FOOTBALL.
RUGBY.
(Bt AnisTOßratm.)
Several enthusiasts intend to accompany the New Zealand team on its trip to Australia, arnong the number being Mr. D. Weir.
Two years ago yesterday tho Anglo- , Welsh team met Wellington at Athletic Park. It was in sonio respects . tho most important contest of the tour, for it was tho first real trial of strength between the visitors and a iraok inter-provincial team. Harding's combination were (it -will bo remembered) returned the losers after a good tussle, which ended—Wellington 19 points, Anglo-Welsh 13. ,
, Tho All Black three-quarter E. E. Booth considers tho coming ■ New Zealand team to comprise one of the fastest forward combinations over got, together by New Zealand.
In winning tho Scottish Club Championship the Watsonian F.G. scored 625 points to 50. Their closing match of the season, played against the Jed IForest fifteen, gave them their twen- . tieth successive win in Scotland, but \ they were beaten in Wales at Christinas time by Swansea and Newport. .The record of the club is said to bo ■without- parallel in tho history of Eugby football in Scotland. Honour to Whom, Etc. Who scored the first try for Poueke against Old Boys? Well, most of the spectators in the stand thought it was ' Jffitchinson. But it appears that such Was not the case. "Dooley" Calcinai iad not scored for three years, and prior to the contest he had a vision that the spell was' about to bo broken. And so it happened. When Walsh made the opening m connection with tho scoro in question ''Dooley" backed up and, making no mistake about tho pass, secured the try. May further success attend his efforts.
Discussing the personnel of the New Zealand team, the Sydney "Referee" says:—"Then there is 'Freddie' Roberts, so gentle in his garb of the street; so brave, and big, and brilliant when the colours aro up and lie in 'notion. He,, too, has como from the pavilion shades to again "grapple with the, Marsupial, which is neither a 'Wallaby' nor yet a 'Kangaroo.' Good old Wallaroo 1 Tby name still lives in other eyes than those of the ancient Arnolds. Roberts, whom many of tho Jill Blacks consider to have been tho most finished player among their tacks, has, they say, had some golden offers, from Northern Union clubs in England. But to these he has said •'Nay' with a firm shake of his head." A. Cameron, formerly of Melrose, has ieturned to Wellington, and will (it is ■stated) be found in the ranks of the Orientals. He is a fast forward, with 'a good deal of knowledge of the game.
> A Promising Threo-tiuarter. Pyle,' the ox-Southland representative, attracted a good deal of attention on tho right wing for Orientals in their match against Petone. Of medium .height and strong in build, the newcomer had been, heralded by glowing •> accounts of his ability. And upon'his' J showing last Saturday it is evidenc that. '■ Orientals have 'in him gained a decided 1 , acquisition. To • say that he is a' finished played would ho to over-estimate ■his powers, but no one will deny that he is a very promising exponent of Rugby. It was seen early in the match that, he is a fine kick. His defence, however, was not adequately tested, and he will find that ore long he will have to act more promptly .when his side is being pressed. Perhaps tho most noticeable defect in his play was' the fact that ho stood too far out—at times he looked like the fifth wheel'of a coach. No fault, however, could bo . .found with the way in which he scored this. two tries, and ho . had hard luck in not getting over on another occasion.
T. Baker, formerly of the Athletics iand an ex-Canterbury representative, has returned to Wellington from the West Coast. If any of the teams require a good lock, "Tiny" should fill the bill completely. What his. intentions are in regard to football is not known. There promises to be plenty of hard .matches in the junior championship before the end of the season.. At the present time the only junior team that has won all its matches is'- St.. James. Petono, is second on the list with one drawn match, and then comes Wellington with one defeat., (. Perkinson, who plays for the Tramway team-in the Wednesday competition, gained some prominence last season as a place-kick. This season ho again appears to be in good form, as on Wednesday last he kicked no fewer than four goals for his side.
