FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 101, 8 May 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

BANNER FIXTURES. Sexiob.

May 11 : Kaiti v. West End May 18 : City v. Kaiti May 2-3 : West End v. Huia May HO : City v. West End June 1 : Kaiti v. Huia

J cNioi:. May 11 : City v. Huia May IS : Kaiti v. West End May 25 : City v. Kaiti June 1 : West End v. Huia June 8 : City v. West End June 15 : Kaiti v. Huia

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By “ Tint Whistle."]

Tho 1901 season has opened, and football is in the air. It forms the all-absorb-ing topic of conversation at breakfast, luncheon, and dinner-table. Word from the country districts informs us that shepherds are to he heard, “ when early morning gilds the sky,” chanting “On the dJn.il ” up among the mountain fastnesses of Waimata and To Aral, and it is even whispered in town that football has almost completely superseded the Duchess of Cornwall’s wardrobe as the popular subject round tho afternoon tea table. The wonderful revival in ' the game locally which has followed immediately upon the adoption of the district scheme must bo infinitely gratifying to those gentlemen who worked so hard to secure the reform. That it has already quickened an interest in the game in every part of the district is an established fact, and those who attended last Saturday’s match had ample testimony of the truth of this statement. The beaming countenances of staid business men whoso residences happened to ho on the Whataupoko side, us the score of the lluia team rose higher and higher, evinced the great interest they took in their district team ; while tho frantic barracking of City Fathers, well on in the sere and yellow leaf, as Clearly demonstrated their whole-souled anxiety to see the City win. The same can he said of the residents of West Cud and Knili, and next Saturday an equally satisfactory attendance may be expected. The result of the match last Saturday came as a great surprise to tho majority of the cognoscenti. Tho City were reported to have a strong side, and a large number of new men among their ranks were expected to give a good account of themselves. This expectation was not borne out by their play, and tho lluia side, which included few lint well-known and proved players, had by far the best of it all through the game. Symes, at full back, undoubtedly played a fine game for lluia. He was cool and collected throughout, took the ball well, and kicked splendidly, invariably finding the line with long, well-judged punts. To Hcinfi, linker, and Leah, the threequarters, were a fine trio, and did splendid work. Te lleina and Leah aro wellknown, and it is sufficient to say that they were seen at their host. Baker, the ceutro three-quarter, hails from the West Countrce, where lie played with a .Bristol Club, and is reported to have represented the West of Kugland on one occasion. Be this as it may, ho is undoubtedly a good man. He is of splendid physique, and is just that stamp of player which the inventor of Rugby football must have had in his mind’s eye while he was framing the rules of the game. Standing about six foot in height, ho is close on thirteen stone in weight, and is fast with it. lie played a line all-round game on Saturday, and the only fault to be found with his work was a slight tendency to hang on to the ball too much—an unpardonable blemish in a centro-thrcequarter. .1. Gibson, at live-eighths, was responsible for most of the passing that was done, and he also proved on several occasions that his defence was as sound as ever. Ball, at half, worked conscientiously and well, and is a useful man.' Caulton (the Huia skipper) gave the lio direct to those critics who argued that the best of his days were over, and has rarely played a finer game. Biddell, Blair, Cockcvy, Ngawini, Swan, and McGrath aro first-class moil, and their play on Saturday proved how rich the Huia side are in good scoring men. Cookery and Swan, in particular, aro both dangerous men when near the line, and the, former is, in my opinion, tho most brilliant dodger we possess. Steele, at full, showed that he could collar well, but lie was clearly out of his place. His kicking was weak, and he took too long in gutting the ball away. It is hard to describe the other backs on the City side. None of them, with the exception of Glennie, seemed to know where to take Tip their positions, Thrco-quartors, fiveeighth, half, and wing-forwards seemed to ho mixed up in glorious confusion. AVc heard Duggan, tho City skipper, vainly endeavoring at one stage of tho game to instruct his half at what distance to tako up his position from tho serum. Glonnio is a brilliant man on an attacking side, but is of little service where dogged, stolid defenco is required. Duggan, Freer, Morse, Dixon, and Holland struck me as being about the pick. I think tho formov erred in judgmont in leaving tho forward ranks in the second spell. His dofeetion completely broke up what combination the City possessed, and 19 points against them in in the second spell was tho result. However, his side was completely outclassed, and it was hard to know how to stem tho brilliant rushes of tho H"'a backs. Tho passing of the Huia men on Saturday although brilliant could have been greatly improved upon. Tho men were too far apart, and the pas.-mig much too high. Had a fast five-eights been opposed to them, he could have intercepted time and again. My advice to the local backs is to cultivate the short, sharp, low pass. The men should back up not more than four or live yards apart, and the ball should never be passed higher than tho hips, and should bo sent along in such a manner that the receiver need not break j his stride to secure it. The game on Saturday proved huw great is the necessity for a Deforces' Association here. I have always held that successful referees,like poets, aro born, not made, but oven a poet can bo improved by education. It rests with the clubs themselves whether such an Association be formed or not, as the Union has already invited them to send in the names of players willing to act. I should like to seo an Association formed, and men like A. \V. Bees; J. Colebourne, B. Cole. A. Crawford, and other experienced old players join, even though they do not intend to act at matches, in order that they may give our budding referees the benefit of their advice in interpreting tlio laws of the game. Mr Taylor is to be thanked for officiating in the emergency which arose on Saturday, and I have no doubt that after attending a few meetings of a Deforces’ Association would make a capable referee. Among the amusing things winch happened at the game last Saturday was the referee’s failure to notice, on a couple of occasions, the fact that the line umpire’s ffiig was up, and, after indulging in some brilliant work, and taking the ball to the other end of the ground, the players were greatly suprised at having to return and throw the ball in from the spot where the flag was up. Mr W. Miller, the lion, treasurer of the Union, was present at the match on Saturday, seeing that the machinery was

running smoothly. Tlio Haiti team to play against West End on Saturday next will be selected from the following tr—lV. Coleman, Porter, Ngatai, T. Kirk (captain), J. Murphy, T. Halbert, M. Murphy, Colebourne, A. Robinson, Reynolds, Newton, _ Hansen, Kellett, McKeller, G. Brown, K. Harris, Bright, Black, Eaton, Crawford, \V. Gibson.