FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 1 August 1889, Page 27

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FORWARD.

In the trial matches on Saturday four men were given a trial as full back. These were Claffey (Kaikorai), Reid (University), Grenfell (Oamaru), and Scott (Taieri). AH are useful men in interclub matches, but it is extremely questionable whether any of them possesses the qualifications which should be essential in a representative full back. Grenfell is a splendid kick, but he apparently kicks with the left foot only, and that is a great defect. He, moreover, Is fast, and can force his way through a mass of opponents, but he suffers from lack of experience. With practice against good men he would probably turn out just such another man as Oamaru produced last season in Thomas, but unfortunately there ia not the time before the big matches come on to give him the practice that he requires. Reid, to whom the 'Varsity men pin their faith, tackles in rare style, but in other respeots is weak. His kicking is notably not so good as it used to be. Claffey is, so far as kicking goes, superior to the most of the backs, but apart from that he is not particularly reliable ; and Scott is distinctly second rate. On the whole, the action of the Match Committee in bringing Thomas back to his old position will be applauded. The ex-Omaruvian proved himself last year to be a splendid full back, but his play this year as three-quarter back is not better than that of four or five other men who could be named, so that the interests Of Ofcago will be best served by having him in his old place.

Of the three three-quarcer backs in Saturday's matches, Downes and Davie showed the best form. The Alhambra player may always be reckoned upon to play a safe game, if he does not approach to brilliancy. His kicking has frequently got his 6ide out of a dilemma, and his tackling leaves no room for fault-finding. His passing, too, is most; unselfish; but if he •were to pass quicker it would be more effective than it is. Still, a passing run between Turntall and him, in which the players exchanged the possession of the ball two or three times, -was one of the brightest features of the match between the A and B teams. Davie played a tattling game, and his fine runningin itself marks him out as a useful man to have. In other respects his play is not deficient. Thomas did a lot of good work, but he — like many other footballers who, after playing full back for some time become three-quarter backs, — waß cramped in his efforts, and some of his kicks flew off at tangents. He can be spared from playing threequarter back, for there are capable men to occupy that position, but he is sorely needed as full back. Turnbull was somewhat " off-colour " and has done much better in interclub matches, and so has Elder, whose display was disappointing. Noel, on the other hand, did some excellent work. His kicking was surprisingly good, his running was capital, the sprint which resulted in his try being worthy of his best days, and his tackling — usually a weak point with him — was most effective, the way in which he brought down Thomas on one occasion evoking loud applause. In the match between the C and D teams, Thompson stood out conspicuously, his all rouud display being exceedingly creditable. His tackling was his strong point, the only man whom he let past him being his club mate Millar. M'Farlaue, Lang, and Beadle were the next best.

