Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 102, 14 June 1902, Page 5

Rugby Football.

THK WVllington-Old 80-, s match piovided one of the most interesting contests we have had so far this season Although the older club won bv twehe points to eight, they had to play all they knew to keep the Old Bo>s from equalising the scores, a lid it was sheer hard luck that prevented the latter from leaving the field victorious The game was fast and open from the start, and the backs of both teams had plenty of oppoitunities of showing their capabilities. During the hist half, the play travelled from one end of the ground to the other in rapid succession, the Wellington team having 4ightlv the bettor of the deal Kember sewed first for Wellington after Meredith had made an excellent opening, and McLachlan added the ma!or point® with a w ell-directed kick. The Old Boys then assumed the aggiessive, and from a long kick the ball went over their opponents goal line. Lovatt, the full-back, with the full intention of forcing down, bounced the ball on the ground, and kicked it into the field to the arms of Watkins who was undecided what to do it h it. Dodd. who had also been following up soon relieved Watkins of the ball, and am doubt he had on the matter and. crossing the line, scored a try with the whole of his opponents wondering what was happening. Bv the way, a tiv is scored bv touching "the ball on the giound in the opponents' in-goal. and to emphasise howit must be obtained, m case law a dilution is given— So as to press the ball on the ground " Similar conditions prevail for a foice-down, and the Wellington full-back, not having fulfilled the conditions of the law, the ball was not dead, but was still m play. It ■«« good thing to see pWrs so keen n tW knowledge of the rules as Dodd was m this instance— it benefited his team so much. To revert to the game itself. Ingles converted the try, and, when ends weie changed the score was five points all. During the second spell Meiedith potted a goal for Wellington, and Brod?e scored^ meritorious try. McKenzie doing likewise for the Old Boys. Towards the end of the game, the Welluwrton team were kept mainly on the defensive, and, although Johnson, Buddie, and Dodd were untiring in then efforts to add a few nioi-poin ,ts to their total, the defensive tactics adopted bv Meredith and Lovatt we.c too stubborn for them to overcome. Time and again splendid chances weie lost by the Boys" through leckle&s pasbing, and a little more practice m the art of w hen and how to pass might be judiciously tried with more success. For the winners, Brodie w as a, host in himself. His play was a marveJous improvement on his former displays this season, and evidently points to the tact that '-Tom" is getting into his correct form. Meiedith had a heavy afternoon's work, and his potted goa.l was distinctly "merrv"-torious He mace several splendid openings for his backs and, generally, his play was up to his standard Lovatt showed sound defence, and saved his team repeatedly by his collaring. His punting was rathei weak, and a little more attention to the touchline by him would be of advantage to his team. Mclntyre and Tan Johnson— the latter making his first appearance— had not much to do but perhaps it was iust as well, as they appeared to be right out of form Scott Wilson could have made moie use of his speed, albeit he pei formed fairly Kember deseives special mention foi the way he threw the ball out of touch, and the forwaids one and all worked hard so much indeed that it would be unfair to particularise any of them. Dodd and Watkins were always to the fore among the Old Boys' forwards, and they were well supported by West and Page. McKenzies play was a slight nnpi o\ement on his previous performances, but lie missed some good chances bv potting instead of feeding his wings.

Johnson was too well looked attoi to distinguish himself, .md, furthermore, lie was handicapped by a knock on the head eaih i-i the game. His display was not marked bv anything bulliant, and he should ha\e gone -a little more on his o\n in se\ el <il or the passing rushes. Stout, Ingles, <uul Buddie had not many oppoi tunitu-s, but they satisfactonh got through all that came their w ay Logan \\a*> moie sue cess hi 1 in getting the ball away fiom the sci J'n .i M (l Ins play is improving as the season advances Wilson, at full-back, had -Miothei iim> horn the mniois. He w ...s inclined to bo rathei «low in his letums but otheiwiso was> faulv successful The Mel rose and Onent il g.me w a,s played a.t Petone, and was peneially speaking, dull and unmteipsting, although occa/Sionallv theic > eie dashes of good play. In the first spell, Mehose eahiU held the upper hand, and put on ton points, a,s the result of two goals kicked by G Spencer from tries, obtained bv A Claridgo and J. Spencer. When ends weie changed the play waw. far the most part, between the two twenty-five flags, but a couple of chances came to the Oriental players, and on both occasions the attack lesulted in a score. On the first occasion Madden — a second fifteen player, pressed into seivice for the day — made a handy iun fiom a, loose sci amble passed the ball just when he got into a good position to Welch, who barely grounded the ball over the line before he was bowled over by G. Spencer. A scrummage in the Mehose twenUfive was the commencement of the la^t

