NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 32

NOTES BY FORWARD.

A. S. Wedderspoon, whose services to the Kaikorni Club both on. and off the field have been of the most valuable description, is being removed to Timara. At the present time, when his experience and tact in business are ranch needed by the club through the Kaikorai Grouud Company in connection with the new ground, he will be greatly missed from Dunedin.

So far as the preliminary stage of the struggle for the championship amongst the Rugby football playing counties is concerned, very few games remain to be decided. Tnree days ago writes the English correspondent of the Sydney Mail the Midlands just managed to beat Surrey, despite some brilliant work by C. M. Wells, the famous Cambridge cricketer and international football player, and so the championship of the South-eastern division passed to the Midlands, first place having duriug the three previous years been gained by Surrey, Kent, and Middlesex respectively. On the following day Middlesex played Kent, but suffered defeat, and consequently the county, which a year ago, it was Loped, would oust Yorkshire from the proud position occupied by the shire of many acres, will have to play one of the newer counties for the right to compete with the leading team. Down in the fouth-west the issue rests between Devou and Somerset, who meet to-morrow ab Barustaple, whilst further north the atbempts to bring Lancashire and Cheshire together again have temporarily failed, and the po?sibility is thab the authorities will have to give first honours to Cheshire. Ib seems scarcely likely, however, that Devon, Cheshire, or the Midlands will have auy chance of success against Yorkshire.

The tarae authority says: — "Very little of importance has happened of late in the world of Association football, but the great clubs are steadily fulfilling their league programmes. Aslon Villa appear to be decidedly the strongest eltveu.in the country, for not only can they gain brilliant victories at home, bub they have overcome their old habit of going down when not encouraged by the euthiwasfcic cb.eer3 of their supporters at Terry Bar. Out of a lull list of 30 engagements Aston Villa have played 18, and won 11, drawn 4, and losb 3, giving bhem a record of 26 points. A few weeks ago other teams that had nob played as many matches as the Birmingham men had practically as good records, but now there is every reason to anticipate the success of the Aaton Villa in tho League championship. Their most formidable rivals ate Sheffield United aud Blackburn Rover?, the former of whom have only this season beeu admitted to a place in the competition. The latter, of course, are probably the most famous team in England, from their many triumphs iv the final stage of the struggle for the A-sociation Cup. While the Rovers are doing bo well, Preston North End, for the first time since the institution of the League, have to be content with a very humble position, their record including nine defeatSj aud only five wins."

A Wellington telegram, dated the Ist insb., says : — '• Intimation has been received here thab a sub-committee of the English Rugby Union called on Mr S. E. Sleigh, as representative of the Obago Union, to appear before them to give reasons why the Otago Union remained outside the New Zealand Rugby Union. The Canterbury's Union's delegate was also asked to attend, but did not do so. Mr Palliser, a3 representing the New Zealaud Union, was present by invitation. Mr Sleigh stated a number of objections, and charged the New Zealand Union with professionalism. These charges having been auswered by Mr Palliser, the committee resolved — 'That in their opinion the only reasonable objection Otago had to joining the New Zealand Union was that their representation on the committee of the New Zealand Union was nob a fair one ; and that if steps could be taken with a view of giving the large centres, such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, equal representation and those of other unions smaller representation, on tho lines of the English Union, bhe commibbee would take seriously into consideration the quett'on of a New Zealand team visiting England irrespective of Canterbury and Otago. The correspondence will be placed before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union."

Tho representatives of the North and South of England met at Manchester ou December 16bh. The weather was beautifully fine and the turf iv splendid order, bub the attendance fell far short of anticipation, nob more than 6000 spectators being present. Visitors had, however, the satisfaction of witnessing one of the Quest games ever played in the north, the interest in which was niaihtaiued from start to finish. The victory of the North by two goals aud two trie 3to three tries was as deserving as it was popular, their combination being much superior to that of the South, especially amongst the three' quarters. Dankin (Devonshire) waß the only one of the Southern quartet who was really brilliant, but ab half back Wells (Harlequines) gave an exposition which has seldom bi-en i quailed. Bryne (Mosele.y) proved a polished player of no mcau merit at hill back, and his selection for England was quite justified. The Southern forwards did not use their feet when the scrummage broke up like the Northerners, and the latter had a great advantage in those tactics.

Tne annual match under Rugby rules between Oxford and Cambridge Universities w^s played on December 13" b, and was won by the fi rmer by a try to nothing. Each university played four thre<j-qu'.rbtr»», but (says the Field) wi h vastly different results. Oiford had two htlf backs, who both proved adep 8 ab taking the greatest advantage of the healing-out tactic?, so frequently adopted by the Dark Blue forwards ; and they worked together so admirably, and passed back with such smartness, thab the fine three-quarter line of Oxford was frequently seen to great advantage, passing amongst themselves with remarkable accuracy, and seldom failing to gain ground. Compared with the half back play of Oxford, wbich was quite the feature of the mate 1 !, that of Cambridge sienibd poor ; bub, with forwards playing a less profitable game than those of the opposite side, the chancps of the halves for aggressive work were not so great. Still, there is no denying the fact that they did not pass out with anything like the promptitude displayed by the Oxford pair, who were almost as good on the defence as in attack, which is saying a great deal. The development cf the four three-quarter system has evidently been slower ab Cambridge than at Oxford, for, on the few occasions it; was attempted to use the line as an attacking force of combined description, the result was not quite what bad been anticipated. The Light Blues had been expected to show superiority lorward, and they cf-rtainly gave occasional evidence of possessing good shoving powers; but bhe methods of Oxford prevented strength telling to any appreciable extent, and where Cambridge did shine was in tackliDg. Their defence was very fine indeed, especially in the first half, when they were playing against the wind, and again duti. g the last ten minutes tf the match.

AngliDg and Lawn Tennis Notes will be found on page 21,