NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 7 April 1892, Page 31

NOTES BY FORWARD.

PL The annual meeting of the O.R.F.U. will be held on Wednesday night next. The match between the Masterton and Alhambra Clubs will be played on the Thursday following the Easter holidays. The Ravens Club has this ysar been merged in the Dunedin F.C. The Blues expect to be able to put three fifteens in the field.

Morton Driver returned to Dunedin from Wellington on Thursday last. The New Zealand Times remarks that he will be sadly missed this season by his late colleagues of the Wellington Club, with whom he was very popular. Mr J. Marchbanks, formerly of Dunedin, has been appointed one of the match committee of the Wellington Rugby Union for this season, and Mr G. Fache, formerly of the High School and Dunedin Clubs, is one of the management committee of the same union. The committee of the Wellington Rugby Union, in their annual report, expressed the ■opinion that some system of appointing referees for the principal matches should be adopted, as during the past season unnecessary delays were caused by the laxity of secretaries of clubs "in not arranging this [matter beforehand, the consequence being that on several occasions important games were finished in the dark, thereby making it dangerous to players and unsatisfactory both to players and officials. I doubt whether there is a wealthier football club in the colony than the Masterton Club, which threatens an invasion of the South Island during the Easter holidays. At the annual meeting of the club the treasurer reported receipts for the year amounting to L 52 8s 5d and expenditure L 45 6s Bd, leaving a credit balance of L 7 Is 9d. The assets amounted to L 364 7s 9d, and the liabilities to L 153 6s 6d, leaving a balance of L2ll Is 3d. During the year a dressing-shed had been built, which was insured for Lls.

At the annual meeting of the Lawrence Football Club the following officers were elected for the incoming year : — President, Mr F. Vivian ; vice-presidents — Messrs Fraer, A. Morris, W. O. Brown, C. Stokes, W. Hindmarsh, H. Darton, H. Leary, and Dr Nicol; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Robertson; management committee — Messrs J. Mackay, S. Mackay, H. Hart, J. Kelleher, and*T. Conn. It was agreed that the match committee consist of .the captain, <deputy-captain, president', secretary, and Mr H. Xeary. Mr J. Roscoe was appointed delegate to the O.R.F.U.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union Mr George Fisher, M.H.R., was elected president, Dr Newman and Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R.'s, and Messrs Bell and Gully vice-presidents, Mr D. Skinner treasurer, and Mr I. Hyams secretary. It was decided that in future the management committee shall consist of one delegate from each senior club and two delegates to represent junior clubs. The whole of the correspondence relating to the southern tour of the local men last season was to be laid before a meeting to be held last night. The Clutha Football Club at the annual meeting* appointed a committee to interview the employers of labour in the township, with the view of making some arrangement whereby members might be given opportunities of attending practice. Mr J. A.. Thomson, the ex-interprovincial three-quarter back in Wellington, speaking at the annual meeting of the Rugby Union there, referred to the matter of betting among players and said that if they wished to see the game prosper betting would have to be done away with altogether. He stated that in one representative match in which he had taken part a player on the opposing side had said that he had been offered LIOO if he could cross the Wellington line. He sincerely hoped that the delegates of the clubs would do their best amongst their fellow, clubmen 'to put this evil practice down. It is gratifying to notice the amount of attention that is being given to this subject, with the view of having betting on the game repressed. Mr E. D. Hoben, ' the secretary pro tern. of the New Zealand Rugby Union, attended •the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union to explain the steps taken in connection •with the proposal to form a colonial union, and the objects of the body. All the unions, he stated, with the exception of the Otago Union, were unanimously in favour of forming the union, [and all that was now needed was to discuss the constitution. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Hoben,' and the constitution of the proposed union was deferred for consideration until a future meeting. The annual meeting of the Clutha Football Club was held last week. The report submitted by the retiring committee was not a satisfactory one, showing that very little interest had been taken in the affairs of the club last season by the principal officers, while the majority of the practices were indifferently attended. The following offise-bearers were appointed; — President, Mr T, Mackenzie, M.H.R. ; vice-presidents — Messrs G. Bain, D. "X. Fleming, John Dunne, G. Lousley, and G. Thomson ; captain, Mr J. S. Montgomery ; deputy-captain, Mr R. B. Lattimore ; secretary and treasurer, Mr G. Matheson ; committee — Messrs Algie, Bett, Grigor, and Harper ; match committee, Messrs Montgomery, Matheson, and Lattimore ; delegate to the Rugby Union, Mr Montgomery. The following office-bearers for the West Taieri Club were elected at the annual meeting : — President, Mr W. Snow ; vice-presidents —Messrs S. E. Brent, J. A. Duff, J. White, G. Rutherford ; captain, Mr J. Methveu, deputycaptain, Mr D. White; secretary and treasurer, Mr D. Wyllie ; committee — Messrs M'Phail, P. K. Low, J. Grant and P. Bathgate.

