FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12394, 2 July 1902, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Bt "Foi.l Back." INTER-PROVINCIAL FIXTURES. , OTAGO TEAM'S TOUR. ' August 23.—Otago v. Southland, at, Duncdin. August 30.—Otago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. September 3.—Otago v; Hawke's Bay, at Napier. September 6.—Otago y. Wellington, at Welling, toil. y September 17'.-Olago y. Southland (return), at Invercargill. j * This date has not .definitely been arranged. ' • SOUTHLAND TEAM'S TOUR. August 23.—Southland v. Otago, at Du'nedin. August, 30.—Southland v.. Hawke's Bay, at Napier. Soptember 3,-Southland v. Wellington, at Wellington. September C.—Southland v, Canterbury, at Christchurch., CANTERBURY TEAM'S TOUR. July 2G.—Canterbury v. Wellington, at Welliiigton. ' July 29.—Canterbury v. Hawke's Bay, at Napier. August 2,-Canterbury v. Auckland, at Auckland. • August 6,—Canterbury v. Taranaki. at New Plymouth. ! August 9,-Canterbury v. Wairarapa, at Mas- ! terton. : August 30.—Canterbury, v. Otago, at Christchurch. , September o.—Canterbury v. Southland, at j Christchurch. 1 The following table shows the positions , of the clubs in tho Senior competition;—

' * The unplaved match Pirates v. Union ims been awarded to Pirates by default. t The Southern-Zingari match has been declared "no contest," mid has been ordered to bo replayed. Dr I. W. W. Hunter, who played fop Otago in all the important matches in 1888, including those against the Englishmen, against whom he also played in the South Island team, was in Duriedin last week, lio has been practising his profession in Melbourne, but. preferring the climate of Zealand to that of Victoria, has decided to return to this colony. Ho will /probably settle in Wellington. Holders of tickets for t-ho &dam benefit match, which was to have l been played on .the Caledonian ground last Thursday, ■ but postponed with all other functions- arranged for Coronation Day, are reminded that the tickets hold good for a match to bo played later in the season, the exact date of which has not yet been decidcd. Prior to his return to Dunedin from Baiclutha, ex-Pirato C, Hislop,- who had been playing for the Clutha team; was presented by the members of Clutlm Football Club witli\a handsome silver-mounted'pipe. Patterson, the ex-New ■ Zealand (Canter- . bury) rep,, mentioned, in a previous issue as having joined the South Svdncy (N.SAV.) Senior Fifteen, has left Sydney for China. R/ Smith, late of SfJnidn Club, and an : Otago representative half-back in 1896, returned to Dunedin last week after an absence of three or four years in the North Island. The one-time clever Union halfback, did not play a great deal of football during his residence' in the north, but took up the game in earnest this year, and was playing for a, club' in Palmerston when ho was removed to Dunedin. , . The Naseby Prospectors played tho newlyformed Raufurly Perseverance. Club at Ranfurly on Saturday, May 21. The gamo was played in a very friendly manner, and for a newly-formed club the Perseverance are to bo congratulated on theif play, . With a little coaching and a few more matches there is not tho slightest doubt but that the . Prospectors will find them "foerricn worthy of their steel." The gamo ended 111 a win for Naseby by 16 points to nil. Tries were scored by D. Marshall, E.i Stewart (2), and J. Blair. Blair converted two of thom. With reference to tho New Zealand Rugby Union's suggestion asking for unanimity respecting the rcintroduotion of the penalty for "foot-lifting" before tho ball is placed within the scrum, it was .objected at a meeting of the Wairanipa, Rugby Union that the English Union had specified the alteration for international matches only; therefore it would b» farcical for any New Zealand union to adopt a/motion , favouring the proposal. It was further decided that the New Zealand Rugby Union bo ■ asked : to interrogate the English governing body as to the reason why the penalty should not apply to all matches. Where tho Wairarapa Union gets its idea from that the ..suggested veintroduction of the penalty for .1 foot up in the scrum applies to 1 international matches only is hard to say. It was a recommendation from tho English International Board to the English Union, and will be considered by tlie latter body in September next. There is no doubt that the English Union will carry the recommendation, in which case it bccomes one of the laws of the game and governs all matches. It is generally supposed that betting dees not bulk largely in eosnection with football matchos (says a Southland writer), but it will eome as a surprise to many to' know , that on Wednesday, not units, nor tens, but hundreds of pounds were hazarded over the Pirates v. Star match. In iustico to the players it should be mentioned that it was almost entirely outsiders that had th« mojiey on. This state of things is to be deplored for many reasons, and will .require to be checked witii a firm hand in order to keep the gamo puro and free from corruption. Prior to hi? departure for Dunedin the members of the Pirates Club (Invercargill) tendered a social to Constable M'Auliffo, at which he was presented with _ a silvermounted'umbrella. suitably inscribed,. Mr T. D. Lminio made tho presentation, and referred to the sterling services'Mr M'Auliffo had roiulcred tho club and province. Southland, and particularly tho Star Club,

