DOOR Sport

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 922, 12 September 1896, Page 23

DOOR Sport

By c Hakeier.'

COMING EVENTS. FOOTBALL FIXTUKES. Sept. 10— Hawke's Bay v. Otago, at Napier. Sept. 12— Wellington v. Canterbury (Assn.) Sept. 19— Wellington v. Otago, at Wellington Sept. 23— Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill A.R.U. Cup Fixtubes. FOIST FIFTEENS. Sept. 12— Ponsonby v. North Shore; Parnell v. Newton ; Grafton v. City.

The very general feeling of disappointment at the result of the Otago match on Saturday last was, I think, intensified by the fact that the Auckland team were so frequently, during the game, in a position when a score appeared little short of an absolute certainty. But no ; the golden opportunity was in every case lost, sometimes through over- eagerness and at others by nothing but down-right bad play. One very glaring instance I" have in my mind's eye. Upon this occasion the Otago full-back, in attempting to stop a forward rash, was bowled over and lay on the ground with the ball against his side, whereupon some half-dozen Auckland forwards (anyone of whom had only to pick up the ball and cross the line unopposed) hustled and pushed into one another to such purpoae that by the time the jumble straightened itself, the opening no longer existed.

Edmonds, at centre-half, passed out and tackled well throughout. I liked Stcphensen best of the Otago three-quarters. He is not a brilliant man, but understands the game thoroughly and is always about when wanted. Of the two wings, Whitley and Oliphant, the former got through a lot of work, but the latter seems to have lost all his dash of last Beason. . Duncan put in a lot of good work at five-eighths. He is not the wonder Dunedinites claim him to be, but is a really »ood man nevertheless, and an excellent skipper. The seven Auckland forwards had somewhat the better of the eight opposed to them in the pack and on the line also, but with two or three exceptions did not follow up at all consistently. McKenzie played a safe game at full-back for Otago. He was "slow at time 3 in taking the ball, but made excellent use of the touch line when kicking. A remark which applies to the whole of the blue's backs. Wynyard, at centre three-quarter, kicked well, but invariably played too wide when backing up Elliott ; several passes intended for him were intercepted in consequence. Absoluna, at three-quarter, seemed a bit off colour I thought, but in any case did not get many chances. G. Smith, on the other wing, was also sadly neglected, but played a sound game nevertheless. H. Smith, as full - back for Auckland, displayed exceptionally good, in fact brilliant form in every respect. On Saturday's game he is certainly the best fullback we have seen in Auckland for many years. Elliott, at five eighths, was disappointing ; he took his passes all right, but did not display his usual judgment in getting rid of the ball. Once or twice he passed a little too soon, but in the majority of cases came to grief in attempting to get too far before passing. Last Saturday's match against Otago was the least attractive, as a display of football, of tho various representative matches played this season. The ground and weather conditions were all that could be desired, but this notwithstanding, the game was somewhat slow and uninteresting as compared with either the Wellington or Taranaki matches.

Payne and Lewis, Australian cyclists, competed at a meeting at Wood Green, England, but did not succeed in carrying off any prizes. The death is reported, from typhoid, of Arthur . Linton, the cyclist. Linton waß the hero of the recent great road race from Bourdeaux to Paris. Auckland rowing clubs have decided to make application to the New Zealand Bowing Association to have the next Championship Regatta held at Auckland. The cyclists Don, "Walker, McCombe and Martin (American), while attempting to lower records at Brisbane, all had severe falls. Walker was badly injured in the side, but the others got off lightly. The. Auckland Association Football representatives now in the South have started off well by defeating Wellington by Bto nil. It is to be hoped they will do equally well in the tournament matches. A most important point which should be attended to in the care and management of Danlop tyres is to always ride them fully inflated. When pumped hard the Bpeed is increased, and all troubles, as ' nips,' wearing out of corners, etc., are avoided. At Wembley Park on July 15, the. English Amatuer Champion walker did another fine performance. Sturgess finished second from scratch in the mile walk in Gmin 37 sec, thus beating his previous best, viz., foiin 39 l-ssec, made at Reading in 1895, by -2min l-ssec, The half-mile was covered in 3min 9sec. Many wheelmen do not pay sufficient attention to the lubrication of the chain. It is really remarkable how much easier a wheel will run which has its chain cleaned for every twenty-five miles or fifty miles ridden. Both the stick graphite and the paste graphite may be used together with advantage The most conspicuous of the Otago forwards was McLsren, and this in great measure by reason of his consistent offside play. He, however, was very useful to bis side ; the try he got, for instance, was in the opinion of nine-tenths of those present gained off-side, but nevertheless, it counted 5 points. The Otago, pack forwards were not nearly so heavy a lot as those who represented that province last season. Their strong feature was fast combined following up ; not like that of the Auckland team, one or two men in front and the rest tailing off 20 yards or so in the rear; but the whole pack going almost in a body. Wellington Cricket Association have decided to recommend that New Zealand be represented by 15 men in the test match against the Australian team. They have also agreed to ask Messrs Cuff (Auckland) and Lusk (Napier), if they will act on the selection committee to choose the New Zealand team, and if they consent to do 60, to recommend their appointment to the Cricket Council. I was surprised to see the referee allow the Otago line umpire's appeal for out of bounds and disallow the try upon the occasion when Rab McKenzie crossed the line from a pass by Absolnm. It certainly appeared to me that if Absolnm put his fcot out of bounds before parting with the ball, that the ball was thrown in from the exact spot where he so crossed, and v moreover, was thrown in perfectly straight. William Warbrick, the Wentworth captain (says a Sydney paper) is processing slowly at St. Vincent's Hospital. He sustained a fracture to the larynx, and the injury is regarded as serious by the hospital authorities. He is not permitted to attempt to speak. No one seems to know how or exactly when the accident took place. Ihe fact that Warbrick played on while hardly able to articulate is most excellent proof of his courage. The New South Wales Referees' Association is taking the initiative in a matter which I am surprised has not been arranged long ago. It is communicating with the Referees' Associations of Queensland and New Zealand, with a view to the adoption of a general code of rulea, so that when the representatives of one colony visit another they will experience no difficulties, such as now arise out of different interpretations of the laws. At one of the cycling schools now bo numerous about Melbourne (writes ' Philibuster ' in the Australasian) there are plenty of rats, and it is no uncommon occurrence to see the festive rodents scampering about the place. These rats are sometimes useful in a way, for when the instructors get hold of fat ladies slow to learn the mysteries of wheeling, and find patience exhausted, they simply give the machine an extra shove, at the same time whispering ' Rats.' The effect is electrical, for the skirted one. with a truly feminine shriek, pedals away for dear life, quite unmindful of the fact that she has only half learned to ride.

Wellington defeated Wairarapa on Saturday by 16 points to 3. Mason,one of the Otago live-eighths, is a clever little player, and for his weight (about 9 st.) showed fine defence. Davis, the scrum half, is also a clever, smart player. Armit, as wing three-quarter for Otago, showed a good deal of pace and cleverness. On one occasion during the first spell he got what appeared to me a fair try, but which was not allowed.