OUT DOOR Sports AND Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 789, 13 August 1915, Page 20

OUT DOOR Sports AND Pastimes

By Toiichline.

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

What's the Matter ? WHAT promised to be two good games of Rugby—and the playfulfilled the promise, too—Avere set d'own for decision, at the Athletic Park last Saturday afternoon, but the aitendanoe of the public was not nearly ■what it should have been, taking everything into consideration. I fully expected to see a record crowd assembled by the time the ball was set in motion, but the muster fell a long way below my expectations.

•Therefore, I ask, what's the matter svith Rugby? The weather, probably, was a bit doubtful 1 , but not sufficiently so to keep the people away. The answer to my question is that Rugby i/tself is all right, but the ordinary public apiparently have lost interest in the playing of it for the time being, and only .the enthusiasts get any pleasure out of i!t just now. * * * * A Memorable Day. The play at the Athletic Park last Saturday afternoon was remarkable for the fact that the Trentham team that ' played against Pet-one were taking part in (their last game of Rugby prior to their departure for the Dardanelles. All' the players were members of the Sixth Jleinforcements, who, at the time' of writing, are saying their last farewells before going out to do their little bit towards victory to the Empire among ■whose citizens and soldiers we are all proud to be classed. The spectators and the three other teams playing at the Park made a suitable acknowledgment of this fact, tor, .before commencing play, the teams lined up and gave three hearty cheers tor the soldier players, the spectators joining an Tustily. # * * * Mostly Aucklanders. That.Auckland's footballers are enlisting right royally is borne forcibly home to oiie in putting down on paper "the team that played for Trentham. They were as follows: — Full-back. —J. Murphy (South Aucklal Three-quarters. —F, McGrath (South Auckland), G. Murray (Auckland), aII ~- F. Wilson (Auckland). Murray injured his ankle in the first spell, and he was replaced, after half-time, by N. Bater (Auckland). Five-eighths. —L. Weston (Auckland) and! E. Roberts (Wellington). Half-back. —F. A. Ross (Auckland). Wing-forward.—R. Taylor (Taranaki). Forwards.—E. Clere (Taranaki), R. Denize (Auckland), J. Smart (Canterburv). J. E. McClelland. (Otago), V. Messiah (Auckland), W. J. Anderson (South •Canterbury), and C. Walker (Auckland). * * * * Petone v. Trentham. This game was given the principal ground for its decision, and it was only right that it should have been. lax the -earlier stages it was a bit slow, but there was a manifest desire on the part of the players to liven things up, and, taking it right through, it was; a good exposition of first-class Rugby. _ The first try was an instance of how champions score. Right in the centre of the field Ted Roberts (of ours) broke right away, and, with L. Weston and F. Wilson in attendance, set sail for the goalline. The trio ran and passed grandly, with' the result that the Auckland University centre (three-quarter finished off as brilliant a piece of play as it was possible to conceive by crossing the goalline with the ball in his possession. The •cheers that echoed! all round the ground as Frank Wilson scored the try proved that the enthusiasts recognised _ that they had seen something worth whiil'e. This try was the only score in the first half, and the game was hardly resumed before N. Bater signalised his appearance ■on the field by slipping over right at the far corner of the ground. Petone were thus six points down, and they set out in a business-like style to make up their leeway. Thev succeeded in evening up the scores, W. McEwan scoring a try and E. Ryan a penalty goal. » ■ » ■* *• Athletic v. Poneke. It is a hard matter to follow two games at any time, but when both tussles are of outstanding merit, _ the contract is almost an impossible one. These two local teams, however, gave an excellent exposition of how Rugby should be played to provide a spectacu-

