FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 60

FOOTBALL.

NOTION "IIY FULL BACK. Lack of training is not conducive to players showing true form in Easter fixtures, which by the majority are not token seriously; but in the Union team of Saturday last there were at least two young players who gave occasional glimpses of promise—Marks and Fraser. Having a fair knowledge of the game, and possessing all i.tio keenness of youth, these two young backs should do well under the tuition of a competent trainer. There is undoubtedly no more dangerous practice on tne football field than that of tripping, and the player who resorts to such tactics is deserving of a very severe penalty. Several times on Saturday the foot of & local player was brought into play. He has now earned it reputation for doing this sort of thing, and will in all probability do it once too often, and have' perforce to take a well-deserved holiday—pethaps permanent—from the football arena. In Ivggleson, late of Taranaki, the Alliambra. have a back with rather more than average ability. Against Merivale he was played in the centre, but seemed rather out of place. His tackling, fielding, and kicking suggest the qualifications of an ideal full back. Another new wearer of tho Red and Blacks is Lulee, a fifteen-stone forward, but his play on Saturday demonstrated the fact that he has a lot yet lo learn of the finer point* of the game. Carnegie, who played such a fine game at wmg-forward for the Merivale, was in tho Southern Juniors two years ago. He is a player deserving of success, as for some six months of the ye.-,.,- ho lives at, New Brighton so as to undergo the best possible training. Owing to the absence of several of the seniors engaged in the rowing events at Queenstown. the .Star (Invercargill) had i several juniors in the team which met Zingari. Tho visitors nut up a good fight | against the local men. and at least one of the juniors—T. B. Baird—could get into any senior team in New Zealand. There were four Bairds in the team— three brothers and a cousin,—and they all have a good knowledge of the name, and put that, knowledge into execution whenever opportunity offers. The scrum-half T. Baird—is one of the very few plavers I have noticed anticipating the direction in which th# ball is likely to be returned by an opponent. .Several well-known sprinters were amongst the Star Fifteen, but the collaring of the Zingari men was very vigorous, and they did not get far. Strang, in the" for-

wards, is reputed to be in the front rank of Dominion runners. As for the Montecillo Die-hards, their team is very little changed from that of last year. The forwards are fast and keen, while the backs arc safe all round, and are capable of improvement. It may be remarket! in passing that the- New Zealand representative forward, Patterson, thus early in the season, ifi playing with great dash. Another New Zealand representative in Ridland also took part in this fixture. He received a more than ordinarily vigorous—and to a certain extent unnecessary—tackle in the second spell, however, wlhich took a lot of the keenness out of his play. The N.Z. Rugbv Union has started oil well by seeking to call the editor of the New Zealand Times to account for passing an unwarranted comment, in their opinion, on the playing of the game in Wellington (says the Wellington correspondent of a Ohristehurch paper). It has requested the editor in question to withdraw his statement, but it has not got its desire. Although I do not agree with all that was printed in this connection. I am certainly of opinion that too much money changes hands over local football matches, too many blows and kicks are unnecessarily exchanged between the players, and that the "gate" predominates over every other consideration in the minds of the Management Committee of the- Rugby Union Probably if the members of that body see these statements they will want them withdrawn, but they are made with an intimate knowledge of the position, and have also the merit of being true. Mitchell, the Canterbury and Merivale centre three-quarter who joined the last New Zealand team in Australia, and subsequently left at the beginning of last season for Sydney in the hope of gaining a place in the- professional team that recently toured England, but did not do so, leturned Last week. He had a season's play under the League code in Sydney, and was well pleased with the game. It is doubtful, however, if ho will stay very long in Ohristehurch. The New South Wales team of Rugby footballers has returned to Australia after a tour of England. They played Z 6 matches, 29 of which were won They wore also victorious in two out of the three test matches, so that although the cricket, ashes are being taken to England, the football ashes, so far as the Northern Union is concerned, will remain in Australia for some time at least. The members of the team, who are all in the best of health, were not greatly impressed with the sportsmanship of some English football crowds. During a match at Widness, the touring playors had a somewhat sensational experience. The local club had not been beaten for many years, and the visiting players were warned that they could oxipoct a rough time. During the game Francis accidentally knocked a member of the home team cut. The crowd commenced to howl and hoot, and the home players adopted rough tactics. The visitors retaliated, and a perfect riot ensued. The N.S. Wales team won the game by 23 points to nil, but on the way to the dressing room they were subjected to more rough treatment, and tho protection of the polico had to bo sought- Insulting epithets, such as "Rabbits" and "Convicts," were hurled at them by an infuriated mob on another o'-ca-iion. It is understood that the tour was not, a financial success.

