FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6314, 14 September 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL

RUGBY NOTES. (By "Harpastuiru"). Tliis afternoon the Athletic Club will play the Masiorton Club's senior fifteen. on the Athletic Bark, at 1.45 p.m. The match is to be started early to allow the visitors to return by the 1 p.m. train. The Alustendu team is a strong one, and includes the best back in the Wairarapa—J. O’Leary. The team is composed of Baird, Almett, J. O'Leary, Duggan, Kinzett, M. O'Leary, Gray, Darnell, Burry, Fielding, Aiackellar, Lyall, Brenchley, A. Boss, and C. with Chapman and Spring as emergencies. The local team haa been weakened by the loss of Kveuson, Wilson, Beil, Baker, and Osborne, but a good struggle should result. After. the senior match the Melrose and Southern fourth-class teams will piny off for second place in their grade, and, judging from their previous displays, this also should be a most interesting match. The match between Wellington and Wairarapa, at Ma-sterton last Saturday, was a disappointing one. It was generally expected that, with the dry ground, the Wellington backs would give a good display of combined attacking movements. Expectations were not realised, although the backs had several chances of showing their mettle. The trouble appeared to belli the five-eighths line. It was a mistake to play J. Kyan at No. 2 five-eighth, instead of No. 1. Green is admittedly somewhat difficult to work with, and therefore Cleary cannot be blamed for not being altogether a success in the match in question. Ryan and Green, however, have worked together so long that they know each other's play to a nicety, and when they are both in tho same team it is indispensable that they * should work together. Tho selectors of the team have at length recognised this, us they have decided that on the Southern tour 3. Ryan shall be No, 1 five-eighths. On Saturday the two five-eighths system was played in the Wairarapa for tho first time. On this occasion the system failed, but it was not its own fault. The fault lay with the extra five-eighth (N. McKenzie);* who kicked tho ball nearly every time ho got it. All through the match the touch-line kicking of tho Wairarapa backs was bettor than that of the Wellington rearguard. E. McKenzie, full-back, gave a particularly fine exhibition. His successful penalty shot from half-way, near tho touch-line', was a magnificent kick. Tho Sydney Metropolitan Union’s championship for tho season has been won by Glebe, who, before twenty thousand spectators, defeated University in the final by 13 points to nil. Eastern Suburbs gained third place in the championship table, and South Sydney fourth. University scored more trios than Globe ami Eastern Suburbs together. i Wallace, Roberts, and Mitchinson .left for Lyttelton by the Mararoa last evening, to play for-Wellington against Canterbury this afternoon. A team of Rugby players from A. Levy's wholesale clothing factory will meet a team front the Wellington Woollen Company’s factory at Miramar at 3 o’clock to-day, C ground. A WEDNESDAY TEAM. The following team has been selected to represent the Wednesday clubs against Horowhenua B at Levin on ■Wednesday I next:—

Full-back—Logie (Artillery). Three-quarters—Hedges (Star), Morris (Tramways)’, Cording (Oriental). Five-eighths—Harter (Oriental), Whittaker (Star). Half—Hunt (Star). Wing-forward—Sinclair (Oriental). \ Forwards—Lambert (Oriental), Brown, Mouatt, and Lauchlan .(Star), Trimble, < Pain, and Townsend (Artillery). , ! On the whole, the team is a fairly good one, but the selectors have- made two bad mistakes. Logie is too slow and unreliable, and Cording should have been chosen for the position of full-back, with Schultz (Oriental) as wing threequarter. Neels (Artillery) is a much | better player than Townsend, and should have been preferred to the latter. The | team will be in charge of Mr D. Tay- • lor. Any of the players selected unable to accompany the team are requested to communicate at once with the secretary to the union. ’ THE _ SCRUM. There’s a frenzied roar comes crashing On the tense, expectant hush. As the backs go forward dashing In the brilliant passing rush; But, between,, no noise you're hearing. For the barrackers are dumb. And you never find them cheering For the fellows in the scrum. While the back has the exciting Work as on the ball he junlps. It is we who do the lighting. And it’s we who get the bumps. With no resting and no shrinking— When you view the fact, it's rum That the crowd is never thinking Of the fellows in the scrum. Oft we heard the rousing chorus — But 'twas not for us, we knew— Of the crowd in frenzy o’er us As the back came bounding through. Touching down across-the dead-line. His the trumpet and the drum; "But they've got no gaudy head-line For the fellows in the scrum. : When all is done and said, it i Is the same in war and life; While the backs get all the credit, ! It's the forwards face the strife; It is we who scruff and smother. It is wo who last succumb, | While the praises greet another Than the follow in the scrum. ,We've to sweat and fume and wrestle. Till at last we heel it out. When the chap whose done much less T 1 Make a dash as thousands shout. For his plate the fatted chicken. And for us the meagre crumb. Though wo graft and push and sicken In the vortex of the scrum. —Milton MacGregor, in the “Bulletin.” THE RANFURLY SHIELD. AUCKLAND v. WANGANUI. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 13. The final this season for the Ranfurly Shield will be played here tomorrow, when Wanganui will meet Auckland, the holders. Air Gallaher has chosen a solid' combination to represent Auckland, and the visitors have brought up the best fifteen in their district. Following are the teams : ■ Wanganui.—Full-back, L. Southcombe; three-quarters, H. Absolurn (captain), X. Mculi, H. Abbott; five-eighths, P. AVard, L. Hitchings; half, W. Dowe; wing-for-ward, T. Suoter; forwards, P. Murray, C. Stratford, A. S. Anderson, A. GuscoH-,

