FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

Fiist A and B Trial match to-day. A benefit match, in aid of a player injured two years ago is to be played on Saturday next. All privileges attaching to the possession of tickets will be suspended for the day, and properly so. The fine contests between City and Ponsonby this year must inevitably cause great interest in the third meeting, and it is to be hoped that for the third time the gate "record" will be broken. t The Poverty Bay Union wants a match with Auckland, and if steamer arrangements can be made,' a match will be played there the morning after the Hawke's Bay match. The Franklin Union has suggested that a. match be played between their representatives and the Auckland B team prior to the Hawke's Bay match on August 10. Effect will be given to the suggestion. Thames has accepted ZKh July as the date for their match with AucKiand. Tht playing of the A and B match to-day wfll enable Mr. TX Gallaher to visit Thames on Saturday next to see tße Thames-Goldfields match to see the form of the players in those districts. The dates suggested by the Auckland Union for the tour have been generally agreed to. Wellington has accepted August 24, and South Canterbury August 9. A forward game is not the one to rouse the enthusiasm of the onlooker; it is when the back machinery gets into action, when the ball flies from, hand to hand, a stage nearer the goal line with every pass, that the onlookers leap to their feet, but the strenuous contending of two heavy, fast, and evenly-match-ed packs offers an immensely interesting, if less exciting, spectacle. And although on Saturday there was little brilliant work among the backs, the splendid work of the forwards made the game attractive from kick-off to bell. The packs were ' as fit as racehorses, and in ruck, scrum, and loose they were a± it hammer and tongs, on the bail all through. The packs were of an even •weight, there was little between them in pace or cleverness, the only real advantage held being that by City in the matter of hooking the bail in the serums. Despite their disability in this direction, Ponsohby had the best of the deal in the first spell and in the opening of the second, but in the last half-hour the City pack played with bulldog determination, and worked like a fresh-team. Ponsonby had to work like Trojans to keep them out, but they sid, and the bell sounded without score to either side, a result which partisans of the game agreed wad t3ie fair one* ■ The besetting sin of Auckland, and, indeed, of New Zealand, forward play was again in evidence on Saturday, and much otherwise splendid work was nullified by the taetic3 oi the forwards. After a rash, had carried the ball through the greater part of the defence a hard kick would send the ball right into the waiting arms of the three-ijnarter or full, giving him ample time to find touch before the kicker could reach him. Several fine opportunities to score were thus wantonly thrown away, and the struggle had to begin all over again. What a pity it is that some of our forwards wont try to dribble. An otherwise secondrater, who could, dribble with some pace, would be more valuable than some of the hard-kicking rashers we have. The value | of kicking w<\ following up cannot be gainsaid, but the liberal mixture of real dribbling would be productive of many scores which are now averted.

To a man the forwards on Saturday played with vigour and vim, and none spared themselves in any department of the game. Where all played well it may not be well to individualise, but the games played by two or three of the players were especially worthy of comment Nicholson struck mc a3 the finest forward on the ground. He was in the thick of the fray all the time, heading rush after rush and getting among the backs in the style that Seeling was wont to do. Tyler and Mackrell played fine games in the loose, and on the line Seeling was still the best of them, his work in this department being wonderfully good. Little McDonald, on the wing for Ponsonby, played in the best form game he has so far shown, and he has played well all through the season. A stone or so heavier he would be good enough for anything; as it is, he is too clever to be

passed over. Gillett was on the top of his form, tlthough he missed the ball a couple of times, his dashing work fine kicking and splendid following being a treat to watch. Behind the scrum the play was, generally speaking, of a different quality to that of the forwards, but a deal of good, work was accomplished. Wild passing spoilt one or two good chances of scoring, and hanging on too long lost other fair opportunities. 1 The defence on both sides was good, and the handling of the ball by the backs in most cases was very fine, men in whose ability to take the ball much doubt was cast rising to the occasion and fielding splendidly. The youthful full backs both played very well, taking the ball well, kicking powerfully, and keeping their heads in every emergency. Redwood had a day on, and played a very sound game, taking the ball well and kicking very powerfully. Little was also much better than usual in these departments. Geo. Smith was looking for opportunities all along, and at least one score would have gone to his credit but for an untimely slip. Wilson played a very in and out game; at times he was safe and clever, at others he' mulled easy takes, and got I his side into difficulties. He centred very cleverly several times when near the goal line, but the defence proved equal to the strain thus cast upon it. Wilson has not been as consistent a player this year as he was last. H- Absolum is still with the best of them in Wanganui, and in a recent match there scored four tries in the corner, at the end of his usual dashing run. Wherever the population of a, district in New Zealand exceeds fifteen, exclusive of women and children, a football team is raked up, and in the King Country they are just as enthusiastic as in the main centres of population. There are four teams — Taumarunui, Manunui, Matapuna and Kakahi, -Manunui being the strongest and Kakalii next in order. The

