NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 53

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Footballers will gird tip their loins in real earnest next Saturday, when a start will be made with the various grade matches m the Rugby Union's flag competitions. An ex-Otago representative in Dr Hotop, who wore the light blue iersey of the Otago University, left for England by the Morayshire on Sunday to further pursue bis studies. Dr Buck, the ex-New Zealand broad jump champion, follows later in the year. Both ex-University footballers will follow up the game in England. When, the Otago University football team visits Sydney in July next the star player of the 'Varsity will not accompany the combination. Young Gilray is a student first and foremost, and a footballer after that. This is to say that he prefer* missing the trip to Sydney to missing his University lectures. Sweeney, who is said to be a Manawatu representative, has joined the Kaikoz-ai Club. Any player who comes with the reputation of a " rep." is looked 1 upon with reverence until he shows his capabilities with a Rugby ball. . There are quite a number of new worshippers at the sHrine of Rugby football in Dunedin this season. Now that the several clubs have got thi-ough their practices one is able to get an idea of their prospects. The Alhambra Club has suffered in some respects since last season. Men who have played prominently with the Red-and-blacks, and have won their representative caps, who are spoken of as giving the game a rest, are Hobson, Mitchell, and Given. -The latter player is out of town, but is expected back shortly. Mitchell was reported to be about to loin the benedicts, while Hobson simply thinks of retiring. I will not be surprised to see all three playing before the season is far advanced. A trifle weak forward, Alhambra. should 1 , however, haye 1 a very strong rear division. The three-quarter line will include Reid (late of Dunedin), with Bennet centre, and probably Slattery (of Wellington) on the other wing. It is, however, rumoured that, albeit practising with Alhambra for a. couple of Saturdays, the ex-Wellington rep. does not intend to play throughout the season. Union, who made an excellent showing in all their matches last season, anticipate doing even, better this, as they have a better team all round. Gray, late of Linwood (Christchurch). has joined the Maroons, and is expected to turn out quite a reliable full back. The" three-quarter line will be a fairly speedy trio, while the half back and five-eighths will be alike good on defence and attack. Grant, late of Milton, who has taken up his residence in Dunedin, has joined the Union, and will play behind the scrum. The new-comer is a determined rush-stopper, and will help to take the burden of defence off W. Munro, who has borne it so long. Th© forwards, as has been the case for some years, will be light, but fa§?. Rowlatt. Harris, Murdoch, and M'Kenzie will be found in their old places in the vanguard. Union have been drawn against^a pretty warm lot in Kaikorai for the first match of the season. One of the strongest teams in town this season will probably turn out in Kaikorai, who, in addition to several promising new players, have worked up a healthy, strapping lot of juniors. It not infrequently happens that a man having retired for a season or two fails on _ coining out again to get back into anything like his old form. One exception _is Duncan, who in practice has been showing the road to all-comers. Starting training early in frhe season, Duncan ja now in great condition, and may be expected to show glimpses of his old form during the season. At anyrate he purposes, by his play, proving that he is not done with, and that a place must be kept for him behind the scrummage. Kaikorai's three-quarter line, with Booth, Armit, and Dobson. can reasonably be expected to "do things " during the season ; while the half and five-eighth division may also be depended upon to do good work. Morrison, a forward from the Dunedin Club, has been playing well in practice, and is certain to find a place in the First Fifteen of the hill team.

Numerous losses have weakened the Pirates team, particularly C Hislop's transfer to Balclutha. Clark will probably take HLslop's place behind the scrum. Miller will be playing full back for the skull and crossbones team, and in that position the Blacks can rest in security. The threequarter line will be more use'ml than briliant — this to say, they will excel in defence rather than attack. Maybe not. Of the forwards Donald Stuart will be "principal character," unless there is an '^unknown" who may take the honour from him. Fenwiok and Wilson will, I take it, be found in the pack again this season. It was -rumoured' that the ex-Christchurch player was anxious to make a name for himself in the threequarter line.

