THE NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM, 1901.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 63, 14 September 1901, Page 20

THE NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM, 1901.

THK T.uanaki-Welungton match last Satin clay lias, a disappointment. I had boon assuied that, the team Taianaki placed in the held this season would be decidedly supenor to its lepresentative fifteen of the last few ycais, and, theietoie, it \\at> only natural to expect that the local playeis would have to play their haidest to avert defeat, let alone scoie a win. And what was the result of the hist appearance of the lepresentatnes of the dairy piovmce in their first big match P Why, tho vim seemed to ha\e gone right out of the play of the one-time champion province, and never once duimg the course of the game did its players natter their admirers with the piomise of defeating the Wellington team. Winning the toss, Allen, who captained the visitors, played with the wind, but the black torwaids came right at them from the jump, and penned them in their twenty-five for a while without being able to cross the line. The play, however, for the first half-hour, gravitated from one end of the field to the other with practically no advantage to either team. The first score was made by the local team, and caused a bit of a sensation. The ball was kicked to Slattery, about the half-way flag, and, seeing an cpenmg, he came racing through to the twenty-five flag, where a pass to Manson at the right time enabled that player to get dangerously close to his opponent*,' goal. Right to the full-back he came, full of running, and, making a fine return pass to Slattery, the latter was enabled to score right between the posts. Wallace was successful with the kick, and five points were registered. From the kick-off, Taranaki attacked strongly, and from a passing run in the local twenty-five Allen scored a try, Humphries, Mynott, and Allen doing the passing that led up to tins conclusion.

The first spoil ended with the scene o to 3 in Wellington's favour. With the wind in then favour the lo<al men literally romped ovei their opponents, and added Lj points to then total. Tries were scoied by Adams, O'Bncn (Int. first, I believe, in lepresentatne matches), and Row, Wallace putting on the extia two points in each instance. t The pla\ of the wsitois was much below what was expected of them Allen and Humphnes— then stai backs— are lights of other da\&. The foimer has played well in championship matches for the Star Club, New Plymouth, but an attack of influenza, conti acted during the season, has not enabled him to leco\er his foim. Giving this in, he is a long way removed from the Allen of the 1897 New Zea'and team Di Fookes, an international player in the Old Country, did not ha\e much occasion to display his abilities, but the little that came his way was not turned to the best account A neat run in the second spell along the touch-line wa.s we'l executed, but generally there was not enough in his play to lead one to believe that he had represented England, and was pressmgly invited to join the Rev. Mulhneaux's team that toured the Commonwealth a year or two back. Mynott was the best back on the \isitmg side. His passing, running, and tackling were of the best, and completely overshadowed A'len. Callaghans work at full-back boie the impress of solidity, and he got his team out ot difficulties very ably on occasions Carter and Huntei , in the three quarter line, were nothing out of the ordinary run. Among the forwards, O'Dowda, though playing well, appealed to tire as the game wore on Glenn and Glasgow were the best of a willing pack, but one that was never as prominent as their opponents. • * * The Wellington forwards benehtted considerably from the iest they had had since playing their last match, and showed their true form. Fast in the open, solid in the pack, and clever on the line-out, they seemed to fairly revel in the game, and had the bigger hand m the final result.

Dodd added to his leputation, and O'Bnon was a very good .second to him. My congratulations to the latter on seeming his maiden try. McAnally lost a fine chance of scoring on one occasion through not passing, and Skilton similarly failed because he could not mustei sufficient pace when it was wanted. Kellys ankle caused him a lot of mcon\ emenco, and ho did not play up to his usual form. Manson did a lot of good work on the wing, but marred his display by holding on to the ball too long at tunes. VVyhe, Adams, and Gallagher all did then share of the hard v\oik, the former and Dodd being too clever for thenopponents in the front rank. Meiedith, being placed out of court bj his accident in the Wairarapa match, a half-back had to be found to fill his place. (Jlaridge's form was not good enough, and F. Roberts was considered to want moie experience befoie asking him to play in big matches. The choice of the Committee for this match was Gage, but his display was weak. The first and foremost object of a half-back should be to let the backs behind him have the ball as often as possible, but this Gage forgot altogether, preferring to go on his own too much. A player of his experience should cure himself of this failing. His collaring and stopping were first class. Slattery, Row, and Mclntyre did all they had to do fairly wed, Row particularly so. The tries scored by Row and Slatteiy were both fine pieces of play. Wallace got through a lot of work m lv& best style, his place-kickmg being cry true. Spencer, at full-back, was slow but suie, and justified his being left in the team. * * * Mr. R Isaacs, a new ai rival in Wellington from Dunedin, made a verj' favourable impression with the whistle. Though not in the best of form, he kept well up with the game, and, barring one or two slight slips, did well. He allows a little too much off-side play, however. • • * Of the eight matches played between the two provinces, Wellington lias won four, Taianaki three, and one ha& been drawn.