is about to suffer another loss 111 -Mr ,T. Reynolds's removal to Wellington. For the past few years Reynolds has proved hinuelf a sturdy half-tiack, and his place will be hard to fill.

At a meeting of the Canterbury Referees' Association last week it was resolved to recommend to tho General Committee of. the Canterbury Union the adoption of the rule suggested by the New Zealand Rugby Union for ltonalising a player, who lifts his foot up in the scrummage before the ball has been put fairly in. ' An item of interest to referees and players: The following question lias been submitted to tho Now South Wales Referees' Association by the Queensland Referees'. Association:— A. having possession of the ball, B. attempted to take possession, constituting "held ball": 'neither A. nor B. would allow the lxill to be put down. Who should bo penalised. A. or B. ? The answer to this query, supplied by Mi' Roland Komi, lion, secretary of the a?fcciation, is: "That cach case must be decided 011 its own particular circumstanccs. As a general rule; tho • player having the ball in lijs poscrcion, is entitled to pnt it down; but if. after it has been fairly held, he is prevented from doing so, a. free kick should bo awarded against his opponent , who prevents him. If the ■ opponent, after having fairly 1 held the ball, | let it go and the player who had jvossession ' of it does not then at once put it down, a free kick should be given against him." Goal Kicking Extraordinary!—llany remarkable goal-kicking feats stand' to the credit of S. A. Spragg, of Queensland, but his latest is no doubt the best of all, for lie converted • each of tho ten' tries scored for his club (North Brisbane) in the Brisbane premiership 011 Saturday, May 14.' If Spragu were otherwise a very ordinary three-quar-terback, his raro ability as a goal-kicker would make him worthy of a placo in almost any team. But he is splendid allround, and no doubt by the time tho interstate matches are being' dccided, he will bo .again in bis best form. The semi-final matches for tho Rugby dis-" trict championship wevo played on Saturday, wires mv Auckland correspondent, when

the City Fifteen defeated Ponsonby by to 3, Newton beat Grafton by 7 to 0, am] North Shore beat Parncll by H to nil. City havo now a substantial lead, : and oven should they bo beaten by Norton in the conclml.. ing" match next Saturday, they will win lh o Clip, which they held two Sea?ons ago. Next Saturday week an A and B practice match will be played, and oil the following Saturday. tho local team willplay tho 1 usual inter, union match against the Thames reps. This Saturday week an A and B practice match in which any of the country players w|, o may possess claims to consideration will 1) 0 tried, after which the Atiakland representative team will be selected for the first representative match of the season—that against Canterbury, which has been fixed for August 2. • As far as can bo seen,' our represents, tiro team will a strong one, though so fax no man has been unearthed that can bo classed as fitted for'tlio position of full-back whi|e there is also some doubt as to who will fill the position of five-eighths. Thero are, plenty of gopd forwards in town, and seven or eight sound throe-quarterbacks for Mr Hurray to ohbose from; while Kiernan, our ".half-back of'last. year, stands out bv himself.

