RUGBY GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 52

RUGBY GOSSIP.

Otago Rugby Union appears to have treated Southland any old way as fur as the invitation to send the premiership team to play in Dunedin is concerned. —Southland Times.

A good story is going the rounds concerning the selection of an Otago forward in tho New Zealand team. Tho local selector was asked how got in the team. “In for his singing, of course!’’ came tho reply like a pistol shot.

Two well-known Otago legislators, who witnessed tho North Island-South Island match at Christchurch, are of the opinion that M’Kenzie, of Wairarapa, was the beat forward on the ground, and are astonished at his non-inclusion in tho New Zealand team.

Tho New Zealand Referees’ Association asked to quote case law fully relative to an injured player returning to play and to give authority replied: An injured player who has retired from tho game and stands on the touchlino can return to tho field of p!ay and tackle a player of tho opposite side provided that he is _ not off-side. Authority: English Rugby Union. The following team has been selected to represent Canterbury in the southern tour, playing Timaru on August 14, Otago on August 16, Southland on August 21: Bain, MacDonald, Simmers, Miller. Sandman,’ Watson, Crawshaw, Amodeo, Murray, Hasell. Hcgarty. Fanning, Cummings. Dougall. Kennedy, Mawell. Harvey, and Morgan. It is understood that Burns, Taylor, and Gray are unavailable.

“Touchlino” has this appreciation: “Alex. McDonald, one of the original All Blacks from Otago, is in the team, and, even if he were not in form sufficient to warrant his inclusion, I would not begrudge him his place, for the simple reason that his experience and knowledge must prove of considerable assistance to the team. For this Otago man has been —and maybe still is—one of the best forwards New Zealand lias produced.’’ The Auckland Referees’ Association asked of the Now Zealand Referees’ Association the following question: “In the case of a referee whistling to disallow a charge simultaneously with the ball being kicked, in no instance may the kicker be changed (quotation from rule). Does tins infer tJin t the •kicker cannot be changed when no charge has been allowed, either before or after the kick?” Reply: Yes, the kicker cannot be changed.

The South Canterbury team for the southern tour (which begins on August 21) will be drawn ns far as possible from the following players:—D. Scott, T. Lynch, B. Moore, E. Cockroft, Tv Darroch, If. Davis, G-. Wall, W. Spillane, .7. Harley, A. Spillane. M.’ Darcy, L. Latimer, G. Coles, W. Dalton E. Edraiston, F. Robson, M. Horgan, T. Langford. W. Moore. G. Niall, D. Burke, C. Cowan. E. Fairbrothcr, J. Murphy, and A. Mackay (Albury).

Apropos of the Australian team’s visit, Mr Parata, manager of the ' Maori team

which recently visited Australia, in an interview at Wellington, eaid, in answer to a question as to the standard of Rugby played on the other side, that he felt sure that the team that was coming here this season would cause a big surprise. “I hope they get their full strength away,” he said. “If they do, I believe they will winmost of their matches here quite easily. It is in their forwards that a big difference will be noticed. They play now like a set of All Blacks. I tell you some of our teams will know- something about if before long. Amongst the gentlemen admitted as Fellows of the Roval College oi Surgeons is Mr A. C. Palmer. L.R.C.P.. of New Zealand, who has been completing his medical studies at the London Hospital (writes a London correspondent). Air Palmer, who hails from Dunedin, is a fine athlete, and has made a name for himself in the Rugby football world here. He figured as a star performer in the Hospitals three-quarter line for seven seasons, played for England in 1909, was a member of the Rugby team that toured the Argentine a few years ago, and is now a member of the famous ‘‘Harlequins.” a team that *at full strength ranks second to none in the Old Country. “Wo are going to make one more bid for an English trip,” remarked the manager of the Native team, Mr Parata, to a Wellington interviewer, “and if we fail to bring it off — well, we’ll give it up for good.” In ronlv to a question as to what was the difficulty, he eaid: "There must be some misunderstanding by the English Union. I don’t think the New Zealand Union would do anything to prevent the trip, so why should there bo any. hitch? The finances could easily he arranged. I have been approached by several wealthy Maoris, who are willing to provide the money to send the team away, and—to bring it back if necessary. Besides, the class of boys we would select for the tour would be a credit, not only to the Maoris, hut to New Zealand. On the present tour the boys proved they knew how to behave themselves, and they were always in bed by a reasonable hour.”

