NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 60

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Acknowledged with sincere thanks from Constable George Williams, of Owaka, who was a member of the New Zealand Native team which visited England in 1888-89, complete record of the Native team's performances.

The secretary of Jhe Ponek© Football Club, Wellington, who has also been acting secretary for the T. R. Ellison Memorial Fund, advises me that the total sum raised only amounts to £10 Is 9d. The object has certainly not met with the success it deserved. The fund is now olosed, and the erection of the stone is to be gone on with almost immediately. Since the foregoing was written the Wellington Rugby Union has donated £5 5s towards the fund.

A comprehensive article on the New Zealand Rugby team now in England appears in the London Sportsman of August 15

Th-e secretary of the Now_ Zealand Union has been instructed to write the Taranaki Union regietung that in spite of notice of the English Rugby Union's ruling that the tiraoti:?e could not be sanctioned, the referee in the Taranaki- Australia match ollowed an injures! player h& replaced. The Now Zealand team plays Durham on Saturday noxL. - As this county won the English champ-'onship last season, the New Zealandors aie likeiy to uneet with the toughest opposition so for on the tour. On piesent form the match should be won by the Maorilanders.

Referring to the N'iw Zealand team's four consecutive wins, 169 jjoints against 4, " Offside Mac" writes in the Oarterton Leader that the Xative team was boaten in its fourth match, by Moseley, by 6 to 4, haiine; won its fiist three matches with a total, of 18 points against 2. The Native tour beg-in 17 days later than the present team's, and the Sactor of condition of the Home teams therefor© enters into the comparison, and another factor is that it may be assumed that since the time the Natives played in England, football there has deteriorated, whilst th&re has been a corresponding increase of knowledge of the game in New Zealand. " The present New Zealand team is a dry-weather combination. Both backs and forwards revel on dry ground, but there is no doubt they will feel the pinch in November, and especially in December, in th& cold weather and "on tho wet sludgy grounds of Britain. However, by that time the team should be a great Rugby machine of legs, arms, and brains, and, everything else being equal, will be hard to beat."

Is " Off-side" not making a mistake in calling the New Zealand team a " dryweather combination"'? One remembers the great exhibition given by practically the whole of the present New Zealand back team in the slush and mud in Wellington on the occasion of the North v. South Island match, which match, by the way, was a "trial" before the final selection of the team for England.

The New Zealand team in England Las been trouncing the opposition so far met with to such a merry tune that when New Zealand fails to put up more than a dozen points against the enemy wo will be inclined to look upon such a happening more in the light of a defeat than of victory. It is significant that as the tour progresses the margin of points,, scored is growing less.

Several enthusiasts suggested to the writer the other day that if New Zealand continues to win by so many point?, the effect on the gates as the tour progresses will be disastrous. They based their remark-- on the recent tour of the Australian

I cricketers. Big gates were in evidence while England wias winning. I don't exactly hold with this theory, believing rather that the more decisive the New Zea- , landers make the defeats the greater in- ! terest will be taken in the matches, and particularly so when it comes to the internationals. Up to the present the severe defeats inflicted by the New Zealanders over the teams met on the tour has been the means of exciting a deal of interest in the matches, as is proved by the increased attendances. This tour should have the effect of creating a great revival in Rugby football in England. Dear Full Back,— Re the referee in the Wellington-Southland match : I am not °oing to deny any of the statements mad© by Mr White, the hon. secretary of the Otago Referees' Association, to you on the above matter, but the New Zealand Rugby Union, as far as I can find out, did not appoint the referee from the thro© names submitted. On the other hand, when the> Wellington team arrived in Invereargill, the names of four Dunedin referees were submitted to Mr Jordan, the manager. Afc a meeting of the- team, held at 10 o'clock on the Tuesday morning preceding the match, it was decided' to ask for Mr Downes, and it was understood by them that an effort would be made to get that gentleman. You can therefore judge of their surprise when the Wellington players found out afterwards that a telegram had been sent to Mr Wilson by the Scmthland Union notifying him of his appointment on the Monday afternoon before the names hadl been submitted to the Wellington manager. This can be verified by Mr Wilson, the secretary of the Otago Union, as he opened tho telegram, thinking^ it was meant for him. Further, Mr Downes himself stated that he would have been pleased to act if he had been approached. My union, was quite willing for the New Zealand Union to appoint any Otago referee to act in the match, and would have loyally stood by auy svieli appointment. But when the matter was left fo late as to permit of a consultation with the touring team their request, after Laving been invited, should have received some consideration. — I am, etc., D. M'Kenzie. Secretary W.R.F.U., Wellington, September 28.

