FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 62

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK. It is reported in the north that A. Patterson, the Otago and New Zealand representative forward, is going to take up his residence in Auckland early in the new 3-ear. This is the usual news item which goes the founds at this period, and I fear me there is nothing in it. It arose possibly /through the tfig fellow having expressed his delight with Auckland when on tour with the Otago team, and stating that he would not mind taking up his residence in the northern city. By the English mail +o hand I received a letter from J. L. Williams, the crack Welsh three-quarter who was in New Zealand with the British Rugby team. "Johnny" Williams has already started to play for Cardiff, the team over which Percy Bush presides and states that the reason is in full swing. Williams was one of the few Britishers who did not find excuses for the British team's defeats in New Zealand, and admitted that the teams which they met were good sides — too good at times for the British team. The players, write? William©, had an exceedingly pleasant time in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, "the most unpleasant being the breaking up of the party at Liverpool." The balance-sheet of the Canterbury Rugby Union show> tho receipts for t lie year to have been £1330 6s 8d and tho expenditure £1196, !ea\inp a credit halanci of- £134 6s B,d. The takings at football matches at Lancaster Park la«t s-eason amounted to £2004 4s 3d. The British Rugby team which tou'-ed Alaoriland, or 1 rather a portion of that (cam, met the Australians last Saturday. and were defeated by 24 point* to nil. This would go to prove that- the defeats in New Zealand were due to better play and not to undue roughnes«. Tho fact of the Australians defeating the Britishers would not go ro prove «o much the strenarth of the Wallabios but the woakno<.-5 of the Home combination. The Britishcis were, however, not fully represented. Three membprs of Harding"* Brit.sh tram — Hind, Archer anu Tuan Jone c — etift'onoil up Guv's Hospital again=t Cambridge, Guy** winning the match by 12 point- to 9 points. The injuries received by Bilh Wallace during hi 9 long and useful football career have left their indelible marks on his fram» and effects on his constitution in such a way that he is now almost unfitted to follow his trade of mechanical cmpinccr. It is understood the amount raised recentK will bo devoted to the purchase of a biwinr^s affording him light occupation. Three year* ago to-day— December 16 — the (famous New Zealand team of All Blacks were defeated by Wales by a tr> to nothing. Three years brings its sequel, for on Saturday last the Australians wro defeated by Wales by \a penalty goal and two tries to two tries. Unlike the panic* against the All Blacks, the match bristled with good play. The Welsh wing threequarters were more brilliant than tho Australians. The interest in the game m illustrated by the fact that 30,020 people were present. Ths- weakest spot in British Rugby football is, the refereeincr. which, according to one authority, is "killing" the game. Percy Bush, who was out here with Sivright's team in 1904, and was invited to make one of Harding's team la-t year, ipcl Cardiff again~t Leicester the othor day. Cardiff had hitherto been unbeaten, hut Leicester broke down the d-efoi.ee b\ 7 points to nil. Tho player for Leioostc-r \v<i« Jackett, of the British team to Maoriland. who not only potted a goal, but totally eclipsed Winfiekl, the Weieh

