NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 60

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

The amount taken at the gate for the New Zealand-Australia match on Saturday only amounted to £85. This sum does not represent anything like the attendance. A. gap in the fence at Tahuna Park on the sandhills side explains a host of things. Notwithstanding that the local union had, men stationed at various points to keep out the "ne ver-pay-if-they-ean .help-it" section of the Diiblic, quite a number of this class obtained admission to the ground "on the nod." Some of these did not even have the courtesy tc nod. The last interprovincial match of a memorable season will be played on Saturday against Wellington. The Ranfurly Shield having been taken back to Auckland, no interest is attached to the game on that score, but Otago is anxious to get even with. Wellington for the match won by the northern province last season. Of the 15 matches played between the provinces to date, Wellington has won 7, Otago 6, and 2 have been drawn.

One of the famous Wellington frontrankers — Dodd, to wit — who played for New Zealand against the Australians on Saturday, being unable to stay, returned home on Monday morning. The Wellington team will thus be without His services in the matoh against Otago on Saturday next. Having contacted "footballer's ear," Burge, one of the best forwards of the Aus:tralian Rugby team at present touring New Zealand, had the organ lanced. The opera- . tion was performed in Christchurch during the team's recent visit, but inflammation set in, and the injured organ became so painful as to prevent his taking part in tha match against New Zealand on Saturday last. Burge was unable- to leave Dunedin with the Australan team on Monday morning, a.nd is at pre&ent confined in a private hospital. It is extremely unlikely that he will take part in any further matches on tho tour.

Owing to the non-inclusion of a Wesfc Coast representative in the New Zealand team against the Australians, the Buller Union is up in arms, and suggests that the "West Coast has the right in future of appointing 1 one of the selectors of teams representing the South Island in the colony. To be known as one of the selectors of New Zealand football teams does not carry with it any great honours, more especially this season, when the gamin show their veneration, as I overheard one such the other day relieve himself in this fashion : "Yah! Youse can't pick a football team. Why [this with even greater derision], youse couldn't pick a hockey team !" Harold Judd, of the Australian team, who stood down from the matches against Nelson and Canterbury owing to having caught a chill in Wellington, turned out for Australia in the big match against New Zealand on Saturday. He played a solid gama from end to end, infusing- quite as much "devil" into his play as any New Zealander. Jt was quite amusing to watch the big New South "Wales forward and Cross— Tom of that ilk— on the line-out. They wa-tohed each other like tiger eafe^ and._ like them, ready to spring at the slightest provocation. If the New South Welshman Secured the ball on the line, the New Zealander flung hia arms aiound his neck and hugged him like a long-lost brother, and if by chance the New Zealander secured the ball, the Welshman embraced him in the same loving manner.

I have been requested to mention thai' the North Ofcago Sub-union was represented at the funeral of the late Mr W. Bailey on Saturday last by Mr Lewis Anderson, of tibe Postal Department. Dunedin.

The non-inclusion of W. Tyler, of Aucklaindi in the New Zealand teajoa. aeainst tha