An interesting comment on the AustralianAickland match, v/on by the visitors: "One of the- most notable points m the gam«> was the way in which the Australian forwards screwed the scrum, and beat the local frontrankers for the ball. This may have been due to the scrum formation of the visitors," who-, adopting the tactics of the British team, played three men in the front row, and indulged in a great amount of screwing. These tactics evidently disconcerted file local scrummers, who could not evolve a method to checkmate the practice. It was particularly noticeable in the match New Zealand v. Australia, that the Australians, adopting British " tactics, beat New Zealand for the ball."

The fact of the Australian forwards having practically beaten every team they me(j for possession of the ball in the scrummages (says Sydney Referee) should ha>Ve afforded the backs many chances of performing well. It will be interesting to note whether the scrumaging success of the eight pack will be substantiated by the experiences of the New Zealandars against the international teams of the Old Country this year.

It is rather Interesting to note in connection with the match played by the Australian team against a Native team at Roto-r-ua that "the 'Maoris were very unlucky in losing the game, as they had the best of it, the* Australians being forced time after time."

Stated that the committee ©I the Auckland Rugby Union has taken a lot of evidence in connection with the ordering off the field of an Australian player in the match against Auckland. The .evidence has been, forwarded on to the New Zealand Rugby Union.'

This is in full the historic reference made by Mr J. R-. Henderson to the recent tour of this colony by the Australian Rugby team: — ''Mr Henderson, manager of the team, said the members had upheld the reputation- of Rugby -football in a mariner which, he thought, New Zealand would never forget. In his opinion, formed from the experience gained in this tour, there was very little difference between the standai-d of play in New Zealand and the Australian States. On dry ground, provided that the players played up to thpir ordinary club form, he was quite satisfied his team was able to hold its own with the best New Zealand representatives. Their forwards had more than held their own, and proved themselves equal to the best forwards that had represented any of the Stages for many years past. Unbiassed critics in New Zealand were now satisfied that the New Southt Wales Union's .formation of three "in front was a good on-e, and h© considered that after the demonstrations of the Australian team there was a big possibility of this being adopted in many of the provinces they had played against. And as regarded) the backs, excepting that they lacked tha cutting out necessary in delivering a deadly attac'b, they were in other respects equal to any standard of play encountered during the tour. The form displayed in their last victory against Auckland was a very good indication of what was expected of the players selected to represent Australia, and if the same form had been exhibited in the earlier engagements the team's record would have been an exceptional one." Without wishing to undeceive our Australian friends I would merely remark that bafore Australia can hop© to beat combined New Zealand a t the Rugby game her players miii learn to stop rushes and to adopt a proper method of attack. Although it may be hard to believe (says the Manawatu Standard), it is nevertheless true, that there is a settlement of several hundreds of inhabitants in this provincial district where the national game of football is practically unknown. This idyllic village is Pahautanui, in the Otaki electorate. On Saturday last at this sequestered township there was played a game of football —the first ever played in the place, — and a largo number of settlers turned out to witness the- novel .match, in which the con.

testants showed good form. In view of the good showing being made by the New Zealand team in England, the following reflections of a writer after the New Zealand Native team's tour of England is of interest : — As to the probability of any future visiting team from this colony being able to avenge our defeat by England, or to conquer "Wales, Ireland, or Scotland, it can only be accomplished under the most favourable conditions. That is to say, every man of the New Zealand team must be not only in the front rank as a player, but h»

