FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

{By, "Pakeha,")

Other duties claiming "Pakeha's" attention on Saturday last, he has been compelled to rely on the generosity of contributors whose views m respect to the several games played are hereunder noted The Poneke— Athletic game was a very ragged exhibition. Poneke, which has perhaps the best set of backs m the competition, had a day off and there were none of those comibined passing, rushes one expected to see. The nearest approach to one was when they scored their first try, Wallace, Mitchinson and Instone beating McLennan on the blind side of the scrum. The second try was obtained from a kick across the field and should. not have been allowed, as Walsh, who secured the ball, was collared and fell, knocked the ball on and Wallace, who was offside, picked up and touched down. The Athletic backs had few opportunities, as their forwards did not secure the ball from a scrum. Their try was a brilliant piece of work, as the ball passed through. nine pairs of hands before crossing the line and was the only redeeming feature of the game. Tom Hales' goal from the field was a fine kick, but he had plenty of time to get it m. Slater at full ,f or the red and blacks played a good* game and his line kicking was a great help to his side. x i Toohill and Instone on the wing were only moderate, and Mitchinson has never been seen to less advantage. Wallace seems to - have aoquired more confidence m his supports and as a consequence does not show up so prominently as earlier m the season. On the day's play the two best backs on the side were Walsh and Horgan who had all* the heavy work to do, and did it really well. The forwards played well m the scrum, but there was no dash or. vim when m the open. Galbraith, Sweeney and Mann were most conspicuous, though the front rankers secured, the ball from every scrum. Hales played his best game of the season for the blues and reminded one of the "Snowy" of olden days. Burns, at" three-ciuarters, sprained Ms ankle at the start of the game and left the field at half time, but Scott, who took his place, set his team an example of how to collar and find the line with the. ball. Sim Wilson, substitute for Evensen at centre, gave a "ood exhibition for a boy playing his first senior game and should be retained m the team m place of McLennan, whose display was very mediocre. J. O'Sullivan was responsible for the blues try. Obtaining the ball he beat Wallace and made for the corner but being stopped by Toohill, cut m and beat Wallace a second time and, sent the ball going across the field. O'Meara was not fit to play and did not do himself justice. Atkinson played his, usual plucKy game at half. The forwards played without any, life or dash, and anyone watching them could not imagine them to be the same set that had played m the former games. ! Cunningham showed that \ the art of dribbling is not yet extinct, as on one occasion he took the ball from. j one twenty-five to the other at his toe and was only stopped by a back falling on it. Mick O'Sullivan. too. is another player who can take a ball along the field without being tempted to kick it into Cook. Strait. The Old Boys—Melrose match was remarkable not only for the Melrose boys' big victory, but also for the clean and good spirited manner m which they played. The game at times was fairly interesting, but once the Melrose got near its opponents' goal line its players simply walked over. Old Boys would not tackle low and seemed to consider each score a cood joke. J. Adams (Bill's brother) marked near the 25's, and G. Spencer made an excellent but unsuccessful kick. From a free kick near the goal G. Spencer kicked a goal. From the kick out Melrose rushed the ball to their opponents' line, and from a scrum King scored near the corner. G. Spencer converted. From the halfway King got the ball, passed to Spencer, Spencer to Louchlan, who scored. Spencer failed m an easy kick.