players of the-'latter team travel 24 miles for their games, and roll up to a man. Pihama, an ex-TaranaM rep., and an exRotorua rep., dye the mainstays of the Matapuna teeanj. B. T. Murray, an exSuburbanite, is the best forward of Kakaha team, which has a midget half-back named Stevenson, who is very tricky and fairly fast. The King Country reps, are to play Waipa and Hamilton this season. The match between Newton and North Shore, which was played at Devonport, was not an interesting exhibition, and attracted very little public attention. Newton proved to be the winners by the small margin of five points to nil, Gardener crossing the line from a general scramble and-Winters adding the minor points. Though both teams made several other determined attacks, no further score resulted during the game. Mr. Gallaher picked a couple of strong teams for to-day's match, and wisely decided to give as many backs a chance as possible. He did not include any Thames Goldfields players, as he will have an opportunity of seeing their form in the Thames-Gold-fields match, but two Waikato backs, who played well last year, and are said to be in good form this year were ia-r eluded. The championship for the season having been already won, the Rugby Union, in view of the heavy rep. engagements,, decided to at once conclude the second round, leaving the remaining two games implayed. City have' for the third time in succession, and the sixth time in ten years, won the championship, the following table showing the points:—> Points P* W. L. D. For. Against. City ..8701 165 12 Ponsonby ..8611 136 8 Parnell ..8341 81 118 Newton ..8350 37 89 North Shore 8 2 6 0 19 81 Grafton ..8161 28 148 Dufty has kicked a goal in each of the rep. matches in which he has taken part. Parnell and Grafton played a very even game on the No. 2 ground, but the play was so close for the greater part of the time that there was little in the match to claim interest. Parnell had matters much their own way in the first half, but neglected to push home the advantage. In the second half tbe play was nearly all in favour of Grafton, who confined the game to the forwards, and Parnell were* rather lucky in making it a drawn game. •It was only when Parnell. got behind that they played with any'/iing like combination. The return match New South Wales and; ■ Queensland was ,_ played inj the mud and, consequently, ISie Welshmen, with an advantage of over a stone a man in the pack, had the better or the deal, and won fairly comfortably. Five thousand people attended the match; there would have been 30,000 on a fine day. Four Stanford collegians (California) arrived in Sydney by the Manuka this week to study Rugby football there and in New Zealand Their names are J. P. Lanagan, advisory coach to the Stanford team, Geo. Pressley, field coach. F. Lanagan,' and P. Fuller. Lanagan has polevaulted to a height of 12ft 4in. They return, via Auckland, in August. The Rugby game is getting a firm hold in California, both players and public taking to it. As the outcome of the accident to Alan Adams, of the 'Varsity, Given, the -llhambra captain and Otago representative forward, threatens to retire permanently from football. The scheme for giving Rugby football an official home in London has n»w matured. A ground has been secored at Twickenham, and it is capable of providing accommodation for forty »r fifty thousand spectators. j Thing 3 are not going too with some of the Northern Union Cfiibs, as in addition to the Bradford Qjib's desertion, the Hull Club has lost £230 on last, season's play, ground anfl. stand receipts having fallen by £1000. &t Halifax a Rngby club is being formed where formerly only professional footoall was to be found, and other cities coiiemplate following the example. Paton, the Dunedin forward (who has won a place in the New Zealand team for Australia, was originally I a three-quarter-back. In that position ke was a failure, but pnt up amongst [the forwards, he quickfty made a name for himself, says "Fullback." Dr. LouisKon, of Christchurch, states that there are not many New iZeaJnders playing- football in London iw. L. Stringer, son of Mr. T. W. Sirrager, of Christchurch, is one of tnem, and M'Evedy, formerly of St. Patrick's College, who came uut with the British team, is also still a player. Dr. Louiseon thinks he is likely to come here agaii with the English team which is. being gdt together now for the purpose of viating New Zealand. A. O'Brien.has scanjely played since he was last in the colon?. He will probably arrive in Christcjbauth, in July :to pratise his profession. ! If a professional team gois to England from New Zealand, Drj Louisson, who has just returned to Cjrristchurch i after 10 years in Europe, beliives it will meet with a very good reception in the North, but unless the best possible !is sent, it will be beaten, jhe English professional teams never play against the amateur teams, and so it ii not easy to compare their relative strengths, but whenv'&s sometimes happens, L prominent amateur player joins a club jof. tte .professionals, he does not usually distinguish ' himself.-much. There was a pery strong I feeling that the Northern 'tinion would I have liked to play the "All fecks," and many people thought a close game would •have resulted. Dr. Louisstn saw the South Africans playing in En/land, where | there was a general feelW that they were just as good as the New Zealanders. 'He was inclined to think tmt the New Zealand team was much stronger forward, but the South -Arkan threequarters were remarkably good. Ihe South Africans, of course,! played the same game as their opponents. One or two teams at Home have tfed the New Zealand game with wing forwards, notably Wales and Blackheath,put not with any success. Whereas in the World o) AssocSation football the" office of preiidenf would