' full back, who practically won the game for Wales against Xew Zealand in 1905. Jackett i-5 regarded as the finest full back in the three kingdoms. ' Here is a stinging paragraph concerning Otago and New Zealand football from the ppn of an English writer which should not go unchallenged: — "In Otago, and in other parts of the Dominion, the payment of increased sums for out-of-pocket expenses in , representative matches is now publicly desired; will it surprise my readers to know that a prominent New Zealand player at present in this country declared that he never took part in a big game without being paid for doing so? And he repre- , sented the Dominion as an ' amateur' '. The present rules are regarded as old- , fashioned. ju=t as they were deemed slow | by the professional clubs of this country. , In fact, the demand is for the abolition of Rugby Union methods and the substitu- . tion or the modern plans of the Northern Union. Now, to argue upon the advisability or the reverse of such a step is to one? more run over the whole gamut of professionalism. Not in one column, is it possible to point out the advantages of the | one code or the disadvantages of the other. But if the desires of the Otago folk are to be realised, why cannot they go the whole hog, and declare boldly for professicnalfsm? They declare themselves amateurs- in Maoriland Rugger. Well, I have got my doubts about it.^' > Otago cannot be saddled with the sins of the distinguished "amateur" now playing in England, but if the fact* aie correct that the New Zealand player at present in England never took part in a game here ' without being paid for doing so, a searching inquiry should be made into the case, and the union under which he played asked for an explanation. I could, were I asked, name tho play-r in one, but that is not | the point. Was player paid by his t union or did enthusiasts subscribe towards the payment of tho fees? Was the union aware of the fact? Various- hint* have been thrown out concerning veiled professionalism in. New Zealand, but no one has had the temerity to come forth andi prove their assertions. Will they do so now. — Full Back.] I The secretary of the Now Zealand Football Association has received a letter from the JSoutih African Football Association agreeing- to isend a team of first-class players to tour New Zealand in 1909. There arc several points regard : sig the guarantee which will have to be duly authenticate! before the African Association definitely decides to send the team. They prefer to send 15 players, and to appoint tho captain as manager aboard s-hip, the N.Z.F.A. to undertake r.he actual management when the team is in New Zealand. > Two matches a week will be played, and on occasions, m cases where extensive travelling is not required,' a third game could be arranged. The object of the South Africans' visit is to f urthen the- ''soccer*' same in New Zealand. The matter will be fully diwussed at the next meeting of the N.Z.F.A. The New South Wales Association has also offered i to* eeivl a team next season, providing the New Zealand Association's offer is s-till open. The most brutal exhibition of ferocity over s-cc-n/ at a football match in America took place recently (according to an Expre-tS correspondent) at> a match between the Wesley University and the Union College. A keen rivalry has long- existed between the football enthusiasts of the "two instij tutions, and the result was that the match became prize -fight from start io finish. Seventeen players were rendered unconscious, and had to be removed from the field. In five cases the" injuries were co serious that the men had to be taken in ambulances to the hospital. One doctor attended the match in hie official capacity, but 10 minutes after the beginning affairs I had becom.3 so etrenucus that three other doctors had to be called in, and for tho ' remainder cf the game the four medical men were kept as busy as on a battlefield. The spectators, although mostly partisans of one ■iide' or another, became enraged at the brutality of the players, and several limes endeavoured to rush the field, but they were kept back, and the game proceeded to tho end. Many women who had ielative<s among the players fainted and cried, but all efforts to moderate the fiercenee* of the combatants failed. Every scrimmage was the scene of indiscriminate kickins: and punching, against which tho stout leather armour worn by American foothall<»].= was nowerlesp. When the game ended all th- 1 substitute* available to both elevens had been called in. The result was a draw. Neih<?i- side had kicked a goal, c o bus\ had llicy been in kicking etch other. Both lAams havp is-ued challenge** for another mate"), bm it i^ -unlikely ihat the authorit;os v. ill allow it. j MEMORIAL TO R. G. DEANS. j CHRISTCHURCH, December 14. i The Canterbury Rugby Union decided . , at a meeting to-night to vote £25 toward* 'the establishment of a scholir.«hip at the j Boi, s' Hii-h School as a memorial to the late R. (t. Deans, who at one time was a pupil «it tl.o school. The Old Boyft' Asso'tiat'on. v. 'no die taking the initial steps j in the matUr, a^ked for the union's co- I > opr- iTi tion. A -lib- committee wa.« set up t) repoit Oil the question as to the advisability of the Canterbury Rugby Union taking htep< to commemorate Mr Deans ( by the establishment of a cup, shield, or , trophy, to be conqieted for in Senior local matches. CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION. CHRISTCHURCH, December 12. The Canterbury Rugby Union leceipts , for th-p year aie £1330, and the expendi- , turc £1i96. ! ; OXFORD v. CAMBRIDGE. ! LONDON, Dec&mber 13. I The inter-university Rugby match Oxford v. Cambridge resulted in a draw— a £^oal each. Colin Gilray played for Oxford, and G. M. Chapman (who is a son of Mr Justice Chapman) for Camliidge. AUSTRALIAN TEAM IN ENGLAND. j LONDON, December 9. i The League team, two goals, two tries I (10 points), defeated Swinton, three goals, ' one try (9 points). , December 13. | Th-e match between the Wallabies and Wales was played at Cardiff, io Mm pie-

s-enos of 30,000 people. Wales won by a penalty goal and two tries to two tries.

The game was strenuous and exciting. The Welsh outsiders proved cleveier on attack.

Wales scored first, m'caing an easy place kick. Prentice headed a passing rush, enabling Richards to score between the posts, but Carmiehael failed to convert.

After the interval Wales secured a try, but gradually the Wallabies' pack' gained the ascendency, unt.il off -side play resulted in the Welsh team eecuring a penalty goal. The Wallabies brilliantly attacked again and again in the last 10 minutes, threatening to pull the game out of the fire. Prentice enabled Russell to score, Carmichael again failing to convert. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE TEAM. LONDON, December 13. The Australian League team drew with the Northern Union. The latter scored 2 goals and 6 tries (22 points), and the League team 5 goals and 4 tries (22 points). The play was very fast in the first half. Messenger kicked a penalty goal, and England scored two unconverted tries. Then Devereux out-amed a* try, from which Messenger failed to kick a goal. England added two more tries, one of which was converted, and were leading at half-time by 14 points to 5. 1 In the second b/ilf England quickly added an unconverted try. Devereux and .Butler ns-it scored tries, and Messenger converted both of them. Then England secured another unconverted try, and Devereux followed with a fine try, which Messenger converted, equalising the scores. Messenger next placed a penalty goal, and England followed by placing a penalty goal in the last minute.