The "die-hard" Zingaris have secured a clever five-eighth in A. Low, who is said to have been mentioned in connection with a South Island team on one occasion. Low originally belonged to Ravensbourne, but ■for the past two years he has been in Nelson, where he has played several Q,ood games. In practice Low has proved himself to be a good man, and will certainly strengthen the Zingari back division. With Collie, Bolt, Low, and Smith the Zingai-i rearguard should be something to ponder on. The forwards will again bs on the liefht side, but what tlVey lack in weight they will make up in dash. Stewart, Abbott, Caradus. and Low will form the backbone of the forwards. Dick Spiers and Hobbs are also spoken of as about to play again.- The latter will play in the lock, a position that was troubling the selectors. Altogether the Zingari team should give a fifood account of itself during thp. season. I had almost forgotten to mention that Stewart one time of Pirates, is expected to win a place in the Zingari forward line this season. Duuedm has suffered cruelly by the trans-

ferring of several of their prominent pkyers — notably Reid, Don. and Morrison — to other clubs. The Dark Blues will, how-•r-\er. be able to put a good fifteen in the field who will not cry "Hold, enough!'' for lack of training. Last year's premiers have experienced several changes, amongst others two good forwards in Goodman and Ta3 lor being mentioned as having ictired from the game. The team, on the whole, though not so strong-looking on paper as that of la?t seasou, can be dep-ended on to put up many good games in defence of the banner. The efforts of several of the senior clubs in town to cater for th& Wednesday halfholiday per-on by forming Wednesday teams has mot with poor support Ihe Dunedin, Kaikorai, and Union were the latest clubs to attempt to do something for their brethren, but the meetings called for the purpose lapsed owing to the poor support accorded. Evidently the bone and finew of the Wednesday half holiday man does not look for development by Rugby football. It is reported that Swannell, of the Biitish team, who left his "Rugby specials" behind him after the match against Otago and Southland la«t year, m t«i,ds returning for his property, and settling dow.i som-ewhere in New Zealand. Perhaps this is only gossip, for Swannell has applied for permission to ph*y_ for 3 club in the Sydney district competition?. An item about an English player of our acquaintance : F. C. Hulme, Birkenhead Park's brilliant international half back, was damaged at BirkcnheaJ on Saturday, March 4, while playing against Sale. Receiving a severe kick to an old injury, he had to retire from the game,, and fears are entertained of his ability to turn out against Scotland. How thay train footballers in America. — The Harvard Athletic Committee has offered William T. Reid, the famous football coach — a graduate of the University in 1901 — the substantial salary of £700 a year for three years to train the eleven, and Reid has accepted. It is evident that Harvard intends getting even with Yale, regardless of expense, as it is said that the rowing- coach, Jim Wray, the Australian sculler, also has a record salary from what are known as the University Navy authorities. In the Schools International match between England and Wales, decided on March 4- in the presence of 7000 spectators, "little Wales" won by two tries to nil. Harding, who was through "these parts with the British football team, is captain of London Webb., in whose three-quarter ' line figxiro two other Welshmen not un- ' In-own here — Llewellyn and Morgan. The football championships under the auspices of th» Auckland Rug-by Union ' commence ou May 6. It is now definitely stated that George Smith, the once retired footballer, will come out again this season, playing centre threequarter for th 3 City team, Auckland. . It is reported that Asfoer, '"Opae" of that ilk, is not likely to play Rugby football thii season. Word lias reached Wellington that it is i practically certain a team of English footballers will visit Ne-.v Zealand in 1907. Several noted players will be able to make the trip, and it is expected that the team will be stronger both in backs and' in forwards than last year's team. - Jas. Lannbie, one of the best forwards New Zealand ever turned out, died at Hawe-ra on Sat irday, April 15. Lambie played for Taranaki, and was. a member ot the New Zealand team which \isited Sydney in 1893. The South'Afriean Ruglby Union has informed the authorities in Sydney that it is not possible to send' a team to Australia this season, as a visit was expected from the New Zealanders either on their way to or from England. The matter, is was promised, would be mentioned at the annual meeting of the South. African body as to any future action. At a. meeting- of the Auckland Rugby Union, held last week, the following officebearers, were, elected : — President, Mr A. E. Devore ; vice-presidents — Messrs J. Arneil, F. M. Jervis. and C. Hesketh ; secretary, Mr C E. MacCqrmick; treasurer, Mr C. V. Langsford ; auditors, Messrs P. R. Fraeer and T. Macky; Commitee of Management — Messrs M. J. S'heehan, R. B. Lutk, C. P. Slichbury, H. Conquer, F. J. Ohlson.

