Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 147, 25 April 1903, Page 18

Rugby Football.

THE official opening of the football season taikes place next Saturday, the senior and junior championships of the Rugby Union being commenced that afternoon. The chances of the seven teams competing in the Senior Championship are being discussed by club supporters and partisans, players themselves, and practically every Tom, Dick, and Harry that takes an interest in the game that is acknowledged to be the national pastime of the New Zealand youth. * • • At present the appearances seem to point to the Senior Championship being very lob-sided — practically ai duel between the Melrose and Poneke Clubs, with a possible chance that the Oriental and Old Boys teams may make theur games inter esttnng with the former teams. Petone is given a possible chance of gathering together a few points but Athletao and Wellington are expected to be found battling for the A\ooden spoon. * * * The personnel of the Melrose team has not altered much. Joe Caiman is in harness again, and he has been chosen to lead the red and blues. Wngley, G Spencer, and E. Claridge are still battling, the latter being already considered a certainty for representative honours. Arthur Claridge has euven the game best that weak knee that caused him trouble during last season being one of the things that has led up to his retiroment. They say. too that Arthur contemplates matrimony— l hope I am not giving aiwav secrets 1 . Peterson and Callum are the frontrank men of the Melrose pack, and the scrum, also includes Cross Cthe New Zaeland representative), Caiman, J. Spencer, Hardham, and Adams, with Foothead and Osborne on the wing forwards. Peterson is new to senior football, but is said to have done good work among the juniors. Hardham is a brother of "Billy's," and was promoted from junior football last season. * * * The Poneke Club have plenty of material to make up a back team — Wallace Slatterv Thomas. Steven®, Gray, Slater, ToohiU, and Faulkner all being given a chance among the backs. The weakness is a half-back, and the vacancy seems likely to take a lot of filling. It is rumoured that "Cocky" Roberts may pass the ball out from behind the scrum or Slater will be brought forward from "Tiardmg the uprights to fill the billet. Slattery has struck form, and -will! be dangerous to his opponents if he keeps going. Gray and Wallace are the probable five-eighths and Stevens is likely to be put at centre three-quarter. By the way, Stevens is the player who did practically all the scoring in the Poneke junior team last season. The right wing three-quarter is an open questaon between Thomas and Toohill. The former is the ex-Melrose back of a few seasons ago amd Toohill is the St Patrick's College player of last season. If Slater isi put up to halfback the burly ex-Wairarapa centre tliree-quarteir, Faulkner. will more than likely fill the bill at full-back. Forward, McAnally, Sweeney, and Mcßae are still in theiT old places, and Mann will be found on the wing aigain. Griffiths, a finished exponent of footwork is said to be certain of his in the team as Mann's compatriot. Murphy, the Athletic player of many seasons now, is the Poneke "hooker." Will Spencer is giving his assistance to the Red pack this season, and it is probable the two Galbraiths — last year's juniors — will be found among the seniors • » » The Oriental team have promoted a junior player to full back — Stringer by name. His rlub's selection committee feel satisfied that he will be a good man in that position. Marsh is in harness once more and it is to be hoped that the bad luck that has pursued him since he came to Wellington will be conspicuous by its absence tins season Carr the ex-Wai-kato Dlaver '« on the wing, with Bush in the centre