Far and away the best game among the half backs was played by Crawford. In no single point did he yield the palm to his fellows, and as a tricky player he was points better than the others. Restieaux, M'lntyre, and Murdoch did nothing exceptional, and there was very little to choose between them. Cran showed first rate form in the match wibh which the afternoon's proceedings began. The play of several of the forwards was a perfect treat to witness, Arthur Morrig, who was never in better form, was the most noticeable. For a forward to get three tries is a great achievement, but a forward to deserve them, as Morris did, is a remarkable achievement. Next in order of merit to Morris came Tatter sail, Duncan, Gibson, and Stephenson. Tattersall was always handy and played conscientiously right through the game. Duncan had his part — and a prominent part it was — in nearly all the passing rushes of the afternoon, and the Taieri captain played one of those fine, hardworking games for which he has earned a name. Stephenson ably abetted Arthur Morris, but "while he is always anxious to have the ball passed to him, he frequently exhibits a strong disinclination to quit possession of it when a pass might prove of great service by enabling another player to score. This should be remedied, and Stephenson will act wisely if he takea the hint. W. Gibson proved of immense value on the touch line. His height enabled him very often to get the ball, and a timely pass from him from the line was the means of starting _a number of dashing runs. D. Torrance played an honest game, never shirking his work ; .and his fine place kicking, if nothing else, was sufficient to earn him his salt. Isaacs did as much work as any of the others in the scrum, <bufc he has the unfortunate fault of kicking too hard when he gets the ball in the loose. The effect of .this, of course, is that the opposing •backs obtain the ball, and a judioious kick covers •a lot of ground for which the forwards have bought hard. Allan, Matheson, Montgomery, O. Morri3, Ralingshaw, J. Torrance, and M'Far<!ane all worked very hard and showed up well, vand Sonntag's weight was beneficially applied on several occasions. Beck has lost nearly all the ifine form that he once possessed. To sum up, upon Saturday s performance, four or five forwards are safe of their places in the Otago team, .-and nobody will envy the Match Committee their task of picking the remainder. One thing, 'however, is certain — that the fifteen will be a ■rare good lot, and a splendid team will be required to beat them. " Inquirer " writes from Wanganui : — " In a match here the other day a player ran through his men^and being close to the touch line was followed up and poshed over from behind by the hands of an opponent. There was no attempt made to collar him; was that all right ? " There is no express rule of the game forbidding the pushing of a man over from behind by the hands, but it has always been held that such an act is illegal. It is in fact, as a prominent player in this parb of the world put it, an unwritten law of the game that it amounts •to illegal tackling if one player should push ■another over from behind with the hands. As -such it comes within the rule that has reference ■io a player illegally tackling, charging, or obstructing an opponent, and the penalty now is a free kick, with the alternative reserved to the referee of adjudging a try on appeal if in his opinion a try would undoubtedly have been gained but for the unfair play. " Inquirer " also asks "if heeling-out is allowed in Otago, and if so, when do the men in front of the scrum become off-aide?" Heeling-out is undoubtedly resorted to, but as a general rule it is done so skilfully and so quickly nowadays that no room is left for the enforcement of the penalty for off-side play. In the case of heeling-out, the players in front of the ball in the scrummage— that is to say, those comprising the front row of 4b,e forwards in the scrum—distinctly come

within the application of Rale 21, which provides that " every player . . . is put off-side if he . . . being in a scrummage gets in front of the ball." The practice of referees here, however, has been not to enforce the penalty for off-side play until the players in the front row in the scrummage form an obstruction to prevent the opposing players from getting at the ball. As previously stated, heeling-out has now become such a skilful and swift operation as to make it the work of a moment to transfer the ball from the scrummage to the half-backs.

" Referee "desires to know, whether, if aplayer knocked tbe ball back instead of passing it, the ball should be scrummed, off or whether a goal kicked by the player to whom the ball was knocked back should be allowed ? Knocking the ball back is perfectly legal and is frequently practised. The goal therefore must be allowed, rule on the subject is : — " It is lawful for any player who has the ball to throw it back towards his own goal, or to pass it back to any player of hia own side, who is at the time behind him, in accordance with the rules of onside."