Australians raised the ire of northern enthusiasts, who are of the opinion that Tyler has no equal in the colony as a wing for •ward. Our northern friends may console themselves with the fact that Tyler would not have eclipsed M'Minn (who played wing forward) on the Wairarapa man's showing in the "test" match against Australia on Saturday. What I particularly admired about M'Minn in the position was that he played the ball throughout the game, and gave one of the best exhibitions of ideal wing forward play and footwork seen on a local ground for a decade. True, the Waixarapa man was not hampered by the Australians-, who apparently scorned to play a man against him, but, giving tins advantap in, M 'Minn's work from the Bide of tbe Borum was clean football without trimmings of any sort. The long fellow from the foot^ of the Tararuas, or thereabouts, frequently dribbled the ball over stretches of ground unaided while going at top speed. Altogether, M'Minn's play in the open for New Zealand against Australia was delightfully exhilarating. If the Wairarapa man has been exhibiting that form throughout the season, the wonder is that he was- 1 not selected for the Home tour. Yet, again, why wonder? M'Minn's case is only one of many. We are .. beginning to find out now that the good men have been left behind, and some of the mediocrities sent to England.. , ! By* the w-ay, speaking of M'Minn, I was rather " surprised at "the judgment of tho New Zealand captain in allowing the tail Wairarapa forward to waste his height by throwing the ball out from the line, instead of having him in, the line to take the ball. To my way of thinking, the shortest man in the vanguard should be told off to throw the ball into theiield of play from the line-out, as by this means a man otherwise useless on the line-out would be given an occupation for which he is eminently fitted, and all the tall 1 men reserved for the line. The Wellington correspondent of Canterbury Times writes in re the T. R. ElhBon Memorial Fund: "Full Back,"-, the Otago Witness ■ writer, is wrong in assuming that the project for raising a headstone over the grave of the late T. R. Ellison in the "Native Cemetery at Otakou has been abandoned, and this fact I announced to the Canterbury Times readers some weeks ago. Mr J. J. Ewing honorary secretary of the Poneke- Football Club, has some £15 or £20 in hand for this object. The latest subscriber to the fund is Mr J. R. Henderson, manager of the Australian football team now touring this colony. The Otago writer's thoughtful action in soliciting and receiving contributions towards the end aimed at by his former club mates in Wellington is, I can assure him, highly appreciated by the Poneke Club. Apropos, of the foregoingi I am pleased to have the" assurance of the Wellington correspondent that the proposed testimonial to the memory of the. lats T. R. Ellison has not been abandoned, but it was on reading the- "Wellington notes in the Canterbury % Times some weeks ago> that I gathered that, the .scheme had heea abandoned- ."'lt ~ was thai '.belief, after' visiting the... grave of. ...the , famous footballer at 'Otakou, "-that T thought to revive the scheme "by, invitihgi^iilfeeriptions thereto. However, I am to know that -there '. is. a: prospect ~ of ' something-, being' doneVtb' perptuate the memory of the clever "exponent of 'Rugby' football. 'In connection with-- the foregoing, the f olio yr&ng •' appreciation .from a New Zealander -now resident in Sydney who knows' Rugby football in this colony from end to end will be read with interest: "Allow me to say that, I thoroughly appreciate your effort^ to have something done to mark the resting-place of Ellison, i^henever I have been asked who was the finest forward I have ever seen my reply has always been, 'Tom Ellison.' Ellison, playing for his first representative cap, as I saw him in 1886, was a sight in the way of physical and skill that is not easily forgotten. I wonder if even he could" have convinced th© present selectors of the New Zealand Union as to what a forward is? . . If the matter of .i.iison's Memorial Fund is taken up seriously, on your siue there are a few New Zeaianders here, old and personal friends amongst them, who will b& de-lighted to Bhare in the movement." — [Will my correspondent please take charge of any subscriptions he may receive, and forward to "Full Back," Otago "Witness? The amounts .will be duly acknowledged in these columns and forwarded to the proper quarter.— JPull Back.} "As a matter of fact," concludes, my correspondent, "the suggestion that a memorial stone should be placed over the. grave of one of the greatest Kugby players New Zealand or any other country ever produced was made here some time ago, but we wanted a lead from New Zealand." '

In connection with the above, I came across this item in a Christchurch paper the other day. I should like the writer to explain its meaningi, and remove thb 3mpression it has created: '"Pull Back,' in Otago Witness, has lately visited the grave of the late T. R. Ellison, in Otakou Cemetery. He refers to the failure of th© attempt to raise funds for a headstone, and offers to receive contributions. It is quite true that Ellison was, as 'Full Back' Bays, ' one who was foremost in the Rugby game this colony,' but ; in th»t 'but' lies the whole secret of the failure of the headstone testimonal movement, both in Wellington and elsewiiere." Sam Abrim, the ex-Dunedin and Wellington player, has been playing for the Nelson Club this season, and his onlission from the combined team's Tanks was a surprise to local followers; of the game, who have no hesitation in •saying' that, on present form, he is one of the best performers in Sleepy Hollow. In addressing the jury at the inquest on the body of William Bailey, who died [from injuries received 1 on the football field, the coroner said that the accident seemed to be one of those regrettable occurrences unfortunately attendant sometimes in such a game as football; but he supposed that unless there was a certain amount of risk in such games there would not be the same attraction about them. As long as football was played in the spirit in which this game appeared to have •been played he did nojfc suppose serious objection would b& taken to it. An amusing incident occurred at a footteill match at New Plymouth % few days 1 •go. A messenger bearing a telegram j .rushed on the field during the progress | of the game and handed a player a mes- i sage. The game stopped — why no one knows, — the receiver wrote a reply (using as a desk an opponent's back), and' handed the paper to the messenger. The game was recommenced without a word of com- ■ Blent, while the spectators stood breath- i

