FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 63

FOOTBALL.

*Ry Full Back.

RUGBY.

The following table shows the positions of the teams; — -tJ m MH ns g 42 42 d l|| I I I I S £ o cu ph o Southern 7 7 0 0 97 18 14 University ~. 7 6 1 0 110 26 12 Zingari-ilichmond 8 6 3 0 124 42 10 Union ... 8 3 4 1 66 75 7 Kaikorai „. ...? 3 4 0 51 69 6 Alhambra 7 1 4 2 27 48 4 Port Chalmers ... 8 1 6 1 30 87 3 Dunedin 6 1 5 0 19 149 2

FOOTBALL AND THE WAR. Tho first of the famous All Blacks to volunteer for active service is W. fe. Qlenn, of Wanganui, who has decided to otter himself tor military work, and leaves tor England shortly to apply for a commission. Billy Glenn was not ttte forward in that great team which made New Zealand more talked about in 1905 than at any previous time in its history, but he was certainly the most generous and the most popular member of the All Black team. Now he” gijes to England to ottei himself as a fighting force in Kitcheners new army, and, if - I mistake not, he is the only All Black who has come forward to join the Colours. One vividly remembers the difficulty experienced by the Otago Rugby Union in getting a team away on the northern tour shortly after the outbreak of the war last season Players, fropi reasons of patriotism or hints as to their alleged lack of it, simply found they could not make the tour; the result was a team which may bo likened to Napoleon’s army after Waterloo. Now, a year later, the war still in progress, a team is wanted to play Southland at Invercargill in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. Still greater difficulty has been experienced in getting a side away; selected players dropped out one by one until scarcely a member of the original team remained. The fact that the team is not representative of Otago football is of no moment these war times, but it is of moment that the men “play the game,” and that the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, for which and match has been specially arranged, should benefit materially. The Southland Union authorities have no effort in booming the contest, and it will not be the fault of these workers if it is not a financial success ■ It has not yet been possible to estimate the number of country footballers who have tone to the front or are in training for it. ut an echo of this is heard in the report of the secretary of the Western District Sub-union, who gave formal notice to the Southland Union that the Western competitions had been abandoned for the season. In the case of several of the country clubs affiliated to the Otago Union the position was proudly in favour of going to the front, and the majority of the clubs were left with only the remnants of a team when there were any members of the team left at all. In these circumstances it is not to be wondered that there is little or no football being played in tho country this season. A returned soldier who took part in tho historic landing at Gallipoli, with_ a bullet through his arm as evidence of his having been in action, said that the first charge from tho beach to the trench-lined heights was reminiscent of a forward rush on the football field on a grand scale, with all the elements of dash and devil intensified a thousandfold. In all other respects it resembled nothing more than what it was, one of the greatest feats of arms in the greatest war of history. The story was told by cable how an Australian had a life-and-death struggle with a Turk on the edge of a cliff; how, after a great battle for supremacy, the Australian got the upper hand and toppled the Turk over into- space. A Sydney paper now gives it out that the Australian was Jack Munday, a well-known footballer, wdio was at one time captain of Esscndon in the Association game. The war is the great leveller and death the great composer. Distinctions of caste and creed are set aside in the world’s struggle—the high-born fights with the commoner, and prince and pauper lie down in the trenches together. Small wonder, then, that such distinctions as amateur and professional should be set aside in soldiers’ tournaments, and that tho distinctions between League players and Union men at the front should be abolished in their football matches. Major Dawson, an Auckland footballer at the front, writing to the secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union, tells how the Auckland Battalion had an unbeaten team in Egypt, and after the first skirmish on the canal defeated the Artillery Brigade, which up to that time was the champion side in tho land of the Pharaohs. Roy Lambert, the ex-Welling-ton and Auckland representative, who was killed in action, captained the team, which included several well-known Auckland players, among others Fox and Savory, of League fame. The casualties among international Rugby players have been exceptionally severe. The latest to go under is Lieutenant W. A. Stewart, the Tasmanian and London Hospital three-quarter, who played for Scotland against France, Wales, and Ireland in 1913, and against Wales last season. The many of that fine young footballer, Tom Denniston,_ who loft Dunedin with other Otago University medicals for the front, will regret to learn of his Illness at the Military Hospital, Malta. The ex-Pirato and Royal Blue forward is a splendid typo not alone as a player on tho field, but as a private off it, and we may bo sure that he is not the least brave of those brave fellows in the Army Medical Corps at the Dardanelles. That he is at present laid aside deeply regretted; but with his fine physique ho should pull through. The hardest try he ever scored!. Sergeant W. Reid, the well-known West Coast footballer, telling of his experience in tho famous charge over the “daisy paddock” in Gallipoli, where so many New Zealanders were knocked under, says:—“The distance across was about 175 yards; but, my God, it seemed like 1750 yards. The bullets were simply raining around us, and it seemed marvellous that anybody escaped. The enemy were only about 300 yards off. Sykes Hall came across not far behind me and dived down under cover beside mo.

