FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 3724, 28 July 1925, Page 17

FOOTBALL

RUGBY BY FULL-BACK. Bt Fum. Backfixtures. August 22.—Otago v. Southland at Dunedin. September 19.—Otago v. Wanganui, at Dunedin. OTAGO’S NORTHERN TOUR. September s.—Play. Canterbury at Christchurch. September 9.—Play Hawke’s Buy at Napier. September 12.—Play Wellington at Wellington. September 16.—Play Wairarapa at Carterton. PAYNE TROPHY MATCH. August 29.—Between the premier teams of Dunedin and Christchurch, at Christchurch. RANFURLY SHIELD MATCHES. Hawbes Bay, the present holder of the Ranfurlv Shield, have a big list of representative matches. Those in which.they will be called upon to defend the trophy are as' follow: July 29.—v. Waikato, in Hawkea Bay. August_s.—v. Canterbury, at Napier. August B.—v. Southland, at Napier. August 15. —v. Poverty Bay, in Hawkea Bay. August 22.—v. Taranaki, at Hastings. September 9.—v. Otago, at Hastings. September 19.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. HIGH SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT AT CHRISTCHURCH. August 13.—Southland v. Timafu. Christchurch t Otago. August 15.—Losers v. Losers. Winners v. Winners NEW SOUTH WALES TOUR. The New South Wales team ha 3 the following engagements in New Zealand:— August 22.—v. Wellington-Horowhenua-Manawatu at Palmerston North. August 26 —v. West Coast and Buller, at Grevmouth. August 29.—v. Otago and Southland, at Dunedin. September 2.—v. Canterbury and South Canterbury, at Christchurch. September s.—v. Wanganui and Taranaki, at Ilawera. September 9.—v. Wairarapa and Bush Districts, at Masterton. September 12.—v. Poverty Bay and East Coast, at Gisborne. September 16.—v. King Country and Waikato, in the King Country. September 19. —v. New Zealand (Test), at Auckland. September 23.—v. North Auckland, at Whangarei. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Bob.” —Tn 1923 Southland won at Invercargill against Otago by 21 points to 11 points, and Otago won at Carisbrook in the return match h.v 28 points to 8 points. In 1924, Southland won at Invercargill by 21 points to 9 points mid Otago won the return match by 24 points to 14 points. “South Canterbury” writes as follows from Wairaate:—(l) Is a half-back off-side when the ball goes past him from a scrum and he turns round and picks it up without going round between his own goal and the ball ? He can turn round and pick up the ball and is on side. (2) Is it legal for u half-back to prevent the ball coming out of the scrum,, or to kick it in again, with a view to putting the opposing wing-forward off-side?— The object of the half-back does not enter into the matter. lie can put his foot into the scrum to hold the ball in, but he cannot kick it back once it is clear. (3) If the opposing players are off-side, and within ten yards of the man with the ball, they must make an attempt to get outside the ten vards radius. Once outside they can be put on side by their own player who last kicked the ball running in front of them, or by the opponent who took the ball running five yards. A note on the point in the Otago Rugby Union Annual reads as follows“It is important that referees should more strictly enforce these penalties, and it should be observed that a referee must award a freekick if lie thinks a fair catch would have been made had not an off-side player, through his proximity and not retiring beyond the ten yards’ limit, have rendered such catch more difficult. For instanoe, a player waiting to receive the ball fails to catch it properly and it drops from his hands to the ground. An opponent who is off-side and who is standing or hus approached within ten yards of lnra immediately pounces upon him and prevents him recovering and pluying the bull. A free kick should be awurded, ns it was the duty of tho off-side player to have retired beyond the ten yards’ limit. Referees t«* often give offending players the benefit of unintentional off-sido instead of inflicting tlit free kick penalty.” Notes. Followers of the game in Dunedin will regret to learn that Harry Shand, tho Southland half back, has been operated on in Dunedin for the removAl of an eye. Shand was always a favourite with Dunedin followers of football. While at Invercargill recently a Southland referee told me a good story against himself. He was refereeing in a junior grade match between Bluff and High School, and reckoned he had done pretty well. At the conclusion of the match a spectator

