NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1973, 12 September 1889, Page 26

NOTES BY FORWARD.

After all J. Taiaroa and Williams, who had been chosen to play half back for Hawke's Bay against Auckland, did not take part in the game, and their places in the team were taken by Friday and Wi Dunoan. The Hawke's Bay team as a matter of fact only included three players who did not' come South to do duty for their union, and of these, two (Taiaroa and Taare) were members of the Native team. The information supplied by the Press Association was most vague respecting the decision of the Wellington Rugby Union upon the suspension of-W. Wynyard and R. Taiaroa by the Canterbury Union for disputing the deoision of the referee (Rev. J, Hoataon) in the Canterbury-Native matoh. From the Wellington papers I see that the meeting was attended by five delegates, and that on the motion of the chairman, seconded by the secretary, it was decided that while sympathising to the fullest extent with the Canterbury Union in its endeavours to uphold the authority of the referee, the committee, without direct authority from the English Rugby Union, did not think it waa desirable to take any action in the matter. It is not quite dear what authority was desired from the English Rugby Union, but perhaps I can point to a powerful reason why the Wellington Union did not endorse tbo suspension in the same way as was done by the Otago Union. About a week before this particular meeting of the Wellington Union was held the name of Taiatoa waa added to the list of players who were to remain in training for forthcoming interprovinoial matches, bo that evidently that player is taking up his residence in Wellington, and the authorities desire to avail themselves of his services. Of course Wynyard alone could not be suspended, and consequently this side-wind was adopted to relieve tha union from the necessity of suspending both men. This is only conjecture on my part, but it is, I think it will be admitted, reasonable conjecture. The matter looks suspicious, anyhow.

Last week I made reference to the effort that is being made, by holding an entertainment, to supplement the funds of the Alhambra Club's accident fund, upon which heavy calls have bgen made this year, Sinoe my notes have appeared, I have heard it suggested that the provident scheme should be extended so* as to embrace all the clubs within the jurisdiction of tha Bugby Union. The matter certainly seems one that should be taken up by the union. A few footballers take the precaution every season of insuring themselves against accident, but the premiums of £1 10s and £2 are so high — and I hear that they will be raised next year— that the proportion of players who avail themselves of the advantages that are thus offered is quite insignificant. One of the suggestions that I have heard is that every player should pay a small contribution annually into a provident fund, to be managed by the Rugby Union, and the suggestion appears to be perfectly praoticabk. Arrangements might readily be made during the summer for having such a scheme in operation during next season, A start might even be made this year by levying a call of, say, Is per head on the members of our football clubs, so as to put the scheme in funds,

The team of Auckland footballers arrived in Dunedin by the steamer Penguin about 2 o'clock on Saturday mrrning, but did not leave the steamer till between 7 and 8 o'clock, when they went to the City Hotel. They were invited by the Otago Rngby Football Union to go for a trip down the harbour during the day and visit the heads, but the invitation was declined with thanks, the team alleging that they had had enough of the sea tor one day. In the forenoon the Carisbrook ground was visited, and some kicking, running, and passing practice was indulged in. The form that was displayed by the team very favourably impressed tha onlookers. In the afternoon the Auoklanders were interested spectators of the trial match, such as it was, and in the evening they visited the Palace Rink. On Sunday morning they were called out at 6.30 for walking exercise, and after breakfatt they were driven out to Blueakin, a return being made in the evening. They were driven in a drag to the Carisbrook ground on Monday morning and had a hard practice for an hour or so. They afterwards were taken in the steamer Plucky for a trip to the heads. The voyage down the harbour was an enjoyable one, and upon the heads being reached those who made the trip disembarked and inspected the mole. Upon the return journey of the Plucky the following toasts were honoured : — " The Auckland Team," proposed by Mr J. H. Morrison, and acknowledged by Mr Wells ; " The Ofcago Rugby Football Union," proposed by Mr Wells, and acknowledged by Dr Coughtrey ; " The Harbour Board," proposed by Mr R. Chisholm ; " Tho Press," proposed by Mr F. D. Clayton, and acknowledged by representatives of the Auckland and Dunedin papers. The Rattray street wharf was reached shortly after 6 o'clock. In the evening the visitors were the guests of the Otago Rugby Union at the performance by Mr Bland Holt's company of the drama " New Babylon." They were also invited to the Savage Club.

Betting, professionalism, and rowdyism at football matches in Victoria and South Australia are becoming very serious matters and are attracting considerable attention. The leading clubs in Melbourne have a trainer to attend to their teams, and the men are treated more after J;he style of racehorses or professional pedestrians th&n players engaged in a friendly game, each player being rubbed down and his body oiled by the trainer before the game commences. The latest cagß of rowdiness occurred at Adelaide in the match between Norwoods and Port Adelaide which resulted in a drawthree goals each. It was a terribly rough game, three players being injured and one knocked insensible. Fifteen thousand people were present, and the ground was rushed by roughs, and at the conclusion of the game there were several free fights. Some of the females present fainted, and the secretary of the Port Adelaide Club dropped insensible through excitement. The match Palmerston First v. Hampden First, played at Palmerston on Saturday last, resulted in rather an easy win for the Palinerston team by three goals and five tries (14 points) to nil. The game was entirely confined to Hampden's twenty-five, and in the first spell Hurndell, E. Goodwin, and A. Dreaver secured tries, from one of which a goal was kicked for Palmerston. In the second spell, with the wind against them, the Palmerston players made matters even livelier for their opponents, Bobs, Scott, Bruce, Goodwin, and Annan scoring tries in rapid succession. From two of these tries goals were kicked.