Fied Roberta is being played fiver eighths. There- are many who consider the Oriental Club are making a mistake with Roberts. His half-back play last season was of such a character as to lead to the conclusion that with a \ear moie an his shoulders "Fieddv" would be a hard man to keep out of the halfback position m the representative team tins year. How ever, one of the greatest needs of the Onental Club in. the past has been a solid five-eighth. In Roberts they have the strengthening of that weak spot. Hi* defence is brilliant, his tackling deadly, and he knows no fear where a forward rush is concerned. It. re^ mains to be seem whether he will develop the aggressive part of the play of a good five-eighth. Reynolds, an ex-Southland lepiesentative", fills Roberts' place behind the pack and is said to be> more than, an average club man. In the forw ard ranks there are some "beefy" men — gkilton and Best, to wit. Edgar and Albert Wyhe put plenty of body into the pack, and Baird should prove of great assistance. Gillespie, an ex-Masterton flayer, may prove of service but at the present there seems some doubt on that point. * # * The Old Boys' team does not appear to have altered one iota, and it would seem from theur opening gallop last Saturday at Petonei that training is not receiving too much attention at their hands.. I aiLticinate, however, directly they get fairly that the best of the' teams in the competition w ill have to extend themselves to be in front of them when "no-side" is called. ♦ * * The big endeavour made by "Bill" Hardham and others to revive the Petone Club has met with a lot of success.. Interest has been re-kindled in the club all round, but the management of the club are not sanguine of a great measure of success in the Senior Championship this season. It has been decided, however to pay a lot of attention to the lunior player® brinering those forward that show form worthy of it, and thus, bv enoouraonng good play, in time the club will set all its old prestige back ai°;ain. I wish them every success in their endeavour. • * ♦ The Wellington team is all at sixes and sevens. I watched them playing for a while last Saturday, and was 1 surprised to notice Gallagher, Leversedge, and McLachlan, among the spectators — bei°r pardon, Gallagher was refereeing. McMinn, the clever front-ranker, has gone back to Palmerston North, Walsh has retired, and Baird has joined Orientals. Meredith's place at half-back is being filled by Gray, the ex-Suburbs (Auckland) player, but methinks h& has only got out of the frying-pan, into the fire. In Auckland his play was hampered by the amount of defensive work he had to get through each Saturday afternoon, and a similar experience seems to be in front, of him here this season. Mclntyre, Scott Wilson and A. Wilson are still battling, and in Dan Ehas, the yellow and blacks have a promising fivei-eighths. He is rather young yet, thoueh, to be played senior. By the wav how did the College 1 Old Boys lose him 9 • # * The Athleitacs are even in worse straits than the Wellingtons. Kelly has gone — what that means to the Athletic Club none know better than the supporters of that club's team. Coady is among the retired, and Murphy has joined Poneke. 'Billy" Pitt may don the jersey again, and "Tom" Hales: is doubtful. Joyce and "Bill" Hales are still followers of the ball, but from among the ragged crowd that was practising with the blue and blacks last Saturday, I could not distinguish many old faces A younger brother of "Wally" Rhodes — built on the same plan too* — is said to be likely to strengthen the team forw ard. The Athletics have a nuggety little half-castei — the name has slipped me for a, moment — at. five-eighth. He is saad to have shown good form at Te Aute College. • • •* This has been written to give thei followers of the same an idea as to the strength of the, various senior teams, but there are more than hkelv to be chances ere the season gets going far. The information I have set out above is as good as I can get at this stage, though, and it should prove a guide to Rugby enthusiasts. * * # Have any of you heard how many clubs Cross is going to play for? The OnentaJs were sure of him the Ponekes said it w as an absolute certainty he would be. found wearing a red and black lersev, and on Monday I heard the Melrose scrummage is where he will be found playing when the whistle sets them going (Continued on page 19 )

The old saying one goes from home to hear news" is again proven. "Action," in the "Auckland Star," says — "It was expected that Wallace, the Wellington three-quarter, would be in Auckland this season, and would play ioi Citj. He has, however, accepted employment in Napier, and will play for Haw kes Bay in their engagements tlus season." The Northern writer must have surely had a long sleep— probably right through the cricket season. It is over twelve months since Wallace returned from Haw kes Bay, and at the present time is comfortably settled in Lukes Foundry— w here he served his apprenticeship. * The annual report of the Rugby Union contained the following sentence —"In this connection IgroundsJ, delegates will be pleased to know that the Management Committee have made arrangements for the use of ten grounds at Miramar during the mcomnig season." That sentence was inserted as the result of the following letter having been received by the secret an' — -The Miramar Land Company Limited, "20th September, 1902. "Dear Sir, — , ,„,-, "In reply to yours of the irftn inst lam instructed b- the Board to say 'that it will agree to giye your Union ten (10) grounds for next season, at £5 pe,r ground, and Mr. Townsend, one of the directors, will wait upon you Te this matter. "Touts faithfully „ "J. B. Finlay secretary. As stated in that communication, Mr. Townsend waited on the secretary ot the Union, and stated that, although it was not official, the Union could rely on a renewal of the engagement set iortn m the letter fox two, or perhaps tfcree^ years- Mr. Townsend further stated, that it was the intention of his company to reserve the portion of Miramar used by the Rugby Union for a recreation ground, and later on they would float a company to govern it^-his company taking half the shares, the other hair to be allotted among the various athletic bodies of the city. With this definite promise before them is it to be wondered that the Rugby Union sat quietly down ?— the trouble ot finding grounds to play their game on was settled for a year or two— if not, tor all time. When the Rugby Union were asked to noin the deputation, to the' City Council re the purchase of the park offered as a recreation ground by Miramar, Limited the secretary was instructed to interview the secretary of the Miramar Land Company to see if the Union were affected by the offer of Miramar, Limited to the Council. Imagine the surprise of that official -when he was informed by Mr. Finlay that hisi company had disposed of its whole interest in Miramar to Miramar. Limited and had no grounds with which to redeem its promise. In making the transfer, the Union secretary was informed that no mention had been made of the agreement entered into with the Union. Accordingly as they were left without grounds at all at Miramar the Union decided to join the deputation to the Council. In the meantime, a promise was obtained from the secretary of Miramar, Limited, that the Union could use the park under offer to the Council on, the same terms as the Miramar grounds had been rented from Mr. Crawford in previous years — viz., ait the late of £3 a ground used for the season, such rent to be rebated should the City Council decide to take over the proposed park. Once again the Union thought themselves secuie for this season. But they reckoned without their hosts. Last Thursday, the chairman of the directors of Miramar, Limited, had a conversation u ith the secretary of the Union by telephone, that gentleman asking by whose authority the grounds at Mirah mar were being used for football. The leply that the secretary of the company had given the permission was met, by the remark that he had not received any authority to do so from liis directors. A meeting of the directors of the company was held the, following day (Friday), to which the secretary of the Union was invited to attend. He did so taking with him the chairman of the Committee 'Mr. Galbraith). They were politely informed — in fact a letter has been received to that effect, — that after the end of the present month no football can be played at Miramar— unless •the City Council take over the proposed park. A meeting of the Management Committee was held at Miramar, on Satuiday afternoon, for the purpose of inspecting the proposed park. It was decided that the work necessary to bring it into fit condition to play football on would occupy the greater part of the present season, and therefore it was advisable to look elsewhere for a playing ground. Accordingly, a party was got together, and a tour was made through the Hutt and Petone in quest

