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Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 39

NOTES BY FORWARD.

Mr D.-X. Torrance, of Dunedin, will act as referee in the match next Saturday between Canterbury and Wellington. Bain, of the Star Club in Invercargill, has scored in every uratch he has played this season, a perforinimc'e unequalled by any Southland player"since' the Union was initiated there in 1887. They have an extraordinarily strict referee on the West Coast. In a match between Hokitika and Nelson Creek, I read in a Greymouth paper " Mr. Jon,e,s, or as lie is familiarly known among bis friends ' Scotly ' Jones, acted as referee and gave every satisfaction. This gentleman appears to be the right man in the right place. For the slightest infringement of the rules the player was ordered off the field or made to anologise." That game must have been worth watching. Commenting on the failure of the Greymouth team to fulfil an engagement with Brunner, a paper published at the latter place declares that " tho reason is, simply, football at the .port is at its last kick, will die hard, and it is questionable if it will be resuscitated to its former self, even after many years." Our Auckland correspondent wires : George Smith, the craok centre three-quarter back will not accompany the Auckland Representative Team on the Southern Tour this year, but will go- into strict training for the Australasian • Athletic Championship's Meeting, to be held at Brisbane early in November. Another prominent man' who'inay not be able to get away is Absolum, one of our speediest and strongest attacking wing three-quarter backs. The Taranaki Union has suspended two members of the Inglewood United Club for professionalism. The Club to which the two men belong has appealed to the Now Zealand Union against the suspension. It was decided to ask the Taranaki Union to give a statement of the case. - LINWOOD v. KAIKORAI. The above match was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday last. As the teams lined up for the kick off (says the Christchurch Press) the threatening storm broke, and in less than ten minutes the players were splashing through mud and water, and partly hidden in the rain, sleet, and snow, which blew in the faces of the visitors, who, as well a3 their opponents, very soon, from frequent contact with the churncd-up ground, bore a strong resemblance to the members of a negro minstrel company. Linwood won Iho toss, and took the advantage afforded by the strong sou-west wind. After one or two kicks Hadlee endeavoured to kick into touch to relieve the pressure, but the wind shifted the ball the wrong way, and the Greens rushing over the line, Byrne scored. O'Brien took the place, which was not successful. Linwood .sustained the attack, in which they were aided by the wind, and Kaikorai were several times forced. Soon the combatants were hardly distinguiphable, by reason of the slush which covered their uniforms. For some time the play was kept on the visitors' sido of the centre, Brunsden, Orchard, M'Gillieuddy, Price, Fanning, Ward, and Kerr taking part in the several rushes which assailed Kaikorai's line, and Armit, Ronald, Mason, Duncan, Sinclair, Wood, Porteous, and Torranee at different times clearing the lines, either singly or in some combination. During a lull the visitors got the play into the Linwood territory, but the Green forwards, keeping the ball down, very quickly changed the soene, only to find themselves worsted in their attempt to score. Having defended themselves co -well against exceptional odds, Kaikorai were expected to put up a win in the second spell, but fate was not with them, and they tried the imnossible. The wind

practically died away, and the Kaikorai backs foolishly endeavoured to pass. The ball was too greasy to hold, and the ground too slippery, except for eliding, a feat which nearly every player accomplished with uncomfortable consequences. The game was fairly even, each side being forced, but the play was more of mud polo than football, and the conditions were so unsatisfactory and so unpleasant that ten minutes before time the visitors abandoned the struggle, and left the local team victors by 3 points. .SECOND GRADE FLAG MATCHES. - On Saturday tho matches for the Second Grade Flag were concluded, and the result leaves the Alhambra winners. Follow- ■ ing are the positions of the leading clubs in the competition, so far as can be made out from the reports published: — Alhambra 23, Union A 22, Ravensbourne 20, Kaikorai 18, Port Chalmers 18, Union C 16, Pirates A 15. The