FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12649, 29 April 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

I ■ Br Full Back.

Mason lias not yet put in an appearance with Zingari, and I have not heard of him joining any other club. Does he iu- • tend playing this season? I Tho Dunwlin Football Club havo so maiiy I new members joining them this season that ; they intend putting lour fifteens in the field. Davie, who played for Union last year, ■has, I understand, given up the game for a season, and will be found in the ranks of the Y.M.C.A. Harriers. Sliaw, a forward who played with Dun-

cum two or three seasons ago, lm joined Zingari. J. Caradus has com© out of hiding after three years' spell, and rejoined his old club, in whose forward ranks he was -battling last Saturday. Little and Collins, who played for Ravensbourne last season, have thrown in their lot with Zingari. Tho Zingari forward rank-9 will suffer severely this season through tho removal of Mitchell to Napier and tho permanent lotireinont of George Smith, who played in the majority of the matches last yoar. Reputation goes for nothing in the actual game of Rugby foot-hall, but if the heavy Yorkshire forward who has joined Pirates plays up to tho standard of footballers turned out by that famous county, the Blacks have secured a prize. lam not prepared to say that he is valuable until I see him perform. He lacks condition (it present, but we shall see. Beattic, late of Christcimrch Old Boys' Club, a reputedly fast forward, has joined Pirates this year, and will bo found in the front rank of tho Blacks' senior fifteen on Saturday next. Stewart, a likely-looking forward who .played in the second grade of Alhambra last year, has joined Pirates, and on his form in recent practices will probably find a place in the Blacks' senior fifteen. Very little has been heard of fjlie prospects of the Pirates this year, but I learn on reliable authority that the Blaota will have aTeally good team to put in for the Senior (Flag. Back the team is much the same -as last year. Charley Hiskro will be ntain found in bis old place, Miller will probab'.y ire full back, with Nicholson, Cramond, and -Fairclough as three-quarters. Cramond, late of Dunedin, did not play with Pirates last year, owing to an injury. This season he is much improved, and should strengthen the Black back division. All the backs kick well, and take the ball fairly. The- strength of the team, however, lies in the forwards, iwho are a fine lot, averaging a pound tr .two over 12st, and fast. Every man in the team is training bard, and there is an enthusiasm about which ia creditable to see. I anticipate that the wearers of the skull and cross-bones will give their opponents an.interesting and hard-fought game. One of tho most likely teams in Dunedin this year, to present writer's mind, is Dunedin. Last year it will be remembered they gave somo capita! exhibitions, especially back, and had their forwards known more and been a trifle heavier, they would have given an even better account of themselves. This season they have the benefit of last season's work, added to which they have filled out, and now cany a decent weight. The three-quarter line will probably be found to be the best of any senior club in town, and the back division all round a fine combination. Da|e takes Drumm's place at full back, Stalker and Teesdalo will again be the' two wing threc-quartera, with Don as centre. The halves will be the same as last year—B. Watson. M'Larcn, and S. Watson. In the forward ranks will be found Wilson. Reid, Dunne, Low, Whelan, Paton, Bond, and Churchill. Sincock, of tho Dunedin Club, has decided to give the game up for the present season. Drumm, who .played full back for the Dark Blues, also retires. Siedeberg, I regret to state, lias given up the idea'of playing Rugby, and will re-

■ join Ins oiu love, Association, i wse m we opinion, with a host of others, that had Siedoberg stuck to the Rugby game ho ' would have early in bis Rugby career made j a name for himself. Corson, who was a Dianedtn senior player last year, has this reason been supplanted by Low,* of Ravensboui-ne. Morgan, also, has had to be content with second grade , honours. The Alhambro- havo again a fine, raking lot of players this year, who are training with all tho keenness which marked their efforts in that direction last year, and was ill a great measure responsible for the Red and Blacks winning the championship banner. More power to them-the men who pay most attention to that important factor in Rugby football deserve success. I have not heard of any great change in the Uaiion. The members of this old-estab-lished club battle on in the even tenor of their several ways, tho same yesterday, today, and forever. The team is much the same as last year, only, perhaps, a trifle less so. Dan 'Mun'ro has retired, and tho gap has been filled by an inferior player. Tho forwards are light, but willing. The banks are principally W. Mnnro, R. Duthie, and R. Watts; the others are not of any great football circumetfjiice, though I should like to say they were. University suffer the loss of TJltley (back) and M'Chllopli (forward), two good men tho Royal Blues can ill sparo. Tho

