NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2673, 7 June 1905, Page 57

NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAY.

The few spectators who found their way to Carisbrook on Saturday did not see an interesting exposition of football, but probably they did not expect such a thing considering the weather and the state of the ground. The play consisted largely of forward play, with a few passing rushes — the latter being invariably of an indifferent charaoter. In scrum work the forwards were pretty evenly matched, and in the loose both teams showed up to advantage at times, though on many occasions combination was sadly wanting, with the result that much effort was used to no purpose. The backs did not indulge in much passing, and, as already indicated, their efforts in this department of the game were crowned with but little success, this result being chiefly due to the players holding on to the leather too long. Burns, the Christchuroh full back, played a reliable game-, in which his capabilities were not severely tested. Potts, Moore, and King, the three-quarters, and Jones, half, put in a lot of useful work for the visitors. Fryer, at five-eighths, played probably the best back game on th© ground, his fine turn of speed enabling him to trouble his opponents very considerably. His kicking was also well judged and effective. Qf the forwards, Starkey, Budd, and M'Hraith were' probably the best. Amongst the Christchurch forwards were A. Cracoft Wilson," who .was,, while . resident in the cathedral city, a member of the Christchuroh .Club, and . Hutton, both of whom filled gaps in the ranks of the visitors. The Pirates' backs were, on the day's play, a vesy even lot, all of them doing a fair amount of good work. Their passing was very erratic, and Nicholson showed a decided weakness in taking the ball when passed to him. Of the forwards, Butter- . worth was very proflunent, and was un- j doubtedly superior to the others on his side,

' if not, indeed, on, the other side also. He was continually in the thick of the fray, and was generally at or near the head of the loose rushes. Talboys, Whitson, and iDenniston appeared to be the best of the other forwards. Mr J. Williams controlled the game to the satisfaction of all concerned. Undoubtedly the Blues won the match on the superior play of their backs, who handled the ball with their usual freedom in attack. Zingari wer«, in fact, rather fortunate in haying only two tries recorded against them in the first spell. In the second spell the Zingari forwards played with great determination, beating the opposing vanguard rather badly; but Zingari's attack, though prolonged, was quite deficient in system, while the defenoe of the Blues was, except in the matter of stopping rushes, sound, so that only one try resulted. Adams, the 'Varsity centre, wa9 in capital form, playing with good judgment — he and Maepberson, on the wing, playing perhaps the best games on the ground. Gilray, on the opposite wing, got no chances, and was lamentably neglected. Wi Repa, at full back, was generally reliable, and sometimes almost i brilliant. Borrie is a sturdy scrum half, j and Lomaa and Heale got the ball away well. The '"Varsity forwards were beaten by their opponents in the second spell, _ but showed themselves a fast lot in the loose — A. Thomson j Harrison,' and Bartram being 1 always to the fore." Of tlie Zingari backs Collie playe.d a_ splendid game, Low being also above the average." Bolt's plaoe in the team was taken by Torranoe, who shaped well. Of the Zingari forwards Caradus quite distinguished himself on his reappear- ' ance, and is a very promising player. The ; game was generally decidedly fast, and of ian open nature in the first spell. Mr A. i Downes gave every satisfaction with the i whistle. University ... 10 points. Zingari ... 3 points.

THE NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE TEAM.

WELLINGTON, June 4. The teams for Australia and Great Britain were picked on Saturday night, and endorsed by the committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The following are the names -: —

Backs. Gillett, Canterbury. E. Booth, Otago. Wallace, Wellington. D. M'Gregor. Wellington Thomson, Wanganui. G. Smith, Auckland Harper, Canterbury. Mynott, Taranaki. Deans, Canterbury^ Hunter, Taranaki. Stead, Southland. P. Roberts, Wellington. FOBWAKDS. Casey, Otago. Tyler, Auckland. Gallagher, Auckland. MacKrill, Auckland. Glasgow. Taranaki. Corbetfc, Wcstland. Johnston. Otago. M'Donald. Otago. Newton, Canterbury. Seeling, Auckland. Nicholson, Auckland. O'Sullivan. Taranaki. Glenn, Taranaki. The following will make the trip to Australia: — Wallace, Booth, M'Gregor, Thomson, Smith, Mynott, Hunter, Roberts, Gillefct, Glasgow, Casey, O'Suilivan, Corbetfc, Glenn, Seeling, Nicholson, Gallagher, M'Donald, Johnston. (Fitou Orn Own Cobbesfondent.) The team selected last evening to proceed to Great Britain is generally regarded as a strong combination. The match in the afternoon revealed the fact that the South Island players were greatly outclassed by the Northern team, which, under very trying conditions, gave a brilliant exposition of Rugby football. The Northern forwards were good in the loose, and always on the ball, while the backs played a remarkably fine attacking game, their quick, unerring passing of the sodden ball calling forth repeated cheerrf from the crowd. They also showed good defenoe when occasion demanded it. Tho three-quarterbacks on the North side were practically a certainty for the team after the first spell. There was one brilliant bit of passing on the part of the South Island team, as good as anything done by the Northerners, but generally the South did not play such a "heady" game, and their backs were often too olose up, and not quick enough in getting the ball away. Auckland supplies six of the team, Taranalri five, Otaero four, Canterbury four, Wellington three. Wanganui one, Southland one, and West Coast one. James Duncan goes with the team as coach to England, but not to Australia. There is adverse comment here about his selection. Six thousand people witnessed Saturday's match, and the takings were £300. The stand accommodation, which was insufficient to acoommodate the people desiring seats, should receive the attention of the Alhletio Park Company, which derives a large part of its income from patrons of football.

