RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

[Bl AEI3TODTOC3.]

Neatest of the Neat, J. P. Ryan, of Victoria College team, holds the honour of giving the Wellington Rugby Union the neatest dig it has ret received. Messrs. Davey and Ryan waited on tlio union last Wednesday night, and asked for some sort of a grant respecting "Victoria College's: match with Auckland University. Mr. Davey spoke, and was toid that the union could not make any promise in advance; it would have to sco what tho "gate" realised. Mr. Davey: Perhaps Mr. Ryan would like to say something. ■ Mr. Ryan: Oh, no. Only this: I dont suppose that, this union wants to be outdone in generosity by a union like Auckla jh\ Hales: Auckland is a wealthy union. ■ Mr, W. Perry. And wo are poor. ) Mr. Ryan (very quietly): Yes, but you re proud.

How Melrose Bffli Athletic. Last Saturday Athletic were' beaten by Melrose. , . ... There are a dozen ways of inakin" this statement, but tho one chosen is plainer and briefer than the others. One might talk about doubtful tries, and lucky wins, and angry spectators; but tho only thing that satisfies he who drives this particular .quill is to say that Athletic are now credited with a Win which they did not get. ; • The match was awarded to Athletic by. 13 points to 10. " Athletic's points were reckoned thus: Try by Bell, converted by Evensen (5); try. by E. Roberts, unconverted (8); try by S. Wilson, converted by Evensen (13). , Before S. Wilson was awarded A try Melrose were leading by 10 to 8, and there was no-other scoro after Wilsons. So. had Wilson's "try" been disallowed the gamo would; probably have gone to Melrose. „ . „ ~ Wilson got over in full view of those on the stand, and the press gallery had as clear a view of tho affair as it was possible to get. Tho .movement from vhit'h Wilson got over, was initiated by E Roberts in Melrose's twenty-five, lhe ball flew through the hands of Robinson, KveiisDii, M'Donald, and on to S. Wilson, who got the oval near the side-line, and cut in. He was collared and passed, arid as he fell he grounded the ball, Ihe leather at that time was not over the line, 'on the line, or touching the lino; but it was in> the field of play-jnst in. . It remained there a moment, and then son lifted it up, and placed it on the other side of tho line. Mr. Simpson, the referee, had a full view of the affair, and lie awarded a try.

The Rule-Book's Voice. let us quote tho rule on "tackle":—"A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side, so that he cannot at any moment while he is so held pass or play it." : -To this rule there is appended a note, from wliich wo extract the following:— . ' ' A player cannot be considered as • tackled unless he is so held that he cannot pass or play tho ball. Thus, if a player is collared ... he may pass tho bail, even though he has been brought to the ground, and d'he ball has touched the ground, and he.may, should he be within reaching distance of the touch or goal-lines, place the . ball in touch,, or score a try. It, Should-bo noted, however, that he

should do so'immediately. ... Tho whole thing turns upon tho word "immediately." Wilson, did not lift the ball "immediately." _ In other words, tho ball lay on tho wrong side of tho hne long enough to be regarded as doad, and, therefore, a try should not have been allowed.' The appeal, however, can be made as the matter is ono of fact, and •the referee is the sole judge, of fact.

Another Interesting Phase.. This, however, is not the end. An official of the Rugby Union and one of the referees wlio does a good deal of controlling on Athletic Park, state that E. Roberts's' "try" ;■ was no - try atall. lioborts, they say, made .a positively brilliant divo for the line, but was held up and thrown (not gently) in field without ever getting the ball within a foot of the However,-'such 1 is the good old game! Hard luck, Melrose! Tho Star Game Won by "Legs."

"Legs" and nothing else won the Oricn-tal-Petone fixture last week—"legs and "wind." These are two big essentials to seekers for championship honours, and tho lack of .these winning assets was observablo on the Oriental side in the closuring stages of'tho encounter. " It is 'not suggestedthat Oriental are not trained—not by any Petono possessed that "last ounco which meant 1 " everything. ' < Why "the last dash" was missing on the side of the White and Black's is a question which the} can . best answer themselves. Had they , stuck-to the pace which they started with, victory would cer&inly have been theirs.

Petone a Hundred Per Cent, Better. For a big game, tho play was excellent, and, throughout, tho absenco of "dirtr and unnecessary kicking .were manifest. Pctone's play was a. hundred per cent, better than that shown in any of their previous games, and particularly in the forwards. In this department, the "Blues" frustrated their opponents in almost every move, more especially in tho second half. Parrant and the "Winger" Position.

The two tries obtained by were tho outcome of capital movements initiated by little, tho Oriental half. In cach caso," however, Parrant (Pctone's winger) should havo smothered the opposing half and thus prevented the opening being made. Parrant, however, is a player who den-ands the position of wing forward, in spite of what tho selectors'desire, and, consequently, opposing teams can afford to "smilo up their sleeves."

