RUGBY GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3095, 9 July 1913, Page 52

RUGBY GOSSIP.

The Australian team to tour New Zealand next ruonlh is anticipated to he a strong 1 side, and is expected to win the majority of its matches. Burns, of Christchurch, is being selected by ‘the amateur critics for the position of half-back in the South Island team against the North Island this month. Harry Baton, the old Otago and New Zealand representative forward, who had retired from the game, was coaxed out to play for Oriental (Wellington) the other day. There is no truth in the rnmout, according to “ Touchline," that Fred Roberts, the All Black, proposed playing again in view of a New Zealand representative team going to America. Ralph Summers, a Newport (Wales) forward, was presented with a gold watch and travelling bag by his colleagues at the Newport Harbour Office and the Newport Pilots on the occasion of his leaving for Australia. Jackett, the English international full back who toured New Zealand with the British Rugby team of 1908, is playing for Dewsbury, a Northern Union team in Yorkshire. In the off season Jackett is the manager of a picture palace. Hugh M'Lood, the ex-Otago player and Wellington five-eighth, is said to have played a brilliant game in Wellington the other day—such a game, in fact, as might give him a place in this year’s Wellington representative team. Tom Bain, the well-known Canterbury representative forward, has retired from the game. Personally I have always had great regard for Baiu as a forward. In all matches against Otago Bain has been the best forward of the Canterbury pack. The appearance of Dr H. cle Villiers, the South African centre threequarter, in the ranks of Swansea next season is quite on the tapis. He has taken the position of assistant medical officer to the Pontarclawe District Council in the Swansea Valley, and has, so it is said, expressed his willingness to assist the Welsh team. Of interest to the members of the New Zealand team for California: In America all ‘.he grounds are bare earth, grass not growing on any of them. The consequence is that in dry weather there is dust and in wet mud. When there is rain the .players have attendants just outside the touch-line armed with buckets of water and sponges, and at intervals the players streak over to them and have their faces washed. Fred Hobbs, brother of Arthur Hobbs, one of Canterbury’s best threequarters of a few years back, passed away in the Christchurch Hospital on Monday last (says a Christchurch paper). He met with an accident recently, getting his foot badly crushed, bloodpoisoning set in, and ho never recovered. Hobbs was one of the safest and best kicks in bus day. He played for the old East Christchurch Club, and will be remembered for his coolness. He was a great runner in his time, and carried off many races when the sports were held on Hagley Park. New Zealanders arc yearning for the opportunity to test another side in England. They declare it was their turn even before the South Africans, and they hope that after the successful fight they have made to keep the flag flying in the Dominion they will receive an invitation, if not for 1919-11 then for 1914-15. There sesms no reason why they should not be asked—granted the financial terms which were acceptable to (he South Africans will be agreeable lo their men. That is a matter over which it will be well to ponder. —Athletic News. Over 1000 subscriptions were received to the testimonial which was presented to E. R. Mobbs, the English international and captain of the East Midlands and Northampton, who has retired from the game. The presentation consisted of a silver salver, two silver tankards, and a silver cup together with a morocco album with illuminated title page containing the names of the subscribers. Mr Mobbs. who scored 20 tries for Northampton last season, has cantained the team for six seasons, has played in 33 matches for the East Midlands, and has renresented England against Scotland, Wales, Ireland. Australia, and France. The balance sheet of the English Rugby Union discloses a healthy state of finance. There was a profit from the South Africans’ tour of £7048, and of that, the share to the R.F.U. is £3313. The Calcutta Cup match produced £3126, the French match £764, and the South Trial £lB7. All told the receipts amounted to £7505. On the other side of the ledger, the cost of management was £869; professional inquiries cost £135, income tax amounted to £205, and interest on debentures to £l4l. Ten debentures of £3O each were paid off, and £5232 was carried to the ground capital account. The balance in hand of £3661 is £375 greater than it was a year ago. Financially the Australian tour of the New Zealand League team, though it has been marred by wretched weather, lias been wonderfully successful (says an exchange), •file takings in matches against the State were: —First match, £1814; second match, £1230; third match. £702; fourth maten, £1774. An aggregate of £5520 by

