FOOTBALL. NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 32

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FORWARD.

The International Rugby Board have decided that a player having assisted one country is not eligible to assist another country.

Several notices of motion were given for the March meeting of the English Rugby Union of proposed amendments in the laws of the game. There were no fewer than five notices respecting the system of scoring, viz :— That a try should equal three points (two notices of motion being to that effect) ; that a penalty goal should eqnal two points, a try three points, a goal from a try five points, |and any other goal four points ; that a try should equal three points, a penalty goal three points, a goal from a try five points, and a dropped goal four points,* and that a dropped goal should count two points. A correspondent, signing himself " An ExRepresentative," writes in the Napier Telegraph of the 28lh ult. :— " There should be a strong protest from Hawke's Bay against the proposed boycotting of the Otago and Canterbury footballers on the part of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Already players here consider it an assumption for the N.Z.R.U. to call the proposed team for Australia a 'New Zealand representative team,' seeing that it will be, under present circumstances, strictly a North Island fifteen. The attempt to debar affiliated unions from playing unions not affiliated is a piece of impertinence. Otago is the father of football in the colony, and next to that province Canterbury must surely be placed, and yet a stupid resolution will have the effect of preventing these unions from leaving their own provinces. The idea of centralism is all very well as far as Wellington is concerned, but up to the present the N.Z.R.U. need not have existed for all the use it has been to football. The few appeals it has decided could easily have been settled by the local unions. Hawke's Bay players have learned pretty well all they know from the visits of the South Island representatives, and to countenance a proposition which would prevent them meeting none other than North Island teams would be the height of absurdity. I admit the secretary of the N.Z.R.U. ha 3 played his cards well, and his trump card is the present proposition ; but I mistake very much the feeling of players in this district if they instruct their delegates to agree to Buch a ridiculous motion."

In the Senior championship matches at Christchurch on Saturday the Christchurch and Canterbury College clubs had an even game at Lansaster Park, which the latter succeeded in pulling off by 10 points to 7 by superior placekickiog. Kaiapoi disappointed its supporters by s lecumbing to Linwood to the extent of 7 points ti nothing. At Sydenham, though Merivale defeated the suburban team by the large margin of 15 points to nothing, the game was far from one-sided, the combination and power of attack of the Merivale backs largely accounting for their score. Lockwood's unfortunate absence from the field in the match between England and Scotland was generally regretted, but by no one, imagines the Athletic News, more than by A. E. Stoddart, who, on being removed from wing to centre three-quarter, proved a dismal failure. This was, in all probability, Stodda't's last international, and it is greatly to be regretted that a brilliant football career should have ended so disastrously. By the way, Stoddart has only been England's captain on three occasions, and each time England has lost. At a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union on Tuesday night a letter was read from the South Canterbury Union stating that it had affiliated with the New Zealand Rugby Union, and therefore could not say whether a team would be sent to Christchurch until the question of playing unaffiliated unions had been decided by the New Zealand Union. Two games were played on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon. In the earlier one the High School Fifteen opposed and defeated a scratch team, though their victory was not a runaway one. The School players shaped in a way that showed they will be formidable opponents for many of the junior teams this season. A game was subsequently played between two teams of the Pirates Club, the Blacks defeating the Colours by two goals and a try to a goal. Several prominent players were unavoidably absent, and the exhibition of football was not so satisfactory as the executive could have wished for, but several of those who took part in the game displayed capital form, and all are getting into good condition. The Dunedin Club played a match (Captain v. Deputy-captain) on the Caledonian ground. After a fairly fast game victory declared itself for the latter's side by 23 points (three goals and four tries) to 16 points (two goals and three tries). In the first spell the Captain's side, playing with the wind, scored 7 points, while the Deputy-captain's side scored 4 points. In the second spell the game was much faster and the collaring was good, though the passing at certain stages of the game was reckless. The scores for the second spell read—Deputycaptain's, 19 points ; Captain's, 9 points. The Union Club's match was well attended, the Fifteen being opposed by some 20 players. The play, on the whole, was satisfactory, though at times the passing of the Fifteen was anything but what it should have been, the ball, instead of being transferred with smartness and accuracy, being rolled along the ground. The Fifteen's forwards were more than a match for their more numerous opponents, though some of them should get out of the bad habit of kicking too hard when dribbling. The result of the game was a win for the Fifteen by 28 points to 7, tries being obtained by W. Harris, M 'Donald, Christopher, Minn, W. Beadle, Smith (2), and Barr (2), while Jenkins scored twice for the Club.

The Alhambra Club held a practice game at Opoho on Saturday, sides being chosen by Esquilant and M'Laren. There was a fair muster of players, and after a well-contested game victory rested with M'Laren's team by 24 points to 18. Tries were obtained by Elder (3), Restieaux (2), Aitken (2), Esquilant, Ternent, Crawshaw, Carrie, and M'Laren; while Restieaux registered 4 goals, Ross 2, and T. Downes 1. The game at times waß interesting and some really fine play was shown. The Zingari- Richmond practice match resulted in a win for the Probable team by 22 points (two goals six tries) to one try. The Kaikorai Probable Fifteen beat the Club (numbering about 20) by four goals and three tries to two tries. The game was even during the first spell, but in the second half the Fifteen ran over their opponents. Tries for the winners were scored by Cunningham, W. Rae, WiHgfield, Duncan, Armit, J. Torrance, and H Wilkinson; and H. Wilkinson and King placed two goals each. The two tries for the Club were secured by W. Rae. The University Club held their second practice at Tahuna Park on Saturday, when there was a very fair attendance of members. Sides were chosen by Platts and Ross, and the game resulted in a draw— each side scormg 7 points. Very few of last year's fifteen have returned to the club, which must this year depend greatly for success on the hard work and interest of new students,

The Pacific Club's match Probable Fifteen v. the Club resulted, after a very interesting game, in favour of the Fifteen by two goals and two tries to two goals. The passing of the backs was a prominent feature of the game. The forwards also played a very fast dribbling game.

The Caversham played a Probable Fifteen against All-comers, resulting in a win for the Probable Fifteen by 22 points to 2. W. Faulks, J. Bryant, V. Cavanagh, Rowley (2), and M'Carthy were the most conspicuous of the players.

The Melrose played a practice match on Saturday between teams representing Blues and Colours, which, after a well contested game, ended in a draw, each side securing 6 points.

The Roslyn Association Club played a scratch match. Sides were chosen by the Captain and Deputy-captain, and the game resulted in a win for the latter's side by five goals to three. The play as a whole was well up to the mark, but too much hard kicking was indulged in, especially by some of the younger players, who should leain to play the passing game. The Northern Association Football Club played a match on Saturday, Colours v. Red, at Bagley's paddock. The result being a win for the Reds by two goals to one. The pleasure of the game was marred considerably by the hard kicking indulged in by many of the players. The Rangers played a scratch match, Probable v. Possibles, the former winning by five goals to four. Excellent form was shown on both sides, the combination at times being first-class.