RUGBY GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 60

RUGBY GOSSIP.

The Rugby Union code is being accepted in California, where players are glad to administer the death-blow to. the push ana wrestle game which is -misnamed football in the United States. A referee, who has been acting as such in aimiateur matches m the North Island, and at the sarnie time taking an active part in the fostering of the professional . game, has been declared "by the New Zealand Union to be a professional. They could not expel him, for he was not « member of the union, but he will now be disqualified from becoming a member or from again acting as referee in Rugby games. W. L. Oldham, who visited Australia with the Anglo-Welsh team, has besn re-elected captain of the Coventry (Rugby Union) Club, and his brother, PeTcy Oldham., has been made captain of the Coventry Northern Union Club. These clubs 'are rivals, the NU. Club being an outgrowth of the R.U. Club as a result of a drastic penalty imposed by the English Rugby Union on the club, in connection with. charges of professionalism. The Rugby Union season 1911, that opened inauspiciously, as it were, with a doubt in many persons' minds as to -whether the Sydney • Metropolitan Rugby Union, as a union, would see the season out, has closed in almost' a blaze of glory; certainly, in u manner that gives bright hopes for the future, and is ample recompense for those who in dark-looking days have stuck closely to and worked for the game and cause they think right (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). , Tbere was a good old-timer playing in the Harbour Board match at the Athletic Park, Wellington, last Saturday (says "Touchline")—"Scrummy" Mason, one of the nippiest half backs that ever played in _an Otago representative team. As his nickname implies, close up to i and around the scrummage was where he was wont, to show his trickines3 and his cleverness,, and, reading between the lines, it-,looks to me as if Otago could do with a player of - "Scrummy"s" resourcefulness behind their pack; these days. The Southland forwards as exponents of the aggressive game are probably unequalled in New Zealand to-day, but the team apparently doas not know how to score (says a Southland writer). Against Canterbury they should have secured at least three other tries. Their opponents never failed to get ovOT-the line when they had worked the ball within striking distance. Southland cannot be a dangerous team until their backs attain more dash and initiative, and the front-rankers have implicit confidence in tb-em.

. New Zealand and. Great Britain have _ at various times paid this country a visit (says a Sydney writer), but we have never yet been favoured by South Africa or Wales. A purely Welsh team playing the same attractive football as when they defeated the invincible All Blacks and the Wallabies would be an. education for our players .and a pleasure to our public. Or, better still, would be a team of Springboks wearing the same green guernseys that triumphed over the red dragons of Wales. Either of these teams would surely be welcomed here, not only on account of the football traditions, but" .also because of their own merit; and if our football legislators can. arrange a visit from -either, a highly-interesting season may be anticipated for 1812. Young, vigorous, and enthusiastic players have been discovered, who only need the educative influence of an international visit to enable them to develop their football genius, and to raise Rugby football in this State to its former degree of excellence. OTAGO RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was hold on Monday, and was attended by Messrs F. H. Campbell (in the chair),. H. H. S, White, Doy. Low, Sandes, Harris, King Priest, Duncan, Stuart, and Macdonald. . TRANSFERS. B. Watson (Taicri Rovers) applied for a transfer to the Southern Club.—Noted. W. G. E. Cuthill (Taieri Rovers) wrote asking for a transfer to the University Club.—Noted. William Maclennan (Union Club) applied for a transfer to the Pirates Club.— Noted. GENERAL. E. F. Allen (hon. secretary of the Tuapeka Sub-union) intimated that the Roxburgh Football Club had won the flag for 1911. - _ The Mariiototo Sub-union wrote stating that Matakanui Club had won tho banner this season. It was decided to £end a letter of con-

dolence to Mr H. Paton on the recent death of his wife. AN OAMABU CASE. F. G. Williams (hoh. secretary of the North Otago Sub-union) forwarded an appeal to the N.Z.R.U. for a ruling by it on the interpretation of the rules of the Otago Union. The letter stated that the sub-union considered the local body had gone outside its jurisdiction in interfering with the decision to disqualify an Oamaru player for life, the Otago Onion altering the term to five years.