FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 62

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK. A name missing from this year's Scottish international three-quarter line is that of Colin Gilray, the ex-Otago three-quarter, who announced his intention of retiring from football earlj in the season. Poxcy Bush, of lightning pot-shot fame, who is well remembered in Dunedin, only recovered from an ( attack of ptomaine poisoning prior to playing for Wales against Scotland last month. Bush's last game against Scotland was in 1908. What I remember of Bush is that he is not a great defensive playei. Behind beaten forwards Bush crumbles like a cracknel and " speculates" at a rolling ball. On a winning side, with the pack going well in front of him, Bush is the most dangerous pot-shot I have seen—not forgetting several of the giants of our own day in New Zealand. •

Apropos of this an English critio: —"On a winning side the Cardiff man is an artist; where there is much defence to be done he is not :so reliable, and even his admirers •have not yet forgiven him for that attempt -at a speculator which, having been missed, cost his club the match against the New Zealanders. Moreover, I anl told that in the game with Edinburgh University Bush was discovering and jumping at balls up in the air which were actually passing his "feet. However, "as he objects to players dropping on the ball in defence,"his action —from his own point of view—would probably be justified.—("There was an occasion, too. in the snow at Lancaster Park. Playing for Bedell-Siyright's team against Canterbury, Bush speculated at a rolling ball, missed it, and a race ensued between the -Cardiff wonder, and the late-lamented Bob Deans .with "the"result that Deans out-paqed •the Welshman and ' scored a try.—Full Back.] •-■ Fred. Chapman, who-toured New Zealand with Harding's British team of 1908,. won •bis international cap playing for England aganst Wales a few" weoks ago. Chapman was thehero of the English side, and it was mainly through his agency that the Welsh colours; were lowered 1 by -England for the first time for twelve years. Several ex-Qt<ago players now in England took - part - in the "United Hospitals' match jajrainst tba- Army. A. O. Palmer and Allan Adams were in the- three-quarter,line, while Heale and A. B. Lindsay were the half-backs. The Hospitals won by four tries to one try. - Some players known, to New Zaalanders. and who- visited the Dominion, played for Wales against Scotland in the international match, won bv. Waifs bv 14 noints to nil. Thce-3 were R. A. Gibbg r and W, L. Morsran. who...toured New Zealand with •Harding's British.team.of.'l9.oß, and Percy Bush, whof was a 'member of BedellSivright's team of 1904. jYJorgan and. Bush were'the associate half-backs for Wales. Four'changes were international team defeated by England for tho match . asainst Spiller and Baker; three-ouarters. replaced "Ponty" Jones fl.nd Hopkins, while Morgan and Percy Bush" replaced the great Welsh halves. Owen and r Jones: R. T: Gabe, -who was round here-'with Sivright's team of 1904. ©ommentins* oh-the changes, said:—"Jones and Owen have played many glorious games for Wales, but. although they still possess all t.heir_ old cunning-; they have lost pace and and must give way to you riser .and speedier men. Morgan is, perhaps, abVh+ly infprior to Owen <*« r a scrummage half-back, vbat he knows Bush's play to a nicety, and gives*: thoso long, swingingin .which this masteT-attacker ',', . *.-"■>•

T'*ue, colonial players in the few Northern Union matches on- -January 22 aerain occupied a nromine.nt olaee in the scorine- record. Wrirdev erOn-yl 3 trios and nlaced 5- sroals fm-_V Huddersfjeld. Rosenfeld. M'C'ibe.. Ajilezark, and Todd also scored ■for their respeotTw.' teams, whilst C. Seeling, in his first Nortlvrn Union frame, scored a fo"<*- in ,a..Z>aneasbire combination . match at -Wigan. „»,-...,

m weather for the Wales v. Scotland at Cardiff was. most unfavourable, 'and rain felhthroufi-hout tb«" : frame. Ther<« Wfl«. how«ver.>yi,n exceptiVnrdlv Wge crowd., and --teerK>s of the wiWas* !-•'•> tlrct-nasiri nrevai In the openintr stages plav was Y'" pven.; and excitement ran high as the Scottish forwards burst away. "But the cWerness of the Welsh .backs prevailed, and W«T*s was leading bv 8 nointe to nil a+ +V interval. On resuming. Scotland maHp dfespe'-.at.e efforts to their om>one"ts' out Welsh backs showed ntt- brijljant.lv. and in the latter #,.t?"-e= oT.+b.e-rgam*, two further tries were added, a-id'the principality thus won by 14 .prints to nil; ; . ""

is;making its in Germanv. M" T H. HaYnett bad received from Mr Cad Eckermeir. of th~ Fuss-Snort-Verein 'Fianover). a- request that he might use hi-- influence to get the ebamnion Rughv eide of Gormany a connle of «ra,m»R. i n ,Ki«7-lacd at Easter; The German diamoion* are welltrained and play excellently together. -'