A Christchurch telegram states that at a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union it was decided to test the feeling of the southern unions before taking any final steps in regard to becoming affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. At the annual meeting of the Wellington .Football Association, the Chairman (Mr C. H. Jzard) suggested that headmasters of all the schools in the North Island should be urged to adopt the game, as it was less dangerous than Eugby. Mr Day said that he had spoken on ■the subject to Mr Firth, of Wellington College, and that gentleman had stated that lie would not object to his boys entering for the Brown trophy competition. The Secretary explained that the game was making good progress amongst the Wanganui College boys. The Chairman thought that an effort should be made to introduce the game amongst the boys of the State schools. Information relative to the competition under

Association rules for the Brown . shield was asked for at the annual meeting of the Wellington Football Association, and the Secretary stated that he was awaiting a Communication from Auckland before arranging the fixtures. The competitions would in all probability be played in Christchurch. Mr Shields expressed a doubt whether Auckland would journey down to Christchurch to play for the shield. The Secretary said he was almost certain that a team from Auckland would take part. The Chairman considered it was a pity that the contests should not take "place in Wellington, as it was the centre of the colony. The Secretary explained that on account of the difficulty in charging for admission it was not desirable that the matches should take place in Wellington. The competitions for the shield ought to be commenced not later than the end of June or the beginning of July. Between 14*000 and 16,000 spectators assembled at Whalley Range, Manchester, on February 16 to witness the sixteenth encounter, under Rugby rules, between England and Ireland. There were no fewer than six changes from the English team that defeated Wales at Blackheath, while Ireland was represented by a strong team that up to a late period fully held its own. Indeed, it was not until the last 10 minutes that the English team gained a definite Advantage, and, finishing strongly, they gained a hard-earned victory by a goal and a try t» nothing. During the early part of the game the Irish forwards played splendidly together, and to a great extent broke down the combination of the home backs. In the first quarter of an hour the Irishmen were for several minutes right on to the English goal line, but failed to score, and then just half time Hubbard nearly scored for England, while Marsh actually crossed the Irish line, but lost the ball. At half time neither side had scored. After being pressed early in the second half, Ireland attacked vigorously, and obtained • a penalty kick in front of goal, but had the kick charged down. Then England pressed, but the visitors defended well, though their backs kicked rather badly. Again Ireland gained a good position but failed to maintain it. In the last 10 minutes the Englishmen came right away, and Evershed gained a try, from which Woods placed a goal. Just before the finish Percival also got in, and the game ended in a victory for England by a goal and a try to nothing. Of the 16 games played England has now won 14 to one by Ireland, <the remaining contests having been drawn.

On the same day the tenth meeting between representatives of Scotland v. Wales took place at Swansea. Both countries were represented at their best, a single alteration only having to be made in the teams originally selected. Land and Water reports that Leggatt having kicked off for Scotland, Bancroft returned nicely to half way, and several scrummages thereabouts occurred. The Scotsmen were the first to gain an advantage, as D'Arcy Anderson reached the Welsh twenty-five with a clever dodgy run. Here the home forwards showed great cleverness in wheeling the scrummages, but the rushes of their opponents kept the ball inside the Welsh half, and C. Orr, stealing away from a scrum, gained further ground for his side. After Pearson had stopped a dribble of the Scotch forwards, the ball was taken out to half way by a fine rush of the Welsh pack, and this advantage was increased by the brothers James at half back, the three-quarters being given several openings. Gould eventually got away to the Scotch twenty-five, where Pearson might have scored, but an awkward pass from the Welsh captain spoiled the opening. A bout of kicking then ensued between the respective three-quarters, in which the Welshmen had none the worst of it, and eventually gained a force down. Following the drop out by Scotland, the home team played up with great dash, and ere long Gould received a smart pass from D. James and ran near the Scotch line. From a high kick by the same player, Hannen got under the ball in its descent and scored a try for Wales, amidst great cheering. No goal was kicked, and the Scotch then went' off with a tremendous rush to their opponents' quarter flag. Play was soon taken close in, and C. Orr dashed across the line with a try for Scotland, but the point was not converted . With matters now even the visitors still pressed, and before half time Campbell had made a grand run— the best during the mateh — and< scored a second pointfortheweareisofthethistle. The place kick was successful, and Wales crossed over five points to the bad. On resuming after the interval, Goodhue and Dalgleish showed up prominently for Scotland, and a series of attacks were made on the Welsh goal. The defence offered was very sure, both packs of forwards playing with the greatest determination. Campbell was once more dangerous on the wing, but was tackled in time by Pearson and Conway Rees. Passing by the Welsh backs then transferred operations to the Scottish twenty-five, but the collaring was very sure, and nothing material resulted. Bancroft was next called upon to save on, more than one occasion, Scotland forcing their opponents to touch in defence. .Towards the close of the game the Welshmen rallied, and drove their opponents inch by inch inside their own half, where, try as the Scotchmen would, the' ball remained until "no side " was called. ' Scotland therefore at the finish had won a splendidly fought match by a goal and ' a try to a try, or 7 points to 2. The Kaikorai Football Club opened their season on Saturday afternoon at Kaikorai, when there was a good muster of players, although it was noticeable that some veterans were absent. Messrs Torrance and Laurenson selected teams to represent the President and Vice-president, which numbered about 16 a-side. Mr Wedderspoon (vice-president) kicked off, and the game for a time was very fast, Torrance and his men making determined rushes to cross their opponent's lines, but the back play of H. Wilkinson and Laurenson was rather too good for them. AH through the play was principally of a give-and-take nature. Some of the younger members showed splendid kicking powers, notably King, Armit, and Williamson, King playing a good full back game. Among the ohler players Torrance, Wilkinson, and M'Laren showed up well. Duncan has changed bis jplace from forward to half back, and played one of the finest half back games seen on the ground. The game resulted in a win for the President's side by 2 goals and 1 try to 1 goal and 2 tries, ~

