Late Football.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 59, 17 August 1901, Page 18

Late Football.

By Touohline.

The mateh — Wellington v. South Canterbury—was played at Temuka, on Tuesday, in beautiful weather, and on a ground in splendid condition. The team had travelled from Dunedin to Timaru the previous day, and a fine twelve miles drive from the latter place to where the match was played was much enjoyed. The game was one of the fastest played on the tour, the ball travelling about at a great rate. The final result was a win for Wellington by 18 points to nine. Tries were scored by Claridge, Gallagher, Wood, and Adams, Wallace converting one, besides potting a goal from the field. Henderson scored a try for South Canterbury, O'Malley converting it into a goal, and kicking a goal from a mark. The South Canterbury team contains a fine lot of forwards, and among the backs O'Leary (late of Masterton) and Gaffney (an ex-St. Patrick's College boy), do good work. • • • The train was boarded at Temuka, directly after the match, at 5.30, and Lyttelton being reached in good time the Tarawera carried us over the nnal stage of the tour in capital style, much to our satisfaction, the sea being on its best behaviour, and allowing us to make a presentable appearance on our arrival home again. • • • The trip has been a pleasant one. but the sight of the Queen's Wharf was a relief, and the settling down to the ordinary run of business life is welcome after the gay time we had and the sights we saw. • • • In reviewing the tour, I must confess to a. keen sense of disappointment at the displays given by our team. In the first match the excuse made for the loss was the ill effects of the sea trip, but this could not be advanced in any of the other games. I have said it before, and will say it again, that ; on the form displayed in championship matches, the team that toured is the best that has been sent out of Wellington for some years. What, then, is the reason for its nonsuccess? Southern papers tell us that we have sacrificed the dashing forward play of days gone by for the passing game among the backs. Captain Kelly is of a similar opinion. After the Canterbury match he stated that if any matches; were to be won the forwards would have to win them, and that less attention should be given the backs. Most of us disagreed with him, but there is a lot of truth in his argument. My own conviction is that there should be a judicious mixing — both backs and forwards ought, on occasions, to be prepared to play the game that suits them. The heeling-out process should be alternated with the screwing of the pack, and for that purpose a nimble "lock should be put in the centre. McAnally is the player I kaye in my mind for this position, as, although Coady is a good man for the heeling-out game, he is not as clever as "Me" in picking the ball up. • • • Reviewing the players, Wood, Wrigley, and Slattery are the only backs who have played up to their local showing on the tour, while among the forwards, Adams is the only one who has played really well. The others only performed spasmodically — good at one time, and indifferent at others — while "Bill" has done well in every game he played. He has one fault, though, which he should cure himself of — he has a tendency to crowd the half-back on the line-out. • • • Mr. N. Galbraith made an excellent manager, the arrangements right through being excellent. The rein at times may have been drawn a bit tight, but, as the main object of the tour was to play football, the curtailment of pleasures was only just and right. Mr. J. M. Robb, who acted as line umpire in all the matches, was well spoken of for the fairness he displayed in carrying out his duties. • • • The following should obtain places in the New Zealand representative team: —Full-back, W. H. McKenzie (Auckland) ; three-quarters — left, P. Jacob (Southland) ; centre, W .J. Wallace (Wellington) ; five-eighths, J. Duncan (Otago) and M. E. Wood (Wellington); forwards. Cunningham (Auckland), McAnally (Welington), C. Purdue (Southland), F. Given (Otago), D. Udy (Wairarapa), W. Drake and J. Cross (Canterbury). I have not included the right-wing three-quarter, the half-back, or the froab-rank forwards in the above suggestions.

Should George Smith be induoed to travel with the Auckland representative team, and be available for the New Zealand match, I would prefer him to Wallace, who has not played up to hiß local form on the Southern tour. Wrigley has played a sound game at fullback, no player filling a similar position in Canterbury, Otago, or Southland being equal to him. "ScobieV extra pace, however, should make the position a certainty for him. No right-wing three-quarter playing in the South or in Wellington is equal to intercolonial form, and the player for this position will have to be found in Auckland or Taranaki. Practically the same remarks appjr to the half-backs. Previous to the Wellington tour being undertaken, I was a strong advocate of Meredith's claims for the position, but I must confess to a less keen feeling in that direction now, and, should Humphries be in form, he should be given the half-back position. • • ♦ Mr. W. Coffey was very attentive to the team while it was in Dunedin, and desires inquiring friends to know that he is doing well. Mr. K. Bethune, of the well-known Wellington family of that name journeyed 150 miles to Dunedin to see the WeUington-Otago match. Mr. Bethune is away back in the goldfields district of Otago, and wishes his friends to know things are well with him. Charlie Bush has received marching orders from Christchurch to Inveroargill, to take effect immediately the present tour of the Canterbury representative team is finished. He has been playing well in the Cathedral City this season, and has been honoured with the captaincy of the Canterbury representative team. Bush should prove a decided acquisition to Southland.

Mr. William Halley, the new lessee of the Kilbirnie Hotel, is an enterprising citizen, who intends keeping the reputation of this popular hostelry up to its high standard. The hotel is well situated for the first stag© of cyclists from town, and the hospitality of the host is likely to make it even more popular than before. Mr. Halley is paying some attention to his stock, which he intends to keep up to a high standard. The accommodation is the lessee's special care, and the appointments are convenient and modern. Vaudeville is to be encouraged by the enterprise of Mr. Harry Dunbar, who has taken a lease of the Exchange Hall for a lengthy period. The hall is to be renovated, and the performances will take place nightly. Many well-known names in Vaudeville figure on the bill of fare, and arrangements have been made for the constant supply from Australia of the latest lights in the Vaudeville world. Little Bella Lee, the child contralto , Ravhkam Famleigh, tuneful baritone: Lillian Loftus, tie juvenile entertainer; Beatrice Nixon, the serio and dancer, are among the new arrivals. Weekly competitions for amateur New Zealanders will be held, and the results advertised. Mr. Harry Fen ton, the energetic manager, is making arrangements for the establishment of branch companies in the various centres of the colony. The management wish to notify that no vulgarity will be permitted in their entertainments.