FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 433, 4 June 1902, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

j By “ Pho Whistle.” | The three senior teams engaged in the competition for the Poverty Bay Rugby Union's senior banner have each been seen on the playing-field, and some estimate of their respective strength can now be formed.

West End still holds the place of honor. This Club wound up last season by winning six matches in succession, and have already placed a couplo of wins to their credit this season. Tboyhave undoubtedly a strong fifteen, good in both back and forward departments, and have the further advantage that all their, men aro available for training purposes. When these facts are considered, it is difficult to understand why West End’s fifteen does not give a more scientific interpretation of the game of Rugby football than they have presented to the public in the two matches they have played so far this season.

There is no doubt that the standard of play in this district is a long way below what it should be. Allowance must bo made for the scarcity of matches, and for the few opportunities the men have of playing together. Yet, allowing for all these disadvantages, the standard of play should be streets ahead of what it is. Though I may be arraigned for high treason for saying it, there is no doubt but what any average public school fifteen would give a beiter display of scientific football than we have had so far this season from our senior teams. The fact that there is only one ground available prevents the clubs from working up that essential combination among the backs without which the Rugby game degenerates into a rncro scramble. We shall, I am afraid, never see really high-class football hero until (ho senior fifteens can rely on getting a match each week. The match last Saturday week, viewed from a scientific standpoint, was disappointing. West End had a strong team in

the field, and had numberless chances of indulging in passing, and yet the backs never once really gave the public a glimpse of combination. If we condemn the display given by West End, what must be said ot the play of the. Haiti-City men. Their only excuse was that it was their first game of the season, and the men were quite unused to to each other’s play. As I pointed out a short time ago, the local backs appear to have no idea of varying their positions on the field to suit circumstances. They preserve the same formation in attack and defence, and generally play too close up to the forwards. These tactics are all right when a team is attacking, but a defending side requires to have the wings guarded. On Saturday last, the rival full-backs were the only backs on the field at times; the others were all up among the forwards.

Baker was off color the other Saturday. He was never in his place, and, though supposed to bo playing wing threequarter, he was generally to be soen half-a-dozen yards in front of Porter, the centre-threequarter. Glennie’s display was not class enough for ft school fifteen. He fumbled badly, while the most of the kicks he got in were speculators,” Witty should learn to take the ball on tho full, and not wait for the bounce as he did on Saturday week. He should also practise kicking. A full-back should always find the line when he does kick. Kaiti-City should be called Haiti. Very few City men are included in the team. Quite a nnmber of players made a first appearance on the local football arena on Saturday week, when Kaiti-City played its first match of the season.

Bathgate, who played five-eighths for Kaiti-City, at one time played wing-for-ward for tho eraek Alhambra Club, of Dunedin, and more recently occupied a five-eighths position for the Oriental Club, of Wellington. His strong point seems to defence.

Miles, the lock-man of the Kaiti-City pack, is a fine stamp of a player. He stands over six feet, and is powerfully built. He is an ex-Kaikorai (Dunedin) forward. Ho played an honest game on Saturday week, and was particularly good at line-work. White, who worked in the front rank of the Kaiti-City pack on Saturday week, struck me as being a good man. He worked his feet cleverly in the pack, and hustled in the loose. He hails from the Thames, where he played with the Rovers. Haynes, another new Kaiti-City forward, plays a good, honest game. He last played with the Riccarton Club, Canterbury. Webiha appeared to have more paee last Saturday week than most people gave him credit for, and he got on to the ball very smartly on the occasions of both his scores. He is quick to seize an opening, but might do a little more with ‘his weight in .the heavy work.

“VVeka” Roderick, who took Nolan’s place as wing three-quarter on West End side in the match against KaitiCity, played a bright game all through The little man makes up in brains for what he lacks in weight and stature. Bennett bolted on last Saturday week when he got his second wind. He was like a young colt, and the referee had to employ the curb at times. Waitai played with great dash as wing three-quarter for the Blacks versus Kaiti-City. This player hails from Taranaki., He is a strong kick.” Poananga plays a much better game at half than he does at centre threequarter, He made many fine openings ' for his backs on Saturday week last.

The difficulty of running the Huia Club is that the men are so scattered. The district has any quantity of good men, hut the difficulty is to locate the men. The perennial Jimmy Duncan, the well-known Otago half-hack, who signified his intention to retire from the game at the end of last season, was out in harness again last Saturday week. He rivals Sims Reeves. It is to he hoped that the matches will he started punctually in future. The light was quite unfit to play in for the last ten minutes of the KaitiCity and West End match. We should Ike to see one of the senior referees’ officials on the junior ground. Why not let Mr Rees gac the juniors a turn ? It is not unusual in Auckland and the other centres to find the hest referees officiating at some third-class match in the suburbs, hut here it appears to lie beneath the dignity of the senior referees to act for the juniors-. W trust that players generally will make an effort to raise the standard of play in this district. If the game is to continue in public favor, something better than the exhibitions we have had so far this season will require to be given. Let the backs make an effort to work up combination. Only practice is required.