Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1904, Page 16

Rugby Football.

THE all-ab&orbing topic of conversation — this phrase has been used before, but it does not matter — in football, business, and other circles in Wellington for some time past has been the match between the visiting team of British footballeis and the selected fifteen of New Zealand. True, the earthquake of Tuesday morning gave the people something else to talk about, but even during that day many could have been heard discussing the probable chances of the New Zealand team against the visitors. On Wednesday morning, however, the earthquake was no longer a theme of discussion, and football was on top again. The gieat match is to be played on the Athletic Park to-morrow (Saturday), amd, given fine weather, the attendance of the public and the display of football should be such as to gladden the hearts of all Rugby enthusiasts. I was not fortunate enough to get to Ghristchurch last Saturday to witness the match between Canterbury and the Britishers. The result of the game was, at first glance, a satisfactory ending from the standpoint of the excellence of New Zealand football, but, in thinking the matter over since, and carefully weighing the pros and cons, I am inclined to the belief that last Saturday's match is not a guide for the match to-morrow. In the first place, Lancaster Paik last week was absolutely unfit to play a decent game of football on, judging by the newspaper reports. Expeiieaxce has proved that a wet weather game is anybody's game, and is against good back play. The Britishers' strength is in the play of the back division, and it is therefore only fair to assume that they did not give anything near their best showing against Canterbury. What impressed me most in the play of the Canterbury team was that they -fought the game right out to the bitter end, proving that the stamina of the team was equal to the biggest strain put upon it. Though personally I would like to see the New Zealand team win to-morrow, I do not feel too sure about it. Mr. Duncan, in his usual optimistical style, says he has something up his sleeve to beat the Britisher® with, but I aim inclined to accept that statement with a big grain of salt. The thing I most regret in connection with the New Zealand team is the fact that they will go on the field a positively untried team. As the game progresses the members thereof will have to adapt themselves to each othei's play, and, while they are doing so, the Britishers may be piling up points. This is only my impression, but, truth to tell, if the New Zealand team had only had one game together before the big match I consider their chances of success would have been greatly improved. However, to-morrow will tell the tale, and all I hope is that the better team may win, and that the main points in the play of the Britishers may be fully taken notice of by all grades of footballers who may be watching the game, with the hope that an improvement may be noticed directly in the playing of our own championship and interprovinoial games. ♦ • The footballing public of Wellington practically went wild with delight on Saturday night when the news was flashed through that Wellington had defeated Auokland by six points to three. For myself, I could not say whether T was on my heels or my head for some time, and till sleep came my way that evening "6 to 3" kept repeating itself in my brain. A personal friend from Auckland, who has come down to view the British-New Zealand match on Saturday, tells me that the game was stubbornly contested, and occasionally interspersed with some fine splashes of play. In the *'ne-out work and loose play the Auckland forwards were superior to Wellington, but in the solid work Wellington's frontrankers were easily better, securing the ball on the majority of occasions. The back play of Wellington was excellent, the players combining splendidly together. Wallace was playing No. 1 five-eighth, Barber No. 2, and Gray centre three-quarter. The passing was clean and crisp, and' the line-kicking

was, m the words of my friend, heartbreaking to the Auckland foi-wards. Waid and R. McGregor did not play with any cohesion, in most oases the latter having to pass the ball right beyond Ward to the centre three-quartei because the two of them generally managed to get in each other's way. My Auckland friend said he would have preferred two wing-forwards on the Auckland side in preference to the two fiveeighths game as played by Ward and McGregor. The three tries scored were all the results of good pieces of play. McGregors try was the finish of a great passing run among the Wellington backs, Roberts, Wallace, Barber, and Gray all handling it before McGregor, and the latter proved his right to a place in the New Zealand team by the way he stalled off a tackle by Haimson and grounded the ball over the chalk-lint. Kiernan's try was a clever individual piece of work. A scrummage was formed almost on the Wellington line. When the ball was put in the Wellington front-rankers obtained possession, and held the ball between their legs. In the effort to get at the sphere, Tyler was pushed on his side, but, falling the right way, he managed to reach the ball with his foot, and drew it towards Kiernan. It came out on the touch-line side of the pack, and the tricky Auckland half-back managed to squeeze over the line, and put the ball on the ground before his feet were lifted from under him. Wellington's second try was a surprise to most people. McKenzie and Scott- Wilson were racing for the ball after it had crossed the Auckland line The former made a big effort to kick the ball to the dead-ball line, but only succeeded in kicking Wilson, with the result that both players came down together. Gray seemed to drop from the clouds -just then, and he beat Harrison in the race for the ball. All the Wellington backs played well, Gray, Roberts, Wallace, and Spencer particularly so. Calnan, Cross, and Dodd in that order were the best of a splendid pack. McKenzie and Kiernan showed the best form among the Auckland backs. Asher was practically useless to his side by reason of the iniury to his leg sustained at a recent big fire. Asiher, by the way is an Auckland Fire Brigade man. What about the forwards P "Oh, you wait till you see> Seeling he is absolutely one of the best !" Needless to remark, my friend awards Seeling the palm as the_ best forward on the Auckland side, with Nicholson as his nearest attendant. # * * The St. Patrick's College- Wellington College match last Saturday, on the Athletic Park, was an interesting display of the Rugby game. The St. Pat's boysi were the heavier of the two teams, and won the match by 13 points to three. The display was good, and several of the passing rushes were masterpieces. The future of Rugby football in Wellington need not cause much heart-burning when it is played in the spirit and style it is by the two main scholastic institutions in Wellington. The Fkee Lance Office has issued a neat badge m connection with the Bri-tish-New Zealand match. The design is a fern leaf punted in silver on a black ribbon — the exact reproduction of the badge worn on the New Zealand players' jerseys. The price is only sixpence, and the badge can be obtained almost anywhere. Continued on page 19.