A. -Northern Union item interesting- to colonials:—St He'«ns Kv« res-is+eved an->t.~h,?r colonial in Frank "n a lhot. a powerful < *OHimir>ar f r>r from Ohristobnrc'b. New 7<°ala.nd,. Talbot came to England with Or-av, ' Hut, unlike the half back, his intention was to . ioin a. "R.ucrHv TTnion club. When, howewr. Seelinf sismed for Wisnan. determined to throw in his lot with the Northern TTnion. 1 could tell a story •reo-airdine the "hunt' which has taken place in Oloucestershipe. where the colonial, sta'vins- with relatives, lias bee;n laid ur> with influenza. However. St. Helens had Gray on their side, and Talbot dnl'» siffneid for the West, Lancashire club. : O Seelinjr had pla.ved his first. >*amo in Ens-land under the Northern Union rules when the last, mail left, and, interviewed hy an A t.'M«vtio News renrescntative. was most ontimtstic resrardins: the future of the, "Northern" same in New Zealand. Progress is steady, despite the formidable o»->"/>oifion. and. to us« hi« own <vorcl c . ,"OnW a, visit from the English side ?«, neo~>ssarv next •season . to clinch thf matter." He' knew the interview would be

' read in New Zealand, and on that account he does not desire to mention names, in case his friends have changed their minds. Many prominent players well known in England are contemplating going over, and he confidently declared that bij; developments may be expected for next season. "As I previously said,"'continued Seeling, "all .that is wanted is a visit fro.a the Northern Union." Some doubt exists in -official' circles in the Northern Union as to what grounds would be. available in case the visit took place next season. Seeling, however, has no fears in this respect. In Auckland they have two good enclosures in addition to the Victoria Park ground. There is also a ground at North Shore, one in Taranaki, one in Wellington. Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and other centres. "And," remarked Seeling, "they are grounds, too." The Northern Union need have no doubts respecting suitable enclosures being found. An instance of a Rugby referee consulting a touch judge on a mafcter outside the duty of touch judges occurred in the Swansea-Newport match at Swansea, in Wales, recently. From an attempt by J. Bancroft to kick a penalty goal the ball was fielded by F. W. Birt, who, behind his own goal line, was prevented from bringing the ball out and forced to touch down. The referee, presumably, thought that Birt was in the field of play when be took the ball, and a consultation with one of the" touch judges confirmed this opinionHe thereupon ordered a scrummage five yards out, a ruling that surprised the defending side and occasioned comment among the spectators. The duties of touch judges are clearly specified in the laws of the Rugby Football Union, but the Welsh laws go further, providing for neutral touch judges. In matches where these are appointed the referee has power to consult a touch judge upon any point. It ifi worthy of remark that only in the matches which Newport'and Swansea engage Cardiff ha,ve neutral touch . judges actually been appointed. . ■ W. L. Morgan's (the Welsh half back) first dnteernational game -against Scotland was quite successful. The ball was difficult, to. handle, and in the second half-he ■dribbled - more than he passed, but he dribbled to purpose. In the first period he had swished back good services, but it was not Bush's day. His drops did not come off-. when be tried two.from awkward angles in the first half. But for one dodging run in the closing Btages fie was not in the scene in the second period. The Welsh half back problem is subtle as ever. Among the Merivale Club's new mem--bers -.this season is a player named A rmit, who played centre-throe-quarter for Yorkshire against the All-Blacks. The Northern Rugby Union's team of footballers, it is expected, will be captained during.their tour of Australia and New Zealand by Lomas, of. the Salford Club He is a three-quarter, and is a great goalkicker. The matches- will, include three •tests, ;two of which will- be" played at Sydney and one at Brisbane'. The Englishmen will possibly be opposedin these games'by Australians and New Zealanders, so that if that arrangement is made 'it will be the first occasion- on which Australasia has been represented in a football field in Sydney. The games in Sydney will end in July, and then will follow the trip to New Zealand, after which more contests may be played at Sydney. .... -

