NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 31

NOTES BY FORWARD.

I regret to have to record the death of D, B. Thomson, who was for some years a prominent member of the Kaikorai Football Club. He was, when the club attained the premiership, one of the back division of the first fifteen, and though he never looked strong— having all the appearances of being within the clutches of the malady which carried him off— he was a useful performer. The relatives of the deceased will have the sympathy of the football community in the bereavement which they have sustained.

It is said that the Masterton F.C. are arranging to send a team to Dunedin early in the season, probably at Easter. It is anticipated that a thoroughly representative team will be able to make the journey. J. H. Owen, the ex-High School and Otago representative player, who has been in Dunedin lately, talks in high terms of the play of the Masterton Club.

The annual meeting of tho Invercargill Pirates Football Club was held on Thursday night, and was well attended. The report showed that the first fifteen were second for the premiership, the second took the junior premiership, and the third fifteen had not been beaten last season. The following were elected to fill the most important offices .—Captain, Mr N. M'Robie ; vice-captain, Mr V. Ekensteen ; hon, treasurer, Mr A. Porter ; hon. secretary, Mr J. Taylor ; match committee — Messrs H. Rodger?, D. Mentiplay, and N. M'Robie; delegates to the S.R.F.U., Messrs Jules Tapper and J. Taylor. It was proposed to send a team to Dunedin at Easter to play the Kaikorai Club, and the opening of the season was ijxedfor the 9th of March.

The first international contest of the season in Great Britain was decided at Blackheath dn | January 2, when England played and defeated Wales. The game (says the Athletic News) was a fast one from the start, the Welshmen, who] won the toss, having the benefit of a wind which was blowing from goal to goal. After Bancroft and Alderson had exchanged kicks twice over, Lockwood was twice called upon to stop the rushes of the red-jersied forwards, who had gone off at high pressure. No sooner had the play been carried back into Welsh territory than the visitors' backs put in some pretty passing ; but Hubbard was quitfe good enough to deal with Pearson before toe latter could get fairly into his stride. The Welsh forwards made another gra.nd rush, and Thomson, the first time he was called upon, was at fault, although it must be admitted that he recovered himself smartly, and did a fine $aye a moment later. A penalty kick to England caused the Welsh quarters to be invaded, and there was quite a nutter of excitement among the spectators when Emmott threw to Alderson, who in turn made a shocking bad pass to Lockwood, a fine opportunity thus being missed. After this incident the play was very even for several minutes, and another slovenly pass from the home captain went 'over Hubbard' s head. However, Alderson made up for this mistake by smartly getting hold of the ball, dropping well down the field, and collaring Bancroft before the latter could return. Emmott and Briggs also showed a nice bit of combination along the touch-line, and just as England were looking very dangerous, Gould intercepted a pass, and ran swiftly into English territory, where from a penalty kick Bancroft only missed dropping a goal by the merest shade. Pearson then made a couple of pretty runs, but the English forwards easily worked the ball out of danger. Emmott next got away from the scrummage, and feinted to pass three or four times, and. when almost at the Welsh line threw to Nicholl, who got over to score England's first try. Great cheering greeted this success, but the spectators must have been a little befogged when the usual kick at goal was not taken. It transpired, however, that | two Englishmen, in the excitement of the moment, handled the ball after the try had been obtained, aud so tho " place " was forfeited. A second penalty kick was accorded Wales, and Bancroft made another fine but unsuccessful attempt to lower the home goal. Capital play on both sides followed, Gould, Hubbard, M'Cutcheon, and Emmott all distinguishing themselves, and it was just upon the verge of half-time that another rush of theEnglishmen took the ball up to the Welsh lines, where, after Emmott, Alderson, and Pyke had tried to get over, Hubbard, who had backed up very well, made a successful dash and scored between the posts, for Lockwood to kick a goal. England thus held a seven points' lead when ends were changed.

The fun was faster than ever in the second half, but England for a few minutes were at a disadvantage in having to play without Hubhard, who was getting his head bandaged up, and when he came back he was not of very much use. Gould made two line runs down the field, and the Welsh forwards got the ball over the English lines, but Lockwood was too sharp for the invaders and sent the leather dead. Then a visit was paid to the other end of the ground, and Alderson, after some passing, got over, and, what is more, placed an excellent goal. A good run by Rowles and a dribble by Phillips threatened danger, but all efforts of the Welshmen to score were in vain, and in the last five minutes of the match Bromeb, tho Yorkshire captain, burst away from centre, and passing at the right moment to Evershed the speedy Burtonian effected one of his old patent runs over the line, and as another goal ■\v:ih kicked from the place the Englishmen left off winners by 17 points (three goals and a try) to nil. The teams weie :— England— W. B.