FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 21 May 1910, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

—. —( . , RUQBY. (Bγ AniirroßUHJfl.) SHOULD THERE BE A CAUTION LIST? : A variety of opinions was expressed by followers of the game, when it became known last Saturday that no matches were to be played in the af"ternooii. It appears that two members of the Postponement Committee came to the conclusion that the matehos should be played, but later two other members of the committee countermanded this instruction, with tho result that a aotice was put up to the effect that the matches were "off." . It is true that the rain was very heavy at midday, but as-it turned out, the afternoon : proved quite suitable for football. In this connection it is interesting to note that tho caretaker at Athletio Park reported that the grounds Were in a fit state. At the meeting of the Management 1 Committee of the W.R.F.U. on Wednesday evening, Mr. Peters drew attention to the unsatisfactory position which had arisen. Ho thought that tho Postponement Committee should deride definitely at noon each Saturday whether the matches should be played, ■ »nd should on no. account alter that decision. The committee, however, denided that the Postponement Committee should meet at noon ovory Saturday, but might reverse their decision on the question at any time prior to 1 P-™-< provided that every member who had attended the earlier meeting consented. If .the'filial decision were given at noon it would be much more satisfactory to suburban players and followers of the game'who cease work at that hour. The English papers never seem to lose a chanco of having a dig at New JSoaland when anything rotating to foot- ■'.' bill is discussed. The latest subject is the prohibiting of leather spikes on the hoots, and commenting on tho mattor the "Athletic News" says:—"Tho English team picked up tho idea of pointed spikes from towns in South Wales, and the Welshmen had learned the notion from the New Zealanders." Evidently they havo never forgiven the "All Blacks" for their shattering of English football ideals. New President of N.Z.R.U. The election of Mr. R. Galbraith. of Southland, to the position of president of tho New Zealand Rugby Union was a well-deserved honour. , It is now a number of years ago since he actively participated in the game. Old players /.will remember him for the keenness i and vigour which characterised his 'play. Since that time. "Bob." has kept closely in touch with the game. Last year it will be' remembered he was nominated, for- tho presidentship, but was unsuccessful. It is interesting to note that he intends to set a good example to future holders of the office by coming to Wellington to attend those meetings of the Management Committee at which important matters are to be discussed.

: Aβ an illustration iof the ingenuity and the naive' artfulness of the modern Rugby player nothing could surpass a method of Booring,- evidently pre-ax-ranged,, which was tried in. a recent inatch at Swansea, at the exponse of tho Cardiff team. Swansea held an advantage in the 'scrummages, but every attack was well checked by tho Cardiff backs; so on a scrummage being formed iiear tho Cardiff goal line the Swansea forwards heeled out, but carried on tho Bcrummage without the ball, and forced their opponents back over the goal line. R. M. Owen, thrusting, among them with the ball, touched down, and was awarded a try. This .amounted to something like a reductio ad absurdum of the modern tolerance pf .heeling out, as tho forwards must have been actively and not merely paseively obstructing their opponents while off-side, but (remarks the "Field") tho decision was accepted without demur; in fact, to have questioned ite legality would have occasioned surprise.

"Black List' , Not Favoured. An interesting point cropped up at e recent meeting of the Referees' Association. The chairman expressed tho opinion that a number of playera had a habit of regularly using doubtful methods in thoir play until cautioned by the referee. Ho went on to say that an old player had informed him that it was quite a common thing to hear every week at the gymnasium some players boast of the fact that they had been "cautioned again last Saturday." In some other centres there was what was called , caution list" in vogue. This (he explained) was a book in which Tefereoa regularly entered tho names of players, whom they had cautioned. Tho object of tho system of "the black list" was.to ensure that if the' players in question continued to offend they might bo ordered off the field without a further caution. Other members ventilated thoir views on the subject, but it was decided that the. adoption of' a caution list was not desirable, as if euch were in vogue referees would naturally bo inclined to keep a special eye on listed players. Pile, a Southland representative, has taken up his residence in Wellington, snd will play for Oriental. He is reported to be a promising three-quarter, 'who,'with a little more experience, may make a name for himself in Rugby. In tho'banks match this week he acquitted himself well. ' Colonials and the Rules. It seems a pity, l 'says the "Athletic News," tho J liter-Colonial Conference between representatives of the New Zealand, Qneusiand, and Now South Wales Jlugby Unions had not been delayed by some weeks. Then they might havo learned to what extent the International Board,, at their March meeting at Edinburgh, had determined to sanction altoratiaiis in tho rules of tho game. Somo of tho suggestions mado a long timo ago by the Australasian authorities have, it is understood, been accepted by tho board, more particularly those having regard to touch play, taking a ball into touch, and length of the throw-out, but not many more. Still, the colonial delegates, oven though they made many alterations in the laws, were not over pressing in their requests that all of tboso should bo approved by tho Homo authorities. Quito humbly they asked that, though their changes might not meet with the approval of the Rugby Football Union, they might bo allowed to suit local and climatic necessities, it being pointed out _ that .while the alterations would obtain in' matches played under the jurisdiction of tho three colonial unions, they would not apply to matches with bodies outside of Australasia and Now Zealand, in which eases the laws as issued by the Rugby Football Union should, govern the contests.