greatly taken aback— and the incident ha-ppenou uumig an exciting part of the matcn.

For rougn. piay m a recent match in .is North Island some players have been subjected to heavy punisnment by the Horowhenua Union. For tripping an opponent and afterwards using obscene language to the- referee, one player (says an exchange) was disqualified for life. Another, who was alleged to have brutally treated an opponent by jumping on him while 011 the ground, escaped with two years. Two spectators (one a Maori), lor using bad language and inciting players to offend, were warned off all union grounds for five years. Another Maori was warned off union grounds foT 12 months. A spectator, who resorted to fisticuffs to settle a heated argument, was severely cautioned ; yet another representative of the Native race got two years' disqualification, and, a-s a fitting- finale, th© union disqualified the ground for the remainder of the season.

After a protractecT"- speli of gloriously fine wather, during which the suburban residents were compelled to purchase water, Jupiter Pluvius let go with a vengeance, and in the course of a few hours, commencing on Thursday evening last, had portion of this end of the island in high flood. The Caledonian Ground, where the "test," New Zealand v. Australia, was to have been played, was under water to the depth of several inches, while Carisbrook was like a miniature sea — in fact, it was taken for such by a a pair of unsuspecting gulls, which were seen to flutter down and float on Carisbrook's placid surface. The only ground where it was possible to find anything approaching "land" was at Tahuna Park. The local union suggested postponing the contest until Wednesday, and wired the New Zealand Union to that effect; but the reply was imperative — '"Match must be played." The manager of the Australian team visited Tahuna Park early in the morning, and pronounced the ground almost *■ perfect. And, strangely enough, it was in wonderful condition considering the amount of rain that had fallen. The sandy soil had soaked up the water like a sponge, and left the playing field entirely free of mud and water. The ground was, of course, heavy, as indeed it would have been had no rain fallen; but this did not interfere with the game, which was as fast as the most ardent supporter of thrilling Rugby could have wished.

The writer was one of those who criticised the selection of Turtill as full back for the New Zealand team, such criticism being based on the Canterbury representative's showing in the recent match against Otago. On Saturday's play against Australia Turtill quite justified his selection — that is, he did all the work that was asked of him with some degree of confidence. The Canterbury man was not called upon to stand up to any great defensive work in tho nature of tackling — the most important test a full back can have put .to him, — the Australians being invariably brought down before getting through the three-quarter line. Turfcill kicked well and made good use of the touch line, which he seldom failed to find. There were occasions,, however, in the second half, when. New Zealand had the wind behind them, that a kick to the centre instead of the line would have been more effective in the general attack. The three-quarter iine. which was Otago' s- contribution to the New Zealand team, did not get more than their share of the ball from the scrum and fiveeighths division, where it was reasonably expected to come from. Mostly they got the leather from scrambles after the ball had flown over the heads of the fiveeighths, or when it was passed out when it should have been kept in. While this was the general trend of the play, so far as the three-quarters were concerned, there were instances in which Macpherson, Bennet, and Gilray did get the handling of the ball on attack; but they were not always equal to the opportunities. A •reservation is made in favour of Macpherson, who was the best o r the trio ; but in the case -of Benaet and Gilray, both these players had passes given them which, had they taken, must have resulted in scoies. . With the exception of the two chances referred to Gilray and Bennet did vhat little they were called upon to do well.