I could not help remarking to him that it was the hardest try I ever scored. ”- “Home of our brave hoys have fallen down in the scrum, and it is our duty to help them on their feet” is the pithy way an up-country Otago paper puts in an appeal lor assistance at a footballers’ sale of work in aid of wounded soldiers. Apropos of this is noted with that what little football is being played in the' country these times is in aid of wounded soldiers and their dependents. , 111 fortune came upon the idea of the Rugby Union to sell by auction the tickets for reserved seats in the grand stand for the interprovincial football match Otago v. Southland, to take place on Wednesday (says the Southland Times). The sale was announced to commence at 9 p.m. on Saturday, and a number of commercial travellers lent their aid hy appearing in the Rotunda as a choir to attract a crowd. They - had accomplished their purpose, and Mr Todd had sold a few seats at prices ranging from 5s to £1 when a heavy rain squall swept across the locality. The shower became a downpour in a very few minutes, and only about a dozen seats had been sold at a total price of £5 16s 6d when opera tions had to be suspended on account of the scattering of the crowd in search of shelter. [This shows that the Southland Union is leaving nothing to chance to got the utmost benefit for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund out of the Otago-Southland match at Invercargill. It is to be honed that the Otago Union will exhibit a like energy for the return match at Dunedin in aid of the Soldiers’ Fund on August 7.— Full Back] The footballer V.C. winner, Major VV. ,l. Hardham, of Wellington, who was wounded at the Dardanelles on Juilo 3, has been discharged from the hospital at Cairo, and is now in one of the convalescent homes there. The Canterbury Rugby Union’s Management Committee has decided to try to arrange to play a representative match against Wellington, in Christchurch, in aid of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund. To facilitate such an arrangement, the committee will be prepai'ed to play a return match in Wellington in aid of such bf the war funds as the Wellington Rugby Union may decide upon. The many friends of Mr Robert Jacquiery will be grieved to learn that he pasr.ee! away at Otautau the other day. The 'deceased was well known in sporting circles, and in his younger days was an enthusiastic member and player of the Pirates Football Club. Jeff Henderson’s goal-kicking feat of succeeding in converting four tries and a placer from a mark, out of five attempts, on Wednesday was the best performance seen hereabouts for a very long time past (writes “Onlooker”). There have been many fine place-kicks in Southland, from a player called Smith, also H. Braddon, in the early days of Rugby in Invercargill, down to Henderson 1 , Martin, and Lillcy of to-day. Away back in the days when the Britannia Club first commenced to make a name for itself the club’s goal-kicker, ,Wal. Stevens (who met his death in a dredge accident in Central Otago) proved so clever that —it was the time of big wagering in connection with Rugby—his supporters used to stand on the touchline and lay odds on him to put the ball between the posts from all kinds of angles. Then there was the deceased Tommy Pasco, who in a series of games for Britannia kicked 10 goals m 10 successive attempts—subsequently he appeared to loss the secret of success, as he invariably failed when entrusted with a kick. V Members of the Union Club at the front have been doing their share for the Empire. News came through during the week that E. M'Lsnnan, a member of the First Fifteen, had been killed in action. “Ted” M'Lennan was a good and popular forward, and was playing in fine form last year before he had the misfortune to have his collarbone broken towards the end of the season. As soon as he recovered he signed on for the front. A. Robertson, another First member, -who was reported wounded, is now back in the firing line. Fred Daubney, who was one of the most popular members of the Union, has been reported wounded. Daubney was a hard worker for many seasons, and for his size was a good forward. He holds the distinction of being the first Union member to enlist, joining the main engineer battalion, which trained at Palmerston North. W. Baxter, C. Calverley (returning by the Willochra), and G. Henderson, junior members of- the club, have been reported wounded. James M‘Ahan. an explayer of the Union, who was in Australia when the war broke out and joined the Queensland section,' has been killed in action. He was a good junior member, and showed considerable promise as a player. The Otago University team, which in the ordinary course of events would have played North Otago, at Oamaru this season, has notified the North Otago Sub-union that, owing to the majority of the senior team being medical students, who have to put in extra work to qualify so as to be able to proceed to the ffbnb, it will be unable to visit Oamaru. J. Hall, the well-known Auckland representative wing forward, who has joined the Maori contingent, has had considerable experience in volunteering matters. For many years he was a member of the volunteer corps at Rotorua, and on removal to the Bay of Plenty joined the Matata Mounted Rifles. During two encampments held by that body he acted as sergeant-major. He went to the Boer war as a member of the Fifth _ Contingent. J. Hall is a man of magnificent physique, and is a good Maori linguist. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. FIRST GRADE. Kaikoeai v. Union. By defeating Kaikorai on the North Ground on" Saturday the Union Fifteen again proved to Dunedin enthusiasts that it possesses a spirit of stubborn resourcefulness. Very few of tho spectators wou’d have been prepared to speculate in favour of Union at the end of the first spell; yet tho lighter team finally came out victorious, after giving a display which was conspicuous for good generalship. In tho first half loose fast play predominated, to the advantage of the Blues. Herd and Woodrow figured in some pretty play by Kaikorai, and during a desultory forward onslaught near Reds’ lino. Sonntag slipped over and scored. Kaikorai 3, Union nil. Twenty minutes from tho start Stiglich, playing on the wing for Union, received a kick in tho eye. and was replaced by G. Dryden. The second spell opened with Kaikorai taking the offensive for some time, with Union playing hard on the defensive. By well-judged open tactics Union worked into a scoring position, which M'Carthur promptly put to the best use