—lt was decided to forward the appeal to the governing body. APPLICATION FOB FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. R. MaoCormick (hon. secretary of the Otago University Club) wrote, in reply to the request of the union for a certificated balance sheet of the New Zealand University s tour in Sydney, including matches played in New Zealand, that he had been instructed to state, with regard to matches in New Zealand, that only one was played —against a B Wellington team as a cur-tain-raiser to the Welluigton-Marlborough match, and the only benefit accruing from this match was that the Wellington Rugby Union paid for one day's board while the team was in Wellington. The University Club again asked that the union accept its statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the Sydney portion of the tour, and donate the sum of £25 towards the expenses of the six Otago University men who went across with the team r These expenses were &et down at £8 ifis 6i y#v man. It was decided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee to bring up a report. A CHARGE OF MISCONDUCT D. W. Malloch (president of the Waikouaiti Football Club) wrote stating that his club had held an inquiry into alleged unseemly behaviour of therir Second Grade team while travelling from Dunedin on the 23rd ult. He said, from the evidence submitted to the meeting by the manager and the captain, there was no proof that bad language was used bv any of the footballers, but it was admitted that a c rtain amount of drinking was indulged in by some of the members of the team. The team travelled in - a second class smoker, which was in a crowded state, and a party travelling up the line (presumably weekenders) carried drink with them, and were responsible to a [ certain extent for the drinking and noise. The manager had good control over the team, with the exception of two members; who were inclined to be rowdy, but he did not hear them make use of any bad language. Before leaving Waikouaiti the club had particularly impressed upon the players the necessity of conducting themselves in a quiet and orderly manner. From the evidence disclosed at the inquiry (said the writer) it was apparent that some had not done so. . • C. A. Piper, district railway traffic manager," wrote acknowledging receipt of a communication from the union bearing on the same subject and stating that the charge would be inquired / into. It was decided to hold over the matter till a report had been received from the Railway Department, and that the Waikouaiti Club be asked to forward a copy of the evidence taken at the inquiry. WELLINGTON v. SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL. September 27. The fourteenth interprovincial . Rugby contest between Southland and Wellington was played here to-day in bitterly cold weather, and before an attendance of about 2000 strong. A westerly breeze which was blowing across the ground kept most of the play on the eastern boundary. The visitors proved much too clever for the local men, and won by 27 points to 9. The Southland forwards .generally held their own throughout the game, but the backs were lamentably weak in comparison with the northern side, and they frequently made mistakes which Wellington did not fail to turn to good account. The Wellington men, both backs and forwards, were frequently penalised for off-side play, and lost many opportunities as a consequence. In the first spell Wellington had all the best of the play, and scored 16 points to the local men's 3. Evenson, Wilson, F. Roberts, and Cunningham scored tries, E. Roberts converting Evenson's try, while. M'Farlane added the major points from Wilson's score. Martin registered Southland's three points from a penalty kick. Southland set up a hot attack at the opening of the concluding half, and for upwards of 20 minutes the visitors were on the defensive. Sutherland scored at the corner from a forward rush, but Martin's kick was resultless. On resuming Wellington again got into trouble, and Mitchell, Biggar, and Ridland took the ball across the line, where the first-named was successful in a race for it. Martin again failed to convert. Although Southland had several shots at goal, they failed to add to their total. Wellington took command in the latter part of the spell, adding 11 points. E. Roberts, Cunningham, and .Eveneon scored, and Houlihan converted Cunningham's try. The game ended with Southland on attack. Mr I; Jenkins (Invercargill) was the referee. '"-■ OTAGO v. WELLINGTON. A DRAWN GAME. NINE POINTS EACH. There was a dramatic finish to the season of Rugby football, which definitely closed on Saturday, when Otago, after grave misgivings as to its prospects, succeeded in drawing with Wellington. The standard of play was higher all round than in any previous representative mutch played in Dunedin this season, and was thoroughly convincing in the improvement of the Otago standard. After the easy victories over Canterbury and Southland it was generally anticipated that Wellington would score heavily against Otago, but the unexpected happened, and the home representatives are deserving of great credit for their fine performance. On the actual run of the play there was little between the teams,_ but Wellington was the more likely scoring side and the' more dangerous. In the last quarter of an hour Wellington was almost constantly attacking in Otago's twenty-five, but the fine defence of the Blues, and the brilliant individual efforts of Scott, the Otago fulbback, saved the game. When the whistle sounded for time it was agreed that Otago had stayed just long enough to keep Wellington out. Play was bright and open, full of life and movement, with the theatre of operations ever changing—though Wellington did confine Otago to the twenty-five in the final, stasres. From a spectator's point of view it was the best match of the year.

