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Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 35

NOTES BY FORWARD.

k Sbuia matches in. and. about Dunedin • are played' under difficulties which should not be allowed to exist. On two 1 grounds- lasb Satur- . day,, on; which junior matches, were played, ' there were no fl*gsj, and on one oF thenr there was no crossbar to' one of" the goals. Clubs should really, see-to it — that the grounds; which tihey use are supplied with the necessary accessories. Complaint has also- been made- of players turning out in a diversity of, uniforms — event in> a senior match last Saturday I saw a , player who, should, hava been wearing a red and black jersey with a black and blue jersey on — and this'is, a matter, winch; it will be necessary > for the Rugby Union to look into if it is xiob remedied by the pJayers fchemselvesk

The punishment which has this, week been meted out by the O.R.P.U. Committee to four players who had been reported' to them by referees foe misconduct t should bare a. useful effect in deterring' a repetition of undesirable conduct on the field of. play. Thane can be no doubt that in the play in local matches there has this year been a tendency displayed toward? a roughness which 1 was not apparent last seasoD. In this faot ia unmistakably to be seen the fruit of the unchecked roughness of prominent Wellington players in tha WellingtonOtftgo match last year, and it is satisfaitory to find that the O.R.F.U. Committee are not disposed to encourage the adoption in Dunedin of play of a character such as was witnessed in that interpEOviDcial match.

The editor of the Wellington Rugby Union Annual (Mr W. 0. Master, hon. secretary of the "W.R.F.U.) has kindly forwarded me a cosy of tfcs,t >oluaje... It is a bulky book of

nea-rly 200 pages, and contains- several photographs, including those of the New Zealand team of 1897, the Wellington representatives ' ot 1897", and the Wellington team, that visited - the South Island, last year: Original, articles ( have for their subjects " TJhe. Prospects of- a New "Zealand Rugby Team. Visiting Eng- ' land" and 1 "The Southern Tour." The former of these articles is written by Mr T. R. Ellison, and audaciously- proposes a very material modification of the laws as to professionalism in order to overcome the financial difficulty in the way of a- New Zealand ' teanx_ visiting England. The subject is not a "live" one, or. else I should- discuss Mr Ellison's scheme. As it. is, the visit of a New Zealand team to England iff a thing of the ( distant future. The article on the southern tour is written by " One Who was There." That fact is the more peculiar inasmuch as i the writer has repeated' the grotesque, if not altogether amusing, fiction with which the , Wellington papers at the time regaled, their j readers abotif the treatment which the WelI linqtan team received from tlie Dunedin public. It is a pity that" so much that is absolutely false- should be embodied in a work of ', a Kind that one presevvss for purposes "f \ reference-. Otherwise — from a literary point of- view — tlie article is of poor quality, send ■ the writer* exhibits- a- sad' lack of the- sense of '. proportion. As- a) record, pure and; simple, of results the; Annual is a? valuable compilation.

■ Commenting on the White Star-Eltham junior match-, the Patea Press says, inter alia : " The game needs iio other description than that it was an unscientific and ; disgraceful I rough' and tumble maul. During the game j, there were- no less than five ' knocks out — | four Eltham, mon and one- White Star (L. ; Taylor)'; and the referee ordered two players, | one Star and one Eltham, off thes ground for indulging in a fistic operation instead "of attending strictly to football business. - - . ■ Of course, it is difficult to say which team. was [ mainly responsible- for the rough and bullocky ! nature of the game, but it certainly cannot i be denied' that the absurd play of the Eltham i forwards on. the line did not tend to free the !' game from roughness, nor- did it prove- in. any 'way advantageous to them.'! ITrom the Hawke's Bay Herald: — "Supporters of the game will Be greatly pleased to ! learn that the local, referees have decided to , strictly enforce tbe rules bearing on wing forward play. These rules, which altogether prohibit wing forwards, have so far not" been' enforced, to the great detriment? of ; the game. Henceforth- a greab improvement may be expected I—fewer1 — fewer penalties, less- scrummaging, and altogether; faster and jnore interesting 1 play.." Tbe final round for the: English. Football I Association Oup was- this year between the Notts Forest and Derby County teams, and was played on-* April 16 at- the Crystal Palace 1 ,in the presence of- an immense crowd, o£ people, resulting in favour of Notts Forest* by three goals to ona. The game was marred' 'by illegal tactics. Ths- Field 1 says-: — " Tha '■ players on both sides, rarely hesitated' to push ' or- hold each other- with' their hands when 1 they thought it expedient 1 , and more than 20 ! free kicks were 1 given- for fouls", though no ' cognisance was officially taken of a number ) of little wrestling matches which, were mani- , fest enough- to the spectators 1 . - As- this kind i o£ play regularly takes place in a game* con- [ ducted 1 under! the immediate auspices of the i; executive of the Football Association, and no steps>ar.e taken to discourage it the only, con- ', elusion that can ba drawn.- is- that ay lower .standard, of sportsmanship is? officially j adopted in- this 1 branch., of. football > tlian in, other, outdoor games." j ThoserwhO'-visited Bi&hopscourtt.on Saturday , with the-intention. of seeing< a good, exhibition* .of football were not' disappointed; Instead of ,<one team trying; to play- a; spoiling ga«ae,, tbey< , both opened out and playedito>win-. White, the 'Varsiby full back, gave- a gr od* exhibition, his , kicking being, firsts class-. Hunter at centre' three quarter sgaim play.cd well,, hi* passing, ,and kicking being, gpod;, while his. defence was* •also sound: J. G. M.'Donald!3 display onthe- wiog waß fully, up to his uaval ,high standard. Adams is improving- every * week. M'Ara> at third half hack showed fijse form ;, he cofc only handled t"he ball , well himself, but also passed, ib at the right moment. Shandy who played in J. B. Macdonald's place a3 scrum halt back,, got the leather smartly, from tha- scrummage and< passed ' promptly. The forwards all. played" well from , Btar6.to>finish. E'en wick',, Gfcegg, and Mules being .the-, most prominent. Johnsrone,.f.ull back.fon Ka,ikoraij,gpt. through I his< work in « satisfaction^ manner, tha way in. ;. which he collared being., ill. that could' be j, desired 1 .. Wood,, centre* three-quauter, wag fair .on the defence, and' got in some neat kick?. Kerr and Sinclair on>the wings both didia, lofe of good defensive- work. J. Duncan,, who took Armit's place as. third half back, seemed to think . he,waß on exhibition' in the first spell, but played much betters in the- second. Sinclair did. a lot of useful work. Jackeon, the scrum half,, , played wellafc times, and no, doubt would have appeared to better advantage- had; Duncan let; him play his- own game. Air thei forwarda.did good service at times, both scrummaging and dribbling, but- their efforts were irregular. Davie, Cross, Canning, and Mucphy -*-sre the most conspicuous. Mr 8.. Isaacs acted as? referee.

