NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 35

NOTES BY FORWARD.

* . * It appears from the telegraphed report of \ the meeting ■of the committee of the New Zealand Union on Saturday night last that the I Otago Union has o&lled in question the power ! of the New Zealand Union •• to amend a notice of motion without notice," and that the committee of the New Zealand Union "held that it had power to alter any motion of which requisite notice had been, given." Upon making inquiries? I learn that the Otago Union never . did anything so absurd as to call in question the power of the New Zealand Union to amend ; a notice of motion without notice. What the | Otago Union did was to point out to the New '■ Zealand. Union — as was pointed- out by me in | these notes last week— that in, by way of amendment of a notice of motion, altering one of its by-laws it had exceeded its powers, inasmuch as the last of the New Zealand Union's by-laws reads thus : — •' That no rule of the I New Zealand Union be altered except at a /general meeting. Notice of intention to move such alteration mutt be given &t least one month previous to suoh meeting." Any child of ordinary intelligence would see that, there being a by-law to that eff-.cb in the New Zealand Union's' rules,* there was no power possessed by that union to alter a rule unless a month's notice of snob, proposed alteration j had been given. It is either only crass stupidity that can snggest that what the Otago Union objected' to wa'a'the power' "to amend a notice of motion without notice," or else the sngges- , tion that that' is what the Ofcago Union objected to is a clumsy .attempt to misrepresent the position assumed by the Otage Union, with a view to cloak the New Zealand Union's illegal action. Recent proceedings by the New Zealand Union hava confirmed me in the belief that tbe powers that be in Wellington are the most incompetent set of football authorities in the colony.

* . * It is a'so reported that at last Saturday's meeting of the New Zealand Union's committee a further communication from Otago in reference to the disqualification of a late Wellington player, pointing out the ambiguity in the New Zealand Union's by-laws regarding disqualifications, was discussed at some length, and it was decided to inform the Otago Unign, in connection, with its reading. of ."appeals and disqualifications," that, while - admitting the ambiguity of .the rule, it holds that it has -a right to interpret a rule about which there may be any doubt. This refers, I believe, to the case of one Davidson, now resident in Dunedin, who was disqualified by the Wellington Union aa being a defaulter to his olub there. The Wellington Union, in disqualifying him, aoted under one of its by-laws, which provides that "no player shall be allowed to play in any match under the control of this (the Wellington) union if his subscription or other moneys due to any olub is (sic) unpaid." Upon the removal of the player in question to Dunedin the Wellington, disqualification was reported to the New Zealand Union, and that body endorsed it. The effect of that endorsement, it is claimed by the New Zealand Union, is to make the disqualification general throughout the colony. '.' The claim that the disqualification in such a case becomes, upon endorsement, general throughout the colony is, I believe, disputed by the Otago Union, and I see nothing in the by-laws of the New Zealand Union to justify the contention tb*t is put forth. There is a portion of the New Zealand Union's bylaws— those from oto 14 inclusive— to whioh

