FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12660, 14 September 1904, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

% The Newton District Football Club send a | ; team to Rotorua to play a return match 1 f ' against the Rotorua representatives on.; <? Saturday next, Sept-ember 17. The team ■ V' fl leaves on Friday morning, returning on j 1 Monday. 1 'V' The Auckland Referees' Association has ' jiccopted a challenge from the University 1 ;4\" Club to a match on Saturday nfest at Alox--P' gndra Park, and will place the following . li; team ii» ths Sold against the 'Varsity play- , ers:—Fullback, Knox.; threequarters, G. - Katterns, Freeman, Pitts halves, I'elPnam, I Ohlson, W. Katterns; forwards, Marshall, ' P ' Gittos, Speight, Whit©, GruenhougLi, For- ; syth, Sutherland, Blakey; emergencies, Wil- ; " liams, Cava!nagh, Lusk, Oram and Gutenby. j The teams to take part in the North v. J l ! South Islam - match next Saturday week at ; \ Dunedin have been chosen. Several pro- • ; minent players have been unable to .spare j the time to take pavt. ! The members of the Australian Football !, 'Association wind up the season with a fimok- ; [ • ing contort in the Federal Kali on Saturday , ; ' evening next. I: Some of the leading Australian football ;; f scribes have devoted themselves to discount- | ? ' ing the victories of New Zealand teams over I Bedell Sivright's British combination, and . appear to ha .-9 completely overlooked the ': fact that the record of the 1903 New Zealand j ' team in Australia compart.® favourably with j thai of trie Britishers of 1904. j ; • A'Jcklanders were somewhat surprised on

- reading the account of the Otago- Waira- i rapa match to find that the Wairarapa for- { wards failed to hold their own against the ( Otago, vanguard last week. The ' Southern forwards must have shown infinitely ! better form than ill the match against Auckland, or failing this there must be a deteriora- , tion in the standard of forward play in ; , Wairarapa compared with a season or two 1 ago. • ': A member of tho British Rugby team has j been credited with the statement that it ■ would cost every man of the team 'dose upon £100 before they arrived back in Loudon. How many of our New Zealand footbailers c&n afford that amount . j ;' • A Sydney visitor to New Zealand who witnessed some of the British matches there "•' informs me that the players went "dead gtale" through the amount of travelling and • the roughness of the New Zealand waters (says "The Cynic" in the Sydney Referee). He considers that they were under an undoubted disadvantage in this respect, but he adds that even at their best they would * probably have gone down before the New ZealandW at Wellington, the local forwards being far toe good Ifor them. In commenting on the individual-players - In the Auckland-Otago match, the special reporter of the Otago Daily Times makes the i following reference to WE. : McKensic's display:—"Scobie" McKenzie, the exOtago representative, was .the best back on the ground. He stood head and shoulders ' above anyone eke. All the tries scored §, by Auckland "Scobie" had a say in. Hewas all over the Held, running, kicking, and dodging through the blues' line. .He. frequently snapped up the ball when going N at ' ion speed, and rarely made a mistake in finding touch with his kicking. Altogether McKenzie gave a great' exhibition of back ;SpcV;-'.piay. ' _ , » la this season's representative matches only two of the eight tries obtained by the Auckland team were converted. Both ware Z .in the match against Great Britain, and Murray, of the Newton Club, was the player to hoist the extra points. ' The Auckland Rugby Union officials have not yet been able to finally clear up the accounts in connection with the Auckland-Bri-tish match., but it will probably be found that, V : after making provision for all disbursements, close* on £800 will be handed over.to the ; New Zealand Union. . According to recent files to hand the Welsh !-• Rirgby Union has decided to play the interI m&tional match, Wales v. New Zealand, on f December 16, 1905, provided the.coionjal I , tmion accepts the dates being mapped out for i the tour. ' _, . _. ■ After -n-itnossimr the ; Wairaraptt-Otago : match is- week at Masterton, onlookers were »siisfiecl that Warner was in- ' finitely superior to Porteous (Otago) as a win iorward. One can quite ; believe - this, as m- in Auckland Fraser, who '.-mikes, no pretensions to Now Zealand honours, quite held his own with the Otago wing. . ,' 'r . In reviewing the ' Auckland-Otago match, the special reporter of the Daisy Times, who is on tour with the Southern representatives, : says:—-Otago was routedbeaten from end to end in a hard game. The smashing Auckland forwards burst through the brown paper defence set up by Otago, taking the ball with them to the goal-lino. Once in Otago's 21?; the machinery of the Auckland backs was set in motion. They passed out and passed in. running at top speed, and'fielding the ball with accuracy and precision. This was the beginning and the end of the gamo. Heavier by pounds in the pack, the burly Auckland forwards shoved Otago oft the ball and rushed the play from I one one] of the field to the other. When Otaijo did succeed in hooking the ball the leather- slowly out through the back ; row, ml the* Auckland wingers were on to the Otato halfback in an instant. Hislop was bowled ever pud smothered in his attempts t>> pit iha bailout to the Otago five- ; eighths. ' The Pirate player was down wish no uncertain hand. Otago's back play was crippled from the jump by the fast following io of the Northern vanguard. The i •$-';:-■; blues' 'i .-e-eighths were ■ demoralised : from 14 end to end of the game. Did a pass come v out rem Hislop to King, the Alhambra representative, usually safe, failed to take it. .The swift, straight pass was misfiekled in tin same wretched manner as the high lob. When this happened, as it did many tinw*, the Auckland forwards burst through, V -■ taking the ball with them in a magnificent rush to the blues' line. Otago's rush-stop-ping was r.eplorable, and was in keeping with the rest of the play shown by the . • Sfuthern province. If a blue did get down ' to the bull he was immediately dragged off it by the fast following Aucklanders, and the ball was driven on always to Otago 3 "line. Flaying against the wind in the first spell, the chosen of Otago were on the defensive. Once only did the blue? get within striking distance, and they were rarely ♦dangerous. Auckland played a winning game from tho kick-off. They beat Otagrf in rack, line, and loose, back and forward. At no stage ol the game did the blues look like winning. Backs 'of-modern mercury -are powerless behind a beaten forward division, and Otago's forwards wer-a badly beaten by the aggressive Aucklanders. The Swanson team visited Hobsonville last Saturday and played the representatives of that district. A very good match ended in a draw, a try being secured by each side. ;'- For SwansoD A. Robertson and V. C. Robertson played capita' 'games, while J Dinnie a"nd If. Ash also rendered good |, Service. For Hahsouvilla, Stewart was reI sponsible fot excellent work, and Mulvane, ji Reilly. and O. Hcnrlriok showed up well. ; A football match, to be played at Devonport, has been arranged between a team selected b? Mr. P. Quinlan and the Permanent Force. The following players will reE?«ent Mr. Quinlan's team: —Taylor, Boinson, McGregor, Donovan, Callaway, Quinlan (captain), Clarke (2), Ward, Lucas, ■ McMillan, Boardman, Leikis, Barber. Brown, Nicholson, Thompson, Blair and tittle.

