FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 57

FOOTBALL.

HOTES BY FtTLL BACK. Alar> Adams, the "Rastus" Adam:, of our day, has already created a favour-> able impression on English foot-ball fields and witn English critics. Referring to his performance with London Hospital * writer ir Londor- Sportsman has this to say concerning the exaVarsity captain : — "Alan Adams, who started as a centre three-quarter,' and subsequently changed ■ places with Heale, the outside half, is undoubtedly a- clever player. He has come from New Zealand with a big reputation; he shaped like a back of cia?s. He picks up beautifully, fields purely, is a swift opportunist, and runs straight; but he is far from fit, and is, I hear, to be operated upon shortly." Adams will prove the brightest "star" in London Hospital circles this season. The many friends here of the Otago University player will rejoic* when the news comes to hand of i!he success of the operation which he is to undergo. This item concerning another Otago representative playing for London Hospital is distressing. Another New Zealander, E. G. Mscpfaerson, had the ill-luck to dislocate the clavicle in his first match for London, and is not likely to turn ou' unit* after Christmas. Again here is what the English critkf think of two other Otago 'Varsitj players: — Palmer did several smart thingi, and ran with more than his ordinary resolution. He was quite the pick of th« three-quarters. But the outstanding player was Heale, the outside half-back, who would hare been a very welcome addition to an English fifteen & few seasons back. With Stoop, Mainprice, Williamson, D»vey, and Heale to choose from England seems particularly well equipped for h»lf -backs this season. Eren if th« two first-named be omitted owing to their injuries, Heale will hardly suffer in comparison with Bavey or Williamson." Davey who toured New Zealand with the Britistt team, and Williamson are the crack English halves. Yet what one saw of Davey out here- was not altogether convincing. Of Mehaffey, the ex-Invercargill student footballer, the London Sportsman critic has this appreciation : — "Of trie forwards .■ John Mehaffey was the most inspiring^ He is of the approved modern type, wIg.V. the speed and the hands of & three-quarter. The- London captain . should be well watched, with a view to a cap." Two players known to vs — Gilray and V assail — were the stars in the Oxford Un - • versity-London Scottish match the othe; day, won by the Varsity by 2& points to 5 points. The Otago 'Varsity crack and the British Rugby', three-quarter were instrumental in leading up to both 'Varsity scores. Knowing something of Vassal!, the Oxford three-quarter, who toured Newr Zealand with the Britsh team, the writer wonders how the Otago man and the Oxford player "fit in" in the 'Varsity three-quarter line. Gilray appears to have played a fine game. ■* A New Zealander in R. F. Adams took part in the Cambridge University trial* a day or two before the departure of the last English mail. Who kR. F. Adams, anyway ? Dr P. F. M*Evedy, one of the roost prominent members of the Anglo-Welsh football team which toured the Dominion, Fast winter, was one of the 28 applicant* for the position of medical superintendent of Wellington Hospital. Dr M'Evedy is a New Zealander, and remained in the Dominion at the conclusion of the team's tour. v Jacket, the star full back of the British Rugby team, turned out for Leioester against Bristol the first Saturday after his return Home from New Zealand. Jacket* is raid to have played a fine game. Two members of the recent British +cam in New Zealand — Hind and Tuan Jones— played for Guy's Hospital against Rosslyn Park the other day. Steinper, a New Zealander, ako p&yed for Guy c, which hospital had, however, to go down by three tries to a placed goal. 'Percy Foote, the old ' Varsity captain, i* playing in the senior fifteen of London Hospital, and has associated with him, Alan Adams, Macpherson, Palmer, and Heale, all Ute of Otago University. George Harnett, .manager of the British team which has just returned 1 to England from its New Zealand tour, tslJs a story to illustrate the passion for football in the heart of the New Zealander. 'I have a boy who is goimr to be a Rugby footballer," said a proud father in the Dominion to Mr Harnett. "He's only two months old," he added, "but he's started training already. I have hung a football at the foot of his cradle, so that he can •boost' it every time he kicks !" Rumour says that affiliated unions wi'l get a big shock when they learn thf nature of the terms demanded by the British team for making the Homeward trip by way of Australia and Canada. Our old friend Ernie Booth, of Otag« and All Black fame, and now acting as a correspondent wiih the Australian team i« England, forwards a marked copy of th« Foo+baH Evening News, in which he gives , particulars of the "Wallabies' " war-cry. Here it is: — "Gau ! Gau! Devon, whir-r-r-Win nang-a-lan. Win tiang-a-lan. Win nairg-a-lan thur. Mu-i-an-yil-ling. Bu-rang-ul-lang. Bu-rang-ul-lang-yang. Yai i Yai ! Gun-yib-lan-yang Yah." A Hteraj translation of the above is as follows: — "Hullo! Hullo! Devon. You are greatf men. We are glad. Let us meet each. other. Come ! con*e ! let us try.'^ "Whi»-r-r" ..is * naj^ve imitation of on© t male cockatoo defying another. "Yah" is an expression meaning defiance or derision. "Gau" is pronounced as "go," 1 and "thur" as "mir." The "Wallabies' " : wax-cry originates with the once powerful HLawara tribe, who dominated the coastal districts of Australia from the Hawkesbury River south to Woolongong and Bulli. Too much " girl " : After criticising tho " flirtations " and " romances " of tncmembers of th<> BriH-h Rucrby To tin a« they appear in the lxceiUlj-imbhsLeci book:

"With the British Rugby Team in Maoriland," the Sydney Referee goes on to say : "Yet, the author, has turned out a book for which, otherwise, one has nothing but praise. Abie, light, and picturesque, the £:ory is «>o well told, that the blemish ia to be do.ibly ?egretted. Every match, every bit of travelling, the rural scenery, «nd the sidelights are ably written by the author. . . The book should find its way into the shelves of every colonial interested in rugby football." George Harnett har returned from his 33,000-mile tour wonderfully well. Briok Court once again ring 3 with his merry iaugh. The genial manager of the late Anglo- Welsh team had a splendid time; he was hail fellow well met with our kinsmen down under (says a London"" writer), and his happy gift for malting himself at home wherever he went made him much in demand socially. He has added immensely to his stock of anecdote and story ; the many speeches he was called upon for has sensibly improved his command of language (never wanting, by the way), and I am told that his first after-dinner speech will be very well worth hearing. He was much impressed with the natural beauties of New Zealand as well as the superb playing powers of the All Blacks. "They are the finest players in the world to-day/ remarked Mr Barnett, "and their game would be still more delightful if they would eliminate certain objectionable features which they can easily afford to drop." The secretary -of the New South Wales Union has written the N.Z.R.U. stating that the matter of a visit of an Australian team to New Zealand in 1909 has been discussed by his council, and -he had been directed to notify the New Zealand Union that owing to the extended leave of absence required by their best players to make the tour of Britain -and America, Australia ■would not be in a ' position to send a first--lass team on tour in 1909. Under the circumstances the New South Wales Union would like an opinion as to the postponement of the visit until 1910.— 1t was decided by -the N.Z.R.U. to fall in with the New South Wales Union's suggestion, and not ask for the visit until the season after next.

It has been decided to erect a memorial in Christchurch to the memory of the late Mr R. G. Deans, the well-known New Zealand footballer. The memonaj will take the form of a tablet, to be placed in the High School, and a fund will be raised, the interest from which -^ail be applied as a Robert Deans Memorial Scholarship, to be given to a boy attending the Boys' JdLigh Scnool. A committee of influential business and professional gentlemen hats been formed to collect subscriptions. in connection with the inquiry as to professionalism in the Midlands, the following players "have been declared to be professionals by the English Rugby Union—viz., J. Jackson, F. W. riardyman, T. W. Smith, and SS. C. Matthews. It is proposed to, hold an inquiry into the management cf the lieicester .b.C. T. W. Smith was a member of the Anglo-Welsh team in Australasia. The New South Wales Rugby Union has forwarded to England a number of suggested alterations in Rugby Union laws. These are practically of little moment, the most important being the suggestion that .Ihe advantage rule should apply if all cases — that is merely how the law as it stands should be administered. The matter of off-side play while the ball is in the scrummage is not touched, yet it is as important, peruaps, as all the other suggestions combined. i remoniixir reading years ago in a coiomal newspaper the following delightfulloot ball yarn isays a writer in the Atliletic News):— "'The oright Australian boy i s always a quick study. Little in the shape of useful Knowledge passes him. On the way to the Carlton football match k.st isatur-day, two gentlemen, in a Brunswick tram, were discussing the prospects of the game. •I am sorry to 6ee,' one of them -' said, ' that gome of the players are bringing Japanese Jiu Jitsu tricks into the game. I have noticed more than once a quick chop with -the edge of the hand on the side of v man's neck, wiiich seems to paralyse him for a moment.' The other man expressedconcern at such brutality being possible, but his son, of about 14 years, who sat beside him, smiled significantly, and said, ' Why, father, we've got that trick in our school team.' " The etory was brought to my memory by some recent happenings in .Rugby football. Tho other week were p quoted from a New Zealand newspaper, i the Times, of Wellington, passages which ' declared that the Anglo- Welsh team had ' suifered very seriously trom "the downright malevolence of members- of the teams with whom they had come in conflict. ... In nearly every match accidents have occurred which could have been avoided if the local representatives had plajed the ball more and the men less — that is to say, if they had played like sportsmen instead of roughs, with chivalry instead of brutality." I A romarkable instance of going from ' home lor news ( !) is furnished in the Athletic News (Manchester), which, quoting a i letter from New Zealand in support of j Northern Union football, states : " The • Auckland Rugby Union met and decided that if the New Zealand Rugby Union d d not alter their rules at ->nee they would (as Otago- and Canterbury have already done) sever their connection with thafc , body.

' There is no doubt that a great future lies bsfore the Northern Union game in New Zealand, if played on an amateur basis. We are forming clubs all over the Dominion, and our intention is to pay players out-of-pocket expenses only. We will have a better insurance scheme than the Rugby Union have at present, and hope to pay players as near to their waged as possible. At present they are paid 20s a week, and might have to wait two or three months before they get paid for the iirst week."