ths heading "Appealr and disqualifications" h given. By-law 9 authorises the appointment of an appeal committee, and so has nothing to do with this oase. By-law 10 says t~" That in all oases of misconduct by individual players, or officials, oluba, or -teams, travelling or otherwise, inquiry be held by the union directly interested." That cannot refer to such a case as Davidson's. It obviously is intended to deal with cases of misbehaviour by teams or individuals on the field or on tour. By-law 11 reports that all decisions oome to must be at once reported to the New Zealand Union, and, failing appeal, " any punishment aooorded by the local union shall be made general throughout] tba jurisdiction of the New Zealand Union " The other by-laws under the heading "Appeals and disqualifications" relate to appeal. It will, I think, be sufficiently dear to any person of ordinary intelligence that there is nothing in these by-laws that warrants the action of the New Zealand Union in seeking to mike general the punishment imposed by the Wellington Union for Davidson's offenoe — »n offenoe whioh, so far as 1 know, is not puaishabla by eny district union in the colony except that in Wellington ; other bodies, suoh as the Sports Protection Associations in Dunediu and Chriotohuroh, taking in hand the collection of subscriptions for olubs. So far as I oau judge, though, these by-laws, like all the New Zealand Union's by-laws, are wretchedly drawn. There is no doubt that it is an improper exercue of the New Zeulaud Union's power to endorse tha Wellington Union's disqualification in this oase. .* . "Wing-forward," the football contributor to a Woodville paper, has fallen foul of a Pahiatua contributor, who styles himself " Rugby." Woodvillo and Pahiatua are, I may explain, places in the Bu«h district in the North Inland. The fact of the dfaputs between the two scribes is loading to some lively and confused writing. The Pahiatua writer declares that his Woodvillo confrere "-supplies tbe most extraordinary comments and reports anent the game" and that "his advice to players strongly •tamps him as an ignoramus." "Wing-forward" replies in h*lf a column of mixed English. He says if tho Pahiatust scribe was not a G.T.— I do not profess to understand what this moans — he (" Wing-forward ") would certainly oay he was under the influenoe of liquor when he wrote what he did as to the advice tendered to the Woodville players, and to the "ignoramus" assertion he retnrns. a delicate et tv quoque. " Wing - forward " gracefully deolares that "Rugby" is "ratty," that a chronic ailment has been stirred up in his bosom, and that "Rugby's" "fabrication" is "thoroughly silly and altogether false." " Wing-forward " sums up by advising his brother contributor to " go and stick his head in a bucket of 'beautiful snow.' " It is a very elegant controversy. ' . ' The defeat sustained by the Albambra on Saturday last was the first that club has reived from the Pirates sines 1890. Tho match in whioh tbe Pirates beat the Aihambra in that year almost belongs to ancient history. Only ono member on e«ch side in last Saturday's match was then playing in his club's first fifteen. ' . * Oar Auckland correspondent wires :— In the senior championships on Saturday last Newton defeated Gfrafton by 11 points to 7 points, ParneU beat North Hhore by 21 points to nil, ajad Fouscmby beat the Subutbs by 11 points to 4 points. The flr/ib-moiittoned g*me was very interesting and close and was only won in the last few minntes.

• ; • At Wellington on Saturday the only senior football match was between the Poneke and Melrose Clubs. After a good game Poneke won by 12 points to 3. The first round of the championship has now finished, and Poneke, - Melrose, &nd the Athletic* aro even with 6 points each.

' . ' Ths first round of the senior matches in Obristohurch came to a termination on Saturday. Christohuroh beat N'tu Ahuriri by 10 points to nothing, Morivale beat Albion by 21 points to nothing, Linwood beat Hast Chrisfcchuroh by 14 points to nothing, and Kaiapoi beat: Sydenham Sf 8 points to nothing. The O*uterbury Rugby nion, at its last msetiug, deoided that the highest four olubi at the end of the round should play off in the second round for the championship. The result of Saturday's play leaves Linwood, Chrietohurch/ Eaiapoi, ana Merivale in the contest.

' . * Last week's meeting of ' the Otago Football Association was atfcnndad by Messrs Eeninitz (president), Fiudl&y, Cleland, White, Spraggon, Niooleon (treasurer), and Campbell faeoretary). The offer of tho Dunedin Club for the use of the Caledonian ground was accepted, and it was decided 'to hold the New Zealand Association tournament on that ground on September 9, 10, 11, and 12. ' . ' At the meeting last week of the Otago Referee*' Association, the President reported that he had taken euch steps as he thought advisable in connection with behaviour of members of the Star Football Club towards Mr F. H. Campbell in tho High School-Star matoh. The president's aotion was unanimously endorsed. The secretary of the Star Olub wrote tendering an apology to Mr Campbell, and j expreislng regret th*t members of his team should so far have forgotten themselves as to lead to the unpleasantness. It was deoided to ' • acoapt the apology, and appoint referees for matches in which the Star Club are engaged. • . * The weekly meeting of the committee of the Otago Rugby Union was held oa Monday afternoon, and attended by Messrs Gallaway (president), Campbell, Duncan, Esquilant, Montgomery, M'Farkne, and Hutchison. Communications were read from the Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Soubh Canterbury Unions | inviting visits from the Otago representatives. It _ was decided to send the Otago team north this season, and it was remitted to a subcommittee to frame a programme of matches, it being understood that alternative schemes would be submitted, one providing for the representatives visiting the north be- | fore the .Queensland team arrives in Dun"edin, and the other providing for the tour heing made after the matoh between Queensland and Otago. It was resolved, as an instruotion to the sub-committee, that provision bi made for the representative team to play a matoh in Oamaru against a North Otago Fifteen. A letter was read from the Southland Union suggesting dates for matches in Inver- j cargill and Danedin during the season. It was decided to reply to the Southland Union proposing that the home and home matches be now discontinued, this having been proposed last year by the Southland Union. Mr A. O. Cooper, referee on Saturday in the match between the Second Fifteens of the ZingariRichmond and Caversham Clubs, reported two members of the latter team — S. Bennett and J. Ingram by name— for misconduct, and the secretary was instructed to write to the players in question for their explanations. A letter was received from the Port Chalmers Clnb giving its version of the circumstances j under which it failed .to meet the Warehousemen on the 6th inst.