TIO.OOO spectators! Of that sum ground expenses will absorb 15 per cent., or £823, and wages may be set down at £IOO. The balance. £1592, will be divided equally between the leagues, so that the visitors should take back with them something in tha MCinity of £a3oo as their share of the proceeds of there matches. “Should a referee order a captain off for peisistent appealing ?’’ This question was asked by Mr W. J. Meredith at the last meeting of the Wellington Referees’ AssociaU° U \r I 1 "' 10 cll!lirman °f the association (Mr D. M Keuzie) answered: If he thinks tin* appealing was done with the object of harassing him in h:s work. The captain is only a member of the team. Mr Meredith said tliat he nad in mind a case in which the persistent appellant said that bis object in constantly asking questions was merely to learn tne rules. One would think that a. team would elect a-s captain someone who had enough enthusiasm to learn the rules at the proper time and place. A Wellington writer wisely says that the game of Rugby would be livened up very considerably if the advantage rule were made to apply to throw-ins from touch. The present ruling is that, unless the bail is thrown m at ngnt angles, a scrummage must tol.ow, and this appears to me to encourage the tendency to throw the ball in other than etiaiglit by the stronger scrummaging side Ihe referee should be- given the power to al.ow the game to go on in the instances wnere the non-offending side gain the advantage. ihe New Zealand Rugby. Union should nJace this matter before the head body of Rugby football, with the object of obtaining d'icated' lU ' e * n le direction inU is expected that the New Zealand team will arrive in San Francisco on October 2. ami start their programme of matches on the following Saturday. A tour somewhat similar to that arranged for the Australians last year will be prepared for the New /.e a landers. The prospective visit recalls the fact that it was the famous All Blacks who, playing at San Francisco in February. 1906. opened the eyes of Americans, and caused the students of the Universities of Stanford and California to become reconciled to the new game. Previously they had been strongly prejudiced against it. but the famous combination demonstrated its excellencies to such a degree that these colleges have now settled their differences. and are both within the fold of the Rugby nion ■ A great reception is being prepared for the New Zealanders on their arrival in San Francisco. Percy Williams, the Auckland Northern U n ion forward, who has been playing in England, has returned after an absence of three years. Williams was a member of the Wigan team, which includes those two famous ex-amateurs Seeling and Francis. Williams in an interview stated that the wonderful career of George Smith os an athlete would a poo or to have almost ended, and at latest information he had expressed the intention of securing the position of trainer to one of the British Association teams. Of the other Australasian plavers who have at rbfTerent times figured in the game for English clubs, Williams sav« that Archie Waddell has a tobacconist’s business in St. Helens, and that "Jmn” Tnrtill is the proprietor of an hotel there. Little Kelly, another New Zealander, was followed bv bad luck all the time, and <2iJ 110 f. p] av mnrU football. He was engaged in an iron foundry. Renwick. also of Auckland, was captain of Warrington, which club had put up a great fight in last season’s cup ties.

OTAGO RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was held on Monday evening, tne president (Mr H. Harris) in the chair. The Southland Union notified that it waa prepared to grant permission to its premier team to play the premier team of Dunedin as a benefit match to Mr A. Downes on August 9.—lt was resolved to hold the matter over pending advise from the Canterbury Union in the same connection. The South Canterbury Union notified that it was quite in accord with the Otago Rugby Union’esiiggestion in re out-of-pocket expenses for the New Zealand team to California. —Letter received; the South Canterbury Union to be asked to forward a copy of its resolution to the New Zealand Union. The Secretary of the South Otago Subunion forwarded an appeal from the Tokomairio Club against the decision of the South Otago Sub-union in awarding the match Tokomairiro II v. Owaka II to Owaka on the ground that the former club had received no notification of the fixture. —After reading the evidence it was decided to uphold the appeal owing to the South Otago Sub-union having failed to distribute the list of fixtures, as provided in by-law 25. The Zingari Third Grade team was awarded the match against Union Third, owing to the latter team failing to put in an appearance.