FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 60

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK. The following interesting letter from Alan Adams, oi London Hospital, the exOtago University three-quarter back, requires no introduction: “Dear Full Back, —As our football season is closing and yours just beginning a few notes may be acceptable. The last international match takes place on Saturday, when England meets Scotland ac Inverleith. ,It looks as if Scotland ought to win. “Macpherson is in the Scottish threequarter line, but is not the player of Dunedin fame, ids form having greatly deteriorated. Lindsay, the London Hospital scrum half, also played for Scotland against Ireland, but is replaced tnis time by Tennant not the New Zealander of that name, however, but a Scotchman who is considered a very .clever individual player. “The London Hospital side contained .seven internationals against Guy’s in the cup tie final, but was beaten by B—s8 —5 (a goal and a try to a. goal). However, we ■ were very unlucky, as we had a better scoring line than theirs, although they were better forward, and we wanted a hard, fast ground to be successful. “Luck was all against us, for the morning of the match it started to rain hard, and kept on all day, making the ball very greasy and the ground all in. favour of the Guy’s forwards. Guy’s scored a good try in the first half, and early in the second obtained a rather lucky one, for which I was partly responsible through missing the greasy ball as it was kicked through, and our back Just failed to beat a Guy s man for it. Then our fellows bucked up, and were all over them for about 15 minutes. Macpherson scored a smart try behind the posts, which was converted.—[Adams, with .characteristic modesty, purposely refrains from mentioning the fact that he it was who cleverly cross-punted to Macpherson, enabling that player to score the try, and, further, that Adams himself converted the try.—Full Back.] We made strenuous efforts to draw level, but could not do much with the greasy ball, and Guy’s kept their advantage. It was generally §/d m dted that on a dry ground the result would be. reversed, but on the day Guy’s deserved their win. The Prince of Wales was present, and J. P. Jones (captain of Guy’s) and T. S. Heale (London) were presented to him before the match, and Jones received the cup from him at the final of the game. “Hind (of the Anglo-Welsh team) played a very good game for Guy’s, and has been deservedly ‘capped’ for England against Scotland. “I have been a reserve three-quarter for England right through the season, and one of the centres being unable to play, I was given my ‘cap’ against France, at Paris, where the Frenchmen put up a very good game, and were only beaten by 11—3. “Of the London Hospital backs five were internationals (Palmer, Batchelor, and Adams for England, Lindsay and Maopherson for Scotland). Palmer did not get in again this season. I had never played' in any of the trials, and did not expect a hearing, while Macpherson has, with the exception of a couple of games, been playing poorly, leaving Lindsay, who at the time thoroughly deserved his cap, and Heale, who did not get his, but was the one player .in our back division who really deserved one, having shown much more convincing form than anyone else. “On the international results Wales is the best all round team, although beaten by England. The Scottish pack seems to be the best of the other three forward teams, with Ireland second; while of the three sets of backs I should say the English one is the best. “After the match with England the Welsh selectors dispensed with the famous halves, Owen and Jones, and have played Bush since, with Morgan or Vile at the scrum, and against Ireland they played all four Cardiff three-quarters, leaving out Ponty Jones, Trew, and Hopkins. “It is rather amusing to see the way the Home unions have taken to the wing forward game after all the adverse criticism of Gallaher. The English selectors have played a ‘winger’ all through tire season, and much of the success against Wales was due to his methods of bustling the Welsh halves and putting them off their game. Of course he is not called a wing forward, but that he is it is impossible to deny, and in. Pillman the English selectors have found a very useful man. All the other unions play a winger, Ivor Morgan being the Welsh one, and Scotkfid and Ireland having, as they term it, their break-away forward. “Irish and Scotch forwards are very rough, especially with their feet, but this is called hard play here, and is not stopped. The dirty points of forward play, such as holding and pushing on the linecut, elbow work, etc., are not wholly unknown to some of the crack teams, and not confined to the All Blacks, as some English writers would have one believe. “Chapman, who was with the AngloWelsh team in New Zealand, is the most consistent English wing three-quarter this season. The English forwards seemed to me a very small lot, among them being Ritson, Hind, and Dibble of the AngloWelsh team. The latter leads the pack. “Stoop, whom English papers wrote of during the season as the best half back over seen, was dropped for the French match after a wretched display against Ireland, but is in again against Scotland. He has no defence whatever, and is useless against good forwards. When the critics used to ask, .‘Have we ever had such a back?’ the names of. Keogh, Duncan, Jimmy Hunter, and,Co. uaed to lodm before me, any one of whoip could outplay Stoop at any point, Ho. 'is merely a fairly good attacking player and no more. “Two of the finest sidbs to play against in England are Oxford University aad the United Services, both first-class teams and splendid sports.

