FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5008, 4 July 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL

KTJGBY NOTES. (By “Touch.”) The outstanding feature of last Saturday s match between I*o tone and Melrose was the openness of the play. This was the more exceptional because the game was mainly a forward one. Tii-o pubiio res titled in unmistakable manner to the pleasure it derived from the contest. The Interest throughout was of a thrilling nature—and it remains to be said that the best team The Petono scrummagors are sturdy, woii-dovoloped and scientific, and to these advantages the suburban club mainly owes its most meritorious win. There were a few exceptional grafters (Hardham and Driscoll especially) in the forward ranks, but the whole nine did excellent work. Theplay of Hebborley behind the scrum was splendid from a one-man point of view, but he should remember that a halfback is theoretically obliged to pass tno ball to his supporters. None of toe other Petono backs call for special notice, though in fairness it must ho ■ said that- they collared effectively and used the touchlin© well. Their attack, however, was weak as hash-mill coffee.

The Melrose forwards ,did not haw tlie condition necessary to enable them to contest to the last pinch the desperate game they were called, upon to play, it was a most unusual spectacle to see a Moirose team fail in the last ten minutes to last the pace—bu t that was what happened. J. Spencer, McGrath and Adams v.'ero about tho only throe forwards, who maintained their dash throughout, but Adams’s performance in tins respect was more than discounted. by a failure oin his part to apply his intellect to his actions. Spencer’s was an excellent game, and after having seen it “Touch” is more satisfied than ever before that Spencer has been an underestimated man in the summing-up of the Wellington football public. He will undoubtedly rank as one of the best forwards in tho New Zealand team —the more especially as tho hard, fast grounds of New South Wales will suit his style of play admirably. The Old Boys—Oriental game at Petone was watched with great interest, by the suburoan patrons ox cue sport, it being of an open nature and there; fore ■ distinct altogether from previous matches played-this season on tho suburban ground. Tho place-kicking in the match was exceptionally good. Out of five kicks at goal there were two successful, two only missed tho uprights by, inches, and one-missed by a, few feet. It is satisfactory to record this improvement in an art that lately has been in danger of being locally lost. The Athletic —Wellington heat on Saturday was an interesting struggle. Both teams of late have been showing greatly improved form, and each has a chance of increasing its championship points before .tho second round bo got through. The Athletic team is displaying a most commendable feature indeed ill coming on the field (to its seemingly hopeless engagements) in tho pink of condition.- On Saturday last, this was notably tho case, for although the Athletics were beaten by eleven points to six they yet played the best game in the last quarter of an hour and succeeded in scoring a try during that time. Wellington, however, were by no means ill-trained, and the game they played was a creditable, one. Tiayfiold in the forwards, and MTntyre in the backs were the best forward and back in the Wellington team. Each has a chance for representative honours this season judged by present appearances. Hales at full-back was _ very’serviceable •to Athletics, and he kicked a fine penalty goal from near the half-way line. The Poverty Bay newspaper evidently thinks that the New Zealand Rugby TJnion stands to its unions in the same position as a referee does to bis teams. Premising first that the Poverty Bay scribe is gratuitously assuming a state of things that is not nor ever was, “Touch” prints the paragraph, which is as follows —“The Auckland Rugby Union send a team on a Souuiem tour this season. \Vo notice they play the first match at Napior towards the end of August. This means that they will conic down the East Coast. It is strange that Auckland has not taken this-opportunity ■ of returning the visit paid them by the Poverty Bay representative team in 1894. The boat will be in the bay long enough to permit of a match being played here, and we feci sure that the celebrated Auckland Rugby champions, if they aro of tho stuff that real football enthusiasts are made, would much prefer to come ashore and play a match here to cooling their heels on the deck while the boat waits. Auckland owes the local Union a visit, and surely tho New Zoa-

land Union should see that a return is played when the visitors are here an their way South. Otherwise it is of little avail being affiliated to the New Zealand Union, and the local Union pays its annual subscription to the governing body for tho honour of the thing.