Daly, W. Dustin, Carroll. Emergencies —Back, T. Kilpatrick; forwards, E. Jones and Gumbley. Auckland.—Full-back, A. Miller : threequarters, G. G. Murray, G. Gillett, A. Asher; five-eighths, R. Magee; half, H. Kiernau; wing-forwards, J. Hall, S. McDonald; forwards, G. Tyler. F. Tierring t, front row), G. Nicholson. W. Cunningham (lock). A. Francis (middle row). C. Seeling. IF Hayward (back row). Emergencies—Back, ' Stuckey; forward, J. McGuire (Grafton). Air Langsford, secretary of the local union, received the following telegram from Wellington to-day “Despite all endeavours, have been unable to get referee to act in to-morrow’s match. Try and agree on local man/' The visitors have asked that Air Angus Campbell take charge of the game, and that gentleman will officiate.

ASSOCIATION Last Saturday’s game between Wellington and Canterbury could not by any means be described as a good exhibition of soccer football. The high wind no doubt accounted for this. A good game might have eventuated had the weather been calmer, for tho ground was in perfect condition for’ a good game. ■Canterbury were not by any moans represented by their best team, and perhaps it was just as well ns far as Wellington was concerned. The local men probably had the better of the game, but were very weak in front of goal. On the other hand, Canterbury were rather strong in this respect, and, had their right wing done better on the field, no doubt things would have been warm for the Wellington goal-keeper. The Canterbury defence was fairly good all through, though it weakened several times during the second spell, especially when the local forwards were making good headway against the wind. The forwards did a lot of useful work airainst the wind, and towards the end of the game, but there were weaknesses on the extreme wings. The game was certainly well contested, and there was no lack of good hard ; graft, but the football was below cx- ; noctntions. On some occasions the home forwards gave us some very good passing and dribbling, but the efforts wore most spasmodic. One or two fine passing runs there were, tho ball going across the ground from forward to forward, but in the end the wind had tho effect of getting the ball out of control. Tho home players I thought faster on the ball and quicker* in their movements than their opponents, and possibly their work was also more rousing. Oldnnll, in goal for Wellington, never gave his side much anxiety. His eaves were cleanly made, and he had little chance with the two goals which passed him. Elson was‘very safe and quick, especially in getting to the ball, but Roberts has been seen to better advantage. Tempest was a most hardworking half; ho seemed to be ; everywhere, worrying the forwards. His heading was quite a feature of the game. Renal has a lot more judgment than of old, but I don’t think he is quite the player he was. Barron seemed to keep too far back. He plaoed well to forwards.

Saunders executed some very pretty rushes on the right'wing, his dribbling and centring being all that could desired. The other forwards did their share of work, the insides (Mouat, O'Shea, and Ash) giving us some pretty footwork. Ash was inclined to bo selfish, and not feed Ollier enough. The latter did his work well, and his centres were always nicely placed. Russell, in Canterbury goal, was clearly troubled by a bad trip up, but, nevertheless, stopped some good shots, though his clearing was not well done. Ho could hardly be blamed for any of the goals. Clapham was the best of the backs, his defence being very solid at times, but he seemed to tire a little when there was much pressure. Ainger had not had any practice for some time, and, consequently, was not seen, at his best. He is saad to be a very sound player. McCreanor stood out boldly among the halves. Whether defending or attacking, ho was always to the fore. Jones worked very hard, but found Ollier and Ash a warm wing to watch. The outside man's trick of’ stopping suddenly seemed to worry him at times. Heddricß showed good defence, and occasionally made fine openings for the forwards. Pitt stood out _as the best forward on the Southern side. He dribbled well, passed better, and his shooting was delightful. The other forwards were rather weak. Harvey, at times, got going nicely, but then failed badly. Dowker combined effectively at times, but was closely watched by Tempest. Smith did fairly well, especially ; n the first spoil, but his partner (Knight) was very weak. A goodly number of spectators witnessed the game, but it seemed to be a great pity that the management did not take the opportunity of playing on the Athletic Park, which was free. Of course, the W.F.A. know their own business best, but it seemed to me to be a good chance lost of playing before the Wellington football public. Several interesting senior games are now taking place. To-day Swifts play a team fi’om the rest of Wellington. Next Saturday a team of colonials will meet a team of English-born players, while, later, England will play Scotland.