FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 12

FOOTBALL

- i —.— RUUBY. £Bt AniSTOBOLUS.J THE SPEECH BY MR. GALBRAITH. ARE WE GROWING UNEASY? Donninp the Jersey. Tho. chill of approaching, winter is in the air, the cheerful voice of the cricketer *is departing, and the thunder of football ( argument is beginning. The clubs have ■ met in customary korero.'the same thread- - bare platitudes have been spoken by presidents and other officials, tho same weary old remarks have been made about ' "simplifying tho rules," the same 'futilities about "it is to bo hoped that mem,bers will train assiduously," etc., have figured in annual reports, and now wo only await the Great Same-ness—the N.Z.R.U. annual meeting—to happen. We shall no doubt hear then tho eamo old hoary statement that "Rugby football -was never stronger in the annals of tho Dominion than it is to-day." Well, let us hope so. Let us join in wishing it a prosperous passage in the troubled waters through which the old winter game must now soon sail. Anyhow, tho .' coining of the game itself is a change, and all changes are lightsome. We have lazied through the pleasant summer weather in attendance on gentler pastimes, • and it was a good time, but every man with red blood'in his veins will welcomo the -advent of colder days and rougher sport, with rather more dash in it,than the pastimes of summer possess. Good Prospects and—To-morrow? Prospects may, as yet, be taken for franted where Rugby football in New ealand is concernecl. Whether it will always be'so is a question that' mayarise to-morrow or the day after, but can easily be brushed aside to-day. It has , been brushed asido very neatly of late by nabobs of tho Rugby game—of which more anon. Moanwhilo, let U3 note that the speeches' at meetings havo not been ALL platitude. There has been ono change. Watchers have detected a dash Of uneasiness, It can scarcely bo characterised as an awakening of enterprise, for, to bo frank, it is quite a long time since anybody in New Zealand said anything original or inspiring about Rugby. From men who have played for many years •omething in the nature of searching criticism with a keen eye to radical improvement might reasonably be expected. 'At the average football meeting any expectation of the kind will be defeated. There is a widespread tendency to stop at generalities, perfectly correct in 'one, ■but disappointingly vague. , An enterprising gentleman, who proposed at one club meeting that the wing-forward should bo abolished, stood out as a lonely exception. W : e may agree or' disagree .:,with his contention, but it is a pity that there aro not more like him among tho men !who'handle Rugby. Slightly Frayed. /.L'o be needlessly pessimistic is objectionable and unwise, but it is.a greater crime, where the fate of a national sport is at stake, - to be vaguely optimistic. Rugby has so long lorded it among our sports that to hint at its possible decline and fall is an ungrateful task. Yet the possibility is as real as the present slightly frayed, popularity;'of tho winter game. Tho mere rise- pi' . professional football may .not' in ■ itaeKX'constituto any grave danger fd the amateur sport. But there are other things. Among tho' plavcrs themselves neglect of training-is a general fault. At each club meeting ono hears,-that the:teams had to meet opponents who were better .-.trained, but these superior teams are hard to unearth, for almost everywhere the same confession of neglect is uttered. Old hands aro numerous who state without reserve that the game is not what it used to be, and no one will question the validity of their criticism. - .Many of the alleged contests witnessed in Wellington last year wero neither more nor less than loose, slow, and ill-organised scrambles. To describe them as football were simple charity. And don't blame, the referee for this. It is not whistling which is slowing the game, but the tired legs of players/who are only too glad to hear the whistle go. An Official Utterance. _ Mr. . N. Galbraith (treasurer,' of the New Zealand Rugby Union) is an optimist of the approved familiar brand. Speaking three weeks ago, to the players of the Wellington Club, , ho told tiiem that the position of amateur football in New Zealand was assured. The professional game would never prosper in this country. In the latter portion of Ins address Mr. Galbraith quoted the secretary of the New South Wales Rugbv Union in support of an opinion that ft was only a matter of timo when the amateur game in that Stato would be as prosperous as it ever was. .The Cable that Frightened Thorn. This last contention was somewhat discounted next day. when tho following cable caino to hand from New South ,VV ales :— "Owing to the large numbers of the footballers going over to tha League, , the Rugby (Jniuu is in a weak position, and is unable to offer clubs assistance. It is probable tho nuin- • her of clubs will be considerably decreased." Not one gleam of logic shines over Mr. Galbraith's sea of platitude. Bv what cause does professionalism become posT? Eie ' i ot ' CTOn a 'temporary glamour? lossibly our platitudinarian might reply .that the glamour has a golden sheenIliac it is the glitter of "an allowance lor loss of time and expenses." If that were tho wholo story, Mr. Galbraith's buoyant speech might do. But is it? Give Us Moro than Platitudes! By no means. The "temporary glamour of the professional game" does not come altogether from the golden "allowance." . This is not a temporary feature, but ono that will last exactly as Ion" as the professional game. Possibly tho allowance may be increased, which would no douht increase the brilliance of its attendant aureole. This being granted, it appears that the glamour of professionalism, temporary or otherwise, must rest oh some other foundation than one of filthy lucre. It would therefore appear to have .been i'dr. Galbraith's boimden duty, as a prominent official of the Rugby Union, to show that, whatever the glamour of professionalism might be, the amateur game exerted a. superior call. This he did not do, and tho neglect transforms his optimistic pronouncement into a confession of weakness. Only on« position is.open to real supporters of tho amateur game. Either it is now a better sport and invested with! an attraction •superior (save in the matter of payment) to that of the professional game, or it is inferior, and every nerve should be strained to remedy tho defect. When an enemy appears, arrayed in any kind of glamour, talking platitudes, about "tho higher traditions" will not mend tho matters. Tho thing to do is to arm for tho fray, and be aggressive. That involves, in this case, a searching scrutiny of the rules and administration of Rugby, fearless pruning where it seems good, nnd spirited, tireless development. The "traditions" of the game will no doubt stand untarnished, but adding to them means work. i When a man of standing in tho Rugby world gets upon his feet ho should give its adherents a lead. If, instead, he leans gracefully upon what has been raised in the past, and announces that nil is well, his words are apt to sound unconvincing. Among thoughtful observers they will strengthen an impression that decrepitude and decay are creeping in upon the good old gamo- of Rugby, and that its friends are not so alert and ready as they might be to fend off these dismal visitants. Root of tho Trouble—Slow Games. Most of the matters discussed at the ■meeting'of the Wellington Union wero 1 1 merely local interest, but one point .of

