FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14381, 26 November 1908, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

Br Full Back. Percy Bush, the übiquitous 'Welshman, who was round here with Bcdell-Sivright's team in 1904, is playing brilliantly this season, and as captain of Cardiff is lcokcd upon to lead a strong team. . Included in tho Australian team in England is an expert boomerang-thrower.' Olio critic commenting on his apijcaranec, trusts that lie understands that the rules of the Kugby code do not permit of the use of boomerangs on the field except again6t the referee! Commenting on the out-of-pocket expenses for touring footballers and payment for broken, time as suggested in New Zealand, an English writer says: "After broken time comcs professionalism. It is merely a hop, step, and jump process."' Lastl season's Scottish champions, Edinburgh University, arc being led tliis'wintor by D. R. Bedell-.Sivright, who, although a veteran, is as fit as over, and may again have international honours conferred upon ' liiin. Sivright captaincd the British team in New Zealand in 1901. It is with a touch of sorrow that one now sees the name of the young Dominion to frequently in criticism of Rtifeby professionals (opines a Sydney writer). J. A. Ixivory, a member of the Mew Zealand professional team, lias signed on with tho Leeds Club for the sea-son. Ho plnys wing three-quarter. Mcrthyr Tydvil lias been negotiating with another member for some time, ami hopes to secure his services. Wigan, which has already acquired one Zealand professional, iias now secured William Johnston, of Duncdin, who was to have arrived in England last week. A. F. Kelly, who was five-eighths of the New Zealand team, will don the colours of St. Helens as centre three-quarter on November 7. Evidently the Australian amateur team now in England arc improving. In their match against the dough . Welsh County leam, Glamorgan, their tackling is said to have been relentless. On one occasion all four Welsh three-quarters wero lying on

thp> ground at l.lin Minn time. One writer ] says if tlio "Wallabies" continue to show I such improvement, it is hard to say which' 1 representative, England or Wales, \yili i lower their colours ; Jerry Williams, the midget half hack .mil f comedian, who toured New Zealand with the I British Rugby team, has returned to I;iver- i pool and declared his intention of retiring i from thegamc. . I A heßTty reception was'given at Coventry < to Messrs Dyke and Oldham 011 their re- 1 turn from New Zealand.' Neither Dyko ?ior Oldham is keen upon again playing ' in New Zealand, particularly in the fjro- [ vinces. Dyko declares that the idea in New Zealand is to win at any cost. In 1 Australia the game is played in a much more sporting style. I Twenty-thrco members of the British 1 Rugby football team arrived 'at Liverpool from New York after a four in Australia, I New Zealand, and Canada. During their 1 tour they travelled 33,000 miles, played 28 matches, won 18, lost 9, ajid' drew 1. Mr 1 Harnett, manager of tlio team, referred to 1 the excellence of t.lie play of the colonials, and said that the extraordinary enthusiasm ' displayed in tho game at the antipodes has never been equalled in this country. * Encouraging reports cout.inuo to coma to hand 1 concerning the recently-published book, " With the British Rugby Team in Maoriland," and tlio reception tho work has ' received from the public and the press. The ' book is meeting with a ready sale, and the ' edition will shortly'be disposd of. Tho l . Chriatcluirch Press, in appreciation " Tlio 1 [author ha 6 produced an eminently readablo c work, whioli, apart from its value as a record of the tour of Harding's team, is ? brightened-'by sketches dealing with the ' many incidents, grave and gay. which characterised the Britishers' travels through I I New Zealand." 1 Criticism- of Australian wing forward play f in England: D. Gallaher, tlio New Zealand captain, was much maligned for his tactics r as wing forward, but 6allaher wias harmless 1 compared with Row, who, on tho blind side of the scrummage, played the part of ob- ( structionist to some purpose. As was j pointed out in last week's Athletic Neivs,. clean fdotball was expected frqm the Australians of all people, but Row and one or J •two /others have demonstrated that the.y ' have nothing to Icavn in what is known'as J the New Zealand game. , J. C. M. (Utuwai).—(l) The New Zealand ; Native team played 1 three matches in Duncdin against Otago. In the first match * Otago'won by 2 goals 2 tries to nil; in the second contest, tlio Native tjam won' by r 1 try to nil; and in the third match'. 011 v the return of the Native team from England, { ths Maoris won by 11 points to 8. (2) The j. first .two matches were played 011 the Oale- r doniati Ground, and the one match played t on the team's return from England on >_ Oarisbrook. ' .