A Remnant Most Forlorn. Reports are to the effect that Wellington Cjub has unearthed some country representative players for its.senior team and a lively tiino is promised for teams opposing Wellington on : and after to-day. So far during the present season Wellington has not won a match, though it went uncommonly close to being victorious hi its' clash with Melrose. Southern--and Victoria College 'have generally been regarded as "fair game" for Wellington, but the oldest city club will have no easy task to defeat either of these teams this season, all of which proves that Wellington senior team is nothing., more than a remnant most forlolrn of what it was when it won the championship in 1901. The trouble during the past few years appears to have been that it never puts tht same fifteen in the field two Sat urdays running, and in consequence always lacks combination. Country representative players seem to have been the . dow-nfall of the Wellington Club. A couple of years back it was a regular think to hear that the club was "playing a Manawatu representative next Saturday," or a Southland representative, or a West Coast representative, and these "reps." almost invariably proved a long way below the standard of the local junior representatives, with the result that tho Wellington Club was no farther- ahead for the championship each week, while dissatisfaction was brewing among its older members. Its committee ought to have learned a lesson long ago, and yet it 13 still gathering country representatives into tho fold.
Had George Spencer Been There? What would have happened had there been a Geo. Spencer playing at fullback for I'etono on (Saturday when Kinvig scored his splendid try? Probably Kinvig would never have crossed the line unless he did so head first. Undoubtedly, his try was a very pretty piece of play and greatly pleased the spectators, but for all that he was a fair mark for an,- full-back that eared to dive low for him. Nowadays, however, very few full-backs tackle in the same deadly style as Gen. Spencer. The latter was always a trifle slow,, but no one knew this better than he and on that account he always had has eyes glued on fast three-quarters. Itesul? that the more pace an opposing "fce-quarter nosscssed. the haider ho
hit tlio ground when ho came to the Melroso full-back. .
St. James Team: A Weak Spot. The passing of St. James's backs, in their match against Melrose last Saturday, was painful compared with their previous efforts this season. Time after time certain scores wore thrown away, either through a delivery too low or too high, or a knock-on;;::; Championships cannot ho won, with such lack of ''nippiness" as this..
. Melrose are practically all.young players, but.they certainly possess plenty of dash. Their forwards worked splendidly last Saturday, and-"obtained possession from the scrummage nine times out of ten. The trouble was that it seldom got past the live-eighths. Of tho new rules, the one which seemed to bother players in tho Orii- ental-Petouc match most _ > was that which provides that tho bill shall lielong in touch to tho side which is not responsible'far it going out" of bounds. .More than once in the.' co\irsc of tho contest one side or the other attempted to gain ground by close work among 'themselves along the line—a dreary form of 1 plav which the now rule is designed to obviate. "It's my ball, ' often remarked a player when he found himself out of bounds. "Oh, no,' would come the reply, "you were not pushed out." Occasionally, when' a dispute of such a nature arises,' it may prove difficult to decide the point to the satisfaction of all concerned.. What, a contrast the final ton minutes' play of the two matches Oriental-Petone and .. Poneke-Old Boys, presented I . Much below their best form, Poncko were being confined to their quarter by Old Boys. It waß a dreary spectacle, for when Old Boys would apply any pressure Poneko would exert themselves just sufficiently to cause tho attack to fail. In tho excitement which the finale r'. the Oriental-Petone struggle produced tho assistance ' of the Poheke-Old Boys match was practically forgotten. It is oftentimes the unexpected. which happens, and tho unexpected- in this instance was the likelihood of Oriental making good. For some .reason or another > Oriental had never got under way properly, but when they did get going Pctono appeared to be paralysed and lost what seemed certain victory. As far as the crowd was concernedwell "Aristobulus" does not know one who waited to .the.end that feels that he did not'get his money's worth. When these teams meet-in the next round there should -bo another lively bout. .'/ -'
James Ryan Will Make the Trip. . Much sympathy wai felt for .Tim Ryan when he met with his accident in the Oriental-Petono match last Saturday. As howas being assisted to leave the field of play the question arose: Might it prevent him from' making the trip with the New Zealand team? His numerous admirers will, therefore, be glad to learn that ho is making a rapid recovery, but will not be able to play again for a week or two. There can be no doubt but fhat Potono would have been in a bad way without Ryan, for ho was in groat form. His accident (it is . gratifying to record) will not debar him from going to Australia.