The Union Club opened the season on Saturday with a match President v. Vice-president. The attendance of players was small, ouly 13 a-side being available, and of this number, it is worthy of mention, that only one of last year's First Fifteen men took part. This will probably militate to a certain extent against a strong combination being got together, but with the large number of rising players at their command the club should be able in the near future to place a formidable lot of men in the field. Now that these young players have taken command it is to be hoped that they will endeavour to initiate the scientific and dashing game that we are becoming so accustomed to witness in the football field in Dunedin. Mr J. H. Chapman (president of the club) kioked off, and after a rather uninteresting game victory rested with the President's side by 10 points to 8. The Pirates Club opened their season on

Saturday afternoon on the Carisbrook ground, a team of Colours, numbering fifteen, playing All-comers. Mr Hosking, president of the club, kicked off at half-past 3, and tho play at once became fast. Iv the first spell Hume and Wales, the former after a splendid run, obtained tries for the Blacks, and Drabble converted both, while Hislop also secured a try for the Blacks. In the second spell the Blacks were considerably reinforced, but the game still went against them, as Milne secured two tries and Wales one for the Colours, aud Wales and Morris each placed a goal, while Keam and Kirkcaldy scored for the Blacks, the tries not, however, being improved. The Colours thus won by 22 points to 6 — under the new system of scoring. Some fine play was shown during the game, especially in the forward department, in which Priest, Drabble, M'Queen, Cassells, M'Donald, and Holmes, in addition to those already mentioned, were particularly prominent. Williams, at centre three-quarter back, played a dashing game, but was inclined to hang too long on to the ball ; Cran and Turner worked capitally together at half back ; and Smith and Black also did good service in the back division. The Dunedin Club opened the season with the match President v. Vice-president -on Saturday afternoon, under very favourable circumstances. The ground was in first-class order, and there was a large attendance of both old and new members. A fast fgame was played, members generally showing very good form, and some of the new ones great promise. The game finally ended in a victory for the Vicepresident's side by 11 points to 4.

The Warehousemen played a practice match at Montecillo, sides being chosen by the captain and deputy-captain, the former winning by 12 points to 5. For the captain's side tries were obtained by Kerr, Lambert, and M'Kay. Hutchiuson converted two of them into goals, and Haydon one ; and Falconer potted a neat goal. For the losers, G. Smyth (2) and M'Phee secured tries, Kinvig only being successful with one,? of the kicks at goal. A marked improvement on the previous Saturday's play was noticeable. The backs on both sides indulged in some very good passing, and the forwards to a man worked well.

The Zingari-Richmond Club played a practice match, Blues v. Colours, at Montecillo on Saturday, and after a good game the Blues won by 5 points (one goal and two tries) to 4 points (one goal and one try). The game throughout was very fast. Dunn, M'Farlane, M'Arthur, and Austin played well for the Blues, while Campbell, Fordyce, Delahunty, and Garside played well for the losers. The members should pay a little more attention to the passing game, as the display in this department was rather weak on several occasions on Saturday.

The Roslyn Association Football Club played their opening match, President v. Vice-presi-dent, on Saturday, at Bishopscourb. There was a good attendance of players, and after an interesting game the president's side won by five goals to four.