Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 43, 27 April 1901, Page 20

Rugby Football.

THE game between the Wellington and Old Boys on Saturday looked the best of good things for the former when the respective teams lined out, as they appeared just about twice the weight of their juvenile opponents. However, there were some spectators of the opinion that, notwithstanding their lack of weight, the Old Boys would make the game interesting, if they did not just about win, and right well did they justify that opinion. ♦ • • The result— Wellington 18 to Old Boys 11 — was not an altogether fair criterion of the game, as, on more than one occasion, the Old Boys should have

increased their score. The play was very fast and open, and at times was of a representative character. The backs of the Wellington Club are undoubtedly a strong combination, but their opportunities on Saturday were somewhat limited, owing to the inability of their front-rankers to hook the ball. The Old Boys still lack that amount of combination which is essential to success, as their score would have been larger had their passing been more accurate, and had they seized all the chances that came their way. They were in good condition, and were more than holding their own when the whistle blew for "no side." • • • Hansen had little to do, but got through his work with a certain amount of satisfaction. Bird is something above the ordinary. His dodging was a treat to witness, and he proved a hard man to stop. Lan Johnson deserves a word for his collaring He goes for his opponent low, and gets there every time. Gallagher, Walsh, and Leversedge did sterling work m the scrummages, and when an extra ounce was wanted they generally gave it.

Row was a decided improvement on last year. The ground seemed to suit him on Saturday, for he put in a lot of good work, both in attack and defence. The weak spot in the Wellington back team is their full-back. Unless he gives a better display the next day he is out, he ought to make way for someone else. Meredith was the soundest back of a strong quintette. His passing and kicking were well timed, and his collaring had the effect of keeping his opponents' score down. Frank Johnson put in some very neat runs, and his defence was sound. He has a tendency to stick to the ball, when more service would be done his team by judicious passing. McLachlan and Kember were good shields to Meredith. Mac's followingup was a feature of the game and had he been backed up, in one instance at least, he would have scored. Both Pages were always on the ball, and Tom's try was well earned. The half-back should get rid of the habit of picking the ball out of the pack, several penalties being recorded against him for that fault. Wilson was the shining light of a very heavy forward team, his line-out play being excellent. He had the misfortune to run his eye up against somebody's knee, with the result that he got it discoloured. Woods was patchy — at times brilliant and at others poor. His potted goal was a beauty. "Morry'' missed some good passes, through playing too close up. They came so fast he did not have time to see them. Dodd, Gilmour, and MoTavish were the pick of a hard-working lot of sciuramers. The former however, lost a certain try by trying to pick the ball up instead of dribbling it over the line, and then falling on it. Wellington's froni>rankers were beaten every time by their opponents in Retting possession. Their names will be kept in mystery this week, in the hope that they will improve in this respect before the season is much further advanced. Burr has plenty of pace, and uses it well. The two tries he obtained demonstrated this in a marked manner. The second one was the best piece of football during the afternoon. The ball passed between Wood, Bird, Wood, and Burr, the latter walking in behind the goal posts. Len McKenzie gave the best exhibition of football he has shown since he left college. The try he scored was the outcome of a good pass from Johnson, and he had very hard luck in not adding two more to his credit, as he was in both instances only brought down on the corner flag. His kicking was an object lesson to other players, as he invariably found the touch-line. The match between the Athletic and Melrose teams, at Miramax, was almost entirely devoid of anything interesting, unless, perhaps, the opportunities given the referee of awarding free kicks can be classed as such. Now and again there were dashes of play worthy of two senior teams, but these came so seldom that they were almost like oases in a desert. As the game progressed it seemed a foregone conclusion that Melrose must win, although in the first spell the members of that team did their best to keep level with their opponents, something always happening just when they were near the goal-line to neutralise their advantage. * • # The score that won the match was got in a peculiar way. A loose rush towards the Athletic goal was stopped a couple of yards outside, and temporarily the ball was lost sight of. Eventually it come clear, and then Adams, with a dive worthy of Thomas in his swimming days, sailed over the heads of his prostrate friends and foes, right across the line. George Spencer, with a neat kick, registered the major points. X * * Rash passed out religiously to orders, but «ould have done better if he had been allowed to go on his own occasionally. OBrien worked like a Trojan, but did not receive enough assistance from his mates, although Joyce put in a lot of work. Jack Spencer seems to have struck form right away, for he did a great amount of good work, both on the lineout and in the open. Bray is an expert in the front, and nine times out of ten took the ball from his opponents. The Selection Committee should keep him well in view. Kelly did an immense amount of work, but has still his old complaint — he forgets there are backs behind him who would like a pass occasionally. Wrigley was keenly watched, and when the ball came to him there were generally three or four of his opponents there at the same time. His work was more of the sure than the brilliant nature.