Some local residents at tho Hutt havo thken tho matter of the erection of the gymnasium in hand, and with the assistance of the managers of the football 'club it should not bo long before tho undertaking/is', an established fact. ' According, to a correspondent, "Fairplay,", that portion of The Dominion criticism upon tho -personnel of tho New Zealand team which referred to Mynott was not warranted. The particular point to'which exception was taken, by him was ono to the effect that Mynott is not keen on going down to rushes. That Mynott has been a good player in his time cannot bo gainsaid, hut of what avail is that fact if ho has weakened in the direction indicated? With regard to Mynott, "Full-Back" in tho "Otago Witness" has tho following to say:—"Taranaki supplies two backs—Cameron and Mynott. Strangely enough, Mynott's namo does not appear in the nominations. This might point to tho fact that tho All Black is something of an unknown quantity. Mynott is getting such an old hand at the game that it would'bo no surprise! to learn that ho is not the_ player of old. Indeed, my. own opinion is that Mynott was never the same player since the retirement of Hunter) whom ho partnered so successfully." To those who aro doubtful about the wisdom of selecting Mynott it will bo pleasing news that he is in hard training and reported to bo shaninn well this season.
James Leytham ("Wigaiij, who is a member of the Northern "Union team about to tour Australia, is a veiy pow-, erful three-quarter hack. He played against tho New Zealanders in their 1.907-0S tour on six occasions, and scored two tries in four of tho games, and ono try in each of tho others/
To Join the N.U. Ranks. Byrno, whoso name has been closely associated with tho Petono Club for some years past, and' who also was a member of the late A. H. Baskervillo's professional team, has gone to Sydney, where he intends to join the North Sydney Club (Northern Union). It is moro than likely that Byrno will sail for England at tho end of tho, year. Many people anticipated' that Hutt's first win would occur in their match against Southern last Saturday. This might have been tho case had the game ended at half-time. But, as usual, Hutt tired towards the' finish.
Regarding University Men. Pitted against a redoubtable team, whoso chief power lay "iri tho fitnoss of their forwards, Victoria College had aai uphill fight last Saturday, "but they played determinedly, and ' with some show of confidence. Curtayne captains this season a willing fifteen, men who arc sufficiently keen, and to whom greater thing 3 would bo possible if they were adequately trained. A university team must necessarily undergo mote changes, as the seasons pass, than are usually found in other clubs, for the period during which a man can play for his college is invariably a shoit one. This year, Victoria -College has benefited somewhat by the arrival of a few undergraduates who have played the game. When, therefore, those players have become intimate with the requirements of senior football (which is very often first grade only in name),' the College team may be expected io take a higher place on'the championship list.
There are prospects of improvement in the College team by the return to the ranks l of one or two ex-players, and if the expected reinforcement comes about, the woight of the forward pack —the weakest spot—should be increased somewhat. Butcher and De la Mare are mentioned as likely to reappear in the Green jersey. The example of Hardham, lioberts, and Mitchinson may have had a certain influence on theso "retired" players. Crounds at Karori. Doubt existed in the minds of Athletic and. College players al K'arori, when they emerged from the dressingshed, as to which ground the match was to be played on—No. 1 or No. 3. Ground 3 is that previously allotted for senior games, but, as has been pointed
out in this column, No. 1 ground ap-. pears to be more suitable for first-grade matches. As No. 1 ground was not in use when tho teams came out, a little discussion ensued, and, finally, it was unanimously resolved to play the match on tho superior ground. No padding had been placed round tho goal-posts on this ground, and the ' authorities should not overlook the providing of protective swathes if tho ground is likely to remain in use for senior contests.
