NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 52

NOTES BY FORWARD.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, the hon. secretary produced the copy of a letter forwarded by Mr Rowland Hill (hon. secretary of the English Union) to Dr Burns, of Dunedin, acknowledging tho receipt of documents, stc, on the subject of the accident to Armit, and 1 stating that the committee of the English Union regretted that it could not consider it as a case in which it oould .intervene with advantage. The competitions under the Canterbury Rugby Union .commenced on Saturday. The grounds at Lancaster Park, de=spite >(v heavy rains, were in splendid order. Chief interest was centred in the Merivalc and Christchurch match, which, after an even and exciting game, resulted in a. win for the former by 3 points to nil. Kaiapoi and last year's chamj)ions, Linwood, played a drawn game, in which no score was made, the country team having the best of the play. On the south ground, after an exciting match, the Sydenham team won by 12 points to 9 against Albion, although the latter can claim to have ,made a decided improvement and had much the best of the game, being unfortunate, in fact, in being defeated. The annual match ander Rugby lules beween England ami Scotland was played on March 10 at Eranburqh, and resulted in a draw. The Refers:- says:— lt was a magnificent match from start to finish. After the momentary attack of England, Morrison headed a grand dash, which resulted in Buiiting having to save, and Rotienberg and Gam]in interchanged kicks. TJtie three Smiths, A. R., H. 0., and Gordon, were early very prominent, and fine forward rushes by both teams characterised the whole of the first half. On changing ends the Scots had-, if anything, the be3t of the deal, but Bunting played a great game, and was instrumental in saving his side more than once. Numerous stoppages were necessary owing to the vigorous nature of the play. Shooter. Smith, and Gamlin being knocked out. Fast and furious play was the order of the second half, .and after Bunting and Welsh had nearly scored for their Fides, the game ended with honours easy. The verdict was in accordance with the game, for there was really nothing between the team=.

The New Zealand Rugby Union lias decided that this year the Appeal Committee shall be located at Auckland. No final reply has been received with regard to the visit of a New South Wales team to this colony.

The weekly meeting of the O.R.F.U. committee was held on Monday. There were present — Messrs Wilson (president), Morris, Hutchison, Gallaway, M'Laren, Isaacs, Macassey, Harris, Duncan, and Campbell. A letter was received from the secretary of the Alhanv bra Football Club inquiring whether any fixtures were to be arranged for Third Fifteens. The secretary was instructed, to reply that a meeting of secretaries would be held on "Wednesday evening- next. A letter was received from the Zingari-Riehmond Football Club asking for support towards the erection of a pavilion at Montecillo. The secretary was instructed to reply that the committee were 1 fully in sympathy with the proposal, but they havfe no power to vote any sum for such a purpose out of the union's funds without instruction from tho delegate?.

Al the meeting of the ISew Zealand Union the question of arranging details for a visit from a New South Wales team was referred to the Management Committee, with a recommendation that a scheme should be devised by which each colony would finance its own touring teams.

SATURDAY'S PRACTICES

The Kaikorai Club's finnl practice match was between a Probable Fifteen and the Rest

of the Club, and resulted in a win for the -Fifteen by 10 points to 6. For the Probables tries were scored by Porteous and Murphy, both of -which were converted by Adamson ; while Sinclair and Broadfoot scored for the Club. There was a good muster of players, and fair form was shown.

The final practice of the Union Club was attended by a fair number of players. Sides were chosen by D. Munro and Walker, and the latter's side proved victorious.

The Dunedin held their final practice- on the Caledonian ground, sides being captained by Messrs Williams and Mackenzie. A very fast and interesting game resulted in a victory for Williams's side by 18 points to 11. The first spell was very fast, and the way the ball was kept going proved that the majority of the players were in good form. For the winners, Pringle, from a speculator, kicked a goal, while M'Kay potted two beautiful goals. H. Thomson and Turner scored, but both kicks at goal were failures. For Mackenzie's side, A. Bragg succeeded in scoring three tries, the first of which Cornish converted with a fine, long kick from the touch-line. Mr R. D. Isaacs had control of the whistle, and kept the placers strictly to the rules, more especially the new rules. Players are particularly requested to attend training on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The Pirates held their final .practice at Carisbrook. A Probable team played the Rest of the Club, the former winning by 38 points to nil. The ground was in good condition, and the game was a very fast one. . Taken all round, the play of the Probable team was distinctly good, the passing of the backs being of a high order. The best of them were 0. Sutton, J. M'Leod, and Hislop. The forward play was rather ragged, the men going too much "on* their own," but with a little .practice they should turn out to be a g-ood lot. Gordon, M'Leod, and Kirkcaldy were about the best of them. On the other - side Sparrow and Clark, among the backs, . and J. Gordon, Irwin, and Gregg, in the for- : wards, were the most conspicuous. The Zingari-Richmond held their final prac- ' tice at Montecillo, when there was a Jarge attendance of players. The match was between the Probables and the Rest of the Club, and, after a, keenly-contested game, the Probables were victorious by 16 points to nil. Tries were obtained by G. Smith, Fish, Abbott, and Mitchell, two of which were converted by A. Smith.

The Ravensbourne Club held their final practice at Ravensbourne, when the Probable team played the Rest of the Club, and after a fast, open game beat them by 8 to nil. The players wish to thank Mr Glover, of the Referees' Association, who came from town and took charge of the game, thus giving the players a good insight into the new rules.