FOOTBALL. NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 6 April 1888, Page 27

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FORWARD.

The annual general meeting of the Ofcago Rugby Union was held too late in the week to allow of any comments in this ( column ; but very little needs to be said. The report, which all of my readers will have scanned by this time, goes into matters very fully, and shows that the administrative work of the union has fallen into good hands. The union is now in a splendid position, and there is every likelihood of its status being improved still more as the years go by. Anyone glancing over this year's report and the names of the executive for the ensuing season need have no fear for the immediate future of the Otago Rugby Football Union. Notwithstanding the steady, rain on Monday afternoon, the trial match postponed from Saturday took place on the Caledonian ground in the' presence of about 100 spectators. Several of the players chosen by the match committee were conspicuous by their absence, and did not even deign to notify the match committee of their intention not to play. The officials of the union, who were present, no doubt duly noted these facts. The game, notwithstanding the, rain, was a very enjoyable one, and afforded good training for the 25 men who took part in it. There was a good deal of scoring and some good play on both sides, but the Colours eventually won, principally owing to the fact that their forwards were a heavy lot. The best of their men were Montgomery, Gibson, Treseder, and Beck. Montgomery played a dashing game throughout, and Gibson's play was that of a typical forward. Sonntag also did a lot of hard work, but he showed a great lack of judgment, frequently overrunning the ball and neglecting to "play with his head" when opportunity offered. With careful coaching he should make a good player, and will no doubt yet earn his interpr&vincial cap. Among the Blue forwards Fache played a rattling game. He is still quite a young player, and in a year or two, when better set, should make a splendid forftvard. Turnbull, Torrance, and Isaacs on the same side also played well, the firstnamed j being always on the ball. Arthur Morris displayed a great deal of dash in the open, but showed too great a disinclination to do a fair share of work in the scrum, and unless he is more careful in this respect he may stand a fair cbance of being overlooked by the match committee in the final selection. Morris, however, has all the makings of a good forward, and if he will only listen to wise counsel he should easily get a place in the team. Coming now to the backs, Noel again played a fine game at threequarters, gaining a try by a good run, and surpris- | ing everyone by his fine drop kicking and punting. He has evidently profited by the remarks in our last issue. Maokerras at full back on the opposite side played a good safe game considering the slippery nature of the ball, and the manner in which he collared Noel just on the line was quite up to interprovincial form. Towards the end of the game, however, he seemed inclined to shirk one or two rushes. Keogh has been seen to better advantage. His principal fault was that he tackled too high. He should study the maxim " straight and low " when meeting an opposing back. Cook, too. j was disappointing ; but the day probablydid not suit him. Harry Stronach's play at half back, I on the other hand, was excellent, and the plucky manner in which he stopped rushes, as well as his good passing, was generally admired. Neave, though not in good training, alao did very well at half back, and played with a good deal of dash. Owing to the rain it was at first agreed to play only half -hour spells, but at the request of the players the time was extended. Messrs Chapman and Ross officiated as umpires. There is some probabilityof a Nelson team visiting Dunedin this season, but pending the annual meeting of the Nelson Rugby Union, which takes place shortly, nothing has been settled with regard to the visit. The secretary has, however, written to say that if a team does go south it will be towards the end of the season. On Saturday a goodly number of the Montecillo turned up, and a scratch match was played under association rules between sides chosen, by 'Messrs Shepard and Austin.' Several of the i members showed more than usual proficiency in the game and knowledge of the rules. The game finally ended in a draw,' two goals being kicked by each side.' The goals for Shepard's side were secured by Hameland Moss, while for the other the brothers Carver secured one each. ' ' A Wellington telegram states that the football match between the Merivale (Christchurch) and Union (Wellington) was drawn, no score. The Bast Christchurch and Poneke (Wellington) match was won by the latter by one try to nil. The weather was unfavourable for football. A Wanganui telegram states that the football match Melrose (Wellington) and Wanganui on Saturday resulted in a win for the visitors by 6 points (two goals) to nil. The return match yesterday was drawn in favour of the visitors. Mr H. Hart has been elected captain of the Lawrence Football Club. The report presented at the annual meeting stated that the last,season of the club was not a very successful one," only two matches having been played, both of which were lost. The committee hoped that with the addition of a little nevr blood and increased, attention to practice, there was a more satisfactory future in store for the club. According to the balance sheet, the financial position of the club is good, there being a credit balance of £2 Bs. The following are the principal clauses in the report of the Gore Football Club: — Membership.