FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

RUOBY. (Br Aiustobulbs.) - -.- ' • Ponoke had an important win on tho,Petono Recreation' Ground last Saturday, a vic- . : tory which leaves "thom in top place (bracketed with Athfetic). The Blues took their: ' defeat bravely. It 'had been-their hope to weather this tliird match successfully, and, . ' training had not beon negleoted. Thoreforo, ; when tho teams came out and faced each • othor in tlie presence of about 2000 -people,', an expression of confidence was,in tho oyo of tho Blue skipper, and his team did their xX/best.-X///;-/- '■ -X/./y,-.:/. "/v. Tho first shake-up saw the Blues on tho defensive. Green brought the play into more v open territory. This player, .was nea.t and prompt throughout, and: towards the close of . tho second spell did sterling work among tho. tiring , forwards. , > . Spurred on by a consummate desiTe for victory, • Poneko; mado a determined attack. V: -Flanagan got away smartly,- and left Smyrke; : behind in a twinkling. /Only tho lino was, before: him, and' the ball was _ tight'under his arm.' Ryan felt like a sprint, however, ■ : ' and 'a ; smart collar brought Flanagan to a halt. Smyrko failed-badly here. ; As, a full-, ' back ho cannot be called safe. The ball favoured tho .Reds in the;scrum : - ;: in the earlier-,- stages, -but Tilyard repeatedly hesitated in getting, it/away, and Hardham. 'and Sullivan gavo him no quarter. Even when the ball did get through tho backs, ■ the passing was wild. sThe Red rearguard jvore not nearly so pretty in their actions as; •when thoy tossed the ball about in tho Wel- ;/ lingtou match. •- : "X./X:."-' " ( As in the previous'match, M'Kenzi6 i played '.'w ft oloan, steady game. Promoted -this _ year from scnool matches, <tho Potono five-eighth has a splendid knowledge of the requirements of senior football. - . .._ 1 ■-. Taokling with (good will, a Ponoke man winded and in the same soiiio Ryan came to grief. In a flying tackle of Reed ho managed to ,get' his right leg mder the Red, and ail old "kneo" was twisted. Thore-ftft-er, Ryan was useless, and it is likely that - the Blues will have to find a substitute for him for the-whole of the season. Corson now will doubtless be included. Ho haa done . ' good service on .tho wing .'already: this, soa•son, but gives one the impression that h# would shine at. full-back. ; 'The Bluca'appeared to tiro in the lattor ■ part. No doubt the additional strain placed 1 upon them aftor Ryan's departure was a - \little' more.; than ■■"they.: could against ; such a formidablo opposing: force. In spite of all, however,' Green led a vigorous forward ■■/■vxush far ;Jntt ,the; enemy's .'country,-. Fisher end 'Sullivan' Supporting." ; Sullivan was. as strenuous, as ever, and Lindsay and Dent jvoro also prominent in tho front ranks. y More solid each day, Walsh plays cleverly on tho Poneke five-eighths lino. In tho sec-.-end spell last Saturday he reached tho line,-, ■ and crosscd boforo M'Kenzio could bring him down, but ho was brought back; . , at a considerable disadvantage in . . pounds avoirdupois; Old Boys fonvards por- . formed very commendably ' when 'pitted ■ against tho-.Molroao pack ori Saturday. A . ■ littlo headiness , invariably , leaves tho • exponent of "bullockiug" . tactics drifting far astern. /In the early stages, of the gamo Old -IBoys gained possession of tho ball .in the scrums quite as often as- Melrotto) but the - unequal contest eventually told its tale on ■- the lighter team in the close play. Avery, at the side of the scrum,, illumined the faces < of tho Old Boys supporters frequently by his ;: quick soizuro 'of any"-' openings ; for' attack, and his soundness on defence. •• Dawson was perhapsjftho best of tho Old . -Boys backs, and ho was generally ;in tho ■ advance of anv concerted movemont.- Thomson accomplished some good work, but ho usually fumbled at tho ! critical moment. ; .'Flashes of. good passing - .were displayed ■" by - v' - .the Old Boys rearguard, but invariably these Tushes'came to nought, through "the..failure. : of somo unit to handle the ball.cleanly. < M'Uoan: was an absentee from tho Old ■ Boys team on Saturday, and:, hi a place was filled by Picot. 1 :. Melrose did not up to standard in . ■ opening oat the play, but, unlike Old Boys, ■ :-they 'fmade 'i profitable use; of; every chance -■ '.offering. This ' was assuredly accountable for -tho championship point gainod. \ Of tho individual of -last' Reason's champions, ; Melhuish, at. wing-forward, 'helped his. Bide. considorably-by::his. ready:_rei: ' ; cognition, of. 'any opportunity; ;of furthering his team's pi'o'spects, - r Beavisj by .' -. lively dashes 'and. .well-judged-^kicking,; stood out most prominently in tho back division, i;:;,. : ahd were 'responsible • for ' many :of .the' points . scored for Melrose. . ' ' . , " • . - Rydor,: an ex-Horowhenua-rep., made his i'Xi first appearance : in ' tho Melroso team • -at full-back. :, He had comparatively littlo . to do, but was never found-.wanting .wnon his Ecrvices wore .called into requisition. . . • . : 'Tho .' Athletic-Wellington contest was: about as bare of noteworthy ..incident as a poplar tree is of leaves in winter : timo. - There was just a tingo of brightness at rare intervals.. Symes,.- ono of AVollington's. ; front-rankers, was awaj, and. that team • had.' ;. -struggle. through. the first' spell one man -.;, this 'period : tho only. score .'of : : ~'the .day-, was ..registered ' by iAthletic. In. - ..the:second spell. O'l/eary went on and filled :' !> tihe gap. , ■'- , >. .-X .... .; '.X . ;Wil«)n: lsept the Wellington' forwards to■Xt gethur very well, ' suid, individually, '..hp; :, played a great, game; ' Another forward;. who: showed good form ;was -M!Kollar. : ' Thevlat- . v.. . 'Wr .was.'also'' responsible for stopping many • ugly-looking nishes. .; ' . ■ ' "Ranji" Wilson,.'played , his usual.""good game for Athletic.; ', He I worked untiringly from start -to' finish, "and his try was a . creditablo picco of work. v•, : '''.j'-X "Sini"; Wilson and Evenson were especi-