The Queensland Football team, which suffered defeat by two goals and four tries at the hands of the Maori footballers, was captained by Speakman, who came out with the English players. Mr Hyland, who was a member of the Union (Dunedin) Club a couple of seasons ago, and before that a member of the Union (Wellington) Club, was included in the Queensland Fifteen. The return match between the New South Wales Rugby footballers and the representatives of the Victoria Rugby Union waß played at Sydney on the 20th inst., and was won by the local players by %1 points to 14. The winners obtained three tries through the agency of Fitzgerald, Walker, and Braddon, from which Flynnand Braddon kicked goals, and a goal from field was kicked by Flynn. The losers' total was made up of two tries obtained by Diamond, from each of which Scarborough kicked a goal, and Millar potted a goal from the field. The Victorian players were entertained at a banquet in the evening. Replying to the toast of " The Visitors," Mr Cunningham said that in Melbourne if a young man took to the Rugby game he was told by his employers that he need not come back to work again. He considered that the Victorian game was going from bad to worse. Amateurs were crushed out by paid men, and the game was an outlet for a class of players whom they did not want to have in Rugby football. Millar, having received sufficient inducement, has decided to remain in Syduey. M'Donald, one of the Selwyn team, broke his collar bone in a football match at Wellington on Saturday. Referring to the recent match, under Rugby rules, between teams selected from the Southern Rugby Union and the Melbourne Rugby Union, the Sydney Daily Telegraph says : — " Taking the contest all through it cannot be called as brilliant and attractive an exhibition of football as the matches recently played against the Maoris, there being a noticeable lack of dash, while scrimmages occurred much too frequently, the New South Wales team being mainly to blame for the last-mentioned drawback by their continued breeches of rules 18 and 25, having reference to putting the ball down when fairly held and knocking on and throwing forward. The southerners came over with an excellent reputation, it being know that the team was made up of ex-New Zealand and English players, all of whom had been players of the first water in their native countries, and they had proved their skill in Melbourne by having played very hot games against Shaw's English team last season and the Maoris during the past and present seasons. Anyone connected with football does not require to be reminded that the Australian game holds the lead in Victoria ; but could some of the best players under these rules have been induced to accompany the Rugby team, the latter would certainly have been much strengthened in the running and kicking departments- In dribbling the Victorians gave us a treat which we have not had since the appearance of the redoubtable New Zealanders in '84. It was worth the money itself to see Diamond, M'Cleary, and Morrell come through the loose scrums with tbe ball at their toe,' and this feature gained them more ground than any other part of their play. Their tacklihg was perhaps the weakest point in their exhibition. But on some occasions nothing but a stone wall could have stopped the powerful rushes and well-timed passing at long range indulged in by the home team. On several occasions the locals got out of a very threatening danger by starting the passing and following up tactics, and their career was not stopped until almost the length of the the ground had been traversed. Their third try was gained in this manner, the ball being sent by Colquhoun to Flynn, who carried it a few* yards and then sent it to Neilf , who got a good distance with it before delivering it into Shaw's embrace, and the latter gruelling the back man gained the try." For New South Wales tries were obtained by Walker, Whiteside, and Shaw, and Flynn and Braddon each converted a try. For the Victorians, tries were secured by M'Cleary and Scarborough, but the kick 6at goal were resultless. In the match between the Melbourne Rugby players and 16 young playerß of Sydney, Millar, formerly of*the Kaikorai Club, dropped three goals and obtained a try for the former. One of tbe most popular of the English pictures at the Paris Exhibition is the representation of a Rugby football match by Messrs Overend and Smythe. It is lent by the Fine Art Society. The Parisians stand in front of it awe-struck. They shrug their shoulders, and discuss the rctison d'etre of the game in the most excited fashion, and go away with their opinion of the queerness and madness of the Britisher seven timea stronger tban before.

The people of Melbourne are at last becoming alive to the amount of blackguardism that prevails among the exponents of the much-vaunted Victorian game. The following, which is by the Melbourne correspondent of the Daily Times, forcibly explains the situation : — News was received here a few days ago of a diagraceful/racos upon the football field in Tasmania, where high words and blows were exchanged between a Melbourne player and the umpire for the opposing team. This ia nothing at all surprising, but it provokes me to say a fewwords about football and the scourge into which it has developed in Melbourne. Ten years ago the Victorian game was a keenly relished sport, and was pursued as a sport ought to be. There were a few clubs, the personnel of which was generally good, and the public at large took a legitimate amount of interest in the game. Today the footbaHer is not what he was. He is for the most parb a roaring rowdy with some of the worst elements of the London rough and the colonial larrikin in bis composition ; — unhappily, moreover, he is in overwhelming numbers, and his iron heel is upon the neck of his fellow citizens. This iB in no sense an exaggeration. It is not too much to Bay that in the whole of Melbourne scarcely a handful of gentlemen could ba found who now play football. Yet football, and nothing else, is the one staple of conversation, the one focus of attraction for the great mass of people in these winter months. Melbourne distributes itself over the various grounds upon a Saturday afternoon, an enormous^amouat of betting takea