The Dnr-f dta bseks played a splendid game ; against tbe Union, especially Ward,- Sbephenson, and Mackenzie, and had it not been for their def enca the Union's- score would have* been larger. Armstrong- and! Da this were- the best! of the Union backs, but their play generally suffered in comparison with that of their opponents. The Union forwards all played' well, and ib would be hard to single) out any individual player as deserving, o£ special mention, i Tha Dunedin focwanda, were- aufcclassedim, every danai'tnwsit '.if the eitsc. aud tv-ivra?ds t&« l&iter

end went to -piew?. We A. Dowues had contrdi , of the game, and' gave every satisfaction.

Caverehamyheld theic own very well in ths serum in their match against the. ZingariBiclimond, bub, were beaten by the Colours in the loose? Tha large score of 16' points is, however, no criterion of tha game, as, ib was. fasfr and- iofceresbing from first- to last.. - Of . the Colours' for.wacdß G. and-W. Smith, M'FarlaiiO, aud Spiers. were the pick.. A. Fordyce, as.scrum half, pasied oub very accurately and is faj-t getting back int/o-his old form. Austin battled Bard, and" hi's- dodgy runs were verycerviceablf. Harry Smith as third half back; besides scoring after a gcod ran, was always useful in defence; and kickedsplcndidly. Reid' ig si- fast three- quarter and a good: kick, audtmade several' aerviceable-ruußj buS appears to slacken speed when nearing an* opponent. R. Fordyco, at fullback, kicked- well and'made no mistakes,- and'an interchange of long kicks between- this player' and Lawry was watched with'inlerest. Of fchs Cuversbam forwards Cavanagh: -was the pick, and' played for all he was worth from stai-b to finish. He was assisted by Olson, Spence. andCoxoß. All- the forwards worked hard, and are regular "grafters" in the scrum. The Caversham haver no % mere-' < 'ghinets" in bfco forward ranlis. The acrum was 1 very- ssi'e, and'made several good openings. Urquhartaa third half back did his work-well, and saved' Hia side frequently. Casey atr three-qusrt«- back took tlie. ball beautifully and kicked' weir, add Milbura- -might take a tip or two from, him la handling the ball". Eawry, at full: baok played a great game, and Mis long liicks saved his side time aft'ei-tim?.

The gams was- unnecessarily rough, and tbe .referee must be blamed for uofr-ws ruing, tha , pjayen at the outset. Shortly after the litarfc of the game the playere saw ' that rough pl&y was allowed and to&k< advantage of it |to the* full. Towards the- end" of the second spell' B. Fordyce (Zingari)" kicked! the bslUwell into Gaversham terri.'ory, bub th3*whistle x went fora knock-OD. A-. Smith* apparently did not . hear* the- whistle; and when WiJkins- (Caver- • ahamj) was taking the 'ball" tackled him. • Smith and-Wilkina were tryic-g to-geb the-bal', 'both being on the ground^ when-Lawry? ran.up • and- pulled* Smith away. WilWns-was<evidfenbly excited-,, and- stood! over. Smith, threateningly, . and something of the- character- ok a-squabble ' ensuodi Blowb were* apparently exchanged?, . but- there seemed Co be diversity of opinion- as to who. was the aggressor. It- may be st»ted, 1 Sowever, that the-refereo scarcely at' any/stage : appeared to have complete control; and' several - of his decisions were-questroned.