Wellington jumped into the game from the outset, and catching Otago off its guard, scored two simple tries in the first five minutes. It appeared as if the Wellington baoks were in rare form, but it was more the suddenness of the attack and the pace of the northerners that took Otago by surprise. After this reversal the Otago team pulled itself together and for the remainder of the spell the Blue forwards kept olesely on to the Wellington backs and' never gave them a chance to open out for a scoring movement. The Otago five-eighths were tackling well, and, with Scott fielding safely and kioking up to his best form the Blues more than held their own. The Wellington forwards were securing the ball from the majority of the scrums, but the Otago forwards and fiveeighths were coming down on to the opposing half so quickly and with such certainty in their tackling that the northerners were driven to use the touch-line. The Otago forwards played magnificently after the first five minutes of the spell, beating Wellington badly in the loose, and crippling the attack of the opposing backs. The Otago rear division was not strong enough on attack, and seldom looked like scoring, while the defence of the three-quarter line was weak. The finest individual effort of the match was the potted goal by Scott from a few yards past the half-way flag near touch. It was the best seen on a local ground since the senational potted goal by Percy Bush, for Sivwright's British team against combined Otago and Southland.

The second spell was in favour of Wellington. The line-kicking of the Wellington backs, particularly that of Kinvig, Fred Roberts, and Ryan, was a feature of their play, and by this means Wellington repeatedly got into an attacking position. The Wellington forwards were good on the line out, Gillespie and Wilson breaking through, with the remainder of the vanguard packing in solidly behind. On the whole the Wellington team played well and with a little more time might have won. The game, though keen and fought, was played in a fine sporting- spirit, and the referee (Mr J. Miller) had a comparatively easy task The weather was perfect—a, trifle too hot for football, but with an absence of wind. There was an attendance . of between 6000 and 7000. Following were the teams: — Wellington. Full-back, G., Kinvig (11.0). Three quarers—A. Grace (12.), F. Mitchinson (10.10), J. Ryan (12.0). Five-eighths—F. Roberts (captain, 12.4), J. M'Kenzie (10.7). Half-back, E. Roberts (10.7). Forwards—H. Elliott (14.1), E. M'Farlane (13.0), E. Perry (12.9), C. Gillespie (13.10), A. Wilson (i 3.3), W. Bell (12.9), D. Sullivan (13.10), J. Cunningham (12.10). Otago. Full-back, G. Scott (12.2). Three-quarters—J.. Norrie (12.3), E. Wat-son-(10.10), A. M'Bonald (12.4). Five-eighths—F. Williams (10.4), A. M'Dougall (10.4): Half-back, A. Eckhold (10.10). Forwards—P; Williams (11.7), S. Casey (12.0), A. Patterson (14.3), A. Symonds (12.8), W. Brown (13:0), G. M'Kellar (12.8), P. Sheehan (captain, 13.0), Nelson (11.6). The Otago team, olad in the Royal Blue colours of Otago University, was the first -to take the field, followed immediately by Wellington in Black jerseys. Fred Roberts, the Wellington, captain, won the toss, from Sheehiain, the Otago skipper, and gave Otago the handicap of : a strong sun. Otago kicked off from the harbour end, and Wellington's return found the half-way flag. The Wellington forwards secured from the first scrum, and F. Roberts broke away, getting his backs going across the field. Mitchinson took the pass from hie captain, and, before he could be intercepted, sent on to Ryan, on the wing, who ran to the Otago twenty-five, when, he was pushed into touch. Offside play .by Wellington gave Otago a free kick, but the Wellington backs came away again, and Fred Roberts punted across in front of Otago's goal. M'Donaild failed to take the ball-, and let M'Kenzie, the Wellington outside fiveeighth, s!ip over and score the easiest of tries. M'Farlane made a good attempt to convert, but the ball went outside. Wellington ... ... ... 