The various members of the New Zealand team arrived in town during the week, and were taken to their quarters at Day's Bay. Though they did not like the idea of going over there, the comfort of the hostelry and the conveniences for practising together weie such as to recompense them foi their isolation from the city. Talking to "Morry" Wood I was pleased to note his general healthy appearance. As a matter of fact, I don t remember seeing him look so well before He tells me he got a knock two Satuidays running on the one knee, and was very stiff in consequence He is now, however, as free as possible m his movements. As to his weak knee that we have heard so much about lately, he is not aware that he ever had such ai drawback. It is news to him, at any rate. Seeling, Gallaher, MeMimn, and Glenn are all well and hearty. Gallaher has a bump on the eye as the result of last Saturday's match in Auckland. Gerrard is limping, a kick above the knee last week having swelled considerably. He hopes to be all right by Saturday. "Dick" McGregor came down fron. Auckland to join the team, under instructions from Mr. F. Murray. lor what purpose is best known, to the latter. Harvey, Harper, and Fanning are well, the former suffering from a slight oold on Wednesday morning. The replacing of Porteous by Gallaher on the wing, and the latter by McMmn in the front row, m my opinion strengthens the team in both positions. Wallace, McGregor, and Cross are al) well and pleased with the success ot the Wellington team in the North. » * * The Horowhenua-Welhmgton match, at the Athletic Park last Saturday was a very mediooie display of football. The country team won by ten points to nine At the dinner to the visitors, Mr Mcßain, the manager, expressed the hope that in future Wellington will play its best team against Horowhenua. Personally. I am in favour of the proposal, for matches like last Saturday's cannot do the Rugby game either in town or country any good, neither can it be pleasant for the players who are taking part in it. The object of instituting the home and home matches with Wairarapa— -that of the amalgamation of the various unions in the province — seems to be as far off as ever, and the old method of an annual game with Wairarapa could be revived. This would make provision foi the Horowhenua game. The fitting of them in I am prepared to discuss at the beginning of next season, but at the present I can see no reason why the suggestion of Mr. Mcßain cannot b& given effect to. The Wellington and Wairai apa school representative teams play their annual match at Newtown Park at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning. In the Horowhenua team last Saturday, Tahun, a Maori wing thi ec-quar-ter, showed fine form, and 1 , if taken in hand, should develop into something above the ordinary. He should be worth watching in the future. A hint that may be taken by somebody. At the Auckland-Wellington match last Saturday a long-headed gentleman arrived on the ground' with 1500 stools, which he hired at 6d a-piece to whoever needed them The tempoiarv grand stands sold like wildfire. Can anyone tell me why a new ball is always brought into service when a representative match is being played? Experts are agreed that a football is better to play with when it has been kicked a little into shape — better foi massing, dribbling, and kicking. The ball used in the Wellington-Auckland match last Saturday was as erratic as it was possible for a ball to be. The junior repiesentative team that travelled to Levin last Saturday had an enjoyable time, and succeeded nn defeating their Horowhenua opponents by eight points to nil. The foim shown by the juniors surprised even their manager (Mr. W. Nimmo), as the team opposed to them was much heavier in the aggregate. With a little more practice together, he considers the junior combination will be a very formidable one. The finanoial success of the visit of the British team is a positive certainty. In their manifesto the New Zealand Rugby Union stated the tour would cost them £1300. Listen ' The Canterbury match takings totalled £900, the Taranaki Union has guaranteed £300, the Auckland Union has sold 2000 leserved tickets at 2s 6d— £2so ; for the New Zealand match reserved seats have been sold totalling close on £300. This figures out to £1750, and no provision is made for takings at the Otago match at all, nor for gate takings at Auckland and Wellington Half the proceeds after the £1300 has been taken has to be shaied bv the New Zealand Union with the New South Wales Union A fair estimate would be, say, a profit of £1000 each.