Hill will not be able to see liis way clear to accept the invitation of his union to visit England this year. “LE RUGBY.” THE GAME IN FRANCE. R-EMA RK ABLE PR 0 G R ESS. Tt is practically assured that a French R'tigby football team will visit Australia at the end of the next season. That being the case, there is a certain treat in store for the supporters of the game in Australia. That the French play football, and nlav it well, has ceased to surprise the British public. As a matter of fact, they are nowadays regarded as formidable opponents for any international team. Dming their comparatively brief incursion into the realms of “big” football, they have won for themselves a splendid record, and one which entitles them to the respect of the whole world of Rugby. Wonderful Progress. The game has made astonishing strides in France during recent years.

But in reflecting upon this progress it is not- often realised that Rugby was introduced into France somethin.; like 40 years ago. For 10 years prior to 1892 occasional matches were played in Paris, but they were desultory affairs, usually arranged by British residents, and of no real consequence. It was in 1892 that the first official championship match took place in France. Ihe teams were the Racing Club de I ranee and the Stade Francais both of which are now household names among the sporting public of France, and the game was won by the former. In the same year the first match took place against an English team. The Stade Francais visited London and met heavy defeat at the hands of the well-known Rosslyn Park Club. During the past three years the game spread rapidly throughout the whole country, and in 1895 the Stade Francais turned the tables on R. Bark in Paris. Especially did Rugby thrive in the south-west and in 1899 the Stade Bordelais earned the championship to the provinces for the first time. This club before the war played a great part in Irench football, reaching the final 12 times in all, winning it outright on seven occasions. Although it is now no longer the that- it was, the seed sown by the Stade Bordelais in that small corner of the country has continued 1o thrive. To-day the great strength of j i-n 111 , France lies in the vallevs a p 111.l 11 . °t the Pyrenees country. Striking pr° of of this is provided bv the fact that the four teams in the championship semi-finals last • season were from the south-west corner of France The “capital of Rugby football has been moved from Paris to S”J?" se - ,l n , this b .V no means greatly populated town there are 35 separate clubs and 6 schools all plavmg the Rugby game. Early, Struggles. There is much that is romantic in the history of the growth of Rugby in France ; in the- recital of the trials and tribulations which beset its players in the early day®. One may learn something of the circumstances in a recently published novel, which is also an historical document, titled “Desroches: Footballeur. ” The author, M. Destel, is himself one of the pioneers of the game in France. If it is not in the power of mortals to command success, these pioneers deserve it.

In the opening chapters—the time is about a generation ago—the hero is depicted as a. small boy, watching his elders, who, with a minute rubber” ball, pursue strange manoeuvres that they imagine quite incorrectly to be “le Rugby.” His luke-warm curiosity changes, to enthusiasm when an English boy arrives with a real football and proceeds to demonstrate the minor arts of kicking and marking. Immediately Desroches is seized with the passion of emulation. Merely to touch the precious “ballon” is a wondrous joy to him.

The school authorities frowned upon the game at the outset. For one thing, it. resulted in broken windows and furthermore, it- was looked upon as a terrible interruption to serious studies. More than the mere disfavour of schoolmasters was needed, however, to check the fervour of youth for its new sport-. It is related that as soon as Desroches could contrive to borrow a copy of the sacred rules of Rugby, he set himself with pen and ink and dictionary to commit them to paper.

Everywhere there were difficulties, in the world at large the playing of the game was an obstacle to employment, since its votaries were evidently triflers with life. In the army it vas tieated as a dangerous distraction i-n • soWier’s proper business of drilling and shooting. When Desroches, grown to man’s estate, but still the enthusiast, applied toi the hand of Glaire Dartigues his prospective father-in-law shook ’ his head over “le Rugby” as over an obscure malady about which medical advice must be sought before a betrothal could even be considered. But gradually all the prejudices were “swept aside; the game ceased to provoke contempt, anger, and suspicion; the pariahs of the past found themselves the idols of the crowd. And so it is that “le Rugby” is as much the national game of France a« is any game. It is rooted deep in the Hearts of a great section of the French people, as a. clean, manly game divorced from all taint of professionalism a game for the game’s sake—deserves to be. British Assistance. About 20 years ago several wellknown players from Great Britain chiefly Welshmen, and including the famous Percy Bush, visited France, with the object of endeavouring to impart a more thorough knowledge of the game to the enthusiasts across the Channel. The results of their teaching were soon obvious, for in 1906 came the first- international match with England. Except for the break during the war period this match has been a regular annual fixture. The Frenchmen have yet to register victory over England, but they are spurred on bv the knowledge that on several occasions their teams have been within an ace of winning this, for them, the most coveted of all Rugby honours. Something in the nature of a crisis took place- m the Rugby world of I ranee in 1920, but the game has suffered nothing in consequence. R.u»bv football was ny far the most- important sport associated with the Union des Societies Francais des Sports Athletiques, the governing sports bodv of the country. This body insisted upon the Rugby organisation pooling its funds for the benefit of all the bodies in the Union. As they were by far the greatest contributors, and as httle headway could be made in the development of their game with the hmds^ apportioned them from the pool, the Rugby folk broke away from the governing body._ and in 1921 f ormed the lederatmn Francaise de Rugbv the Union, without the financial support of the Rugby Federation, was unable to exist, and a. new body the Union des Federations Francaise des nport.s Athletiques. recognised bv the Government as a “public utilit-v,” was formed. To this body the Rugby Fed erajtion became affiliated, but 'nowadays manages its own affairs. ft- is a much more satisfactory arrangement than the old one. ami one under which tbe game should continue to flourish. RUGBY IN FRANCE. ..J 1 ”* generally understood that the All Blacks will have some of their hardest struggles on the fields of our ancient ally and alike oft-times friend aeioss the Channel. A Taranaki man who some years ago often toured I ranee with teams from London endorsed this view, and said that of recent years France has produced manv hue players, and that the presence of army teams during the war had had a great influence in advancing the cause of Rugby This is borne out, too by the article published below on the’de i velopment of the game

FIFTY YEARS AGO. From the Lvttelton Times, August 17, 1874. Football. —The match twenty-five of the College v. twenty of the club, was played on the College ground on Saturday last. The representatives of the College proved to be the better team of the two, as they obtained two goals and their opponents none. The club representatives were placed at a considerable disadvantage by not being fully acquainted with the mode of interpreting the College rules. The goals were kicked by 11. Cotterill and O. Gould. It is to be hoped that before this’ match' is played again the club will make themselves acquainted with the College rules.