' , * A special meeting of the Eaikorai Football Club was held in the Council Chambers, Roslyn, last week for the purpose of fciking steps to afsist the Gronnd Company irr pitying off the amount due on the Recreation Okounds,~j Bbhopsoourt. Mr L. Kemnita presided, Aiteg

a somewhat lengthy discussion It was resolved that' an art union and bsza»r be held ac a future date to be fixed upon, and the following were elected a committee for that purpose : — Messrs Fraer, Duncan (2), Davies (2), Kinvig, Torranoe (2), Armit (2), Sinclair, Ballttntyns, Knight, Kemnitz, Wood, Wedderspoon, Farley, M'Laren, Peden, Wilkinson, J. Wile on, Webster, and Haig, with power to add. Mr J. H. Jowitt was elected a vice-president of the club. * . ' Bishopoourt ground is not an ideal spot on whioh to append an afternoon in the depth of winter, when it begins to freeze as soon as the sun hns set, but there was nevertheless a large attendance there on Saturday afternoon to witness the match between the Eaikorai aad Dunedin Clubs. The members of tbe latter team had been for sometime coufidently expressing a belief in their ability to defeat the champions, and the supporters of these jast as confidently pinned their faith upon the hill team. A considerable amount of interest in the match had thus been locally worked up, and this interest seems to have extended to recent arrivals in the city, for among these on' the ground were a number of the leading member* of the Comic Opera Company. As so- often happens ' when clubs meet between whom a spirit of keen rivalry exists, and an interesting contest is anticipated, the play was exceedingly disappointing. "You don't call that good football, do you ? " was the question put by an old representative of a North Island union, who, after an absence of several years on the other tide, where he has played in intercolonial contests, seized the opportunity on the first Saturday of his return to New Zealand to go whtre he thought he would see a good game. " Where ate your dribbling rushes P " he further inquired, and in this question put his finger on the weak spot in our football. Oar olubs have entirely sacrificed dribbling to passing, and where a team set themselves, as the Dunedin apparently did 'on Saturday, to keep the ball, as muoh as possible, from coming oat to the Kaikorai baoks, who handle it so ikilf ully, and where the forwards, having the play to themselves, have not learnt the science of dribbling, the game is robbed to a large degree of it* attractivuness, except to those who 89e something attractive in bullooking, and certainly Satuiday'a play left nothing to be desired in point of vigour.

' . * The Dunedin Club made a mistake in weakening their forward ranks in order to inolude four three-quarter backs in their team — more particularly if they entered en the contest with the Ksikorai with the set purpose of keeping the ball, if possible, from the fetter's baoks, — and they had not the compensating advantage that the back, for whose sake they weakened the forwards, was of particular service to them. As it turned out, the Kaikorai forwards were able to push their opponents bafore them as they liked and to secure the ball frequently in the sorum, find with the superiority which tho home team evinoed in the back division they were the aggresjors almost throughout the game, especially in the seoond spell, in whioh they fairly wore the Danedin team down. Duncan, though care* fully watched; played in his best form for the winners, and showed at times' a great deal of judgment. Armit was tbe most conspicuous of the Kftkorai three-quarters, the -play going ohiefly to his wing, and he made several dashing little runs. Cunningham, in the centre, made the mistake of hanging to the ball too much, and more than one roth which promised well for his side was stopped through his failing to pass quickly enough. Davis played very smartly behind the scrum, though he, too, stuck to the ball occasionally when there was a reasonable ohanos to pass out. Among the forwards, Einvig and Torranoe were very prominent. Druram, the Dunedin fullback, rendered capital sorvioe, passing through a trying ordeal without hardly a mistake. Stephenson was not so reliable as usual, but frequently saved his side, Maxwell kicked well, Mackenzie's play showed improvement ofl his previous efforts of the season, and Stohr rendered good service, effectively jumping in to lines-out. Mason was the better of the halfbacks, and at times showed great cleverness. Rogerson and Martin did best work in the Danedin forward division.