The Oriental Backs and Forwards. Undoubtedly tho best back on tho "town" team's side was Kinvig> not only was his attacking and running of tho best, but his line-kicking w;as superb.

'Little, the half-back, -was as nippy as ever, and cleverly- beat tho opposition on a, number of occasions.

For safety Carrtul at full was in a sphero by himself, and saved certain scores timo after time. M'Keowen and M'Ltod were a good pair, and Sullivan only needs a little more experience to take him to. the top of tho football ladder

In the forwards Perry and Gillespio wer? easily tho best of a hard-Working pack. Best played a fair game, but is too fond of ■ off-side play.

Petone's Leadinfl Lights. The Petone forwards have by continuous training improved to a very great extent, and Price, Tapling, Heady, and Parker were a quartet of dashing rush starters. M'Kenzio and E?nisden played as ono man. B. Ryan had a "day off," and was a long way below hi» best'. Jottings on Play at Mic Park, The Melrose men Showed very even quality throughout, and it would be invidious to particularise to any great extort. Tho two Sullivans, Gilchrist, and (Jakes were prominent amongst the forwards, but tho Melrose pack te ono that does not carry any "passengers. The «am© mav bo-said of the Athletic forwards. "Kangi" Wilson was us usual prominent whenever there was warm work in hand. As to the backs, E. fiobens, the Athletic half, played a bnlliant game both in attack and defence, and succcsstully stemmed a number of ugly rushes. Lvcnsen also played a capital gams, and Ins lino and goal kicking were irreproachable. S. Wilson and Madden were lively in attJTho Melrose backs a combination

were inferior to the opposing rearguard, particularly in attack. In the final phase of tie game, Capper, the Melrose fullback, did eome splendid defensive work. Ho was mover flurried and always got in liis kick, and een.t the ball where it would do most good to his side. On several occasions he opened promising attacks, and it was not Jus fault that they were not driven homo.

A Good Sport Retiring. . .. E G. Irving, who was to have played five-eighth for Poneko seniors this year, has' definitely retired from the game. Irving was unfortunate enough to get hurt in n friendly match just before tlio cup fixtures commenced, and since then has decided not to play again. He played a good game for the Black and jtctl last season, and was selected for the Wellington 13 team which went to Napter. Prior to coming to Wellington ho played on tho We-st Coast of the other island, whero ho captained the Coast team which distinguished itself by defeating the laranaki team which ran over Wellington and Canterbury, and thrashed other teams on its tour. Irving has also represented Nel.son, and the South Island country team. His retirement means the loss of & useful playor and a first-rate sport.

Hereditary. The match on the No. 2 ground at the Park last Saturday well maintained the reputation of games played on this field. It was just as pitiablo an affair as any of its ancestors, .and it .made anyone who spared a glance at it just as ill. . It is a shame to liavo. the few j;ood men in these clubs attached to such fifteens. Language. Football i 9 no parlour game, and no amount of.' control will ever make it so. It is a vigorous game for strong men, ana perhaps it gets some of its popularity because it is sometimes ultra-vigorous. When the players "see red," tho spectators are apt to do it likewise, and it is because tho spectators of the Poneke-Wel-lington match last week, at Miramar, did not behavo quite nicely that this paragraph is printed. The supporters of both teams .shouted encouragement to their friends with about equal lustiness, but the Poneke barrackcrs did a little more. The referee did not please them always; and they shouted various exhortations to him to do most unpleasant things. Some of the language, too, was hideously expressive, and more of it was bad in the more ordinary way. There was a policeman somewhere —no was at the gate when the game was over—but apparently he thought the only crowd of people in his district for the time being did not need his attention. Unfortunately, these are the sort of occurrences about which the Rugby Union can do nothing.- The referee did not deserve the special displeasure of tho Poneko supporters. His decisions were not all correct —some were decidedly wrong —but he was quite impartial in his wrongness. His worst fault was that he blew the whistle far too frequently.

Wellington-Poneke Clash. About the game there is little to be remarked. The Wellington forwards, especially when bunched, were very much better than the red and black men, and were really unlucky in not being sble to press home ono of their many assaults. Their chief obstacles, were Mitchinson, Tilyard, and Gardener, who did sonuspecially fine defensive work. Mitchinson did an inconceivable amount of saving for his side, and altogether played a magnificent game, but he spoiled a good day by one action, done when the blood at the end of the game. For Wellington, Grace was disappointing, failing repeatedly to take the ball from passes,, and giving' more bad passes than good one 9. Lambert was the best of tho backs, but the othfers played a tolerably good game. Tho best forward in the i Black and Golds, and tho best on tho l ground was Miller, who kept up a wonderful pace to the' finish, and made one or two fine dashes for the lino which deserved better luck.