BY FULL BACK

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 59

BY FULL BACK

An interested spectator on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday of fche Kaikorai-Al-hambra match was G. Williams, who was a member of the New Zealand Native team which toured England in 1888. Duncan intends taking no further risk byplaying in the one remaining club match prior to his departure for Sydney with tho New Zealand team. He will therefore be an absentee from iis club' 6 fifteen next Saturday. The Otago members of the New Zealand Rugby temn for Sydney, Messrs Duncau, Stalker, Porteous, and Given, leave Duaedin for SVellingbon on Wednesday, July 8. A match will be played in Wellington by the Now Zealand te.im against a combination from Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday, July 11, the* New Zeaianders leaving for Sydney by the Mokoia late on Saturday afternoon. An effort is to be made to d^lay the dopar'ure of tbe Mokoia until 8 o'clock on Saturday, July 11. If this is successful a "send-off" in the shape, of a dinner will b<> given the Now Zeala v* team by the New Zealand and "VMlingt >.-« Unions.

The Canterbury Rngby Usiion haß aooopted tho date— September 19— «uggosk<I by the Auckland Union on which to plo>'. the interprovincial match, Auck lc nd v. Can terbury, in Chrisfcchurch. Mr T. E. Downeu, secretary of fche Union Football Club in the parly nineties, who has been for a number of year? ii. the Bamk of New Zealand, Cape-own, South Africa has been spending a six wee! s' holiday with his friends in Dunedin. Mr Downes left on his return for Capetown on Fridr Three memrx rs of the Ne« Zealand team took part in the match Kaikorai-Alanmbra on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, and the play of Duncan. Porteous, and Given would go far to rofute th' 1 statement, as far as tho Otago contingent is concerned, that several players in the New Zealand team had to thank frho : - several reputations for inclusion.

The first representative match played in Dunedin this season will take place ou August 15. between Otago and Wairarapa. Neither ride wil! be able to put their full strength in the field owing to the absence of several players ;n; n Aiißtr*lia with the New Zealand team. Ota<ro mill be »■ ' hout the eervioee of Duncan. Stalker. Porfceous, and Given, w-nile Wairarapa will be weakened by the absenc- of Armstrong, M'Minn. and Udy. Wairarapa propose playing Canterbury on August 8, and Southland on August 12. returning from Invercargill for thvir match aear =t Obigo on the 15th.

The Otago Rugby Union has suggested to fche Canterbury Rugby Union the playing of the junior rep'esentativo match between Cantei urv and Ofcacro on September 5 The mateli +Vs <=eTsrvn will take place in Obrißtchurrh

The selectorc of tho New Zealand Rugbyteam for Sydney were the recipients of batches of anonvm^ns correspondence from every li'tl" nuMviok townriiip which posSO t S<^ a football club, givinp t'^eir vipw oil fcho ce.leoT.on of the teim and poHiVukrly p-xtoVine- the virtue* of Back TOook Bill. tl--» local win? thrc-qunrler back, "who w worthy of inclusion any New Zealand team." Alfo. if Bill aforesaid was not picked to represTit the ro'onv the Yew Zealand t^am xvoiiVl not he ver>rr>*en<nHv<\

The Metropolitan Union (Sydney) has mepended T J. Ooomber, fche ex Milton (Otagc) player, for the rf-itof the season for striking an opponent in the Xewtown Balmaill mat-oh.

The Auckland repic-entative ' tc-am leaves on its southern tour on August 29, returning to Auckland at the end of September.

Mr A. C. Norris, who will manage the New Zealand team's Australian bour, acted as referee in the recent match between Wellington and Wairarapa, and gave it as his opinion that Armstrong (Wairarapa) is the cleverest wing forward in the colony, also "bat M'" vr '"Ti ; or:e of the« first 6enun forwai d».

Len Appleby, the onmime (1895 96) Canterbury crack goal kicker, who wont to Sydnty in the season of 189? and played for tho Pirates team in that city, hap set up in business ac a photographer in Sydney.

For the firpt time in his long career ns x footballer Duncan was co disabled or Satur-

day a>3 to be carried off tho field, and the veteran came nearly playing hie last game. He was in, the thick of one of those daring bite of defensive play, for which he il famous, when, having got in his kick to the touobiine, was immediately grassed and his recumbent person exposed to tho rush of the opposing players. By accident Duncan (was struck on the head, inflicting a nasty Jrcound above the eye, rendering the KaiKorai back for the time 'being insensible, and necessitating his being carried off the field. It was at first thought that something more serious had happened, but after having his iwound dressed Duncan was able to proceed ihome unassisted.