Up Ekstahuna way (says the “Manawatu Daily Times”) they piay football on Sundays, and ,ju.st now a heated controversy appearing in tho local paper with reference to such proceeding. One correspondent, made some very pertinent remarks concerning tho future dwelling place of young men who ohaso the leather on the Sabbaih, whereupon there arose the übiquitous "Will Toouiath (not unknown in Greytown), who delivered himself, interalia, of the following:—“As I know tliat those who spend tho afternoon in kicking the football spend the evening in Divine worship, 1 say that there is far more hope for thorn as present footballers and future citizens than there is for those who hold up their hands in holy horror at the thought of kicking a football in public on Sunday.” Is tins a now religion Will is teaching? Is tho rep. cap a preliminary to the halo? "Tho football writer of tho “Wanganui Chronicie” is thus severe on a local team;—“ln all probability Melrose will play Turakiua next Thursday oi\ the Roc., hut before doing so it would bo advisable for them to make a few alterations in their backs, and also indulge in a littlo practice. 1 ”

. “-Red and Black” comments as follows on some lights of other days:—“A contemporary laments tho fact that no Maoris or haif-oastes arc included in tho Now Zealand team to traverse Australia. But where aro the Maori footballers now-a-days. Players like Taiaroa, Vvarhrick, G-age, Ellison, Hiroa, Wynyard and Co, are as extinct as the moa, -The first New* Zealand team that played in Australia included that famous player Taiaroa, and it is recorded as a fact that at on© of tho jovial evenings tho New South Wales Rugbyites pressed Taiaroa' to give a song or recitation'm the M-arorx language, and after a good deal of persuasion he did so, with great effect. Tho piece he recited was tho “Lord’s Prayer.” It was this team that re-echoed tliat definant

exclamation “Ake-ake ako kia kaha,” made by Rowi and his warriors to the British troops, and used by every other rep. team and the first contingents, that hare left these shores. I have received an advance copy of the ‘'Official Guido and Souvenir of New Zealand Football,to T>e published by Mr W. E. Knott in connection with the match to be played by the New Zealand team against Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday next. The "Souvenir'' contains a largo number of full-page ilhistratdons of past New Zealand teams, dating back to 1884, together with complete records of every match played between the various Australian, and New Zealand teams. All followers of the game of Rugby should make a point of scouring one of these' "Souvenirs." Mr Knott is going to continue the publication on the 'other side," and he leaves with the team on Saturday next. JUNIOR NOTES. (By "Tokonxairiro.") To-day the chosen of Manawatu will meet the Wellington' representatives, in a struggle for supremacy. The following are the teams; Wellington.—McLennan, full ‘back; McKellow (Wellington), Hay (Victoria), Collte-gOfh and Elliott (Melrose), three-, quarters; Mcyrick (Kia Ora), five-eighth; Brewer (Southern), half-back; Sullivan (Melrose), Griffiths (Poneke'. wing forwards ; Mitohell (Poneke), Barlow (Petone). Kitchen (Wellington), Gilchrist (Melrose), Turnbull (Wellington), Smith (Southern), and Milner, (Poneke), forwards. Emergencies—Backs, Quee (Po* neke), Hodgson (Poneke). Atkin sou (Athletic); forwards. Bounehey (Kia Ora), Gorrio (Kia Ora), Ready (Athletic). Manawatu —Backs. Hands, Stevens, Man son. Georg© Murray, Campbell; forwards, King, oole. Stewart, Kiely. Woodroffo Greathead, Whisker, Bennett. Ru<L diolc. ......

Of the country team. I can, say little or. nothing. They have the however, of being a good ' sound lot—plenty of dash in the forwards and a hard-working set of backs, and can be counted to giro our fellows a decidedly willing go. -i > ' Tho Wellington team, as already pointed out in the "Times.” is mainly composed of tried players of the right stamp. McLennan, the full back,; is a very young player, but possesses . plenty of coolness. He kicks well, and. collars with judgment. Miitchinsou, the other junior who was said to be in the running for the same place is a player of a different kind. : Liiko McLennan, he also kicks well, but Ids failure in persistently hanging to the ball till he was grassed by an opponent lost him his place. Of tho three-quarters, BUiott, tlie speedy Melrose wing, thoroughly deserved has inclusion in the team. He knows how to use his feet, and can be relied on to give a good aieoouut of himself.