The New South Wales Rugby Union has made - definite arrangements with the New Zealand and { Queensland Rugby Unions for the visit of a combined team from the Universities of California—viz.,. Stanford. California, : ahd Nevada. The Americans were very anxious to make the trip, and now that it has been definitely arranged, it is sure -to give rise to no -end of pleasure in Californian" University football circles. In nhysique and tackling powers the team is tikelv to' be duite exceptional.. so that Australians and New'Zealanders will need to be- at their best to hold the. Americans. The New South Wales Union 4s to be congratulated «n having. made the arrangements for this tour, for it will be the first meeting of America and Australasians in either of the great, national p-ames on soil of the Southern Hemisphere. It is one more argument in favour of Rugby Union football as a world's game—a game which widens" the horizon of its players and those interested in it. The progra-mme of .the Americans".will "«mbrace matches in Queensland. New. South Wales; and New Zealand. As a representative New Zealand team 's also to. visit. Australia,, .and a representative Maori teoni, is also -likely, to come across, the. Rugby Union season is likely to be about the '-nor* attractive, ever arranged in Australia. The Maoris will include a big proportion of .old To.. Ante College boys., who have entered... into! professional' business", are imbued with the trr.est instincts'. o<f. the amateur, and understand al! that it means to themselves and the world of sports and "-a.mes.

Nothing reallv serious in the nature of problems was evolved out of th<* annual meeting of the Rugbv Union on Saturda.v week, which meeting, bv, the way. was unusuallv quiet. The Chairman's opening remarks nracticallv traversed all there is to sav of last, year's doings and prospects for the coming season. Tn touching- upon. finarrco not a ,'ew would bs surorised to learn that last veai-'s workings resulted, in a loss o c something like £?SO. This, to th" uninitiated, who see only the crowds passing through the turnstiles at the Caledonian and Ca.risbrook Grounds to witness the elub and representative matches, is something of a puzzle,' but when* is remembered .tbo expenses not known to the outsider and the honorary members' privileges, there is not so much in the l big gates after all. It is high time the extravagant privileges granted to honorary mend-'ers were cut down to scmethinig reasonable, if privileges at all. The honorary member, if he really wishes to assist his club, which I sometimes doubt, should receive no benefits, otherwi&e why "honoi*ary member"? Let the clubs have honorary members by all means, but let them in very truth live up to the title. I am of opinion that there is more real satisfaction, in being an honorary member of a club who gives for the sake of the club and the game generally than for the benefits to be derived from being a so-called hon. member under the system which has prevailed. - The Chairman referred to the amount of, £lO6 spent on footballs, jerseys, and football caps last season. The expenditure on footballs was absolutely necessary,'•particularly as country schools were provided with footballs on application, but surely it would not be a difficult matter to cut down- the expenditure on jerseys and caps. The jersey question has long been a eore trouble. BerrtcSDnt-ative players retain the jerseys

as souvenirs, but why, when they have won their representative cans? Of a truth that should he enough. - I am glad to note the reference to the conduct of the game and the players. This is a question that must crop up wherever Rugby football is played to 6uch an extent as in Ota-go. At the same time, while we do have instances of unfair play, considering the hundreds of all classes and dispositions who participate in Rugby throughout the season the game is singularly free of serious taints. Ido not pretend to be blind to what sometimes takes place, and can readily applaud the spirit which desires to free football from its objectionable features.