■ - M'Kay, the Alhambra three-quarter back, jwas not in goal-kicking form agair.st Kaikorai on Saturday. Out of six attempts lie did not sneoeeed in getting one between *he uprights. The majority of the kicks fwrere taken at long range and acute angles, yet three at least want dangerously close. M'Kay is usually equal to placing a goal (from anywhere within the vicinity of the halfway flag — in fact, the longer the range and the more acute the angle the better Buited the Alhambra, big kioker is; but Saturday, unfortunately for the Red-and-OBlacks, was evidently one of his "off" daye, for one successful shot would have settled jthe game in Alliambra's favour. "Roddick wag about the most prominent of the forwards all through. He seems to jhare struck his best form, and led the van in many of the strong rushes." "Quid'nunc'a" comment o-n the ex-Otago forward, playing foi Sydenham against Meriva'e the 'ether day. A Canterbury expert, in his concluding remarks on the New Zealand team, say»: — "I do not propose to find fault with the personnel of the team. At tfie same time I would like to point out that here, ac in other directions-, some inconsistency is apparent, for wliile some of the players have t>een chosen on present form, others have ttc thank their reputations for their inolueion in the team."

English writers are evidently anticipating the visit of the New Zealand Rugby team in 1904. One scribe referring to the two 'New Zealanders, Arthur O'Brien and P. iM'Evedy, of Guy's Hospital, says that if the New Zealand team contains back 1 ? of the calibre of the Guy's three-quarter line, the visitors from "down under" will be a warm lot.

A Wellington Ecribe makes a bad shot. (Writing about Mr Faehe, one of the New Zealand selectors, he states: To the Surprise and regret of keen judges, Faehe, who is the selector of (Wellington team, has done away with the Kings, and substituted an extra five-eighth. (This means more than, appears on the surface. It means that Mr Faehe, having thus |hown himself unsympathetic to the wing Eajne, being one of the colony's selectors, ad the southern selectors being also known opponents to the wing system, the New Zealand Fifteen will go to Australia without wings. fWithout wings! Why, the N<mv Zealand team could fly to Sydney. — Full Back.] The Canterbury College have been granted the u-e of Lancaster Park for the annual match against Otago University on, July 30. Owing to the unsatisfactory state of the iLyttekon dub (Canterbury), it has wifch|dmwn from the C B.U. Senior competition.

The Otago Rugby Union wrote recently to tho Canterbury Rugby Union stating that its Junior competition wcruld not end until 'the first Saturday in August, and it could }iot arrange for the Otago-Canterbury junior representative -match on August 8. The secretary of-the C.R.U. reported that the 'match could probably be arranged for Augv.it 22, ond it was resolved that the Competitions Committee ehoukl deal with the matter.

A Wel'ington scribe, sn the criticising the (Nc-av Zealand team, says: — The selection of Dunom gives added point to a prophecy made three years ago — "that 'Jimmy' Duncan would be in New Zealand first-class football when the majority of players then at the game would have taken to bowls." Btalkor is' an Otago player of whom little is known here, and so h© is passed by .without comment. Given is the Dunedin player who three seasons ago was a junior player, but who has liad a highly successful representative career for the last two years. iPorteous, the Otago wing man, is a hard, "willing" player, possessing both pace and •pndurance. [Given has been playing eenior football in Dunedin for many winters, and won hi-> ren. cap eight years ago. — Full Back.] It is understood that Mark Morrison, the famous Scotch International footballer, is going to South Afiica with the English ttugby team. A correspondent thinks that the New Zealand team would be strengthened by the inclusion of tho ex-Otago forward Roddick. "He played 1 for Otago in all her matches last season except one. After the first game, against Southland, we were told by several papers he was picked to play against Canterbury to strengthen the forward diviBion. He went on totir with Otago, and (ivai selected to play for this Island against the North, in which match ho played a good game. This season he has played consistently well for his club, and as he is a jnagmfit snt place-kick, ho is surely worth Jonsidermg. Probably the selectors have got k, better lot of forwards, and I, for one, think the New Zealand team has a very rosy chance against New South Wales and Queensland combined, if we have eight better forwards than Roddick." The following ere the latest recorded Kreighis of the New Zealand team: — Full Back — Forwards—

The total -weight of the backs, 116 st lib; average, list Blb, total weight of the forwards, ',161 st 3!b; average 13at 61b. At a gathering of New Zealanders in Sydney the other evening a strong committee was formed to arrange a. welcome for and to entertain tho New Zealand footballers. A augg&stion to form a, permanent New Zealand Club in, Sydney was favourably teceived.

