NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 53

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Mr H. Harris, treasurer of the local Rugby Union, and one of the selectors of the New Zealand team for England, left for Wellington on Saturday to assist . in finally selecting the team' which is to represent the colony in Great Britain. In connection with the foregoing, it may be interesting to know that the names of those selected will be submitted to the New Zealand Rugby Union foi approval. A special meeting of the N.S.W. Rugby Union was held recently to deal with a resolution regarding the appointment of a paid seci-eteary. After a lengthy debate, the following motion was agreed"';*}: — "A secretary shall be appointed by the o..\mcil, and shall devote the whole of his - lime throughout the year to th© affairs of the union. He shall retain his position until removed by a two-thirds majority of the members present at a council meeting specially convened for such purpose. ? Should the council determine at any time to remove the secretary, one month's notice, or one month's salary, may be given him. The council shall make regulations with regard to the appointment and control of the secretary, and the duties to be rljscharged by him. The council shall determine from time to time the salary to be paid to the secretary, and such salary shall not exceed £250 per annum."

Devon Albion appears to be the only English club which nowadays can make any lasting impression on the crack Welsh teams. Fresh from trouncing Cardiff (says an English Writer), they have now drawn with the hitherto all-powerful Swansea fifteen, though handicapped by the absence of their star performer, Vivyan, and having two forwards badly crocked during the game. The fact is that the Albion players thoroughly understand the Welsh system of play, and thus are able to frustrate the brilliant movements which overwhelm other English teams.

At a meeting of the English Football Association letters were read fi-om the New South Wales and New Zealand Associations asking the F.A. to send out a representative team to play matches in the- Australasian Coloraes. The council decided to appoint Lord Kinijaird and Messrs C. W. Alcock,

D. B. Woolfall, and G. S. Sherrington a* a commission to consider whether arrangements could be made for such a tour. We understand (says Athlebic News) that the followers of the Association game "down under" find that the visit of the Rugby team from Great Britain has given a great impetus to the handling code, and to counteract this, and to bring the Association game more prominently before the colonial public, they are anxious to secure the visit of a representative Association team. But could such a tour be undertaken for less than £7000? The M.O.C. spent £14,000 on their recent cricket expedition to the Land of the Golden Fleece. A correspondent in Johannesburg, writing under date October 30, says: — "We here (New Zealand R.F.C.) have brought our season to a -close now, and some of the men are not sorry either, as we play under different circumstances out her© to that in. New Zealand — a hot sun striking lown all the time, and the ground like asphalt. There are no turf grounds in Johannesburg, and only three to play on. all in the onu enclosure, called the Wanderers' Grounds. You pay Is for admission and Is for grand stand. Sometimes three matches are being playect at the one time. Thousands go every Saturday, including a fair sprinklin^ of ladies. The Transvaal R.F.TJ. is in a very financial state. Mr W. F. Dunne, of Dunedin, is secretary. -We have two teams going in the Transvaal — one in Pretoria and the other in Johannesburg. The N.Z.F.C. had a bad name last season £or roughness, but this season there are nc complaints, as people see it is their style of play. The clubs hers, are all inclined to - take their men high, but the New Zealanders go for their men hard and low, and upend them. The Johannesburg Club played 2A matches last season, won 18, lost 5, and drew 1, running second for the cvp — not a bad record, as most teams here play good football. I believe next year, with systematic training, we will carry off the cup. The club went on tour to Klerksdorp, and played the pick of the Western Transvaal before a big crowd, and came out on top by 12 points to 5-- There are not many_ New Zealanders here — at least, footballers — and it is very hard on the men to -play 24- matches. All through the season we had only three men to fall back upon, which placed us at a big disadvantage; unlike other clubs here, who have four teams to draw on. One niatcb^ we , couldn't get men for love nor money. ,Low was laid out in bed for a fortnight, Peake hac 1 a dislocated shoulder, and a few more were sick. Even then the Diggers could not cross our line, beating us by two penalty goals to nil. If we had had our full team in it would have been a walk in, so the Diggers won the cup. There are some very sterling players in the team, the back division being a very sound lot. Cameron, of Dunedin, was our best man at full back — always safe, but inclined, to run up too far. Low, also of Dunedin,- -was wing threequarter. He is very, speedy and a strong runner, 'also, a sure tackier— l think ihe best scoring man. of the**4eam. "'"The way he roriiped through the C.S.A.R. team and scored, fou. tries in succession was a treat to witness. He is also .captain of the earn. Turner, on the wing, is very fast, and a deadly tackier, but his best place 1 is behind "the scrum; ,in that position his equal ia not : in Johannesburg. Peake anc 3 Watts were centre. Charlie is at" times a good pjayer, and very tricky, but seems to carry, bad luck. First he hurt his groin, then his shoulder, and then sprained his ankleThese accidents seemed to frighten him — afe least, he didn't put his usual dash into it afterwards. Watts stuck to it all through. Keith was half, and Allan (of Dunedin) played five-eighths, both being very good players, Allen especially always using his head for tricks, and a .quick tackier ancl clean passer. Towards the end we only had three three-quarters, on account of Peake being hurt. The forwards are a fine lot, and get the v ball almost any time when asked. There is little comparison in the lot, all doing their share. M'Nab, Fitzmaurice, and Sheffield were in the lead. The passing was a treat to ccc among the backs — short and snappy and very accurate. We had three men picked and played in the representative matches — Low and Turner in their old positions on the wing, and M'Nab in the forwards." Mr R. D. Bedell-Sivright, who captained the British football team which toured New Zealand .last winter, left Sydney last "week for Japan.