OFFSIDE PLAT.

The following letter from the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union was included in the correspondence read at the meeting of the O.R.F.U. on Monday night : — The suspension of the player Little, of West Taieri Club, for three weeks for rough play ip the match Pirates Second v. West Taieri has been endorsed. The ruling of the Appeal Committee on the point raised by you is: — (1) That in the event of a player being offside at the time the ball is thrown forward oi 1 knocked on by one of his own side, that the greater breach — viz., offside, — should be found aerainsfc hia side. As to whether the penalty should be a free kick under law 8 (a) with the option of a scrummage where the ball was last played, or whether under the last part of law 8 (a) a scrummage at th© place where th© breach occurred, must be at the option of tfie referee, who alone can deaide the fact as to whether or not the offender was unintentionally offside. The Appeal Committee is of opinion that if a player, being offside, bandies or attempts to take a ball, he is not unintentionally offside.

OHRISTCHURCH v. PIRATES,

The annual match between the Christchurch and Pirates teams took place at OaTisbrook on Saturday, in the presence of a small number of spectators. The weather w»a bitterly coldj but fchs ground, was in

' very good condition, considering the nature of th© weather during the p_ast few days. A few minutes after the start of the game the home team rushed the ball well up towards the Christohurch line, where they were awarded a free kick. Talboys had a shot at goal, but th© ball went low and wide. After some open play, in which the Pirates had rather the best of matters, Lomas put in a fine run before being collared by Fryer about the Christchurch twenty-five. A nice combined rush by the Christchurch forwards took play to the Pirates twenty-five, but the Blacks soon shifted the scene of operations to a little beyond the halfway. A good rush by the visitors, aided at the commencement by weak passing by the Pirates, took play to the Pirates twenty-five; but Fairclough, outting off a pass, took the ball past the halfway. King (who charged down a kick), M'llraith, and Walters took play past the Pirates twenty-five, but the attack was only of momentary duration. A few minutes later, however,' Fryer speculated, and by fast following-up secured the ball again before it landed, finishing up by scoring near the corner after a nice run. Moor© made a fruitless attempt to convert. The visitors retained the upper hand for some time, but eventually a fine rush by Butterworth and Fenwick took the ball well down the line, and Talboys, Kirkcaldy, and WhitGon were instrumental in gaining more ground for the home team. Fairclough had a shot at goal from the Christchurch twenty-five, but nothing came of it, and th© first spell ended immediately afterwards. A few minutes after the resumption of play the visitors got close to the Pirates line, where they were awarded a free kick for offside play "by Lomas. M'llraith had a shot at goal, but the ball fell under tha bar. The Christchurch team had the beat of the game for some time, though they did not become really dangerous. Eventually Butter-worth and Nicolson shifted play to the Christchuroh twenty-five, whero the Pirates essayed a passing rush, but with indifferent success, and Budd and Jamieson were chiefly instrumental in shifting play' to the Pirates end once more. After some more open play Jones got possession of the ball about the Pirates twenty-five, and after a splendid dodgy run, in which he eluded several opponents, he scored in a fairly good position. Fryer took the kick at goal, but the ball -a r ent a trifle outside the post. Towards the finish of the game the Pirates livened up considerably, their play being characterised by a good deal of dash. A fine rush by the forwards took play well inside the Christohurch twenty-five. Loma3 then put in a good run, but spoiled the chance by passing badly. Th© home team maintained an attack for a while, but faulty passing nullified the good work done, and Christchurch eventually relieved. Nothing more of interest occurred, and the game therefore ended: Christchuroh ... 6 points. Pirates . . Nil.

NORTH v. SOUTH ISLAND.

WELLINGTON, June 3.

The North Island v. South Island match was won by the former by 26 points to nil. The South Island never had a chance. Their backs had practically no combination. Their forwards were beaten in loose work, and it was not until the second spell that they showed any good work. About 7000 people were present. There was no wind, and a heavy-j slippery ground, with fine weather overhead. The game, -with the exception of a brilliant back run by the Southern backs and occasional short, quick passing runs by the fast Northern backs, was below expectations. The ground wa3 no doubt responsible for this. The North Island backs were far superior to their opponents in line kicking, handling the ball, and pace. Thomson (Wanganui) was brilliant in attack. Roberts, Hunter, Mynott (half and five-eighths) showed good form. Tries were scored by Hunter, Thomson (2), Glenn, Johnson, and Smith. Four of these were converted by Wallace.