FOOTBALL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4425, 3 August 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL NOTES

RUGBY. (By “Touch.”) The trial match between A and B teams,at the Athletic Park on Saturday last did not evoke any brilliant football. The “probables” seemed to be of opinion that they had come to stay, while most of the “possibles” seemed to think they “hadn’t got one ” The weakest point in Wellington football as played on Saturday was the prone* ness to pass at random. It was a common occurrence for a player to make a big run and when collared to pass wildly back to where no man was. Another failing in passing—and one which might be i-emedicd.with great advantage to our interprovintial football standing—is that which th e three-quarter line has of passing to a baoker-up on a level with the boots —a sort of “yorker,” to borrow a cricket term. On Saturday a fine chance to score a try was lost in this manner. After consideration of the pros, and cons., this writer is of opinion if Wellington is beaten on its Southern tour it will be found that the weak point in its team will be the defensive play of the back division. “It seems to me we are suffering from too much law in fodtball!” said an old-timer Poneke man to “Touch recently. “In the old days a man who played 'off-side was despised by players, and to be accused of off-side tactics’ was regarded as fair ground for a fight any day.” No doubt the glamour of tbe past inclined the speaker lo take a prejudiced view of the matter. If there was in the old days less •‘pointing” there was more punching than at present, and beyond a doubt the game of the present day is a science when compared with the bullocking battles of ten or fifteen years ago. The law of the Otago Rugby Union which gives power to a player to report another for rough play was recently acted on by Duncan. He reported an Alhambra man named W. McKewen for having unfairly obstructed the informant. McKewen was convicted by the Management Committee of the union of having unfairly tackled Duncan on more than one occasion, the latter not being in possession of the ball. McKewen was disqualified until the end of the season. A writer in a local weekly paper is exercised in mind over the number of

football scribes who stand on the line at the Athletic Park to watch representative football matches. He objects to every little weekly and bi-weekK paper having its representative present on such occasions. He further alleges that at every representative match the local dailies have had two reporters each on the line. These assertions are misleading, as the ‘‘New Zealand Times,” at least, has not had more than one reporter present at a representative match either this season or last season. And a.s for the complaint about the weekly newspaper scribes crowding the line, the utterer of the wail should recollect that he represents a weakly weeklv himself. Verb sap. One of Scotia’s leading men once put up the prayer “Lord, gie us a guid conceit o’ oursel’s!” The Auckland “'Observer’s football mau undoubtedly possesses the desideratum. Last week he printed this par: —“A correspondent writes me suggesting that we could pick a team from the Auckland province that would hold its own with the rest of New Zealand. It is a big order, but with such players to pick from as R. Mc-Gre-gor, McKenzie, Asher, Smith, Harrison, Absolum, Kiernan, Garrard and Hay in the backs, and innumerable good forwards, we would make a splendid showing.” Twenty thousand spectators witnessed the match played in Sydney last month between Queensland and New South Wales, which the last-named colony’s team won by 17 points to 10. Garrard late of the Wellington Athletics, has resumed football in Auckland. According to a daily paper scribe, he played a fair game for the Shore team a fortnight ago. The Otago “Witness’ football scribe alleges .that a way back exchange from New South Wales, in describing a football match, relates how one player “raced up the ground with the goal at his mercy, but lost his hl?ad, and kicked it across the field!”

Auckland “Lynx’ hears that George Smith, the well-known City three-quar-ter, will not be a candidate for selection in our representative team this year. He intends to give Roseingrave satisfaction over the 120yds hurdles at the November meeting of the Auckland Amar teur Athletic and Cycle Club, and wants ■plenty of time for training. The “Sporting Review” of last week writes apropos of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s recent decision in the appeal lodged by the Grafton Club of Auckland:—“That this case does not come under the jurisdiction of the Appeal Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, whose duties apply purely to disputes arising out of the interpretations of, the game, vide by-law 12 of the New Zealand Rugby Union.” The Auckland paper alleges that the committee is evidently wrong in their decision that it had no jurisdiction in dealing with the City-Grafton case, as its records will show that in 1894 the Grafton 11. team claimed the match played against Ponsonby 11., and which Ponsonby won on the grounds that the latter club played J. Gillespie who was a stranger and who had not made proper application for permission to play. The protest was dismissed by the Auckland Rugby Union, but the Grafton team appealed to the New Zealand Union, on by-law 21, which is now identical with by-law 24 in the Auckland Rugby Union rules, and which formed one of the grounds on which the City club appealed. The New Zealand Union in the case of GraftonPonsonby adjudicated on the case and ordered the match to be either re played or awarded to Grafton. ASSOCIATION. (By “Line Umpire.”) The secretary of the Wellington Football Association has received advice that the Auckland Association has obtained the ude of the Domain for „ Saturday, August 24th. The local team will, therefore, probably leave here cn Thursday, 22nd August, travelling by rail to New 'Plymouth and return on the following Monday. I hear that Phillips, Mouat, F. Williams and Macdonald are unable to go north. The absence of these men will considerably, weaken the team. The final for the Charity Cup will be played on August 10th, and a trial match cn the following Saturday. Monty Chadwick and Morrison are evidently in grand form for Northern (Dunedin) this season. Both were rep. men last season, and are playing better than ever.

