NOTES BY FULL BACK

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 56

NOTES BY FULL BACK

The following tables will show the positions occupied by the Second, Third, ?nd Fourth Grade teams at the close of the competitions : — SECOND GRADE. Points 11 | 1 a i% || gu J Q fa <B fxiCL, Port Chalmers 10 10 — — 127 21 20 Raven sbourne 10 8 1 1 73 17 17 Aihambra ..10 7 3 — 66 51 14 Zingari .... 10 6 2 2 60 39 14 West Taieri .. 10 4 2 4 23 6 12 Southern .... 10 5 4 1 15 19 11 Ka-ikorai .... 10 5 4 1 54 48 11 Taieri Rovers.. 10 5 5 — 49 54 10 University .. 9 4 4 1 41 26 9 Green Island .. 10 3 7 — 21 65 6 Pirates .... 10 2 6 2 24 95 6 Dunedin .... 10 2 7 1 59 57 5 Union .... 9 1 7 1 9 73 3 THIRD GRADE. Aihambra ..9 9 — — 161 6 18 Ravensbourne 9 8 1 — 98 21 16 Port Chalmers 9 7 2 — 95 23 14 Union .... 30 6 4 — 93 37 12 Southern ..9 5 4 — 70 38 10 Taieri Rovers .. 9 4 5 — 59 106 8 High School .. 10 4 6 — 57 103 8 Green Is.a-nd .. 10 4 6 — 31 74 8 Zingari „ .. 9 4 5 — 29 58 8 Kaikorai .., .. 8 3 4 1 17 67 7 Pirates .... 9 3 6 — 50 71 6 Duaedin .. 9 1 7 1 32 114 3 University .. 7 — 7 — 15 76 — FOURTH GRADE. Aihambra .. 9 9 — — 180 7 18 Port A 9 8 1 — 201 20 16 Port B .... 9 7 2 — 74 39 14 Southern .... 9 5 2 2 44 38 12 Dunedin .... 9 4 5 — 57 112 8 Pirates .... 9 3 5 1 43 86 7 Union .. ..• 9 3 6 — 37 96 6 Kaikorai .... 9 2 6 1 31 84 5 Zingari .... 9 2 7 — 15 48 4 High School ..9 1 8 — 9 142 - 2 In a quiet corner in the littleNative cemetery of Otakou lies all that is mortal of Tame Rangiwahia ild'ihana (Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison), one of the most famous of all the famous footballers New Zealand ever produced. Some time ago there was a movement on foot, originated by the Poneke Football Club, Wellington, to perpetuate the memory of the late Mr T. R. Ellison by raising funds for the erection of a headstone over his grave at Otakou. The idea was to raise the necessary sum by shilling subscription — a scheme which one would have thought would have received the whole-souled support of not only the personal friends of the deceased, but of the legion who admired his prowess on the football field. The movement, regrettably, met with little support, and was a week or two ago finally abandoned. The dead are soon forgotten. When on a visit to Otakou on Saturday last, I made inquiries about the> grave of the late T. R. Ellison, and was shown his last resting place. Tho scene was an impressive one. The blue vault of heaven above, the dancing waters of the bay below, and the little Native cemetery nestling on the hillside. The grave of the late lamented Rangiwahia Ellison is surrounded by those of his illustrious ancestors. Gazing upon the "tarrying place" of the famous footballer, I thought of the promises made and ot the promises unfulfilled. No headstone marks the nlace of