3 points. Otago ... Nil. From the dropout the Wellington backs Were again in action, and Mitchinson was well through the defenoe before he was tackled. The Otago backs were out of their places when the attack swung to the left wing, where Ryan took the ball from the end of a passing rush, and raced to the line. Scott tackled low, and the Wellington three-quarter fell over the Otago full back's shoulder with the ball in possession, and scored Wellington's second try within the first five minutes. M'Farlane's - kick failed. ' • Wellington ... 6 points. Otago ... ... ... Nil. . It appeared as if the Wellington backs were in specially good form, but the Otago forward® pulled themselves together, and drove the Wellington pack before them, and set up an attack in Wellington's twenty-five. The northern forwards were getting the ball frOm the scrums, and Fred Roberts, with a line kick, found the halfway flag. Norrie had a long-range shot at goal, and from the return kick the Otago backs, for the first time, set up a passing rush, and, supported by the forwards, swept down into Wellington's twenty-five. The visitors were in a tight corner, and attempted to clear with a kick which Scott fielded. The Otago full back ran well up to the Wellington line, when he passed to Patterson, who was tackled before getting clear. Otago pressed the attack, and, from the line out, the Blue forwards broke away right to the line, where Symonds dived over, scoring a. try, which Norrie converted. Wellington 6-points. Otago 5 points. Aft*.r the kick-off the Wellington- backs drove the play into Otago territory by good line kicking. Fred Roberts passed out to Mitchinson, who sent on to Grace, the Wellington wing running through, to M'Donald, who brought him down a few yards form the Otago line. Play was very exciting at this stage, the Wellington backs making strenuous efforts to get_ going, and the Otago forwards and five-eighths stopping them with solid tackling. Mitchinson threw a wide pass in front of Otago's goal to Ryan, which M'Donald intercepted. He kicked soundly, and set Otago on attack on Wellington's side of the half-way. The Blue forwards carried a scrum, and Williams punted. Otago came down in a body, and had Wellington sorely pressed. A Wellington back kicked to clear, but it proved fatal. Scott fielded the ball, and, taking deliberate aim, dropped a magnificent goal

from ipside tho half-way flag, the ball striking the upright inside and rebounding over the crossbar. It was a splendid kick, and Scott received an ovation for one of the finest potted goals seen on the Caledonian Ground.

Otago ... .» - § points. Wellington ... ... ... ° points. The lead gave the Blues heart, and they played- with renewed energy. - # The fiveeigfoths were stopping the passing of the Wellington backs by sound tackling, and the Blue forwards were keeping the northern pack busy, when Rangi Wilson and Gillespie headed a rush, and Fred Roberts gained 40 yards with a fine kick. E. Roberts, the Wellington half, marked from the throw out, and Fred Roberts had a resultless place kick at goal from the halfway flag. The Blue forwards came away in a loose rush, with Patterson and Sheehan in the van, but E Roberts turned them back. Cunningham, the Wellington wing forward, was caught offside, and Otago cleared from the free kick. The Otago forwards were now going magnificently, their loose work taking a power of stopping. Kinvig,- the Wellington' full back, cleared, but Watson returned well down to the right wing, where M'Doneuld, following up fast, lost a great chance by failing to take the ball on the bounce. An interchange of kicks by the rival backs left play in Otago's twenty-five, when the Blue forwards broke away, and, the backs coming ran to the Wellington full back, when he lost the ball. Wellington cleared again with. line kicking, and the northern forwards, breaking away, from the line, rolled Otago back on defence. From a scrum the ball came out to the Wellington half, who tried to get it away to Fred. Roberts, but the " All. BLack" missed the pass, and Scott, securing the ball, found touch, and the whistle sounded for half-time with the scores: Otago 9 points. Wellington. ... 6 points.

