Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 51, 22 June 1901, Page 20

Rugby Football.

THE Selection Committee are to be congratulated on the team they selected to play against Nelson — very little, if any, complaint being found with the selection. As indicated in this column a few weeks back, Wngley was placed full back. This, personally, Ido not agree with, for G. Spencer has played consistently right through the season, and, on his present form, was entitled to the position. Wrigley, however, will not belie the Committee's confidence, as he has in him all the elements that go to make a successful guaxdian of the uprights. Gallagher has been given a place on the wing forward, and he is just the stamp of a forward that will prove successful in that position. Skilton's inclusion in the pivot came as a surprise to most people. "The Midget" is the backbone of the Oriental scrum, an honest and untiring grafter, and has earned his place for these qualities. Meredith. Wood, and Wallace were sorted out for their respective positions shortly after the championship matches started by practically everyone that followed the games. Mclntyre has all the elements that go to make a successful three-quarter, but I am inclined to the opinion that Gerrard would have filled the bill to better purpose. Jacob has done an immense amount of work for the Petone Club, and his play at three-quarter back last Saturday was good enough to earn him his place. Kelly is too good a player to leave out of a Wellington representative team, and, judging from previous displays given by him on the wing forward, he is well worth the position given him. Dodd and E. Wylie are the two best front-rankers playing this season, if perhaps Longton is excepted, but so little has been seen of him that his claims could not be taken into consideration. .No Wellington representative forward team would be complete without McAnally ; and O'Brien, Adams, and J . Spencer have all played in the championship matches right up to their best rorm. It will thus be seen that I have practically no fault to find with the team as selected, as it is fairly representative or Wellington football, and should give a good account of itself. * ♦ * The Wellington-Petone match was splendidly contested, the latter team, in the early portion of the game, flattering its admirers that it was going to stop the Wellington team's victorious career. Their best efforts were, however, unavailing, the wearers of the yellow and black romping home by the good margin of 11 points — 16 to 5. The ground was heavy and sticky, and, taking that into consideration, the "go" must be classed as a fast one. The passing of the Wellington team was disappointing, Wood at times seeming to gallop right away from his confreres, they finding him too hard to follow when he beat his man. And, then, when he tried other tactics, the passing was done too quick, the man in each instance not being beaten before the pass was made. McLachlan is deserving of a word of praise for one of the two tries he scored, the footwork he put in being of a high order till he carried the ball over the line, when, with a quick plunge, he scored the try. Jacob was the mainstay of the Petone backs, whose collaring, by the way, was very deadly. A n6W u^ back was unearthed in Mick Ryan— a young player — and he did his work in the style of an old hand. * « ♦ The Poneke-Oriental match was remarkable mainly for the fine place-kick-ing of Wallace, who placed a goal from a mark, one from a free-kick, and another from a try. A smart try by Freddy Roberts for Oriental, right at the beginning of the game, made the Poneke supporters feel anxious, but the anxiety did not last long. Fifteen points to five was the final result. * • • Among the interested spectators at the Park on Saturday was Mr. F. J. Ohlson, who has com© down from Auckland to represent that Union at the Referees' Conference. Mr. E. Darley, secretary of the Bush Rugby Union, was also among the spectators.

At Petone, the Athletics defeated the Old Boys by eleven points to three, the game being mainly of a give and take nature, with nothing of any particular brilliance in it. I noticed the whole of the Selection Committee were on the Athletic Park be just as well, if barrackers will pass not receiving any attention from the Committee.