rest, and the rude mound is as it was left when the mourners departed. Of a truth the dead are soon forgotten. Still, if a proper appeal is made to tho many friends and admirers *of the dead footballer, not alone in "Wellington, but all over Now Zealand, I feel sure it would meet with heartfelt support and sufficient money be raised to perpetuate the memory of one who was foremost in the Rugby game in this colony by erecting a headstone on his grave at Otakou. The writer would be pleased to receive contributions towards that desirable end, and to acknowledge the same in the&e columns. T. R. ELLISON MEMORIAL FUND. I am pleased to acknowledge the following ! subscriptions to the above fund: — j Friend £0 10 ] T. H. I. 0 10 : D. M. S 0 10 I The selectors of the New Zea'and team to meat the Australians in Dunedin on 2nd September have been insriueted to j.iok the colonial ropre&cniativcs not later than 24-th August. Speaking at the reception to the visiting Australian Rusfbj footballers at Wellington the oLher day, the Premier suggested to the Native Minister that an opportunity should be given the visitors of 4 meeting a team of Maoris before returning to Australia. * As a r-urta-'n-raiser to the match New Zealand v. Combined Australia, to be played on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, September 2, it is proposed to play a match between the combined schools of O-iago and Southland. A trial match of the local schoolboys was held on Friday last. Another will take place this week, after which the team wiU be selected. There conies a time in the life of every* footballer which he considers opportune for retiring. This serves to introduce the statement that amongst others deserting the game is J. Mitchell, whose services as a lock forward on behalf of the province extends over a considerable period. The ball used in the Canterbury-Otago match on Saturday last again behaved in a "very reprehensible manner, fairly deluding the 30 good men and true, who played themselves sick anticipating it. There is something radically wrong with our system of play when a mere piece of inflated leather can so upset the calculations of experienced footballers. It is remarkable that after its oapers in the match against Manawatu the same ball should be again j brought out to repeat its conduct the fol- ' lowing Saturday. For the peace of mind of the players and for the general good of the game it is to he hoped that the elongated oval will not be given another opportunity of showing its sheer cussedness. It Is anticipated that J. King, the Otago half back, will have sufficiently recovered from his recent illness and accident as to be able to take up his old position at the back of the Otago scrum on Saturday next. King's return to health and strength, and, incidentally, his return to the football field, will be hailed with delight by his ma.ny admirers. Certain it is that the back division of the Otago team wiil be greatly improved by King's return. The Canterbury touring team will have a long and wearisome journey on Thursday next, when, in order to reach Christ-olmi-ch in goodly time to .sort themselves out for the match against the Australian team, they will leave Inve-reargill early on Thursday morning, , arriving in Dunedin at midday and entraining on to the north express, arriving in C'hristohurch somewhere towards 11 p.m. Only four members of the Australian team which is to play here on Saturday, September 2— Wicknam, Swannell, Burden, and Judd — have previously been in New Zealand. Swannel] was here with the last British team. He stay-ed in Sydney after leaving tin? country, and .-played there') throughout the season. Australia will not ! play wing forwards. There will be three j fro"t-rnnVers, and {lie backs, of whom there will be four three-quarters, will be relied I upon to do their share of the work. All sorts of rumours have been flying about the oily (says the Wellington correspondent of Ihc Canterbury Times) as to a warrant being 1 out for the arrest of a member of the New Zealand team now on its wav to Great Britain; It was alleged that it had its origin in some misconduct" in Sydney. The rumour was based upon certain proceedings which had been instituted ' by a local lawyer, acting on beha 1r of a client, for the recovery of a deb con- ! tracted some time back. The interview between the representative of the legal profes- ' sion and the player culminated in a satisfactory truoe. As a general rufe the match between Canterbury and Otago excites a deal of public interest, but strangely enough the attendance at Saturday's game tell away below that of former years. The cold weather no doubt kept away a large number who would otherwise have been, present. Despite the show&rs of rain which fell early on Saturday morning, the ground was in good condition. _ The high wind blowing down tho field interfered to some extent , with the general play, but Boreas was not i wholly responsible for the very mediocre exhibition of Rugbj displayed. On the teams lining out the visitors arjpeared tho heavier, albeit the official guide only gave Canterbury the advantage of 16oz above that of Otago. It was generally believed that Otago having won the toss and playing with the wind, nothing less than a double-figure score would ensure the game to the province. So deadly was the tackling of the Canterbury representatives in the first spell, and of such solidity was the general defence of the team fiom across the Waitaki, that Otago had to content itself with tie comparatively small score of 7 points. With the exception of an occasional friendly visit into Otago territory, Canterbury was on the defensive throughout the whole of the spell. In the first half Otago beat Canterbury for the ball, and the Dark Blues were enabled to sot the machinery of the rearguard in motion. Several dangerous-looking passing rushes were initiated, but they invariably ended on the touch-line. This was in a measure di^e to Adams, who, instead of running straight or trying' to cut in, made across the field, with the result that the wing was completely boxed on the line. Tho defensive tactics adopted by Canterbury of "driving" the- Otago backs was a good move, as it saved the Red! and Blacks from a greater score being- piled up ag-ainst them.