HINTS ON FORWARD PLAY. QUICK BREAKING ,CP AXD TACKLING, I havo always strenuously hold that llie front row of the Ecruinniago should lock tight (says a prominent English internabut this advice allows of reservation. In saying Uiat tho front, row should bind tight, the binding must be ablo to undo in a second. _ Forwards must lie able to break <ip immediately, botfi for purposes of attack and defence; and toibe hbie to break up at a given moment lyithout: delay the ball must' nK Watched. Forwards must romCmber that directly the ball is out of tho scrummago they must be out as well. The-shoving must continue until the last moment, but when the ball has gone, break up and help your backs. Of course, tho wheel and the quick rushes of forwards depend almost enltiely oil the qniekness with which the scrummago is broken up. Also, forwards must bear in mind that they have got to help in tho defence. When your opponents have got the ball and begin their passing movements, all the forwards must be at hand to help the behinds. How ofton I have seen a half or three-quarter run single-handed through a whole side of forwards, who simply stand stolidly still and stare at him, without ever thinking of laying a hand on him; or perhaps one, a little more awake than tho rest, will make a grab at his neck, or hair, or ear! But a must tackle, tackle always, and,tackle hard. High tackling is. as a rule, ""quite useless. The place to tackle is eithc-r just jibove the -knees or round tho The latter is perhaps preferable, as the ball , may, be held at". tho same time. But the great tiling in all. tackling, for a forward or a behind, is to tackle hard and low, and always go for tho man with the ball. Never mind the .other people who may get tho ball, go for the man who has got it. Thei'o are far too many forwards just at tho present moment who are very weak in tackling, which is one of the most important, points in the Rugby game, tlcntlo tackling, is useless (I don't wish anyone to misunderstand me and tliink I am advocating rpuglmc-ss); -you must throw yourself at the man and down him. ,0i:o often sees quite a good tackier miss a man because he does not throw himself at him. It is fatal to, think you can never tackle a certain individual,'for. then you never try. - Mskej up your mind to go for him and bring him down at all costs. To me there is always pleasure in bringing off a good tackle. There is a feeling of satisfaction about'it that does me a lot of good, and. makes me try harder than over for tiio rest, of the. game. Weak tackling among forwards is one of tho most prominent features of tho Rugby game in the South. One frequently sees a forward or several forwards make- a fine dribble and at tho end kick the ball perhaps a trifle hard; then, instead of leaping on the full-back, or whoover tho player may be who has obtained possession of tho ball, they appear paralysed, and quite possibly all the ground is lost again, • ' '

ASSOCIATION NOTES. Br Scceerist. JUNIOR PREMIERSHIP.

II The sere in the nutch Kensingtoa and Jlac -ndrew U ail lias not' come to I'und.

Owing to the bad state of tlio grounds last SaturdSy all matches were postponed. In a few instances practices were held instead. Tlio Postponement Committee would have saved a good deal of disappointment had the matches been put off tho night before, when the weather prevailing warranted such a course. The day, however, proved a glorious one, and was responsible for a number of players • and spectators wending their way to tho various grounds in anticipation of a match being played. Northern' will, in all probability, bo strengthened next Saturday against Southern •by the inclusion of R. ln-ine and Riley. The result of this match should decide the runners-up. Mornington ami Green Island also meet next Saturday. The result of this match will show which team will 'occupy the lowest position.

Tho Wellington F.A. have 110 less than four protests lodged against referees 1 decisions. Evidently something wrong somewhere.-

Tho lecture by the Rev. J. R, Ward, under tho auspices of the 0.F.A., is to be delivered 011 July 22.- It is entitled, "The ;Sew Chivalry." The' Garrison Hall has been engaged, and the committee have tlis matter- well in hand. Tickets will be in the hands of the club secretaries by Thursday, and it only rests with the players to dispose of these to make the undertaking a financial success. The success otherwise is already assured, as the rev. gentleman has earned for himself a reputation as an orator. .

Arrangements are lieing made between the Ca'versham and Kaitangata schools to play a. mate!) at Milton.

Players will be pleased to hear that W. Dohson and G. , Snll, of the Seventh Contingent. are back home, again, and looking well. Congratulations to liotli. .Roslyn are ma'king preparations to give them a fittin" reception, which will tolce place shortly. " Although Scotland finished the football season of 1901-2 nt the .bottom of the list in the International Rugby, she won llio chumpionphip under Association rules Previous to the last match England slili had a chance of securing this honour, but a; «» re-plavcd match between the two countries at Birmingham. end<?d 111 a draw of two coals all. Scotland was left at the top with five points to England's four.

CRICKET.

