Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXX, Issue 2, 25 September 1909, Page 10

Out Door Sports

By Harrier,

A.R.U. FIXTURES. October 2 — A.R.U. Carnival, at Victoria Park.

AFTER watching the two games that the Sydney University team played in Auckland, one cannot sum then up as a strong combination. Perhaps we did not see them at their best, these matches being the end of the tour, but even then their form was disappointing.

The first game was against the local University team, and the visitors won by 11 points to 5. It will be -remembered that the local team* oc- ; eupied third position with Parnell in the Senior Cup competition, but were ■ a long remove from the winners — Fon- ' sonby. Therefore, the win of the \ Sydney men did not impress Aucklanders to much extent. \ And besides, the local University men made several foolish mistakes, , which let the Sydney men in. The tackling of the Aucklanders was decidedly poor, and rarely did a man go low. - Wilson was patchy, but -went decidedly better towards the .end of the game. Otterson was V consistent, but Gray was very much ' off Wilkes did his best work when " playing five-eighths, and in the forwards Dineen stood out on his own.

The visitors threw the ball about haphazardly, and took on a lot ot risks. Lane was the soundest player among' the backs, although Hughes shone on the attack. Martin was perhaps the pick of the forwards.

In the game against City, the Sydney men had a bad time, and the red and blacks wound up with a big win by 27 points to 6. The visitors failed to stand up against the strong rushes of the City forwards, and it was only rarely that their backs got into action. In the first half the play was uninteresting, but brightened up considerably in the second half.

Lane again played a useful game for Sydney. He is a bit slow to move, but his kicking was always of big advantage to his side.

Pockley was in-and-out, but Fisher #ent well right through the piece. He made all the play when Hughes scored their only try.

Hughes is a fine attacking player, but his defence is questionable. He made some smart dashes, and those line kicks of his were easily the best on his side.*

Amon^t the forwards, none went better than Metcalfe, being on the ball from start to finish. Martin and Maxwell were another good pair. City bad a couple of juniors — Delaney and O'Brien — in their backs, and they fully justified their inclusion. Delaney ie very speedy and tricky, and all that is wanting in hint is sounder defence. O'Brien is a very resourceful player. He is quick to make an opening, and his ■• all-round work shows that it will not be long before rep. honours come his - way.

Skillen played a rattling good 1 game at full-back, his fielding and " kicking being first-class. Estall and * Stewart wererfdashy, and R. Magee . was just as solid as ever. Young " did not please too well.

; The City pack contained five reps. , - *'"' and led by Seeling, they were a -", pretty 'hard to bump up against. The "All Black" crack

bas played better games, and the worries of captaining his team affected his play somewhat. Herring, Williams and W added took some stopping, and J. Magee was noticeable for some good play.

Reported that A. F. Harding captain of the Anglo- Welsh team, is on his way to New Zealand, and intends settling down in the Dominion.

The A.R.U. Referees' Association will hold their annual reunion in the Federal Hall on Friday evening. This function is always noted for its jollity, and the coming one promises to eclipse all- its predecessors.

A Wellington, writer works off this hoary-headed chestnut on his readers : — " It may be a bit belated, but it is worth telling all the same. Of a member of a certain New Zealand team that toured New South Wales and Queensland,' it is said that he landed in Sydney with a clean shirt and a sovereign, and he never changed either during the trip."

The one remaining fixture of the A.R.U. for the 1909 season is the sports carnival, to be held at Victoria Park on Saturday. October 2nd. The entries for the different events were to close last (Wednesday) evening, and I believe they promise to be very large. Anyway, the carnival will he a fitting end to the season, and a rattling gooS afternoon* sport can "be looked forward to.

A tribute to " Ned " Sale by the "Wellington " Free Lance " scribe : — " Sale, the captain of the Auckland Association team, showed a rare

sporting spirit in the Auckland Taranaki representative match. The Aucklanders were given a freekick and some of the Taranaki players charged before the ball was kicked — a breach of the laws. No goal resulted, but the referee whistled for a fresh kick. Sale, recognising that the Taranaki men had erred in ignorance, deliberately kicked the ball over the bar, declining to take advantage of an incident that might 'have led to unpleasant feeling. This is one of the things that would be looked for from a player of Sale's sporting characteristics."

The Caledonian Association Football Club's first annual smoke concert was held at the Foresters' Hall, Newton, on the evening of Saturday, the 11th inst. The Doric, accent predominated, the Northern " burr " being prevalent throughout. Mr J. Hilford acted as chairman, and, in his opening remarks, referred to the gratifying stride that Association football was making throughout the Dominion, expressing the nope that it would in the near future become the national game. An excellent programme was provided, items being contributed by Messrs Robinson, Barber, Brown, Pritchard, Milne, McDowell, Austin. Stewart. Lewis, Archer, Wilson, Thomas, Williams. Buckland^ McEwen, Blackburn, and Master R. Gardiner. Mr W. A. Purcell was accompanist. A special word of praise is due to Mr R. Barber, who, as honorary secretary, worked indefatigably to make the function the success it undoubtedly was.

The Auckland Tramways team proved too hot a combination for the Wellington Tramways fifteen at their first time of meeting at Wellington last • Wednesday. Auckland was captained by George Gillet, and with such well-known players in theii ranks as O'Leary, Webb, Hall and Co., they ran home easy winners by 29 points to 3. The Auckland men were right royally treated by their Wellington friends, and the trip was a most enjoyable one. Inspector " Barney " Donovan proved an ideal manager for the Auckland bo vs.