The attack of the Otago backs showed little or no originality, and was at tames utterly without resource. The visiting footballers' defence wag sound. They seldom left a gap in the line big enough for a skaclow to creep through, lefc alona a man.

The seU-Jippointod critics round the rin^ saw innumerable gaps in the defence through which a player might have wormed his way, but when an Otago back did try to penetrate the line he found Canterbury a veritable octopus.

Full 20 minutes of Otago attack and Canterbury defence =aw the Blues still within striking distance of the line, but unahle to get across. A sudden change of tactics by the Otago backs caught Canterbury on the hop. Adams saw a orack, through which ho ran, and, passing opportunely to his elubmate Macpherson, that worthy dashed over near the nosrs.

Taking a line through tho stubborn play cf Canterbury in the firs! spoil, it was goneraUy believed that, having the wind in thsir favour, tbe visitors Mould raise trouble for Otago, and keep the looal men busy on defence. Up to a certain point this contention was correct. The men from. Canterbury did trouble Otago, but not sufficiently so as to raise much uneasiness to local support-era. The Canterbury backs were quite unequal to ihs attacking game. Their passing was slow in execution and uncertain in its accuracy. It wa3 probably less in the taking than the giving where the fault lay. Albeit frequently in excellent attacking positions, the Canterbury backs failed to rise above mediocrity. The trouble lay principally with the five-eighth division, who hung on to the ball too long before sending it out to the three-quarter line. The Canterbury backs showed no resource on attack, but their defence was sound. In the solid work the Canterbury forwards were, if anything, superior to the local side, but in the loose Otago showed to greater advantage. The Canterbury full back played soundly, bufc had he been bustled with a fast team of forwards coming at him would have been in trouble, as he was slow in getting in his kick.

The three-quarter line could not be distinguished for good attacking play, for the reason that except on very rare occasions they got no opportunities of showing their merits. Fryer made a couple of runs, displaying a good turn of speed, but it seemed that he pr-ef erred to pass ■when he raigHiy have gone further on his own. Weston got off the mark very quickly either with or without the ball, but he spoiled all his good play and jeopardised any chance of victory his team may have possessed by hanging on to the ball. Fraser played well as an individual, but did not have any understanding- with his three-quarter line. Burns behind the scrum was only moderately successful in the position. The forwards played solidly from end to end, but on the dribble they kicked too hard, losing all touch of the ball, and invariably landing it into the arms of the Otago back*. The young Southern player, W. Kindley, to wit, played well at full back for "Otago. He kicked with a deal of judgment, and got down to his work in commendable style. On occasions he was caught with the ball, and was sometimes deceived in its flight; but, taking his play on the whole, the Southern tull back gave a good exhibition. In the three-quarter line the two University wings, Macpherson and Gilray, stood out for good. work. The running and fielding- of the ball by this pair was of a high order, while their defence was also sound. Bennett was not so much in evidence aa usual, but he got in several good flashes of footwork.

Eckhold at five-eighth stood out quite in a class by himself, and was easily the best back on the ground. The Southern player is alike sound on attack and defence. He shows resource and dashes of originality in his play, and is altogether well worthy of the honours conferred upon him. Eckhold is sufficiently well balanced to accept this little testimony in the proper spirit. Adams, of the University, was in great form at goal kicking — his two successful efforts from rather difficult angles were particularly praiseworthy perlbmanees. Of his play generally it must be said that he has shown to better advantage. _ The University man's principal fault lay in the method of his attack, which was invariably across the field, resulting- in the wings being cramped on the touchline when the ball was ■passed to them. It appears to me that if Bennet and Adams were to exchange places a marked improvement would be made in the back division.

