FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 41

FOOTBALL.

BY DEMON.

3JOTES BY FOR WARP.

J. S. Hawked, formerly captain of the Christchurch Club and a Canterbury representative in 1891, is leaving Christchurch for Capetown to receive substantial promotion in the service of the New Zealand Insurance Company. A seven-a-side tournament at Alexandra on the Queen's Birthday resulted in the Limerick Club (Bald Hill Flat) winning. Three teams from the Alexandra Club and two each from the Upper Clutha and Clyde Clubs also competed. In the matches at Wellington on Saturday last the Athletic Club beat Molrose by three points to nil, the Oriental Club beat Petone by six points to nil, and the Poneke Club and the Old Boys played a drawn game, each side scoring three points. An Auckland telegram reports that several accidents . occurred in the football match , Waitekauri v. Paeroa on Saturday last. Five . of the Paeroa players were injured. One re- . ceived an injury to his leg, another had his j forehead cut open, another a couple of ribs ; fractured, a fourth had his nose broken, and a fifth was rendered unconscious for some time by a -blow on the head. Senior Flag points to date : Alhambra 6, Union 5, Kaikoi'ai 4-, Zingari-Richmond 4, TJniv'ersifcy 2, Dunedin 2, Southern 1, Pirates 0. W. P. Chadwick. of Exeter, America, has place-kicked a Rugby ball 200 ft Bin. The longest drop-kick on Record is 161 ft 9in, a performance credited tc M. Cooper, of Oam- > brir ere, on Kovember 21. 188 L