who had drunk not wisely but too often made his way to him and said, “Let me congratulate you.” The referee was rather taken aback, but naturally enough was rather pleased. He said referees did not often get such commendation for the manner in which they controlled games, and was proceeding again to express his satisfaction when the inebriate broke in with, “Yes, for all the b —y things you missed 1” The Southland half back, Kilby, and the first five-eighth, Ottrey, played a leading part in the win of the Southlanders against Otago. They were very much in the picture in the second spell, and with Callander paying particular attention to Bell, the Maroons’ second fiveeighth, Ottrey many times elected to cut in, and rightly so, because he realised that Bell was in a worse position than himself. This was where the Otago five-eighths faded. On several occasions when in trouble they fired the ball to the next man. who would have an opponent on top of him, and the Maroon forwards would break through. The first try scored by Southland goes to the credit of Ottrey, who ran towards the corner, drew the defence with fine 'judgment, and then gave Murray a clear run in. I understand that Ottrev is a country player. He is the makings of a first-class footballer, and so is Kilby. Southlanders say they have another very promising half back in MTvor. Nichol M‘Donald’s play does not show much improvement. A season or two ago I asked the question why the South Island representatives were always required to play in white, while the North Islanders were honoured by being given the New Zealand colours. I ask the question of the New Zealand Rugby Union again. There is no logical reason, to my mind, why each island should not play in the black jersey turn about. Len Williams came baek to his best form in the match against Southland, and in the second half particularly, when the dark blues had to face a brisk wind, was the outstanding forward on the ground. Sonnt.ag also played a fine game for Otago. Of the 20 matches plaved between the North and South Islands, 12 have been decided in Wellington, four in Christchurch, two in Auckland, one in Dunedin, and one in Napier. Steel has played in every inter-island match since the war, and his selection in this year's team gives him the opportunity of establishing a new record for appearances in North-South matches. If chosen to represent New Zealand this season, Steel will also beat another record, as he will then have represented the dominion on six different seasons. The previous best performance, which Steel now equals, stands to the credit of W. J. Wallace, who had five seasons as a New Zealand representative. Steel has represented New Zealand in 1920 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924. INTER-COLLEGE RUGBY. AUCKLAND, Julv 20. Speaking at the King’s College old boys’ reunion, Mr Meredith, an Auckland Rugby Union authority, said that, concerning intercollege there was one opinion he held which he felt should be voiced, and that was the desirability of playing these matches on home grounds. “I thought differently once,” said Mr Meredith, “but I have a youngster of my own, and I am now convinced that the home ground is the proper place to play on. They should not be made the scefies of almost gladiatorial contests for the gratification of the public. Everyone knows I am as keen a footballer as anyone in the room,” he added, “but I say there is no necessity to take these school games to Eden Park. Play them on tho home fields.’’ He hoped before long that the Grammar School would have a playing area that would make the exchange of games with King’s College an easy matter. MAORI TOUR OF FRANCE. (F*om Oub Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, July 22. Local Maoris, many of whom are good exponents of Rugby, are now interesting themselves in the proposed tour of France by the Maori team next year. The Natives apparently do not favour the tour being conducted by the New Zealand Rugby Union. They want it to be sent by the New Zealand Government, and as £IOOO was voted last year by the Government for the All Black tour, the Maoris consider they are entitled to a similar grant. The Wanganui Maoris say the tour is practically certain. TIMARU DEFEATS WAITAKI. TIMAUU. July 23. The annual match between Waitaki Boys’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School was played here to-day, and resulted in a win for Timaru by 25 points to 11. The game was very fast nnd open, and provided the best football seen hero this season.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEAT WAIROA. WAIROA, July 23. The Hawke’s Bay junior representatives defeated Wairoa here tp-day by 9 points (throe unconverted tries) to nil. The visit ing 'backs were superior, although the home forwards were better than the visitors, especially in the loose. A DISPUTED COAL. TO THE EDITOR. Siß>—l noticed in football notes a paragraph relating to a goal kicked at Omarama. I wish to give you a true description of this nuch-talkea-of goal. Tokarahi football team travelled the 70 miles, and was late getting to Omarama, but the home team was later getting on to the field, with the result that the game was being played in the dark. The game stood at 6-3 in favour of the home team, when Tokarahi scored a try. The ball was taken back for the kick at goal. The referee referred to the line umpires as to whether the ball went over or under. Only Tokarahi umpire was behind the posts, and he said: “The ball came over.” The referee blew the whistle, and the score then stood: Omarama 6, Tokarahi 8. Then came the argument, also the appeal as to whether it was a goal or not. Omarama appealed, and won the appeal, upsetting the referee's decision. I understand Tokarahi has entered a protest. Hoping this is a better description than those which we have read, —I am, etc., Country Footballer. R.S. —I might say that the crossbar is still up, and hasn’t been down for two vears.