. "Colin Gilray has retired from big foot j ball, but has been playing in college games

Harold Bullock, the ex-Sydney Varsity forward, is at Oxford now, and has played fome splendid games, creating a very good impression. He should be a certainty for his 'Blue' next season.. "L. B. Stringer (Guy s) has also been playing good football, being quite one of the best wing three's in England. J. M. Mchaffey, who has returned to Now Zealand, was a splendid forward here, and got his south cap. "I hope Otago University will have a better season than last. With best wishes for Otago football for 1910, —Yours sinAlan A. Adams. "London Hospital, March 17, lylO." In the foregoing letter Alan Adams refers to the success ot the other ex-Otago University men in England, but eays little concerning himself. This is so like Adams. But I have berore me an account ot the final for the Hospital Cup between London" and Guy's, in which it states, amongst other things, that of a fine three-quarter line, including Palmer, Batchelor, Adams, and Maopherson, Adams was the "brainiest." Of Little Mac. my account says: "Maopherson was the most certain in fieilding," and of Palmer: "Palmer tackled finely at times, keeping Stringer well marked." The serious loss the Dunedin Club has sustained in the sudden and unexpected transfer of E. B. MacDonald to the North Island is fit subject for regret. The exCanterbury representative was the mainstay of the Dark Blues' back division, and promised this season to be of even greater service. When MacDonald' took up his residence in Dunedin it was foretold in these columns that he would prove a player w«ll worth cultivating, whose knowledge of Rugby tactics, thougn scarcely matured, bore evidence of possibilities. I had seen MacDonald in a memorable match against the British team on Lancaster Park in 1908, and singled him out as one of the most promising of his year. In that match he did not shine to any great extent, but it was his methods which appealed. Coming to Dunedin, Mao Donald justified' the appreciation, and soon won his representative cap fox Otago. He has been accused in some quarters as being a "solo" player. MacDonald is no more a solo player than one James Duncan, who was the most unselfish player ever; seen on the football field. MacDonald's pace made him appear to be a soloist, and to run away from his man, but the method of him made for the good of his side, which the limitations of his confreres in the back division completely destroyed. Not only is MacDonald a loss to the Dunedin Club and the province, but we also lose what is probably greater than his actual services—his example on and off the field. To my knowjedge I have never met MacDonald, but this appreciation goes. Talking' of losses, one deplores, too, the intended retirement of W. J. Kindley of the Southern Club, who has practically made up his mind to take his Rugby from re T^ r j n ' d stand or touchline this season. M Kindley were selfish enough to consider his own pleasure—which, by the way he' can never be accused—he would again be found guarding the goal of the Southern ben.ior Fifteen; but there are other and liberations, and it is to these tnat the popular Southern player is yielding Southern will feel' Kindley's retirement keenly, but will heartily congratulate mm on the circumstances which have led up to his decision. In another moment I would have given away the pleasurable The loss of their rightly esteemed full th~ V\u un gf«*»»«*. not the only one the Southern Club is unfortunately called .o bear this season. Harley and Chambers will also be missing from the black and whites back division. The former has taken up his residence in Timaru, while Chambers has decided to give the game a rest for a period. It may be, however, tnat in the case of the latter player influence will be brought to bear which may cause him to alter his decision. I sincerely hope so. In addition to the new blood referred to last week m the ranks of Otago University, it is reported that a North Otago representative in one Duthie will be found playing for the Royal Blues this season. One could wish for the University team of 1910 the splendid exhibitions given by the team of 1907. In that year the critic who had the temerity to suggest that the laws of the game required alteration would have had his reason questioned. Not the laws, but the players, aro always uppermost in the writer's' mind when the players and the game of the past are recalled. Writing of the University team serves to again introduce the subject of the Dansey transfer," concerning which reference was made last week. . I cannot help feeling that a deplorable blunder has been made over this business, and regret exceedingly. that it should have been the cause of driving a keen player. out of the game. It has been 'reported that Dansey will play hockey., I trust he will riot. Hockey is a fine game—a very fine game, —but Bansey has 1 not lost his usefulness for Rugby football, and Rugbv calls. I should like to have chapter and verse for the Otago University Club's definition of the status of a member. If it reads, as we ate told it does, that "once a member always a member," the sooner the rule is ■rescinded the better. By the wav, I have just heard that Dansey was offered the managership of the Maori team for Australia, but declined. In connection with the proposed visit of a South African Rugby team to New Zetland, the South African Bo.