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Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 26

NOTES BY FORWARD.

The result of the match between the Ocago University and Canterbury College fifteens must have rather surprised the followers of the 'Varsity, for it was generally expected -that they would win. The game seems, judging by the telegraphed reports, to have been rather in favour of the College, though but for the fine j bit of passing that secured the try they would have had great difficulty in making's draw of it. Ever since the visit of the English team it has been fully demonstrated that the passing game is the one that must be adopted for scoring, and it is wonderful what can be dqne in- this line, even on a web ground with a slippery ball. Keogh has left Dunedin for Melbourne with Mr J. R. Scott, of the " Maori " team, and it is not unlikely that he will proceed to England with the Natives. In consequence of his departure Otago has lost her best half back, but it will be good news to footballers to hear that R. Fraser is once more going i» don the jersey. Harper and Cook are, I believe, the most likely candidates for Keogh's place. Oroxford in the matches against the Native team did not justify expectations, though he is a player who is likely to improre. Still, he was just the stamp of player to pit against such a team as W&rbrick's proved, and I very much ■ question whether Cook would have stood the rough work as well as he did. Croxford, however, will have to improre greatly iv passing before he is ap to first-class form. The Kaikorai Club have not only lost Keogh, but also D. Thompson, their other half back, so that they are now left rather weak. I almost expect to see the Duuedin Club beat them on Saturday. The annual interprovincial match between Obago and Canterbury will be played on September 8. I should not be at all surprised to see the sister province in the fitld with a very strong team after all. At any rate, the Otago men had better not hold their opponents too cheaply. I see by Monday's telegrams that Wellington keeps up its name for rough play, one of the players iv a match on Saturday going so far as to strike another in the face. I have had a good deal of experience of colonial football now, and I can confidently assert that in no place is the game played in a fairer and more gentlemanly way than ib is in Obago. Canterbury, I think, comes next on the list. The hard-won victory which the Native team secured from Otago jusb on the eve of their departure seemed to put new heart into the " savages," who were wreathed in smiles as they left Dunedin to board the Manapouri at the Port. They were quite pleased to witness such a large crowd assemble at the station to see them off. Messrs J. H. Chapman (hon. treasurer) and Mr Ross (hon. secretary) of the Rugby Union went with the team as far as Port Chalmers, and saw them safely aboard of their steamer. The second match against Otago should really have been a draw, for it appears that Thomson's try was as fair a try as ever was gained. Drabble, however, did not see, and ruled that the ball was dead outside the line. The Natives would never have scored had the Otago forwards been marking their men properly. I would point out to our forwards that when the ball is thrown out near their own goal line it is generally better for them to allow an opponent to get the ball and collar him. than t© try and get the ball themselves, unless they are in a very favourable position. This is more especially the case when the opponent is the taller man. The chances are two to one that he has a show of getting over the line. In the Rugby match in which the Englishmen took part at Adelaide, Hunter, formerly in the D.F.C. Second Fif been, and Raynbird, late of the Pirates Club, were among the colonial players. The Englishmen won by 15 points to three. The local papers said the English team won by 27 points to nothing, but the reporters did not seem to known what constituted a point. Several good Rugby players from Home have recently taken up their residence in Adelaide, and a club has now been formed. On Saturday, 28th ult, the Invercargill Pirates played a match with the Riverton Club at Riverton, the former winning by nine points to nil. On the same day the Star beat the Mataura by five tries to nil. On Saturday last the first of the union's trial matches was played, the sides being captained by A. and R. Galbraith respectively. That of the former, having the pick of the forwards, won by five tries to one goal from a try. Treseder, Ekensteen, Twemlow, Cox, A. Galbraith, Hawke, M'Robie, and Dalton showed up well forward ; and Cuff, M'Loskey, M'Master, and A. Tapper back. A Melbourne paper has the following :— " We have never witnessed a contest in Melbourne carried on amidst a downfall of snow, but such an experience is not unusual in Ballaxat, where on Friday and Saturday the Englishmen must have felt themselves •at home.' They did not know that Victorians indulged in the luxury of a snowstorm, and their managers, Lillywhite and Shrewsbury, were more surprised than the members of the team, as the previous experience of the cricketers had been generally of a sultry character. The Britishers were evidently unprepared for playing in the snow on Friday, hence their easy defeat at the hands of Ballarat Imperial ; but on Saturday they donned their snow shoes, and came out a goal in advance of the Ballaratians. The latter led comfortably until the ground became too greasy for them, and then the dribbling capabilities of the visitors were brought into play with telling effect. The scores at the termination of the game were: England, 5 -8 ; B xllarat, 4-8." The Ausi ralasiau says : — " Southern Tasmania has added fresh laurels to its previoudly-acquired wreath of victory by inflicting a telling defeat upon the Geelongites. The latter fared even worse than their precursors from Carlton, as they scored only two goals to the Islanders' five. Let us hope that the after effect upon the absentees may be less distressing than has been the case with Carlton. This, however, is only a secondary matter. The principal consideration suggested by the beating administered to Geelong is that it is scarcely creditable to Victoria, that her champions should one after another succumb to Tasmania in the game which is peculiarly our own. We might, without regret, permit our neighbours on the other side of the gutter to forge ahead of as in political or mercantile matters, but we are not true Victorians if we give in to them at football. A football match was played at Edendale between teams from the Bchoolsjat that place and Wyndham. The latter were victorious by four tries to nothing, but notwithstanding this crushing defeat the Edendale juniors played pluckily, C. Blackley and J. Shields especially distinguishing themselves. For Wyndham, Arch Duncan and G. and R. Kidd were exceptionally prominent. A contemporary writes : — " It is a pity the Native football team is not a bit stronger. Comparing their record in the colony with that of

