FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 60

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACH. The serious business of football — if fcotball can ever be a serious business — commences on Saturday when the various teams j in the grade competitions meet in conflict to decide Rugby supremacy. I Pirates are not likely to be any stronger than they were last season, which was not strong enough for the majority of the clubs. Indeed, it is reported that the Backs will be even weaker than in the past. The forwards will be on the light side, while the backs will practically be featherweights. [ Wilson, of physical culture fame, having de- '■ parted, is lost to the Pirates' vanguard I this year. His place will be hard to fill, as the Pirates have few juniors on which to draw. Denniston, who played wing forward, is, I hear, going in to strengthen the pack this season. Fenwick is reported to be showing good form in practice. Efforts were made tc induce Ritchie, the ex-Scottish international, to play for Pirates I this year, but without avail. He is going out of town shortly. This fact no doubt prompted him in his decision , not to turn out for the ""All Blacks." Danscy, of South Canterbury, a smart little five-eighths to whom representative honours are not new, is hovering between University and Pirates. The latter could do with a player of Dansey'e calibre at the present time. Dunedin is out with its team of First Grade players to take the field on Saturday next. On paper it is a fairly strong side — certainly more resourceful than for some seasons past. Kelly, as full back, should prove a useful man during the sea- ' 6on. The three-quarter line includes Te-es- ! dale, Cook, and Watson. The former as [ seen in practice and against Sydenham is in good form. A powerfully-built youth endowed with great pace, Teesdale should make an ideal wins: three-quarter. I am afraid, however, like the majority of fast men, he lacks heart, and lacking this he must lack dash, but no one who saw Teesdale in ths> Sydenham match would accuse him of wanting either iv heart or dash. | If he plays up to that form there need be no fear of his success during the season. M'Phail, late of Christchurch, will prove a useful man for the Dark Blue?. As has been previously noted, he is more than promising as five-eighths. Turnbull is the other five-eighth. The pair should play well into each other's hands. The forwardo are a useful lot, fairly solid and likely to go all the way. A player who impressed me more than favourably in the Sydenham match was R. Paton. He plays with great dash, and uses his intelligence as well as his muscle. By the way, I notice the name of one Dunne included in the list of Second Grade players of Dunedin. Can this be the veteran I Julius? Probably he has not turned out j for practice, and is qualifying for his place in the First Grade. It is reported that a couple of wellknown New Zealanders will strengthen th© three-quarter line of the St. George Club, Sydney, this season. Who are the wellknown New Zealanders, anyway? The Otago representatives of the New Zealand team are appeased. The framed photographs of the crouD of the. N.ej£ jgea- :

* land teapa intended for presentation to Messrs Duncan, Al 'Donald, Booth, Casey, and Johnston have been Tec-eived, and handed over to the players named. Mr R. D. Isaacs, the old Otago represenj tative, who has been stationed in Wellington for some time, was on holiday leave in ' Dunedin this week. He has gone into the , country for a few days before returning to j Wellington. Our old friend is looking as , robust as ever. The north appears to agree with him \astly. Ths secretary of the Zingari Club informs , me that, w hile the First Fifteen will be much the same as usual, the prospects of the club I are brighter than for seme years past. Nearly all the old members are available. Several new players have joined, the most I prominent being a youth named Reddingj ton, who is something above the ordinary | as a. three-'yuarter back. i The English Union has not taken up any decided attitude respecting the injured ! player, and so far as that oft-debated quos- , tion is concerned footballers are much as j they were. The English authorities point out v.'hat has long boon known : that there I is nothing in the laws of tho game to pre- ; vent an injured player being replaced. The matter has been left to the discretion of the New Zealand Union. The vexed matter of players' transfers ' came up at the weekly meeting of the committee of the Otago Rugby Union on Men- • day night. J. Coulter appeared in sup- ; port of his application for a transfer from f the Alhamb'-a to the Kaikorai Club. He dated that ho had gone to reside in Kai- ' kcrai Valley. On account of the distance cf his home from town he found it