The match was rcfereed to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the scores represent pretty well tho comparative merits of the team, on tho day's showing. It was a hard tussle,- and College wore surprisingly energetic right to the last whistle. Nevertheless, it was owing to bad luclc (if such exists in football) that the Blue and Blacks did not Imstlo the ball over the College line in tho concluding ten minutes of the match.
Favoured by a light breeze, which died down before the game was ended, the Greens kept on the ball, and spared themselves Jiol at all at the commencement. The Blues, playing n stern game, gradually outmanoeuvred the slim forwards opposing them, and, aided by the slope of the ground (the gradient running from goal to goal), crossed the College border five times before the half-time whistle sounded. There were, only two tries, however, neither of which was converted.
Tho Lone Hand, Kvciison was at his best, and in the opening stages of the game, he was responsible for a good deal of sound attack. In securing tho first try of the day, unaided, ho obtained tho ball in a line-out at halfway, and bore down tho field with a determined stride. The try was lucky, inasmuch as Evenson lost hold of the ball as he approached the line, and, had not the leather bounced back to his grasp as he ran, the Greens, who were on his heels, must have had an opportunity to save the situation. The second try was also practically the unaided work of one man—J. Cunningham, who broke away from midfield, and careered through tho lines without being effectually checked. His brother, A. Cunningham, who played a good wing three-quarter game, received a painful knock during the second spell. Few scoring opportunities came to but in the first half, before any points were scored against them, Phillips made a promising run upfield. An attack by Athletic had fallen through, because of offside play on tho part of Kivell, and' when Phillips turned the tables on the surprised enemy, his efforts might have resulted in a -successful onslaught being made if only' his fellows had backed up promptly. Members of the College team might with advantage studied the principles of combination; Phillips is a reliable five-eighth, and an enthusiast.
Close of a Hard Came. When ends were changed, Fra«k Wilson came on as wing three-quarter for College, in place of Duncan, who was not in form, and who had received a knock on the knee. Pursuing an Athletic invasion, 801 l and' Irvine took the ball neatly past Wilson, but, so, vehement was their attack that, when the ball was at last touched down, tho dead-ball line had been crossed. Wilson had sustained injuries in tho first match of the soason,and, as the aftereffects bad not yet passed away, ho had stood out of the team for a couple of matches.. Ordinarily, ho takes a place in tho scrum.
A. timely mark by Young (centre) saved College from an attack by J. Cunningham as the game was drawing to a close. Young, who was disabled for a few minutes prior to this incident, played an orthodox game, and stood out as one of tho most valuablo of the College backs. Brosnan displayed more energy' than most of tho forwards. . v . One of the last incidents of the match was a half-heartod attempt to score made by Absalom, tho Bluo centre, who ,sadly lacked condition. With the ball tucked under his arm, he came away at a tangent from a molee, and made for the College line. A row of Green hacks wero picketed along tlie goal-line, and Absalom ran from one to another, and finally took the ball out to touch. From down tho line a bit, it looked as if each of tho College men had, in turn, said "Shoo," for not a hand was laid on Absalom.
The following question was recently submitted to the English Rugby Union: Question —An attacking side scrummage on their opponents' five-yard line, the ball is heeled out to the attacking side; they have every opportunity of scoring, hut tho opposing half gots deliberately off-side. What should tho referee do? Answer: If in the reforee's opinion a try would nndoubtcdlly have been scored, a try should be given; otherwise a free-kick should be awarded.
It will he seen by an advertisement in, another column that a footballers' servieo is to bo held to-morrow evening in the King's Theatre, in connection with the 'Wellington. Central Mission. The service is one that appeals specially to men, and will have nothing savouring of sectarianism in it. When in Duiiedin the Itev. Blamires made it a practice occasionally to use the popular sport of the day as a basis for Sunday evening addresses to men.
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Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 12
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3,215FOOTBALL. Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 12
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