PAEROA V. CAMBRIDGE. [St TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeboa, Tuesday. The following 18 Pacroa footballers will make the trip to Cambridge to play the Cambridge team next Saturday ßolton, Coote, Rickit, Clarke, Slier-son, ■ Flynn, Vughr, Brenan. Silcock. W. ' Sorensen. Thorburn, Callaghan, Rukutai, Hartley, Pennell, Collins. Hamilton, and H. Soronson. . TAURANGA V. WAIHI. [by. telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Tauranga, Tuesday. An inter-union football match. Tanranga gtetosv. Waihi, was played on the Domain Ground - „ to-day. During the first spell Foster secured a try For Waihi. which was converted '' by Cunningham. In the second spell Leslie secured another try for Waihi. which '. »a« not converted. The scores at the conrfmion stood: Waihi 8. Tauranga nil. Al- | though .a lot ot plav took place in Waihi s ground the Tauranga combination was defective, and. two good chances \n)ilo just *, on to the Waihi goal-line were lost. Mr. ;V - Greenhough. of Auckland, carried the j£ . whistle. • The visitors were entertained at a eomplimentarv =ocial by the home club / - in the Theatre "Royal. NORTH V. SOUTH. [Bt VSXEGWAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] -•*' * ,' - Wellington. Tuesday. D, MnGrejcoJ, of Wellineton, has notified *«*> New Zealand Ruprbv Union of his inability to take part ir the North versus Jwutb Island match, and Thompson, of Wanganuj, is to be sliced to fill the vacancy ;$; v ',; in the threequartoj line,

THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. ■ A contribute)! ("Australian") who ha? from week to weak furnished me with notes on the matches played iin Auckland under Australian rules,, sends the following interesting review on the first season's doings :— The Australian game was started in Vic- , toria in the year 1858, and it has gradually drifted to all the Australian colonies. It le the leading game in Victoria, South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania— these States play inter-State matches—and it may not be long before it is adopted as the leading game in New South Wales and Queensland. It has made rapid : progress during the last two years in Sydney, lhero ares numerous club competitions, both senior and junior, held. It is also well established in the Sydney schools, there being no less than 28 of them playing under Australian rules. Now we see the Australian game plaved in the four principal cities in New Zealand, namely, Wellington, Christchurch, Buneiiin, and Auckland, besides many country towns, both in the North and South Islands. Christchurch started the Australian game there two seasons ago. They have a membership roll of about three hundred, with four senior teams and several junior clubs playin b . In Wellington it was started only this season, and they have four teams playing;, and a membership roll of_upwards of one hundred and twenty-five. This is also Dune-din's first season, and they. have about one hundred and thirty members, and three teams playing. Harry Graham, .the Australian cricketer, took a prominent part in starting the game at Duuedin. Wellington and Christchurch played the first interprovincial match in New Zealand under the Australian rules last month, the game resulting in a win for Wellington. Auckland's exponents of the code also entered on their first season under the Australian rules this year, and it has been a highly satisfactory one. The membership roll numbers one hundred and twenty-five. There were | three ..teams playing for the " premiership, ; won by the Austral team. The secretary (Mir. Harvl. was the first to start the ball a-

