FOOTBALL. FIXTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 36

FOOTBALL. FIXTURES.

RINJBV. knen*t fi -Union v University, North ground ; Kdkoroi v Alhambra Bishopsccurt ; BnneH.n v. CavSii.S rnl^onian ; Pirates v. Zing«.. Oansbl A« k «Wt 13 -Pirates v. Allwmhra. Chmbrook ; Z«n«aii v .Caver™ urn, Montedllo ; Dunedxa v. Univrpily, Cakdoniau. ASSOCIATION. £ S' v^iSS; "r^K *ifi«s— a bvc

INTER-UNION HXTTJItBS. August 4-Wellinfitou v. Hawke's Bay at Napier. A must <;-Oanteibury v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 10-Canterliury v. Wansanui. at WanAug^t"^- Canterbury v. Hawke's Bay, at Au B St Pl3-WellingtoaP 13-Wellingtoa v. Manawatu. at PalmerAugust' 17- r Cantwbuiry v. Waivarapa. at Mas--Canterbury v. Wellington, at WeiA«"u"t 631-Ronth6 31-Ronthl a n<l v. Otago. at Invercarpi".. SeDtember 3-Cantcibury v. Otago. at Ohnst-

September V-WdliuKl on v Otago, at Wellington sSomher 10 -Canterbury v. Southland, at September 0 17-Southland v. Otago, at Invcrcargill.

NOTES BY FORWARD.

The local intnrclub fixtures which were nbandoncd laat Saturday in consequence ol the severity of tho weather were tho fo lov-ing-Kaikorai v. Zingari-Richmond, Dunedin v. Pirates, and Union v. Caversham. Very strangely, the previous fixtures this season between these teams also lapsed through bad weather and yet were not all to liave taken place on the same day. This will have been the second season in sucession in which the Kaikorai and Zmganllichmond Clubs have not met. As a matter of fact, in the twelve seasons that have passed einco the amalgamation of the Zingan ancl 'Richmond Clubs under the double-barrelled title under which the club that has its home on the Montecillo ground staggers along, only >12 matches have been played between the Kaitorai and Zingari-Richmond Clubs— a low average of one match a year — so that they bave met less frequently, I should think, than any other two clubs in Dunedin havo done. ,T.he results of those twelve matches are not

at all flattering to the Zingari-Richmond, for on going through the list I find that while one was drawn, tho Kaikorai won 11, scoring 15 goals and 21 tries to only two goals and one try scored by tho Zingari-Richmond. Little wonder is it that the members of the latter club are thiroting for their revenge ! The match played at Ilawera last week between Taranoki and Wellington was the fifth between these two unions.- Only one of these vas won by Wellington— that played last year — and one resulted in a draw, the other three being won by Taranaki, and curiously enough, in each ca&e, by 6 points to nothing. • Ten matches have been played between Auckland ami Wellington. Representatives of the two unions have now met annually for live seasons, but Iho five matches preceding that played in 1894 were spread over a period of 19 years. Leaving out of account the disputed match in 1833, which should now that both sides can look back on it dispassionately be conceded by Auckland as a win to Wellington, the contests have produced six wins to Wellington -and three to Auckland. "Lynx" writes in tho New Zealand Herald :—": — " In a recent issue I published three rulings arrived at by the Auckland Referees' Association, the first of v.-hich stated 'that a fair catch must be taken at a fir»t attempt, and any rebound whatever is a knock on.' The ruling has called forth a considerable amount of adverse comment, and Mr Ohlson, chairman of the association, now writes me to the effect that the ruling was not given mo correctly, and forwarding the decision actually arrived at, which I append: — ' 1. II the ball, in the acL of being taken, bounces forward 'and is taken again before touching the ground, it shall be considered a knock on ; or, 2, if a player, while receiving the ball, allows it to bounce fonvar.l out of Lii hands, even though it bo recovered before touch ing the ground, it &!iall be considered a knock on ' "