general interest was stated by Mr. Weir. It was as follows:— It was said that the League game was more 'open. That might bo granted. But was a moro open gamo going to give more enjoyment to those who participated? 'i'hc ordinary individual who worked at his Da able to keep going n ah- open game .They did not want this. They wanted to embrace everybody anil ...anybody so long as his reputation was good. The other game was i„f'"-'n '". t,vo . Cfintrcs - Tl »s was «uo to Rugby mismanagement. Last season one of tho unions set to work and disqualified a club for practically nothing. The players disqualified wished to play a game, and they played the other game. The point is interesting but, unfortunit is not quite true. Is tho quantity 01 training demanded for a fast game so great that artisans and others could not find timo for it? How much training is necessary? Why, just fifteen minutes- ot sprint racing four nights a week, and, if any artisan says ho cannot lind ,ime for that, one suspects him of being insincere. Far more time is wasted in passing (at a jog-trot) up and down a dusty hail, and it does no good so tar as increasing wind, pace, and enduraneo goes. Thoso coaches who call it training ought to bo towed - outside, and dropped off a high place. '•- But it is just that fifteen minutes of sprint-racing-on Monday night, on Tuos- ««>" "'i'ht, on Wednesday night, and on ihursday night, that players are- imwillmg to carry out. It is too "hard." .besides, they know very well that there are so many mere "walkers" on everv lootball field that, if they just "walk" too, they will never be noticed. In fact ihty know—and they must grin sometimes when they think of it—that there aro newspapers which will mention them tor good play," no matter how badly 'hey perform. This makes slow games, .and. tho public lovo motion, and will turn to the game which gives them motion. And, if the public once turn away from Rugby-well, that is tho end. _ This is only one of the ailments which is troubling poor Rugby, and thero aro hosts of others as yet untouched by sneakers at: meetings. Ono of tho best things perhaps done is tho suggestion made- in the annual report of tho New Zealand Referees' Association that steps should be taken to simplify the ease law. Levin Shield Competition. When tin! Levin Shield was first presented to tho Wellington Football Club, competitions wore hold in connection withit for a number of years, but when the elub experienced a period of ill-fortune, tlie Levin Shield was for a number of years almost forgotten. In 1909, when'a little lite was infused into the old club ■ tho competition was revived, and though last season the club was unable to fix a suitable date for tho games, the present season is not to bo let pass in the same way. Newtown Park has been =»- cured for this afternoon, and there the shield will be competed for. The following events compriso tho programme;— (1) boal-kicking, including drop-kicking and place-kicking from different angles and different distances; (2) long-distance kicking, drop-kick and punt; (3) line-kicking, drop-kick, and punt; (4) 50yds. running championship; (5) 100 yds. running championship; (0) 220 yds. running championsnip; (7) dribbling rus'h, teams of four to have the ball six times, and cover 120 yds.—quickest time to win; (8> passing rush, teams of four to handle the ball six times each, and cover 120 yds.—quickest time. competitions are . over tho Wellington Club will hold three practice matches. Possibles will bo pitted against I rotables to assist in the'selection.-of tho senior team. Seniors will play iuniors and thirds will play fourth! At least that is the programme, but it will dep»nd on the attendance of members. "