It was generally believed that the selectors had made a mistake in placing Wrigley, who is essentially a three-quarter back, in the five-eighths division. While this was so, the Wairarapa man played veil as an individual in the position, but had" no idea of its requirements for the general attack of the team. As a matter of fact the weakness of the New Zealauders as a combination lay in the fiveeighths division. Smith, of Nelson, was not a success, and better men could have been found in the lo^al team. Some suggestion was made to play Macpherson fiveeighths, Smith going back on to the wing of the three-quarter line. This was not given effect to, but it would have been an interesting experiment, 'and one which would have justified its trial. As things were going, Burgess played well behind the scrum. He got tho ball away smartly when occasion offered, but the inability of the five-eighths to do the light thing took all the glamour off the Southlander's work. Burge&s, however, kicked with judgment, and stopped Australian rushes in quite a creditable style.

The New Zealand forwards played with great vim, sweeping down the field in almost irresistible rushes, which the Australian backs in the first spell repeatedly shirked from stopping. The line-out play was wretched, the efforts of both New Zealanders and Australians to take the ball being deplorable. Of a fine set of forwards on the New Zealand side M'Minn — ■ whom I have mentioned elsewhere— was the pick; but Cross, Francis, and Spencer were always in the forefront of the rushes. The play of the two Southland forwards was disappointing. The heavy going appeared to take all the dash out of them, and they were unable to keep up the pace set in a particularly fast game.

The- two front-rankers were not successful in hooking the ba>U from the scrums, bufc in this connection Dodd and Watkins have a tale to tell — *hat is, if they would. Instead of receiving support from behind they got it on their backs ! Truth to tell tho Australians beat Now Zealand for the ball in the serums fiom direct hooking, but New Zealand moro than made up for this by bursting through with, the ball at toe or screwing.

Apropos of this, the sooner our selectors eet rid of the absurd theory an respect

to front-rank forwards who are merely "hookers"' the belter for Rugby fcofball Men chosen as forwards in a team should bo aWe to play anywhere in the pack, and not merely in one position. Tha importance of front-rankers is grossly •"xagocrntori. Men are frequently chosen for a, team merely because they have gained some reputation for hooking the ball— as^ if there were not at least half a •.lo^en other methods of securing the ball. Th»se socalled "experts" are usually hhort m-en whose qualifications as forwards outside their alleged hookins: abilities amount, in some instances, to nil. Yet these men ate placed in tha team simply because th >y have a reputation for getting the ball, which, when they come alongside of a pair equally clever, they do not geh. Yit these same "hookers" are kaepinv out other players— tall, raking forwards, endowed with weight, pace, and strength, who excel on the line, in the loose, and in the heavy wcrk. Oh! but, says selector, we can't put these men :n — tf'ty are not front-rankers. Front-rank -rs, f( rsooth! Put in a team of eight of your tallest and mosc powerful forwards (lee Ihe oil.* r side have the short, "expert" hooker-), and the first scrum, if the team i? <.t"nu? its duty, will double up the most export pair of front-rankers, and *nocle cut Ihc absurd^ theory of front row \»;oi-k. if Rugby football was a never-ending scrum there might be some reason lor ohooring men as experts to hook the ball, but *s the scrum is only a penalty in ..he gp.ro.e, of what real use are they? As previously stated, there are at least half a dozen ways of getting the ball without hcokdng it from the scrum. -Take the line-out, for example. What a soivy i:e;u T e your shoi-t front-rankers cut in this rtepsulment '. They are buried, and simply have not a hope of getting the ball, xet ie is from the line-out the ball should be thrown out to tho backs or burst through with in a loose, dribbling rush by the fcrwa» Is. II a team must have fromt-ra liters, cheese men who are not merely "experts," but who -are equally good in Khi loose, the line-out, and the heavy work. Don't put in men merely because they aie hnoktit, and leave out others who, whon it comes to all-round forward play, > can s-'mply bury your so-called "experts."

