FOOTBALL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10440, 20 April 1912, Page 6

FOOTBALL NOTES.

ON THE FIELD AND OFF. (By MUDDIED OAF.) I wroto a paragraph last week to the effect that Mr T. J. Ennis, a meinhejr of tlic local Referees' Association, had had to undergo a serious operation, and probably would not be ablo to ofheiato thus season. Much to my surprise, when it appeared in print, it read Mr "F. T. Evans." Jt was a printer's error, and, as ho has no chanco of apologising, I do it for him, to Mr Ennis, Mr Evans, and my readers. I am pleased to state that Mr Ennis is improving, and Mr Evans, the sole selector, is in splendid health, although ho has permanently retired from refereeing—more's the pity.

It is stated that, besides the Southland and Otago games, teams from the West Coast and Nelson will play here this year. 1 hear that C. Kruze, the promising young Merivale back, has decided not to play this year. This is to bo regretted, becauso ho has all tho qualifications that are required for a good back. Strong, fast, fearless and a splendid kick and tackier, ho only wanted experience in handling and passing, and no position in the football world would have been too high for him. I was hoping to seo him reach representative honours this year.

I understand that N. Fitzgerald, the Ashburton player, who joined tho Canterbury team on its southorn tour last year, is now residing here and has joined the Albion Club. He is a very promising forward. Wiy do all tho now arrivals gravitate to the strong clubs P Tho locul Union's committee has passed a recommendation to referees not to allow tho twenty-minute spells unless under exceptional circumstances. I wroto on this subject last season. The alteration to tho rule was never intended to bo applied except when the conditions favoured tho side winning the toss. The matter should bo hi tho nands of tho referee to decide, and not left to the players. Tho secretary of Lancaster Park told me that the Leicester Street gate would not be opened this season for footbaSll matches, chiefly on account of those using it coming across the playing areas and refusing to go round. I often wondered why the gate was ever opened there at all.

Gordon Thompson, the ox-Wanganui player, who played for Merivale„ and the province in 1908, has returned hero, and ; I am told, will coach the Merivale Senior team this year.

Accounts from Ashburton and North Canterbury Bub-Unions point to tho faot that tho game is in a bad, way in tboso parts. Some discussion took place at the committee meeting of the Union, and it is reported that officials have been appointed to visit the Sub-Union districts with a view to improving the game in the various There is not the slightest doubt but that there is a fine lot of material going to waste in the country districts, but the whole trouble appears to be want of organisation and enthusiasm. Years ago a few miles outside Dunedin there was a team called the Taieri which proved for some time to be equal to, if not better »than, most of the city teams; and everyone who can remember football here twentyfive years ago can call to mind the North Canterbury team, a team for physiquo and dash I have never seen excelled. Now there must be just as good a stamp of player in the districts to-day as then, but they are rarely seen. Then, take the Kaiapoi Club. Enthusiastic sports built up a team containing high-grade players, capable of beating the town clubs, and football was a power in the town. When those at the head of affairs dropped out of the management the team fell away, and for several years past has only been competing in Third Grade contests. It would be a thousand pities if the game was allowed to die in the Canterbury country districts, and it is right up to those In power to use their best endeavours to_ impress upon players in outlying districts that every effort should be put forth to endeavour to resuscitate the game. It may be somewhat difficult to map out a scheme that will be satisfactory and productive of good, and possibly a visit from those who nave control of the game to the various districts may do what is expected j but the real way to improve the game is for enthusiasts to take the matter in hand in the districts and work and build up teams by careful training and instruction. I am somewhat surprised at the decadence of the game in the North Canterbury district, because at its headquarters there are plenty of good sports' who aro keen on the game. To only mention two, there are Mr T. B. Cresswell, an ex-secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union, and Mr H. C. Wilson, who has played for several provinces in the dominion and also represented Now Zealand. It should bo possible Le inaugurate a first-class competition between clubs from tho Maori j>a, Woodend, Southbrook, Rangiora, fe&fton, Amberloy and Oxford, with possibly cno formed between the last-named town and Rangiora. I wish those who take on the work ©very success. The game'last Saturday between Albion and High School Old Boys was a fiasco. Last year's winners put a very weak team in tho field, and were soundly beaten in a game in which thoro was very little interest shown either by tho players or spectators. The High School Old Boys team appears as though it has a chance in the competition commencing to-day, provided the forwards are cap! able of holding the opposing vanguards in check. The backs appear to be a side of players who want it fast, and are Inclined to make attack their first line of defence. In any games in which the Old Boys forwards aie not beaten the side is sure to give a good account of itself. I expect to see a far different Albion team take tho field to-day against Sydenham, especially behind the pack. If r..ch is not tho case, then of one thing I am certain, and that is, Albion will not bo returned winners of this year's Senior championship. Rugby is evidently going to " boom " in America-, at least at Stanford and Californian Universities. Tho annual match between those teams attracted an enormous crowd, and tho American papers " spread " thomsclves anent the game. It is stated that ton special trains with 110 carriages went crowded to the ground, and that there were more automobiles there than are in New York. The Stanford team had trained together for eleven weeks, and lived together for six weeks, but wore soundly beaten by California by 21 points to 3. Several of the players in tho game were members of tho American Univereibv team that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1910. Watts, Allen, Elliott, Morris, Phlegor, Pauley,' Hardy i'.d Swartz were on the winning sido, and Brown, Kern, Erb and Sanborn Doil played for Stanford, whilst Jiminj Schaeffer, who was coaoh to the touring team, is now coach to tho Calif'oruiau University team. H. V. Murray, the Ellesniere and Canterbury representative, is now living in the Malvern Sub-Union district, having taken up land on the road to the West Coast. It is not likely ho will play again, rws lie told mo at tho conclusion of the inter island match that it was his last game. Many players retiro regularly each year, only to be the first on tho field at tho commencement of tho next season. In Murray's case, however, I am afraid he is too far away from town to make it convenient to play. Cross, who was one of the best backsin the Richmond team Inst season, has joined tho Linwood Club, and I understand will find a place in the Senior team. It is stated that King George V. attended the match Army v. Navy, it being tho first occasion on which ;i lung had attended u football match. In this dominion tho Uoveruors (thy

King's representatives) are frequently seen at Rugby games. A Dunodin paper is responsible for the statement that " Steve Casoy has finally retired from the game, hut that Alex. M'Donald will play for tho Kaikorai Club as usual. The Christchurch and Morivale teams that meet to-day at the Park have been fortunate in retaining practically all their backs of last year. Fryer (now in Auckland) is the only absentee from the Christchurch, and 0. R. Smith from Merivale.

In conversation with the secretary of the South Canterbury Rugby Union recently I was told that the game was booming in tho district, and plenty of enthusiasm was being shown. It is the intention of the Union to send a team to play Canterbury this season in Christchurch.