Soon after the second spell Melrose rushed the ball down and King; scored. G. Spencer converted from a very difficult position. Shortly alter' King intercepted at their opponents' twent-five and scored under the posts. Spencer converted. Melrose soon again had the ball ia Old. Boys' own twenty-live. J. Spencer weut through all the forwards,/ passed to Sullivan who scored under the posts. G. Spencer failed, to convert. With a few minutes to go J. Spencer got the ball m the Old Boys'" twenty-five and cantered m. Civ Spencer converted. I Melrose was continually penalised I for off-side play. King and J. Spencer played excellent games. For Old Boys Jacpbsen played well. Old Boys were without the services of Watkins, the two Thompsons and Buddie. If Melrose always played the game m the same spirit as last Saturday it would soon lose the reputation it has at present among a section of tha football community for too vigorous Play. ' . The Petone-Oriental match of Saturday last merely served to afford another illustration of the defeat of a dashing set of forwards, supported b^ a haphazard lot of backs without system, method, individuality or safety, at the hands' of a team of fair forwards supported by backs lackingsomewhat m concerted attack, but nevertheless sir6hg m individual ityj and sure m taking, fielding and returning. For lack of support . tho Oriental forwards -were' run -to ai stands still; - ■'■■ :..:■■.. „v: r. ■■.:■. ?Vv '/ Mick R^an (full-back) and all : the three-quarters did good offensive and defensive work for.Petone ; McGregorgot m some serviceable kicks and made. the best of some lucky openings I that came his way, but did not relish the dashes of the Oriental vanguard. Green (half-back) got the ball away nicely whenever it came to him from the scrum, and Kelly (first-five-eighth) stood up to his work well. ' In the vanguard Cross displayed sonic of his old-tune, energy, and Bvrne, Knight and McGiil were also noticeable. The Oriental backs— excepting Roberts—lacked everything. Roberts put m a tremendous amount of work, but his kicking was not so good as usual and on several- occasions when a kick into touch would have gained ground and assisted his forwards he rushed into the ruck and got smoothered. ■_„. It is only fair to state, however, that a lax referee allowed the Petone forwards to unduly hamper Roberts by waiting off-side and interfering with him before' he .received the ball. On one occasion this was very noticeable and the referee would have heen justified m awarding a try. Roberts was tackled around the legs m the open and upset^feef ore he had "■ot within two yards of the ball. Hiffhet was absent from the Oriental . backs ami the breach was filled by R. Wells (wiiiir forward) playing half m tho first spell and full-back m the second. A. Wells made his first appearance this season and played a strong wing-forward game. The scrummers all played a hard, dashing game, Manning, 'Wy lie. and Heenan (a promising young ;ex-Waneranui Collegiate school boy) being particularly noticeable. G-illespie was absent, Southern - was again badly flogged, this time by Wellington,- whose tally was a somewhat remarkable one for the yellow and blacks. The game througlioiit ,> calls -.for-no : comment. One or two gopij Mcks. witfr> brainy top-pieces would work wonders . m th» younger team's ranks.- '..,'..:. ..; Wanganui went, under to Eangitikei at Marton by 3 to nil on a . ground which Is described' as/ awful/ To make matters worse a heavy thunder storm made its presence felt m *tjjs second spell, and tlie "plight of tteu contestants was pitiable. The "homers" handled the greasy 'ball surprisinelv well and the "fast following v" and tackling of the forwards' wor«» ried the visiting combination. Th» victory of the Rausitikei men hag caused interest m the game to go ip 50 per cent, m their district, ■ The Senior Championship Competition" of the Wa&rarapa Rugby Uniott was practical ly finished on Saturday, when Mastercon defeated Cartertoh, on the former's 'ground, by If to 8. Among the Masterton backs J. OV Leary is said to liave played about the best game of his life, indeed his play was wonderful. Prendeville. the ex-Wellingtonian, played a very plucky frame and saved his side time after time. Logan, who did good service for Wellington College and Old Boys m pastf days, put m capital work.

