FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1951, 11 April 1889, Page 26

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FORWARD. The Dunedin Club played their opening match President (Blue) v. Vice-president (Colours) on the Caledonian ground on Saturday, when there was a large muster. The game resulted in a victory for the Colours by two goals and three tries to one goal and two tries. For the Colours Hunter, Owen, Driver (2), and Power obtained tries, of which two were converted into goals; and foruthe Blues Fox potted a goal very prettily with his left foot and obtained a try, and iSjonntag also secured a try. The game was very fast and well sustained, some very good passing and kicking being, shown. Hunter* Taiaroa, M^Brearty, Owen, King, Sullivan, Turton, Power, Webster, Carter, Driver, Turnbull, Home, Fox, Fulton, Turton, Stephenson, and Harvey played about the best. Practice will be held. on Wednesday evening, commencing at 8.15. The Union Club played their opening match President v. Vice-president on Saturday on the North ground. Wright captained the President's side, and Croxford the Vice-president's Bide. There was a good muster, there being about 30 a side, which speaks well for the future success of the club. After a very even and warmly contested game, the President's side were declared the victors by 3 points, the score being— President, one goal and one try (the former obtained by Dryden from a free kick, and the latter secured by F. Croxford); Vice-president, one try (secured by W. Beadle after a brilliant run). The club has recently been strengthened by the addition of a large number of young players, some of whom, judging by their play on Saturday, should give a good account of themselves during the coming seaßon. The new rules and penalties were Strictly enforced throughout the match, and despite a few free kicks allowed for infringements of the same, the play generally was much faster and altogether a decided improvement on tat of last year. The Pirates Club had a good muster of players at Carisbrook on Saturday, when the opening match for the season President (black) v. Vice-President (colours) was played. The ground was in grand ordes, and the game, notwithstanding that a few of the players seemed greatly relieved when time was called, proved very enjoyable to all engaged. Mr G. M. Thomson, the president, kicked off, the Blacks playing with the sun in their faces for the first spell. Before very long the weight of the players on the Vice-president's side began to be felt, and A. W. Morris secured two tries for the Colours, one of which' was converted into a goal by Jefferson. In the second spell the game was more even, J. Howlison and Drabble obtaining tries for the Blacks, and A. W. Morris two more for the Colours, the game therefore ending in a win for the Colours by 6 points to 2. Amongst the old memberstof tho First Fifteen the most noticeable were Williams at full back, M'Donald at three-quarter, and A. W. Morris and Drabble amongst the forwards. Kirkcaldy played' hard, but a little more science . would be an improvement in his play, and Bell at three-quarter has been seen to better advantage, he showing a tendency to run back on Saturday. M'Beath has improved wonderfully since last year, and should be heard of during the present season. The new members include some capital players, the back division being represented by W. Cantrell, R. Gillies, W. Lang, and Jefferson, whilst amongst the forwards the two M'Larens, Howlison, and Farqaharson showed up prominently. Besides those mentioned, Orbell, Stables, C. E. Morris, Ashcroft, and H. Clarke played in good style. The copies of the new rules distributed to the members have evidently been •well studied, as free kicks were not of frequent occurrence during the afternoon. A practice game will be held every Wednesday afternoon, and as the club has fixtures with the Merivale and Invercargill Clubs at Easter, it is expected that as many as possible will attend as the Match Committee will take into consideration the form then exhibited when picking the trial fifteen for next Saturday. The match played by the Zingari-Richmond Club on the Asylum ground on Saturday was between sides chosen to represent the Captain (Mr Fred. Brodrick) and Deputy-captain (Mr T. Rallingßhaw. There was a good attendance of member^ and a most enjoyable game was the result. Two 45min spells were played, and as the game — owing to the introduction of the new rales— was considerably faster than ordinary ! practice matches the staying powers of the players were taxed to the utmost. The Deputycaptain's team eventually won an exciting game by one goal and three tries to nil ; tries being obtained , by Peterson (2), Rallingshaw (I), and Deaker (1), , and -the, Jastmentioned player placing a ',goal. from his own^try. For ( the winning' side',. Alfred Esquilant and M'Farr lane played a splendid' game at three-quarters, their 'parsing atid kicking being remarkably