The weak spot In tlie Otago backs was the scrum half. In this position Collie failed to do himself justice. He makes the unpardonable mistake of playing a fiveeighth game in a scrum half position. While he adopts this attitude, as he did on numerous occasions on Saturday, his fiye-eio-hths are playing themselves sick waiting for the ball. Instead of juggling, Oin-quevalli-like, with the ball as it comes out at the back of the scrum, the Zingari man should fire the leather out to his backs m a single motion, and label all his efforts, and particularly the ball, "very urgent.' To get the ball out, to the backs before the serum breaks up should be the principal duty of every well-behaved half back. The forwards showed marked improvement on their display against Manawatu, particularly in the loose, in which department of the game they outclassed their opponents. The- line-out work was again poor, the feeble attempts to take the ball being at times deplorable. Nobody seemed to care whether he marked his man of not, arid it was a common sight to see a knot of Blues in the centre of the line with the Canterbury men strung out. . On' the- forward play shown m Otago this season the province cannot bone to hold its own against the formidable Wellington vanguard. More dash is wanted in the loose nlay and considerably , more weight required in the seiums. It is not 60 rnuoh that the men fall short of the weight required, but that they do not put all their strength into the task. Coming to individuals in Saturday's game, the forwards who stood out for good work were Thomson, Porteous, and Low. It is going baok to ancient history to record the first match which took olaee between Canterbury and Otago in 1877. On that occasion the match was won by Otago by 46 points to nil. Strangely enough, the contests between the provinces for the three following years were drawn. 16 was in the year 1881 that Otago again opened 'accounts by defeating Canterbury at Christchurch by a goal and a try to nil. Otago (followed up that victory by defeating Canterbury for the next two years in succession. The northern province then had a say in the honours, Otago being vanquished in 1884- and 1885. In the two following years the matches were drawn. Otago again won in 1888, and continued victorious until 1892, in, which year, and the year following, Canterbury asserted superiority. _ From 1895 Otago placed a long list of victories to the province's credit. In 1901 Canterbury rramiuarl £h« first victory since 1893. Asm

other drawn match was played in 1902, and tho matches in the two following years were won by Otago. Of the 28 matches played between the provinces of Canterbury and Otago, 17 have been won by Otago, five by Canterbury, and six have been drawn.

The Auckland representative football team went south to-day (wires my Auckland correspondent on Saturday), and plays the first ma+ch of ihe tour against Taranakx on Wednesday, following with the matches against Wellington and Wanganui on Saturday, 26th, and Tuesday, 29th. With George Smith ' (three-quarter back) and half a do/sen of our best forwards — Cunningham, Gallagher, Seeling, Tyler, Nicholson, and Maekrell — on their way to the Old Country with the New Zealand combination the 1905 team cannot be regarded as a very strong one, and if recent displays may be taken as a criterion the Auckland representatives will not return with a very enviable record. The backs are eoiind defensively, but only moderate as an attacking division, and in their first match — that against Taranaki — will be without the services of Mackeuzie, who joins tho team at Wellington. The forwards are solid, hard grafters, but lack the brilliancy of - the men on their way to England, and unless tli-ey sliape better than in thematches played so far ihe Wellington team should defeat the Auckland combination of 1905 season " pretty comfortably next Saturday. Tlie team is as under : — Backs—Newdick, Mackenzie, Coote, Wynyai'dj Twiname, Magee, Todd, Kiernan ; forwards — Fraser, W. Tyler' (wings), HerriDg, Dunning, Francis, M'Guire, Marshall, Trevarthen, M*Guire. Hayward. Apropos of the - presentation of purses of sovereigns made to - members of the New Zealand team, a, Wellington writer is informed that private individuals in this colony have forwarded the information to the English Rugby Union, for Mie purpose of having- the recipients declared professionals. The strict view of the laws in regard to professionalism in England and Wales would undoubtedly point to the recipients being classed as professionals, but it appears to the view of every commoneense person in our democratic colony that the rule is positively ridiculous, and wants wiping out altogether.