( Wellington Rugby Union, please note A Wanganui paper says that betting. on football matches is very prevalent » the Rangitikei district, and the eril is on* which the Wanganui Union ■will have to. grapple with, and that firmly, A lot of money changed ■ hands over the Wanganui-Rangitikei match, and at the conclusion of the came offers to bet £75 to £50 on Rangitiliei against Wanganui m the return match were made. As much M £200 is known to have changed toads orer the result of a single matfeh played m the district controlled by the Rangitikei Sub-Union, which body seems quite unable to deal effectually with the evil. The i worst part of the ' business is that j the betting is actually encouraged by j some whose position should preclude ! them from being a party to any- j thing likely to bring the game into -I disrepute. . ! That football is no '-parlor game" was exemplified on Saturday during the progress of the Old Boys-*Kia Toa match at Palmerston North. • -wins forward of the K& fs&s, received an .accidental kick m the right eye, .which swelled to such proportions that he will not "see his way clear" for some days. Shortly after his first mishap he had the misfortune to allow his mouth to come into contact- with a yis-a-vis, which caused the abstraction of a couple of teeth m very quick time. Dame Weir's .secession from, the Wellington Rugby Uniofe Executive at -„, this stage of the season was a bit of i . a surprise -to many, Easily, the' hard- . estrWorJting' member of that body, Dajrie's for the game v .prompted him to undertake work . which most : men would have recoiled from, has often had .occasion, as. ''Truth" readers know well, £o : unsparingly condemn the methods • adopted by Weir m furtherance of his j special Objects, 'but ho, with 'others, j liever dou;bted :b.is .sincerity of purpose; ' and* admired tie pluck with which he. stoipd up to defend his principles m ■the. face, p>f strong s opposition. A fearless and i tiifeless.figbteri Danie's greatest fault was verbosity, which was notimprpyed -by /diplomatic art, His ,place will be hard to fill on the Rugby Uniony Jack Murray, who •succeeds him,' is an old campaigner m matters that appertain to the . administration of local aoad colonial footIt is' reported 1 that the New Zealand Rugby ;.Unjon:: Managing Committee, .at its meeting last week, came to a decision m regard to the allocation oi loans to those Unions which had made application for: a ; share of the £6000. s«t apart by •• delegates for that special purpose m May last. If so, 1 the Committee is keeping the matter a dead secret ; why ? God knows. The star chamber methods . of the governing body have long been a matter 'of . notoriety, and it is high time a little daylight was let into its proceedings, iPast and present. The writer flatters himself ; that he is the right man to isViteh on the .'light and when he essays that duty the football community of New Zealand may, rely upon . .some exceptionally spicy reading. A coluimv or two of past history dealing with the inner workings of the ■Union would- doubtless be most unpalatable fare to serve up for a few -of present Executive,- but that > fact notwithstanding;, "PaKeha" will "let/liimself'go-f^r .all he is, worth unties* I^^keep : it ; dark" policy of the : 'Union is mendejd fpr the better/ In. tie present iristance affiliated Unions will, I presume, have to ,he severally : informed of the amount of loan money apportioned them, but is there any 'valid reason why the Committee not publish all the amounts ■'; 'voted .after \it has come to a decision oh the question. A Union would .be . quite witblin its rights m demanding ';'to know of. the parent -body what i sums have been allocated to other Unions,' but the , general public which supp.ort the game ' have no such means of obtaining ; the information. The .hole and corner tactics of the Union's management -m the past deserve to be exposed, m which case "Truth" readers can accept my ;s assurance that the result would be discomforting to one or two individuals whose "innards" would be "rocky" for a* few weeks afterwards. :,. The peculiar accident which happen- ' edih the Glebe (Sydney) versus City . (Auckland) match last Saturday is probably without ..,, a parallel m the Australasian colonies.' Instances have -not been infrequent where the cross- ' ing, of legs has been disastrous m its effect to one of the players, as witness Whatman's disablement when his lo«s collided with that of the English fuTl-back m the match England v. Harry . Roberts' team on the Basin eighteep years ago. But. for two men Jto kick simultaneously, and both suffer a broken shin-bone is; perhaps entirely imique.in football annals. ■". B. I. Swannell, who came to New Zealand with Sevwright's team, and subsequently took up his residence m Sydney, has been getting into hot water, having been ordered off the field by the referee m the return match New South Wales v. Queensland for rough play. Swannell incurred the hostility of the spectators , who hooted him vigorously. On dit that the Melrose Club has under consideration the question of instituting legal nroceedings against the morning journal for certain state* meats made by that paper m commenting upon the scene at the Athletic Park at the finish of the Orien-tal-Melrose match a fortnight ago. The Club's legal adviser is said to have give"n it as his opinion that the Club has a good case to proceed with. Surely the Club will have more commbnsense and sporting spirit than to Act upon such advice. The Foxton sub-Union is said to have unearthed a brilliant back m Perewhit, a South Island native, who formerly nlaved with the Kaiapoi Club fChristchurch). He is credited with dash, pace, . and resourcefulness. Wanganui and Manawatu meet this afternoon. DamtT xumor na * n * na^ Manawatit will vei7^4 hortl y e ■ losing- : -ttw services of Joe Onßievv •