s - seem to be a life appointment, in the . Rugby realm the honour, a much-coveted - one, goes round, says the "Athletic > News."' A new official head is appointed - annually, and when a man has served a - year of office he is thanked for the efforts z he has made on behalf of the Union, and 1 is added to the ever-swelling list of 5 past presidents. Only on rare occasions -1 is the president re-elected. This year Mr. C. A. Crane is to be installed in the i ! presidential chair, and no one can deny , j that, apart from the fact thait in the 1 j natural sequence of things it is his turn . j to be elevated to the office, as he is en- ; titled to the position as well by executive - I ability as by length of service in the 1 I counsels of the Union. There have al- • I ways been troublous times ahead for - j the Rugby Union. For years they were r j fighting the bogey of .professionalism, and ! when at last the bogey developed into a • | real, living being the Union found them- - selves in a worse plight than ever. They s found themselves with an attenuated r membership and consequently limited re--1 sources. The effect of the secession of r the clubs now comprising the Northern - Unim—many, alas, who have gone under ; sincfc the great trek—is seen in the dis--1 mal record of the Rugby Union in mrr ternational games since the split occurred. However, whether we liiie it or whether - we dislike it, whether we approve or con- , de-am, we are forced to acknowledge the , consistency of the Rugby Union. They I have declared for amateurism; they cxi pressed their determination to keep the . amateur flag flying, and they have done i so. Mr. Crane was born at Wolverhamp- . ton on February 6, 1857, and is, therefore, fifty years of age. He was at Cheltenham College from 1870 to 1876, and during that time devoted special attention * to games. He began to pick up his football there in the year that he entered, 1870. On leaving school he settled down at Wolverhampton, and played cricket and Rugby football with the club of that town. He was a regular member of the football fifteen for eight years, . viz., from 1876 to 1884, and was in office . as captain, hon. secretary, and hon. ' treasurer for five years. He was a mem- ; ber of the pack which was renowned f throughout the Midlands for its hard and s dogged play. Mr. Crane was duri-ng the L whole of his stay with the team the j leader of the pack, and the excellence of i his form naturally procured for hi™ a i place in the Midland Counttes Rugby 1 fifteen. Since 1882 he has been secretary ! i to the Midland Counties Union. > <V , " AUSTRALIAN GAME. The game on the J)oraain on Safcur- : day last, between Austral and Imperial \ Clubs, was productive of a good deal of j ' fast and interesting play, the imperial' " eventually numing out winners by 47 * points to 35. _ Spence played a great game back for ' the Imperials, while Black was in good ' form and played a fast vigorous game. ' -He secured several fine marks. Nagle at full back was in great form, and several times prevented the Austral from seor- * ing. Birch and Wilson were also prom- • jinent; Slomanand H Forster also played • good footbalL A. Cathie, a new man for L the Imperials, played well and will improve with practice. The best performers for the Austral were:—Livcrsidge, Monteith and Stange. ' Wells (back), aud Wadsworth (forward), 1 were also notable -for some good play. > The date for the kicking and running competition has been fixed, and they •will be held on the Domain, on Satur- ' day, 27th July. The Eden and Imperial Juniors met on Saturday, aud the latter proved the victora by 11 points; Atkinson, Foster and Ccates were the best for the win- [ ners; Atkinson kicked two goals, and the others one each. Birnie Mason, Gallagher and Crawshaw, also contributed a good deal to their side's win. -The Ed eh were best represented by their 1 captain, Fogarty, Cole and Oossey. [ The St. Kllda Club have snffered their first defeat in Melbourne, being beaten [ in their own ground by South Melbourne. It was decided at the League meeting on Monday that the Seniors must line ' up at 3.10 p.m. promptly, the game to * start at 3.15. On Saturday a number of spectators crowded at the goal-line, and it has been decided to ask visitors to- stand, at least, three yards back, so that there will be no interference with the play. Five permits were granted on Monday, and two others were held over pending clearances being obtained from the last dubs played with. , All matched were postponed to-day on account of tbe running sports on the '• Domain. Next Saturday Eden meet the i Imperial. « ' Seven prizes are now in for the competitions next month, including two gold ! medals, one being from Vive-President ,A. M. Myers, other prizes are from '. Messrs. W. G. Brown, Bribble, Cox, Crab- \ tree, Chiddley, and Messrs. Kelly and I Moore. The competitions will include: [ Long-kicking, goal-kicking, and running , with the ball for both Seniors and Juniors, and a race once round the ground for Juniors, and others are to be added.