On Saturday afternoon a couple of matches wore played on the Caledonian Ground, which was in excellent order. A stiff nor'-easter was blowing during the frames. The attendance of the public was not very large. The annual conference of the New Zealand Referees' Association was held at Hastings on Good Friday, Mr W. Keith (vice-president) in the chair. Delegates were present representing Wanganui, Taranaki, Wellington, Southland, Waitarapa, Ma.nawa.tu. Auckland, Napier, and Hastings. The decisions given by the executive during 1911 wore; confirmed with slight alterations. LINWOOD v. UNION. At 1.45 p.m. the Linwood) (Christchurch) and Union (Dur.ediu) teams took the licld. Tho players were as under:— Linwood (green and black). —Full back, W. Hawkins; three quarters—S. Loader. 11. Picreey, F. Fairbrothor; five-eighths—lt. Mullin, C. Greeks (captain); half, B. Cross; wing forward, J. Harvey; forwards —A. Barrett, VV. Banslcy. J. M'Ccrmack, Cummiugs (2), W. Shore, R. Yates Union (maroon). —Full back, A. Mills; three-quarters, A M'Lennan, J. Williams, 11. Robinson; five-eighths, M M'Mullen, V. Fraser; half, J. Marks; forwards —J. Armour, T. Dryden, W. Townsend, .7. Kobson, I*. Turner, O. Ne'wall, J. Dennistori (captain), A. Thomson. The visitors kicked off against the wind, and the Union at once took play to the Linwood quarters. A free kick being awarded the Union, an attempt was made from the quarter line to place a goal, but tho angle was difficult, and the effort was fruitless. Linwood' carried play to the centre, but were immediately pressed back and forced. The ensuing play was near the Colouiw' goal-posts, and the ball going over was chased by plavers on both sides, and 1 Marks fell on'it. Mills's luck at goal went wide. Union, 3 points; Linwood, nil Hot work took place near the Linwcod line, and Dryden got over. The kick at goal was rcsultlos.s. Union, 6 points; Linwcod, nil. Tile visitors, handicapped by tho wind, made futile efforts to shift play to the opposite end. Only twice did they get there, and they made things very hot. On the second occasion Fairbrother got the ball at his toe at half-way, and having no opponent between him and the Union goal-line, ho dribbled nicely until the line was reached, when ho picked the ball up and dropped on it under the goal-posts. The kick was not what was desired. Union, 6 points; Linwood, 3 points. Union again pressed their opponents and play was near tho Linwood quartor-flag at half-time. Linwood, playing with the wind, assumed the offensive' without loss of time, and good play on the part of the backs ended in Yates running over the line. Piorcey made no mistake with the kick. Linwood, 8 points; Union, 6 points. Union, with steady forward play, took the ball to Linwood territory. A free kick to the Maroons saw the ball fall short of the goalposts, the stronir wind keeping it back, but To-.vnsend followed up, got into possession, and 1 ran over near the corner. The kick at goal did not improve matters. Union, 9 points; Linwood, 8 points. Tho visitors again pressed, and Cross sent tho ball over the bar from a free kick, but having touched an opponent's hands tho goal was not allowed. Soon afterwards the final whistlo sounded with the score at:—

Union 9 points. Linwood 8 points. Mr V\. Rcss was the referoe. MERIVALE v. ALHAMBRA. The Merivale (Christchurch) and Alhambra (Dunodir.) teams took tho field at a quarter past 3, the game being played 1 in four 6pe!ls of 20 minutes each. The players were : Merivale (dark blue and white). —Full back, C. Smith; three-quarters, C. Chisnall, W. Thomas. T. Sanders; five-eighths. F. Cleary, L. Cade; half, J. Beaton; forwards—J. Hegarty. E. Hasell, W. Menzies. W. Maxwell (captain), A. Priest. MTntosh, V. Drake, X. Carnegie. Alhambra (red and black).