The proprietors of Ireland's Saturday Night, the football and athletic edition of (he Belfast Evening Telegraph, introduced ll novelty in football reporting in connec-

tion with the Welsh International. By arrangement with the National Telephone Company, a special telephone, fitted with double "receivers," was installed in the press stand, and the entire report of the match was transmitted over the wire direct to the offices of the newspaper. As a result, the account of the game was completed and in type within a minute from the conclusion of the match. It is claimed to be a record in this class of reporting on the Irish side of the Channel, and also that it has never been eclipsed in either England or Scotland.

The outbreak of smallpox in Hobart was responsible for the tour of the South Melbourne team of footballers, who were to have played several matches in Hobart, being aoandoned.

At the end of the first round of matches in the Senior Grade competition in Sydney, Eastern Suburbs is leading, having won 5, lost 1, drawn 1 ; with 35 points for and 15 against. North Sydney runners-up, with matches won 4, lost 2, drawn 1 : points for 44, against 35.

Thus "Cynic" in Sydney Referee: — "The names of the New Zealand team should be made known shortly. One hears that P. G Ward and J. Duncan are likely to be cnosen. Duncan's name has been submitted for selection by the Otago Union. New Zealander* on this side would seemingly prefer a younger man in Duncan's place. fWhich shows the football ignorance of New Zealanders in Sydney. — Full Back.] Aeher, the Auckland three-quarter, who has been highly successful as a try-getter this season, is considered a certainty for the team. Fiom private advices I learn that there is scarcely an active player of note unavailable for selection, a fact suggesting that the team will be a poworful one.

The English Rugby Union team, which was to have left England for South Africa on June 20, had not been decided upon when the mail left, but invitations had been sent to several international and other players, and it was thought that if these men cau find time for the journey a very good side would be got together. Owing to the large number of interproyincial matches to be played against Otago in Dunedin this season, the club fixtures will terminate the ]a3t Saturday in July, the first trial match taking place on Aueust 1, and the second on August 8. The first interprovincial mateh — that against Wairarapa—will be played on August 15. In view of the reports from the north, which told us that Duncan, whom we regarded as a certainty for the New Zealand team, would have a hard job to ,find a place-, it is interesting to know that when the name of the- Kaikorai back came before the selectors no discussion took place, his name being quietly put down one of the first on the list. One who knows his football as he knows his primer, said they couldn't possibly think of sending a New Zealand team to Sydney without Duncan.

I hear that Patton, of Dunedin, threatens to become a rival of M'Kay a3 a distance kicker. The Dark Blue player, on Saturday last, was dropping out from his own twenty-five, and finding touch inside his opponents' twenty-five flag. Also, in kicking off from half-way, he was landing the ball under the cross-bar.

In looking over likely candidates for the Otago representative team, the selection of which will agitate the minds of responsible persons shortly, I sorted out M'Kay, of the Alhambra, for a place in the threequarter line or full back.

Booth, the well-known Kaikorai threequarter, left by Monday's Melbourne boat on a business trip to Australia. He intends to see the New Zealanders p!ay in Sydney.

M'Kay, the Alhambra back of 1903. is a much-improved player on the M'Kay of a season ago. His big kicking of la-t ytar is still a- feature of his play this season. In addition, M'Kay has acquired the art of attack, and now runs strongly and determinedly for the line. His bui«t of speed and dashing runs were as much a feature of his play as his big kicking. And apropos of this, Where does M'Kay get the kicking power?

Duncan was in great form against Alhambra. on Saturday, and up to the time of his accident was playing one of the best games of his life. While watching the Kaikorai back doing the work of half a dozen men, and doing it brilliantly — now leading in a superb piece of attacking work, anon defending, and in his defence smothering three and four opponents — always where the play was hottest, and ever in the forefront of the game — my one wi.sh was that those longdistance out-of-touch critics could have seen him, as 5000 enthusiasts saw him on Saturday. I fear me we would hear no more inane remarks about the pre- Adamite flavour of the New Zealand team by the inclusion of "Jimmy" Duncan.

A match was played at Arthur's Point on June 24 between the local team and Queenstown, resulting in a win for the latter by 6- points to 3. Duncan and Reid pcored for the winners and Manson for tho Point.

