Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 46, 18 May 1901, Page 20

Rugby Football.

DESPITE the unsympathetic surroundings — a pouring sky and a slough underfoot — the Melrose and Oriental teams had a really interesting struggle on the slippery ground last Saturday. The game was more or less a continuous one among the forwards, the backs very seldom assuming the aggressive, although on occasions some neat passing was indulged in. * • • Melrose had the advantage of the deaJ, but over-eagerness and a disregard of the laws when near the goalline, spoilt their chances of cominer out on top. Why a team will take liberties when in their opponents' twentyfive always surprises me, for it invariably happens that a lot of real good work is neutralised by the referee happening to notice the transgression, and awarding a free kick to the opoosing team. * • • This happened to the Melrose combination several times on Saturday. In some instances if the offending players had only for the time being considered themselves spectators their mates would have done the necessary work to profit fully by the attack. * » * In the scrummaging, Oriental appeared to hook the ball oftener than their opponents, the Wylie brothers working well in combination. The loose rushes were of an even character, the kicking being hard and often.

Mclnnes plays well and hard, and is improving every game. Purdy and Skilton were ever prominent, and Gleeson put in one or two tremendous kicks. Marsh did all that came his way in a creditable style, but Wilkes's work was much below his previous displays. Jack Spencer put some more good marks to his credit. His line-outplay is of an extra high order just now. E. Claridge played below the form he displayed in his first two matches, and Howe appears to be getting into the back number stage. Freddy Roberts has plenty of resource, and is plucky. With a year or two more on his shoulders, this boy should make an excellent half-back. Bert Warwick made a very successful debut, and G. Spencer's exhibition, though creditable, suffered in comparison with Callender's on the other side. McGrath did serviceable work on the wing, and Adams put in an immense amount of work, the try he scored being the result of a great dash on his part when the ball had crossed the line. Callender gave a brilliant display for the Orientals. His line kicking, taking, and stopping of rushes stamped him as a full-back much above the ordinary, and he should be just now the first man in the Selection Committee's book for the representative team. I made an error a week or two back in stating that Dixon was playing in the front rank with E. Wylie. The brothers Wyhe hook for Oriental, and very effectively, too. Edgar should keep the place he enjoyed last season among the representatives.

The Spencer brothers, Sievers, and Callum did their full share of the work. Arthur Claridge i§ getting nearer his correct form. He ought to cultivate the faculty of leaving the ball alone when he is on the ground. His work on Saturday was well done, the chances that were afforded him of getting the ball away being utilised very cleverly. Wrigley was the bright particular star of the Melrose backs. He seemed to revel in the slush, his taking of the ball being very clean. Every rush that came his way met the soundest of opposition — the Oriental forwards finding him as hard as the side of a house to ran up against. Ostler is another who should be marked "good goods" by the selectors. Hia yis-a-vis, Fraser, had a bad tame at his hands. Somebody has written me asking who Ostler is. He represented Horowhenua last season, and, previous to that, was fairly prominent in the Manawatu. Ostler, however learnt his football in the Old Country. He is studying law at the Victoria College. The game was contested in a very friendly spirit. There was almost an entire absence of the rough play that marked the Melrose forwards in the previous week. Fine fellows off the field, they can, if they like, be the same on it, and I am one of the last who would care to throw stones at them if I thought they did not deserve it. My comments last week were fairly caustic, and if their game last Saturday is any criterion, the Melrose front division took the criticism to heart, and it is a pleasure to me to note the improvement. The game between the Athletic and Petone teams was not a brilliant one to watch. On account of the greasy nature of the ground back play was out of the question, and the play was confined to the forwards. • • • The result— Petone 14, Athletic 6— proved that the suburban men are undoubtedly the champion team at using their feet. The blue and blacks should take a lesson from this, and remember that on a wet day trying to pick up a greasy ball is running a big risk, and will, in nine oases out of ten, get them into trouble. There is always the tendency of knocking-on, and this is fatal to what otherwise might prove a certain score. I must congratulate the winners on their improved form, and their all-round good display.

Phillips' defence was sound, and he was responsible for some very timely kicks. King, Barlow, and Brice were the pick of the vanguard, but every man was doing his little bit. There were no loafers amongst them. Cairns did not have many opportunities of getting the ball away from the scrum, but what little he had to do he did in a satisfactory manner. Ryan was quite at home on the sticky ground, and his two tries, from difficult passes, were wedl obtained. His handling of the ball was a treat to watch. Jacobs was the "star" of the back division, and his exhibition was brilliant. He was always handy, and two of the tries obtained emanated from him. His collaring was sure, and he made no mistakes about going for his man low. Braid put in some good work, but his services would be more effective if, after kicking high, he were to put his men on side at once instead of waiting to be told to do so. His tackling and kicking were his good points. Philp was not a success as full-back. Perhaps the wet ball was the cause of this, but he should remember that in no case must he wait for the ball to bounce when it is coming to him — rather run and get it on the full. This was the cause of his side getting into trouble on more than one occasion. Midlane did what little he had to do in a satisfactory manner. Coady, Wills, Bray, and McTigue were the most prominent in the forward division, and tried hard to stall off defeat. Gerrard was not quite at home on the slippery ground, but his display was a creditable one. His defence was good, but his passing was at times very erratic. Kelly got through a lot of work, and, with one or two exceptions, his taking of the ball was perfect. But for him the Petone forwards would have increased their score. Hales has given a better exhibition. He had a lot of work to do, and towards the end of the game appeared to be getting tired. His long punts into touch were much in evidence. Rash gave a better exhibition than he did on the previous Saturday, and he has evidently taken my advice re trying a bit on his own. His passing was well-judged, and his collaring was sure.