The fact is being- pressed home to the Rugby football public of J.Laoriland (says a Southland writer) that when the New Zealand team for California was picked at Christchurch the representatives of three provinces—viz., Auckland, Otago, and Taranaki,—took more than good care that their own players were not passed over. Did they have an understanding? Their efforts work out: Auckland 6. Otago 6 (including an emergency), and Taranaki 5 (including an emergency); total 17 out of 2-1 players mentioned. Of course, it might be that the provinces named have the majority of tho best players in the Dominion within their boundaries, but this argument will not hold good on the present occasion. There are quite a number of keen judges in Southland capable of comparing the form of several men included in the team with that of a larger number overlooked, and they will unhesitatingly award the palm to the discarded performers. OTAGO RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union Committee was held on Monday night. The president (Mr H. Harris) presided over a small attendance of delegates. , CORRESPONDENCE. The South Canterbury Union wrote asking the union to arrange accommodation for its team arriving on August 21, and asking that the names of available referees be submitted.—Sub-comimttoc to arrange accommodation and Referees’ Association to submit names of referees. The Secretary of the Miller’s Flat Club wrote asking permission to hold a seven-a-side tournament at Miller’s Flat on September 6. —The Tuapeka Sub-union made application to hold s, similar tournament at Roxburgh on the same date.—After discussion it was decided to refer both these letters back to tho writers, so that they might arrange to avoid the clashing cf dates. The Vincent Sub-union reported disqualifying George Cooper, of the Bannockburn Club, till the end of the first round in 1914 for disputing a referee’s ruling.—Disqualification endorsedGENERAL. Tho Secretary of the North Otago Subunion wrote asking the union to give more consideration to the claims of North Otago players when selecting Otago teams. The sub-union had several players whom it considered had strong claims for consideration, and asked that a selector be gent to Oamaru. —lt was decided to reply that Mr Brown, tho manager of tho Otago junior team, would advise tho selectors as to the claims of any Oamaru players he considered worthy of selection. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. Tho following team lias been selected to represent Otago in the match Otago v. Canterbury : Full-back: Scott. Three-quarters: Waison, Cutliil!, Harris. Five-eighths: Eckhold and F. Williams. Half-back; Dryden. Forwards: Casey, P. Williams, Woodrow. Mowatt, Patterson, Graham. A. M'Donald Douglas. Emergencies—Backs; Fortune, Withers, Black, Richardson. Forwards; Smith, Fisher. Davidson, Russell. The above team and the emergencies are requested to attend at Carisbrook Ground for training on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. NEW ZEALAND TEAM. J. Cuthill, who, it was reported from Wellington, was unable to go to California with the New Zealand team, has intimated to tho selectors that his ability to make the trip is conditional on his obtaining the necessary leave from tiic Education Board. It is anticipated that this will be granted. DOWNES BENEFIT MATCH. OLD BOYS (CHRISTCHURCH} V. ZIN G A R 1 -RICHMOND. The Downes benefit match had been talked about ail the week and everybody had hoped for a line day, not alone for tlie game between the premier teams of Canterbury and Otago, but for the sake of tho beneficiary, whose name is a household, word in football and cricket circles. Unfortunately, the weather, which had been fine for several days, broke on Saturday morning with a cold, grey drizzle, and no doubt this had a material effect on the ai tendance, which numbered only about 50C0. However, substantial donations had been given and a large number of tickets had been sold, so that with die gate at tho match it is anticipated that the benefit will bo material. The meeting of the premier teams of Christchurch and Dunedin offered something new in the way of football, although it was recognised locally that the ZingariRichmond team was not a bri’lunt combination. Old Boy s came down with the reputation of being a fast and attractive team,