former has been appointed to Waitaki High Soliool, and the latter to Hampden. The ] men who fill their plaoes aro not as clever j exponents. | Kaikorai are looked to do much better tilings than Inst year, and the practice last Saturday would indicate a vast all-round improvement. Young players were putting in no end of work under the eagle eye of Duncan, who had a "roving commiajion," : but who in his roving was bearing the beat j and burden of a trying day. I The appointment of manager of tho Now j Zealand Rugby team to New South "Wales during present season is causing a flutter of excitement in tho bosom.of several .casual individuals in Wellington, majority of whom favour tho appointment of a New Zealand Rugby Union official. To tho present writer's mind there is no decent reason why the manager of the New Zealand team to Sydney should bo drawn from the head body in Wellington. Thorn aro members of other unions who by virtue of their past services aro entitled to as much consideration as any member of the N.Z.R.U.

Football in Dunedin commences in real earnest next Saturday, when a start will be made with the matches in the. various grades.

Tho gallopers of the north: Auckland has been unbeaten for six consecutive seasons, during which 22 matches have been played. 19 being won and three drawn; points scored 309. against 75. Tho English Rugby Union intend sending out a team of Rugby players to South Africa next month. The team leaves London on June 20, and is expected to be away six or eight weeks.

At the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, held last week, Mr Ben Iveeon, who hails from Dunedin, brought up the matter of a Footballers' Accident Insurants Fund in • connection with the W.R.U, He intimated that he had written to the secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union for particulars of their scheme. Mr Iveson has since received full particulars, together with suggestions, from Mr W. G. Gerrard, and these will be dealt with at the next meeting of the Management Committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union. Mr Iveson is an ex-pupil of tho Macandrew Road School, where he learnt his first football under the capable hands of Mr J. Strong (an cx-Otago rep.) and Teddy Davis (the clever ex-Otago half), who were teachers there. His old schoolmates will be glad to hear that Mr Iveson is taking a lively interest in football in the Wairarapa. A third class championship, on his proposal, was also instituted.

Tho local Rugby football championship matches will commence on May 9 (wires my Auckland correspondent), and indications are tint several keen contests will be provided in tho stnigglo for the season's honours, more particularly in the matches between the City and Grafton District Clubs, both of which wil) put strong teams in the field. The Auckland rep. team has this year to travel both Islands, and should our ieading exponents of the gamo bo able to undertake the trip, the side should be a decidedly strong one, quite up to the tennis that have, done battle for the province during the past five or six seasons. Practically the whole of last season's players will again be available, and in addition we will have the services of one or two cracks from other parts of tho colony, notably Kelly, tho exWellington rep., who may ba looked upon as almost a certainty for a place iu the touring team, most likely as its five : eip.hts. J. S. Macdonald, who has found his way into tho Scottish International three-quarter line, is a South African, having been born at Stcllcnbosch, and has been a member of Edinburgh University Club for_ three or four years. There is an Imperial flavour about the Scottish three-quarter line, .T. S. Macdona'/.l (South Africa), Timms and Orr (Australians). Foil (Now Zealand). Tho gate receipts at tho Rugby match between Wales and Ireland arc officially returned at £2233 10s Bd. as against last season's record figures of £2182 on the occasion of the "Wales and Scotland match.

