FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 811, 7 May 1910, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

(Br Abistobblub.)

RUQBY.

Huffs greatest opponent in last Saturday's game with Petone was "form." They -were not able to maintain the pace they started with. It is high timo that their gymnasium was built, which would, banish this unsatisfactory stato of things for :ever. It is, perhaps, not every team that can command combination, but every senior fifteen should be able to "see the game out to the end." ' . But how many do? , Tannahill was the best forward .on the Butt ground, and even he could stand further training. Up to tho. present, however, ho should at least be ono of ' Wellington's-nominees for the "Dominion .Team. Heketa, in the'back division, made an occasional brilliant run, but lie will bring trouble to his side if he continues to race across field toi support the remainder of the backs. '•'.;' Har'dham turned out for Petone, and has convinced the selectors that he is still worthy of a place in the senior team. i ' Several changes will be tried in the Petone team to-day. Miller will take Daley's place at half-back, and Prouse (a new-comer) will be tried in the forwards. Jataes Ryan was again the best back on his side. He seems to be the only man in tho team who has a systematic way of tackling an opponent. Peton© in the past have always been noted.for their half-backs. This is not . the' case this season so far, but the impending change" may have the desired effect. Price; the wing-forward, is reaping the benefit of having commenced his train-ling-a month before the season started. Generally , speaking, Petone's ; team' is well trained, and to this fact'they owe their big score last Saturday. Among the now rules which come into /force to-day-is one-whieh will bring about o great improvement in play from a (spectacular point of view. It provides [that if the ball is deliberately allowed l.to go into touch it shall belong to the iside which was not responsible for the lhappening. The new regulation will not ■of course have the effect of discouraging (the-art of line-kicking. What it will do, Jowcver, is to open 'up play considerably. How often has play, been made 'dreary by a side whose only, defence when hard 'pressed has been to try, by means of "tight" work on the line, to drive,-the enemy out of its territory almost .inch by inch? To be properly effective tlo rule should have contained a ■clause, providing.! for a minimum throw trat'of at least five yards. It is bound to come. '..'■'

It ; is understood that Armit, the Yorkshire representative player, and relative Of the -late lamented Alex ("Barny"), who joined a club early, this j3easou,:has left Canterbury,.and will probably. be. found,playing fn Otago, - -, Mitcjiinsojv. made' a welcome first, appearance '~this season last Saturday, when he assisted 'his .old., team, .Pou'eke* to beat. Athletic.'Towards the end of last Beasbn, it -.will be remembered that, ho appeared to be appreciably "off, colour," ■but.'Mi:', his lates't ; sliowing lie was as keen as over, > During •'< the. game Milehinson made a number of riiisiakos,' but on the ,wh,olo he rendered" his.side invaluable, service,, 'The .most noticeable defect in his play, was. the'missing, of a number of E asses, some of which he would have got ad ho been as alert as usual. Mitchin60ujis,f.most to be"'feared when the other - Bide afehot on attack, and on one notable occasioa last Saturday.he kept veil up ,to his reputation' in this respect. ■ ;,.. P., G..,;Handfovd, an English interna-tional-forward of - last seasony ; ;now on a visit td Sydney, lias just received a cablo message .from .England, .inviting !;im to join the British'team .to 'tour' in South Africa.' -.'