. On changing ends Wellington had the sun in their eyes. After the kick-off Symonds marked, and Watson found the half-way flag. Williams got the ball from tho .line, and, cutting in between the two northern five-eighths, put in. a short kick, but the ball went too far, and the Wellington full back marked. An exchange of kicks saw no advantage to either side, and from a lino-out at half-way Wellington marked, and Kinvig got inside Otago s twenty-five, where play swung to the line. Wellington set up an attack, but Scott drove them off. They .attacked again, and the ball was passed out on the right side unmarked, and Grace swung over at the corner. Fred. Roberts failed with the kick at goal. Otago ....... ... ... . Wellington ~...;. .... 9 points. With the levelling up of the scores play settled down in grim reality. The 'Wellington forwards started to pack round ana) come through from the line-out, and for a time Otago's defence was severely tested. The Wellington backs were attempting the rushing game, but there was a break-down in the machinery through faulty handling or they were bustled into hesitancy and uncertainty by the opposition forwards. • A rush by the Wellington rearguard, all of whom handled the ball in turn, took the full width of the field, and ended up dangerously near" the corner. Scott accounted for his man "as the whistle sounded for a pass forward, and Otago bleared. M'Kenzie had a fruitless shot at goal, the ball dropping short The Wellington backs were making great" efforts to get the ball away, but the good work of the Otago forwards and five-eighths were crippling the attack. It looked as if Wellington might at any time find a weak link in the defence and score.. The battle of .". attack and defence waged hot in Otago's twenty-five. Once M'Kenzie got over, but was called back for a pass forward. Scott was doing three men's work, turning the enemy back time and again with kicks to the line. After a prolonged attack Wellington was driven off, and Sheehan and Casey led the "Blues .into Wellington quarters, where a gooo. chance was lost by slow following up._ Again Wellington came at Otago, and after a prolonged struggle in front of the Blues' goal, M'Dougall came through with the ball, and, •with M'Donald in support, swept play the' full length of the field. M'Kenzie kicked clear, and set his team again .at Otago, but back the Blues came again. Some strenuous play ensued in front of the Wellington goal. Otago could not get the ball out to the backs, and M'Farlane, waiting offside, tackled Nome, who had a shot at goal from the free kiok. The ball fell into the hands of Fred. Roberts, who stepped aside as M'Donald came at him, and then passed to Mitchinson. The Wellington centre ran down to half-way, and transferred to Grace, who kioked into Otago's twenty-five. Watson got the ball away, and M'Dougall coming out in the open, with Patterson in support, set Otago racing over the half-way, where Kinvig turned them back with a fine line kick. From a scrum in midfield E. Roberts broke away, passed to Fred. Roberts, who passed in turn to Grace, the Wellington wing threequarter in turn passing to M'Kenzie. This rush brought Wellington into an attacking position, and the ball swung out on the right wing. Mitchinson passed to Ryan, who was aU but over, Scott pushing him out at the corner flag, a touch-in-goal resulting. Scott was temporarily injured, and on re--gumption of play the Blue forwards carried the game into Wellington territory, where E. Roberts made a lucky speculator and cleared, to half-way. Watson marked, and Wellington charged down the kick in front pf Otago's goal, but Scott, who was playing a sterling game on defence, came- to the resoue with a kick to . half-way. E. Roberts .fielded Watson's kick and centred, setting Wellington again on attack. Fred. Roberts. tried to. get away, but Patterson brought him down with a magnificent tackle. The Wellington forwards carried tho ball down to Otago's line, and Scott found touch at midfield, and the game ended: .Otago .". ■•• 9 points. Wellington ... ...... 9 points. KESULTS OP HATCHES. . 18 77__At Wellington—Otago. won by 4 goals and 2 tries to nil. 1870—At Christ church—Wellington won by 1 try to nil. ; 1883—At Wellington—Wellington won by 1 tiy 1885—At Dunedin— Otago won by 2 goals and 1 try (11 points)) to nil. 1887—At Wellington—Drawn, no score. IMl—At Duncilin— Otago won by 1 goal and 3 tries (6 points) to 1 goal (3 points). 1896—At Wellington—Drawn, no score. T«q7—At won by 1 potted goal a"d 2 tries (10 points) to 2 tries (6 1898— Wellington—Otago won by 3 tries (0 points) to nil. ..