A Football Social Club, which has Hie honour of Mr Rowland Hill as its president, is in the course of formation. It is to 'be financed by the most successful club syndicate, of latter years, who have in view suitable premises in the most central position in London. The qualifications for membership of the club will bo Rugby football players, past and present, and amateur As< sociation players. Members will not bo responsible for anything more than their annual subscription, which will be a most moderate one to those joining as original members, of which tho number is limited. Tho club, which will have all the accommodation found in a well-appointed one, will bo run on economic linos, and will fill a void long felt in Rugby football circles—namoly, a meeting place for football plavcrs. P. M'Evody (Guy's. Hospital), a youtig New Zealander, played in the three-quarter lino for the Rest of England against tho representative English Fifteen in the big Rugby match played on March 7. England won by 5 tries to 2..tries. The Scottish three-quarter line for the approaching International match against England (says London Sportsman) will be one of tho curiosities of modern football, all four players being colonial born. Thus, Foil is a. Now Zealander of English extraction, whose Scottish qualification is one of residence; Timms and Orr ore Scots-Aus-tralians; and Macdonald is a South African, who learned the rudiments of the gamo at Stellanliosch. He has had a rather curious career. Ho lias ken at Fxlinburgh University for some three seasons, but till Welsh's accident in last season's AngloScottish International caused him to relinquish his place in the 'Varsity team, Macdonald had to stand down to him. This season Macdonald has been a most prolific scorer, but he was not a conspicuous success Glasgow for Edinburgh, nor, on a loeing side, for tho Rest of Scotland against the Cities in the final trial match. The MaedonaldCrabbe controversy,. given occasion for by the vacancy in the Scottish three-quarter line, has been exceedingly keen, and probably Macdonald owes his position to a brilliant game- against the Edinburgh Academicals on Saturday week, over and above his partnership with Timms. He is very light, and Lis defensive qualities ate questioned. ASSOCIATION NOTES. An amusng incident occurred during one of the final matches of tho Football League Competition. And this is the dramatic description given. "Goal?" yolled half of the excited player's as their remains emerged from a desperate scrummage on the goalline. "Off side!" "Foul!" "Never wont through!" were the vigorous protests of the opposing team, Mid the poor referee was surrounded by 22 excited, yelling players; byt he refused to be rushed into a decision. They dragged from one side of the field to the, other, and worried him round just as a lot of young bull pups would worry an old boot. At last he clutched at his throat, and beckoned them to desist, but they continued wildly with their shouts, "No goal!" roared the defenders. The referee held out his hand, and seemed as if he would speak, but no sound camo from his lips. Then they stormed him again. His face now turned purply red, his eyes stood out like prize gooseberries, and Vet ho spoke not a word. "What's up? Why don't you give a decision?" shrieked the terrible 22 as they, tried to shake an answer out of him. At last a queer whistling sound seemed to eome from his stomach, and at last lie spluttered and said: "Sh-sh-shut up! I've swer-swor-swallowed tho whistle!" The outlook for the coming season is exee.cdimr'v Seven Fiv?t Grade teams are taking the field* this .being one more than liwt ses-joii, K-iUangata having entered this competition. The best wishes of tho Association players are- oxtcniJod to this club for their success, which is thoroughly deserved, and no one will grudge them the Cup or Banner should thoy succeed in annexing either or both of these trophie?. • Nine Second Grade tosirw will fight for the Junior Cup. Tho competition is expected to bo very keen, as nearly all the teams will bo considerably stronger than in previous years. The Third Grade competition, which is a new departure, being the first season in which this competition has been played, promises to bo a the entries for this grado number seven, including a team from the Ot-ago Boys' High School, which playing under' tho name' of the Collego Association Football Club, has applied for affiliation to the O.F.A. This club also enters a team in-the Schools' Competition, the entries for which number 13.

Tlio Nightcaps A.F.C., which has become affiliated with the 0.F.A., aro playinp in white shirts with bluo band, and bluo

knickers. Thev will probably play matches with tho Invercargill clubs which have recently been formed. Invcrcargill A.P.C. boasts of a membership of over 40, and will play two teams. South Invercargill is not so strong numerically, but coming ovenU will show whether they can bold their own on the field. Tho spreading of the game continues, tho latest adjunct being a school team at Paitoaroa, Central Otago. Tho boys aro oxccedinglv keen, tnd ono of their numb©! 1 who recently paid a visit to Dunedm was authorised to purchaso the principal requisite—a football. Tho O.F.A. lias imported a pair of goal nets, and it is intended to lend these each Saturday to the various clubs in turn. Moroinglon has been granted tho nso of them for Saturday next, when, they meet Southern at Momington. Tho following Saturday Roslyn will have tho use of them for their match with Green Island on the Asylum Ground. This is, I believe, the only complete set of goal nets in the colony. Tho Association Committee lias availed itself of one of the by-laws, and gives each senior club representation on tho committee by the election of Messrs .1. M'Milton (Wakari) and G. Irvine (Green Island). This is a step in the right direction.' Green Island Club was slightly out of touch with Association matters during tho past season, owing to having no member'of their club ; on this committee. This is now rectified, and will probably awaken the interest of this club's members in the doings of the O.F.A. ' Roslyn Club bad two good practices on Saturday; two nicked teams playinpr in tho first'match, and a team was chosen from these to meet the First Grade. Tho First backs and Second forwards played the First forward*) and Second backs, and won somewhat easilv. The Roslyn Wednesday team bold a pvacthe match on the Asylum Ground, lint the attendance was poor. Tim players present. however, had a good game. It is intended to hold a meeting in the Coffee Palace next Tuesday of those interested in Wednesdav football. The new secretary of the O.F.A. is very keen on Wednesday football, and is anxious to play on Wednesday if sufficient teams can 1» raised.