' . ' Although Aihambra team were defeated in their match with the Pirates, the game was on the whole a very evenly contested one. The Pirates, however, exhibited batter combination than their opponents, who have a good deal to learn in this respect. The most conspiouons figure among tha Pirates was Hay, who played a rattling good game throughout the match. Mathejon, Samson, Priest, Burt, Holler, and Farquharson were also prominent on their side. Among the Aihambra men Webbsr showed himself very smart in getting the hall out of the scrum ; while Thomson, Ross, Given, and Lawry alto rendered good service for the Colours. '.' Mr Torranoo controlled the Union-V arsity match, and, although his rulings were frequent and strict, justice^was meted out to both sides. The game, as usual, was started late, with the result that it conolndtid in the dark. It seems a pity thttt matches cannot be arranged half, an hour earlier. ' The "Varsity made a capital stand, but it was quite evident that they sadly lacked training, while there was an entire want of combination noticeable. With proper training and a knowledge of the higher branches of the game, theteam, fudging by their play on this occasion, would "shake up" any of the teams in Dunedin. They possess the physique and the stamina, and the bulk of them work strenuously, but every man appears to ba " on his own," and thera is absolutely no backing up— no scientific play, in short. O'Neill, without doubt, is a splendid wing forward, and during the whole of the game worked incessantly, and his work would have been productive of fruit on more than one occasion had he been- adequately supported. Sale (on the other wing) is also a bard worker, and his play was uniformly good. The halves— O'Shea and M'Ara— both did good service. Cran, at three-quarters, although never sparing himself, kept the ball too much to himself, and frequently lost ohanoes to his sida by diving into the opposing forwards or running across the field instead of passing out. The other three-quarters — Mjicdonald and Stephens — were idle most of the time ; but MacdoDald, when his opportunity did come, did not fail to take advantage of it. The full back made a fenr mistakes, which once or twice landed his men into difficulties. Foote, Fenwiok, Burdett, M'Farlane, and Shand were the pick of the forwards.

' . * The Union played with their usual dash, but owing to frequent infringements of the rules they could not get up much loose play. Towards the end of the game, however, their scrum work told a lot in their favour — the strength, of the Blues perceptibly failing. Lumb, at full back, had not much to do, and, as stated above, there was' practically no passing amongst the three-quarters. McLennan, nevertheless, was prominent j whilst' Armstrong and* Smith esoh played a serviceable game. M'Donald was inolined to get off-side. Beadle, Minn, and Munro deserve to be singled out for praise from amongst'the forwards.

* . * An even game was played at Monteoillo between the Caversham and Zingari-Rlohmond men. For the former team the baoksalLoollared welt, bat their passing was not) what it should

t>e, and they wrfamfrwani' to cultivate |ast " department of the game, Goodman, at oenltik evidently forgot be had a man on eaoh side o| him, and loab several ohanoes of kicking. Simpson and Burgess at half played well, bom stopping rashes in good style and Seldom letting a man pass them. The forwards, though overt ' matched, gave their opponent! a good deal of trouble, and showed a decided improvement odl their' performances of previous Saturdays., ' Stalker, Oavanagh, Smith, and Thomp* son ■ were probably the pick, Lawrj at fnll back put in some most effec* tive kicks, using the touchline with oom| olderab!e effect. For tha ZiDgari, Marks ay full back played safely, and his kioking showed an improvement. Of the three-quarters Beta wa3 about the best, his long kicks into touot gaining a lot of ground for his tide. Pollock, at centre, gave a fair aooounfe of himself, ams Clarke showed himself to be a' strong runnet and a good kick. H. Smith, behind the scrum, playad a good game, gutting the ball away very* we'.h- Fordyoe, who was playing out. was oma of the bast of the backs. He played a hard game from start to finish and gave the othec baoks plenty of chances, which were not always used to the bast advantage.' The forwards all played a hard game, both in the scrum and h) the open, and proved more than a match foe their opponents. ' . ' The Fort School, defeated the St. Olalf School at Fort on Saturday by 24 points t& nothing. ' , ■ The Fort School defeated the Alabama < Club at Fort on Thursday by* 12 points ra nothing.