Alhambra and Pirates A teams met on the Reclaimed ground, which was in a fearful state, being literally covered with pools of water. The game was late in starting owing to the non-appearance of the referee. Alhambra soon had their opponents in trouble, and from a forward rush Sayers scored a try, Larkins failing to convert. There was no further score during the first spell. On ohanging ■ends Alhambra again nearly scored from a dribbling rush, a force down eventuating. After a lot of give-and-take play Larkins placed a fine goal from a mark. There was no further score, Alhambra thus winning by 7 points to nil. For the winners, MTJennan, CunmnglMun,' Pellowe, and Taylor played well; while Hislop, Wilson, and Irwin played well for the Pirates. Mr Boyd gave general satisfaction with the whistle. Ravensbourne defeated Dunedin by 18 points to nil, tries being scored by Ferguson, Patterson, Webber, Collins, Todd, and Connor. Mr Miscall had charge of the i game. The Union A won their match against the j Kaikorai by default. OTHER MATCHES. i Tha Christian Brothers' School Football i Club journeyed to Milton, and succeeded in defeating the Milton High School by 9 points to nil. Orient claim the match against the Albyn ; by default. | j THE ASSOCIATION GAME. ; SOUTHBRK V. ROSLTN. The Southern, and Roslyn Clubs met for the second time in" the Charity Banner round, owing to both teams scoring the same number | of points, to decide which should play the Northern in the final. The game was played on Saturday, at Green Island, and owing to the sloppy state of the ground fast and accurate I ;)lay was nut of the question. Ashton, the i Southern "skipper, won the toss, and geneI rously olec-ted to play uphill. Stables kicked off, and play was at once dangerously near the Soxithern goal, their defence being put ! severely to the test. The ball was then passed | to S. Brown, «nd that player put in a magni- ! Scent shot, which the goalkeeper juet managed to clear, but Stables being on the alert got the ball on the rebound and safely piloted lit between the uprights, amidst ringing cheers. The Roslyn keeping up the pressure, I A. Dobson put in a high shot, which Stables ! managed to get on to with his head, and ! scored a miraculous goal, the goal keeper havj ing no chance of saving, as the ball just grazed the crosß-bar. The left wing of the Southern (getting the ball well up the field, Fleming put ;n si good shot, which Haynea easily cleared. From this to the end of the first spell, the Southern were seldom dangerous, and it was only the stubborn defenoe of the half back line and the brilliant saving of the goal keeper that prevented the Roslyn from considerably augmenting their pcore. Southern, now playing down hill, were expected to assume the acrcressive, and give the Roslyn a warm time defending, but suoh was not the case, as the Roslyn forwards, aWy backed up by their half backs, kept, pegging away at the Southern goal, their efforts beim* rewarded by Robertson scoring the third gaol with a good shot. Ussher and Robertson, on the left, jfot away with 'some pretty passing rushes, and pressed Ashton so much that he could only cave by conceding a few coriiers. * On the other wing the Brown brothers were kept in check by W. Sparrow, who kicked well and put in some very tricky work. The Southern forwards, rushing down the ground, caught the Roslyn full backs napping, and Holland, with a low shot, opened the scoring for the Southern to the intense delight of their supporters. The Southern again returning io the attack, Holland, with a pretty shot, scored another well-earned gaol. From this to the finish Roslyn repelled further onslaught, a very friendly game ending — Roslyn 3 gaols, Southern 2 goals. G. Macmillan made a very efficient and impartial referee. Moknincton Second v. Ghekx Island Second. The final for the O.F.A.'s Junior Cup was played at Wakari Park by the above teams, and was won by Green Island by 5 goals to 1. Green Island won t.ho toss, and elected to play with the wiwd behind them. Mornington kicked off, and were soon put on the defensive : but their backs managed to clear their goal in good style, and the play was again shifted to the centre, where tho Green Island forwards gob cm a rush and dribbled the ball to within a few yard* of the Mornington goal, where T. Smith lost a good chance to score by falling. The Mornington backs were not to be beaten, and placing the ball nicely to the forwards, who were showing some very good passing, the leather was taken right up to the Green Island goal, where a corner kick resulted. The kick was