The Athletic team played one man short for the greater part of the game. The sympathetic feeling that passed over both players and spectators when Prichard met with his accident was a pleasing feature in connection with that regrettable occurrence. Prichard was following up a kick in his usual racing style, and, colliding with Braid, he had the misfortune to fall with his leg under him. Redmond, one of his fellow players, who has mastered the principles of first aid, rendered valuable assistance 1 by putting the broken limb into position almost at once. Prichard is one of those players whom it is a pleasure to play with and against — he plays the game for the love of it, and a severe accident such as has befallen him is all the more regrettable on that account. I wish him the least measure of pain possible, and a speedy restoration to his accustomed health and strength. The match between the Poneke and Wellington teams, played at Petone, was a brilliant exposition of the game, considering the weather conditions. The passing among the backs was at times excellent. The Poneke team had, if anything, the best of the game, though both teams had about an equal number of chances of scoring. • * ♦ The Wellington score was obtained in a peculiar manner, shortly after tho commencement of the game — nobody seems to know why the free kick was given Gallagher, after returning a kick, follow ed up in quick time. The ball was mulled in the take by the Poneke back, Gallagher getting on to it with the result that the whistle blew and Wellington were eventually awarded a free kick. • • • The Poneke try was scored as the result of a great run by Manning. Honour took the ball on the line out, and passed to Roberts, who, in turn, sent it on to Manning, the latter, with Wood in pursuit from outside the twenty-five, crossing the line. • • • Slater and Lovatt both had plenty to do at full-back, and came out of the ordeal creditably. Lovatt surpassed himself in his defence, and gave far and aw ay the best display he has yet show n Tho Wellington three-quarter line do not like the forward rushes— they seemed to shirk going down to them. How handled the ball well. Meredith shows no sign of deteriorating—his game on Saturday being equaJ to his best effort. The claims of "Vinnv" for a place in the New Zealand representative team will not be easiiv put on one side. Wood did not take kindly to the hard graft, though when there were any openings he was ever ready to avail himself of them. Walsh Gallagher, McLachlan, and Leversedge were the most noticeable in the forward division, the goal kicked by McLachlan from a free kick being a fine effort. S'attery and Manning performed their work in the Poneke three-quarter line in a tradesmanlike manner, the dash the latter made when he scored being almost worthy of George Smith. Wallace must be placed alongside of Meredith as having a great chance ot inclusion in the New Zealand team. He seems to have profited by hib season's football in Dunedm, tor his play this year is of a higher order than it was the season before last. Roberts was safe, but not brilliant, and Beck was only fair. McAnally, Sweeney, and Wilson were the hardeibt grafters in a fast dashing pack. The decision of the Management Committee to allow any of its members to report instances of rough play in the senior matches which may escape the notice of the referee, is open to question. It may tend to keep down an evil which, if allowed to have lull swing, would go a long way towards deadening the interest the public take in the various games, but at the same time the power given in tho motion can be easily abused. • • • A point, and it is a forcible one, too, in my judgment. The player reported by a member of the Committee may decline to appear to answer the charge made against him, as the laws of the game, which are superior to all motions and by-laws of unions, do not permit of such a course being taken. The Management Committee could, however, if the charge was proved, administer a caution to the offender, such caution being taken into consideration if the same player should at any future time be put off the held by the referee. • ♦ * The members, of the Management Committee have individually a leaning towards one or other of the competing clubs, and it is questionable whether the power ghen them by the resolution carried would not be used to the advantage of the club whoso influence has

placed them on the Committee. This body, of course, should be above bias — but still, human nature suggests the above remark. * * * Players are willing to admit now-a-days that a referee is not infallible, and the fair-minded one should also be m favour of giving the innovation proposed a fair trial, for it cannot but be for the, betterment of the game if carried out impartially. The player that is always looking for trouble should be found a place among the spectators as soon as possible, for he is no good to his club, and the game would be more popular without him Cup matches commence in Auckland on Saturday. Peter Gerrard tells me he knows nothing of his rumoured transfer to Auckland at the end of the month Bamev Todd and Billy Pitt, two wellknown devotees of football in Auckland, were among the returned contingenters on Saturday. Fox Manning, a wellknown Poneke player, also was among the number, and will more than probably be playing with his old love on Saturday On this page this week are photo-ie-productions of Wallace and Wood, tw o of Wellington's prominent players. The intention is, if possible, to introduce the portraits of tw o prominent players each "v\eek throughout the season, in the hope that it may invest with additional interest the pages which are devoted to outdoor sports.

member it contained. The club can ill affoid to spare his services in the front rank. Hunter who filled his place at centre fOlf 01 ward, does not strike one as a clever player for such a position, although, at times his play could not be bettered, lie appears to possess the necessary "going" power, but is deficient in the passing of the ball that Williams and Mooie would like. First impressions may be wrong m this case, however. Fiascr, on the right wing, played a grand game in the prevailing weather, and reminded me of the representative match against Otago, at Petone, last season, when little Malcolm, battling against the heavy rain, played an exceptionally good game Judging from his style on Saturday, Fraser must be a bit of a "water rat." The Diamonds are not the compact little body they were last season. Such notabilities as Mo watt and Collins are missing, and their places are filled with new men, who, by the way, certainly do not excel their predecessors. Clark played a splendid game, but the ground was too much for him. His kicks wore not accompanied by his usual dash, and he was frequently robbed of them, which, on a dry ground, I warrant would not be the case. His throw ing-in from touch, however, escaped the referee's attention, and luckily for Rovers it did, as two free kicks at least would have been awarded the Diamond team. Paton, however, made up for Clarks weakness on the defensive side. He stood the tempest well, and beat off the