The validity' of. the election of ;"AJI Black" Wallace, to its Selection • Committee is greatly exercising the minds of members of the Management Committee of the W.R.F.U. As far.as. tho.Management • Committee' is concerned tho point would, probably never have been raided,, but it has been-forced upon its attention. It will be remembered that upon his retirement from active participation in the game, Wallace was mado rho recipient of a handsome monetary gift by numerous admirers of, his play. Under the rales' he cannot under Hie circumstances again play as an. amateur,, but a considerable diflerenco of opinion seejns to exist as to how far he can lend his ripe experience in tho interests of tho game. By his old club, Wallace has been retained as a coach; ho has since officiated as a referee under the auspices of the W.R.F.U., and, only recently, the delegates from tho various r.lubs paid. a further tribute to his ability by appointing him to the union's Selection Committee. "Aristobulus" cannot recall. a parallel case. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union will bo held in.Wellington on Thursday. Evenson ,is to be heartily commended upon his fine play in Athletics' back division against Poueke last Saturday. For some reason or another, the Athletic backs have got no combination. Their defence was creditable at times, but they mado hardly a decent .'passing Tush. Perhaps the most thrilling incident in tho match was when Evenson, from midfield, well outside Poneke 25, Wado a dash for the line. Hiid'ko not been so keen on scoring solus, and ono of his comrades had cut in at the right time, a score might have resulted. At any rato it. was a brilliant effort, and the orowd were not slow to appreciate the fact. Always good on defence, Evenson ivould Jikewiso bo n terror on attack.-if his colleagues could only havo a. little method driven into them.

Matches will bo played by the Kew Zealand team when upon its visit to Australia as under:—Saturday, June, 11,.Sydney; Wednesday, June 15, Sydney; Saturday, Juno 18, Ilriubane; Wednesday, June £2, Brisbane; Saturday, Juno 25, Sydney. Ryan, the speedy Poneke wing threequarter, was not seen to much advantage on Saturday. On a dry ground, with anything like a chance, he is a fine scoring back, but hero to a great extent 'his. usefulness ends. As regards defence, Ryan was lamentably weak at times against Athletics—onco in particular ho might have got his side into trouble by running behind in his own 25. ■ According to some of his admirers he is learning a change stop and other things, which will help him when his side are attacking. It would really ho better for him to concentrate his ntterttion in developing his defensive abilities. This player has every physical advantage which goe« ,to make a skilful all-round player. But 'ho is not. — Another union, to be known, ns "The Pclorus Rugby -Union," whose district? ire' at present controlled by the Marlborough Rugby Union, is applying- for affiliation to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. J. Campbell, n one-time activo member of the Southern Football Club, Wellington, is its chief promoter. Says tho "Arrow":—"Con." Sullivan, making his first appearance for the Black and Red, put up a rattling game, anjl is a decided acquisition. It is not generally known that though chosen ns a member of the New Zealan.l team which visltad theso shores last season. Sullivan never played a game under Norfiern Union rules until the Blacks' opening match against New • South Wales. Ho quickly adapted himself to tho new game." If they only get enough assistance from their backs, the Athletic pack will take a lot of beating, this yeai. Murray is a bit on the light side, but he is fast, and time after timo he was among the Poneke backs rather too quickly for their liking. Of the others, Bell and Hanson shared tho honours with "Rangi" Wilson, who, however, has not yet reached his top form. In tho scrums tho Athletics were moro than a match for Poneke, and held their own on tho line, but there was room for improvement in connection with their work in tho loose The form shown by the athletic pack came as a surprise. The International Board has decided that neutral touch-judges shall have nower to report to the referee players

guilty of foul play. This is an innovation needed in football for years; it has been in force in Wales for some time, and is incorporated in the Lai» of the Northern Union Rugby. Tho question of a thorough examination of players' boots prior to each match has ae;ain been under consideration by the Northern Union authorities. Tho League Committee advise that all referees should, every match day, for a few weeks, and afterwards periodically, carefully examine the boots of the, players. They consider that this examination would bemore properly and suitably mudo in the dressing-rooms, prior to the match, and not on the field of ploy. Hunter, who is one of Ponekc's leading scrummers, is playing perhaps better than ever, this season. Last year it will be recalled he frequently placed himself first and the game second. Upon his performances this season it is clear, however, that he intends from this out to play for all he is worth, and if he does so he will be worth a great deal to his side. Against Athletics on Saturday, Hunter, besides doing a lot of hard .work in the "light" play, was oftentimes conspicuous in the loose. He is still a young player, and by continuing on the course which he is now following will experience' much fuller enjoyment out of tho play, and may ere long be called on for bigger football. Talking of rough football, J. .T. MacCarthy says in "Marshall":—"Football in Ireland may be said to consist of three parts—Kugbcian, Associationist, and Gaelic. The rule of play in these organisations has been defined as' follows: In Rugby, you kick the ball; in Association, you kick the man if you cannot kick tho ball; and in Gaelic, you kick the ball if