The position of the teams in the Southland senior competition, now the first round is completed, is as follows: — Brits., 8 point*; Star and Pirates, 7 points each; Athletic, 4 points ; Cambridge and Invercargill, 2 points each.

Southland footballers are very dissatisfied at only having one man, W. Stead, picked for the New Zealand tf*am. They consider that P. Praser and M'Nie should have also boen included, the latter on his play in the South v. North Island match.

More Hoolliganiam ! At the concision of a football match between Brunswick a.nd Richmond, held at Melbourne, on Saturday, June 13, the -victory of the latter team and tho alleged unfair conduct of tho umpire so incensed the rabble of boys that they lay in waiting for the winning team and the offending refere*. Failing to gain ac-tess to th« dressing rooms, the youthful belhgorcnts congregated outside the ground. The players engaged, warned by tho polite, jumped into cabs, but a well-aimed piece of bluo metal struck the captain of tho Richmond team on the head, and rendered him unconscious. At the ho-spital tho wound wa3 found not rr> he of a serious nature.

Public complaint having be-rn made, that the language of come Broken Hill footballera in the midst of an exciting game wasn't polite, tho authorities took action and a policeman (says an Australian exchange) was told off to prevent any repetition of the offending expressions. The first match under the new Social Purity rules had interesting points The policeman stood in the centre of the playing ground. The players didn't buear, but a good deal of play centred around the constable. Player after player bumped him, apologising most sweetly. They also called to one another like this: "litre I am, "William, dear,"

"Pudher, dear comrade, pass tfce ball to me, ' '"Run, Carrots, run, there's a good chap." The audience was too flabbergasted to barrack with any vini, and when the match was over, the usually leather-lunged onlookers were content to drive home singing hymns. It was altogether a nice, oleau match, though it wasn't football as the game is understood at the Hill.

The Executive Committee of the Q.R.U. has decided to refer to the New South Wales and New Zealand Unions the recent deoision of fehe Queensland Referees' Association to award a penalty kick for passing tho ball to a comrade by a player when on the ground, as the result of a tackle. [The penalty L> correct. — Full Back.] The team of English Rugby footballers who are to make c, tcur of South Africa sailed on board! the Briton on June 10. The following players constitute the team: — Morrison (Scotland, captain), Harrison (Middlesex), Hamoock (Richmond), Skrim-<-lure (Blackheato), Hind (Leicestershire), Davidson (Ireland), Gillespie (Scotland), Nell (Scotland), Walker (Middlesex), Sievwright (Scotland), Stout (Richmond), James Wpll-ace (Ireland), Tedford (Ireland). Joseph Wallace (Ireland), Roberts (Cambridge Uni-%-ersity), Greig (Scotland), Scofct (Scotland), Smyth (Ireland), and Gibson (Cambridge University).

Aii Auckland telegram states that in the Senior football matches City beat Nowton by 22 points to 4 ; Ponsonby beat Parnell, 12 points to nil ; and North Shore beat Suburbs by 5 points to 3.

A Christchurch telegram states that in the Senior football matches Linwood, 6 points (a try ami a penalty goal) beat Sydenham, 3 points (a try) ; Chnstcliurch, 11 points (a goal from a try and two tries) b"at Menvale, 5 points (a goal from a try) ; Albion, 29 points (four goals from tries and three tries) beat Canterbury College, nil ; Old Boy, bfat Lyttelton by default. A Wellington conespemdent telegxaphs : Petoue 12 points beat Melrose 6; Wellington 11 pointe beat Athletic 6.

NOTES .ON SATURDAY'S TLAY. ,

Tho Kaikorai- Alhanibra match proved, m expected, a very exciting contest, and one in which a. little more feeling was introduced than is conducive to good football. It is to be regretted that reference has again to be made to rough play, and this lime must place the great bulk of tho blame on the hill team. The Southero-Alhambra match showed clearly that two strong teams can meet and play a hard game from etart to finish, and ( yet in the friendliest spirit. On Saturday Mr Williams found it necessary to caution players in the Biue-and-black division on more than one occasion, and even from the point of view of the players themselves it is surely foolish of them to run the risk of getting into troubles which might imperil their chancefi of places in the interprovincial team. Coming to the match iteelf, there was not a great deal to choose between the two teams, and both were strong in attack and sound in defence. Duncan's defensive work was particularly fine, and but for his resource the Reds would probably have had another victory to their credit. The Blues' forwards also played a great game in the loos©, although the Reds, especially in the first spell, had the best of ifc in the ecrums. Considering the way the Reds' backs have been changed about during the season, they deserve credit for the excellent stand they made. Johnston, King, and M'Kay were all good, the last-named requiring great -watchfulness on the nart of the other side.