inconvenient to attend the AJhambra Club matches and practices. He h&d " taken up j residence in the Kaikorai Valley boleiy because the locality suited himself. No influence ha<? been brought to bear on him in the matter. Mr G. Phillips appeared on behalf of the Alhambra Club to oppose the application. The chtb had treated Coulter well, and it saw no sufficient reason for the transfer. Coulter could, without much inconvenience to himself, atteiul the practices of the club, and most of the matches wore I played on city grounds. In the' discussion that ensued some of- the members of the committee took exception to the fact that Coulter had handed in no formal resignation tc the Alhambra Club. Mr Harris E-ak 1 one argument for the transfer being ! granted was that under a scheme of district i football Coulter would play for Kaikorai. j Mr Hanlor thought that a man needed to j meet his fellow-players of an evening some- ! times to discuss football, matters with them. By that means enthusiasm was fired. To ! make a man play against .his will fcr any 1 club prepared the game for malpractices, and tended to unclean sport;-- Mr Sincock j said the idea ivas not to force c man back to his club, but to make him stand down for a time. Mr Hanlon thought this involved a hardship. Mr Duncan emphasised the need for consistency in dealing with such* cases, and recalled similar applications , last year. Ultimately a motion, moved by jMr G. M'Laren— "That the transfer be ! granted" — was earned, an amendment by I Mr Sincock — "That Coulter stand down for j six weeks" — not .finding favour with the ; meeting. On -the motion -of Mr Harris, the j secretary was . instructed to write to tho I Alhambra Club informing it that, in the ! committee's opinion, the reasons advanced ]by Cculter were sufficient to warrant a ■ transfer being granted. | The \eteran GiveH, of the Alhambra, playod a splendid game for his side against Merivale during the Red-and-blaeks' visit to Christchurch at Easter. He is - c aid to have been easily the best of the forwards on the Alhambra side. This bears cut a statement made, in theso columns a week or two ago that Given, though bearing the burden of a number o£ years' strenuous football, is not yet done with. Of the 16 games played between those football rivals, Linwood (of Christchurch) and Union (of Dunedin), honours are even. Sixteen years since these matches were instituted ! The recollection makes one feel old, for I remember well playing in the first match against Kinwood on tho Caledonian Ground. There are none left playing who took part in the first memorable game. ' It is many years since a Taranaki representative team, visited Otago, but it is quite on the cards that this interesting event will happen towards the end of the present season. It would appear that the wing forward — that worthy who has been picturesquely , dubbed "a wolf in sheep's clothing" — is to be in evidence in Taranaki football this I season. O'Sullivan, of the New Zealand team, suggested that the union should proI mote the two fhe-eighth game as against , the two wing forwards, whereupon Humphries (our old friend?), while agreeing that the , i two five-eighths game was the better, pointed i out that backs were short and forwards ! numerous. Mr Alf. Ba>ly ha.? been re elected president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and has al.K> been appointed sole selector. ! Apropos of strenuous tackling, who has not heard of the advice ghen by the old . Yorkshire captain to his men on the eve j of an important engagement? "Now, my la-ads, if any of 'em just leeaks at t' ba.' down 'cm — down 'em proper; fair bury 'em." At the annual meeting the New Zealand Referee^' Association, the following officebearers were elected for the ensuing season : Patron, his Excellency the Governor; president, Mr R. M. Isaacs : hon. secretary and trea^uior, Mr J. M. Robb : Management Committee — Me-srs P. C. Mackie, J. H. A. Laughton, and A. Campbell ; auditor, Mr C. H. Manson. The next annual meeting of the NewZealand Referees' Association is to be held in Dunedin at Easter. Referee 9 who come out alive from inter, provincial or like contests are in future to be honoured by a badge — presumably for bravery — by the New Zealand Referees' Association. A motion was carried at the annual meeting affirming the advisability of the N.Z.R.A. conferring in future a badge of honour on members of affiliated associations who officiate in inter-union and like matches. It was further decided to ask affiliated associations if they are prepared to subscribe one guinea each towards a badge fund, the form of badge to be left to the executive. The Zingari-Riehmond's trip to St. Batbans at Easter was perhaps the most enjoyable of any yet undertaken by the club. Leaving on Friday morning, they took train to Rough Ridge, and although a long ride, the time was pleasantly spent. On arrival at Rough Ridge the party was met and driven to St. Bathans, which was reached about 5 o'clock. The visitors met with a great reception. Saturday morning was spent m looking around some of the sjujcipg and elevating claims, which prosed