1890—At Dunedin—Wellington won by 2 tries (6 points) to 1 try (3 points). ;ioO—At Wellington—Wellington won by 1 goal and 1 try (8 points) to 2 tries (.6 points). 1901—At Dunedin—Wellington won by 2 goals (10 points)' to 3 tries (9 points). 1902—At Wellington—Otago won by 1 goal and I try (8 points) to nil. . 1903—At Dunedin—Otago won by 2 tries (S points) to 1 try (3 points). 1904—At Wellington—AVellington won by 2 goals arid 2 tries (15 points) to 2 goals and 1 try (13 points).""" 1906—At Dunedin—Drawn, no score. 190 G—At Wellington—Otago won by 2 tries (b points) to 1 try (3 points). • ■ 1907—At Dunedin—Otago won by 9 points to b points. , 1908—At Wellington—Otago won by 1 goal irom try, 1 goal from mark, and 3 tries _ (if points) to 2 penalty goals and 3 tries (15 points). , „ , « 1909—At Dunedin— Wellington won by 2 goals ana 1 try (13 points) to 1 try (3 points). 1910—At Wellington—Wellington won by 19 points to 6 points. ',.-.■' 1911—At Dunedin—Drawn, 9 points each. Of the 22 games played between the provinces Otago has won 9 and Wellington 9, and four have been drawn. Otago has scored 151 points in all matches to Wellington's 128 points. OTAGO'S BEPKESENTATIYE EBCOBD. • Wosr 5, Lost 2, Drawn 1. Against South Island Minor Unions.—Won by 14 t° 13 - Against Wanganui.—Won by 18 to U. Against. Maoris—Won by 20 to 8. Against Taranaki.—Lost by 27 to 3. Against Auckland.—Lost by 9 to 3. Against Canterbury.—Won by 8 to nil. Against Southland.—Won by 9 to 8. Against Wellington:—Drawn, 9 points each. SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. The following is the complete South Island team to meet North Island at Wellington on Saturday:—: Full back, Scott (Otago); three-quarters— Guthrie (Canterbury), Lynch (South Canterbury), Burns (Canterbury); five-eighths— Irvine (West Coast) and Gray (Canterbury); half back, Green (Buller); forwards—Hasel (Canterbury), Biggar (Southland}. M'Donald and Forbes (Marlborough), Patterson (Otagoj, Dalton (South Canterbury), Best (Nelson), Murrav (Canterbury, wing): EmergenciesBack, Pyle (Canterbury); forward, Sheehan (Otago). AUCKLAND COMPETITION: AUCKLAND, September 30. The Auckland Rugby Union's season was brought to a close to-day, when the Oup final between City and Mafist Brothers' Old Boys was played, the former winning by 6 points to 3. R, Magee kicked a penalty goal and Olsen scored a try for City, while B. iO'Brien kicked! a penalty goal for Marist. The ganie was very strenuous.