place upon the club matches, urchins and greyheaded men are alike ready to take or givo the odds, and the grounds are a seething tumult of excitement and foul language. Continually magistrates remark that the language upon the football field is " not what it should be." No, it certainly is not — not quite. The fact is that football here has been degraded from a pastime into a profession. All the ciub matches in which, much interest is taken are simply huge gate money concerns. The most prominent players are fellows who will hang about the ground all the week training for the one occupation of their lives, and get, perhaps, a couple of guineas for playing for their clubs on a Saturday. And singular to say the great majority of the grounds on which these club matches are played and admission charged for are actually public reserves, and the people are illegally week after week deprived of their right of access to them. Why, is this tolerated, it may be asked. Well, as regards municipalities and the general Legislature it must not be forgotten that there has come to be a solid football vote which has to be pretty carefully looked after by candidates, such is the great number of votaries of the game. When the tyranny becomes absolutely unendurable, as it very nearly is, perhaps some concerted effort will be made by the Melbourne people to release themselves from the thraldom in which they are held by « fearful football."

The first of the trial matches arranged by the Otago Rugby Football Union in anticipation of forthcoming important fixtures, were held on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday. The weather being delightful, the attendance was large, and included a number of ladies. Two matches were played, the first between the C team (Blues) and the D team (Colours) being started about 2 o'clock. Messrs Shepara, West, and Wedderspoon controlled the game, which was closely watched by the Match Committee (Messrs Cargill, Morrison, and Marchbanks) who were on the ground. Three or four members j of the teams, as chosen, were absent, and both sides played a forward short. Macdonald (Pirates) played instead of Baker on the Blues' j side, and Fitchett (University) filled the place of Mill on the Colours' side. For the first 20 minutes or so the Colours had the Blues ] penned in their quarters, and M'Farlane (Zin-gari-Richmond) made several runs, and looked like scoring, but found Thompson's collaring to be too good for him. Among the forwards, Miller, Conolly (Oamaru Athletics), and Esquilant played in a determined manner for the Colours, and they received efficient support behind the scrum frsm Oran, L*ng, and Grenfell. The latter, who is an Oamaru player, filled the position of full back and proved to be an excellent kick, one " pot" shot of his from about the centre of the field going dangerously close to Blues' goal. At last the Blues rallied and carried the ball to the other end of the ground* Winthrop forced the Colours down with a long kick, and Bhortly afterwards, the pressure being maintained, Armit got a try which Macdonald was unable to enhance. There was no other score in the first spell, though Thompson made a couple of fine runs into the Colours' quarters. The second spell was restricted to half an honr and was only productive of a try which, after some good passing, Weitzel obtained for the Colours. The kick at goal was taken by Bsquilant, but was charged down. In this spell Lang and Beadle both played rattling games for the Colours, and Thompson was the best back on the opposite forwards. M'Laughlin, Armit, Wright, J. M'Farlane, and Millar were the best forwards, the others being much at sea. Immediately on the conclusion of the abovementioned match, the A and B teams came out on the field, their composition being : — A TEAM (Blue).- Full back, Claffey; three-quarter backs— Thomas, Downes (captain), Turnbull; half backs — Rrstieaux, Crawford; forwards — Sonntag, Allan, Matheson, Montgomery, C Beck, Millar, C Morris, KaUinshaw, J Torrance. B Team (Colours).