ally noticeable - in. the Athletic rear division] ■ • Evensou put in some brilliant dashes, and, at' i-ono time,.! a; try . appeared imminent. as ; the' ; outcom6 ! of-a';-smart;; dash' by r him, but his '. pass, ~:whichwas jgiven. right.on ..tho line,was not.taken. • Organ, vwho figured vory.. prominently.' be- ;; -'hind- the scrum 1 for: Southern ; last year, has .-' ;<;thrown - in his lot. with;. Athletic this season; -;, -. and played liis iflrst' game at wing three--quarter for: that club, last Saturday.. Should Organ reproduco his last season's form—ho had few - Opportunities ; Von ' Saturday—Ath-. '■ letic's. play'; should bp: considerablystrengthened. • , Osborne (Atldotic), who hurt his ankle a ooupio of Saturdays ago, is ' still on tho in- ;. jured list.' This player's' son-ices-.havo since been greatly missed in the scrum. On Saturday 0 Sullivan replaced him. V ■ "Undoubtedly Rugby football has lost some • -; 'of the purely Sporting spirit which 'character- - . irnl .it in tho . days .when therfi.v was: not a , whisper of the ."payment of players" ques- ■'<: tionj and one now sees-"tactics" employed in ./. somo of the important games which would lfavo mado the old-time ; player flush with shame.—"County Gentleman." According to the Sydney "Referee,',' tho ;"New South' Wales Rugby Union has' ; been: ; .;notified. by;the English Union - that it.lias :jWal'cs, and Ireland) to confer -with it for tho :.;.v asked tho other national unions (Scotland; purpose of considering tho amendments in ' : the Laws of tho Game placed before it by the New Zealand,- Now South Wales, and Queinsland Unions.' Tho, English Union adds that many of the suggested changes in . the laws havo also been put forward by English clubs,- ' so that. it would' appoar that, after-all, the . Old .Country is not likely to be. so slow in making a. progressive'move as wo antipodeans lmvo been inclinod to think. Mr. \V. W. Hill," secretary, of tho New South Wales .Union,-m referring, to this matter recently, - said that in'. tho light, of the letter tho conference suggested by Now Zealand betwoeri that colony ■ and .. New South . .Wales and Queensland will need to bo deferred, ponding -.7 further news from England. That tho Laws of Rugby will bo improved at no distant date now seems certain. .. : >. - '- , •' If tho Oriental pack had been more successful on Saturday, St. Jair.cs would havo had . . i a, busier time. With only a comparatively few opportunities to handle tho ball, the backdivision showed that, with a littlo.moro. practico, thoy will prove a formidable lot. As usual, "Freddy". Roberts stood out on

his own. His defence was very sound, and, whonevor it was possible, he sot his backs in motion. His kicking, was poor Mathcson, who , came next in order of superiority, mado sovernl fino runs. A strong Tunnor, with plenty of dnsh, ho should gain a lot of tries . before the season ends. Next after this - pair came M'Lcod and Sturrock, both of whom gave creditable displays,/with Kinvig not far behind. Of the-forwards, Perry and M'Mahon'were noticeable for their industry, especially the former, who appeared to be keenly watched by the other side. Upon his form last Saturday, it_ seems as if Thomas is qualifying to fill the bill as fullback in .the representatives. His excellent line-kicking was of great service to his side, and if - lie. could only smarten, up; a little all round he would bo "just the thing." Crewes- was easily tho best of tho threequarters. He was, however, hardly" so successful as usual at placc-kicking. Still, the only score made by his sido resulted from ono of his shots.