Mr Henderson, manager of the Australian team, offers no excuses for the defeat of his side. He expresses pride over the display given by the team on Saturday, and acknowledges that the result was due to the fact that the New Zealand) players were a superior team. He had expected to meet a formidable fifteen, but he had anticipated that the Australians would have been able to claim an advantage over their opponents in the matter of combination. _ There wrs, he admits, nothing in the conditions under which the match was played to detract 'from the, victory of the New Zealand team. Wiih a large amount of experience of football grounds, he declares that the ground en which the match wm played on Saturday is easily the first among them a,s a wet-weather ground. With the Australian players, he confesses to a feeling of amazement over the circumstance that it was possible to secure a dry ground for tho fixture. He also expresses .perfect satisfaction with the manner in which the referee- controlled the game, and he considers the team will be extremely fortunate if it plays the remaining matches of its tour under as competent an official. Some of the Australians go the length of saying that Mr "Williams is the most capable referee under whom they have played. The visitors return north this morning, but leave one of their number (Burge) behind them in a private hospital, where he is being treated for an car complaint.

A Palmerston North telegram states that Manawatu beat Wairarapa Thursday Union by 12 points to nil. The game was •all in favour of the home team, tho visitors being dangerous on rare occasions only. Hewitt, Furrie, and Johnston scored for the home team, and 1 Hewitt kicked a goal from a free kick. G. M'Minn and O'Connor were the most prominent of the Wairarapa team, and Hewitt, Furrie, Skelley,' and Ongley did best work for Manawatu.

A Blenheim telegram states that the interprovincial junior football match Nelson v. Marlborough was won by the latter by 9 points to 6 points (three tries to two). The Nelson tries were gained by Abercrombie. The ground was very wet, and a good exhibition out of the question. A junior team from the Oriental (Wellington) Club was defeated -..by the Waipuna (Marlborough} Club by 13 points to 3. A Wanganui telegram states that the Wanganui football cup contests have resulted as follow: — Senior Cup, Old Boys; Junior and Third Class Cups, Kaierau; Thursday Shield, Melrose.

The lateness of the hour at which the intercolonial match was commenced was responsible on Saturday evening for the failure of E. Purdue, the Southland forward, to catch the south express for Invercargill. Purdue, who had only one day's leave, came up to Dunedin by tho express in the morning, and made the best possible effort to catch the evening train, leaving Tahuna Park by a cab as soon a* the match was over, but was unfortunately •about a minute and a-half late for the train.

An adjourned meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was held on the 29th ult. to consider the case of Edward Kinny, a Cambrians player who was ordered off the field in the match played between Cambrians and St. Bathans on August 19. Mr James Hutchison was voted tp the chair. Atter hearing the evidence of the referee (Mr R. F. Foster) and the player (E. Kinny), who were present in person, the committee discussed the matter at some length, but was unable to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion. On the motion of Mr Hanlon, seconded by Mr Dey, it was resolved — " That the Maniototo County Committee be instructed to collect further evidence from both sides as to whether Kinny received provocation which led to his striking Pyle, and that in particular the statement of Pyle be secured."

A Christchurch telegram, states that the annual football match between W 7 anganui Collegiate School and Wellington College was played on Tuesday, 29 th ult., and resulted in a win for Wanganui by 6 points (tries scored by E. Dive and Beckett) to nil. Playing with a strong breeze in the first spell, Wanganui did not show their best form, and at half time no score had been recorded, but in the next spell Wanganui played a much brisker game, their forwards in particular making it too strong for "Wellington. A Christchurch telegram stales that the inter-college football match Nelson College v. Boys' High School resulted in a win for th© former bj, 25 points to 8. For Nelson,

Sandell scored three tries, converting two, and Ross scored two tries, and Harley and Bamford each a try. For the High School, Guthrie scored a try. which he converted, and M'Kay also got a try. Mr H. Mehaffcy, hon. secretary of the Warehousemen's Football Club, lnvercargill, writes to contradict the statement that the Workshops Football Club has an unbeaten record in lnvercargill, as it has been beaten at least three times — once each by the Warehousemen's team (14 to 3), Law and Insurance (8 to 3), and Traffic (5 to nil). The Workshops Club has also drawn with the Warehousemen's team, and so it is the latter that is the premier, as it has played s>ix matches, won four, and drawn the other two.