well put in, but the Green Island soon cleaved their goal, and their forwards again getting possession, took the ball well down tho field, where Crawford sent in a low shot, which beat the goalkeeper, and scored first goal for Green Island. Soon after the kick off play was again in Mornington territory, where Campbell scored i goal number two. Mornington then began to show up, and play was shifted to the Green Island half, where several shots were sent in : by the Mornington forwards, but tho good j kicking of Irvine, Burgess, and Grant, who j were defending their goal in good style, saved them from scoring. By hard kicking and fast following up, Green Island took the play into the Mornington half, where Campbell again scored with a good shot. The ball being again kicked off, the play became a little even until Smith, Campbell, and Renz broke away, and, taking the leather down to the i Mornington goal, Campbell again sent in a j shot, which beat the goal-keeper. Half-time I was then called, with Green Island 4- goals, Mornington nil. From the start of the second spell the Mornington, who were now playing with the wind at their backs, began to make things j very lively for the Green Island. Their forwards made determined efforts to score, but only goal kicks were the result. Green Island however, were not to be beateu, aaid by hard kicking by the backs and good passing by

the forwards the play was again shifted to the Moraington goal, where Campbell, who had shown splendid form from the start, added I his fourth goal to the score. From the kick j off the Mornington made a rush on the Green Island goal, and this time they were rewarded for thoir efforts, Clarke scoring with a splendid low shot. This seemed to put more life I into the Mornington, and at times they made i things very lively round the Green Island ' goal, but they did not manage to score again, 1 and when time was called the score wa« | Green Island 5 goals, Mornington 1. ConI sidering the state of the ground, which was in a very sloppy condition, the game was very : fast. Both teams seemed to be in good form, and both played with great determinaI fcion right through. The Sparrow brothers '! and Hannah brothers did splendid work J among the Mornington backs, and Muir and ; Lochhead were ihe pick of an even lot of j forwards. The Green Island team to a man played splendidly, those deserving of most j praise being Irvine, Grant, and Herbison | (backs), and Smith, Campbell, and Crawford ; (forwards). Mr J. Wilson refereed in his usual impartial manner, and the game was , played in a very friendly spirit from start to iinish. WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. Tho following team has been selected by ' the Match Committee of the O.R.F.U. to represent Otago in the match this week against Wellington : — Full back — Wi Repa. Three-quarter backs — Annit, O'Shea, Stephenson. Half backs — J. B. Macdonald, Sinclair, Duncan (captain). Forwards — D. Munro, Farquharson, Cross, Given, Gregg, Murphy, D. M'Donald, Olson. W. Smith, of the Zingari-Riohmond ' Club, who is in ail probability the best forward in Otago at the present time, would have been selected were it not for the fact that he is suffering from an injured ankle, which the trial match on Saturday proved to be unequal to the strain of 90 minutes' play. The team is, however, a strong one in all respects ; forward, and its back division, while possessI ing tho elements of attack in large degree, lis also a capital defensive combination. The j following comments on the individual mem:- : bers of the team, may be of interest : — j Wi Repa (University). — A very safe full back ; i tackles strongly and surely and stops rushes 1 well ; kicks well, especially in punting, but i should use the touch line more ; has represented ' Hawke's Bay in tho past but plays for the first time for Otago. A. M. Armit (Kaikorai). — The best all round three-quarter back in the team and a dangerous man when in his opponents' quarters, being i very difficult to stop; takes the ball very neatly and runs strongly, punts well with | either foot; and a good tackier. J. O'Shea — A fair centre threequarter back; plays a clever and brainy game in attack, taking ami giving passes well ; punta and drops capitally, and is also a good place . kick ; rather weak in defence ; inclined to chati ter too much on" the field. J G-. S* Stephenson (Dunedin). — A good wing I three-quarter, who is very quick to seize an i opening, and in an attacking game is likely to • score ; is not a safe tackier, but is by no means | easy to pass, and stops rushes