—ln connection with the foregoing the secretary of the Union Club explained that the Union had had a bad run of accidents this season. On Saturday eight of the First Grade, six of the Second, and three Third Grade players were unable to play owing to injuries. The Southern Second Grade team waa awarded the match against Union Second by default. It was decided to remove the disqualification of C. M'Lennau, who had been disqualified at the pleasure of the union for failing to return his jersey after the Goldfields tour. M'Lcnnan having promised to make restitution by the payment for a new jersey. Mr VV. T. Parata, manager of the Native team, telegraphed from Auckland advising that the Native team could play Otago on July 19. —Resolved that the date be accepted. The Locomotive Club was granted permission to play the Locomotive Club, Christchurch, at Waimate on July 14. It was decided to hand over the Caledonian Ground on August 2 to the High School Jubilee Association. 8C 4001. FOOTBALL. A deputation from the Schools’ Association waited on the committee to voice matters of interest- to school football. gestions wore made that the Otago Union send a school team to play at Oamam on August 30, and on the same date another school team bo sent to play ®, picked team from the South Otago schools at Balclutha. It was further suggested that a school team from Southland play an Otago school team as a curtain-raiser on the occasion of the New Zealand match v. Australia on September 13.—1 t was decided to grant per mission to the Schools' Association to carry out these matches, the union to pay all expenses in connection therewith. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. FIRST GRADE. Pirates v. Alhambra. Taking a line through the previous performances of the above teams during th« season, one oould not have corns to any

other conclusion than that the Alhambra, would win this match, but, by winning rather easily at Carisbrobk No. 2 on Saturday, the Pirates demonstrated the wtsdom of the turf axiom that “ form is not always a criterion.” The condition oi the ground was such as to cause the play to be largely confined to the forwards. Any work by the backs consisted of solo efforts, combined play evidently being an unknown quantity on eitner side. Pirates 12 points. Alhambra 5 points. Mr M. Thompson was referee. For the winners Wren, M'Kellar (2), and Lomas did good work, although the Last-named s kicking was not so consistent as it has been. P. Williams, Russel], and Johnston revelled in the heavy forward work, and led the Alhambra well. F- W iiliams played a clever game, but he received very little support. Southern v. Zingahi-Richmond. Rain louowmg on tiic Keen liosts played havoc w;th the surface of tile Caledonian Ground, and when me Souttiern and Zmgari teams took the field on Saturday it was evident that forward play would be a dominant factor. The ground proved to be exceedingly greasy and treacnerous, the players being almost unable to secure a loothold. Scientific back play was badly handicapped, though not absolutely impos sible, but tne loose dribbling rustics with fast following up were best suited to the conditions. The game was of poor quality, and allowing for the difference of conditions fell degrees below the standard of play in the match between Kaikorai and Southern. The heavy going handicapped "last play as it handicapped the general movements of the players. Both teams settled down into a hard, slogging game amongst the forwards, with occasional attempts —mostly on the part of Southern, who were getting the bail from the scrums —to open up with the backs. Neither team exhibited much combination forward, though Southern were certainly better in respect to combination than Zmgari, who, however, showed good form in the loose. The Southern pack combined well in the second spell and frequently tested the Zmgari defence to breaking point. It was on these occasions that the Southern backs were ■ called into requisition, but they failed lamentably, partly owing to the -defence of Zingari, but mostly owing to their inability to make the best of their opportunities. Southern were in the attacking prosition for the best part of the game, but only on this score did they deserve to win, for si#oly never did a team getting the ball from the scrums make such poor use of the advantage. A detailed description of the game could not be given without a wearisome repetition of punts to tho line, straggling linc-outs, and crumbling scrummages. Play was occasionally varied by a forward rush and attempts at passing but for tile most part it was line-kicking, line play, and scrummaging. Southern 3 points. Zingari-Richmond 3 points. Mr W. J. Wilson was referee. Kaikorai v. Union. Tho limited number of spectators at Carisbrook No. 1 Ground on Saturday were not shown anything in the way oi good football by Kaikorai or Union. This was due very largely to the wretched condition of the ground owing to the recent heavy rain. After the first few minutes of the game the ball was so greasy and treacherous that it was almost impossible to do anything with it. Kaikorai 21 points. Lmion ... Nil. Mr B. Watson controlled the game. Port Chalmers v. University. The Mussel Bay Ground was in a terrible state for the match between Port Chalmers