— The numerical strength of the club is very satisfactory, there being 26 members (playing and honorary) on the roll. In order to ensure success during the coming season, it is necessary to maintain our strength, and to do so your committee would urge all members to take an active interest in obtaining new members. Several well-known faces will be missed from this year'B fifteen (in particular Alex. Hutchinson, Pettigrew, Cusack, and Fred. Sayers), whose places will be hard to fill. ■ Matches."— The past season was a fairly successful one on the field. Our record is not a bad one. We won five matches, drew one, and lost four, being beaten by Pukerau and Mataura only when we had an inferior team in the field. Our matches (two) ■against the redoubtable Pirates we lost. ' Our team, no doubt, was a splendid one, but we lacked combination. Some of our players can only turn out when we play r matches. Behind thescrum we were weak, with the exception of our 'threequarters. Inthe interprovincial team which played Dunedin, Gore was represented by two players — viz., Messrs Fred. Wallis and A. Hutchinson. General.— Generallyyour committee wish to point oufr that this year will be a busy one for football, and if we want to hold our own we will have to keep in good form, and the only way to do that is to practise hard. Our ground being now so convenient, we should go in for evening practice, say half an hour every night. This of itself once or twice a week would keep members in grand fettle. In conclusion, the committee hope that the coming season will see the '•Green-and-Blaoks" to the fore, thus causing us to be proud of the motto, " Invincible," which we bear on our flag. The Press is rather severe on the Canterbury Rugby Union. " Three-quarter Back," in last week's issue, winds up an article as follows : — "So much for the committee. In another direction the union has committed an enormous blunder. As submitted by the sub-committee for drawing up the rules, the code provided for the election of a selection > committee by the

union committee at the beginning of the season. This rule is that in force both in Ofcago and Auckland, the reasons for it being obvious.; It is the union committee's work to attend to the arrangements for all big matches, and logically therefore they are the body to appoint a selection committee if that be deemed necessary. The C.B.U. has seen fit to retain this matter directly in its own hands. Although I conceive this course to be illogical and undesirable on several grounds, there is no very serious objection to it in the abstract. But how have the delegates exercised, this function ? In a way that from most sensible persons will call 'forth expressions of astonishment and ridicule. Three years ago by ' well-nigh unanimous consent the system of having a selection committee of five, one from each senior club, was condemned. Disputing, discreditable manceuvrings, bitter* ness, and ill-feeling were the results, and the system was abolished. The union agreed then on a committee of one, but owing to an equality of votes being given to tvyo gentlemen, both were appointed. The following year three were appointed, last year one again. It is perhaps an open question which is the better number, one or three. If satisfactory material is at hand, one is decidedly the better. But if there be any doubt three is a good number. Even with three, however, the selection in case of difference of opinionis practically made by one. In the case of five the same obtains, and it has been found by experience that either the weakest and least competent member or the most ounning and unscrupulous holds the balance. A committee of five is not only too large, but here it means club representation, and though that has been disclaimed by some of its supporters, one especially declared himself for it last Friday. And so the union has returned to the old vicious system, which means the revival in full of club jealousies, * back-scratching,' and bitter feelings. Do footballers as a whole really wish for that P and will they really approve of tho selection committee as at present constituted, especially when they hear that one of its best members, Mr Ollivier, declines to serve ? 4 The proof of the pudding is in the eating' is a good proverb to bear in mind ; but there is also another, ' Too many cooks spoil the broth.' And how if the cooks be mostly incompetent ? Altogether, the union is not to be congratulated on its work of last Friday. It had a chance of burying club feeling, and inaugurating a good and stable condition of affairs. It has declined it. So much the worse for the union. • ; , WALES V. SCOTLAND. Scotland was this year defeated by Wales, and the Englishmen are jubilant at the result. The announcement was received in London with cheers. The game was contested at Newport on February 11. It was unquestionably one of the finest expositions of. football exhibited in Wales. The attendance numbered about 6000, and the game throughout was most brilliant. The excellent combined play of the Welsh forwards and the effective tackling were important features, and, contrary to forecasts, gallant little Wales managed to hold more than its own against its more formidable' and powerful opponents. The game was started by Reid sending the ball flying across the Welsh line, Roberts touching it down. After this Gould got well joff, invading the- Northern twenty-five. .Frazer came to the rescue, running in grand style, but threw . away a certain try by foolishly passing when in the Welsh twenty-five. A scrummage followed, in which neither side gained any advantage. Gould again rescued, and the