" This is certainly," sayfc " Lynx," " a horse of another colour, and a ruling that will no doubt commend itself lo the several other associations in the colony." For my part, tho distinction between Iho ruling as pre view-ly published and the ruling as authorial is practically a distinction without a differ eneo, and fie authentic version of the ruling i» id mv mind equally objectionable with that version previouly comir.et.led upon by me lor the reasons that I then gave. Volition is implied in the idea of a knock-on, and volition is disregarded by the decisions of the Auckland Referees' Association, and for that matter by referees almost throughout the colon}'. Tho committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union have decided to disqualify a member for some years of their own member (J. V Collins, the Canterbury representative cricketer, a member of the Canterbury _ Referees' Association, and a teacher at Christ's College) for a period of 12 months on a charge of questioning the decisions of the referee (Mr .1. Daniels) in a recent President's Cup match between the Chrislchurch Third and Christ's College teams. Tho referee, in reporting Col lins to the union, also complained of the con duct of the other supporters of tho College team at the match in question. Replying to the referee's charges, Collins wrote to the union stating, as to the behaviour cf the spectator- that they did make remarks on, the i off! cc's decisions, but as far as he could hear Ihfv did not call out to him, nor did they make remarks on his decisions to him. As to the charges against himself he " pleaded guilty to both charges as contained in the referee's letter" but urged that a spectator is allowed to have opinions of his own on decisions given, and to express those opinions provided they aro not expressed to the referee nor " thrown at him." Only on one occasion did he address the referee personally. To the projiooul at the committee meeting to disqualify Co! lins for 12 months, an amendment to tbe effect that no further action should be taken in the matter, and a further amendment, to the effect that tho disqualification should be to the end of the present season, were proposed, but both were lost. Tho rule of tho Canterbury Rugby Union under which this disqualification has been in' posed authorises the committee to suspend during their pleasure any member of a club for abuse of, or interference with, any referee either during or after a game. This gives I lie, committee very wide powers, but l.ot powers wide enough to cover such a rabc as (hat which they recently had to consider, where if the statements of the disqualified persons are to be accepted as correct, the offence consisted in criticising the decision 1 ; of the referee. There are a great many decision* by referees that, demand criticism, and il is a good thing for referees to know that among the spectators at the matches which they control there are competent critics who intelligently follow o\ery feature of tlr^ play, and understand when ar.d why players should be penallf-ed. It if. the vilego of a free man in a free country to express his opinion, and as long as he expresses it temperately there docs not appear to me to be any reason why decisions of a referee in football should be exempt from his criticism any more than aro the decisions of our judges and magistrates on their respective benches, 0r,.,t0, to take a ( closer analogy, the decisions of "an umpire in the cricket field or of a judge on the racecourse. It really does seem to me that, if it were not a quite harmless display of authority, the decision of tho Canterbury Committee iv Collins's case would be a most unreasonable ono, but it really is perfectly futile in tiiis particular instance, for Collins is not a player, and that being so, is probably notmuch put out by the resolution of his former colleagues. The attempted assumption by Rugby Unions of authority over spectators, who merely exercise their right of expressing their opinions, does, however, strike one as rather ridiculous.

ili- A. Wilson, vice-president of the 0.R.F.U., who has 'icen away all this year on a holiday trip round the world, returned to Dunedin on Saturday last.

Prior to starting off on their northern tour the Canterbury representatives met, at Christchurch last Thursday, a fifteen of South Canterbury whom they defeated 'by 18 points lo 3. The visiting forwards were quite equal lo the local men, but the local backu showed fine combination.

At a meeting last week of the committee of the Wellington Rugby Union a member of the Pctono Club's Third Fifteen was reported for using bad language to another player in a recent match. It was decided to suspend the player for 12 months, and refuse him admission to all grounds under the control of the union during the term of his suspension.

The secretary of tho Canterbury Union has been instructed lo write lo tho various unions informing them thai the Canterbury team must not be entertained at dinners or smoko concerts. This seems lo me to be emphatically a stop in tho right direction and a step whWi, if made general throughout the colony, nliould bo welcomed by louring learns, for I am pormiarlnd (hat there are very few players who do not regard these functions as an infliction, anil would much rather enjoy themselves in thoir own fashion. In vroviow seasons I have deemed it ueces-

sary to direct the attention of referees to the inaclvisabihty of their relieving players of what is the plain duty of the latter lo put the ball in the scrummage, and again, now thai we have entered the month of August, and tho interprovincial matches aro clos>o at hand, do I desire to impress upon leferccs that it is no part of their function to put tho ball in the scrummage, and that as in the interprovincial matches that duly will certainly have to be performed by the players, our own men are being virtually handicapped in not being required — by at all events f-oinc oi the referees— to put the ball in the scrummage in local matches.

Tho case of misconduct which occxirred in the Taranaki-Wellingtou match last week is thus icporled by the special correspondent of the Post, who, 1 assume, would not colour the fads in favour of the Wellington player : " In a squabble Woods struck A. Bayly in tho face, and was ordeied off the field. As to tho cause there aro se\eral ver&ions, but the regrettable incident without doubt occurred in the heat of tho moment. The statements of spectators who were in a good position to see the occurrence aro lo the effect that the ball was kicked almost on to the Wellington goal line, when llawke look il and relumed it, and ho immediately afterwards nib col Saved round the throat by Bayly, who, it is alleged, used no gentle means to eir'oot his object. Havvke remonstrated with Bayly, and Kelly and Howe also spoke strongly of the j-aranaki player's action I'unous at seeing his clubmate dealt with in this manner, and losing his temper for the moment, Woovis turned round and hit Bsyly a nasty since k over the eye, severely lacerating it. The Potone player has apologised to the referee lulus action."