Tho Association Committee has now to tako into consideration the procuring of a trophy for competition in the Third Grade contest. What shape it will take it is hard to say, but perhaps a banner would bo most suitable. The association has now three cups and a banner to be competed for annually. Tho international Association ma.tcli Wales v. Scotland, played on Monday, Maroh 9, in the presence of 7000 spectators, was won by Scotland by one goal tcPnil. There is quite an influx of Homo players in Wellington this season (says a local scribe), and already some of the local clubs have secured "good catches." A rumour is current that Asbury, the coach imported by tiro W.F.A. last season, is playing for the Y.M.C.A. Club in Auckland this season.

WALKS v. IRELAND. The international Rugby match between Wales and Ireland, fought out on a wet and muddy outfield, on March U, in the presence of 35,000 spectators, was largely a battle between tho forwards, in which tho Welshmen reaped all the honours, and eventually won liy six tries to nil. The gamo was exceedingly fast notwithstanding the conditions. Tho Welsh three-quarters adapted themselves more readily to the greasy field than did the Irishmen, and frequently skimmed over the treacherous surface with almost the same celerity and cleverness as they would have displayed over fast ground. Tlioir strenuous forwards, too, in no way spared themselves,

and swept down the Irish defence, which, was soon disorganised.

The teams were constituted as follows:— Wales.-H. B. Winfiekl (back), W. Llewellyn, E. Gwyn Nicholls (capt.), R. T. Gabe, and E. T. Morgan (three-quarter backs), R. Owen .and G. LI. Lloyd (half backs), G. Boots, .T. J. Hodges, A. Brice, D. Jones, W. W. .Tosenli, A. F. Harding, W. T. Osborne. G. Trovers (Pill Harriers) (forwards). Ireland.-,!. Fulton (back), 6. Bradshaw, C. Rcid, J. 0. Parko and G. P. Doran (three-quarter backs), L. M. and H. H. Corley (cant.) Ihalf backs), J. J. Coffey, P. Healv, G. T. Hamlet. Jos. Wallace, F. C. E. Allen, T. A. Harvey, A. Tcdford (Malone) (forwards). RESULTS OF MATCHES. 1881-2.—Dublin, Wales (two goals two tries to nil). 1883-4.—Cardiff, Wales (ono goal two tries to nil). ISSG-7.—Liverpool, Wales (one goal to threo trieß). 1887-B—Dublin, Ireland (two goals ono try to nil). 1888-9.—Swansea, Ireland (two tries to nil). 3889-90.—Dublin, drawn (one goal each). 1890-1— Llanelly, Wales (one goal and ono dropped goal to a dropped goal and a try). 1891-2.—Dublin, Ireland (one goal two tries to nil). 1892-3.—Llanelly, Wales (one try to nil). 1893-4.—Belfast, Ireland (ono goal t'o nil). 1891-s.—Cardiff, Wales (one goal to one try). 1895-G.—Dublin, Ireland tone goal one try to one goal). 1890-7.—No match, owing to dispute. 1897-B.—Limerick, Wales (two goals one try, 11 points, to one penalty goal, 3 points). 1898-9.—Cardiff, Ireland (one try to nil). 1899-1900.—Belfast, Wales won by a try to nil. 1900-I.—Swansea, Wales won by two converted goals to three tries. 1901-2.—Dublin, Wales won by two goals (1 dropped) and two tries to nil. 1902-3.—Cardiff, Wales won by six tries to nil. THE RUGBY INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, 1902-:!. The following aro the positions to date:— Pts

_ — Twelve million pounds' worth of leatk is required every year to provide boots an shoos for the inhabitants of Great Britain,

Plj-d. Won, Dm. Lost. Puts, For. Agst. 1 Scotland 2 2 0 0 4 9 0 2V.'ales ..32014 3!) 11 3 Ireland ..31022 G 21 i England 2 0 0 2 0 5 27