A Christchurch telegram states that in the football match Boys' High School Old Boys v. Nelson College Old Boys the former won by 19 points to 3. For the winners Lawrence kicked a goal from a mark, s.nd scored two tries, one of which he converted. Bain kicked a goal from a mark, and Eyder scored a try. For Nelson Stucky scored a try. A Christchurch telegram states that in the football match between Wanganui College team and Christchurch College team Wanganui won by 16 points (two goals and two tries) to 3(a penalty goal). The passing and combination of Wanganui were superior to that of the local team, but the home team played a good tackling game. The Otago Rugby Union's Wednesday contests have been closed. The prenver&hip has been won by the Alhambra Wednesday team. At Monday's meeting of the O.R.F.U. Committee, voluminous correspondence, including no fewer than 12 telegrams, read in connection with the dispute as to who should referee for the smatoh between St. Bathans and Naseby. The St. Bafchans Club, disapproving 1 the appointment of Mr Marslin (formerly captain of the Naseby Club) as referee, did r^pt put -n an appearance at the *ime arranged— August 26, at Naseby,— and the iefereo awarded the match to Nascby by default, "his action being upheld by the Maniototo County Committee. The St. Bathans Club appealed to the O.R.F.U. against -fhe decision to award the match to the Naseby Club. The grounds for the appeal were that the St. Bathans Club did not agree to the appointment of^ Mr Marstfn as referee, and that they notified Naseby on the preceding Friday that St. Bathans. team would not play on Saturday. — Mr Hutchison saw no reason why a club should not, within reasonable time of any fixture, change its mind with regard to a referee agreed xo at an early date. — Other members concurred in this view, and it was resolved that the appeal be upheld, the match to !•© played upon a date to be fixed by the Manioioto County Committee. "in connection with the disqualification of Kmny, a Cambrians player, for striking Pyle, ' a* St. Bathans player, in a match between. Cambrians and St. Bathans, correspondence from various persons was read bearing upon the case. The Maniototo County Committee in its letter resented the alleged reflections upon football in the district coiive3*ed in' th© report furnished by the referee, Mr R. F. Foster. — On the motion of Dr Hunter, seconded by Mr Dey, it was resolved that Kinny be cCs qualified until the close of the season of 1906. Letters were received from the ■ North Gtago and South Otago Sub-unions asking that the O.R.F.U. bear all expenses incurred by their teams in connection with ihe recent fixture in Dunedin. — It was mentioned that the O.R.F.U. had agreed to pay railway fare's only.— lt was resolved that the requests could not be seceded to. The President mads reference to tho death by accident of W. Bailey, and the meeting being 1 tho first formal meeting of the committee since the death, he moved that a letter of condolence be sent to the relatives of W. Bailey. It was one source of gratification to the O.R.F.U. that there was not ihe slightest suspicion of unfair play in connection with the accident. The lessons to be learned from th© sad fatality wore — that players must understand that they must be very careful in their play, as they never knew when an accident, although unintentional, might prove fatal : that referees must be even firmer in repressing tendencies to rough play; and that the O.R.F.U. Committee should make up its mind to use its best efforts to stamp out any suspicion of foul play, and to pas-s severe sentences upon those, players convicted of foul play. — Mr D. Miruro seconded the motion, which was carried. An appeal from the- Balclutha Football Club against the disqualification by the S.O.R.U. of a player named Bowie was referred back to be sent through the proper channel — the S.O.R.U. The North Otago Sub-union wrote approving of the abandoning of the match against its representatives fixed for August 31, but asking- that if possible a team ba sent to play a match at Oamaru on September 14. — It was decided to send a team on that date. It was resolved that a team should not bo sent to play against the South Otago lepioseatative team. WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. The following team will represent Otago against Wellington next Saturday: — Full back, Kindley ; three-quarters — Maepherson, Bennet, Gilray; five-eighths, Eckhold and Adams ; half back, King ; forwardsSpiers, M'lntyre, Thomson, Sheehan, Low, Foote, Fitzpatrick, and Porteous.