*cd. in replv to an invitation from the Mew Zealand Rugby Union, regretted inahilitv to send a. team owing to the difficulties'being insuperable. A point which was to have come up for discussion at the International Board meeting was that of the boot studs worn by players. The wet seasons and' the condition of many grounds have lad to the oldfashioned strips or bars under boots being superseded by heather studs or pegs, and on some grounds notorious for their mud these are of extravagant length. Unless, these have regular attention, the sprigs or nails holding- them to the. sales of the boots become bared and very dangerous. An injury to J. M. Terinent, "the Scottish half back, in the match against Wales is alleged to have been' due 'to "a stud' in this condition. In a more : recent'game, in which an English and Welsh county were engaged, a player on the Welsh sustained a cut on the knee, in which a dou-Li--kneecap was cut through and the" akin penetrated. Even Kegs of hard wood and screwy witfe latgis pro|&o4;U||£ heads have bean found, embedded : in the. players.—[There was a certain player out

here from Britain in. 1904 who wore' these studs whioh ana now the subject of complaint. They were certainly wicked-looking things to the uninitiated. —Pull Back.] The attention of all players is directed to the following alterations in, the laws of the same. This eaason will see the advantage rule applied to the throw-out from touch, as it was a few years back. That, alone will he'p to relieve play of some of its ridiculous features of the last few years. Then, again, the player in defence will find' it worse than useless to run into touch with the ball when in a defensive position,' inasmuch as in future the ball in suoh a case will belong to the opposite side. This is a most important change, and the possibilities of its advantage to Rugby are great. The power now extended to the referee of awarding a goal if he thinks one would have been scored but for illegal interference brings in a new matter. It : s the extension of the principle aliteady applied to the intending try-getter. This applies to kicks at goal from a mark, penalty, or try. When the ball is on the ground after . a tackle it is now legal to pick it up, except when the tackled l player puts the ball down, or* when the player holding the ball has been thrown and the ball touches the ground (while in his possession). W. Hardbam, V.C., who has been playing for Petone for something like U years, has made up his mind to retire from the game,- and the suburban residents (says a, Wellington writer) are initiating a move. ment for the purpose of recognising his services to the Rugby game in their district. Hardbam was a member of what is still known in Dtinedin as the "Butchers' " team, which defeated Canterbury, Southland, and Otago in succession, under the leadeirshirj of "Off-side" M'Kenzie, as far back as 1897. Without being a brilliant player, Hardham has achieved 1 great distinction on the Rugby field, and his generalship was no small factor in the success which has followed Petone on very many occasions in the championship competitions. _, The prospects of the Alhambra Club-are unusually bright this season, and the players are training assiduously, bent on upholding the reputation the club gained last season. The senior team will be practically the same as did dutv last season, with the possible exception of a couple of vacancies in the back division. Mururo, who played wing three-quarter last year, has gone to the North Island, . and there is some doubt about Sutherland turning out. Muirhead, of last season's representative team, will probably ,pla-y five-eighths for the fed and blacks. Williams, of whose servioes the Alhambra Club were deprived for the, greater part of last season, will be avail-." able this year. The spell has done this player good, and he is in first-class condition. The forward team of Alhambra is regarded as a splendid one, and as the pack is practically unbroken they will have the advantage of some combination. No changes of any consequence have taken place in the Pirates' team, whicn will be practically the same as did duty last .season. The club possesses a promising lot of young blood, which will show form"' in the Second and Third Grades. The first .fifteen will be almost without exception composed of last year's (players. Dawson, the half back, is at present a doubtful quantity, but it is very probable that he will turn out before the season ie far advanced. "Sandy" Fenwick, the Pirates forward and ex-Otago representative, has given the game up for good; while two other members of the Pirates in Warwick and Falconer are not available this season. Dunedin "expects to be sadly weak in forwards this season, having lost such players as R. Paton, Gray, M'Taggart, and Fitzpatrick, the latter having retired from the game. Fitzpatrick'e cetirem»nt will be severely felt. H. Paton, Waters, and Skinner will be found in the pack as usual. If the Dark Blue team is weak forward its back division this season promises to be a good one. Welsh, five-eighth, who played in Invercargill last year, is back in town, and will be available. Clarke will probably be played scrum half, though this arrangement will leave a vacancy. at full back which will take some filling. . ■ Altogether the Canterbury Rugby Union has something like 7PO players to provide for; therefore it has had to look for fresh grounds, and has leased the show ground.