Welshmen, by cleverly-combined play, goc into the Scotch twenty-five, enabling Pryce-Jenkins, amid tremendous excitement, to score a try. This was not converted into a goal, '.the play to- half time was. in favour of Scotland, who compelled Wales to touch down several times., After the interval Clapp kicked. off, much loose play following. Matters were even for some time. Kedzlie made his mark, gaining ground ; but Frazer, with a fine dribble, invaded Welsh quarters. Roberts and Bland relieved Gould by a splendid run. Crossing into Scotch ground, he was well stopped by Stephenson ; the Welsh again invaded. Some hard play took place in the Welsh twenty-five, but Scotland failed to score, Welsh tackling; so effectively. Bowen, with a clever drop, transferred the ball into the visitors' ground, 4nd with a combined rush the Welshmen carried their opponents before them. Frazer again got away and would have scored but for excellent tackling of Bowen ; Wales again .touched down. Some loose play followed, but shortly after the whistle sounded, with the ball in neutral territory, Wales having scored one try to Scotland's four minor points. Of the six matches played Scotland has won four and Wales one, the other being a draw. In the above matches the following, who are named as probable- members of the team' for New Zealand, played: — Haslem.P. Robertshaw, F. Bonsor, R. Seddon, C. Mathers, T. Kent, H. Eagles, W. H. Thomas, W. Stadden. FBOFESSIONALISM. I give below the rules of the Rugby Football Union regarding professionalism. Clubmen i would do well to consider them carefully t—l.t — 1. Professionalism is illegal. 2. A professional v is— (a) Any player who shall receive from his club, or any member of it, any money consideration whatever, actual or prospective, for services rendered to the club of which he is a member. [Note. — This sub-section is to include any money consideration paid or given to any playing member, whether as secretary, treasurer, or other officer of the club, or for work or labour of any sort done on or about the ground, or in connection with the club's affairs.] (b) Any 1 player who receives any compensation for loss of time from his club or any member of it. This clause shall not debar a club from insuring its playing members against accidents in a recognised Accidental Insurance Company, (c) Any player trained at the club's expense, or at the expense of any member of the club, (d) Any player who transfers his services from one club to another on the consideration of any contract, engagement, or promise on the part of a club, or of any member of that club, to find him employment, (c) Any player who receives from his club, or any member of it, any sum in excess of the amount actually disbursed by him on account of hotel and travelling expenses incurred in connection with the club's affairs. 3. The Rugby Football Union Committee shall have the power of suspending for as long as they think fit — (a) Any player whom they shall consider to be a professional, and (b) any club which shall in their opinion have been proved to have played a professional after the 15th day of October 1886. THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS. I have been carefully watching the Home | -papers for some time past for news of the English team of footballers who are now on their way to New Zealand but very little is to be gleaned regarding the arrangements or the constitution of -the team. Most of the papers, and even the Rugby Union, seem inclined to throw cold water on the project, but from what I have learned privately there need be no fear of the success of the venture. I give below some extracts from Home papers as well as information obtained in New Zealand, regarding the team. Land and. Water pf a recent date has the fo}i<

lowing :-r" We are very glad to; find that the general feeling all round is strongly against' the professional football tour to Australia. The Victorian Football Association, by 10 votes to 3,^ have deoided not to have anything to do with the venture on Lilly white's letter being read to them, which was as follows : — ' We wish to intimate to your association our intention of organising an English football team for a tour of the colonies during the next football season, and request that you will assist us with your patronage and support in the carrying out of an eriterprise which will necessarily involve a large outlay. It is our intention to secure the services of the very best players to be obtained in England ; most of them will be international men. It is intended to play both the Rugby and Australasian games, and we may , state that those who will come have already made i themselves thoroughly conversant with the rules of the , Australasian game, ,so- that there will be no difficulty in their being able to be thorough exponents of the game as played in Victoria. , In order that the English team may be well prepared to oppose the strong , clubs of Australia and ably represent , tha Old Country in international contests, the men will use every opportunity of practising together prior to the opening of their colonial campaign.' Mr Lilly white stated in a private letter to the secretary that the.yenture might result in introducing the Victorian game into England, v and perchancerevolutionise the game as played there, and might lead to, Australian teams going to England, in which case he and his confreres could be counted upou for support. He had secured the patronage of the Sydney, Queensland, and Adelaide Associations. Mr T. S. Marshall, a prominent member of the Victorian Football Association, very properly objected to the patronage being granted, on the ground that it would introduce