A team from the Dunedin Club proceeded to Lawrence to try conclusions with the local team last Thursday. The game resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. A team from the ,Clifton Club, Dunedin, journeyed to Milton and played a match with the local juniors last Thursday, the game ending in a draw, no score being registered by either side. The Pirates Second Fifteen visited Outram last Thursday to try conclusions with the local team, whom they defeated by 17 to nil. For the losers Snow, Murtagh, and Bathgate (backs), and Anderson, Baird, Alexander, Andrews, j>nd Ca*-mody (forwards) were the mo3t prominent of an even lot. Mr M'Neill had of the game, and gave general satisfaction. The annual match between the Pirates (Dunedin) and Christchurch Club, ended iv a draw, neither side scoring. The ground was soft, and the game was mainly confined to ihe forwards. The back play was inferior. The Kaikorai Club, which has been accustomed in the past to win matches by the instrumentality of its backs, won its match last Saturday by the instrumentality of its forwards. Man for man the University backs wore . decidedly superior to their opponents, and there can be no doubt that if the game had been made a back game the Kaikorai .would have been worsted. The Kaikorai forwards, however, took charge of the game, and the University forwards did not stand up to them at all well. The result- of the -match is gratifying to me. for the reason that'it may disabuse some minds of the foolish impression that it is 'by the play of the backs that a game is to be won. That is a complete fallacy, and lias been shown to be such repeatedly in, international matches at Home. I may be told that my argument is not based on a Folid foundation in this instance, because, as, a matter of fact, the winning- try for the Kaikorai was scored by one of the threequarter backs as the outcome of a passing ru&h between the backs. That is perfectly true, but it is also perfectly true that the, number of passing rushes by the Kaikorai backs last Saturday^could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and that it was regularly to the forwards that the team was indebted for its presence in the University terriiory. It was a forward (Porleous) who secured tlie first -try for Kaikorai, and the same player wriggled over the University line again in the second spell. His try Mas disallowed on that occasion, but it is a very moot point whether the ball was- actually held in the field of play. The Eaikorai were without Duncan and Murphy last Saturday. Murphy had a touch of influenza during the week, and this necessitated his abstinence from playing. Instead of working in a scrummage he held a flag on the touch line. Duncan was, I understand, suffering from a cold. But the Wingatui racecourse is rather a strange place to go to nurse a cold. The absence of the^e two players I weakened the Kaikorai materially. The back division was, however, strengthened by the presence- of Jackson, who, having returned i from Christchurch, played centre three-quax--ter back, and did good work, his kicking being ' of great servise. Of the forwards Cross and Porteous were among the hardest workers. ' The latter played on the wing, and his dash was very noticeable. If»he were a scrumrnager^ he would unquestionably, if he kept up his form, be a formidable candidate' for a place in the representative team. W. Sinclair and Tlerr, besides Jackson, did well among the backs! Sinclair made a capital opening for ' Sim when the latter scored. He gave Sim a splendid chance, also, of getting a try between th.3 University's goal posts in the first spell, but the three-quorter back muffed the ball. Orbell impressed me most among the University backs. His speed, his weight, and his ability to swerve in his i mining make him a likely scoring man if he gels half a chance. Wi Repa did some fine kicking, and White was brilliantly erratic. The half-backs were occasionally j)rominent. Of the forwards Fenwictk was the pick. Meredith, on the*' wing, was a heavy man wasted. ' The Union and Oamaru Clubs played their annual fixture on the Caledonian ground on the 24th inst. before a large number of spectator?. The Dunedin team kicked off with the wind in their faces, and in the early stages of the game play vyas largely between the respective forward divisions. The only score in the first spell was a try gained by Hunter, who took a pass from one of his half-backs and got over the Union's lino, putting up 3 points for the visitors. The shot at goal did not add to the score. The second spell was much more open, and fairly smart work was put in by the backs of both teams. The game was, however, evenly contested, and it was not till within a few minutes to time that the Union managed to equalise the score. White got over the line as the result of a good passing; rush by the Reds' backs. No goal resulted, and the game ended in a draw. The play of either team does not call for much comment. The Union had to fill up the ranks of their First Fifteen with half a dozen men from the Se- i cotid, consequently the club was not repre- ' sented by its best men. The forwards of both sides were pretty evenly matched, and, if anything, the backs of' the local team were I slightly superior to those' of the visitors. M\' • | Alex. Downes made, as he always does, a good j | referee. i In last Saturday's senior matches at Onri&t- ' i church. Sydenham bpat Linwood by 9 points to 3. Merivale»bpai. Albion by 19 uoints to 3. Alhambra had the upper hand throughout in tlieiv match with Southern. Their for- ' wards ore an honest lot. and secured the ball in the serums nicely, while in the loo^e they played brilliantly, pelting on some fine rvsliee. Mitchell and Whinham were perhaps the mosi; prominent, the former of whom gives piomise fif making a good forward. Among the backs Larking was only fair. He does not kick wisely, and several times he had his forwards running about too much, by kicking 10 the wrong side of the field. R. Bennet. as centre thres-qitarter, played a fine game. The special feature of his play is the nice manner in which he fields the ball. Stephenson, Johnston, and Knowles also played well. For the losers, Lawry was safe at full back, and Bonnet and Goodman were the most conspicuous of the remainder. The forwards were overmatched in* the scrums, but in the loose they were very good, Olson and Allen being about tlie best. Mr R. Isaacs controlled the game in a very impartial manner, and his decisions gave general satisfaction. i The busy times the foundries are experi- ' enema; accounted for the absence of two of the Union players on Saturday. White was also an absentee, being unable to get in from , the country, and Gow was taken from the j forwards and placed at wing three-quarter. I The other vacancies were filled 'by J. Thomson and A. Beadle, and towards the end of the first spell Clarke gave his weight to the Matoona. The Pirates were also at a disadvantage. They missed Priest, while Coventry was also absent, his place being taken by Sparrow. The remainder of tho team were not in (.heir best form, not having recovered from their trip north. The game was a capifcil nno tlivrmo-linne anrl *V>a unnvn