—Full back, W. Richdale; three-quarters—Marston, Egglestone, Wilson; five-eighths, Williams, Bennett (captain) ; lialf. Muirhead; wing forward, Choyce; forwards—Feeley, Russell, Luloe, M'Laren, Harris, Cannally, Cassells Merivale, playing with tho wind, had all the best of it at the start. At the left wing corner Carnegie got into possession, and ran across, and Hasell sent the ball between the posts in splendid style. Morivalo, 5 points; Alhambra, nil. Tho ba'l was kept in the Alhambra ground and from a combined rush on the part of the visitors, Cleary got across. The k:ck at goal did not enhance the score. Merivale, 8 points; Alhambra, nil. On'changing ends tho fortunes of the teams were very even. First the Alhambra line was challenged, and then the Merivale, and at half-time the ball was in neutral territory. Opening the second half, Merivale again had the advantage of the wind 1 . After 10 minutes' play the visitors started an open rush at. the quarter line, and Maxwell earned tho ball over tho goal line and scored. The kick did not raise the score. Merivale, 11 points; Alhambra, nil. Two minutes later Alhambra forced. The wind was, if anything, getting stronger. After some fast play • in the right wing corner Maxwell snapped up tho ball, and, cleverly feinting, managed to score aiother try for tho visitors. The kick failed Merivalo, 14 uoints; Alhambra nil. Changing endb, tho Alhambra at once settled down to make tho best of their last chance. Marston got in a good run, but was tackled, and went out within a yard of the line. A few minutes afterwards Lulee succeeded in getting past his opponents, and scored near the left corner, Marston placing a goal. Merivale, 14 points; Alhambra. 5 points. The visitors were kept busy defending. A wild kick sent tho ball ever near the corner flag, and two Merivale men and Wi'liams, of the Alhambra, chased it. tho latter being successful in scoring. Marston placd a magnificent goal from a long and difficult angle. Merivale, 14 points; Alhambra, 10 points. Notwithstanding the high wind, the visitors worked the ball, chiefly by dribbling rushes, t-> Alhambra quarters, and from a scrum near the line Cade got the ball into his hands, and dodging three opponents got over the line. Tho kick was not successful. The game ended : Merivale 17 pointsAlhambra 10 points. Mr W. Ross controlled the game. ZINGARI v. INVERCARGILL STAR. This match between Zingari and Invereargill Star was played at Carisbrook on Saturday in two 40-minute spells. As was only to bo expected at the commencement of tho season, the game did not prove of a sensational nature. It demonstrated, however, that tho Star men have some fine junior forwards who will achieve senior rank this year—notably T. B. Baird, who has weight, height, and strength,—also that the Zingari team should prove a formidablo combination as the season wears on. and that Patterson retains all his dash. Both teams were about evenly matched till tho second spell was half through, when Zingari kept their opponents well on the defensive. The Star kicked off with tho wind, and gradually carried the i>lay to the Colours' quarters, where T. Baird, half back, snapped up the ball from a scrum and almost dodged over, but was well collared. Hard kicking by the Black and Whites kept the Zingari men busy defending, and then Kellan broke away from a scrum at midfiold and sent out to Russell on the wing, ho being brought down at tho corner.. The play surged over to tho opposite corner, and then D. Baird got in a good punt which shifted play right back to the Colours' line. Both teams were indulging in wild passing and kicking, but, whereas the visitors almost invariablv failed to get their backs moving, Kellan started his men on ono or two nice passing rushes. Tho Colours gradually worked the play back by short dribbling rushes, and 11. Torrance picked up and scored, Bond kicking a fine goal. The Black and Whites came back to the attack, and T. Baird missed a likely chance by giving tho southern man M'Lennan a bad pass. From a line-out, however, shortly after D. Baird used his weight ami dropped