you cannot kick the man. . . . The Gaels are a free, and festive community, who have their headquarters at Clonturk Park, Drumcoudra, County Dublin. This park is conveniently situated between Glasnevin graveyard and the Mater Miscreoordia Hospital. A ' man has'been kriowjn to pass from the football field direct to the hospital, and from the hospital -io the cemetery; another match being then got up to raise funds for thtj benefit of the next-of-kin, thus running the risk of killing,a few Inoro for the benefit of tho deceased."

Walsh's efforts on Saturday were the subject.'.of a good, deal of criticism—favourable and otherwise. That he did a tremendous amount of work no one could deny. He had to'.be very much on the alert, too, for his cverv movement was closely scrutinised by the opposing side. The great fault found with Walsh was his tendency—it was a reality at times— to hang on to the ball. In this regard, it is only fair to say. .that by so doing on more than one occasion he acted in the best interests of his side, but'there were other occasions when he should undoubtedly have passed on the ball.' 'Al; though he takes a lot of. tackling, and it looks' well when he breaks away single-handed, Walsh should consider his comrades, also tho spectators, who never tire of witnessing clean, smart, concerted play. The English team' for South Africa y,-ill leave England on May 24. They will arrivo at Cape Town on Juno 7, and, after proceeding through a lengthy itinerary leave for. homo .oh September 7. The uniform of the players will be red, white, and. blue. The jerseys ■ will bo blue,- the 'knickers white,,. and the hose ,of Welsh .scarlet. ..Tho blazers, will be green, so that Ireland has not been neglected. ~:.':

•: The difficulty ; of finding^touch with distance against ■ the wind, says Mr. :J. E. Raphael, the well-known -English three-quarter,, need, not.be dwelt on, but it .may .'bo pointed, out. that if the attempt is niado it is quite likely that the ball will fall, just short-with very awkward results. If the drop-out is against the wind, it is very essential, thai: the cither.' side. sliould 1 ..to 'get iii a. return ;Kick';afT'all;" v i'h'e'.ball, therefore, should be, made.'to fall just about the-place whero 'forwards-follow-ing up hard will be,'.able to get' to; it. -To do this -with.accuracy and regularity' requires..practice. Nothing is more,disheartening . to forwards or tires then, out moro quickly than futile dashes upfield after kicks .which they, cannot possibly reach before, or at the samo time, as their opponents. Nothing, on tho other hand,, is more .unpleasant for those opponents' than'having to'wail for tho ball.to come down, with the knowledge that fierce, keen forwards are speeding on their way nnd will probably arrive, at the most uncomfortable and inopportune moment.

It is an Australian axiom, that next to getting into the Australian Eleven the iiardest thing is to get out. This cannot bo applied to football so fnr.as the Southern Club is 'concerned feays "Pullback" in tho "Otago Witness"), for we find that S. Casey, ono of the famous All Blacks, was forced to play in the Southern Second on Saturday in order to qualify for senior honours. It should not be necessary to congratulate tho Southern Club on conforming to its rules, but I do in this instance, for reasons that are all too obvious. Up to the last two years the New South Wales Rugby Union has (says the bydney Morning Herald") commanded public interest in New South Wales, but there has been a power that has been gathering unto itself the best players of the parent body, and getting a big sharo of public interest. During tho coming season this new body, tho Rugby Ltague, will m no half-hoarted maimer throw down the gauntlet as a challenge, and with that challengo begins a new era in Australian football. The now body is already a formidable rival of former supreme football authority in the State. Uuring the three years of its existence it has brought to Australia a Now Zealand team and two Maori combinations, has sent a team to England,.and now we are on. tho point of a visit by, an English