well ; fields surely i and his sharp i/iints into touch arc always efi fective. j J. Duncan (Kaikorni). — Captain of the team; I has played f or Otago on no fewer than 27 occasions but is still showing admirable form; i excels in the passing game and makes openI ings very cleverly for his three-quarter backs; ! al3o defends capably; is a capital general. W. Sinclair (Kaikorai). — A player of the i -sturdy and solid rather than brilliant order, ■ whose abilities .ire rather under-rated; gives ] and takes passes well, and collars unerringly. J. B. Macdonald (University). — A powerful half back, who passes well, runs strongly, tackles admirably, drops and punts finely ; also a good place kick; has not previously played for his province. j T. Cross (Kaikorai). — A hard working for- ! ward, who is always in the thick of the fray; follows up welL W. Farquharson (Pirates). — A good centre for- \ ward, and also a handy man in the open; I tackles well. I F. Given (Alhambra).— A first-class forward, , who shines in the loose play; handles the ball ! v/ell. I C. L. Gregg (Jniversity). — A capital all-rouncl j forward, who is never far from the ball; a good t dribbler; his first appearance for Otago. D. M'Donald (Alhambra). — A rattling player, who besides working well in the pack is brilliant in the loose ; another debutant for Otago. D. M. Munro (Union). — Centre forward, and an excellent man in his place > does his share of the work also out of the scrummage. j R. Murphy (Kaikorai). — A strong, untiring ' forward, who is well on the ball from start to j ! finish or the game. • • | W. Olsen (Southern). — A hard-working for- ' ward, who follows tip smartly' and dribbles well ; a good place kick. The following is the Wellington team : — Backs — Hales. De "Vere, Bonar, Wallace, Kelly, Meredith ; forwards — Pritchard, Manson, Judd, Gigger, JM'Anally, Wylie, O'Brien, Hardham, Adams ; reserve — M'Quirk. The meml>ers of the Wellington football team arrived in town by the express from the north on Monday and were met on arrival by the officials of the O.R.F.U. and members of the Otago team, by whom they were

i cordially received. They were driven to tin' I Criterion Hotel, which is to be their head- \ quarters in Dunedin, and there were formally : welcomed by the Otago Union. Mr G. i M'Laren, who was manager of the team that i visited Wellington last year, acting as spokesman, proposing the health of the visitors. • Mr Neil Galbraith, manager of the "Welling > ton team, responded, and on his invitation ■ the Otago Union was toasted SOUTH CANTERBURY v. CANTERBURY. ; - CHRISTOHURCH, July 27 Tho football match Canterbury v. Soutfc ■ Canterbury was won by the former by 26 ' points to 3. Lancaster Park was very heavy1 The sun was hot. and the attendance fair. ■ Play during the first spell was chiefly of a \ forward description, and full of touch-line work and penalties. It was confined to the 1 South Canterbury half except for two good 1 forward rushes, one nearly reaching tho Canterbury line. A South Canterbury wing for- - ward retired disabled about the middle of the ( first spell, and the team played short till the 1 finish. Good passing rushes between Baloh, 1 Phillips, and Menzies enabled the latter to score three tries. The South Canterbury try ■ was obtained from -a loose rush. MANAWATU v. WANGANUL - WANGANUI, July 30. ; The representative match Manawatu V Wanganui was played here to-day, and re* suited in a win for Wanganui by 14 points to . nil, the score being -four tries, one being converted. The matoh between the PiTates (supposed to be the best* junior team in the colony) , and the Collegiate School Seniors resulted in a draw, each side scoring a try. The Pirates visit Christchurch nest week to play Linwood I WAIRARAPA v. BUSH UNION. MASTERTON, July 30. Warrarapa beat tho Bush Union by 18 > points to nil. THE ENGLISH TEAM. BRISBANE, July 26. The English footballers defeated New England by 6 points to 4. NEWCASTLE, July 28, 1 The English footballers defeated the Noif ■ them district by 28 points to nil. ' ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, July 29. . \ There was beautiful weather and a goog . attendance for Che match England v. Aua • tralia. The teams were as follows: — English team. — Full back, Thomson; threequarters, Gray, Timms, Nicholls, and Bucher;- . half-backs, Adamson and Cookson; forwards, , Stout, M'Gown, Jarman, Smith, Gibsoa, Evers, , Judkina. and Swannell. , New South Wales.