The reporter of the "Evening Post" it, hardly done by, for thus he starts off his report on Monday . — "Owing to the action of the chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union, who restricted the Wellington daily newspaper reporters from access to the touch-line on Saturday, it is impossible to give of Saturday's place [play, presumably] a detailed description that can be guaranteed as accurate." There is an old saying that "a bad excuse is better than none." But, really, if there is any blame in the matter, at all, it is not Mr. Galbraith. that should carry it. As "Drop-kick" will himself admit, the army of reporters are week by week increasing, and something had to be done by the Union to keep them in check, and thus give those who paid for the right to see' the game a fair chance of domg so. The Rugby Union, therefore, at its weekly meeting a week or two back, decided to place a table and chairs on the far touch-line for the convenience of the new spaper men, and prevent them from walking up and down the touch-line, and even into the field of play, as some of them have done. Now, where does the hardship come in, or why should it prevent a fair report being given of the game? "Drop-kick" knows as well as I do that a place is set apart in the Grandstand for reporters on the Auckland ground, and there they are not allowed on the touch-line. If he had travelled South with me, as I was hoping he would, in Christchurch he would have found a similar arrangement existing there as the Rugby Union u>\ endeavouring to institute here. In Invercargill a favour was conferred upon the newspaper men by placing a table and chairs at their disposal on the bicycle track which encircles the ground, instead of placing them, as had been the previous custom, in the Grandstand. In Dunedin there is a special press box, which, in my opinion, is placed very badly, being in a much worse position than where the table and chairs are now placed on the Athletic Park. Yet the press men there do not grumble, and don't want to perambulate up and down the touch-line. This all goes to show that the course now adopted by the Ruby Union, in the matter of newspaper men should be commended rather than complained