"Talce it from me," snys Fred Wood, who captained the "Wallabies" against the Californinn team in 'Frisco, "there ore mighty few teams in England, Wales, Australia, or elsewhere that could put a bettor sot of forwards in tho field than those who played against us. I have played in many matches in many lands, but for determined fighting spirit I have nnver seen anything to surpass the Gnliforliinii boys. Their utter disregard of possible injury makes them a, hard lot to beat, and there does not appear to be any chance too great

for them to take. I can see that it will not be many moons before tho players here will bo able to hold their own with tho best Rugby teams in tho world." Club or District Scheme? ' The crisis in Auckland Rugby affairs has naturally increased interest in this season's prospects (says tho "Weekly News"). There is still a fair amount of speculation an to whether tho clulx system will bo an improvement the district rciieme, but many good judges cunsi'i.li.'r that tho competition, will I;o keener. l>y tho average Auckland footballer l-lio change is not yet fully appreciated, for the presenWay player was very young whon tho district scheme was inaugurated, and has, therefore, becii educated to recognise his residential quarters as the only place ho could play for. Southerners, however, havo never taken kindly to the Auckland system, oven though, they have been able in tho majority of cases to go and resido in whichever district they wished to play for. After careful perusal of the clubs' prospects, it will generally be conceded that the outlook for good matches this year is bright. In addition several representative matches will bo played. Of these the one that will, no doubt, attract the greatest attention is that between Auckland and Wellington. Other matches contemplated aro against Taranaki and Canterbury. Tho Rugby Union players of this country seemed to have developed an unusual bont for touring, says the "Athletic News." Tho names of the side blossed by the International Board and soon to depart for South Africa, on a strenuous mission, will one of , these days be announced; there is word of a 'Varsity mission to the North Pacific Coast in September —something definite may soon, be heard on the subject now that Mr. R. V. Stanley has returned home —and tho announcement is now made that a Rugby Union team will'leave this country on April 29 for a two months' tour to the Argentine. This side may be skippered by J. E. Raphael or A. D. Stoop, so that it is evident tho Harlequins', skipper is not bound for South Africa. It is not likely the opposition in the Argentine Republic will bo of such quality as that in our colonies, and the men ought to have a good time on the trip. Comment on N.U. Touring Team. The English Northern Union team, now on its way to Australia to play matches with the Rugby League in the Continent and New Zealand, is certainly a formidable combination on paper, and if it only lives up to its, alleged character, there should be somo exciting struggles..' There are 26 in the crowd, and they aro said to bo "the. pick of England." Well, the nick of England may mean much or little. In. Union Rugby it would mean nothing; but the Northern Union does get some of the brawn 'of the nation into itssport, and the chances are that in this case "the pick" means a good deal. The team is said to bo particularly fast, and to includo men who havo kicked up soine dust on the running tracks in a quiet way. This inclusion of professional runners is a good scheme if the team has been brought up to make use of them properly. Many years ago the. old Monticillo Club in Dunedin included two professional runners, Skiteh and Noell, and when in the field the other 13 players simply played to feed these two flyers, who always ran together, ■and .passed pno to another. The result was that the Monticillo crowd, which was largely composed 'of blacksmiths and other ironworkers, became great and terrific. It stamped all teams flat and raged like a heathen, and bo horrific did its reputation become that.the small kids were scared into being.good by the threat to send them to be eaten by the Monticillo roughs. But it wasn't their roughness that cut the ico; it was their two fast runners and the loyal action, of the rest of the team in sacrificing all individual opportunities to let the two flyers loose. —"Bulletin."

Tho agreement between tho Northern Union and the players to tonr Australia arid Now Zealand respecting conduct on and off tho field is particularly strict as regards discipline, but the men have, without exception, loyally bound themselves to observe strictly all tho conditions. The managers are to have full power, and misconduct is to be punished with severe penalties. Some club officials .are most anxious as to the' safe return of their players nest September (says tho Auckland "Star"), and evidently fear colonial inducements which will unquestionably be offered. The transfer rules are, however, protective in every sense of tho term, and a player must secure his transfer from the club at Home before negotiations can be opened with colonial clubs. Further, before tho players can participate in any profits,they will need to return to England, and should the tour prove a financial success colonial inducements Vill need to bo large, for tho fact should not bo overlooked that a long qualification is now necessary for players who ignore the rules.

Oxford and Cambridge to Tour America. From New York it is. reported definitely that a combined Oxford and Cambridge Rugby football team will shortly visit tho "United States and Canada to play a series of games against tho Canadian and Western Universities. A match may bo arranged in New York city if a college team can be secured. The team will arrive in Canadian September, ■ and play matches against M'Gill, Toronto, and other, Canadian Universities. The Britishers will.then journey k> Winnipeg, and then go on to Vancouver, 8.C.. before proceeding to California. Matches have been arranged with the Universities of Nevada, Chicago, California, and other Western institutions. Since the outcry against tho American college' gamo the AVestern Universities have taken up the Rugby game, which has become very popular, but it has not gained much favour in the East. Pennsylvania,' Y'alo, and Harvard have Rugby teams, but those are only second class, and Would bo no match for tho English. An effort, however, will be made to assemble a combined Eastern college team to meet tliem. Tho trip has been arranged by the Universities of California and Stanford, who aro the chief advocates of Rugby in the United, States.