The Chairman of the O.R.F.U. remarked at the annual meeting that he was loth to refer to the recent conference in Sydney, which had for one of its objects a discussion on the proposed alterations to the rules of the game. Mr Campbell was right when he said that seeing that Auckland and Otago had-practically been the means of bringing forward the proposed alterations, either province should have been represented at the conference. It is a pity it was not so. Yet I cannot agree to the proposed alterations to the laws of the game, and am rather pleased than otherwise that no serious alterations were recommended by the conference. I have long held the opinion that it is not the laws of the game that are at fault so much as the players. It cannot be that we have taken all these years to find out that the laws of the game require improving, remembering the many fine exhibitions of, Rugby r _ played in Otago and throughout the Dominion under Rugby rules, which has for its recommendation one code the world over. What would be thought, I wonder, if Australia took it into its head to 1 propose alterations to the laws of cricket? Australia is so far advanced in the game that such an action might be justified if we justify New Zealand proposing to alter the. laws of Rugby football. On the plea that we can govern ourselves,-anything is justifiable. One dees not doubt that there are mem in .New Zealand quite competent to controlRugby football. I believe we have gentlemen here who are possibly even better qualified to govern the game than, some of the Rugby legislators in Great' Britain. Yet does 'that justify secession from the controlling body in -England? Surely hot. It is simply- because some . agitation has been raised to alter the laws of the .game in New-Zealand and the International Board has not thought fit to see eye to eye with us—if even* tney have considered the proposed alterations, -which I very much doubt —that this idea of secession, has been, mooted. Of course, no disloyalty is intended, but we have "come of age/' as it were, and are capable of governing ourselves. When the " M.C.C." of Rugby the world over does not approve of our suggestions' we cry "Secession!" .Tins is scarcely the right and certainly not the proper spirit. Two matches of the usual "Easter holiday" type are set-down for argument" on the Caledonian"' Cround on Easter Saturday, Linwood will fulfil its. annual engagement with Union, anrl Alhambra will carry out its appointment with' Merivale. SOUTHLAND RUGBY UNION. (Feom Que. Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 23. At the annual meeting of the Southland. Rugby Union to-night the balance sheet showed that the year's working had resulted in a profit of £33. Mr R. Galbraith was re-elected president for the ensuing year. UNION v. LINWOOD. A match v between Lirrwood (Christchurchy and Union an annual Easter fixture, ; was played " On the Caledonian Ground' oil ' Saturday afternoon. A strong wind Sided Union, which set up a vigorous' attack, ' and' S. Ivimey scored for the home team two minutes after ' play "• commenced. Union's attack- continued,' but hard kicking for a time negatived the efforts of Graham and Bond. Then the. lattei kicked a penalty gcal, and a minute- or two afterwards a passing rush by Graham, M'Kenzie, and Ivimey • allowed the lastnamed player, to score. With 9 points to the good, Stirling- got clear of some scrambling play with the ball and scored, and just before half-time Bond, after a fine run. also' scored. Getting the advantage of the wind in the second spell, Linwood attacked strongly, but the efforts of Stirling and Armour cleared their line, and Townsend presently scored. Clean,hard kicking by the Linwood backs cleared temporarily, and. weak play by a Union back let Linwood'.prr to the line,- and Harvey scored. . Union attacked again against the Wind, and Dryden scored. Then from near half-way, Bond got possession and made a great run down the field. Being tackled, he passed to S. Ivimey, and the latter got over. The game, which was controlled by Mr W. Dey, ended a few minutes later: Union ..*, ... .;. ... 24 points Linwood ' ..> ... ... .... 3 points MERIVALE v. ALHAMBRA. This match, between the premier teams of Christchurch and Danedin respectively, attracted a fairly largt crowd. Alhambra, won the toss, and Merivale kicked off against the wind, attacking at once, against the wind, attacking at once. After a long spell of even, but very strenuous, midfield play 'distinguished by some useful line kicks from Smith), the Merivale men fought their way to near Alhambra's line, A strong forward rush from their own ground by Alhambra forw.ryds ended in a force. Several determined rushes were stopped by excellent kicking by the {visitors' back division. Then Merivale got a chance. Cleary passed smartly to Shanks, but the latter was pulled down by M'Taggart in the corner where, as a result of the hot work that ensued, E. Kerr had to retire, hurt. Alhambra cleared, and. by hard kicking and fast following up, Forsyth was enabled to score near M-srivale's corner flag five minutes before the spell ended. Merivale had. hold i-ts own so well in the, first snell. playing against the wind, that the chances of victory in the second spell looked rosy. The Reds played up very vigorously, and offered Merivale a tough proposition. They fell back at first, and then the forward.fi broke awav with the ball at toe, and, despite Merivale's most strenuous efforts, rushed play right to the latter's line, where Edwards registered