LEAGUE

NEW ZEALAND TEAM. FIRST MATCH AT SYDNEY. (F-roii Our Own Correspondent.) T , « , SYDNEY, July 17. Ihe Sydney newspaper experts were al most, unanimous in expressing the opinion that the New Zealand Rugby League team was unlucky to lose its first* match against New South Wales last Saturday by 7 points to 4. The visitors were highly praised for their play and sportsmanship." Claude Coibett, in the Sunday Sun. believes that the team is the best that has come across the Tasman under the League code, and was only beaten because the players lacked finish. “The New Zealanders/’ he wrote, “were a 15-points better side than New. South Wales on the actual play, but they threw several tries to the winds when it seemed that only a miracle could stop them Either the man with the ball was too eager to go over himself, or tho support was not there at the psychological moment. . New Zealand have only themselves to blame for not winning. They had many chances, particularly in the second half, of scoring, hut after the defence had been repeatedly almost penetrated, they did not seem to know quite what to do with the ball. At least three trice were allowed to pass through failure to take the ball cleanly, and at least one goal that should have been kicked was missed from a simple angle.” The writer concluded that if the New Zealand backs had been the equal of the forwards, New South Wales would have lost, but paid glowing tribute to Weatherull, whom he described as the best back on the ground. “Observer.” of the Sunday Times, wrote that the New Zealanders possessed excellent talent, and with a match or two together should be a very difficult side to beat on the form in this country these times. “Full-back” in the Sunday News wrote: “Tho most extraordinary thing about tno game was the fact that Now South Wales won, for tho New Zealanders had the better of the play and dominated matters in the second half. But with all their dashing work, they lacked the finish that would have seen them piling up tho points. On the play, New Zealand should have won by a substantial margin, but try after try was missed. Considering that they had been only a few days off tho boat, the New Zealanders performed splendidly. They ur e a better teum all-round that New Zealand sides that have played stronger New South Wales teams in the oast. Their backs ure sturdy and good defenders, with a couple of brilliant men; but their forwards are a really great pack, and took the honours of the first match. New South Wales could not stand up to them. They simply poured through, often with the ball at toe, but like the backs, they made mistakes in handling.” This writer believed that Brown was the best back, giving him special praise for his “bottling-up” of Wearing, the speedy New South Wales wing-three-quarter.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, July 23. The New Zetland Rugby League team defeated New South Walea by 21 pointe to

ASSOCIATION THE BROWN SHIELD. WELLINGTON TEAM SELECTED. WELLINGTON, July 21. The following Association football team has been selected to represent Wellington against Auckland in the competition for the Brown Shield: —M'Vean, Gibb, M'Gurr, M'Arthur, M'Kee, Burke, Nicoll9, M'Elligott, Lothian, Campbell, Ballard. VICTORIOUS ENGLISH TEAM. SYDNEY, July 21. England defeated Granville, the Metropolitan premiers, by 6 goals to 1. For a time the local men held the visitors. Then the superior technique of the latter told, and England ran away with the game.