FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 60

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. August 19—v. Wanganui. September 2—v. Taranaki. September 9—v. Auckland. September 16—-v. Canterbury. September 23—v. Southland. September 30—v. Wellington. a.a.X URDAY'S SENIOR FIXTURES. Alliambra v. Taieri Rovers, Mosgiel Recreation. Zingari-Richmond v. Union, Bishopscourt. ICaikorai v. University, Caledonian. Dunedin v. Pirates, Carisbrock No. 2. Port Chalmers v. Southern, No. 1. NOTES BY FULL RACK. Tho following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the First Grade ■ competition : f

The fact that serious accidents on the football field are of rare occurrence scarce atones for the fatality which took place as a result of play in the Zingari-Southern junior match on Saturday. Nor is the sadness of it all tempered in the knowledge that it was the result of pure accident, Wo do regTOt these happenings—sincerely and deeply,—but there yet remains the teeling that in football, as in other sports of a vigorous nature, accidents, serious and occasionally fatal, are liable to occur. There is not the slightest suggestion that the recent fatality was the result of rough or foul tactics, but it should servo to instil into players the necessity of eliminating every sem bianco of taint from the game. The telegraphed information that Gillett and Francis, of Auckland, had seceded from the amateur code furnished but little ■ surprise at this and. It was known that the Northern Union League were angling for several of the best of the Rugby Union players, and certain names were mentioned. The "going over" of Gillett is no loss-to the amateur game, for the All Black had retired for two seasons, and has only come out to join the Northern Unionists with a prospect of a trip to England with tho Australasian team. Francis is a player jn his prime, who, no doubt, failing to- see a chance of getting to England with a New Zealand amateur team, has grasped the opportunity offered by the Australasian League to accompany its team to Britain. Gerald, M'Kellar, the Wellington and New Zealand representative forward, who was expected in Dunedin last week, wil. probably arrive in time to take part in the next engagement of tho Pirates senior team. He v ill be of considerable assistance to the Blacks, whose future 13 vastly promising. An ex-Dunedinite in Palmers-ton North writes:—"While reading your notes in last issue I was pleased to see therein the news of Steve Casey and Atiok M'JJomald onee more donning the jersey. Jack Stalker, the ex-Utago and N.iZ. rep., has also returned to the active brigade here, and although he has put on considerable weight, is showing pretty good form. Jim M'Kewen, another ex-L)unedm player, 13 playing so far a sterling game. Joe Oinglev, a member of the well-known Oamaru family of athletes, wiho represented Manawatu. on numerous occasions, is taking his football from t'ho touch-line this season, owing to his old team, Fielding, disbanding. The standard of play does not reach a very high pinnacle in these parts, but with the combination of Horowhenua a fairish representative team should be placed in the field." It is interesting to read the appreciation of English critics of ox-Otago univer siby players at London Hospital. Percy Foote is said to be one of the best forwards in, England, wnite Ha.rtg.iil and Clnapman are also referred to as "hist class." The following' from London Sportsman:—"Next season all the back?, with .the possible exception of Heale, will be playing. as the last-named has playedi since 19J5 lor the London, ho ought not to be tremendously missed with backs of the class of Adams, Morris, Batcihelor, Palmer, and Macpherson available. Morris is a first-class half-back, as well as centre three-quarter. Adams, who during the last season he played in New Zealand was considered) superior. to tho famous- G. W. Smith, has suffered this season with a bad knee.. Sound and lit next year, he should enormously strengthen the team. His generalship and line touchkicking were badly missed in the final. But it is two or three good strapping forwards (that London require." Ernie Booth, the New Zealand and New South Wales representative footballer, has returned to Sydney, after a business tour of the Dominion. Asked if he intended playing with his oM club, Newtown, he replied that he was as yet uncertain of his movements; but 'he thought the premiers seemed quite strong enough without his services. If he does decide to play again, last year's skipper of the premier club is reside nfcially qualified to play for the same team.