— Full back, Held ; three-quarter backs— Davie, Elder, Noel; half backs -M'lntyre, Stevenson; forwards— A Gibson (captain), W Gibson, W M'Farlane, 3 Stephenson, Tattersall, Isaacs, J Duncan, A Morris, D Torrance. Downes set the ball in motion, and A. W. Morris headed a rash for the Colours into the opponents' quarters, but Crawford, Rallinshaw, and Montgomery led the way back, the Colours only averting a score by the ball being kicked into touch-in-goal. After the kick out, Davie made a couple of capital runs, and his efforts were supplemented by a fiDe passing run between A. Gibson, Morris, and Stephenson, which would in all probability have eventuated in a try, had Stephenson passed in his turn. M'lntyre, Elder, and Davie effected an excellent piece of passing on behalf of the Colours, which brought the play to the opposite end of the ground, where Thomas relieved his lines by a dashing run. A brilliant passing run, in which Downea and Turnbull were the actors, carried the ball up to the Colours' lines, and Restieaux got over the , line. The kick at goal, which was entrusted to Restieaux, was resultless. After the kick-out Isaacs, A. Morris, Stephenson, and Davie (Colours), Downes and Thomas (Blues) were most conspicuous, until Montgomery and Rallinshaw carried the ball again across the Colours' line, the latter scoring. Restieaux had no difficulty in registering a goal. From this point until the end of the match the play was of an unusually brilliant nature. The passing on both sides was a feature of the game, and the play was exceedingly fast. To describe it in detail would require more space than is available, and the most meagre outline is all that is possible. With four points against them, the Colours put forward their best endeavours, and a try was soon gained for them by Noel, who gathering up full speed in a few strides was only partially stopped by Turnbull and dodging Claffey, touched down beside the posts. D Torrance enhanced the score. After Borne rattling play in which the Morris brothers, Isaacs, Crawford, Downes, aud Stephenson showed up conspicuously, the latter by a pass enabled Tatteraall to gain a second try for the Colours, which D. Torrance converted. When half-time was called the score stood : Colours, 6 points ; Blues, 4 points. In the second spell an alteration was made in the personnel of the Blues' team, Grenfell taking the place of Claffey as fullback. After some give and take play the Colours rushed the ball over the Blues' line, and Stephenson got a try, which Elder was unable to convert. The attack on the Blues' citadel was renewed with vigour, and A. Morris, whose play was brilliant in the extreme, bo that his place in the representative team must be a certainty, obtained another try ; but D. Torrance failed with the kick. Only a short interval elapsed before A Morris was again over the j Blues' line, and this time Torrance registered a ! goal, making the score: Colours, 11 points; Blues, 4 points. After the resumption of play the Colours' quarters were the scene of operations, and Downes, getting possession of the ball dropped a splendid goal, although he had a couple of men on top of him. Nothing daunted, the Colours returned to the attack, and shortly a loud burst of cheering proclaimed that A. Morris was again over the Blues' line. Torrance once more registered the major points. "No side" was by this time close at hand, but one of tlie finest exhibitions of passing of the afternoon i was enacted before the game came to a close. The participators in thia were W. Gibson, Duncan,' 1 and Stephenson, and the result was that the last mentioned player got another try> which

Torrance failed to convert— a poster being kicked by him. The referee's whistle shortly afterwards sounded the conclusion of as magnificent an exposition of the grand old Rugby game as has ever been seen in Dunedin — the Colours winning by 15 points to 7. All the players acquitted themselves admirably, but Arthur Morris, Stephenson, Tattersall, Arthur Gibson, D. Torrance, Isaacs, Montgomery, and C. Morris stand out prominently among the forwards, while Downes, Thomas, Turnbull, Crawford, Davie, Noel, and Reid did excellent work behind the scram.

The following teams have been chosen to play in the trial match, to be held on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday next :—

A team (Blue*). -Full back, Thomas; threequarter backs— Lynch, Downes, Davie; half backs, Kestieaux, M'lntyre ; forwards — A Gibson (captain), A Morris, Tatfceraall, D Torrance, Sfcephenson, Montgomery, Matheson, M'Farlane, Hunter. B team (Colours).— Full back, Eeid ; three-quarter backs— Noel, Turnbull, Elder; half baoke— Oran, Crawford; forwards— lsaacs (captain), W Gibson, Ballinshaw, Sonntag, Duncan, Allan, A Millar, J Torranee, 0 Morris, Biquilftnt, Wright. Reserves — M'Kinlay (forward), W Thompson (back).

