FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 131, 21 December 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

[(By "Pakeha."): Obit.— Alf. Bayly. From one end of the Dominion to the other there will be a feeling of regret among sportsmen at the passing away of Alf Bayly. It is principally oh account of his Rugby prowess that the deceased was so widely known. Of all the "heroes" of the football arena whom, New Zealanders adore, few Had endeared themselves more to the public than All. He was one of the brightest of the many brilliant stars that were turned out of Taranaki when the province was at the height of its football fame. He was almost incomparable as a five-eighth or three-quarter, and was a wonderful skipper. He represented Taranaki every year from 1885 to 1901 inclusive—a record that will always take a power of beating. In his last match, against Wanganui, he had a leg broken. He had not intended to play m the match, but was managing the team. The team was a player short, and the veteran donned the amber and black rather than see his province undermanned. Cheers greeted the idok of the spectators as he took the fieldV-One of the most painful incidents m Bayly's football career was the accident which resulted m the death of Barney Armit. In a match against Otago m 1899 Armit was running with the ball. Bayly faced him to collar him. Armit,- always an adept at hurdling a low collarer, jumped. Bayly was too seasoned to be deceived, and rose and took Armit around the ankles. A fearful fall resulted. Armit seriously injured his spine, and m a few weeks died. Alf was m no way responsible for the accident, but was terribly cut up about Awnit's death. He is said to have wept like a child. He watched over the injured man constantly m his last lingering days of life, and was the essence of kindness to his widowed mother, for whom, it is understood, he made ample provision. This event made a deep impression on Alf, and he was ever afterwards a changed man. In fact, it aided to shorten his end. Besides being a representative of Taranaki, Bayly was one of New Zealand's most famous backs. Ho was a member of the New Zealand teams of 1893, 1894, and /1 81)7. He was 41 years of age at the time of li!s death. His brothers were : all noted athletes, particularly as exI porents of Rugby. AH had a portion

of his -'father's estate at Toko, and farmed there for several- years. A couple of years ago he sold out to the Government and settled m Stratford. Nearly a year ago he went to clive m Wanganui for the benefit of his health. Mf Bayly has been m failing health for some time, and his death was not unexpected. The first public intimation of the serious state of his .health was made at last year's annual meeting of thc New Zealand Rugby Union by a Wanganui delegate. On that occasion, the deceased was elected to the highest office m the gift of the Union, viz., President. For many years he had been a vice-presi-dent of that body.

The uniform of the Auckland representatives has been altered by the substitution of navy blue knickerbockers for white, while the junior reps, are to be provided with caps, distinguishable from those of the seniors by silver braid instead of gold. Tbe position of referee at a football match is a sinecure compared with that of umpire at a baseball game. It took 50 policemen armed with clubs and pistols to rescue the unfortunate holder of the latter office at a St. Louis match recently. He was so badly mauled that he was not expected to recover,