So Otago and Canterbury have severed' their connection with the New Zealand! Rugby Union ! This is on a par with the following item from the same paper : "George Gillett, one of the original 'All 'Blacks,' who made a name in England, but since his return to New Zealand has 'gained further honours, arid at the present time is regarded a* the leading wing •forward in the colony, is coming to tins .country. In factj he is on his way now, \\nd if his departure from New Zealand has caused surprise, something approaching CDomsternation will be expressed when it is Renown that hi« object is the Northern "Onion. At present he is free, and has promised hi* services to no partioular dub >3Vo Lancashire org&nisatione— Wigan and ■Oldbam — -however, appear to be tin; favoured olubs from Gill&tt's point of view, And tho lowly and loss wealthy league seuat trill no doubt find consolation in the $Mt th*» GHlletV* 'fea' will be very high. Kb* 'All Black,' I 'jxktawtand, can play

equally- well in the back division, and Bhouldi prove a useful man."

A New Zealand Edinburgh freshman, G. V. Bogle (who, «f memory serves, hails from Wellington), played a splendid game in the three-quarter line for Gala, against Edinburgh Academicals the other day I fancy Bogle is the once well-known amateur athlete.

Two members of the recent British Rugby team in Maoriland in Oldham (forward) and Dyke (full back) turned out for Coventry against Bedford the other day, and assisted to whack Bedford by 17 points to 8 points. The Cardiff Footall Cub gave a welcome home to J. L. Williams and R. A. Gibbs, of the British team, while the Australians were at Cardiff. In responding to the toast of their health, Mr J. L. Williams, who had a rousing reception, expressed his thanks for the cordiality of the welcome extended to him. As regarded the trip the tourists enjoyed themselves immensely, and he was certain the people of this country coulH not do more for the Australian footballers .low here than the Australians did 1 for the Anglo-British players "down under." The tourists did not have such a good record as they would have liked, but everybody at home knew they were a pooi side.— ('No, no*") They also had! several misfortunes in the way of accidents. After making amusing references to some of the tourists' eperiences, Mr Williams said he hoped soon to don the black and blue jersey once again. — (Cheers.) R. A. Gibbs, who had an equally cordial reception, said no one could wish to have a better time than the tourists had enjoyed, and he hoped the people of this country would treat the Australian footballers as the Australians had treated the Anglo-Welsh team.— (" Hear, hear.") The tourists were, in a sense, glad to be home again, but he thought if a similar trip was suggested iv another six months they would 1 all like to undertake it.

It is prophesied that the Oxford team this year will make history. The back line is the strongest for many years. Colin Gilrey haa definitely earned his place, and has now struck good form.

Mr G. H. Harriett, asked by a representative of the Otago Daily Times what he thought of th& attacks that had been made upon New Zealand football by the English press, said he quite agreed with Dr Al'Evedy that the New Zealanders were so good that there wae no nesd for them to resort to roughness and "pointing." He could not understand -why they did it. The percentage of injuries was co large that it was difficult to put them down to anything but roughness. He had some diffidence in speaking thus of the New Zealanders, who had been so good to the team. He would say, however, that the roughness was not general. In some matches there was no tiling, that could be eaid to •exceed in roughness ordinary robust football, and even when there was roughness it was generally on the part of a few players. Two injuries which occurred .within a few moments were due absolutely to one New Zealand player. Speaking of the next tour, Mr Harnetfc said of course he knew nothing official, but he should not think there would be another visit to New Zealand for some years, possibly six or eight. The next ream to go out would, of course, be tho guests of the Australians, and New Zealand would then at the most only get. the tail-end of the programme. Mr Harnett, in common with many New Zealanders in England, was greatly shocked to hear of the death of R. G. Deans. He was one of the last men Mr Harnett eaid good-by<e to in Auckland, and his loss to football would be a severe one. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. I WELLINGTON, December 3. At the meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union this evening a letter was received from Sydney stating that an Australian team could not be sent to New Zealand in 1909, and suggesting that such visit be postponed till 1910. This was agreed to. AUSTRALIAN TEAMS IN ENGLAND. LONDON, December 2. Midlands and East Midlands (two goals, a penalty goal, and a try) defeated the i Australian Rugby team (1 igoal). ! December 3. The game was fast and even in the first half, in wbich the Midlands scored an unconverted try. In the second half the Midlands set up strong attacks, and scored two tries, both of wliich were converted, and added a penalty goal. Burge scored a try for the Wallabies, C'aimichael converting it. ! The match between Swinlon and the Australian League team was not played owing to the fog. December 5. The defeated tha AngloW«!*h team by three goals and three tries to nil. The latter lmd a strong forwaid team, but several of their beet | outsiders were ab-ent o*.ving to the county I championship. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE TEAM. LONDON, December 5. Halifax defeated th« Australian League team by three goals and two tries to a goal and two hies. Halifax secured a goal in the eecond half from a penalty which was due to the League team's Tough play. O'Mulley was ordered off the field for deliberate obstruction.