An English comment on the recent iHgan y. Snlford match, which was won by the former: "Salford were beaten forward in a match wherein tho genius of Uiarlesbeoling was more than once demonstrated." Private information to hand states that. Seeling is now in business m Wigau as a publican, r. ln ,?i? a ,!t icle ' in a ™»ent number of tho tj if , Footl, a!l Express," Percy P. Bush; the Welsh international, gives a somowhat belated explanation in regard to the try that the New Zealanders claim was scored by the late R. G. Deans in the memorable match against IVaies. Bush says emphatically that Deans did not score, and goes on to remark ':.' I speak with authority on that point, and I'll tell you why. After Deans's grand dash for the line, ho was tackled only inches Outside by Rusty ,Gabe and (I believe) A, P. Harding. I didn't notico that, particularly, though; but he was tackled all right, and the ball was grounded about three inches outside tho line. Another New Zealander grabbed it, forgetting to play it with his foot first, and placed it ovor the lino. I happened to bo on the spot, so to present any misunderstanding I put the ball back in tho exact. place where it had been grounded. That's whero it was when the referee como up, and very properly pronounced 'No try.' I am rather glad to be able to make this public statement, because I was accused only, tho other day of sharp practices in putting the ball outside after it had been grounded for a try. But the facts are just as I have stated, and, although they sound rnther 'Bill Adamish,' I give them ns exactly what happened." ...

No. 1 ground at Karori was not used last week—the inaMi to have been played there was won by default, It seemed regrettable that tho seniors did not go on to this ground, because it appears to havo some advantages over the older ground, No. 3, on which tho match was played. No. 1 ground is more sheltered, and it has not such a pronounced slopo as is seen on No. 3. All the Karori grounds havo a good surface. As one player remarked, "they arc almost smooth enough to play tennis on." The Wellington (earn were minus a number of their permanent forwards. Wilson had to endure another Saturday on the line, not yet being recovered from recent hurls, illills was laid up with influenza, and Gray and West, two other forwards, were also on the "resting" list. The new men, however, were found' to be capable enough, and the team put up a fairly good fight. Hurley, Paul and Kirkwood were promoted from the junior ranks, and Weir came up from

the thirds. The Yellow and Black team arc having a bye to-day, so that, by the time they are next called out to defend their place in the championship—whatever it may lie—their casualty ward, ought to be clear. Compelled through injuries to take a less strenuous position than he usually occupies, llunro, one of the best of forwards, was seen as lull-back tor Wellington. Ho took the ball neatly, and whatever he did was (lone with decision.

Thomas, St. James's full-back, met him at half-way on one' occasion in tho second spell, and from what occurred Munro was justified in saying, us he did, "None of that funny business." When Munro recovers, his presence in the pack will considerably strengthen tho side. ' Durie, one of Wellington's best backs, being smart and tricky, had as his associate on the five-eighths line llurle, who also shows promise of becoming a solid man, fairly clever in attack. With some study of "combination," the Wellington rearguard could bo developed and considerably improved—tho ' rnw material abounds. At one stage in the first spell tho backs were caught hopelessly unprepared, and it was then that Harry Roberts seemed to get through them very much as he pleased. When play commenced everything was in St. James's favour. The Browns, winning the toss, took advantage of both the slope of the, ground and the wind, but the game was not- by any means a onesided romp during the first spell. One would have expected St. James to do greater things under .thesq.exceptionally favourable circumstances. * The general opinion expressed after last Saturday's match was that St. James, to achieve the high place on the list which some of their friends expect them to achieve, will have to raise the standard of their play considerably. E. Roberts was absent from his place in the St. James team last Saturday, having been kept away through an injury to his shoulder, received in tho match of the previous week. Bradley, centre, played a confident game, and his accurate placekicking was of use to his side. The slowness of the whistle led to some questionable play early in tho game, and in the second half Phillips, Moffitt, and Wighton, all St. James men, were hurt, the last-named having to go off the field. Phillips received a knock on the nose, but was able to continue. Moffitt • had his arm damaged in a scramble, and simultaneously Wigbton had his leg hurt.