by registering a neat try. The attempt at goal failed. Union 3, Kaikorai 3. The latter score had an electrifying effect upon both teams, and the Kaikorai pack made tho contest very vigorous. Booth (Union) was ordered off tho field for insulting tho referee by questioning hi* ruling. Good fielding and judicious back play enabled T. Dryden to score for Union just before the conclusion of tho match. The kick failed, and tho game ended: Union ~ 6 points. Kaikorai 3 points. Mr B. Watson was referee. Alhambra v. Zingari-Richmond. Alhambra met Zingari-Richmond at Bishopscourt on Saturday. No public interest whatever was displayed in the fixture. The first bright piece of play came when Williams secured the ball from a scrum and, kicking past an opponent, lot it into the possession of Thompson, who transferred at the right moment to M’Dougall on the wing. M’Dougall ran round and scored near the posts, but Thompson’s kick failed. Alhambra continued to get the better of the play, but there was no further score before half-time. Alhambra started vigorously after changing ends, and Williams, following up a ground kick of his own, touched down. The kick again failed. Zingari-Richmond responded with an effective rush, and Davidson scored from some scrambling play _on the line. The kick went wide. After give-and-take play Zingarj-Riohmond forwards led another rush, from which Bond scored between the posts. This time he added tho extra points. A few minutes later Pellowo scored again for Zingari-Richmond, but the try was not converted. Walker, of ZingariRichmond, lyas ordered off in the closing moments of ’the game for striking an opponent. A friendly and not uninteresting contest ended with the scores: Zingari-Richmond 11 points. Alhambra 6 points. Mr H. Ward controlled the game. Southern v. Port Chalmers. Tire weather was fine and the turf was in splendid order for tho match between Southern and Port Ohalmere, played at Carisbrook on Saturday. The game was interesting and keenly contested tnroughout. There was not a great deal of difference between the teams on the run of the play, and both sides had advantages of which they failed to make use. Iho Southern forwards were always a force to be reckoned with, but Port Chalmers put up a stern defence, and frequently assumed the offensive, only over-eagerness nullifying their efforts to score on more than one occasion. The action of the game was quick, and the scene of the movements was ever changing, but neither team had driven the attack home until well on, in the first spell, when Southern, with supreme effort, drove Port back, and Douglas ciossod the line, scoring the only try of the match. Brown failed to convert. The match ended: Southern 3 points. Port Chalmers Nil. Mr M. Thomson was referee. FOURTH GRADE. Alhambra defeated Kaikorai at the Oval by 12 points to 6. Tries for the winners were scored bv Hannigan (1), Sinoock (1), and Rutherford (1), and Marston kicked a penalty goal. For Kaikorai Edwards scox’cd a try and' Miller kicked a penalty goal. Zingari-Richmond beat Southern by 17 points to 5. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, July 18. The results of yesterday’s football matches were as follow 7 :- —City beat Marist Brotlier by 13 points to nil; Ponsonby beat Parnell by 9 points to 5 ; College Rifles beat University by 31 points to 9. WELLINGTON, July 18. The Rugby football matches were continued yesterday. Athletic beat Petono by 13 points to 12- in the finest game seen this season. The other matches resulted as follow: Sclwyn beat Wellington by 12 points to 5; Ponoke beat Oriental by 12 points to nil. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. The following are the results of yesterday’s games: Merivale 14 points beat Marist Brothers 8; Old Boys, 15 points, beat Sydenham, 13; Linwood, 7 points, beat Christchurch, 3; Albion, a bye. OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL v. CHRIST’S COLLEGE. The annual match between the Otago Boys’ High School and Christ’s College took place at Tahuna Park on Monday afternoon, Carisbrook not being in a fit state on account of the heavy rain that fell in the morning. There was a good crowd of spectators. The play w 7 as fast and interesting, but not brilliant, with the exception of a few brief episodes. On the whole the Otago boys had much the best of it. Their forwards were better in the loose, and the back division showed sound collaring, and handled the ball with greater quickness and precision than their opponents, and they had also the advantage of superior speed. The game ended: Otago Boys’ High School ... 14 points. Christ’s College 8 points.