of grounds. Mr. Cudby, who has the lease of the Show Grounds, was interviewed, with the result that they have been placed at the disposal of the Union for its matches this season. What I have written above are facts, and it is only natural to believe that the Rugby Union does not relish the position they were being forced into— that of a decoy to compel the City Council to take over the offered park. That theiv have got out of that position with credit to themselves is evidence that they are qualified to fill the position they occupy in the government of Rugby football in Wellington. • • • George Robb, who was a member of the Southern Club has settled in Natal, South Africa. He forwards a copy of the "Natal Witness," in which is a resume of the annual meeting: of the Natal Rugby Union. The follow ing is clipped from the annual report : "In June, Captain Mitchell brought down from Newcastle, where they were then stationed, a team of the Tenth New Zealand Contingent, who beat Maritzburg after a great game by six points. Thei visit of this team was. of the greatest assistance to Rugby. in waking up both teams and individual players to the poesibilties of the game. ''A great number of spectators gathered to see the match, and from this time onwards the Rugby game attracted large crowds." ■* # * The "Weekly Press" writer is the authority for this clipping — ' The following story is told of a New Zealand representative footballer, well-known from the fact that he was lonp- Scotch, and 'amazin' foxy.' When Charlie Marter was secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union, there was always a difficulty in getting daites and initial letters of games worked on the caps of players, because Charlie held it to be a waste cxf time to do to-day that which could just as well be put off till to-morrow. The long Scotchman tackled him tame after time to eet his cap decorated, but without success, until one night he cornered Marter in his newspaper office and put the case thusly — 'Look heire, Charlie, it's not a fair thing. Personall" I don't care a couple of curses, but one of these days I'll be married, and I'll be telling the bairns how I played for Wellington against Dunedm, Ohristchurch, Auckland, and ?o on. They'll look at the cap for the dates, Charlie old man, and not finding 'em, they'll po outside and say "What a phenomenal liar the old man is'" You wouldn't like it yourself, would you now p ' Marter had the work done the very next day." Is it a true bill, Mac? * * * Mitchell, Otago representative forward last season, had his shoulder hurt m one of the Easter matches. Auckland representatives tour the colony this season, and Wellington's team travels to Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. a special meeting of delegates of the Rugby Union is to be held on Tuesday night to consider the insurance of players in matches held under the auspices of the Union. The decision of the Rugby Union to play the Petone Club's senior matches at Petone during the present season should enable the suburban club to get its team on itsi feet again. The New Zealand Rugby Union's annual meeting is to be held next week. Compared with last year things are very quiet, but I hear the seats on the Management Committee are going to be keenly contested. The Auckland Rugby Union had quite a pleasant time at their annual meeting. Mr. C. E. MacCormick was reelected secretary and Mr. Y. Langsford treasurer, and last year's Management Committee were all returned to office. The Auckland Rugby Union's takings last season from all matches was £1522 19s 3d. Out of that sum they paid the Tramway Company, the lessees of their ground, the sum of £233 7s 2d as percentage of the takings. Comparisons are odious at the best of times, so I won't compare this wrth the takings at the Athletic Paik. I wonder would the Auckland Rugby Union lend the money they have in their Trust Ground Fund to the Wellington Union? The amount of that fund is now £2167 odd That sum would just about suit the Wellington Union at the present time in its trouble re grounds, and assist, it in building up a sound finance. W. Thompson, an ex-Haw r ke's Bay exBush representative has settled in Wellington this season, but it is doubtful whether he will play. If he does, it will be with the Wellington team. At the present time there does not appear much probability of his doing so, however. Those who were privileged to see him play aeainst Wellington at Napier m 1900 will regret that he will not be found playing here this season.

A player of whom much was expected this season has received marching oiders. I refer to H. Wells — to his friends known by the cognomen of "Rooty" — who played for the Poneke Club in its match at Napier at Easter time. His form among the forwards in that match led the Poneke supporteirs to believe that they had unearthed a treasure. Therefore, their fall is all the oreater — Wells 1 , who is a member of the Torpedo Corps, having been transferred to Auckland, his native place. Let us hope the form he promised here will be evident in his matches with the North Shore Club this season.