NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 30

NOTES BY FORWARD.

The team of town players to visit the country districts will leave Dunedin on September 22, and return on October 1. So it is at present arranged. Messrs W. Wyinks and F. J. Stilling, of the Committee of the 0.R.F.U., will probably accompany the team as managers.

" Stoucher " Matheson was chosen as one of the forwards in the Canterbury team for the tour of the North Island, subject, the official list stated, to a satisfactory explanation being given of his absence from the final trial match. Evidently the explanation was not satisfactory, as after Matheson had been " interviewed " by the committee his name was taken off, ana Stokes included. A Christchurch writer says on the subject : — " I should very much have liked Matheson in the team, as he is a splendid Bcrummager and hard-working forward, and has been a tower of strength to his clvb — the Merivale — this season, but I have it on the best authority that he could have been present to play on Saturday, so therefore the committee are to be commended in taking his name off seeing he was absent. It will be a lesson to some who have done the same thing in the past. Too much 'travelling on reputation' has been done here."

For the second year in succession the Kaikorai club have a record for the season which is only second to that of the Alhambra, but this year their record is comparatively much better than last year's was, and it was only necessary for them to have won, instead of drawn, their first match with the Zingari-Richmond club to have had as successful a season in inter-club matches aB the Alhambra have enjoyed. From the summary appended it will be seen that the club have played 12 matches, of which 10 were gained, one being lost and one drawn, and that they scored 112 points to 21 obtained against them :—: —

April IG, v. Pirates (Invercargill).— Won ; 10 tries (20 points) to nil. May_l4, v. Union.— Won ; four tries (S points) to nil.

May 21, v. Alhambra.— Lost ; two goals (8 points) to two goals one try (12 points). May 28, v. Pirates. — Won ; one goal one try (7 points to one goal (5 points). June 4, v. Dunedin. — Won ; two goals three tries (16 points) to nil. June 11, v. University. — Won ; two goals two tries (12 points) to nil. June 18, v. Zingari-Richmond.— Drawn ; no score.

June 25, v. Alhambra.— Won ; two goals (S points) to nil. July 9, v. Taieri. — Won ; three tries (G points) to nil.

July 11), v. Pirates. — Won ; two goals one try (11 points) to one goal (4 points). July 30, v. Dunedin. — Won ; one goal three tries (11 points) to nil. August 6, v. Zingari-Richmond.— Won ; one goal (5 points) to nil.

The club's strength has been less in the forward than in the back division, where T. King, Laurenson, Richardson, and Davis, and in some matches Caradus and W. King, have constituted a strong combination. Laurenson, in particular, has shown admirable form during the season, Richardson has been always reliable, and young King has been so safe as full back that he must stand a good show of obtaining interprovincial honours. Duncan has also been tried behind the scrum, but excepting in the return match with the Alhambra when, playing half back, he smothered the passing of the opposing team, he was never so successful as in the forward ranks, where he has played some brilliant games. After him M'Laren has been about the most consistent forward. D. Torranco has handled the team with judgment, and J. Torrance is a hard-working forward, but inclined to lose his head.

A correspondent supplies the Sydney Mail with a new phrase to describe the kicking of a goal. It is "navigating the leather between the props." " Poster," in the Sporting Review, suggests the addition to the Rugby code of the following rule: — "At the commencement of the second spell either side may call for a new ball."

The team chosen to represent Wellington against Canterbury consists of : — Backs — Davidsou, Ellison, Gage, Baker, Pudney, Wynyard ; forwards — Stuart, White, Lee, Oliphant, Cockroft, M'Lean, Milne, J. Campbell, Bishop. Of these, eight represent the Poneke, three the Athletics, two the Petone, and two the Wellington Club-

That football may claim to be regarded in the full light of a national pastime, at least in Victoria, may (the Leader says) easily be shown by a few simple and perhaps interesting statistics. The game is played in Melbourne and suburbs by 124 recognised clubs, consisting of 13 seniors, 20 first rate juniors, 22 second rate, 39 third rate, 3 second rate unassociated clubs, 12 third rate, and 15 fourth rate. Several of these clubs send out first and second twenties every Saturday, and it may be estimated that, without counting schools and many minor unregistered clubs which exist, there must be over 3000 people engaged in playing football within the suburban radius every Saturday afternoon, and, roughly averaged, it may be accepted that the matches played attract an aggregate of something like 50,000 spectators, which is equal to a tenth of the entire population of the area represented. This, be it remembered, includes only Melbourne and suburbs, but further away in all directions the great winter game finds equal popularity.

