FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

(By "Pakeha.")

By all accounts the "smoker" tendered by the residents of Petone to the suburban rugby combination, m commemoration of .its splendid achievments m the Wellington Rugby Union senior championship competittions for the season 190G, passed off with great eclat. An invitation was s&nt to, the writer .who, however, was prevented from • putting m an appear? anee at the function owing to engagements made before hand. The loss was evidently his. The Petone t-fcfi-fti and its supporters have every reason to be gratified -with the success attained by the former during the past few years, and it only goes to show what can bg accomplished by assidious training and good coaching. Skipper Hardham and Jimmy Lynskey deserve the thanks of all those interested m the fortunes of the suburban rugbyites for their "zeal on behalf of the team. The Petone Club can certainly look back- with pleasurable feelings to its records m the playing arena last season: Of course," being built on a foundation of professionalism, the Northern Union's first- aim and object i* to cater for the public ; and, like other showmen, ..the authorities are always striving to make their "show" a brighter one, with, of course, an ultimate object m view— money. To make the game brighter from a spectacular view-point, the Northern Union has this season reduced the number of players to thirteen on each side and the most excellent rule, that, was obliterated from • the earlier laws of the Union has again teen introduced/ "That a player, when col* lared, must put the ball into play." Not much knowledge of the game is required to see that, m all probability, this must lead to infinitely faster play and much more frequent scoring on both skies. In the adoption of the thirteen players lies the success of the move, for there is no doubt that the game must be, full of life and change to hold the paying public, and this fact applies with, great force to our own championship competitions. The socer man likes to see goals scored, the paying cricket public don't want to see stone-walling, and there is no doubt that the Rugby crowd, and especially those who do not understand the finer points of the ganie, want to see brilliant three-quiarter runs, open back play, and as many tries registered as are consistent with a fairly even match. Thirteen players are hound to have their backs distributed m a, less closely woven network, and hence the three-quarter play must be more ' open and attractive. It remains to be seen whether the experiment will be. tried of further reducing the number on each side, an improbable contingency I should thinlf, as if that system were adopted the taams might numerically be too weak, the result being that the game' would assume a farcical interest.

At a meeting of the Wanganui Union the trustees were authorised to' sign a mortgage to the trustees of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union of one-half of the future gross gate takings, m order to secure the payment of an advance of £7-50 from the latter body.

The Nelson Rugby Union has decided to hold a monster floral fete cm December 12th, when startling and unique attractions are promised. Mr TV. W. Hill, the New South Wales and Newtown forward, has received the appointment of secretary to the New South Wales Rugby. Union m succession to Mr H. Holder. Mr Hill has been hon. secretary of the New South Wales Swimming Association. He is quite a young man, and his appointment has given considerable satisfaction.

An old Sydneyite, writing; to a friend from South Africa, says that though the ruggers from that country are not up to New Zealand form he expects them to put down two-thirds of the teams they meet. Their threequarter line is their tower of strength. He has seen teams of Fingoes and Kaffirs play Rugby up to senior grade form m Australia.