NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2105, 28 June 1894, Page 32

NOTES BY FORWARD.

His application to the Rugby Union for permission to transfer his services to another club — generally understood to be the Alhambra — npt having been successful, Mason made his reappearance last Saturday in the ranks of the Dunedin Club.

The Allnmbra team was certainly not strengthened to any great extent by the inclusion in it last Saturday of W. Elder, to secure whose services such great anxiety has recently been displayed. Elder's play was brilliantly erra'ic, but hardly serviceable.

The idleness for two Saturdays of tbe Pirates team through the uufitness of their ground for play— owing <o the wet weather which has been experienced this season— had its effect in the club's match last Saturday, for though its representatives pressed their opponents in tbe early stages of the game and had the best of the first spell, their condition did not enab'e them to last the match out.

It should be unnecessary to remind captains of senior teams of the desirability of insisting upon their players appearing in proper club uniform, and really there has not for some years been any occasion to refer to such a matter It was, however, a disgrace to our senior football that on Saturday last two players in one match —one on each side — should not be furnished with jerseys, and should play in their shirt sleeves.

If it should have the effect of opening the eyes of players to the urgent desirability of commencing their matches at this period of the year at a reasonably early hour - it is absurd to suppose that matches cannot be commenced as early even as 230 p.m. — it is not so much to be legrcttcd that tho referee in last Saturday's match between the Union and Alhambra Clubs was unable to give his decision as to the result of the free kick which the former team had just before the call of time. It is fortunate that the issue of the match did not depend upon whether a goal was kicked or not. At the same time I* think the refeiee erred in roh giving tj tbe defending side the benefit of the doub 1 ;.

The Taieri ground possesses an unenviable reputation for tho treatment its frequenters mete out to referees whose decisions do not a' ways accord with the probably erroneous ideas entertained by the spectators ; and Mr Croxford's experience on Saturday, when he was made a target for clods of turf pelted at him by the Mosgiel youtb, was not a singular one. There was a time when the Taieri players would have seriously discountenanced such a Itt'oceeding, and it is to be hoped that the present executive of the c'.ub, recognising that a referee must be protected, wi 1 express their strong disapproval of the conduct of a section of last Saturday's spectators.

At Inv&rcargill last week the Pirates Club defeated the Star, the premiers for some seasons, by 3 points (a penalty goal kicked by Rodgers) to notlrng. An Jnvercargill paper says that since the previous match between these two clubs public excitement had been worked up to a pitch of enthusiasm felclom heard of in connection with a match between local clubs, The win was a popular one, the Pirates receiving a tremendous ovation on leaving the ground. Both teams played under somewhat unfavourable circumstances. A few minutes prior to half time, D. M'Robie. a Star half back, who was doing splendid work, was injured in the arm severely enough to compel his withdrawal from the game. Tho Pirates lacked the fcrviccs of two of their first forwards, Lock and Farquharson, who*o places were filled by men from their A team, good workei'3 it is true, but still not equal to tho o whose substitutes they were.

The Ka'korai Club have now played a match with each of the other senior teams. Their record is such an exceptional one that it deserves to be published :—: — May 12 — v. University : Won by 41 points to 0 May 19— v. Pirates : Won by 35 points to 0 May 26 -v. Union : Won by 14 points to 0 June 2— v. Dunedin : Won by 21 points to 0 June 9 — v. Alhambra : Won by 28 points to 0 June lti— v. Taieri : Won by 22 points to 0 June 23— v. Zingari-Richmond : Won by 22 points to 0. The total score of the Kaikorai Club has thus been 183 points to nothing I venture to think the team as at present constituted would beat more representative teams in this colony than would succeed in defeating it.

The first match of the season between the Matakauui and Alexandra Clubs was won by the former by two tries (obtained by Russell and Woodhouse respectively) to nothing. Tho losers played with 13 men only, but, says the Dunstan Times, "it was the fault of their captain, who could have easily obtained two men from among the spectators to assist his team. He evidently held Matakanui too cheaply."

A return match between the Oamaru and Athletic Clubs was played at Oamaru last Thursday, when the latter were ugain victorious by 13 points to nothing. Robertson scored for the Athletics in tho first half, and Connelly scored twice in the second half. Maxwell converted two of the tries.

In the opening of the second round of the senior championship at Christchurck last Saturday afternoon Merivale were victorious over East Christchurch by 8 points to 5 points ; Chrislcburch were defeated by Linwood by 2$ points to nothing ; and Kaiapoi beat Canterbury College by 15 points to nothing. The clubs now stand in the following position : — Merivale 6 points, Kaiapoi 5 points, Linwood 5 points, Christchurch 4 pointa, East Chrislchurch 2 points, Canterbury College 2 points, Sydenham 0

The Lawrence and Clutha footballers played a drawn game last Thursday, neither side scoring.

The Football Association have elected Mr G. Rhodes president, and decided to urge Auckland to hold the annual tournament on August 9 and 11.

"Blue" writes thus from Ma v .aura : "Law 8 says that an off-side player is placed on side when the ball has been kicked by or has touched an opponent. Law 11 iuflicts a penalty when a player not in a scrummage wilfully obstructs his opponent*' half back by standing on his opponents' side of the ball when it is in a scrummage. Can a referee order a player back to his own side of the scrummage when an oaponent heels the ball out past the first row ?" The referee cannot act in the case mentioned excepting on an appeal being made to him, nor has he power to interfere under any circumstances unless thereis wilful obstruction. It is

quite, possible for a player to stand on his opponents' side of a scrummage without obstructing their half backs, and so long as a player keeps on his own Bide of the ball the referee cannot interfere with him.

The Management Cjmmittee of the New Zealand Rugby Union have decided that th« practice of picking up the ball in the scrum with the knees is not illegal, and provided the ball was not lifted by the hand there was no penalty. The action of the Poverty Bay Union in ordering a match in which 16 had played on one side to be played over again was confirmed.

,At a meeting of the South Canterbury Rugby Union, held on Monday, a letter was read from Mr H. J. M'Lean, the delegate to the New Zealand Union, asking for instructions how to vote on the matter of granting leave that th? Otago v. Canterbury match be played. After an interesting discussion (says the Timaru Herald) it was almost unanimously decided that it was far better to be generous in this matter, and also that the New Zaaland Rugby Union was strong enough to stand on its own merit?, and not to depend for its well being on any one union. Nor did the meeting think that to prevent the match would in any way help to induce Otago to join, but would rather binder it. Therefore, it was decided that word be sent to Mr M'Lean instructing him to stroDgly Buppart the request of the Canterbury Union.