Br "Lo:;« Slip."

n , . leaker, the late master of tho Boys High School Rectory, whoso death occurred on Tuesday week last, was a fino all-round athlete. Beside,l distinguishing himself at Oxford, which university he represented in tho "Oxford Eight," the late Mr Baker was an accomplished cricketer. He •was a member of the Canterbury Fifteen which defeated the First Australian Eleven winch carno to the colony, and formed one of Neilson's team which visited Victoria in 1873.

In the Review of the River Plate, of April 26, tho batting and bowling averages of the

past cricket 'season are published. The name ■ of an old Dunwlinite—Andrew Macdonald, now representing the Xcw Zealand Insurance Company at ftuenos Ayrcs,—appears prominently in both lists. He was one of nine, -batsmen to scbre over 300 runs in the season, and ho is ninth in.order in ilio batting figures,, his average being 20.25 viins per innings for 17 innings (once not out),' in which he scored 324 runs. His highest score ' in hi innings was 81. Hfi h tenth in the bowling, averages, having obtained 36 wickets for 701) runs' in 244 overe (59 maidens)—an average cost of 19.44 runs per wicket, Ahglp-Atistralian Albert Trott was in good form with tho ball for M.C.C. against Lancashire, concluded on May 10. The oxHawko's Bay coach bagged five Lancashire wickets for 73 runs. , It is_ reported'from England that G. L. Jessop,' tho 'English cricketer, became engaged to bo ■ married to' Miss Osborne, of New S6uth Wales, while voyaging to Eng-' land in IhoOmrah. Yorkshire and Sussex played a drawn gamp on May. 14. ..Yorkshire 302 and 182 for five wickets. TunniclifFe 10 and 79, T. L. Taylor 74 and' 28, Denton 99 and 17. Hirst 21 and 27 (not out), and Rhodes 25 were top scorers for Yorkshire. Sussex 23-i and 126 for three wickets. C. B. Fry 68 and '0, Vine 52 and 0, Harlow 18 and 31 (not out). j lteex and Yorkshire played a drawn gamo on Satunday, May 10; principal feature of an otherwise uninteresting display was 101 (not out)' compiled'by Yorkshire amateur ericketer F. S. Jackson. Only 13 wickets fell. Eleven Essex bats could only put together 69; Yorkshire 171 for three wickets. | M.C.C. v. Lancashire, concluded on May; 10, was drawn. Chief feature was tho bat- 1 tills of W. ,G. Grace, who compiled 24 in ■ M.C.C, first inninccs arid carried out his bat for a masterly 61, and cx : Australian W. ! L- Murdoch, who made 0 and 63.. Murdoch's hits included a 5 and seven 4's; M.C.C. 67 i and 151 for three wiekeß W. G. Grace 24 and 61 (not out). Albert Trott could only put together 7 runs, On Lancashire side, out of a total of 194, Cuttell 39, Eccles 36;' and Ward 30. were top scorers. As events turned out, Marylefcoiie comfortably savedthe match, the famous veterans, W. G. Grace and W, L. Murdoch, playing remarkably fine cricket on a rapidly improving wicket, and actually clearing, olf .the arrears without loss, Tho cxcellonce of this per-' formnnce readily broiight to mind the fine form shown by the same pair against Surrey at tho Crystal Palace at thd end of April. On that occasion each came within a few runs of tho century and'on Saturday each exceeded 60. That the respective captains i ,' slu ' AuFtralia in the long ago should liayo retained their skill at a'time when their united- ages excecd- a hundred years, is (says London Sportsman) truly wondorful. and he wotild ho a captious critic indeed who could find fault with Saturday's display, when Murdoch and Graeo rattled up 120 runs for tho firct wicket in 90 minutes. One mighty hit by "W. G." sent the ball clean over the grand stand into an adjoining garden, but, on the- whole, it was Murdoch who played the brighter game, tile Australian indulging.in a greater variety of strokes, and making many a- delightful cut aud innumerable-brilliant hits on tho Ice side.- • 8

In their match against "Warwickshire at Binninglmni 011 Saturday, May 10, Surrey had an uphill'task-, as, after Wing- led by 93 rails on the first .innings, they were eventually sot .the task of trying to get $01 to win m two hours. Two wickets fell for 22, but Abel and Locicwood wore down the attack and effected a draw. The Cambridge cricketer, Mr C. H. Ebden, who batted so woll for the University in tlio first mmugs against'the Australian Eleven, is a grandson of ilr Charles Hotson Ebdon, an old Victorian politician and pioneer! Ho -was a large property owner in Melbourne at ono time, and is said to have been the fim man who crossed tho Murray River with a mob of cattle.