Alhambra's second score. Then Merivale got play into Alhambra's territory, and one of the defending team kicked the ball right in front of the goal-posts, and Shanks scored. Cade kicked a goal, and the ' game reached an interesting stage—Alhambra 6, Merivale 5. Then clever play by Cleary put the ball out just at Alhambra's, corner, and Maxwell snapped up the leather from the throw-in and scored. Just before the whistle sounded, Kerr, from scramble play on Alhambra's line, scored, and Shanks converted. Ihe game, which was controlled by Mr H. M'Farlanc, thus ended: Merivale 13 points Alhambra 6 points MATCHES ELSEWHERE. " CHRISTCHURC'H, March 26. The annual match between Albion and Poneke (Wellington) was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon. The weather was fine, but a nor'-wester which was blowing made it much too warm for such a vigorous game as football, and as most of the players were not properly trained, the heat told on them as the afternoon wore on. The ground was also very hard, and totally unfit to play on. The display of football was not first-class, and Albion won by 23 points (a goal from try and six tries) to nothing. TIMARU, March 26. A couple of Dunedin football, teams plaj-ed matches here on. Good Friday. Southern beat Timaru by 21 points to 3 pointSj after a fairly fast game, in which Williams (three) and Miller , scored tries. 'Clancy kicked two goals and Eckhold one for the winners. Kaikorai were beaten by Star by 11 points to 3, Herd.scoring for the losers. AUCKLAND FOOTBALL. THE DISTRICT SCHEME. (From Our Own "Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, March 26. The Bigns were not wanting at" the conclusion of the last football season in Auckland that something in the nature of a crisis was-imminent in the Rugby world. Meetings were called to discuss methods of bettering the state of club competitions for this year, and there were many advocates for the abolition of the district scheme. The overwhelming superiority of the Ponsonby and City district teams for several years past has caused the weaker- clubs to lose heart, and for the past three seasons at. least all the interest in the club contests has been confined to two matches. Last season the position became accentuated by Ponsonby's abnormal superiority to : all clubs in the contest. The meeting of supporters, of the game was the outcome of this, and of the invasion of Auckland by the Northern Union game. The principal object of the meeting was to find some means of levelling the senior competition. An amendment to the district qualification by-law was decided on, which made itcompulsory for a man to reside in the district 12 months before he could play for that club, but according to the recent developments the amended" by-law is not likely to come into force. It has been, freely stated by officials and players that North Shore, Newton, and City Clubs were not likely to put senior teams in the field, while Grafton's team last . season—and their prospects are no better this—was very weak. As an outcome of this situation a question has been presented to the Auckland Rugby Union by the City, Newton, and North Shore Clubs asking that, a special meeting of the union be convened to consider the advisability' of amending the rules by the delation of. all clauses, therein making residential qualifications necessary for members of clubs. The purpose of this petition is the reversion to the club system, and judging bv ✓present indications there is a probability of the petitioning clubs' wishes being agreed to. The union will meet on April 8 to discuss the matter. ASSOCIATION. ROSLYN-WAKARI CLUB. The first annual general meeting of the above club was held last evening in Washer's Hall, Roslyn. There was a fair attendance of members, and Mr Washer (president) occupied the chair. . The election of office-bearers resulted as j follows:—President, Mr A. Washer;' vicepresidents—Messrs L. Kemnitz, J. B. Clarke, S. N. Brown, sen., W. C. Allnutt, 'S. N. Brown, jun«, C. F. Greenslacie, J. Hunter, M. Gilroy, G. M'Millan, W. L. Robinson; secretaries —Messrs C Johnstone and E. W. Carey: treasurer, Mr S. Wilson; auditor, Mr J. Gilmour; club captain, Mr J. Freeman; Selection Committee —Messrs P. M'Millan, T. Ritchie, and J. Freeman; delegate to 0.F.A., J. Freeman ; General Committee —Messrs T. Ritchie, A. Gardner, J. Clyde, J. M'Dotigall, and A. Webster; delegate to O.F.A. School Committee, Mr S. Wilson; delegate to Otago Amateur Athletic As- i sociation, Mr C. Johnstone'. In regard to the district scheme the delegate was instructed to vote for its abolition. RAVENSBOURNE CLUB. The annual meeting of the Ravensbourne Club was well attended, and Mr Moller occupied the chair. The following office-bearers were elected; President, Mr Moller; vice-presidents— ! Messrs H. Crawley, L. Page, and H. Gibb, I secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Rodger: I committee —Messrs James Connor, C. Page, i C. Cairney, E. M'Callum. J. C. Connor auditor. Mr H. Crawley; O.F.A represen tative, Mr T. Rodger; practice captain, Mr R. Barlow; selectors —Messrs H. Crawley and J. Connor; Schools' Committee representative. Mr James Connor. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS' CLUB. i The first annual meeting of the Otago High Schools Old Boys' Football Club, held -j oh Monday evening, was attended by about ; 20 members. Mr D. Anderson presided. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr H. Webb; vicepresidents—Messrs J. Reid, G. Mondy, W. Bannerman, A. Tapper, F. J. Stilling, and the Hon, J. R. Sinclair; secretary and treasurer, Mr, Ferens; auditor, Mr J. Blaek.twood ; General Committee—Messrs Tapper, Rao. Mondy, T. Turner, Blackwood, Burnard, • and Jack; Selection Committee— Messrs Tapper, Martin, and T. Turner; cup . captain, Mr Tapper; Carniv-.il Committee—Messrs Rae, Turner, Jan': Campbell, Martin. Blackwood, and Ritchie.