The match Lawrence v. Milton was played at Milton on Thursday, and resulted in a win for Milton by a goal to a try. As the ground was rather wet the game was chiefly one of forwards, but it was very fast and evenly contested. Harrop scored a try in the first spell, mainly owing to a Milton player passing in his own twenty-five, but it was not enhanced. In the second spell T. Lynch, who maintained his reputation, scored a try for Milton, and taking the kick himself placed a goal. For most of this spell Milton had the best of the game, and their opponents had to force down repeatedly, aud it was only hard kicking which prevented the score being added to. The pick of the Lawrence forwards were Kelleher, Conn, Watt, M'Kay, and Harrop ; Roscoe, Curtain, Tyson, and Robertson showing up most among the backs. The Toko forwards all played well, the best being W. M'Donald and Tansley, while Lynch and T. and C. Grant were the pick of the backs.

At Blenheim the interprovincial match between Marlborough and Nelson took place on Saturday afternoon, and after a very fast and exciting game resulted in a win for Marlborongh by two tries to nil. A large concourse of spectators were present. In the match North Dunedin v. Golden Star, the latter won by 7 points (one goal and a try) to 5 points (one goal). Shortly after the second spell commenced the North Dunedin team left the ground. The final trial match under Association rules Was played on tUe Reclaimed ground on Satur-

day. The ground, with the exception of a few mud holes, was in fair condition. There was a slight breeze blowing in a diagonal direction across the field. Moncrieff won the toss and elected to play with the wind, and D. M'Millan kicked off for the Blues. By some good combined play on the part of the Blues they soon obtained a corner-kick, which, however, had no result, and for a time they had to act on the defensive, but Walker and M'Millan, by a splendid piece of passing, soon relieved their side, and shortly afterwards D. M'Millau (for the Blues) had a shot at goal, but the ball went wide. This had the effect of rousing up the Colours, and for a time they made it warm for their opponents, but another combined rush of the Blues' forwards took the ball into the Colours' territory, andD. M'Millan scored. Shortly after this the Blues' forwards again invaded the Colours' goal, where D. M'Millan again succeeded in scoring. After the kick off some give-and-take play took place, but again the Blues' forwards after an excellent piece of passing took the ball into the Colours' territory, where D. M'Millan by a well-judged pass from Walker scored again. On resuming play the Colours, urged on by Moncrieff , made a determined effort to score, but the combined play of the Blues frustrated all their efforts ; and after some capital passing on the part of the latter, Walker by a pass from Sharpe was enabled to score another goal for his side, and half time was called shortly afterwards. After the kick off in the second spell, the Blues again invaded the Colours' goal, and by some good play on the part of D. M'Millan and Walker, Scofcfc headed a neat goal. Almost immediately after this D. M'Millan scored another goal for Iho Blues. After this the ball was sent up and down the field for some time, until the Colours dribbled it into their opponents' territory, but the good play of the Blues' backs sent it well down the field. Their forwards again got on a rush, and after some good play "on the part of Moncrieff, the ball accidentally glanced off Smith's head and shot through the goal, thus adding another point to the credit of the Blues. No further score was made, and time was called shortly afterwards, the Blues winning by 7 goals to nil. The game throughout was very fast. The Blues' forwards played a magnificent game, their passing tactics completely eclipsing that of their opponents. Their half backs, especially Salmond and M'Leod, played well. M'Lauchlan's play was decidedly better than that of the previous Saturday, but at times he showed an inclination to dribble instead of passing. The full backs, especially G. M'Millan, did some very useful kicking. Garden, in goal, did not have much to do. It seems a pity he was not transferred to the Colours' side, which would certainly have given him some work to do. The Colours, especially Moncrieff, M'Donald, 'Harraway, aud Gillespie, played well. Mr Hunter had charge of the whistle, and gave every satisfaction. After the match the Selection Committee met and selected the following players to represent Otago in the matches for the Brown trophy, which are to be played at Christchurch on the 26th and 27th inst. :— Goal— Garden ; backs— G. M'Millan, O. Campbell ; half backs — M'Leod, M'Lauchlan, Salmond ; forwards — Scott and M'Donald (right), Walker and J. M'Millan (left), D. M'Millan (centre) ; reserve O'Connor. G. M'Millan was chosen captain.