The Port Chalmers First met a mixed team of the Dunedin Club on Saturday, on the former's ground. The game was a most enjoyable one, and when time was called the Port were victors by 4 points to wh Fulton, Harvey and Mill (backs), and Power, Mitchell, aud Turton (forwards), played best for the Dunedin. The Port team played a splendid combined game. Stewart and Kydd must be mentioned for their fast following up and dribbling.

The match Caversham First v. Kaikorai Second, played on the ground of the latter, resulted in a win for the Kaikorai, after a wellcontested game, by four points to nil. For the Kaikorai, Wingfield, Barr, Thomson, and Bain played a rattling forward game; and for the Caversham, Briggs, Hanniug, and Clarke played well. Amongst the backs, Campbell, M'Naught, and Rae (Kaikorai), Lang, Stevenson, and Clarke (Caveraham) showed up best. The match University Second v. Alhambra Second was played on the Union ground, and after a very even game, resulted in a win for the 'Varsity by one try to nil. A. M'llroy (full back) played splendidly for the winners, and was well seconded by Fitchett, Makgill, and Gregg For the Alhambra, Craws'haw, Robertson, Ross' and Paterson played well. '

The Union and Taieri Seconds met at Mosgiel, the game resulting in a win for the Union by 11 points to 2. Smeaton, Machie, and M'Donald of the backs, Mann and Gibson of the forwards, played about the best for the Taieri. For the Union, all the backs played splendidly, the running of G. Hutchinson and the defence play of Finnegan being especially noticeable, while Grieve did yeoman service among the forwards.

The Pirates Second defeated the Montecillo Second by 7 points (two goals and a try) to 1 point. All the Pirates' backs played well, their passing and combined play being especially good. The forwards also played smartly, Farquharson and Howlison in the scrum, and M'Beath, Mathewson, and Esther in the open, being most prominent. Among the Montecillos, Parsons Stevenson, Harris, Galloway, Coughlan, M'Nab, and Sanderssn were conspicuous.

The match Ravensbourne v. Zingari-Rich-mond Second resulted in a draw, each scoring a goal. T. Edwards, M'Arthur, Waters, and Fordyce played well for the Zingari; and for the Ravensbourne, Burke, Mosely, Gillanders, and Webber did good work. Belraont beat Carlton after a hard fought game by one point to nil. Union Third v. High School Second resulted in win for the School by two tries to nil. A Christchurch telegram states that the matches for the senior championship were continued on Saturday. East ChrisGchurch and Canterbury College played a very even game, which ended in a draw — a goal and a try each. East Christchurch would have won the game, but for the spectator nuisance, the ball touching an onlooker just before Bates crossed, not an opponent being near him. Merivale and Sydenham also played a draw — a goal and a try each. Merivale led by a point up to within five minutes of time. Christchurch easily defeated Addington by two goals and three tries to a goal. Olub matches will not be resumed until August 24. The match Christchurch v. Addington was won

The exhibition match under the Association rules played at North-Bast Valley on Saturday did not prove such a splendid exposition of the game as that which took place on the same ground three weeks before, but there were nevertheless some notable instances of good individual play. The match resulted in a win for the Colours by four goals to three. Mr Buchanan umpired in the most satisfactory manner. For the winners Morris (in goal), Munro, Salmond, and D. M'Millan (back), Browning, Stevenson, Jamieson, and Duncan (forward) were best ; whilst for the Blues, Walker (in goal), J. Morris and Warden (back), Cleland, Carver, G. M'Millan, and P. Ross (forward) played well.