Aii ex-Otago representative at present in Sydney writes me that Rugby Union football is pretty dead at present, and that tne form 'is from 20 bo- 30 per .cent, bejioiw that of last season. The amateur game, however, will survive. In connection with the Australasian Northern Union team for England, leaving in August, my correspondent says there is great rivalry between the players to get into the team, which will be quite .the next bast ]fc> the best of all colonial teams, ihe "All Blacks." " Tho best football match I ever saw in my life," remarked Mr W. M. Arnold, of the N.S. Wales Rugby Union, the day, " was the second match of the three that New South Walc3 played against New Zealand in 1893 in Sydney. That was a match if you like. You don't see football like that nowadays. They won the first game, 17 points to 8. And we reversed things in the second game by knocking them out to the tune of 23 to 8. It was a hummer of a match, and the Sydney crowd were wild with excitement all the way through. When the cable to New Zealand announced the result they wouldn't) believe it in any of the provinces. They, thought that tho figures were the other way round. . . . Ellison was skipp"er of the Islanders, and Dave Gage was behind the scrum for thorn, and Ihunirai, a halfcaste Maori, was also on their side. Ellison went to England in 1889 with tho New Zealand Natives' team. I think in those days our fellows played a better game against New Zealand than against anybody else. They always seemed tuned up when they turned out against them. And the New Zealand defence was so magnificent —it always is, of course. But - our chaps took every opportunity. That is one of tho secrets of success at Rugby. It's not so much the team you pick as tho way they play. It was practically the same side as that whicli was beaten in the first match and in the third, and in those two battles they never seemed to have a look in at any part of the match. They played on tho Cricket Ground, and I was on the line. There was a big crowd and plenty of Nev-,' Zealand spectators, and after the contest the visitors said that they were stale, and got over four new men, including Oliphant. Afterwards they went north, and left out some of the best men, including Ellison and Gage. A clever bit of individual play was an exhibition that 1 saw once when the New Zealand Native;; visited England. They were meeting Kent, on the Rectory Field at Blaekheath, and Christopherson was playing centre threequarter for the county. Ono drop-kick he made hit ono of tho side posts, and another hit the cross-bar. This time the ball went up in the air, came down { and hit tho bar again, and bounced back into play.

The New Zealanders won that match by throe points. The Lest full back I've ever! seen? Dwyer, the present full back for the State of New South Wales. He's the, most consistent man all round. E. M. j Bowman was the greatest forward, to my I mind. Ho played against England when | ho was only 15 and a King's School boy.. I The best three-quarter at home and abroad —no doubt about that—was H. P. Abbott, of University. Keogh, of the New Zealand Natives, was the test half, and Wallace, of New Zealand, a great all-round back. The standard of play to-day is certainly not an improvement on tho old-time play.. The four three-quarter game _ has done away with all individualism in Rugby. ■ And dribbling is a lost art. No back in j the world can stop a forward rush of j dribblers. Nowadays they dribble the ball a yard or two, and then pick it up. Ab-, ! sonce of. individual effort and kicking out I of bounds have spoiled the game a lot. fi . hold that if any of our teams specialised i in dribbling, or in individual play, they I would win the competition every time." j From New Zealand we have a whisper of ■ financial trouble in the Rugby Union game which may require a lot of adjustment (says the Manchester Athletic News). When the j Northern Rugby Union brigade invaded : Australia the Rugby Union people arranged j for some counter-attractions, such as a visit from an American learn and a tour of a j Dominion side in Australia. These ! itineraries were such pecuniary failures tlhat : the New South Wales R.U. have presented the New Zealand R.U. with a little account for (so we learn) £2OOO as their share of j the loss. What the gross deficit amounted, j to will make interesting reading when it j is announced. £2OOO is a tremendous sum to lose over football, and it is no wonder New Zealand are challenging the account. [One-half that amount is nearer the actual figures;—Full Back.] I The sub-committee of the New Zealand Referees' Association set up to consider the matter of the examination of referees reported to a recent meeting that the standardl examination which candidates must undergo to quaiify for New Zealand l referees' badge's shall be as follows:—(1) | An oral examination on sucih questions as the New Zealand Referees' Association \ shall supply. (2) An examination by a miniature field and players in proper posi- I tions. (3) A practical test in controlling j games. The sub-committee suggested that it b;> an instruction to the examination boards of the centres to see that special stress is laid "upon tho importance of . the practical test. It was suggested that each affiliated association appoint an examination board of not less, than three or more than five, to carry out the examination on the lines submitted. The results of such examinations are to be sent to the secretary as soon as they are completed. Messrs Fordham, Salmon, and Yeomans were appointed a sub-committee to draw up questions, and when they have completed their work the whole arrangements will be sent to each affiliated association.