A special meeting of the Management CoroYrtillee ot the Wellington Rugby Union ii.ok place last Friday evening.' An inquiry was held into the charge against Woods. The refeiee'b report and the btatement of the managei of the Wellington loam were laid before the committee. Il was decided to suspend Woods for the remainder of the beason. This decision was conveyed lo the manager of the team at Auckland, and, of course, pre-••>•',ii-1 t,U- li.'aver in question from taking part in the match between Wellington and Auckland last Saturday. The members of the Wellington learn were desirous that they should not be deprived of Woods's rervicca in that match, and it was urged that the man should not be dealt with by his union until he should ha\e been personally heard in self-defence. That plea was, however, plainly put forward in order that Woods might be enabled to take part in all tho matches of tins Wellington team in their northern tour, but the Wellington Union would have inevitably lowered itself in the estimation of tho other unions in the colony il it had aliou-^-i such a consideration as that to vipiir]. wili. IL The time hi-.* rome, it appears to me, when it should Le recognised that there is a good de\l o( mistaken genoiosity on a captain's part in allowing his opponents to take on hubaiitulcb during a game. If ix player is injured in the couvm? of a match and another is allowed to come on in his place, one hoars a lot about the spoilsman] ike action oi the opposing cap Id in in allowing the change to be made. Thi-, sorl ol talk is largely rubbish. When a player is hull eaily in a match there is not so luuoh reason for disallowing tiio M-Val'ilioij of another player for him, but it would be undesirable that the practice should grow up under all cases, permitting a substitute to play for an injured player. If (.he injured player should have become fai'-ly exhausted with a hard game, it would bo obviously to~the disadvantage of the opposing team that a fresh man should be >d lowed to come on in his place. Thu is n. matter which should be borne in mind, and it must also be thai if the nr;i"ive were allowed to grow up of permitting substitutes to take the place of mju^i il.'.ors it would be a practice that might conceivably bo abased by unprincipled captains, with the view of securing the introduction of a fresh player in place of one who was playing below the form expected from him. If a game is to be played at all it is surely worth plavinß " up to the handle," and no captain is justified in takiig a risk thai nJi^'it luin the scole against r im ond in favour t.-t Irs tpponsnU. If thai argumj.il I elds good in lie c,_<-o of a pi aver he-ing injured, it applies with greater force in the event of i player be i g ordered off the fieil 11 has beo^ laid down that a player, when once ordered off by the referee, is not lo be allowed to return to the field of play, and it is straining the so-called sporlsmanlii:ene«s to an absurd degree when the opposing captain consents to a fresh player taking th r - pV.ce of one who has been ordered oft' tl>o n«kt of play — it is, in fact, a belittling cf the authority of the refaros, for it is equivalent to his being told that it is immaterial to a side whether any of their number are ordered off the field by him for they will be able lo replace them by other players who will have the advantage of being fresh. lam strongly of opinion that the Taranaki captain should not have consented last week to Ross taking the place of Woods, in the Wellington team, on the latter being ordered off the field, and that even although the Taranaki captain under a mistaken idea of what was sportsmanlike bad consented to a fresh man coming on, the referee should have interposed and declined to permit a substitute to be taken on. <\ match is on the tapis next month fcetwfcu the Kaikorai and Star Clubs, the i .-ack lea.-!!" of OlPgo and Southland respectively. "Obsener,"" writing lo tho Hawera .Star, states that he was surprised last. Sunday wook to find Bayly Park occupied between 10 nnd 11 by a number of the Taranaki reps., acthely engaged in a practice game, a;,d winds, up by snying that " if Taranaki pcoi'o a win in their match with Wellington, ii.o team would be able to attribute the groit and glorious victory to Sabbath-breaking/ ]t will be observed that the O.R.F.U. Conm.itlee have come down somewhat heavily on tri2 two local players who last Saturday weitc accepted presentations from Miss Ada. Juneon at the Princess Theatre as tho scorers of tins largest number of tries that clay in senior and junior matches respectively. I imagine this is the first instance of the tpplication of the rules as to professkmalibin in this colony. It is as well that players generally should recognise that it is a d;stin"t breach of those rules io accent any presentations that are not aiilhorihpd by the governing body in each district. I" Iho prosent case (he action of the suspended players in going upon the stage of Iho theatre aid receiving the trophies thai ut»io olVcrod to tha.n was immediately <.\lcul.ilod to bring the game of football into contempt, and it surely should havo occurred to them that that was so. I havo no doubt that if tho sanction of the O.U.F.U. Committee had been solicited for the presentations in quosli>i it would have been refused, and that bein.? so, one can hardly be surprised that the committee should have declined to pass over the conduct of the players, who, as the resolution of the committee put it, al-

lowed themselves to be " used as advertisemonis' 1 by Miss Juneen. The suspension of Stalker and Fergus^o'i should have a salutary offeoi in tho future, and it appears to me that the O.U.F.U. V v.uniltee are to be commended upon the course they have adopted. The General Committee of the Northern Union in England have adopted rules which state that professionalism is legal. Every pvofo^ional shall be in bona fide employment, and not be allowed to play Rugby football uiiLvjj in such employment. Waiters in lirensod houses, billiard-markers, or any cmplojment in connection vilh a club, shall not be considered to be bona fide employment