"Wnereas information hath this day been laid before the undersigned that you, the said William G. Garrard, on the 27th day of July, 1905, at Ohristohurch, in the colony aforesaid, having control of a building, to 'wit, th-s pavilion on the north side of Lancaster Park, in the city of Christchurch, did on Thursday, the 27th day of July, 1905, allow the said building' to be used for the purposes of a public amusement, to wit, a football match, mot having a license for the said building from the Christchurch City Council." The above fearsome document was produced by Mr Garrard, secretary, at the meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union Committee last ■week, and was interpreted to mean that the union, through th© secretary, was to be haled ..before the' bench for allowing football to be played "in an unlicensed building,", to wit, the pavilion. The members were unaware that football had been played in" the pavilion", but they passed by the loose construction of the ominous blue, warning, and instructed the secretary to appear in court and answer to the charge. The secretary accepted the trust with no loeen^ relish. "Supposing X get six months," he suggested, dolefully. However, the meeting heroically resolved to let him run the risk. .

The manager of the Australian team, (Mr J. R. Henderson), replying to the toast of " The Visitors" at the reception in Wellington, thanked the gathering for the hearty welcome accorded the visitors. The Rugby Came in Australia, he said, was never in a more flourishing or popular condition than it is to-day. It had been said that Rugby in Australia would be superseded by other games, but he assured his hearers that Rugby was "the" game, and would continue to be so. He referred to the great efforts being made by New South Wales, in particular, and Queensland, in a lessor degree, to foster Rugby amongst school boys. Over 4000 boys were playing the game in New South Wales. Last year the union spent £600 in finding grounds, "coaches," etc., for the boys, and* this year a .like amount would be similarly expended. Speaking of the team, he said it had been carefully selected, and if ths men played up to club form and had the good fortune to get dry grounds, they should give a good account of themselves. Wet grounds would be decidedly against the visitors. They had not flayed a single game this year on a wet field. All the, visitors wanted was "a fast field and no' favour; end," he said', "may the best team win." "During the course of a discussion by the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union on Friday night as to what steps should be taken to entertain a certain representative team, which is to visit Wellington, at an early date, the question of' Sunday entertainment was' introduced. The opinion was expressed that there was absolutely no need for taking visiting teams out on Sundays, and. moreover, by doing so the <union needlessly hurt the feelings of a large proportion of the public which support the game. Speaking on the broader question of entertaining teams, one of the most prominent supporters of the game in the colony intimated that he was opposed to smoke concerts, and the introduction of "He's-a-jolly-good-fel-low" element into the game. He hoped to sco elected in Wellington a. sports club at which visiting teams could gather and meet their friends. Another speaker did not think, as things now stand, that visitors who had no friends in this city should be left to shift for themselves on Sundays. They should be shown what sights there are to be seen. The chief weakness of football as now played in Wellington (as it 'has been for some years past) is, says a local writer, a failure to ulay on an intelligent system. There are individual players who display initiative and resource, but there is not a" team in the city that shows originality of attack: The one process is to "use the line" until play is worked into- the opponents' twenty-fives; there throw out the ball, and hustle "until the inevitable scrum results.; then pass out along the tack string, and try man' for man to beat the opponents. It is years since anything like originality in attack has been displayed an Wellington. The backs run in halfcircles till they reach the touch-line, and there they promptly run into touch instead of sometimes heaving the ball into the open field and making the game open. To put the matter shortly, every player acts on set 'ices, and does exactly what is likeliest.

