FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5294, 4 June 1904, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL TEAM. IN AUSTRALIA. The programme of the English team at present Blands thus; Juno 18—New South Wales, at Sydney. June 22—Western Union, at Bathurst. June 25 - Now South Wales, at Sydney. June 29—Metropolitan Uni n, at Sydney. July 2—Australia, at Sydney. July 6—Northern Union, at Newcastle. Visit to Queensland. July Z7 t Northern Border Unions, at Armidale. July 30 —Australia, at Sydney. Visit to New' Zealand. August 27—Combined Country, at Sydney. August 31—Metropolitan Union. September 3—New South Wales, at Sydney. IN NEW ZEALAND, Following is the programme: August &—Canterbury, Westland, -and South Canterbury, at Christchurch. August 10 Otago and Southland; at Dunedin. /, August IS—New Zealand, at Wellington. August 17—Taranaki, Wanganui, and Manawatu, at New Plvmcfiitli August 20—Auckland and* Poverty Bay at Auckland. i RUGBY, (By 'Touch.”) Poneke was primarily doteatedslast Saturday by the off-side play of Poneke forwards. The foregoing paragraph should be cut out by every Poneke player and bo pasted in his hat- for future warning. There is no gainsaying its truth, for Petone with one try and two .penalty goals gained a two point win from Poneke. who had scored three tries. In season and out of season this writer has stressed the truth that off-side play doesn’t pay» but the present occasion i,s so opportune and fitting to rub the point in that it must bo taken advantage of. The game was-'A very fine one, and it was witnessed by over three thousand enthusiasts, despite the wet weather conditions. Taking into account the slow ground and wet weather, the match must bo written down as being a fine advertisement for football. The result hung in the balance nil through, and there was a Hp-oe earnestness about the n'-rv thn+ the yen miners of nr twice d.ce was individual miur'i play, sind it was pleasing in one in stance to hear the crowd fire a salvo of healthy hoots at a, Petone player who viPully charged a Poneke- man when timely warning of a mark had been given by the referee. The outstanding feature of Saturday’s game was the excellent showing made for Petone by D. McGregor. When he played in Wellington for the New Zealand team against New-South Wales, McGregor played a fine offensive game, but on Saturday ho showed great im-

provement, for his defence was as good as his attack, and both were high-class. Hardham as an emergency back shaped well, and selwood was good on defence. Calhun was the most hard-work-ing of all the Poneke pack, which did work hard to a man. Stevens and Slater wore the most consistent of the backs. Wallace did poorly in the first If, but later on he improved. Mattery s defence was good, and his turn ol triced onoo emvded him to overhaul McGregor when the latter player uad a clear field before him. Tho folowing table shows tho positions of tho teams in the senior grade cliam-