must also be in the best bodily health and condition, and not feeling stiff and stale from, the effects of numerous other matches. It must be considered that the only advantage the visiting team would have would be perhaps more combination, whereas the odds against them would be that the Home teams can draw from hundreds of first-class players; so that if, at the last moment, a player chosen is not feeling extra fit, he can be replaced by another equally good. Not so with the visitors — limited to, say, 26 players, several of whom are suffering from injuries, and some may not be class enough. *'Mr Barry, who refereed in the OtagoWellington match, informed a Wellington writer that he did not caution a Wellington player in that match for striking an opponent. As a matter of fact, no blows were exchanged between the players to his knowledge, and, although he might be a lenient referee, he was quite willing to be known as kich if he did not take action on acts which escaped his notice. 'A referee can only pass judgment on the acts which come under his notice,' is Mr Barry's opinion, and a correct position to ta£e up." This is all ■very well in its way. But a blow was struck, and if the referee did not see the action the Wellington player was indeed fortunate. Certainly no blows were "exchanged." The Otago player did not retaliate, though the provocation to do so ■was great. >

The" Wanganui Rugby Union's representative team -has put up a fine record this eeason, having played seven matches, of •which' it has won six and 1 lost one (in which it had to play with several :, emergencies). The team's victories were gained over Hangitikei by 30 to nil, Manawatu 9 to 3, Awarua.2s to nil, Hawke's 8ay .,12 to nil, Auckland I to nil, and Taranaki 11 to 3. j The return match .against Manawatu- was lost by 13 to nil. Altogether; the local reps, scored 91- points against 19. This. r is a, 1 Tecord to be proud of, and is one which j has not been equalled in point of merit by

any other team in the" colony this season. Coming on top of the successful tour in the South Island 1 last season, it has ,placed iWangamii right in the forefront. ; The question of footballers being subjected to periodical medical examination was (says

our Wellington correspondent) raked at the inquiry conducted by Mr, James Ashcroft, district coroner, concerning ■ the death of Hiehard ilaslin Robertson, who dropped <— dead at a football match at Miramar. on a

recent Saturday afternoon. Dr Tripe, on being asked by the coroner to express an opinion on the subject, said he thought such an examination was desirable, on account of so many' young men who went in for football arid Towing having hypertrophy of the right ventricle of the heart. Constable 6. Williams explained that deceased was not a, footballer in the ordinary isense of the term, and submitted thai if athletes had to-

be examined before playing football they would , retire from the. game. Dr Tripe i expressed the opinion_Jil£at the examination could "never be carried out, because they - would be at a loss to get anyone to' pay lor it. The .Coroner,* in his remarks to, the "jury£"=6aid'-it was' no' use 'making a "recom--mendatioh^ which coujd not be carried out. It' seemed^ to 'him that the majority of footballers' were in such a condition that they did not require . to consult a , doctor. The difficulty-, arose 'with casual footballers,, who played the game, without first having made - preparation for it." s< " -A Christcliiifoh telegram states that at a meeting "of tKe committee of" the /Canterbury JRugby Union-"* good" deal of discussion took" place on the meagre, reports cabled from Lon- » don, concerning the doings of the Kew Zealand (football team '■ at Home. A, motion was adopted expressing* the opinion of the .committee that the reports were very inadequate, and requesting the -New Zealand Bugby Union to use every effort to get fuller reports. / A immber of replies from> various unions regardmg'"the suggested transfer, of the New Zealand JRugby Union headquarters from Wollingyton was read. Tho' majority did not •want a change. No action was taken in the matter. ' - —

It was generally supposed that Northampton" was one of the weakest counties the New Zealanders would meet on the tour, but the cable informs us that Northampton grave the New ' Zealanders their best game bo far. Last season Northampton defeated London Welsh, Castlefoxd, Lennox, Richmond, and Coventry, but was' beaten by Gloucester by 29 points to 3. Northampton was also beaten by Wosley by- W points to 8, and by Oxford University by 25 points to 8. Oxford University was reputedly a strong team last year. l On the form displayed by the New Zealand team in Australia ajJ on the tour of Ne^p Zealand prior to thetteam's depa-r- , ture" for England, it was.jgenerally supposed that the> forwards were weak, -but itns quite evident they have -beeiTtop. strong for the teams me,t so far on the English "tour." This \is mad© more -evident by the. fact .that, the backs are doing the bulk of the scoring.