McKellar. who has done some good work for Wellington "juniors a» right wing during the present'• season, has a good turn of speed. Tie also-has the happy knack of passing just at tho right moment, and knows how to receive the ball.

Hay, the other three-quarter, who generally plays centre for Victoria College, is quite as good as his comrades, and seldom makes a mistake. Having said this much about the back division, the other players—five-eight and half—can be dismissed with a word. The wisdom -of putting in Meyrick for five-eight in preference to Hodgson has yet to be proved. No one who has watched Brewer during the season ever doubted

that he would be selected for tho posi» lion behind, the scrum. I have, on previous occasions, had cause to comr mead his excellent play, consequently nothing further in the way of coinoneort at this Juncture.

JTlie forwards, of which Mitchell, Sm/tK Kitchen, Gilchrist ami Milner aro ab°ut the pick, are a good lot, Dennehey's noniuelusion in tho team has been a matter for some comment. 110 is a strong, weighty player, and did some very useful work m tho scrums and on the line in the trial match on Satiiiyiay. McXrmes and McGrath, who were looked upon as probables, were unable to tnk© part in the trial, owi:ig to their being called upon to piny in ecnior games. A good deal of interest attaches to tho fixture between Poueke and Wellington. The latter arc somewhat aggrieved at their defeats by Melrose, and aro '‘saying things” about the status of certain; players m the latter's ranks, who, ft is alleged, are illegally playing’ as juniors. At all times a defeat in tho height of greatness is rather a nauseous pill to swallow, and the probability that Wellington may yet have the coveted honour of the championship wrested from them, just at tho particular moment when all things seemed to point in their favour may have something to do with this complaint.

‘•‘Phrecsquarter,” writing in tho "Auckland Herald,” has something to say re* garding tho decadence of junior football in that city. Ho says-:—“I should like, through vour valuable paper, to draw attention to the number of match eg going b” default every Saturdav in tho junior grades, from- which our‘senior football is to bo supplied in the near future. I notice that down south tho defaulting club is fined. It is a good step on tho local union's part to try and arrange a representative match with other unions, which should also be arranged lor tho second juniors. T know of an. instance where a second junior club played only three of eight matches, one being abandoned, as the ground was unplayable tho other four being won by default. • I would suggest that tho Rugby union put tho pen through the naan© of any team defaulting twice, as it seems, after being defeated a conple of times, they drop out, leaving two or throe clnho to fight it out for the premiership. It is very disheartening bo those players who play for tho love of tho game to con* tmne training under such circnmstanees." _ This regrettable state of things , haopjly in no wise applies to junior football in Wollinjrfcon, or even the country districts. Both tho Manawatu and Wairarapa branches of the union have flourishing junior clubs playing undor their jurisdiction while in Wellington a surplus of players for a junior match is tho rule rather than tho exception.

If I might add 1 ai word l ,l would say that probably the root of the trouble is not far to seek. The meagre support accorded junior football and tho laok of encouragement to junior kickists in most centres is the particular phase of the evil to be most deplored. In. many places junior teams seem to live on l sufferance, and junior matches are looked upon as a branch of athletic superfluity, having nothing in common with the >nm« anSu objects of senior football. Having at regard for the fact that in many instances junior football is not only equal, but very often preferable, to senior play, the laxity of the controlling authorities in failing to accord junior football a proper measure of support is not comprehend siible. A series of interprovincial junior matches, to be played, annually would give juniors something to look forward to, and would have the effect of very materially increasing interest in the dx> ings of the younger players. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. (By "Linesman,") All of the League matches, were post* poned on Saturday to permit of a representative trial match being played by the two teams selected by Mr J. J. Roberts The trial match has been played much, narlier this season than informer years. Th * idea of playing the-match so. soon is to enable the selector to choose his team early. This will have the effect of giving the chosen, players every opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of on© another's methods and l of acquiring proper form.

