FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10365, 14 June 1901, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY "SPEC."

The Pirate-School ,game hardly came np to expectations, on tho part of the part of the latter at any rate. In the first spell they made a terrible mess of thing 3 generally, and tKc Pirates were not slow to take advantage thereof. The School forwards were no match for their opponent? and the backs had very little chanco of displaying their prowess. With a forward team ablo to hold its own the two halves 'system would probably pan out aXI right, but under conditions such as existed on Saturday, it could hardly be termed a success, as tho opposing wings were down on top of the halves before they had any chance, of passing out, and added to this the two players who filled those positions apparently did not know each other's play as they very often ran into each other's arms', with a result that can easily be imagined. In the second bout, after the first five minutes, the School managed to pull themselves to-, gether and were able to pretty well hold their own, irat they' were not able to crostrtheir opponent's line. The play of the Pirates, both forward and back, was excellent. Their rushes were, at times, equal to anything seep on the ground this season, whUst their pawing was "bettef titan, anything they have given us before in the present round. Of course their opponents were not playing up to form, but even allowing tor this, their display dwarves every commendation. McGregor,' at fiveeightha, played a really splendid game, in fact he has never been 'seen to better advantage, whilst his confreres, too. displayed excellent, form, both individually and collectively. -Steeling • is, a coming forward, and in the. first 'sjrell he was always to tho fore and although he took matters just *' little easier' in ! the second bout, ho was even prominent. Gordon ' Thompson and E. McGonagio. were, absentees, but they had worthy -substitutes. With the exception of Johnson and Burns, none of the College backs' was prominent, although the latter was hardly seen" to best advantage, still he put in some good work. The only redeeming feature of the backs waa th<>ir kicking, which wa« Well- executed. Ritchie, who made his last nppcarapco, seemed to" be "off colour" altogether. ' The School will miss him very much indeed, for although he has hardly shown, the .form ho displayed last season, still., he was a tower of strength >to them generally, and it will be a very difficult " matter to fill his 'place. He waa » .very popular player, and I am^ sure all footballers will join with me in wishing him every success, and trust to hear of .him making a name for himself on the -football field in tkeCOld CSmntry^T "--•" --• '"'T-;:' The Kaierau* met'with- a ieoißo a>t the hands of the Waverley men, -which was rather unexpected. Bullock was an absentee from tho maroons, and bis lose waa very severely felt, but his absence should not altogether account for the big score put up by the country team. The Waverley forwards played a> really good game, their rushes especially being very prominent features of the contest, whilst in the back division .Peake was a continual thorn to the opposing team, and Burke, also showed much improved form. On the 'other hand the Kaierau players seemed to lack that "go and dash" that .used to be one of their chief characteristics. In past seasons, when a team scored against them they would "come" with more dash than ever, but this yearHhey do not seem to be whole-hearted in their work. I am, of course, speaking now of the team as a whole and not individually, for included in the team, are some players who endeavour to do their best for their side, but there aro others who five ono the idea that they aro only alf-hearted in their work, and as long as a team possesses players of the latter class they cannot expect to meet with much success. However, it is not yet too late, and I trust that spectators will havo an. opportunity of seeing the maroons displaying some of their old form in the remaining contests. The Wangranui-White Star game, which was played at Patea, was really a, contest between the Star forwards and tha Wanganui^ backs and the result was a viobory for the latter. The game as a very even one and every inch of ground was manfully contested. The veteran, W. H. 'McLean, was again prevailed upon to don "the jersey and showed that he could still be relied upon to hold his own amongst the best of "em".

The fixtures for Saturday are : White Stars v Pirates, on Cook's Gardens at 1.30 p.m. and Kaierau-Wanganui on the same ground at 3 p.m. The latter teams have not so far met this season, and" rumour has it that the maroon's team will include Bell, Malone, and'R. and J. McLean, so they evidently mean business and will give the Wanganuiites all they want. The School meet Waverley on the tatter's ground. The Junior fixtures are Old Boys v T.Y.M.1., Aramoho v School, Mitchell t Pirates, and Waitotara- v Kaierau.

The Third Class fixture is T.Y.M.I. v School.

A warning to spectators has been sounded in these notes on one or two occasions in regard to unseemly copduct during the progress of some of our Senior' games, . but unfortunately

the 1 warning" Las not, been heeded, and the Management Cdmmitted' have had to' take action in the matter, and at tKeiS lost ,m6etirtg .suspended one spectatdr, and decided to warn several others, and tlieir aotion will no doubt meet' with .the hearty approval of the •majority of those who patronise the matches. "'Barracking" pure and simple cannot be objected to, but the referee must- be protected, and not subjected to. all" kinds, of annoyance, as was the case in last Saturday's game especially. If 'a decision was given that did not meet with the approval of a small herd of hoodlums; they vented their feelings in such a. manner that could not but meet with the strongest condemnation from all lovers of fair play, and it is to' be sincerely hoped that the action taken by the Management Committee 'will have the "effect of jautting a' stop to theße unseemly displays. The Management Committee have decided to postpone "all fixtures set 'down t for June 22nd, owing to the fact that so many players will be away at Wellington and Christchurch in connection with the -Royal visit. ''"Should any members of the- local Referees' Association be 'in Wellington while the conference of- referees is siting, they have'"the privilege "of attending the. meetings if they so desire, as an invitation has been extended to all referees to be present. '. "Full-back," in the Otago Witness, says: — ?The practice of intimidating an opponent by shouting at him fortunately finds favour with very few footballers, yet in a Senior game on Saturday, when a place-kick was being taken, the opposing forwards accompanied their charge with yells such as a tribe of Red Indians on the warpath need not have been ashamed of. Needless to say, this is an alien to the spirit of the game. * What was considered legitimate and expedient in our school j football - days is hardly becoming in Senior football." To show the enthusiasm of tho boys< at school in their football competition (says the tHmaru Herald), two boys living at Winchester, who were playing for Genuine, and had no means of getting tcsre except on "shanks' pony," walked the whole distance, about nine .miles, and even after that played a good pnlne. After th 6 game they had' started to walk home, but were.picked , up -by the Turam boys. How many of onr Seniors would have done this?