lar exhibition. The fact, however, that the scores were very heavy, pointed un- H mistakably the conclusion that the J defence on both sides sould have , been < improved considerably. .1 In the first half the teams were very ' evenly matched, but, after changing <] ends, the Athletic team f?ot very busy. In the first seven minutes of this term i thev increased their score by eight points, and, although Poneke did put 'five points on the slate, the further they went the further they got behind, i with the result that in the end they j were beaten by 29 points to 11. One feature of this game—-and riot a pleasing oiie, either —-was the fact that many of the participants were inclined to play each other rather than the ball. A bout of fisticuffs was a very near thing between a pair of forwards, there being just a suggestion. that hosfcilites might be resumed when the game was over. This is hardly in keeping with the traditions of the game. * * * * How the Games Finished. The? score and scorers in these two games were: — Trentham, 6 (tries by F. Wilson and N. Bater); Petone, 6 (try by W. McEwan, penalty goal by E. Ryan). AthleStic, 29 (two tries and four con- ' verted tries by D. W. Madden, tries by iW. Levick, 11. Paton, J. L. Blackmore, W. Ryan, and R. Barry); Poneke, 11 (penalty goal and converted try by E. King, two tries by P. Midd'leton). ■ * . « Oriental and Selwyn played their games on the Petone Recreation Ground, the younger team winning by 9 points (tries by De Clifford 1 , Price, and Burke) itx> nil. At the Lower Hutt, University prevailed over Wellington by 16 points to 3. Scorers for University—Two tries by Lyons, tries by Churchill and Kerr, two converted tries by T. Beard; for Wellington—try by Maxwell. * * ■» * The Championship Contest. The Athletics have now got so far ahead that they cannot be beaten in the run for the championship bauble, and but 'little interest is left in the contest. The following table shows how the various teams have fared :- — O ffi - A - "S. = "S "S s-g -g g .2 -S g-S rf w 0 . O o Athletic ... 10 10 0 0 182 55 20 Petone ... 8 6 2 0 133" 54 12 Poneke ... 10 5 4 1 149 96 11 Selwyn ... 10 5 5 0 82 118 10 Oriental! ... 9 3 6 0 62 93 6 University 7 2 5 0 66 122 4 Wellington 9 1 8 0 53 195 2 ■» * * * About the Players. R. Robinson, the Athletic full-back, improves every match. His showing against Poneke was as sound as it could! be. He was in 'the Wairarapa last season, where the Thursday , half-holiday operates, and did' not play at all. I was surprised to hear last Saturday that the lad that played five-eighth for Athletic? last season, and is now holding up his .end in the Dardanelles, is a younger brother of the subject of this paragraph, who, as I predicted, has been selected as the full-back to play against Auckland. I have nothing to retract from a forimer statement about D. W. Madden. He is certainly the finest all L round back in the Athletic team. I noticed him on one occasion stop a Poneke rush on Saturday in a manner that showed he was devoid of fear, and, besides: this, he was in a scoring humour .. G. Heley—at present in camp at Trentham—was- in his old place in Iho s Athletic three-quarter line, but did nothing outstanding. I was surprised to > see- him playing, but, on enquiry, I ; learnt that the Rugby Union had decided to allow any of this year's players in camp to play for their old teams now , thait there _ are no regular Trentham fifteens. This decision, in my opinion, is E a very wise one, as any player should! be 3 allowed to take part in the games if lie is so mindted and can get the necessary > leave. j The other members of the Athletic * team played right up to their best form, but there are one or two forwards who are going to get into trouble if they b don't lose the habit they have acquired 1 of playing the man. The referee had to e .administer the word of caution a couple fc of times on Saturday, which should not b happen in a fairly-played game of Rugfa by football. E. King is cool as a cucumber as a a, full-back —a shade too 000 lat times- — and his place-kicking ds of a distinctly high order of merit. The two goals he credited Poneke with last Saturday were tip-toppers. c> A. Morris—Poneke's centre threequarter—had a real off-day. He started off by cutting in when, if he had passedi • the ball to E. Anstis on the outside of 0 him, a try would' most certainly have 7 been scored. After that he did not seem to be able! to do anything right.

B. Algar was the outstanding hack on /the Poneke sade, running very strongly. jSTon© of the-others —not even, excepting J. Tilyard—sJhowed tlieir true form, especially in stopping the rushes of the .Athletic forwards, and in keeping their t positions when, the other side were .throwing 'the ball about amongst themselves. F. Middleton scored two fine tries for

Poneke, the one in winch he took the ball from McVay just as the Athletic half-back was preparing to kick it being an especially good one. Of the other forwards I liked D. Dennehybest, who occasionallly helped his backs out of trouble by Ifche fearless way he stopper! rushes. Some of the Poneke forwards were also inclined to mix things.

•Of the Soldiers.

3j. Weston (the Auckland five-eighth) made a fine impression on the spectators. His run was fast and straight, and' invariably there was trouble when lie got the ball. I. ussed to know an oldjfcime runner and footballer in the northern city called Charlie Weston, and' I may not. be . erring when I say that this lad is his son. He could be, at any rate, both as far as age is concerned and as regards the pace he shows on the .field.

P. Wilson has attained to the dignity of a New Zealand representative, and at (times gave glimpses of the form that gained him that honour. P. A. Ross, the midget Aucklander, is a bag of tricks ,at half-back. G. "Murray was hurt too ■early in the game to show much of his ability, but N. Bater galloped when the 'hall was handed him.-

E. Roberts has played many better ga,mes, but he did not in. any way disgrace himself by his performance. Sure find reliable in his takes, and clever in shis passing, Ted kept the men behind iiim going, but at the same time he was noi as brilliant as I hoped he would be, probably through lack of opportunities.

X have known Ted since ■ he was a very small boy—-as a matter of fact, he start•ed his business life as a message boy in .the Fbee Lance Office—and as he has grown up I have always had a liking for th© lad, more especially since he developed into a 'top-notch Rugby player. Now that he. is going out to fight the ,battles of the King, I. wish hum well, •confident that he will do credit to himself in whatever position the fortunes, of ■war may find him, and a't the same time honour to a name illustrious on the pages of English history. Good luck to you, Ted, my boy.

