FOOTBALL.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 760, 31 July 1894, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

Owing to all the men chosen not turning up, the match arranged for last Thursday—Club Reps v. Clemett’s All Comers was not played. The Captain (A. Davidson) and Vice-Cap-tain (F. Cox) picked up sides, and a very good scratch game was played, resulting in the success of the Captain’s side by 2 tries to 1. Clemett got both tries for the former, while Cox scored for his own side. The attempts at conversion were failures, though Ritchie saved the registration of the major score in one case by a timely rush.

The play was fast, and fairly sound. Clemett played a ‘tiger’ of a game, showing capital form and attending to business without saying a word. Some of the older players were seen to advantage—Burney, Happi and Low in particular, the last named showing some of his old dash, while the other two took a lot of stopping' at times. Close put in some good work, also D. Haswell, Washington, C Smith, II Schroeder, W Laugesen, J Harmon and A. Davidson—these were all on the winning side.

For the losers Ritchie, Cox, Veitcb, Fk. Renner and W. Poulter ‘ grafted ’ hard. Poulter did a plucky piece of collaring nt full-back, bringing Happi down cleverly amid applause, repeating the performance with another player later on.

I suppose it is unavoidable, in order to make up sides, but it is questionable whether it is right to allow youngsters to play against heavy men. I admit there was an absence of rough play last week, but is this not the exception ? However, the lads will have to take care of themselves, I suppose. I was pleased to noiice on Thursday, the total absence of argument, and of ‘ talk ’ in and objectionable sense. I am told that the players were on their good behaviour—aye, their best behaviour—owing to the presence of ‘ Proteus ’on the ground. That fact, combined with the instruction, and determination, of the ex-Captain (Fk. Flower) of the Wellington Club’s second 15, who acted as Referee, were, I believe, the restraining influences. Query : If the presence of a lynx eyed newspaper man has such an effect, why cannot players control themselves in the absence of the übiquitous man ? There is evidence that players can engage in the game without unnecessary talk, and the use of objectionable terms, then why cannot they do so in all cases ? ‘ Proteus ’ intends to be on the watch, and if he cannot always be present on I'hnrsiays he will be represented.

Fk. Flower is coaching the men well, some of them showing a lot of improvement already—indeed one player says he has learnt more from him within a month than during the whole time he has played football.