— Full back, -Woodhill; three-quarters, Spragg, Row, and White; fiv«< eighths, Ward and O'Donnell; half-back, G*l-» , loway ; forwards, Carson, Bouffier, Ellis, Marks, [ Davis, Challinor, Barton, and Kelly. i > Play for the greater part of the first spoil i was very even, but jußt before time Barton ■ got a lucky try. The English full baok slipping when about to take the ball, the local forward fell over him and secured the ball. Spragg converted the try. In the second spell the Englishmen made the game lively. Fjom a mark Adamson made a magnificent kick from nearly half-distance, and obtained a goal. Some brilliant passing ensued on the part of Adamson, Cookson, and Timms, and the latter crossed the line, but lost the ball. Immediately afterwards a free kick awarded to tho Englishmen resulted in Adamson again nutting the ball over. A little later on Timms, Nicholls, and Swannell were .prominent in a dodgy passing run, which enabled the latter to cross the line. Adamson converted, and the game ended : England ... 11 points N.S. Wales 5 points | THE TARANAKI TEAM. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 27. The following representative football team has been selected to play against Wanganui at Hawera, on Thursday next: — A. Bayley, A. Good, H. Mynott, Humphries, M'lntyre, Allen, Mills, Pearson, Parker, Pendall, Wells, O'Dowda, Watson, F. Bayley. Barr; emergencies Holdsworth, O'Carroll, Ryan, Lambie, Smith, Phillips. The team is a good one, especially forward. At the trial match to-day fair individual form was shown. NO PROSPECTS OF A VISIT FROM THE i ENGLISH TEAM. i WELLINGTON, July 27. ! At a meeting of tho Managing Committee I of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night a ' letter was read from the secretary of the English team, stating that the team could not give a definite reply to the New Zealand Union's offer of matches until it had received fuller details. At the time of writing he feared a visit to New Zealand was not very feasible. Tho Auckland Union telegraphed stating that it could not make arrangements regarding the southern tour of its team pending definite information aB to the vißit of the Englishmen, and it was decided to immediately cabl® v«th a view of getting a definite reply from th* Enaliek team. 11, was nt?.tfcd

that the Englishmen were now in receipt of the fuller details required by them. July 31. The secretary of the New South Wales Rugby Union cabled as follows to-day to the New Zealand Union:— "The English team cannot get sufficient men to make the New Zealand tour." This is taken as the final abandonment of the proposed visit to New Zealand. OTAGO RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the committee of j Jhe Otago Rugby Union, held on Monday, was attended by Messrs Gallaway (president), Morris, Campbell, Duncan," Harris, M'Laren, {Payne, Strong, Young, and Hutchison. A telegram from the Canterbury Eugby .Union fixing the 12th August as the date of 'the interprovincial match was received. -A letter from the Oamaru Foojtball Club, '■with respect to a suggested match, between iNorth Otago and a town team, was referred to the Match Committee to select a team from flayers other than those included in the intertorovincial fifteen to visit Oamaru at an eai*ly 3ate. * A joint letter from the Alhambra and Kaikorai Clubs was read requesting a moiety of the net receipts at , the final match for the Senior Flag. — It was resolved to reply that, as " Jthe committee hold the funds of tho union in trust for all the clubs, they have decided to distribute no part of the takings at Flag Matches to particular clubs, unless authorised ty the delegates to do so. It was decided that the players who have Jtaken part in the Trial Matches, but not been ipicked in the representative team,- should receive complimentary tickets of admission to )the interprovincial matches. With respect to the protest from the Southern Club against a goal scored by the Port •JChalmers Second against, the Southern Third, ton the ground that it was kicked by a member »f,the First Fifteen of the Dunedin Club, the jpommittee heard statements by the referee j Jin the match and the captain of the Port Chal- j ianers Second Fifteen, and then deferred consideration of the matter. ■ ' In tlie matter of tho report by the referee : J(Mr J. M. Alexander) in the Second Grade : flflag Match, Southern Second v. Pirates A, ! £that he had ordered Roas. of the former team, j off the field for striking Leggett, of the latter j fteam, the committee heard statements by the i Teferee, Ross (who pleaded provocation), and ! another member of the Southern team. — The- j inquiry was adjourned for the production of 1 further evidence. i [Axl Rights Reserved.] j