. The liasin Reserve is not sacrosanct to cricket, but there are those who really think it is. -Touch” has nothing against the game of cricket (partly through choice and a trifle through necessity ho writes in its praise as “ihe iittito” on occasion). But he wishes to say that those misguided zealots who •ok upon the Basin Reserve as being wholly reserved for cricket in tho offseason as well as tho on are a sot of dogs-in-tho-inangor who should be warned off tho globe. The turf of the reserve now is m a very parlous state, and a few football matches played on it would greatly solidify the ground and simplify the ground work for improvement next year that has been already decided upon bv the Cricket Association. But this notwithstanding, some of the unreasoning zealots are dropping scalding tears of agony down the necks of unwilling listeners because the City Council has given permission for the England v. New Zealand Rugby Football match to be played on -the Basin Reserve. The match is a most exceptional one; to play it on the reserve ■will enable a largo number of people to see tho match who would not trouble to walk to Newtown ; to play it on tho reservo would do no harm to the turf; and, further, it would servo to put in a;nt light the nature of the hold over tho Basin that the Wellington Cricket Association possesses. Thercloro -pouch’’ will be pleased to seo the great Rugby game played on the Basin Reserve, and lie will,view unmoved the flow of tears on the footpaths outside tho reserve) from the monopolistic few who decry any departure from the hold-tight policy of the fT'c'-el Association. ■ News published in the “Transvaal Loader” about the doings of Now Zealand footballers shows that the club bearing that name is playing some good games. On April IGt-h the team mot another called “The Diggers,” the latter team winning by 11 points to 6. The teams were constituted as follows:—New Zealand~-Stiickoy (back). Bonar, Tucker, Hazetden and Tiuckland (three-quarters), Hunt and Keith (halves), McGregor (captain), Foreman. Taplin, Hazelden. Frooth, Evans. Wilson and Murphy (forwards). , Diggers—C. Lambe (back), C. Franklin, T. Joubort, G. Smith and MeGuinness (three-quarters). Le Roux and E. de Villiors, halves; 6. St. L. Devenish (captain), C. W. Smith, Elton, Botha, Leslie, Williamson. Moscutbal and Visser, forwards. Referee Mr 0. Devenish Meares. Tho Diggers’ scores were composed of a penalty goal, and two tries (one converted). Now Zealand scored two tries., Tho game is described as having been rather scrappy, but productive of some neat pieces of play. There wore not three points difference between the teams, and. it anything, the New Zealanders had the best of the game. Their forwards packed far better than last year, and in the loose were (Jmte as good as their opponents. Doubtless they showed to advantage, the Diggers were rather weak forward. The combination outside on neither side was firstclass. The New Zealanders pass smartly enough, but lack judgment, and the backs do not kick enough. Bonar possesses a fine turn of, speed, but does not field the ball too well. Tucker possesses rood judgment. Stuckey, at hack, defended well. On the ether side, there was I'ttlo or no combination outside. De Villiors at half is off-side a lot, hence his colleague is unable to pass to him opportunely. At three-quarter. Gordon Snrth was an absolute passenger in the team, and played a wretchedly inefficient game, certainly nothing like one would exnect of a man who had played highest class, even though ho had been on the shelf for a couple of years. Of the others .Tnnbert was by far the best man ; he is tricky and passes smartly. Lambe. at back, was excellent. Of the forwards! Evans. Taplin. Wilson and McGregor, of the New Zealanders: and Botha. Elton. Williamson and Mosenthal, for tho Diggers, were best, THE ASSOCIATION GAME. ENGLAND v. SCOTLAND. The English-Soots international was decided on the Glasgow Celtic ground on Saturday, April 9th. Though there were incessant rain and bail storms throughout the day, at least 40,000 spectators were present. The teams were: Scotland —Mcßride (goal), Jackson and Watson (full backs). Aitken. Raisbeck and Robertson (halves). Niblo, Walker, Brown. Orr and Templeton (forwards). England—Baddeley (goal), Crompton and Burgess (full backs). Wolstenbolmo. Wilkinson and Leake (halves), Rutherford. Bloomer, Woodward, Harris and Blackburn (forwards). The Englishmen had a very strong left wing in Blackburn and Harris, both of whom early initiated attacks on-the home goal. The Scots fed Templeton on their left, but the fast left-winger was unable to get past Crompton, who made use of his weight. Jackson, the Scots’ full back, sent in a splendid return, but Orr shot very poorly outside. After this both sides lost chances. Templeton sent in a splendid shot from the line, but Baddeley made a fine save. Orr nearly scored from a corner, after which the Englishmen at the other end were guilty of two “outers.” There was no score in the first spell, in which the home team had had most of the opportunities. The second.spell brought forth a much bettor display of football, in which the English team gradually assumed the upper hand. The English combined better. The centre, Woodward, put in some excellent work. He put in a fine low shot, which struck the post and came out again. Baddeley was tested at the other end. after which Blackburn and Harris made things pretty warm for the Scots defence. Ka..shock iiad on -mo occasion to ci-neede a corner, whop Mcßride was drawn out and on ihe grenno. Scotland organised a raid, bur Crompton intervened. lilac’ burn ob. rained and put in a long centre, which Wat son missed altogether. Whereupon Bloomer pounced on the ball, dribbled close in, and with a fine shot beat McBride, the only goal of tne day. Walker, after this reverse nearly made the game a draw, bat Baddeley made a magnificent save. Each side had good chances in their turn, Harris hitting the net on .two occasions. Leake stalled off a'Scots rush and the game was over. At the conclusion of the game the

spectators carried Harris cthe English inner left) shoulder high to the pavilion. This "as in recognition of the magmlicenc forward game, the University and Corinthian player having played a game which will stand out as one ot the linest ever played in an international. Baddeloy Uept a magnificent goal, while Burgess stood out strongly at full back, and was rarely beaten. Of the Scots, Raisbeck was, next to Harris the most prominent player on the field. lUcßrido kept goal splendidly. Orr was the best of an indifferent lot of forwards. j

The team selected against Canterbury caused a little surprise. Little fault can be found with goalkeeper or lull backs. In the half back lines, the inclusion of McWhanncl and Renai is wondered at as. neither is playing in anything like his usual form. Taylor is playing an excellent game at centre half tins season, while Hawkins is preferable to Renal. In the forward line it is noticed that all tiie selected men have been scoring well tins season thought it was confidently expected that Hathaway would be selected. The Diamonds' left wing has been playing very well this season ’better, perhaps, than over he has done before. The Canterbury teams, as originally selected, was a fairly strong combination bin, Rawlinson (goal). Seymour (left half) and Marshall (left wing) have been unable to got away. Their places were taken by Musgravo, Jones and Raeburn, who are not known to the writer. Of the rest of the team, however, Rodger and Cornish both play an excellent game at back; Willson plays a serviceable game at right half, but is inclined to kick rather hard. Perks plays a solid game at centre half, and is the best half Canterbury has. Parsonson (right wing) has not been playing long, but is improving every match. Hill played centre hhlf against the Wellington teams at Easter, and did a lot of work well. He should be a very dangerous forward. . Sandall and Raeburn, composing the left wing, are both unknown to the writer. Stark, the centre forward, is evidently a candidate for the New Zealand team at centre. His play in Wellington last September and in Christchurch at Easter stamps him as a forward considerably above the average. Ho is, above all, an excellent shot. I have received an anonymous letter commenting on “Justice's” communication which appeared in my last notes. As. however, no notice whatever is taken of this particular variety of scribe, the writer can only expect to have his views printed when he forwards his name and address as a guarantee of good faith.

pionships: — Point 8 Club. r3 d i • ? 5-. o O. £ pi > n Petone 5 5 _ _ 98 9 10 Poncke 5 •1 1 — 81 17 8 Old Povs 5 3 2 — 8U 33 0 Oriental C 3 3 — 5"j 2D 6 Melrose r. 2 2 1 17 2/ 5 .Athletic ... 5 0 ■1 1 u 120 1 0 Wellington... 5 0 ' 5 — 13 GO