The forwards all did well, none better .probably than J. Smart and J. E. Mc'CJlelland, two South Islanders in the -combination. They all —these Trentham fellows —have played their last Rugby ■game., in • New Zealand for some time, and in their going forth to the bigger game of war I wash them many opportunities of doing credit to New Zealand, (knowing full well that the training they have had in playing, Rugby football will' stand good to them in the 1 positions that may arise in the imore serious business of war.

Amongst the Petone backs I liked' none better than Jim Ryan, who played •a fine game himself, and led his men £,bly. He also tried hard to keep the game open and interesting, for which many on the bank were thankful to him.

: The lads with J. Ryan all did their chare of the . work, following well the j&xample set them by their skipper. H. G. Nicholls has been selected as the half-back to play against Auckland, and I trust that his youthfulness may not deter him from showing his best form.

I don't 'know why it .is, but every time "Tiny" Dent gets the- ball the spectators laugh heartily. The long Petone forward towers over his comrades, land 1 gets over the ground in good style with his lengthy strides. He made an awful lot of headway for Petone last Saturday. Dent, however, is inclined not to take the game seriously, and it appears to me that if he did he would go a long way.

The others all showed agreeable form, W. Reedy and A; Parker shaping ?s ;well as any forwards on the field. H.

Hagan, on the wing of the scrummage, used his feet cleverly. *». * *

The Best of Us Make Mistakes.

Mr. W. G. Garrard, the Canterbury old-ti<me enthusiast who is reckoned to be one of the best authorities on Rugby law, has been discoursing on the rules of •the game to the Canterbury Referees' Association. Some of his conclusions were interesting and 1 instructive, but I must -take exception to one of his findings. Here it is in extenso: —

"Mr. Garrard then put the case of a full-back kicking from has own ingoal and his' side committing a breach of the off-side rule. The opposing side has the option of two penalties, one of which is, a scrum 'back,' but the definiton of a scrummage makes it obligatory that it should be in the field of play. So the penalty appears a case of Hobson's choice. The point actually arose when' Mr. P. Mackie, of Auckland, was refereeing. and the captain of the attacking side, to test the referee, exercised his right of option, and chose the scrum 'back.' Mr. Mackie refused his right to choose the alternative penalty, and gave a scrummage five yards out. and 1 so wilfully broke the rule."

But Mr. Mackie was right, and' Mr. Garrard is wrong. A definite ruling on the point mentioned by the Canterbury authority has been given, and it reads as follows: —

' 'In the event of a kicker kicking from his own in-goal, and one of his side being penalised for off-side, the opposing side electing to take a scrummage, such scrummage shall •take place five yards from the goal- . line, opposite to the spot from which it was last played." * ' * * * Renewing Old Acquaintances. Ambngst the spectators I noticed at the Park last Saturday was Bob Malcolm, the old-time Poneke and Wellington representative player. Malcolm was in khaki, with sergeant's stripes on his arm, and was looking bronzed and healthy. Davy Gage, one of the champions of the past, was there, too, as happv and as cheery as of yore. Probably the fact that Sid Nicholls ; boys had been potting goals from .the field had coaxed Davy a.long on this occasion, for the old Native player was a very dangerous man when within striking distance of the goal and an opportunity of drop-kick-ing a goal presented itself. History tells us that in one match for Poneke Davy Gage potted three goals-—four, as a matter of fact, but ithe referee disallowed the fourth, simply because he was out of position when Gage let fly. May the old-timer see many more Rugby games played, with the art of potting ■goals in greater evidence than it has been in recent years. History Recalled. A "Sydney Referee" item: —"E. 'Appy Eyre goes into Liverpool camo to-day. Lately 'Appy has been known, as a Manly fisherman, and life-saver, but old-time footballers will remember him better as the man who scored the winning try in the great victory by New South Wales against New Zealand in Chrisltchurch, in 1894. The victory of 8 to_ 6 was the first and last secured by this State's representatives in New Zealand against a representative side, although the last Australian team managed to accomplish something better in 1913 at Christchurch. Eyre and) Hanna scored the two tries in 1894. . Grey hair and a record of football 1 in the nineties do not give 'Appy a youthful air,

but there is still a fighting spirit in him."

The New South Wales team, in the tour referred to in the above paragraph, played twelve matches in New Zealand, four of which they won. But one if these victories was against a team representative of the Dominion, composed as follows: —Backs, A. D'Arcy, H. Good, A. Bayly, W. Balch, H. Butland, A. E. Cooke; forwards, W. McKenzie, W. Bayly, S. Coekroft, J. Lamibie, D. Hughes, W. Humphries, W. Stewart, J. Swindley, and B. Maber. When, the news came through ; from Christdhurch that this side had been defeated there was much consternation in football circles up and down New Zealand. But the victory was honestly won and deserved.

Wellington was the onlv main centre where championship matches were, played last Saturday. Taranaki met and were defeated by Auckland in the northern city to the tune of 15 points to 3, and 1 Southland were similarly treated by Otago in Dunedin, the defeat in the latter case being "by 24 points to nil. In Christchurch the matches were put off to allow Rugby players to take part in a parade of the United Citizens' Defence Corps.