FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 62

FOOTBALL.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Forward, Eden dale.—Acquire perfect condition by tho ordinary forme of exercise, particularly swimming- (when it can be indulged in) and walking. To specialise for Rugby football, the best training is short sprinting—long distance work only tends to slow-lip,—practice dribbling with a Rugby ha'll; (2) Tho cold shower, if you have a, quick recovery; if not, the warm bath- followed by tho shower tempered to cold. ■ NOTES BY' FULL BACK. The international Rugby match between England and Wales was played in England on Saturday, and resulted in a win for England by a goal and a try to nil. Last year Walts won by one goal and four tries to one goal and two tries. In all 29 matches have been played, of which Wales has won 14, England 13, and two have been drawn. Tho Rev. J. Strand Jones, the Welsh Rugby international, Oxford University, and Llanelly full back, is now doing missionary work at Karachi Sindh (India), where ho has been stationed sinco 1909. In spite of frequent patching, the definition of a tackle remains unsatisfactory. A player is tackled when ho can “neither pass nor play the ball,” but lx>th these important keywords require exp’anation. The International Board has thought it necessary to issue a ruling that a player who is not tackled though he bo brought to ground together with tho l>all, may go on with his run. On the other hand, a note in the Welsh Football Union handbook declares that a player who is tackled near the line may not pick up the ball to cornp’ete tho try, nor may ho pass. As by definition ho cannot paas. it seems ridiculous and superfluous to say that ho may not. It would 1)0 useful if some authority would determine whether momentary inability to pass or play tho ball is sufficient to constitute a tackle, cr whether the referee should wait to sec if a player who falls

heavily with the ball under him can recover himself before the ball is he'd. PROPOSED ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TEAM. SYDNEY, January 17. A proposal has been received from England that an Anglo-Australian Rugby League team, consisting of the Australian and New Zealand players now playing for the Northern Union, should visit Australasia. representative matches. LONDON, January 21. England defeated Wales by a goal and a try to nil. Scotland, playing against France, made a score of 31 points against 3. AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE TEAM. LONDON, January 21. /he Australasian team secured six tries against Barrow, who scored a dropped goal and a try. For the visitors Frawley converted two of the tries. January 17. Ihe Australasian football team’s game against the Northern Union League had to be abandoned in consequence of the ground being under enow.