a professional element into football, which they had always fought against, and whioh was very undesirable. He considered that an English team would have no chance against a Victorian twenty in a match according to Victorian rules. It now turn's out that A, E. Sfcoddart has not consented to stay and join the'combination, and it is quite certain that he will very speedily; publicly repudiate the affair when he finds that the Rugby Union is so strongly adverse to the venture. Ie seems certain, how- I ever, that some sort of a team will go, as three Yorkshiremen and three Lancastrians are stated to have positively signed articles for the trip. With their full and ample powers the Rugby Football Union have only to declare all the players going to Australia professionals to at once smash the whole scheme,' which can only result in failure and defeat, and, as far as we can see, a pecuniary loss to the promoters." Here, on 1 the other hand, is the opinion of a well-known authority who is now in Christchurch. This is what he says : — " Although the English players have left for this part of the world, the cable at the time I write has brought us no fuller information as to the personnel of ihe team. There are, however, a few , more names mentioned in addition to those I commented on a fortnight ago as likely to, be amongst' the visitors. Of these the most important is that of F. Bsnsor, the famous" half back of the Bradford Club. Bonsor has represented Yorkshire for four years, the North during the same period, and England against Scotland twice, against Wales twice, and against Ireland once, in seasons 1885-6 and 1886-7. He is a splendid half back, serving his three-quarters in a' style never seen here, and stopping forwards' rushes grandly. His tackling is indeed his strongest point. W. Stadden, formerly ' of Cardiff, now of Dewsbury, is another capital half back, though not of Bonsor's calibre. He has played several times for Yorkshire, but is not ah international. Percy Robertshaw, of Bradford, is a fine three-quarter back, especially good as a centre,, though a little inferior in that respect to his brother Rawson, who represented England for two years. Percy has not yet won his international cap, but he has represented Yorkshire on several occasions, and is but a shade under the first rank. If the names above given, together with those before mentioned, prove to be accurate, the back division will be very strong, consisting of F. Bonsor, and W. Stadden, halves; R. E. Lockwood, P. Robertshaw, ahd,A. E. Stoddart, three-quarters, and J. T. Haslam, full back; three internationals and three strong county men. An exhibition of scientific back play by these will be both a treat and a wonderful lesson to players here. It is to be hoped, however, that some Southerners, as , well as famous Yorkshiremen and Lancastrians, may be found to be in, ,the team." Writing at a later date the , same authority says:— "Last week I wrongly stated that W. Staddeu, one of the probable half backs of the team, was not an international player. I should have said 'English international.' Stadden has represented Wales on six occasions, against Ireland in seasons 1883-4 and 1886-7, and in all these matches in season, and against Scotland this year. Three other men have been mentioned to me by Mr Shrewsbury, at present here with Lillywhite's team. Kent, of Salford, is one, an excellent forward, and, I understand, a county man. Speakman,'of Runcorn,,is a fine three-quarter back, who has come on wonderfully of late, and is now ' almost up to international form. C. S. Tristram, the third, is at present in Australia. He is a brother of the celebrated international full back, H. B. Tristram. He is spoken of by Stoddart as a decidedly good player." The Leader publishes the following cable from London, tinder date March 8: — "The Rugby, Union have adjudged Clowes, one of the members of the team of footballers organised to visit, Australia, to be a professional, and have inti,mated that they are strongly of opinion that , other members of the team have infringed the laws under which the union is governed. The members in question are to be called upon to explain then: position. Clowes is a forward^ a.' member of the Halifax F. C. Though not up to. international form, and indeed, not as far as I, can, remember even a county man, he is a smart player, very clever with his feet, but whether he will play here after the declaration of, the union is doubtful." In connection with this matter I have been, permitted to see a letter from Mr Lilly white' to the Secretary of the Otago Union. He says:,' "We have not above two Association players in our team. We shall be 27 strong all round. It is very strange that the names were not cabled out i when they left, but by letters received they will - be a strong combination. Stoddart is staying, also a friend — Mr Tristram. Smith and Brann, of our cricket team, had promised, to stop, but were cabled for to go Home. They, howi ever,* are both Association players, and were staying for the Victorian game." It will thus be seen that the Larfd and Water contributor is a little out in his statements, and that there is every likelihood of the team being a strong, one. However, we shall t have them here by the 21st, and then we will know for certain. ! A large number of the friends of Harry | Speakman assembled at the Stag's Head, Liverpool, under the chairmanship of Mr F. T. Parry, to bid the Runcorn three-quarter a ' hearty God-speed prior to embarking on his Australian football tour.. A pleasing musical evening was spenti and among those present were members of the Litherland, Walton, Runqorn, and West Cheshire Clubs. ■ ■ '