Tho Wakari and Rangers (Association) Clubs mot for the first time for the season ou Saturday, the game resulting in a win for Wakari by 4 goals to 1. The Rangers were the first to score, and for some time kept their opponents from equalising matters. Shortly after the beginning of the second spoil P. M'Milian scored the coveted goal. Soon after this I). M'ilillan headed the ball through from a corner kick, and then scored two more goals in quick succession. For the Rangers Nepali was in good form, and saved splendidly timo after time. M'Clellanil put iv some fine work, especially in the mj spell. Borlase was off colour. Noith and Gilbert played fairly well, but raiely stopped the "Wa\ari forwards in the second half. Bligo, Mviiv, and Calder were the pick of the forwards. Tho Wakari, one and all, played well, and richly deserved their win. The passing of the forwards was a featuie of their game, and they were well supported by Jackson, Giiroy, and Morrison at back. A mixed team from the Kaikorai Club journed to Palmerplon on the 23rd ult., and after a most enjoyable game inflicted defeat on the country teani by 12 points to nothing. The game was witnessed by a large number of spectators, who were quite impartial. The ground was wet and rlippery, but nevortholcs the winners did some splendid passing. I'almerston had the best of the play in the first half, their forwards rfiinir.g in the open play. In the second spell Kaikorai, making the game more open, wt'io enabled to rcoic tluoc tries and one penalty goal before the whistle sounded.

Under Asscci.ition rule*, U efii Island Second beat "VVakau Second by 3 goalß to nothing on Saturday.

OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

The weekly meting of the committee of Iho Olago Rugby Union, held on Monday, was attended by Messrs Gallaway (president), Morris, Campbell, Duncan, Harris, Isaacs, Miscall, M'Laren, Strong, and Hutchison. A lettei was read from the Athletic Club (Oamaru), repudiating the action of ils deputy-captain in consenting to I£. A. do La ut our, of tho Unheisily Club, playing for the Oamaru Second Fifteen against tho Athletic Second, and a letter was read from de liautour slating that he had played for the Oamaru Club as it was short-handed, and that he had done so on two previous occasions under similar circumstances, aud that no objection had been raised. — It was resolved that the match in question be declared void, but the committee accepted De Lautour's explanation, while regretting that his ignorance of the provisions of by-law 27 should have rendered it necessary for them lo declare the match void.

A letter was read from the Alexandra Club asking if the union could afford the feama financial assistance towards the continuance of the country matches as was afforded 1.-.st year.— The committee resolved that the Male ot the union's finances forbade the granting oi any assistance. A letter was received from the Dunedin Club stating that the leason for the non-ful-filment by its Second Fifteen of the fixture with the ICaikorai Second on the 16lh .luly was ihat the members of the team were informed by the referee thpt tho match_ would not be played.— lt was decided to inquire from the referee whether tins statement was

correct. Notice was received from the Dunedin Club of i'-s de«irc to appeal to the New Zealand Union against the decision ol the committee in disallowing a goal kicked by one of its members in the match Dunedin v. Ca\ereham on tho 14th May.— Tho secietavy was in{.Lvucled to forward tho iisuol documents to the New Zealand Union. H. .Stalker (Pirates-) and T. Ferguson (Ravensbouvnc) appeared before tho committee, in obedience to summons requesting an explanation of the circumstances under which they had received presentations at the Princess Theatre on the 23rd ult., such presentations not having been made under the authority of the union, and both players pleaded in cli'eet ignorance of tho rxiles on the subject.— lt was resolved: "That Stalker and Ferguson be suspended during the pleasure of the union, but that they be informed that the suspension will be removed upon their forwarding to the secretary the trophies received by them with the view of their being letiu'nod to the donor. This committee aro unanimously of opinion that it is detrimental to the best" interests of football that players should allow themselves to be used as advertisements for theatrical companies."

The inquiry into the matter of the report by the referee in the Pirates v. Caversham match on the 23vd ult. that he had ordered a member of tho latter teim off the field was adjourned till Wednesday afternoon, as both of the players implicated were \uiable to be present.

QUEENSLAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES,

Sydney, July 31

In the return match Qatensl*ud defeated New South Wales by 18 points to 16. Hardcaetie (late of TVellirgfcon) played conspicuously, though unluckily, on the loping sid<>. Cnrric (late of Dunedin. who was pUying for Queensland) had his collarbone fractured.