FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13766, 3 June 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

\ THE RUGBY GAME; 1 NOTES AND COMMENTS. • List Saturday's watch between Potinaiiby 1 and 'Varsity wait productive of sotne fiue individual flashes of play. There were many [ incidents in he game, which at times was ii very rapid in its! transposition from one pad > of the field to the other. The game wits 110 exception to its predecessors of the season in regard to the amount [ of open play shown, and it is » cause for I congratulation that the games have been so " spectacular " this year. This has probably been by reason of the fact that there is an outstanding pack of forwards in the com- ■ petition. { Ponsonhy forwards played up to reputation and made, no mistakes, and when properly going' simply overran "Varsity. .They were not oil this occasion a shield to cover their hacks while they did the scoring; the back play was fruitless and it remained for the pack to win the day. In two points Pousonhy forwards, however, are lacking-—in regard to hooking and line-out work. Enough has been said tdxuit the wretched hooking work to pass over that point-, but nothing much has been said nlwut the line-outs. Last Saturday the forward throwing in kept the referee tootling continuously for "not straight. 1 here was no wind, ami although "curly ones may be useful in cricket they -ore a distinct negative in football. Francis played a great game and did a power of leading. He is playing better every Saturday, and if his form continues «ill make a sensation in test mulches. i Vonsonby backs were overshadowed anil out-geueralled and have to thank their forwards for the win. Bator, who has played so well this season, was very much smothered, and in addition did not accept passes so readily. The interception of a pass and the brilliant run at. the end of the game, however, was a good piece of work. Ph'j" lips was very lucky at times in getting his side out. of danger. CarlawV try was clever: his twisting run made 'Varsity backs look foolish. Wilkes, the 'Varsity wing-forward, played a great game and stood up to his work well, doing a great amount of spoiling. It was partly due to his spoiling tactics that Ponsonhy backs failed to get. going. Another forward who shaped well was Hunt. Wilson was the. "star" 'Varsity back, and played a very fine game. Other backs to show form were Howarth at full, whose fielding and kicking were very hue, Poatianga distinguished for his tackling, ( and Moore scrum-half. The whole of the A arsity backs worked together and again evidenced the value of combination. The North Shore-City match on the former club's ground drew only a small attendance. Taken on the whole the game was a poor exhibition of football, there being no par- . ticularly brilliant, play on either side. From the very moment the ball was kicked oft City pressed the green and whites, arid continued to |do so for practically the whole of the match. The North Shore team was superior to City in the pack, but was completely outclassed when it came to open piay. The combination of the red and blacks' forwards was excellent, while that of their opponents was miserable. The City hacks played bet- ( ten football than their opponent but lost • a. lot of chances through faulty passing. One j or two chances of scoring were also lost by , the green and white backs, but generally 'speaking they had very few chances to distinguish themselves. Seeling, McGuire, Waddell, and Walsh put in a lot of useful work for the City forwards. starting rushes which were difficult to stop. Of the red and blacks' rear section R. McGeo was most prominent, and was supported by V. Little. Gladding, and Stewart. N. Todd, A. Wells (who has a little inclination to play off-side), and Griffon put in solid "graft" in the green and white rearguard, while the pick of the backs were D. Miller, Murfit, and 0. Miller. F. Woodward also played a better game than usual. The removal of the disqualification from Williams last Wednesday evening has caused a good deal of comment by reason of the shortness of actual punishment. There is no I doubt, apart from the merits of the case, | that the union has established a dangerous precedent. There was an outcry against rough play last season, and players were penalised sometimes only a. fortnight for an offence similar to that for which a year's penalty was inflicted on Williams. It is feared by some that the union's action will tend to weaken the moral effect of a penalty imposed, and that players may think that an application for early removal will be considered. KETCH OF THE PRO-BLACKS." Mr. W. Mackrell, one of the "All Black" professional team which recently toured the Northern Districts of England. arrived in Auckland on Sunday last from Wellington, having been one of the party to convey tlio body of their late secretary, Mr. A. 11. Baskerville, front Sydney. Mr. Mackrell said that the statements in regard to the lack of discipline in the team in England were not correct, ami that they received " royal reions, quite as hearty as. those accorded the amateur team of 1905, of which he was also a member. lie had no hesitation in saying that the professional team were just as well behaved as the amateur team which preceded them. The conduct of the whole tour Mr. Mackrell describes as excellent. Mr. Palmer, he says, made a most capable manager, and tin- .secretary, the late Mr. Baskerville. was admired and respected- by every member of the team. Referring to the individual members of the team, Mr. Maekrell' expressed the opinion that Cross, Pearee, and Byrne were the nick of the forward ision of the " All Blacks," while K. Wyilynrd, of Auckland, was the best scoring back. Other backs of equal ability, in his opinion, were Messrs. Smith, Messenger. Turtill. and Todd. " The prospects of professionalism in Now Zealand and Australia," said Mr. Mack roll, " will receive- a big blow by the death of Mr. Baskerville, and it is now impossible to say what will happen." Arrangements are being made to delay the steamer leaving Sydney next Saturday, in order that the team may embark after the match for Wellington. The combination will disband at that centre, the further movements of the members being uncertain. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. The games at both Victoria Park and the Domain were late in starring last Saturday, owing to the clubs not being able to muster sufficient players at three o'clock; consequently the last quarter of an hour's play took place in the dark. Again attention is drawn to the crowd of onlookers that, gather around the goals during a match, making it almost, impossible for the goal umpire to see and give a decision as to points scored. The management of the different matches should see to this matter. Newton are 'losing the services of their best man ,in Elvedge, who is leaving for \\ uikitio. Cairns played a fine game for Austral on Saturday. Ho followed the four quarters, as usual. His -marking and long-kick-ing were splendid. Bree.se shone out well for Imperial during the first half against Austral, but, Wordsworth changed things during the second spell, several good tussles taking place between the players, in which honours were even. Callinsm made some good dashes out of goal and stopped Imperial from scoring. "Dan" must surely catch the eve of the selectors for Australia. Eden romped home easy winners against Newton at the Domain. Where has all the dash shown by the red and white men at the commencement of the season gone? Nagle secured three goals for Eden on Saturday, and Frith two. Eden are very strong on the forward line. George and Clayton were in first-class form on Saturday for Eden, as were O'Shea, Marshall, and am' for Newton. Lawson put in a lot of useful work against Austral, but did not get much support from his men. It is a pity players play more to one another. Hewitt, who played his first game for Austral against Imperial, is a first-class man. and should prove an acquisition to the black and whites. 'Tis a pity that, the clubs cannot; unearth a few more players of the 1 Hewitt stamp. ,