The match Civil Service v. Warehousemen was played at the Carisbrook ground on the sth mst n attracting a fair number of spectators. Civil Service (Colours) had ell the best of the first spell, and managed to keep the Blues (Warehousemen) continually on the defensive. Lynch, Noel, and Or Fox tried bard -to score, bat the good collaring of Harper,

Williams, Cantrell, and Stephenson prevented them. At the end of the spell the score stood: Colours, 2 points; Blue 3, nil. The second spell was productive of more combined play by the Blues forwards, and they eventually wore down the strong defence of the Colours — Jackman, Lynch, and Noel collaring splendidly. The Blues quickly ran up a substantial score, but gave no signs of giving up the attack, and soon disgusted the crack backs. The game ended with the ball on the Colours' line, and left the Warehousemen victors by 10 points to 3. Isaacs (2 tries), Montgomery (1 try), Lynch, Shepherd, and a Southland representative forward were the best of the Civil Service ; Mill (2 tries), R&llinshaw, Cantrell, Driver (1 each), and Power, Scott, and Harper played well for the Blues.

The annual match between representatives from the Colonial Bank and the Union Steam Ship Company was played at the Caledonian ground on Saturday. Mindful of their defeat last year, the Bank put a strong team in the field, possessing more weight and bettar form than the Red Fnnnelites. The game, which was very fast and exciting throughout, proved most interesting to the goodly number of spectators, including a fair proportion of tjie softer sex, who at times waxed quite enthusiastic in their partisanship. If the shedding of gore may be considered an evidence pf a superior type of play, this contest mast certainly be chronicled as the sanguinary match of the season. Most of the forwards on both sides presented the appearance of firstclass savages tatooed in crimson war paint, with an extra thick, fiery layer on the apex of the proboscis. Although the umpires had a lively time of it spinning round the field, there were surprisingly few infringements of the recognised rules. The game resulted in a win for the Bank by 3 points to 2. The match Pacific First v. Union Second, which was played on Tahuna Park, resnlted in a win for the Pacific, after a hard-fought game, by 3 points to nil. For the Union, Finegan, Grieve, Pollock, Robertson (2), and Gilfes played well, as did Sullivan, Butler, Brooks, Hurrell, Austin, and Gilchrist for the Pacific.

The Alhambra third fifteen, who have an unbeaten record, challenged the second fifteen of the club to a match, which was played at Opoho on Saturday, and defeated them by 6 points to 2 points. The match Ravensbourne v. Port Chalmers did not come off, owing to the Port team failing to put in an appearance. The return match between the Watchmakers and Jewellers was played on Saturday, and after a most enjoyable game, resulted in a win for the Watchmakers by three tries to one. Watson, Lawrenson, and Wishart scored for the Watchmakers, and Clarke for the Jewellers. After the match was over A. Hunter, captain of the winning team, was presented with a very handsome medal. A Christchurch telegram states that the picked football team consisting, with three exceptions of the men who beat Auckland on the 4th was defeated on Saturday by an improbable sixteen players by 7 points to 4 on Lancaster Park.

A Wellington telegram states that the return football match between Wellington and Wairarapa unions was played at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large number of spectators. The game was fast and interesting throughout, and it was only in the last few minutes thab the Wellington men secured the try which gave them the victory. In the first spell Wairarapa obtained 4 points to nit, and a few minutes after the game was resumed the score stood — Wairarapa, 10 points ; Wellington,- 4. From this out the visitors were entirely on the defensive, and when no side was called Wellington was 11 points to Wairarapa's 10. In th n 1-i-jS ru-tici W.iirarapa were victors by 5 points to 3 A friendly match under Association rules was played on Saturday at Sawyers' Bay between the Thistle Club (playing with 10 men) and 16 citizens, and resulted in a win for the club by two goals to one. M'Lachlan, for the citizens, won the toss. The Thistle team kicked off, and pressed the citizens very hard for the first quarter of an hour, scoring one goal, kicked by Groves. After this the play was very fast and even, and just . before half time A. Davidson scored a goal for the citizens. The game was much slower for some time in the second spell, but gradually got faster, and the Thistle by good play managed to get another goal, kicked by G. W. Ross. In the evening most of the players and some of their friends met at Waters' Port Chalmers Hotel, and after doing ample justice to an excellent supper they repaired to a room and spent a very enjoyable evening.