At the beginning of May a- complimentary dinner was tendered to L, C. Braund by the kiehmomi Town Cricket Club in honour of his great success with • Maclaren's team in Australia. In .tho course of the evening he was presented with ,1 silver cigar and cigarette case. ' ' ;

. The honour of obtaining'the first century in first-class cricket'in .England this.season, fell. to Lockwood, .who made 102 for Surrey against Worcestershire at the Oval. Quite 'a number of men fan him exceedingly close, Dr Grace, V. Crawford, and 0. J. B. Wood having each scored 97, while W. L. Murdoch made 92.

■ Tho comparative' rates of. scoring of tho ( most prolific batsmen in the opening match of the Australians at the Crystal Palace are here shown:—

Lord Howe, as president of the Maryle-' bone Club, last season, nominated as his successor Mr A, 6. Steffi, the famous cricketer, who-will be remembered as the Kroat all-Knmd player of tlio Hon. Ivo Bligh's team out to Australia about 20 .veal's ago. : He was one of the unheat-en Cambridge University, Eleven of 1878. which numbered amongst its defeated Mr Dave Gregory's Australian team. One caii quite understand, says Sydney Referee, the immense_ satisfaction felt in cricketing circlos by this appointment oE Mr Steel to the presidency of the M.C.C.

Club, ' ■. g . a u £ £ j £ Polllls. . s d rt o . 1 g - . ' d feS £ 3 ft For. Agst g Alhambra ... S 8 0 0 103 3 lfi ICaikoroi ... S . 7 1 0- 5S £<) 14 Univertity ... 8 4 H 1 as ;8 <t Pirates 7 ":{ 3 2 14 4(J 8 Zingari ... 17 3 3 2 25 24 0 Southern ... f7 2, H ' 2 21 Jo (i Hunediu ... 8 1 C • 1 2M r,i) :) Union 7 0 *8 0 5 77 0

*' Matches. Goals. » , • ■s . .-5 i,S i 3 s s' i 'y i •§ S P- fi Fh ■"! W Wakcri ■ ... 0. 8.1 0 4(1 13 ](i Siwyers'Bay A 8 7 1 0-. 47 - 17 14 Northern • ... <S 5 12 35 jj) - 12 Ratios ... S 4 2 2 30 18 30 S'lutlicrn ... 4 4.1 3) 19 9 I'odyn A ... 8 3 4' 1' 2K 7 Unity 8 3 4 1 25 '<2 7 Green bland... 8 3 4 1 HI 1H 7 Mon>inpt"ii ... S 1 .1 4 1(1 23 ... ti Sawyers' Iiiy B 8 1 7 II 11. 35 . 2 potlynB ... 8ft S 0. 7 05 l) SCHOOLS COMPETITION. Jlatcbe;. Goals. • • 43 a w ' fr P j . fe fl -IS ? § m cj K' 'j* .£ Ik £ A Q .b < p< Normal (i 5 0 (I 21' 2 10 Oavmham ...4301 81 7 Knikomi ... 4 3 0 1 7 3 7 K>nainglon[|... 5,311 9 ti 7 Hieh Street .. Kail 13 4 7 N.E. Valley .5 3 1 1 12 2 7 Wokari ;.. 5 2 1 2 IB 5 ti Gi'Cf.n I land.. 4 2 (I 2 13 1 C CSirUtianBros. 4 H 2 0 14 5 4 Albany Hreor, 4 0 1 3 3 5 3 Forb\iiy R:*d 5 0 3 2 2 lti 2 Heorgs Street 5 1 4 O 7 24 2 Uni n StKe' 5 0-4 ] . 0 lti 1 Murnineton ... 5 0 4 1 3 14 1 Macundiew U|| 5 0 5/ 0 0 23 0

■ • Time. Average, •' v •' ' V /Ilitns.-H; .Win. .per hour, Jessop (i 47 . '' 0.40 ' ,70.'50, Dar'.iVjg .. „■ 02' 1.45 ' 52.57" Truniper .. .. C4 1.1.- >51.20 Brannd. , 101 2.10 48.00