and University, being soft and slushy and dotted with pools of water. The consequence was that for the most part the game was uninteresting. It was keenly fought, however, the two teams being pretty evenly balanced. Port Chalmers 8 points. University 3 points. SECOND GRADE. Kaikorai defeated Pirates by 26 points to nil. Tries were scored by Homer, Dagg, Reid (2), Fountain, M'Hardy, Talboys, and Cameron. Reid kicked a penalty goal and converted one try. Pirates played with only 15 men. Dunedin beat University B by 12 points to 3. C. Colston (2), W. Colston, and O'Keefe scored for Dunedin, and Howat for University. - West Taieri defeated Alhambra at Outran! by 15 points (five tries) to nil. THIRD GRADE. Dunedin defeated Alhambra by 11 points to 3. For the winners, Burrow, MT.aren, and Binnie scored, and Keen, converted one try. Himmel scored for Alhambra. Pirates beat Kaikorai by 15 points to 14. Southern defeated High School by 16 points to 5. SCHOOL MATCHES, Forbury A beat Albany Street by 20 points to nil. Mitchell (2). Cher rie (2), Deuchra-ss, and Timlin scored, and Smith converted one try. Arthur Street boat Moray Place by 27 points to nil. SOUTH OTAGO MATCHES. Tn the Senior Flag match, Clinton v. Clutha. at Clinton, on Saturday, the visitors were defeated by 6 points to nil, Denham kicking a goal and Dougall scoring lor Clinton Toko II defeated Owaka. 11, at Balclutha by 14 points to 3 points. A good deal of healthy rivalry exists between these C,lubs, and both teams took the field with several lights of other days in their fifteens. For the winners tries were scored by A. Littlejohn (2), and D. Brookes, Southerly converting one try. Towards the end of the game a Toko player got another try. Paterson concluded a strong rim and a pretty passing rush by scoring for Owaka. AUCKLAND v. MAORIS. EASY WIN FOR THE FORMER. AUCKLAND, July 6. Although it rained hard during Saturday morning, the weather was fine in the afternoon, when the match Auckland v. the Maori touring team was played. The ground was in' good order, and the attendance was about 5000. Tho game did not come up to expectations, play being ragged throughout. The Maoris attacked at the commencement, and penned Auckland down for about 15 minutes, but they were unable to score, faulty handling by the backs being the cause. Auckland gradually got the upper

hand, and midway through the spell passing among the backs ended in a try by Stewart. O'Leary kicking a goal immediately afterwards. As the outcome of a fine individual effort, Weston scored between the posts, O’Ledry again kicking a goal. R. Sellars scored from a forward rush later on, and the spejl ended : Auckland, 13; Maoris, nil. The second half was all in favour of the local players, who, however, did not combine well. Every man appeared anxious to score, and the play, in consequence, was very ragged. Tries were scored by M’Gregor. Macky, G. Sellars, and Stewart, no goals being kicked. The game ended: Auckland 25 points. Maoris Nil. MANAWATU v. HOROWHENUA. LEVIN, July 6. Manawatua beat Horowhenua by 19 points to 13. Tries for the winners were scored by Meuli, Frame, Ford, and Stalker, and for Horowhenua by Toa Winiata (2) and Reid. MATCHES ELSEWHERE. CHRISTCHURCH. July 6. The matches played yesterday resulted as follows: Old Boys 18 points) beat Merivale (13 points); Linwood (5 points) beat Albion (nil); Christchurch (18 points) beat Marist Brothers (9 points); and Sydenham (11 points) beat Canterbury College (nil). INVERCARGILL, July 6. Invercargill (12 points) boat Southern (nil); Waikiwi (6 points) beat Winton (nil); Star and Athletic drew, there being no score. Star are leading for championship. UNIVERSITY TEAM’S TOUR. SYDNEY, July 4. At tlie Rugby Union’s welcome to the New Zealand University team Judge Backhouse urged the desirability of the true amateur spirit in sporr. The universities stood for all that was good, and New Zealanders in particular had been loyal to the Rugby Union game. The Union code had fallen on evil days in New Soutli Wales temporarily. He hoped that the visit of the New Zealanders would do much towards again placing the game in the proud position which it once held. WIN IN OPENING MATCH. SYDNEY, July 6. (Received July 6. at 5.5 p.m.) The match between the New Zealand University team and Sydney University was played yesterdav. In the early stages tho New Zealanders looked like making it a one-sided game. They threw the ball about attractively, and from a fine passing rush Childs scored, Samki converting. C'artright scored from a forward rush. In the first spell Sydney scored a try, which was converted, a penalty goal, and a goal from a mark. Cuthill scored a try in the second spell, making the scores 11 points all. An exciting finish was witnessed. Fair secured at half-way, and ran along the lino, being grassed inside the twenty-five. Fawcett obtained the ball after the throw-in, and passed to Sullivan, who scored just on time, making the totals: Now Zealand University ... 14 points. Sydney University 11 points.