Of the. other backs,_ M'Grath and the Roberts Bros, "were tho 'most noticeable. . For some reason or .another Ferguson has not yet thawed, 0ut...:, X .X- ---" Bruce-gained the distinction of being tho -leading forward on the ground. From tho kick-olr. until' 'no side" he was in the thick of it all the time, Notwithstanding his other good points it must be said that his efforts on one occasion to prevent a possible try were too drastic. That was the opinion of the majority of the spectators. " Victoria College and Southern are apparently the ; two weakest teamß in the competition. Upon the standard of play which they showed on Safjurdayit is problematical whother either of them could win tho junior championship. X.For-'-Southern, .Flannagan, L, Campbell, and Houlihan wero most conspicuous, whilst for Victoria College, Hamilton, O'Leary, Wilson, and Curtayne were about the best. ■ Tho takings - ' at Pctoiio last:. Saturday amounted -to £50 ,135.: 6d. The Borough Council this 'y«ar has' entered into an agreement whereby 1 all the receipts are retained by the council, and do not go to the Rugby Union. It is hoped to clear a substantial slim for the season. Tho total, receipts for tho three matches played are given at £70, to which may be, added £5 from the Foot,ball Association, for, tho use of No., 4 ground. /• „ • Small boys and big bovs with small sense did a shabby thing at tho close of the Petone match. : 'They; hooted the, referee, -and called his deoisions in question. Two' or three'from the' "barracking" line had on argument with Mr. Laws at half-time over ono of his rulings. Smyrke had taken a ball arid-had shouted "Mark," but his heel was not .oh the ground. '.The mark was , disallowed. In tho second half, Reed; the Ponekb full-back, called "Mark" as lie took a ball, but' it slipped ,to the ground between his arm's. : The whistle had goho, however, and instead of giving scrum the referee allowed tho kick. : When Wales recently defeated Ireland ; at Swansea. by '18 ■; points; to : 5, 40,000 'people wero present. • • . Eton and Harrow have joined other great schools in England, like Rugby and Marl!b^rough( i in ,the playing of Rugby football, which- is. the great game in the big Scottish ,schools. ,- ~ .

; Sydney players who; .last season transgressed Rugby Union law by playing with tho Rugby League,' are still applying f6r reinstatement.. X: Mr. -Harry Abbott is the Gwyn Nichqlls of Australian Rugby, though he was: a greater individualist than tho Welsh ohampion. An old Sydney champion, he and "Tonga"..Moulton'and P. B. Colquhoun iwere the; delight; of ."tho Rugger followers '20, years ago 'or foss. . To-day"thero,'is no Abbott in Australian Rugby,' though.it is time' one was produced. ' He spends a good Vdoal ,of his : spare, , timewatching. Rugby, 1 principallyat .'the; Sydney ' Cricket .Ground; —Sydney . ''Re•forco."-' In : ,:

"Why does 'tho Rugby Union not allow professionals: to play with amateurs fas in wicket 'According - to. the. Sydney '• 1 'Referee'' ;the/reason simply; is that the Rugby Unions of 'the v.-orld intend; (viclo tho; rules) to. keep the"game'rigidly' {io.'those; who are prepared to. play pnrely : for, lovo of it—that is without any,recompense whatsoever. X XX. X ; . Tho Sydney University team will visit. New Zealand, in September) play two matches with the New,:Ze'aland University '(one oach at Dunedin and; Christchurch), ono match with' Otago' University at'Dunedin, and one with Victoria'.College at Wellington. ,/A match.with Auckland',Universitv at Auckland is also mentioned as. possible,- with tho Auckland Rugby Union financially assisting tho local.team. This is.'a big'prograinme,;but it is not yet arranged; ■ Hugh Murphy; the: well-known Otago foot; bailer, has been-invalided during'the past , six weeks. . Ho has just returned from a three wcek3'.. sojoui-n at Queenstown, and the mountain air has'.benefited," him very much.'

kvln /his , try ..'for Scotland; against ■ England in the international match, Colin Gilray. the cx-Otago three-quarter, badly beat Jackett, the full-back, who was , out hero wit-h tho British team.- ' ' •

Tho ©s-O.tago. University player and English three-quarter, A. 0. : Pal-'merj-.waa -fche'piclc-'of the English three-cjuarr 'tor / Apropos, it js interesting to'-note (saysthe "Otago Witness") the .success of, Otago University 'players. at Home, i Colin Gilray, :as is well lrnown,'won his i Scottish, international cap at tie ■ first time of%asking; though, strangely enough, •ho-was--.an international; before he was awarded his Blue; young Palmor had been playing'well 'for London Hospital for two or three "seasons . before;. ho was recognised as .being .fit foi* English international honours; : Alan Adams' and Macpherson wpro not long,playing ,on, English, football fields .before their :names,-, were Mentioned in connection; with interoational'. caps'/-while young Healo has beenV,referred'.'to; as the finest .half at-pre-sent/playing .'in England.