A spectator at the trial matoh last Saturday, who bias played Association with considerable success in tho Old Country and the colonies for a number of years, awl who for several months has consistently watched the games in Wellington from tho touch line, supplies the following notes on the match :

. "Tho trial match was played at Newtown Park under very favourable circumstances. The weather was keen .the playera in splendid fettle, and those who witnessed the game shelved their appreciation by repeated applause. From tho result it is evident that the selector baa no easy task in choosing those who are to represent Wellington this season. •

In comparing the two teams as a whole, the colours were favourites, but on the day’s form, one or two exchangee could with advantage be made. Fitzgerald’s non-appearance gave Xron» an opportunity of showing he can stand a very creditably; las vis-a-vis was not given tho same chance of showing his mettle.

AVhite and Amies both, upheld, their past reputation by playing sound, defensive games. Konai, at full back, played a sterling game, and ie a difficult, man to pass. Both he and Roberto, however, should use more judgment in long kicking. Of the halves, Downes played all round the most useful game, and the two dark the most brilliant. Downee's weak spot is comer kicking.

AVhen will the halves loam to pass the ball to their forwards before forcing them on to the opposing back division, and give them a chance of getting the ball well under control before their opponents are on them? Nothing annoy* the forwards more than to see the halve* dribbling the ball at a time when it might with advantage be sent along to them; otherwise the backs- on both side*

showed thomsolvos to be good tacklcra and clever at head work. Of the forwards, Williams, A. Morrat, and Bx’odi© showed good combination, and should justly their inclusion in the rep. team.

Smcilio played a useful gam© througacoit, ha© the happy knack of always being in the right place at the right moment. but should pass more to- his wing. Duffy at outside right did credit to his side. He is fast, and made good use of his opportunities, but the ball was 7iot spat his way half enough. On the day's form Hill was the pick of the forwards, being conspicuous from start to finish, and showed he has thorough knowledge of the essential points of the game. He is a safe shot, and keeps the bail well under control when dribbling. Anker ami Smith worked hard, but both have played better in club matches. Frasor, on the outside right, was responsible for many good runs, but on Saturday his centring wa« too erratic. Hathaway on the opposite wing, did hims-olf credit on tha few occasions the ball went his wav On Saturday’s form I should place White and Amies backs, and Renai reserve; Downs. Clark, juu.. and Renai halves, and B. Clark reserve; Williams, A. Mowot. Brodie, Hill and Diffiy forwards. Smelli-e reservo.” L. Harris, an ex-*Grafton right wing man (Auckland) has taken up his resii-. denoe in Wellington. He has decided to withdraw from active interest in the game, on account of having recently en-’ tered the ranks of the benedicts. The management committee of the Wellington Football Association is to be congratulated upon the manner in which it has fought and worked against heavy odds to organise a Boys’ District League competition. At a meeting held early this week in connection with arranging the competition, it was announced that •nine teams had joined the League. The fixtures have now been drawn, and the matches are set down to commence on the 11th fust. Considerable interest is being taken in the Association gam© in Auckland this year. Last ’Saturday the newly formed Scottish team, called the Thistle, which ha« amongst its ranks several ex-repre-santative players, was defeated by Y.M.C.A. by five goals to one. Amongst the scorers for Y.M.C.A. was Anbury, who played for Potone last year. Sale, one of the Y.M.C.A. forwards, is said to be a first-class player. He is a eplemHd shot, and has a fine scoring record. Bradstoct, who played for Auckland agaratit Wellington last time Wellington went north, is again playing for Grafton. He plays a fine combined game; has perfect control over the ball, and can shoot . well/.. - . >Wright,-’ another Auckland rep. player, has again joined Grafton. He played for North Shore last season. An Auckland writer states that tho seorofcary of the Otago Football Association ~a s,, .W T* ^e n stating that there is some likelihood of an Otago team visiting Auckland this season. Morrison, the ex-St. John, outside left forward, fg in good form this season. He is playing with Chadwick on the left wing for Northern, who last Saturday beat Watari by six goals to one. Momington also defeated' Southern by six goals to one. A Dunedin exchange dtewribea Ashton an having done thro© men's work in this match. The championship matches will be conti.iru-ed this afternoon. Quean's Park and "Diamonds play on the Newtown Park (weather permitting), and the other two senior matches will be played at Miramar. Interest centres in the name between St. John's and Hovers. These two teams are well matched and should give a good exposition of the ganv*.