► very interesting. In the afternoon the match was plajed, but the country team '. were minus some of their bert players and were easily defeated. In the evening "the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert, which was very eiijo\-ab!e. Mr W. Pyl-e, as chairman, was the right man in i the right place. Several toasts were proi posed, the chief bein^ " The Visitors," "St. , Bathans Team," "0.R.F.U.," "Referee," "Host and Hostess." During the evening songs and recitations were given by members of each club. On Sunday morning Air Pyle showed the party around several of the claims. The team left on the return journey on Msnday morning, the St. Bathans residents giving the visitors a hearty send-off. Town was reached at 6 - o'clock, concluding a very enjoyable 'trip. A football match between teams representing some 300 aside is played every Easter Tuesday at the little town of Workington, in Cumberland. The opposing "elevens" represent the colliers and sailors of Workington. When the moon stands high ip the sky a scratch team is gathered tog-ether and ths game is played after a fashioa. Generally half the players have not troubled to change either their mining clothes or boots. A Sydney resident who saw the New Zealanders play in England, and who has only recon.ly returned, and who has seen every important match in Sydney for many years, holds the opinion, that a strong New South Wales team would in all probability defeat the majority of the county teams of England. The weaknesses of the English Rugby teams appeal" to him to be (1) lack of combination among the backs, (2) failure to securo the ball from a scrummage. Regarding the New Zealanders, he > says they played with fine combination, and w(th a "fixed determination to win. They handled the ball well, even on sloppy grounds. With reference to the muchdiscussed wing forward play of Captain Gallaher. he says that in all the matches he saw Gnllaher appeared to watch Hit ball closely, keening behind it as far as possible, but darting like a shot on ,to the half or " fivp-eighih who" was lucky, or perhaps unlucky, enough to get the ball. ' The New Zealand disposition of forcc3 has had a short life in the Old Country, the Welsh Union being the latest to renounce the "new gosnel." It is one matter to .adopt the New Zealand formation, and another t.o be able to play it. Gwyn Nicholls has definitely retired frpm football, the Welsh-Irish international being hies final game.,. NichoUs was by general consent' the finest centre three-quarter _ever seen in Great Britain. An appreciation of the ex-Otaero threequarter back. Dr Nolan Fell:— "To-.a man with a record likn Fell's a few caps more or less is a matter of moonshine; and he is probably the only football enthusiast in Scotland who regards with .equanimity the childish attitude of the Union Committee in resenting his patriotic refusal to oppose his fellow countrymen on their recent visit here. August, we deeply regret to say. will bring with it the departure of A. N. Pell, M.D. for his homeland, affcer a-- brilliant exposition of the 'mens aana in coroore sn.no* suoh as lew, if any,, have "left- behind them. Let us. hope that it wilj..not be 'adieu.^ but 'au. revqir,'\,and when next "an* All Black Fifteen r shout the 'haka' in InveYleith Field, may their leader 1 be the famous figure of our bid University captain !" Fell captainod the famous 'Varsity team of- - 1901. and played seven tunes for Scotland, being unable to turn out' on several other occasions after being chosen. He has been going, as well as ever this season, and has " scored for the 'Varsity 46 points. A team from the Jfiratos <Jlul> played a match against Ashburton on Saturday at Ashburton, the game resulting in a win for the home team by 13. points to 5. The Owaka (winners of the South Otago banner last year) played a match against Port Chalmers on Saturday afternoon at Port Chalmers. The spectators witnessed a fast anc 1 Keenly-contested game, in which the local men were victorious by 15 points to 3 points. For the winners, trie 3 were scored by Colthorpe, Harrhy, and Fergusson, one of which J. Hay converted, and W. I Dougherty kicked a goal from a mark. For the losers, Tonkin scored a try just before the call of time. Mr W. T. Facer controlled the game to the satisfaction of both teams. A Green Island Association team journeyed to Kaitangata on Easter Monday to try conclusions with the local senior ' eleven, and after a very fast and interesting game