[ half back— a new position for him— and was very successful,, kicking 'well and passing frei quently. Bolt, a new man, showed, up well in 1 the collaring department, and should not be lost ! sight of in future marches. ,; If both were «. fit ', it would take a good 'man to pass Bolt aHd M'Farlane. Best at full back was a* regular wonder, kicking with both feet and collaring magnificently. He saved his side many points through his smartness. - Among the forwards Peterson, Pollock, Walsh, and i Railing-, shaw were : the I : . most ' prominent, 1 • although' there was a noticeable lackof combination. As stated above, the Captain's, side did not, score, but kept their bpporients u well up \u their /territory, and came very near scoring.:!' Brodnck and R. Prootor at'half' played in their old 'sjiyle, but try as they' could they were never,, allowed to get away. Edwards played a hard game, but should pass more; his collaring was greatly admired. Harrison at full back played well, but he should kick more. . The forwards on his side also lacked combination,' and very few, scrums were packed ,prd pe'rly. When, by the new rules, a player must put,, down the .ball immediately i when collared, forwards should come around' quickly, and keep close to the' oval. Too much attention was paid by the forwards to picking up the ball instead of continuing dribbling Dunn, Vivian, Stewarts (2), and Gilmannwere' the most prominent. The new rules were' strictly adhered to, making the game very fast and decidedly more interesting, as hand-balling,, rough and off-side play, and hard kicking in the scrum were hardly perceptible on Saturday, and in a short period will be doubtless wholly abolished.

The Alhambra Clnb. started the season on Saturday with a large muster of playershaving 27 a side— the match being President (red and black) v. Vice-presidents • (colours). Baker captained the red and black, and M'Laughlin for the colours. „ Me James Allen (president of the clqb)^ opened the season by kicking off for his side, landing the ball well in the other side's twenty-five. For the first part of the game it was very hard for anyone to get possession of the oval owing to the large num-J ber playing. The only score in this spell was a j try obtained by J. Haig. In the second spell ! the President's side played with more combination, and, having the best banks, gave the other side a rather hot time of it. Crawford, Restieaux, and Baker made some fine passes. The latter made some fine runs, but was unable to score. Tries were obtained in this spell by O. Crawford and Weitzel, the former placing a fine goal from the last one obtained by him. The game ended in a win for the President's side by one goal and three tries to nil. It was gratifying to notice the fine form shown by a i number of new members. For the President's side the following played very well :— Backs : Crawford; Restieaux, Baker, and Johnston. The latter has the makings of a first-class back. , Forwards: Weitzel, Murphy (from the Star Club, Invercargill), Haig, and M'Laren, For the Colours' side, of the backs, Power, Foster, Crawshaw, and M'Kenzie played very pluckily and gained a lot of ground for their side by fine long kicks into touch ; and of the forwards, Ternent, M'Laughlin, Ruttledge, Wallace,. and C. Restieaux were the most conspicuous. The new rules seemed to puzzle the members -at first, but towards the end of the game they picked them up. ■The Kaikerai Club played a match, Probable Fifteen v- the Club, the latter mustering 24 players. ' From the kick-off the game was very fast. The Club very soon had the Fifteen penned in their twenty-five, and were only occasionally relieved by the good passing and kicking of their backs. From a neat pass M'Lennaa potted a splendid goal far the club. The Fifteen then