over, Martyn converting, and equalising the scores. Shortly after the commencement of the second spell T. Baird and Cupples had a good opportunity, but the former sent on a faulty pass. R. Torrance (full back) here retired owing to an injury to his leg. A series of line-outs followed, and then a nice run by Russell placed the Colours in a strong position. Davidson picked up from a hard return, and finished a short dash by throwing the ball infield. Patterson was bandy and secured it and scored. Bond failed with the goal kick. A weak return by tho Zingari emergency full back saw T. Baird gathering in the ball. He made a nicely-judged run, and sent it on to W. Baird, and he to Cupples, who scored at tho corner. J. Lilley did not improve matters. Patterson broke away with one of his characteristic dribbles from a scrum inside the half-way, and Kellan capped the effort by falling on tho ball. Patterson's goal kick was unsuccessful. Patterson shortly after came away with another fine dribble and picked up. but could not get past tho Star full back, Martyn. The Colours were now pressing the southerners, some of whom were palpably out of form. Kellan got tho ball from a scrum, and nieelv handed it along to Watson, who ran through and scored in a good position. Bond made no mistake, with the kick at goal. The whistle then went, the scores being: Zingari-Richmond ... 16 points. Star 8 points. Mr A. Downes acted as referee. MATCHES IX CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCII, April 6. Several football matches were played today. Tho principal matches resulted as follows: —Albion beat Poneke by 14 point < to 3; Wellington beat Christchurcb by 17

points to 6; Sydenham beat Duncdin by 11 points to 3. Tli© Association game Xomad (Christchurch) v. Mornington (Dunedin) was won by the former by 3 goals to 2. REFEREES* CONFERENCE. HASTINGS, April 7. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Referees' Association was held yesterday Mr W. Keith (vice-president) presided. The question arose as to whether there ■was a quorum, nine delegates being present, whilst the rules provided that 10, "half the number of the affiliated associations," constituted a quorum. The chairman ruled that as two associations* were suspended nine delegates were sufficient for a quorum. The business was proceeded with, and it now remains for any association to appeal against the decision. The seventh annual leport stated that the past season had been one of continued success. Two new associations had been affiliated and one had disbanded, while the Taranaki and South Taranaki Associations had amalgamated. Twenty associations were now affiliated, embracing the great majority of active referees in the Dominion. The balance of assets over liabilities was £3O 10 ; lOd. The report was adopted. It was decided to recommend the Management Committee to revise the rules, with the object of having an annual sitting of the association and bi-annual conferences. It was decided that the next conference be held at Wellington. • A letter was received asking the meeting to adjudicate on a difference winch has arisen between the Auckland Rugby Lmon and the Auckland Referees' Association. It was decided that the meeting had no jurisdiction, and the matter was referred back to the bodies concerned to settle the dispute between themselves. Wellington was fixed as the head quarters of the association - The following officers were elected: Patron, his the Governor; president. Mr R. M. haacs (Wellington ; vice-presidents—Messrs A. Campbell (Auckland), F. T. BaUinger (Taranaki). L. Simpson (Wellington), J M'kellar (Wairarapa), L. F. Pegler (Hastings), A. Williams (Hawke's Bay), W. F. Ros s (Otago), A. M'Gavock (Southland), and H. .h. Iliddlestono (Canterbury); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr J. M. Robb (Wellington); Management Committee—Messrs t. A. Hempleman, J. H. Laughton, V\ . h. Neilson, L. Seivers, and H. Card.