I the English team, it is clear that they would I not have a chance against our late visitors. ( Then the English team is not one which would k makeaoygreatshow against the best Home clubs; so it must be clear enough that the Natives will not have a triumphal tour in the Old Country. ' It is said that they propose to go on to*the fields in elaborate Maori costume, and by so doing they may create a bit of a sensation ; but if the idea was to produce a spectacular effect it would have been better to have sent none but full-blooded Maoris. As matters stand at present the team will not be particularly strong in football nor entirely successful as a show." Eleven members of the Roxburgh Football Club played a match with 11 from Coal Creek, but neither side scored. An Invercargill paper says : — " The new jerseys manufactured by the New Zealand Clothing Factory to the order of the Southland Rugby Football Union have arrived, and are now to be seen at the factory's shop in Dee street. The colour is maroon, aud on the left breast the initials of the union, S.R.F.U., are inscribed. The material used is very strong, and the colour decidedly pleasing to the eye, while the Btyle of make is Buch as to ensure comfort to the wearer; The union is to be congratulated on having obtained so serviceable an article, and the Clothing Factory complimented for the excellent work turned out." The Inveroargill trial matches commence this week. The men will have plenty of time to get in form for the Otago match. A Wellington telegram states that iv the champion matches the Athletics beat the Unions by 10 points. The Unions played fairly well in the first spell, but went to pieces in the second, and their opponents simply romped over them. In ' the match Melrose v. Rivals, the former were made very hot favourites, and in this match all the interest was centred. The Rivals scored early in the first spell, and that was the only score in the match. Melrose had much the byst of the second spell, but owing to the splendid defensive play of the young club were unable to score, and the game ended in favour of the Rivals by 1 point to nil. Melrose played an exceedingly rough game, and once or twice during the game one of their players struck his opponents in the face. The junior cup matches resulted as follows :— St. Patrick's College First and Athletic Second, drawn, no score ; Union Second v. Rivals Second, won by Union's by 8 points to nil ; Epuni First beat Wellington Second by 1 point to nil-, Poneke Second beat Welling-ton-College by 3 points to nil.