rallied, and soon had the play in the Club's territory. D. Thompson, taking the ball fcqm a scrum, eluded most of the opposing backs, and by neatly passing, to" M'lntyre, enabled that player to score a try. ,The kick at goal was a failure. Ends were ohaßged, and it was expected the Olub, playing down hill, would rub over their opponents, but through the good play of Torrance, A. Millar, Armit, and Ballantyne for the Fifteen they soon had the Olub in difficulties, and Davie having the ball passed to him scored two tries for the Fifteen. No goal resulting the game resulted in a win for the Club by a goal to two tries. For the Club, Whalen, Bell, D. Duncan, and Cameron (forwards), and King, M'Naught, and Wakelin (backs) played well, and the whole of the Fifteen played well. The First Fifteen proceed to Oamaru at Easter to play the Athletio Club. The Port Chalmers Club played a scratch match on Saturday, Captain v. Deputy-captain. About 20 a side took part in the game.jwhich was of ia very fast character 'throughout, and resulted in a win for the Captain's side by one goal and two tries to two tries'. Platts by good runs obtained the tries for his side, and J. Crawford secured a mark, from which Bauchop placed a goal. Wiseman and Kydd each obtained a try for the Deputy's side, but neither was enhanced. An?ong the backs Finnegan, Platts, ' Ritchie, Hunter, Crawford, and Rickard played. about the best'; while of the forwards Kydd . : and Leonard were far ahead of the others. Bell, Davidson, Fairley, Wiseman, Bauchop, Stevens; Taylor, and Roberts also showed up well. On Saturday the Montecillo Club played a scratch match between sides chosen on the ground by Messrs Shepard and Isaacs. There was a much larger attendance of players than on the previous Saturday, and despite the warmth of <;he afternoon a good game wna indulged in. Sbepard kicked off, but the other side at once i rushed the ball back, and throughout the spell I kept on the offensive, on four occasions crossing the line, tries being gained by Bolton (2), Isaacs and Stenhouse (1 each). However, none of these were improved upon, and half time was called with the score— Depnty-captain's side, 4 points ; n.aptain's, nil. On resuming a change came o'er the. scene;' the Captain's side beginning io appear in their opponents' quarters, and it was not long before Begg crossed the line. The place kick was a failure. Shortly after M'Ororie took the ball right down to the line, and bsing collared passed to Thompson, who scored right between the posts. Shepard safely manipulated the kick, making the, scores equal, and it looked as if , the game would be a draw, but Begg once more scored, victory thus resting with the Oaptain's side by 5 points to 4. The play throughout ■ was fast and interesting, and there were very few penalties for infringements of the new rale's. The greatest improvement was noticeable amongst the backs, and their passing on one or two oeoasions certainly showed that the visit of the Englishmen had nof) been lost to at least pome of the players. On Shepard's side the best individual play was shown by Roberts, Begg, Parsons, and Thompson, and on the other by Foster, Stephenson, and Bolton, who were ably led by their captain. . The Cavershaoi Football Club^ played their opening match on Saturday, President v. Vicepresidents. The game resulted in a win for the former by two goals to one goal and one, try. There was a good attendance of members- The gam^ was played under the new rules. , '. Aifootball olub has 'been' started f at Arrow-; tow«> with Mr G. H. Romans as president. At . thepreliminary>meeting the hope was expressed' ,1-hatja dub will also be formed at Queenstown, 1 «ottiat friendly conclusions may be tried ibe^ tween representative teams of the two places. The Athletio Football Club at Qamaro clayed