and they lived right up to it. Tire game had not been long in progress before it was made evident that it was a particularly fast team. Every man on the visiting side appeared to be yards faster than the men of the Zingari, and this pace was exaggerated by the slow, lumbering movements of the local premiers. Not only did Old Boys outpace Zingari, but they completely outclassed them in every department. This statement is ' made with every due allowance for a back division weakened owing to the absence through iliness of Baird, a promising, three-quarterback, and the dragging forth from retirement of Torrance to play full back. In the first spell Old Boys ran all over Zingari by sheer pace, of which fast following up and the breaking into the gaps made by the consistent mistakes of the Zingari hacks were paramount features. The simplicity with which the Old Boys did their scoring in the first spell told of superior pace on the one side and painfully weak defence on the other. The Zingari forwards held the opposing pack well enough, but were too slow in getting on to the backs, who brought off all sorts of simple tactics with amazing assumption. Only a team so hopelessly outpaced as Zingari were in the first half could have been fooled by the movements. AH the visiting hacks played well, and special interest centred in 11. Taylor, the half back, who has been selected in the Now Zealand team for California. The forwards also played well, a feature of their play being their fast following up. On the Zingari side the best of a poor lot of backs were Bond and Whittaker, while Patterson stood out as the best forward on the ground. Mr A. Downes, who was referee, was greeted with an ovation when he stepped on the field to control the game. The teams were as follow : Old Boys (White). —J. Bain, G. W. Guthrie, R. E. Boag, S. W. Hickrnott, E. E. Crawehaw, E. C. Taylor, H. M. Taylor, T. Crawshaw, W. S. Seed, L. A. Dougall, R. B. Burn, L. 11. Parson, H. R. Simpson, 11. C. Wallace, L. F. Parson. Zingari-Kichmond (Colours). Torrance, Bond, F. Stanley, J. Davidson, A Collie, J. Russell, E. Whittaker, E. Kennedy. A. Watt, A. Patterson, A. Symonds, W. Tansey, C. Davidson, T. Williams, T. Smith. Old Boys 18 points. Zingari-Kichmond 6 points. THE RANFURLY SHIELD. EASY WIN FOR AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, August 9. The second Ranfurly Shield match of the season was played to-day, when Auckland defeated Poverty Bay by 27 points to _ 3. ideal weather conditions prevailed. The superiority of the Auckland team was most prominent in the forwards, though the backs gave their best display of the season. The visiting blacks included several fine players, notably Kiapara, Hyland, and Rukingi. but their combination was not at all good. The shield deserved to remain in Auckland, but the score is hardly indicative of the fight put up by Poverty Bay. The visitors won the toss, and shortly after the commencement Hyland put in a line dash. The attack culminated in Tait kicking a goal from a mark. The home men then played with vigour, but the visitors staved off a determined attack. A magnificent line kick by Ryland saw Poverty Bay once more on the attack, and from a free kick Tait had an unsuccessful shot at goal. For a time Poverty Bay pressed, but the Auckland forwards asserted themselves, and carried play into the visitors twenty-five, where a passing rush between Geddes, Stewart, and M'Grcgor culminated in the last-named scoring. o*Keary failed to convert. Auckland continued to be aggressive, and a free kick against the visitors saw O'Leary land a goal. Just before the spell ended Downing broke away and kicked high. Macky followed up, and scored. O’Leary converting. In the second spell the visitors attacked fiercely, but a fine rush by the Auckland forwards saved the situation. Auckland maintained the advantage, and Poverty Bay had to force three times in succession. The visitors wore tackling solidly and smothering the Auckland passing rushes. At last a free kick went to Auckland, and O’Leary kicked another goal. A few minutes later Webb marked in front of the goal, and O’Leary once more sent the ball between the posts. The visitors’ attack lacked sting. Kaipura put in a fine dash, and the visiting forwards improved on the position by carrying play into the Auckland twenty-five. A hot attack failed to bear fruit, and Auckland again took control of the game. M’Grcgor scored, O’Leary converting. Just on the call of time Auckland scored another try, Wylie crossing the line between the posts. O’Leary again converted, and the game thus ended withe the scores— Auckland 27 points. Poverty Bay 3 points. UNIVERSITY v. PJRATES. University 20 points. Pirates 11 points. Mr Williams controlled the game. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. The following players have been selected by the Junior Selection Committee to represent Otago against Canterbury and •North OtagoFull back, Edwards; threequarters —M‘Donald, Anderson, M’Dougall; half backs—-Cherry. Cameron, Bathgate, Jones; forwards —Clark, Berwick, Thompson, Talhoys, Morrison. Brown, Stuart, Reid, Christie, Walker. The team will leave on Thursday and return on Monday. WELLINGTON v. MARLBOROUGH. WELLINGTON, August 10 The following team will represent Wellington against Marlborough at Wellington next Saturday : —Kvenson. Grace, Jas. Ryan, Mitchinson, Tilyard, M'Kemie, E. Roberts, Cunningham, Francis, Hills, Baton, Gillespie, Wilson lit 1!, M’Kay. APPEALS AGAINST SUSPENSIONS. WELLINGTON, August 8. The report from the committee ’on the Corinthian Football Club's appeal grants a rehearing in the case of T. Crouch (lineman and president of tne club), and recommends that the suspensions passed on 11. Roberts (captain), Bradbury, and Webster should terminate at the end of the year. The other disqualifications remain as originally inflicted. AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, August 5. The Selection Committee has chosen the following team to visit New Zealand : Backs.—Dwyer, Cooney, Carr, Wogan,

Jones, Sutter, F. Tosker, Wood, Flynn, Willcocks, Meabusch. Forwards. —Watson, O’Donnell, H. George, Fahey, Wallach. Duffy, Massey, Reynolds, Hill, Williams, Howdcn, Lloyd, Murphy. The team comprises If New South Wales players and seven Queenslanders. August 8. Reynolds, Willcocks, and Lloyd have notified that they will be unable to accompany the Rugby Union team to Now Zealand. Walters* replaces Revnokls. SYDNEY, August 10. Heath, Hughes, MacMahon, and Cody will replace Duffy, Massic, M ilcocks, and Lloyd in the team for New Zealand. NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY, August 5. A second Rugby team representing NewSouth Wales defeated Queensland by 24 points to 12. QUEENSLAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, August 10. Queensland defeated Now South Mules by 22 points to 21.