Gerrard got few opportunities, but still he did not make tho most of those lio did get. His taking of tho ball and kicking into touch were done in a coirect style. Mclnnos agai.i showed that there is in him the makings of a great forward. He has only to keep himself in hand, and theio is a splendid future befoic him on tho football hold The two full-backs— Hales and G Spencer — did their work as tiadesmen should, m a finished manner Both found the touch-lino, and with seiviceable kicks, one of Hales being a great effort, gaming fully fifty yards for his team Goodwin came m for a lot of censure from the spectators for not passing more, but, at times, it would have been almost madness for him to attempt to pass to Wnglev. for the ever watchful Kelly would' have had more than a say in the manoeuvre Adams grafted haid and consistently, and he had the pleasure of being the only try-getter in the match Bill, however, "still retains his love for the fool of the leather, and his work would be much more effective if he left the ball on the ground and used his feet on it. E C'landge who was placing with Sydenham in Christchurch last season, made a very favourable impression, and should be heard fiom later in tho season His elder brother must have had some glue on his fingers to prevent the ball slipping out of his hands. He did a lot of effective, stopping, however There was nothing marvellous in any of the wing forwards. According to this game, a wing forward's duty seems to be to lose sight of the ball altogether, but never of the man opposite him. If he is beating you grab him, and hold him till either he hits ■\ou or leaves a bt of his jersey in your possession That's the way it appeared to me. Tho Mel rose team could treat their captain with a little more courtesy and if there is one who should be singled out more than another as the cause ot this remaik, it is his youngest brother The majoutv of the team have placed the captain in that position, and it should be the aim ot even' member to assist lum to the utmost to carry out his duties. The Onental-Petone match was a very fair exposition of the game the play being punctuated with a lot ot dash. The second spell was well on before any scoring was done, and then Petone drew hrst blood fiom an incident perhaps unique as far as local football is concerned King, of that toam, knocked the ball on, and the whistle sounded. He promptly brought the oval bark to where it was knocked on put it down, and played it, with the result that off the succeeding play a try was scored The Orientals weie undoubtedly caught napping on a hne point of the rules but it seived effectually to wake them up, foi, fiom this stage to the end of the game, they practically lett their opponents standing, registering 13 points, as the result of tries scored by Marsh, Skelton, and Gleeson, Marsh and C'allender conveiting one each ot the tiies*. August was in raic form among the forwards, doing an immense amount or hard work. Parrant, promoted from third-class last season, proved worthy of the place lib has been allotted in the Petone pack. Braid played far too much to tho gallery, and a little more attention to the player opposite him would be of service to his team King and Barlow hooked the ball about an equal number of times dt> their opponents, and the.v had a, heavy pack to push against. Jacobs did nothing worthy of a pla\er of his repute — the failing I noticed previously m an off match of hanging to the ball being still pronounced. " Cairns' game denoted that he is possessed of plenty of pluck, and knows how to pass a ball. He is rather on the light side, though, especially against a heavy forward team like the Orientals. Last week I stated the Orientals would take the field on Saturday in better form than any of the teams engaged, and the work put in b\ them in "the last quartei proved my statement to be a correct one Henry suffered from nervousness, as witness the hash lie made of his placekicks In third-class matches last year he did some wonderful kicking, and, with another match or two, the stiange feeling may wear off Young and Burns did all they weie asked to do in good style, whilo the forwards to a man all played well, Skelton, Y. Wyhe, and Gleefcon particularly so In this department they completely outclassed Petone.

Marsh was playing in his wrong place in the centre he should have been on the wing three-quarter. It is more than probable, though, that he will be played five-eighth till Burns takes his place on the field again. His game was \\ orthy of his reputation. Callender made a good impression in his display at full-back, although, perhaps, being gifted with a bit of pace, lie is inclined to run too far He made a great run once, which almost ended in a score. He could be effectually tried in the tliret-cjuarter line Messis. Katterns, Norms, and McKenzie carried the whistles in the senior games w ith a certain amount of satisfaction to the players Players, are starting early. T«o juniors were put off the field tor rough play on Saturday, and several cautions w ere administered in at least one .senior match The fixtures tor next Saturday are --Oriental v Poneke (Athletic Park), Wellington v. Petone (Pelone) Athletic \ . Old Boys (Athletic Park), Melrose the bye. Complaints are being made about the holding over, till late in the w eek, the publication of the allotment of referees to the various matches. There is no reason for this, as the referees are appointed on the Monday night in each week, and Mr. Beck's attention needs onl.> to be drawn to the matter to have if remedied. The Athletic Paik looked at its best for the opening of the football season on Saturday, and Caretaker Murphy w ould have been inches taller than his usual height if he had heard the complimentary remarks passed on the result of his labours. A turnstile has been erected leading into the grandstand, and another gate has been brought into requisition to allow the Park to empty itself after the matches with more comfort to the patrons. These are improvements since last season, and w r ere appreciated.