FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 63

FOOTBALL.

notes nr For.r, pick. Arthur Harding, the'Welsh international forward and the leader qj the last British team in New Zealand, who settled down in the Dominion, is now a eucceseful farmer in the North Island. Dr Arthur O’Brien, a member of BedeJlSivright’s team in New Zealand in 1905, who has been practising his profession in Christchurch, has returned to England for 12 months After a lengthy retirement Colin Gilrdy, the Otago and New Zealand representative and Sbot'tiish international fhreo-quartejjr has turned out again. The old Otago University player was in the threo-quartcll line for London Scottish against Cambridge in the match played on November 18, and won by tho Cantabs by three goals three tries to one try. Mr W. Glenn, who was a member of tho first Ali Black football team, was returned unopposed to fill tho vacancy on the Wanganui County Council, caused by the death of the council’s late chairman, Mr D Mason. Mr Glenn is now farming in tho Paparoa Road district. The Irish international half. R. A. Lloyd, has a wonderful record for Trinity College, Dublin. Out of an aggregate of 211 points Lloyd is responsible for 96, in six dropped goals, three penalties, seven tries, and the of 21 tries. F. E Chapman, the international winr - three-quarter who tourtad New iZealancl with the Anglo-British team in 1908, ia thoroughly recovered from his accident of last season, and is playing as well ns ever for Durham University. Owing to hi£ studies, however, ho has been compelled ttf give up serious football for a time, ana this explains his absence, from the counts team. One of the oldest Rugby clubs in the

world —Blank heath—is celebrating its jubilee in London this season. Apropos of the event, a few of the early rules of the club are worth punting. In 1862 the firet set were printed. Rule 3 made it illegal to pick the ball offi the ground for any purpose whatever, whilst No. 6 allowed a player to run with the ball, provided he caught it on the full or on the first bounce. Hacking was allowed, but hacking and holding at. the same, time was illegal. Rule 10 is worth giving in full: —“Though it is lawful to hold anv player in a scrummage, this does not include attempts to throttle or strangle, which are totally opposed to tire principle of the game.” Several other extraordinary similar railings existed, but 50 years have worked wonders in the Rugby game, and whilst it has become faster, and rules more comprehensive, the principlee sre the same—viz., “no throttling or strangling.”

IRELAND v, FRANCE. PARIS, January 1. At the Rugby game Ireland (11 points) beat France (nil). AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE TEAM. LONDON, January 1. Australasia (3 goals 9 tries) defeated, a thirteen of England (1 goal and 2 tries). Four thousand people watched the game. England started excellently, Lomas severing a try early in the which Woods converted, Clark also obtaining a try. The Australasians were aggressive. V. Farnsworth and M'Kival scored tries in quick succession, but neither was converted. M'Cue crossed the line, amf Frawley goaled. At half-time the was; Australasia, 11 points; England, 8. » The visitors played spiritedly in the second spell, their three-quartere showing good work. England were completely outplayed. M'Cue and M'Kival each scored a try, and Berecry and Frawley two tries each, Frawley and Gilbert converting one each. January 6. The Australasian League team defeated Leeds by a goal and two tries to two tries. The game, which was played in snow, was of a scrambling nature.