The Pirates-Union match, on the North Ground, calls for little comment. From start to finish the game was exceedingly fast, and tho forwards of both teams infused plenty of dash into their work, and rushed the ball up and down the field in great style. Throughout the Union had distinctly the hotter of the game, and it is a wonder their score was not lamer. Both in the scrum and in the loose thpir forwards were superior to their^ onponents. The backs of both teams fielded the ball well, but to run with it in the state of the ground was almos-t out of the que-stion, a fact that several of tiie backs endeavoured repeatedly to counterbalance by tenaciously carrying the ball into the thickest gathering of opponents wherever visible. W. Munro and Duthie were the pick of the Union backs, while Hislop played a fine game for the Pirates, the full back, Turner, also being very safe. The small boy " barracker ' was very much in evidence during thp game, and (eocoent when attending a dog-fight or other not unusuaJ North Ground tideshows) was an unmitigated nuisance to players and spectators. Mr W. J. Wilson's decisions as referee gave every satisfaction. The Zingari-R'chmond held their ground against their doughty opponents veiy well during the first spell on Saturday, and when the teams changed ends it wag expected that tho struggle for victory would be a keen one. The Southern, however, no doubt mindful of tliPir experience a. week previously, opened out in the second spell, and. completely overrunning the ZingariRichmond, ouiekly compiled a score which the tatter had no hone of equalling. The first half consisted chiefly of forward play, in which department both teams were about equal, but occasionally the leather got out to the backs, and the winners made good use of their opportunities. The Southern played up to their best form in tho second =pell, and, instead of the game being confined to the forwards, the ball was sent out to the backs, who handled the leather with a precision that could not fail to have good results. The forwards on tho winning side played with excellent combination in the loo*e, while in the scrums they frequently had things their own way, pushing their opponents back several yards at a time. The sub^-tantial victory of the Southern was due in a great measure to the expenible tackling of the Zingari Richmond, who persisted in attempting to collar high, with the result that a Southern man often passed three or four opponent* before he was stopped. The winners also showed up to bettor advantage m "V, liKaig nn and thereby gained a ' • ji> ■ Tho Southern full back • .. . .i b«i\ictable game, and all the thr-'p-ijuaitcr-. came fully up to expectations. Bonnet, \vho>e ypeed enabled him to do an immense amount of work, was a veritable thorn in the side of the Zingari-Kichmond. whose quarters he was almost continually invading in the second spell. Casey again played very well, and of a good lot of forwards Goodman, Taylor, S. Casey, and Leyden were probably the beat. Thomson, the ZingariRichmond full back, was very safe, and he was in no way responsible for the largo score recorded against his mdc. Bolt and Collie were the best of the other backs, both players doing a large amount of sterling work. The forwards, as mentioned abovp, tackled badly and did not fallow up well, but their play in other respects was good.

Abbott and Stewart, who were in the thick of 'the fray throughout the game, were tht> bc-t. Mr \V. Wilkinson controlled the game, to the satisfaction of all.

The Dunedin-University match was keenly contested, and a good deal of roughness was obsenable. Minor accideuts were numerous, and the game was stopped on several occasions to administer first aid to the injured. The players on both sides, however, seemed tough, and always came up to time. Fairclough, at full back for the University, played soundly, and M'Pherson and Adams were the pick of the three-quarter line, Adams-'s kicking being a treat. The halves played well, but lacked combination. Buck. Robertson, and Gibson, of a very even forward team, might be specially mentioned. Dale, at full back for the Dunedin, did all he was a«ked to do. Don, the centre threequarter, was very prominent, while M'Larcn and B. Watson were a -olid pair behind the scrum. Dunne and Paton were the only Dunedin forwards of any merit.

Bt. lb. R. M'Gregor 11 10 liree-quarter BacksA&hw .. 11 9 D. M'Gregor 11 10 Stalker .. 12 0 'ivo-eighths — Duncan .. 12 8 Wood .. 12 G "Wallace .. 12 0 Stead .. 11 4 lalf Backs— Kiernan .. 10 4 Harvey .. 10 6 Armstrong Porteous Tyler - Gallagher Fanning . . Long Cpoke Nicholson M'Mina . . Given .. Spencer . . Udy .. .. et. lb. 14 8 12 6 13 2 12 8 13 10 13 3 13 6 13 6 14 8 18 2 13 0 14 0