Mr George Harnett, manager of the 1908 Anglo-Welsh team, writing, to Mr James M'Mahon, under date March 31, 1911, has the following to say:—" Just a line to let you know that at our committee meeting last week it was decided to ask the representatives of New Zealand, Now Sc'uth Wales, and Queensland to attend subcommittee meetings of rules, and also attend fu/U committee meetings of the Rugby Football Union, when we discuss the laws of the game. This, I am sure, will be a great advantage, as wo shall be in closer touch with you all. Of course, I hope some day to see you have a representative on the International Board. However, that is not ripe yet." A similar notification was received by the New Zealand Rugby Union at Wednesday night's meeting. The news that representatives of the New South Wales and other colonial unions are to be invited to attend meetings when the laws of the game are being discussed came through by cable about a month ago, and is now confirmed by the above. This concession, .says the Sydney Referee, should have a very beneficial effect on the game in the colonies, and while preserving the universal code in its entirety, the few alterations necessary fro-n our standpoint can now be urged with much more force than before.

Some good football was witnessed between University and Port Chalmers. The Blue forwards were a very even lot, with the exception of Patterson and Nelson, who stood out with considerable prominence in line and loose work. Rutherford, Mawson, and Molloy were also very effective where hard work was required. Tait, in the role of serum half, was good on attack, and he let the speedy University backs away time and again, 'especially in the first spell, when the ball came out to him fairly consistently. Thomson, Cockroft, and Nome, with their straight running and accurate passing, played the attacking game for all it was worth; but in the second spell, when sound defence was needed, the absence of Millard made itself fo!t. Duthie, at IJvill back, has probably teen seen to better advantage ; and though his magnificent kicking was a feature of the match, his coolness was nearly the means of his undoing on one or two occasions. Port Chalmers certainly possess an excellent pack of forwards, and they show to especial advantage in fast, loose work. C. and L. Booth were narticidarly noticeable in this direction, whil"- they were . ably seconded bv, Coleman, Johnston, and Hay. 'For the greater part of tho second spell the Green forward* kept the play rigidly con-. finr;d to University quarters, and the usually brilliant Blue backs were not a little disconcerted bv the turn of affairs. Watson, was probably the pick of the backs, and he played a splendid game, showing himself eaually at home - in defence or attack. W. Dougherty and Wilson also showed good form, and ah!y assisted their more brilliant confrere. Driver's tackling proved very sound, and thus plaver was mainly instrumental in mia/diing at their inception several of Da.nsey's efforts. M'Pbaraon, at win? three-quarter, is a good kick; while Kelly, at full hack, nlayed a sound and safe garnie, tackling well and kicking accurately. Tho question of how: many snells should he played in matches where the captains failed 1 to agree having Arisen at a ireoent meeting of the New Zealand Union, it was decided that referees should be notified that it was the ooinion of the Management Committee that in the event of captains failing to agree, two spells should be played. The matter of Southland players who were disqualified for playing the Northern Union game arose, and it was decided + o point out that if the players made the usual application through their union their case wculd be considered. The New Zealand University Football

Committee asked permission of the New Zealand Union to send to Sydney a team representing the New Zealand University during the present season. They proposed to play two matches against Sydney University and one against an outside team. The proposed itinerary was:—Leave Wellington June 25. arrive in Sydney June 27, play Sydney University July 1 and 5, play team to be fixed by New Zealand Rugby Union July 8, leave Sydney July 8, arrive Wellington July 12. The team is to consist of 18 players. The finances were being arranged by the Sydney University Football Club and the New Zealand Football Committee. It was decided to grant the permission, subject to certain requirements being complied with. "The thin end of the wedge of professionalism" cropped up at a recent meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union The Referees' Association notified that it had decided that the resolution adopting the seal© of expenses approved by the IN.Z.R.U. (that referees, should be. allowed ncoe&sary train, coach, and steamer transit and ]ss per day fox all necessarily absent from borne) had been rescinded. The feeling of the Referees' Association was fc'iat referees should only claim actual and reasonable travelling and hotel expenses. In tihe discussion which ensued "the thin end of the wedge of professionalism" and "where are you going to draw the line?" were cccasionally heard. It was resolved that the former resolution should be rescinded, and that the suggestion of the Referees' Association should be adopted. The New Zealand Rugby Union has been advised that at a meeting of the English Rugby Union it was decided —"That such members of the committee who reside .n the metropolitan area, or have a place of business in that area, form the Laws Subcommittee, together with one aeoreditod representative of the combined unions of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales and one of the South African Board." " All questions of interpretation of laws shall be referred to this committee, who shall report their rulings to the full committee —no ruling to take effect or be published until approved of by the full committee." "The representatives of the combined unions of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales, and of the South African Board, . shall be invited to attend the meeting of the full committee -when rulings are to be considered, and may vote thereon." "A special minute _ book be kept." It was considered "a hit rough" that New Zealand should only a third of a representative, but the opinion was that it would probably ensure uniformity in the views of Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand. It was decided to get into touch with the other two States risrht away, and to suggest that Mr Wray Palliser should be nominated as the representative.