victory rested with the visitors by 2 goals to nil. Some good form was shown on both sides, especially by Robertson and Ramsay (Kaitangata) and Marshall, Martin, and Barnes (Green Island). Mr W. Morrison made a very efficient ' referee. The visitors wish to thank the Kaitangata Club for the strand way m which they were entertained. The New Zealand Rug/by Union has received a further communication from the English Rugby Union on the question or whether a player injured during a can be replaced while the game is in progress. The English body states- that vhece is nothing in the laws of the game to prevent such a course being taken, and loaves the matter to the discretion of the New Zealand Union. The latter are notifying the affiliated unions of the English Union's opinion. ALTERATIONS IN THE RULES. The following alterations in the laws o? the game have been sanctioned: — Law i _I n Goal . This deanition has been, altered. A goal can only now be obtained from certain place and drop kicks. One cannot be obtained from a "speculator." Law 2— Drop-kick.: The wording of the ■■ definition has been slightly altered, but no real change has been made in the laws. Place-kick. — The words "for the purpose ' have been added to this definition so as to make it clear that a place-kick cannot lx.made unless the ball is placed on the ground for the purpose of being kicked. Held and Law 6. — Law 6 has been altered to provide that if a player while holding or running with the ball be "held" (previously it was "tackled and the ball fairly held"), he must put it down; and a definition of '■held." has been added to the laws. Scrummage. — The wording of this definition has been slightly altered bo as to bring it more into harmony with existing practice. Law 3.— (e)— An important change is made , here. Previously, if the ball or a player } running with the- ball touches th© referee, . it had to be "put down." Now, it must b» , "scrummaged." (j and k)— Referees must now whistle when a goal is kicked, and when the ball ' goes into touch-in-goal. Touch Judges. — Touch judges are now required? to assist the referee, without being formally a.ske4 to 4o 6Q t when kicks at goal

from a "try, fair catch, and free "kick, are T>eing- taken; anfl each' must stand at a goal •post. • • - Law. 4.— Scoring:' The "only alteration in the scoring is that a goal from a mark counts 3 points'. A dropped goal (except from a mark or. penalty kick) still counts 4 points. No points can be scored from a "speculator." Law .6. — See "Held" (L%w 2) above. Law 9 and . 10. — An important alteration. "When a. fair catch is allowed, anyone on the eicle may take the kick or place the ball. 7 Law 11. — (h) — This law has been altered co as to enable the referee to penalise a player •who puts the ball back into the scrum with his foot. The same result was" obtained previously by penalising the forwards for being oft-side. (j) — The law in regard to a player improperly shouting "all on side" has not J been altered. The provision in (j) was previously placed at the end of Law 11. The innocent side i« still allowed the option of a scrummage or free kick (vide conoluding lines of Law 11). (k) [Old 11 (j)]— A player not in a scrummage could be penalised for wilful ob- . -struction by-^'standing" on his opponents' side of the scrummage. The Rugby Football Union ruled, some seasons back, that "standing" must be - • . Tead as meaning "wilfulTy standing and ' remaining.' l ' The -word "remaining" ■ ;*hasVfio,w 15sen substituted "for " "stand- ~"^~ '.. . '.jug."^; ''-It will be thus seen that no -- change ! *has : -been made ; in the law. , JmJ'-f-The /only -change here is in the omis- : r-feion" /of the words "wilfully and syi-te- , ;_ '**'.'• -ma tically.'^ - "' - - X - c " »Law 12.— 8a1l in Touch : Important alteration. j£ side, in order 'io bring the bajl - into. play from, touch, must either (a) throw it-out -so .as to alight' at angles, or (b). scrummage' it at a", spot -at right- angles to* the touch-line, 10 -yards from the place. whexe it went iuto. touch. _ Ijaw 16>. — Knock-on, CLnxow Forward; Inr--portani In ( the case of a knockon -or-'throw*' f orwar4>- *the. ball had /to be brought back and "put down," unkrss a fair catch was allowed or the opposite side "gained an advantage: Instead of' being "put do\?n," it must now be scrummaged,. AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION. AUCKLAND, April2l. N The annual meeting of the. Tlugby Union *?as helH- last evening The balance sheet . showed the receipts to be £1371 5s Id, and the " expenditure £1167 14s 2d, ieaying a credit- balance of £203- 10s lid On the question of the distribution of profit of the- New Zealand tour, Mr Ohlson moved that the New Zealand Union be urged' to divide profits amone the leading un'ons of the , colony. Mr MacCormick thought the time "premature for the proposal. ' They should wait and see what the New Zealand Unicn, intended doing. The Auckland Union was a good deal better off than many other unions in New Zealand. Mr Ohlson, withdrew -his motion ;on the understanding " tna*-"the' matter- would be 'borne in mind by t?he committee. OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. *, -,The~ weekly meeting of. -the' committee . of the Ottega~Hughf. Football ' Union, held on Monday, was attended ' by- Messrs- A. C. Hanlon (president, in the chair), W, J. .Wilson, Vt G: Oavanagh.