a match between sides chosen .by Glass, and, Waddell on the 4th, the former winning by si's points to four. In, view of the approaching, match with the Kaikorai Olub, which takes place on the 20th, the following, .players have gone into training;:— Waddell, Glass, .Wbyte, Jardine (2), M'Culloch, Johnston (2), Hurst, Davis, Crombie, .Taylor, Kleeber, Grant (2), Cooper, Concolly, Avery, S. Barns, W. .Courtenay, Barpley, Mitchell, N. Leslie, T. Steel, Austin, A. Fraser, Welch, Townsend, and Rivers. j .The laWcargill Club have presented Mr R. Galbraith, their late captain, with a life member's ticket. : The tickjet bore the f ollowing. inscription:—" Presented to Mr R. Galbraith .on the occasion of his retiring from active, service in the football field, and in recognition of his energy, indomitable pluck, and consistent play during a membership, of 14 years, during nine of which he acted ia the capacity.of captain of the club." » Rugby football is now played in Asiatic Turkey. I suppose we shall hear of it being played m China or Japan before long ! | W. E. Maolagan, the famous Scottish international three-quarter, has recently been married to a Miss Colquhoun, of Bedford. Several prominent southern Rugby unionists ! were present to see the "tying-up" business performed, I G. T. Wainwrightj the Runcorn three-quarter, playing for Cheshire against Northumberland, Achieved a wonderful performance. 'He was so well fed by H. Hughes that he scored every major point obtained by Cheshire. He dropped one goal, and ran in four tries. ' A remarkable scoring feat was also accomplished in a match between the Boofcle Wasps and Liverpool "A " team. The Wasps 1 won by seven tries to nothing, Hall obtaining every one of the tries for his side. .' 'A. L. Brooke scored no fewer than five tries for the Old Leysians v. Royal Naval College. This makes the ninth time in two matches he has crossed the R.N.C. goal line this season. The Burnley FC. have not a very high opinion of the Cambridge University young men who manage the football department. It seems that when the 'Varsity ! visited Burnley last season a return match was arranged on the understanding that the Burnley Club was guaranteed £15 — not an outrageous sum for a professional team. Burnley went, had the distinguished honour of playing against the 'Varsity, apd that was all, until a few days ago,, when, after corresponding for about nine months, they received a cheque for a little over £2. This, says the Athletic News, is one of the many examples of dealing with southern clubs, who have a soul above money, but who nevertheless go on the principle of getting as much as they can and parting with as little. The Rugby football editor of Sport, the Irish weekly, says that as Ireland, Scotland, and Wales won't touch 'England with a 40ft rule, the only international match England will have Will be one against the Maoris, for which the customary caps will be given. He goes on to say :—" Yorkshire beat the Maories by five goals and ftwo tries. These will be soft caps." In reply to this the Athletic News says:—", As a matter of fact the score in the Yorkshire match referred to was— Yorkshire, five goals and one try ; Maoris, one goal/and one try. Let me see. Did not the New Zealanddrs score four goals and a try against All Ireland, who only made a goal and a try? According to this form the Yorkshire County Fifteen' must be immensely sdperibr to the chosen of Ireland." This is giying the Irishman a Roland for his Oliver. ILockwood, the little Dewsbury three-quarter, was married last December, and, after the wejdding breakfast, hurried off to Bradford to assist mi defeating the Southern fifteen at Park Avenue. This is a novel way of spending a weddipg day. The match Bootle v. North End was remarkable, inasmuoh as Dr Mills-Roberts was twice called upon to put his medical knowledge to practical use. First of all he had to attend {to M'Farlane's damaged ankle, and after the match was over he made the discovery that Sandy Robertson had fractured' his collar-bone. The popular halfback was hurt during the match, but continued playing, and it was not until all wad over that the extent of his injury was ascertained. It will be remembered that Robertson dislocated his ankle in the great semifinal at Nottingham two years ago, but kept on the field. Mr A. K. Knowlson, the treasurer of the Ashton A.F.C., met with a severe accident at Leek whilst playing for Ashton against the Leek Wasps. He had gone with the ' Ashton Club simply as a. spectator, but being one short he donned the jersey and played, the result being a broken leg. 'He now lies in Leek Cottage Hospital, and the latest reports f rom there are that he will have to undergo an operation on his .foot— if not to have part of it amputated. This is very unfortunate. Mr Knowlson is a fine young fellow, standing 6ft lin. Besides being treasurer of the A.F.C., he was also secretary of the Ashton 8.C., and was a cyclist of no mean order.