University and Port Chalmers .met on the Mussel Bay Ground on Saturday, and after a keenly-contested and exciting game the students finally emerged victorious by 16 points to 10. University were still without the services of Millard, and his absence probably accounted in some measure for the rather unusual lack of steadiness in the back division. The disparity in the scores scarcely gives- a clear indication of the merits of the two teams, and. though it will bo generally conceded that the better team won, it is safe to say that the rrajority of the spectators would have been quite satisfied with a much closer resu't. Port were rather worsted in the first spell, during which the University backs treated the spectators to an interesting exhibition of passing. In the second half, however, play favoured Port, the fast, open work of their vanguard disconcerting the Blue backs and upsetting their usual methods of attack in no small measure. . While all, or nearly all, the elements of good football were present on the occasion of the Southern-University match last week, all, or nearly all, the elements of poor football were in evidence in the SouthernAlhambra match on. Saturday. As an exhibition of Rugby it was indifferent, lacking quality and distinction and colourness in feature. Any efforts made in breaking new ground and the few attempts at originality were successfully smothered and almost completely buried out of sight. It might have appeared that the teams had been- in collusion to illustrate how uninteresting Rug by .can be. If by any chance a little light was let in, tipping the game with gold, it was quickly extinguisbed. Then we remember that one of these teams played so intelligently and with, such a keen sense of values the Saturday before. Good football invariably begets good football, and University appear to have the spirit of imbuing it. Can it be that after the unexpected and sensational defeat by tlie Royal Blues last week Southern have died with all their music in them? The play in the Ziragari-Kaikorai match was fast, and for the most part confined to the forwards. Kaikorai, although the lighter pack, were in splendid oondition. and beat their opponents until the latter part of the game, when the weight of the Zingari pack had its effect. M'Donald played a splendid gaime, and was well supported by Herd and Wccdrow. Dryden stood' out amongst a very weak lot of backs. Zingari's forwards lacked condition, and until the second spell were a beaten side. Patterson played a gjod game at times, and was the means of two tries being scored. Abbott and Simmons were also prominent for good football. Keilan was the star "amongst-the Zingari back 6, and was easily the best back on the ground, his running and fielding being exceptionally good. Davidson also played well. Mr H. H. S. White ably controlled a game that was played in the best of spirit. The Blacks' centre three-quarter, M Donald, again proved himself a- tower of strength to his side in the fixture against the Taieri, and wound up a solid exhibition of football by potting his second goal of the day a few seconds before time and sensationally winning the match for his side. lii the first spell the Rovers did not seem to get properly going, and the way the Blacks threw the ball about fairly non-plussed their opponents. The Taieri forwards lacked combination, while their three-quarters got out of their places and showed little anticipation of where the attack would strike. When the sides crossed over, however, the Green vanguard at once set up a strong attack, and kept their opponents busy defending, scoring 8 points in quick succession. The Blacks' backs were not able to enforce their tactics of the first half, though Rob. Blaok, and Macdonald opened up the tna.v whenever possible. Towards the closing stages of the game Cuthill repeatedly drove back the attack by powerful kicking, and in the last 20 minutes it was just a toss up which side would score again.

As it turned out, Pirates were the fortunate side.

’“’’I u *2 1 12 ft 6 d ■4J % 6a c3 S o Es 8 M Q £ £ d S University 4 4 0 0 42 28 8 Alhambra 4 3 1 0 51 20 6 Pirates ... ... 4 2 1 1 42 38 5 Kaikorai 4 2 i 1 39 26 5 ■Southern 4 2 2 0 44 51 4 Tai-eri Rovers 4 2 2 0 35 26 4 Zingari Richmond 4 2 2 0 25 37 4 Port Chalmers 4 1 3 0 26 38 2 Union 4 1 5 0 20 45 2 Dunedin 4 0 4 0 9 55 0