FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 137, 20 June 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON v. NELSON. SEVERE DRUBBING FOR NELSON By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The representative football match, Wellington v. Nelson, played to-day, was won by the homo team by thirty-one points to nothing. Nino trios were scored, two of which wero converted. Tho visitors wero outclassed in ovory point of the game, though the stato of the ground may havo had something to do with their poor display. Tho game was really a scramble in mud and water, which was ankle deop all ovor tho field. It also rained heavily during tho play,

NOTES AND COMMENTS. [By “ The Whistle.”]

The junior match between Hum and Kaiti on Saturday afternoon last did not give one the impression that either club was strong in the number of young players they possess. Each club took tho field several men short, and it was well on towards tho close of the first spell before cither team had a full complement of players on tho field. We think that the districts might each vory well devote a little more attention to their juniors, and appoint capablo men to coach them, and keep them together generally. A great number of the junior matches so far this season havo cither been forfeited, or else one side has abandoned the contest after playing for half an hour or so. Very few of the games have been played right out. This is a most unsatisfactory stato of affairs. The junior players havo no guarantee that they will get a game, after riding perhaps ton or twelve miles to keop a Union fixture. We arc inclined to the belief that tho district scheme is not altogether a success as applied to juniors. We should like to see the Union give the matter its attention, and see if they cannot induce the districts to sec that their junior fixtures are kept. Wo feel sure that three or four junior teams could be put in the field from tho Huia district alone, and yet that district could only find twelve men to take tho field at tho commencement of tho match on Saturday. The boys of to-day are the men of to-morrow, it should be remembered, and the Union should fostor by every means in their powor an interest in the game among the voung players. Tho struggle for the banner will bo renewed at Tucker’s paddock on Saturday next, when Kaiti and City will meet in the second round of fixtures. Both clubs will be weaker than they have yet been this season. City will be without the services of Glennie and King, who havo gone up country, aud they will also miss Zaehariah and Davidson, who have gone South with the East Coast Mounted Hides to the Ducal celebrations. As City are short of backs, we should like to see Quinn tried at five-eighths. He is fast, kicks and passes well, and possesses an intelligent conception of the game. We feel confident his inclusion among the backs would strengthen the City team considerably. Kaiti will be weakened by the defection of Brown and Newton, who have also gone inland. City, wo hear, have secured the services of a good forward in Ivcson, late of Marton, a one-time lvangitekei rep. player. On the last occasion on which these districts tried conclusions, a most exciting game resulted, and we predict the match on Saturday to be an equally close one. We are pleased to notice from Southern exchanges to hand that the leading football scribes in the South Island are now substantiating what we wrote in these columns over a month-ago on the subject of wing-forwards. In the Otago Witness, of date°June 5, appears the following:— The suspension of two players by the Otago Rugby Football Union for rough play, and the several accidents on the field repeated last week, says the Press, again causa the reflection that the Rugby game in New Zealand is not so remarkable for its scientific skill as it is for its " willingness.” If the game is a “ willing” one then the spectators go away fairly well pleased; if any players are so unfortunate as to get “ laid out ” the individual who accomplished the “ laying out ” is a little hero for the time being. There is no doubt that Rugby football is the most popular game in New Zealand. It draws the public as cricket has never done of recent years. It brings excitement, and the possibility of danger is ever-present, therefore it 'is popular, for the Anglo-Saxon dearly loves a “ thrill,” especially when he can get it as cheaply a 3 he can at a New Zealand football match. But the question arises whether the game is not losing in science through the prevalence of sheer “ bullockin,, ” Drop-kicking appears likely to become a Tost art, place-kicking is sadly on the wane, and individual'brilliance rather than excellence of combination marks the play of the backs The introduction of the wing forward has been followed by a roughness of play not at all desirable. Most often these wing forwards are engaged in personal scumes that sometimes turn to disgraceful “ scragging matches. Many experienced judges of the oame are unhesitating in their condemnation of the wing forward, Who, if he is not wrestling with his vis-a-vis, is playmg oft- . side. In some parts of the colony the wing i forward has been tried, has been found ■ wanting, and is a thing of tho past, It

nught be well for the future of the game if the New Zealand Union passed a law consigning that style of play to the limbo of oblivion. There is no grace and, in the majority of cases," no skill in the wing forward. Hi 3 proper place is in the pack, where he can do his share of legitimate hustling.

While watching the progress of tho junior match at Tucker’s paddock on Saturday last, I was approached by a gentleman of venerable aspect, whom I judged from the steely glitter in his eyes to be in no angelic frame of mind. “ Sir,” he addressed me, “ may I ask if you are connected with the local press ?” I softly admitted the impeachment. “ Then,” he continued, “ perhaps you can inform me where the exciting contests are taking place on this ground this afternoon.” I directed his attention to the Huia and

Kaiti junior match, but the lads were at that moment taking a breather, and the contest could by no stretch of imagination be described as “ exciting.” The old gentleman cast upon me such a withering glance of scorn that I hastened to exclaim : “Pardon me, my venerable friend; but what induced you to believe that exciting contests were taking place here today '?” “I tell you,” he retorted, “that I read in a local print, damp from the press, not half-an-hour ago, that a football tournament was in progress on this ground, and that some exciting contests were taking place.” “My dear sir,” I replied ; “ your eyes must have deceived you. The writers on our local journals in general, and the football editors in particular, bear a colonial reputation for veracity.” This was too much for the old gentleman, and he broke into a kind of weird chant, the burden of which seemed to be an anathema on the members of the fourth estate in general, and in particular upon the scribe who had penned the lines which had induced him to invest sixpence at the gates in order to witness “exciting contests,” which existed only in the fertile imagination of the writer. Mine ancient friend abruptly left mo, presumably to demand his money back from the gatekeeper. Tire Kaiti senior fifteen to play against City next Saturday will be selected from the following:—Ngatai, Kirk, Porter, J. Murphy, Halbert, Reynolds, Bright, MeKellar, Robinson, Harris, Brophy, Eaton, M. Murphy, Colebourne, Hansen, Cleary, and Coleman