- H Harris, H. /Sheoc£;-^EV J. Priest, T), ,M. Mimro, G. Thomson^. G-- MTJaren^J..' Duncan, E. Au'stin,"'and~J. Hutchison. "Apologies" were received for the absence of Messrs F. H. Campbell and A. Dey. " *~ The Seoretary reported that 19 out of 22 schools which had been offered footballs had accepted the offers. It was resolved to reimburse the Alhambra. Club for the goal posts erected by it ion the reclaimed ground at Pelichet Bay, ami that the union take over the ground for the season. Tho University Club requested that it he given a. bye on Saturday, as it was unable to raise a team. — Referred to the Flag Committee, with a recommendation 'hat the request be •, granted. The North Otago Sub-union wrote applying for sanction to alter its by-laws so as to allow members, of the Referees' Association and of the Committee of Management to report, players for rough or foul play. — Approved of. The Secretary of-the Taieri Rovers Club "wrote asking for a subsidy gf pound for pound towards the cost of repairing, the olub's pavilion. — It was resolved to ask the club for an estimate of the cost, also what action it- was taking in the matter. It was decided that the Waikouaiti Club * be graded as a junior team. M. L. Colgan. secretary of the Union Club, wrote asking that the pavilion on the North Ground be lined. The estimated - cc€t "was * about £25. It was decided to - write to the Union Club and the Grange Cricket Olub asking what' amount they ■were prepared to contribute to the cost. J. Coulter appeared in support of his application for a transfer from the Alhambra to the Kaikore-i Club. He had recently moved from North-East Valley to Kaikorai Valley, and found it inconvenient to attend the Alhambra matches arid practice.— G. Phillips, on behalf of the Alhambra Club, opposed the application, aiid : said the club thought the reasons advanced ■were insufficient. — On the motion of .Mr M'Laren, it was decided that the transfer be granted, an amendment, moved by Mr SSncock, to tho effect that Coulter stand down for six weeks, beinar lost. J. O'Sullivan, on behalf of the St. Joseph's Club, wrote asking that th© club hi allowed to take the place of the Bat- , : talion team which, he understood, had de- \ ' cided to drop out. A letter was read from A. Stoneham, on behalf of the Bat- • talion Club, stating that a meeting would be held on Tuesday to discuss matters in connection with the club. He had not abandoned hope^ bi forming a club. — After a. discussion, the President stated that the committee had no power to admit St. Joseph's Club. Such an application could or-ly be entertained at the annual general meeting of the union. While this matter j wa6 before the meeting, the secretary j stated that he was- informed there was a ' possibility of Alhambra- - entering two first- ' grade teams. Messrs X. Hutchison, G. M'Laren, R. D. ! Isaacs, A. Laurenson. and T. A. Hunter were appointed delegates to the N.Z. Rugby i ' iUnibn. In the event of Messrs Hutchison i < and -BfLareii being unable to proceed to i i (Wellington two other delegates will be j ' appointed. . , j ■ Mr Wilson said he thought the New Zea- • ; land Rugby Union should make a grant to . the New Zealand Referees' Association out ' of the profits of the recent tour of the New Zealand team at Home. He understood ■ the association was not in a strong financial j position. ' A

• After discussion it was agreed to recommend the union's delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union' meeting to support a resolution to this effect if such a resolution were brought forward. The opinion was expressed that at least half of the profits (£12,500) should be invested in good securities. The members of last year's Finance Committee (Messrs Hutchison, Harris, and Sincock) were re-elected. The Secretary of the New Zealand Union wrote forwarding a copy of the alterations in the laws of the game, such alterations to take effect during the coming season. The principal alteration relates to the mode of scoring, which is to be as follows: — A try, 3 points: a goal from a try (in which case the try shall not count), 5 points ; a dropped goal (except from a mark or penalty kick), 4 points; a goal from a maru or penalty kick, 3 points.