against, as it is placing conveniences at their disposal similar to what prevails on other grounds in the colony If that is the only ieason why Dropkick's" reports aie not reliable, a change in the personnel of the wntei would not be a bad move, 01 peihaps a pair of field glasses wou'd remedy the defect. * * * Venh , tins is an era of surprises, and the Wellington Selection Committee docs not want to be behind the time* The experiment of playing tlnee halfbacks last Saturday w as anything but a success, yet for the match with Auckland — which is generally looked upon as the match of the season- it is to be again tried, and Manson is asked to play 111 the scrummage — a place entirely foreign to his nature — m place of Gallagher. If the latter was not worth his place— winch I very much doubt — a known pack foiward should have been selected in his place. Perhaps it is intended to play with only six grafters in the scrummage, with the hope thai they can keep the Auckland foiwards back, Kelly and Manson being put on the wings. If this is so, the experiment becomes a bigger one than ever Or, mavbt if Gage does not slmg the ball about he will be asked to join the pushers, Wallace taking his place at half-back Serioush, though, whichever way I look at it, I do not like the three halfbacks and the wing forwaid in the scrummage. As it is my opinion that it is nearly time another win was recoided against Auckland, the course that is more than likely to lead to that conclusion is to play the game against them our players know, rather than one they may make a botch of Howe\er, one must hope for the best, and if the expeiiment pioves a success in its carrying out I w ill be pleased * * * At the time of writing (Tuesday) there seems a doubt as to when the Auckland team will arrive, but by the time these notes aie published they will be here all right An old friend in Secretary McCormick is in chaige as manager, and the boys from the "Sunny North" should have a pleasant tnp under his guidance. That I wish them a successful one is hardly to bo expected The team is a good one and should worthily carry the blue and white jeifeeys. The two Wilsons — Alex and ''Blazei" — could not make the tnp. If they had, they would have strengthened the forw ai d division. 'Scobie" Mackenzie stated bcfoie leaving Wellington, after the New Zealand match that he would not play fullback for Auckland He apparently got over his trouble, for he played in that position against New South Wale*, There is, then, another reason wh\ he is not in the team — probably, the gn ing of a try to New South Wales last Satuiday is the cause. Sutherland's is a new face in Wellington For years past — in fact, ever since the district scheme started m Auckland — he has shown consistently good form in Cup matches, but generally managed to be amongst the 'also started" division when the lepresentative team was picked. If Mclntyre or Slattery feel inclined to bump him, if they get that far, I would advise them to think twice about it, for m his day he has successfully resisted many a bump from Masefield, a past master in the art Sutherland, apparently, suffers from nervousness in big games, for he has nearly always failed in A and B matches, and he is the weak spot in Auckland's back team He, however, may play well for he has the ability to do so Smith we all know, but Asher and Buckland aie new Tlie former is a half-caste Jew , and hails from Tauranga, wheie his father keeps an hotel Fast and full of dash, he is always there when a score i& about. Buckland is lcported to be something good fiom the Thames, though an Auckland boy by birth. Those who have seen him play enthuse about him so I am particularly anxious to see him m\self Dick McGregor \\<ib here with the New Zealand team, at centre tlncequartei, and has lepiesented Auckland befoie at five-eighth. Kiernan is an ex-Wanganui playei, tins being his second season in Auckland I was not wonderfully impressed with him last =eason behind the pack but reports state that he is inst now playing well Doian and S McGregor are the wing forwards The former is light for that position, but is extremeh e'evor with his feet, beating heavier men with the quickness with which he shoots his understandings about. S. McGregor is a brother ot Dick's and always gets a lot of respect paid him Kelh's mission should be to protect Gage from the attack from McGicgoi's bide of the scrummage.

Tyler and Brady aio of the nuggety stamp, and for weight and size should bo on a par with Docld and Wyhe our own front-rankers. I incline to the behof, howevei, that they are not so clever as the Wellington pair with thenfeet Tyler is the well-known champion swimmer, whom one of the local football clubs duly elected to membership at the beginning of the season when he dwelt here for a day or tw r o after coming back fiom Otago. Cunningham was the lock in the New Zealand team, and represents Waihi in tho Auckland combination Nicholson, Smith, and Bakewell are new- names to me Northern critics complained when the former was left out of the match against New South Wales, so, from the newspaper man's idea he must be a bit above the average. Smith is the only Thames pack forward in the team, which, in itself, is sufficient recommendation. Bakewell represents the North Shore Club, and is stated to be a. more than a^ eragc place-kick, which is a good passw ord to any team. R. McGregor is no relation to the other two in the team, but for all that has the footballing instincts of the family name. His name comes in for adverse criticism, though, some of the scribes considering him the flaw in the forwards. Absolum, the emergency back, has played m Wellington befoie, his weak point being defence. Bonella, the forwaid in a similar position, is light and fast. ♦ • • With this match the thirteenth game between the two provinces will have been played The lecord up to the present reads —Wellington, b wins, Auckland, B wins , the match in 1883 being recorded as a disputed draw . The Auckland record, however, does not read the same a& the Wellington one, for the Northern management do not recognise the 187-") game as a provincial one. It, by the way resulted in a win for Wellington by 1() points to 1. Up to 1897 Auckland had only won one match against Wellington, out of eight played, but since then they have won four times in succession Wellington, though still one ahead, have those four defeats looming large in front of them, and the effort to get one back on Satuiday wall undoubtedly make the contest more than interesting. * * * The 21&t September has been suggested to the Rangitikei Union for the junior representative match, which is sot down to be played at Feilding. The Wellington junior lepiesentatives defeated the senioi representative* of the Wairarapa Thursday Union at Carterton on Saturday by 10 point*, (tries scoied by Griffiths and Webb, and con- \ ertcd by Goodw in and Quee) to 3 points U penalty goal) Messrs. Garrard (secretary), Frost, and Scott (management committee) of the Canterbury Rugby Union, intend travelling to Wellington on Saturday to view the Northern and Southern ends of the North Island fight for the supremacy of their island at the national game.