oiling he.te, end had; the assistance of dessrs. Satiford, McKeoii, McNamara, and i.- Charles. They called a meeting, at irhich upwards of forty attended, and thonoe inn; everything has gone along smoothly. Hie one great drawback the Auckland Asoointion has had to contend with has been a obtaining a suitable ground. The ground ised on the Outer Domain this season was ,po small, and not at all adapted for this fame. Another difficulty that might have ] resented itself— finding of a suitable impirtv-Wtia satisfactorily overcome, thank*. 0 Mr. P. Lawson offering to officiate. On Saturday, July 31, Auckland sent a team to SVaihi, "and won after a fast and exciting jauie by four goal* ten behinds to two goals line behinds. It is very gratifying to folowers of this code to see the interest taken u the game in this mining township. This year's premier team, the Australs, is composed of £ very even lot of players, ami they fully deserve ; their victory. Their combination was superior to hat of either of the opposing teams, and was mainly due -to more thorough training md practise . together., In :: the ruck they ilways held their own. McColl proved himself their champion ruckman. He is a hard worker, and is always to be seen where the ball is. ;He marks and runs with the ball well, and never loses his kick. He has been ab.y assisted bv Pratt, who, though rather inconsistent, has played some good and use- • ful games. Tongue, on the halfback line, I can be safely classed as their best-placed j man. : He is -a very sure player, a > good mark and kick, and. runs well with) the ball. Ayles (captain) usually plays on the back line, and though not a conspicuous player, he always did the right thing at the right time. He makes a faU captain. Dwight and Ash both rendered valuable service to their side. Abfalte* and Hobday (rovers) played good games throughout the season. They are fast and tricky players. The Imperials!,: wh/j > acted as runners-up for the premiership, have a very fair team, but have suffered defeat on most occasions through insufficient .training. : The Imps, ruck i has be#n playing rather inconsistently. Birch is. perhaps, the best ruckman. Ho is not a brilliant player, but & good, hard worker, who does equally .well at every point of * the gams. "»?orster— throughout the season—has always played hard and useful games: for bin side. Warren, An exRugbyite, has picked the game up well. He has always worked hard and usefully, and should; make a first-olaas player. The Imperials' weak point is amongst the placed men. ? Sanford ; (captain), Breese, and Hemus have always stood out above the others. Sanford, usually on the halfback line, is equally good in the ruck. He can easily be classed as the best all-round man in toe team. He is a dashing player, and whenever he gets the: ball sticks to it - lilie glue. ;H«; isa magnificent dodger, ana an adept at potting goals from the field. He has represented Victoria on several occasions i» mt«-»tate matches. f Breese, on the centre line, has always : played good, : hard games for his aide. 1 He is a good mark and kick. Hemus, an Auoklander, has picked the B» m * "P won derfully well, and is a. good kick and mark. He has been one of the Imperials' mam goal kickers. . ■;■ ■■■■:■-. ■;■■■■-.■■■. '■, ' The Victorias have : played with & certain amount of hard luck; they should have won more matches. Had the " Vies, been able to get i their players together in the first part of the season --. as i well.as -they dip in the latter part of it they would have given a good account of themselves. Their ruck is a good one. A. Buttle is the best man in this department of the game. He is & sure j player, who always gets rid of the bail at the right moment. He runs well with the ball, and plays well to his men. J. Charles, usually roving, has played very consistently throughout the season. He is a sure and hard worker. Morrison (ruck) is a good player, but spoils a lot of his best work through not passing to his men enough. The Victorias, like the Imperials, have suffered through the inconsistency of the placed mon Gary, on the halfback line, has played well.' He is a strong player, who works hard for his side, and is a good mark. , K. Buttle showed very creditable form towards the close of the season, and he is ; the makings of a: first-class player. .Hay,,(captain) i is undoubtedly the beat kick and mark, in 1 the association. ■/■ He is a very fair captain, and should be. seen to better advantage next year, as during the past season he had to nurse a ricked knee % and consequently did not over-exert himself. . - .-• McColl (Australs) is the leading ruckman In the Association; but A. ' Buttle (Victories) runs him very close for that honour. Amongst the backs Sanford (Imperials) is the pick, with Tongue a good second, and R. .Gary and 1. Ayles close up. On the centre lino Breese (Imps.) is the best man, while amongst the forwards Hemus and I>wight stand out prominently. The best -round man of the season is Sanford/ captain of the Imperials, who also captained the Auckland team against Waihi. ' , ~