Northern created rather a surprise hy beating (Southern by 6 goals to 1. By 'this defeat the latter club loses premiership honours; which fall to Rcslyn, who are naturally very pleased. On Saturday last the two teams were to have met for the Charity Banner Final and a good game should have resulted. Dobson and Doherty, of the Roslyn team, are in fine form. Otago will have a strong rep. team this season, and Auckland will have to send a very hot team if they wish to get back the shield. . Swifts seniors secured their place in the semifinals by defeating Petono by three goals to one. Williams secured two goals and Johnston one. Petone had a strong team in and l at one time it seemed likely that they could win. The superior fore© of the winners told, however, in the last ten minutes, when they added two goals/ Bernsten played splendidly in goal for the losers, stopping some hot chances. H. Renai at full and E. Renai at centre half played good games. The latter, however, spoils all his good work by an inclination to dirty tactics which he would do well to drop. Mackxnnon and Ryan were also prominent, the latter scoring Petone’s only goal. Whit® was easily the best back on the ground. Time after time he relieved his side from tight positions and he fed his forwards well. Macdonald was not seen to advantage. He had little to doKeys neglected the ball to appeal for off-side when Peton© scored. A bad principle, Ben. You should have cleared first and appealed afterwards. Sloman played a good game at centre half. He combines,, well with ■ his "forwards and fe fi ds them well.

Martin showed improved form, but has no idea of feeding his forwards. Hawkins played a full-back game, and was penalised several times for jumping. Whether his style of play will come off against a wing combining speed with combination we have yet to see. Williams and Smelli© on the right wing played with good speed and dash. These two exJ-Dunedinites so thoroughly understand one another that it takes a lot to stop them. Johnson was much imprcvedr in the, centre. His goal was a good one. Phillips and Halo on the left were too well watched to bo as dangerous as usual, but they got in a lot of work. •H. Renai will probably bo picked to go. to Auckland if Macdonald is unable to obtain leave. Swifts juniors defeated Red Cross at Miramar by three goals to one. Ellis (2) and Cloake scored for the winners and Fred Alpe for , the losers. Red Cross had a' weak team, being without McLeod, Will Adams, McKeowen and Dixon. A strong wind was blowing across the ground, which rendered good play

almost out of the question. Consideif* ing the wind, the winners’ forwards played with fine combination, while their backs kicked with splendid nentFitzgerald was very safe in. the Red Cross goal. He had many shots to save and could not be blamed for those which went through, the first from Ellis being a regular “snorter.” Boyd and Jamieson were none too safe at full. Frank Alpe was the best of the halves. Smith, Gibbs and Fred Alpa were the pick of the forwards. I consider Alpe to he the best centre I have seen, either senior or junior, this seatson- He passes and shoots well, and is not afraid of his share of hard work. Ho has a future before him as a centre. His brother is also a promising half. Smith, on the left wing, is also a promising forward. He got on some good rushes in the first spell, out was given, no chance in the second half. Salmon in goal for the Swifts had nothing to do. He only handled the ball once in each spell. Was fairly got napping when the Red Cross scored. Duff and Churchward were very safe at full; the former kicked splendidly, while the latter’s tackling was all that could be desired. Shifting him to full back was a good more. West and Dawson, wing halves, were both good, but the latter is much in« dined to centre the ball in front of his own goal. He did this on Saturday;, which cost his side a goal. Staples was the same old brilliant “orpie” at centre half. He fed his forwards in "good style and was rarely beaten for the ball. Isaacs and Ellis played well together on the right wing, getting on some good rushes. The inside man is a splendid shot. Mayer in the centre was much improved, but wanders toe much from the centre. He lost a goal through this fault. Cloake and Creep in combined well together on. the left, but the latter shirks bustling his man, a bad fault, Cloake has been playing less selfishly recently, which has . been of material advantage to both himself and his side. This week’s senior will be the semi-finals for the Charity Cup ;i Swifts A. v. Diamonds, and Rovers v. Swifts B. Tile Swifts and Diamond* will be the more .interesting match, especially as the maroons, who are the Championship winners, had not beaten the Diamonds this season. By defeating the Swifts on ‘ Saturday, the Queens Park have made a certainty of the Third Class Championship, and it seems therefore useless to go further with Championship matches. The heat plan would bo to proceed with the Henderson Challenge Cup Conxpe* tition. I noticed Hay playing well for Pearls last Saturday. . The Diamonds had a friendly game with a team from H.M.S. Archer last week, one goal each being the final score. The colours of the manaof-wars* men, white shirts with blue showed up well. Rovers have, I, believe, secured A. Staples, who used to play a good forward game foi Thorndon whenythat club was in existence. Why will certain captains, when they win the tees, play “against the wind? Every, advantage should - bo taken at the beginning of the game, and playing with the wind gives one’s side a chance of scoring goals early, while the opposing side may fall to pick up these, goals. With a weak team this is particularly noticeable.