[ The- meeting Between the- Alhamb'ra' and I Pirateg Clubs 1 was * meeting- of good' forward < teams under conditions that favoured a- forward F rather than a Back game, for the* Carisbrodk - ground- was soft after the 1 heavy frost- of the ( previous' night: ■ The ball speedily-became very ! greasy^ and during- nearly the, whole of tlia ' second 1 spell it was »gain freezing. A rather ' entertaining exhibition was the consequence; for ' tlie game was repeatedly, being transferred^ up : and' down the field' with combined' dribbling ; rushes' that~ tested' severely the* defensive ' powers* of the teams. The- favourite and 1 most 1 successful' method of stopping these* rushes was ■ By a player-dropping' on the ball, and' iir tHis ' connection it is- a question for the consideration » of 1 the referees 1 whether as aya v body they should ' not deal' much more strictly with' this- class" oE • play, which is opposed' to the spirit, if uolr Cn : fclie distinct Ikw, of' the game. In- any casej iKa-- ' player-does- stop a- rash by dropping on thie BsH, iifris-imperative under the rulesthaf that player ; sliouid^geb up orr tiieTnsfcanfc aud'himself put tlie 1 bail'domr;' if tie does not' immediately, geb up-qr r iPhe- gives tfie ball to another to- put down, a, free'kiek should be a-warded'to-the-otber side.. That is, however, a digression. The Pirates' > forwards held fehe advantage in tke-exei'y past of the game, seenring. fche^ball. mora frequently ,in the scrjimmsge and dribbling wore^ effectively,, but they did nob last so >- well and?, their , efforts, in gebbing the ball out of the scrummage • for ttteiiv backs were, rendered futile^ by fctie ludicraus^attempts of the latter to. handle the greasy sghera.. In-- the back division, the Alhambra. hsA a, distinct advantage,, for au the Pirates' sida- M.. Priest, (who bothifileldeii and kicked- well) and ; Thomson were thft onljr plajMirs" who handled the 1 ball suceetsfuJlj 1 ,; while on the-Alhambca sidfe Ross,. King, (fl-ha , showed surprising pace, on, the softefcarf*), and Mason all did good wnrlc. In, thts- foxward ranks Given;, Roderick,, and M.'Keweu. on, the Alhambra side and the Farqpharaon btothfirs, Cotkdy;, and. P. Priest for the Pirates were the most .prominent. Congratulations are due to the University Glutton having.been the' firab team fcbis year to lower, the Kaikorai colburs — II 11I 1 say " the. fiwt . team " advisedly-, bec*us3 there is nat so. much .disparity between, some: of, tke teams Uriavyear that certain conditione of ground and-weatlier !• may nob equalise- their, strength ;■ and, om that account it. need- excite" na surprise if fche-Kai-korai should meet with' more, than, one, reverse , during the season* W/hile that i 8« so, fchfrUni- , veroity' were; fortunate in meeting the Ebikorai i when the lattee weret wibhdut the- services- of . Armit, who is certainly,, on< present, form; far and away the, most brilliant, back in Dunedin. J On Saturday-he was, obliged, to stand out of_his ciub'ss tesm- in consequence of a> chill' which ha [ had caught" on the/ previousi Saturday. It-was { inevitable that sooner or later in the-, season } Duncan would' return to a place, in the Kaikorai . ranks, and' Armit's indisposition furnished/ him with tlie excuse, for-so doing,; but, out of- form as he was; he was an indifferent, substitute for bbc player he was= replacing. j The Wellington', correspondent 1 , of the OSrago , Daily' Times* wired> on< Monday; the 6th',in»t..; — Whatever^ may, be the- Facts; in regard: to-, the charges of rough, pla,y, preferred: against, the Wellicf'wo ieu*fi6eati;tivfi« Carina their last

** ■ iouthern tour, there can be no doubb that on ' their owrxgrounds Wellington Rugby footballers lire frequffttly guilty of brutally rough play. To euch an extent has this grown that many jNspectable people who formerly played the jjkime *nd took considerable interest in it have Sow almost ceased to countenance it. The play fU at least two of the matobea here on Saturday mast extremely rough, The combatant! even tame to blow*, and one of them had to be Ordered off the field. Nob content with what he had done on the field of battle, one of the Offending Melrose players waited for a Wellington Club man to punch his head after the match, p.n<i * 6ght was only prevented by the intervention of. some of the friends of the pugilistic ones. In 'another mateh — that between the Athletics and Poneke Clvb — the play was also unnecessarily rough, and the opinion is generally expressed that the referee was «1) too lenient with "some of the players. The Times deals with" the matter editorially to-day under fcb* UeadiDg " Pugilistic Football." V At Cbristchuroh in bhe serjior football ootapetitions Merivale defeated Kaiapoi by 9 points to 8, Sydenhsm defeated Cbristohurch by 17 points to B, and Linwood pnt up a score of 16 pointfi to nothing against the Albion. At Wellington th» Melrote defeated Wellington by 6 points to 3, Petooe defeated Oriental* by 10 to 6, and A tbletio defeated Poneke by 16 to nothing.