( would lead one to think it was one-sic: y . lher» | was a good contest, and the Union < ou.d no'i J trifle with their opponents. The passing of j the Maroons' backs was good, Munro Thorn-, j soil, and Walker being noticeable for capita^ I play, and Adams, the full back,, put in somsi useful work. The forwards all worked welJ". but sadly missed the weight of some of thsii\ mates. The Pirates' full back was erratic* in his kicking, some of which, was excellent arid some valueless. Hislop wjis the smartest of the backs. The forwards combined well. j all through, their line-out work and loose, ; rushes being very serviceable. Mr Mahona' I made a satisfactory referee. . \ The play in the Dunedin-Zingari match*' j was fast and furiotis from start to finish, and the game was only won in the last few minutes. The back play of the Dunedin team : was not up to the usual mark, and had it not j been for M'Kay the score of the Zingarj must ( have been materially increased. His running, [ and kicking were first-class throughout, and j it can safely be said he never played better.I Mackenzie also played a serviceable game, ' and was the means of stopping a score on more | than one occasion. Amongst the halves, j Connor showed good attacking powers, but ! his defence was father weak. In the scrums | the Dnnedin team had, if anything, fhe ad- • vantage, but in line and loose play the Zin- • gari had a decided lead. Dunne, Walt, Eyre, and Bremner were prominent throughout. Marks, the Zingari full back, had not, much to do, but he mado no mistakes. Smith, the centre three-quarter, played very well. Fish and Turnbull (who had replaced Thomson, he having to retire) also p\it in good work. , Turnbull is a strong runner, and was all true over the line on two or three occasions. Co'ili« ■ was the' best of the half backs, but was «<&! , supported by Fordyee and Austin. Amo&£«i the Zingari forwards Hobbs, Abbott, Steward,' Smith, and Campbell were about the best. , Mr A. Spence referced to the complete satisfaction of the players. ' In the Association match Wakari v. Mornington Lothian, playing" in goal foi the former, was very safe, always clearing Ms goal, and at times brilliantly. Sligo and D. and J. M'Millan also put in serviceable play, the latter scoring three out of the five goals. For the Mornington, ijearns, at back, kicked well, and repeatedly relieved his side. Muir and Clark worked well together, but did not receive sufficient support. Mr C. H. Stables controlled the game, and gave every satisfaction.' '' In the iDatch Green Island v. Northern, Campbell, for the home team, played a good game in goal, and all the others showed good form, as also did the visitor.*, but Kilgour -deserves special mention, his kicking and tackling being done in splendid style. Mr P- W. • Peters was referee, and his decisions gave every satisfaction. k L . _ | OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. ! A special meeting of the Otago Rugby ; Football Union was held at the City Hotel iast ' Monday. Mr A. Wilson (president) occupied ' the chair, and there were about 20 delegates present. An apology for non-attendance was received from Mr J. M. Gallaway; The Clyde and West Taieri Clubs were affiliated with the union. The Chairman -said the next business was the consideration of an application" made to the • union by the Zingari-Richniond Club for assistance in improving their football ground. He understood that the assistance was desired more particularly for the erection of a dressing pavilion.. He thought the club were entitled to assistance if they could make it clear to the delegates exactly what their outlay was likely to be, and what steps they intended to take to raise the necessary money. - i Mr G. Dunn moved — " That a sum of money not exceeding £30 be granted to the ZingariRicfhmond Club for the purpose of erecting a pavilion at Montecillo, this grant to be made -subject to the following conditions: — The 1 committee of the O.E.I I . U. to be satisfied aa to the tenure of the ground, the pavilion to become <tho property, of the 0.R.F.U., and a sum of at least £15 to be spent by the club on improving the ground before the beginning of Xhe next football season." On the motion being put to the meeting, it was carried unanimously. The President paid he understood that the winners of the Junior Grade Flag last year wero the Alhambra Club, and he was asked to present the flag to the club. He had much, pleasure in doing so, and in congratulating the club on winning the flag. His wish was " also that they might win it another year if they were the best men. He had much pleasure in presenting the flag to Mr Beissel, who represented the Alhambra Club there thatnight. Mr Beissel, in returning thanks for the flag on behalf of the Alhambra Second team, said he had much pleasure in Excepting the flag, ' and he could say that the team would not willingly part with it. MEETING 01 THE COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the committee of the O.R.F.U. was held at the City Hotel last Monday. There were present — Messrs Wilson, (president), Morris, Hutchison. Macassey-, M'Laren. Isaacs, Harris, Ross, Duncan, and < Campbell. The Secretary of the Kaikorai Club wrote that he had been unable to send a reply re the Senior, Flag for 1895, *OAving to his not having been able so far to get a full committee meeting. — A request from the Thames Union that the Otago team should play there during the northern tour was declined, as the Thames Union is affiliated to the Auckland Union.— The Pirates Club wrote asking if Mr T. A. Hunter was still a member of the Oamaiu Cluw. The letter having bean referred to the secr«a.try ol the latter club, he replied that* Mr Huawi was not now a member of the Oamaru CJlvrtj, as he had intimated at the beginning of }»« season that he intended to play for the '(ftd* versity Club. The matter was referred rfl the Flag Conraiittee to report. — The Nelson Union wrote requesting that the Otago team should play at Nelson. The secretary was instructed to ask if there ir&& any pros-pooi; of the Nelson representatives visiting Duneclin if the Otago team did play there this year. — The Port Chalmers Club wrote drawing attention to the disgraceful state of tko reclaimed ground, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Flag Committee. — Mr H. 'R. Kemsley, of Port Elizabeth, wrote requesting a copy of the flag rules of the union. The secretary was instructed to comply with the request. , Messrs Harris, Hutchison, and M'Lar were reappointed a Match Committee.