Swannell, the British forward, captained' the North Sydney Probables against the Possibles, and led his side to victory by 10 points to nil. Swannell was asked if there was any chance of Bedell-Sivright, the captain of the last British team, playinsr in Sydney this season.. The Britisher said he did not think so, as the famous forward

was thinking of going Home again. "Still, I am going to write to see if I can Coax him," added Swannell.

The action of a schoolmaster at one of the principal Sydney public schools in con-

neetion with the game of football to be played by his boys has caused comment in sporting circles. The secretaries of the

New South Wales and Metropolitan Rugby

Unions were told that the boys desired to play the" Australian game, and the master intended to allow them to have their own way. Something, however, prompted the

officials to ask that the boys should settle the matter by a show of hands. The teacher was quite agreeable ; but he was considerably taken aback at the result. "All thobe boya who played the Australian game last season hold up their hands," was asked. Scarcely a hand wag not raided. ''All those boys who want to play it again?" Not a hand went uij, but in answer to a qu&ry as to those vyho wanted to play Rugby every boy had hie hand up. It is stated that this has happened at more than one school, and some of the officials think other action should be taken.

The annual meeting of the Johannesburg New Zealanders Football Club took place on March 4, at Long's Hotel. Some forty members and intending members were pies-ent. The following office-bearer'; were elected :— President. Mr W. Pott; vicepresident* — Messrs A. Jack, Loo Northoroft, W. Hutchison, J. W. A. Thomson. B. R. A very, H. Knight, and H. Da.-hwood ; captain, Mr J. Low ; vice-caprain, Mr C. Peake : honorary secretary, Mr L. Sheffield : committee — Messrs Hobbs, M'Nab, ard Novthcroft, iun., with captain, and vicecaptain ; Selection Committee, Mr Da«hwood and captain and vice-captain ; representative, at annual meeting of. Rugby Union, Mr Hutchison. A gymnasium has been secured for the n«e of members, and Mr Knight, a former representative New Zealand player, kindly consented to act as coach at all practices.

The members of the London Society of Referees, an estimable body ot enthusiastic Rugby footballers,. lia\c the Athletic

New*) pledged thcmf^lves to support a series of alterations which a subcommittee has suggested "should be made in the laws of the game. The changes are significant in themselves, and are interesting from the fact that in many degrees they coincide with the alterations which have been made years ago ;n the Northern Union game. One proposal is that the charge be. abolished in the caso of free kicks, and kicks at goal after a try has been obtained, and that any player may take the kick or place the ball. Another good idea is that a goal be recorded if it eoes over the bar, even though tho ball in its flight bo touched by an opponent. It ifc also suggested that a fair catch may be made from a rebound, and that the highly tricky notion of bounding Ihe ball into play from the touch line be abolished. Another snge proposal is that a player may be put on side by a colleague even though the latter did not himself kick the ball. A Nelson telegram states that the Association football match Swifts (Wellington) v. Nelson Wanderca-s was won by the Swifts by two go. h to one. A mixed team from the Zingari-Richmond Club journeyed io Alexandra ?nd met tlfe local team on Saturday. A telegram to hand advises that Alexandra was victorious by 3 points. All members are lequested to most ai the High Street Gymnasium Hah 1 on Tuesday at 7.30.