Why doesn't some team coach break away from the old traditions and evolve something for his team that will avail them for good, and at tho same time result in the improvement of Wellington football as a whole? The recent visits of New Zealand and British teams have already had a good influence on New South Wales football (says "Cynio"), and if the interchange of visits with New Zealand can be arranged more frequently, Australians may reasonably look forward to permanent improvement in tho standard of their play Our Oamaru correspondent wires: — The Second Fifteen of the Ofago Boys' High School visited Oamaru on Saturday and played the Second Fifteen of .ho Waitaki Pigh School The match resulted in a draw, each side scoring a try. The North Otao-o Sub-union has agreed, to play the match North Otago v. South Otago at Dunedin on Saturday next. At the usual weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union, the Secretary of the South Otago Sub-union wrote accepting August 26 as the date for the match North Otago v. South Otago. and expressing the willingness of his committee that"South Otago should play an Otago second fifteen, instead of a junior representative team, this match to be played at Balclutha. — It was decided that members of the O.R.F.U. meet representatives of the South Otago Sub-union (who should be in town at the time) on Saturday morning to get further particulars as to matters referred to in the South Otago Sub-union's letter connected with tie transfer of an ex-Taieri player named Bowie and the cautioning of a Lawrence player named Bryant. . The Secretary of the New Zealand Union wrote asking *that the O.R.F.U. would appoint some suitable gentleman to manage and take charge of the New Zealand team while in Dunedin for the match against Australia. The writer also pointed out that the New South Wales Union had expressly asked that no elaborate entertainment be arranged for the Australian team, but that efforts in tb-is direction should be confined to a trin to Rotorua for tho visitors. — It was agreed that Mr Harris should undertake to look after the New Zealand team as requested by the New Zealand Union, and arrangements were made for the accommodation and entertainment of the visiting teams in question and reception of the Australians by the union. It was stated that the Australian team would arrive by Monday night's express. Letters were received respectively from the Secretaries of the Alexandra and Upper Clutha Clubs in reference to a dispute as to the locality at which the final flag match should be played between these teams, both teams having agreed that the matter should be referred) -to tbe Otago Union.— The Upper Clutha Club asked that th© decision, be deferred a week pending a report from its committee, and it was agreed, therefore, to hold consideration over Oil next meeting.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Union, in reply to the Otago Union's. letter of the Bth inst., wrote that all the unions concerned in the recent breaches of instructions regarding the replacing of injured players had had their attention called to the fact, and that the rule must bo strictly adhered to. The captain of the New Zealand team had no authority to allow an injured player to bo replaced in Chxistchurch. Regarding tli© matches in Australia, there was an depress existing agreement that an injured player should h& replaced. The manager of the team had express instructions to confer with the New South Wales authorities aa to the advisability of suspending this agreement, and he arrived at a compromise that an injured player could be replaced only id the first s^ell.— The letter caused some discussion as to what conditions should hold as to replacing an injured player in the New Zealand y. Australia match at Dunedin, if, as mentioned in the letter, an agreement was to exist with the New South Wales authorities that a man could be taken on.— The Chairman said the matter was quite out of the hands of the Otago Union, but he was strongly of opinion that the New Zealand Union should never have given the instructions they did to the manager of the New Zealand team in Australia. Ths New Zealand Union should have given their manager definite instructions- as to what course he should observe.— Mr Dey finally moved, and Mr Dunn seconded — '' That the secretary write to the New Zealand Union -expressing the surprise of this coniinitte-o that, after definite instructions had been issued to the affiliated unions in the colony that the ruling of the English Union was to be observed, the New Zealand Union should have sanctioned an arrangement with the New South Wales authorities under which the ruling in question- was not complied with, and that the New' Z&ahmd Union be advised that their committee desires information as to whether lliis compromise will obtain during the present "tour of the Australian team."— The" motion was carried without dissent, an amendment that tie letter be simply received 'being withdrawn. A telegram was received from the Slouth Canterbury Sub-union to the effect that the southern tour of South Canterbury had been abandoned.— lt was resolved that the secretary endeavour to arrange the OtagoSouthland return match for Saturday next.