scene of tlie game. Orientals seemed and heeled out smartly to Roberts, who feinted to pass to lv& five-eighth with the ie<s>ult that an opening appeared of which ho speed ih took advantage, and, bctoio the opposition knew what had leallv happened, he had scored in a t>oo<l position near the posts Wilkes was suceo'ful with the kick at f^oal. Thoie woie one or two miidc'iits 111 this match I did not think were within the limits of fair play, or called for. On one occasion, George Spencer had letuined the ball from a, forw ard rush, and was charged down quite' unncce^saiily bv am opposing forward. The charge could have been avoided, and the player w ould only have received his deserts if a caution had been adminlsteied him by the referee On another occasion, I noticed Best another "Midget" in the Oriental torwards — bieak away from the luck with the. ball a.t his toes, but he did not so far before he was deliberately collared by an opposing forward. Football is a rcastime pure and simple, and acts such as I have noted here do not tend to make players enjoy the game as they should. J Spencer skippered his team m good btvle but I cannot help saying that he is spoiling whatever chance he may have of m elusion in the representative team by aotmg in that capacity. Instead ol being wheie, from his capabilities, he should be, in front of the rushes of the vanguai d he is generally tailing them up a few yards behind. "Jack" is young: still, and one of the most promising of our forwards, but the cares of office are killing his own football George Spencer v, as solid at full-back, and both tries were not scored through hli"s on his part. His place-kicking was also good. The repiesentative team will be soited out directly, and Foothead's chances of

inclusion as a wing-forward are very rosy. Commenting on this player once before I called him Oswin — and the remarks made then still hold good — he plays the game m a fair spirit, and as it should be. Best is a promising forward in the ranks of the Orientals, and Wyhe and Skilton are hard grafters. Robeits still keeps on the up-grade behind the scrummage, and as a halfback he has no superiors at present playing in Wellington. He has filled out a lot since last yeai , and a few moie similar initiatives to that which re=ulted in a, try to his credit last Saturday, will improve greatly his chances of a place in the lepie&entative team. A Clandge gave a cieditable exhibition till a twisted ankle made him. little better than a. passenger. Wngley was the same old Wrigley — solid in defence Among the forwards, Osv, in Hardham, and W Spencer were always m the van. Pot one defa,ulted to Athletics, only nine players out of the fifteen, rolling up to the train to make the trip to town, and they did not relish travelling to the Park to be made an exhibition of. Why do not some of the old players of this club take the matters of the club in hand, and endeavour to revive an interest in its matches by putting a representative team in the field to battle for the club in its senior engagements? Where have McGurk, King, McGill, Judd, Gigger, and many others gone to ? If among the have-beens, cannot they be prevailed upon to give a night or two of their time at the gymnasium to offer the present players a few hints and some encouragement to progress even (Continued on page 6.)

against then present discouraging attempts to uphold the honoui of then club ? It »seem& to me such a pit> , after all tlie trouble the club have gone to m the past to secuie such a training hall as tlhev have now at the disposal of then placers that ai decent team oa.nnot be put in the- field to battle foi them I feel certain the material is m the suburban township, and a little eneigA among; tihe old p!a\eis « ill bring it to The Old Boys Club entered a pi o test with the Management Committee of the Rugby Union against the Athletic Club claiming a win in the jumoi nxtuie between tho^e clubs on the tollowing grounds — In the com so of a nassing u by the Athletic backs the ball was passed by the Athletic five-eighth tow aids the Athletic centie three-quarter, lhe Ulcl Boys centre three-quartei who was arimittedlv nearer the Athletic goal-line than the Athletic five-eighths was when he passed the ball, intercepted the -ass and the referee awarded the Athletics a free-kiok. declaring that the penalty was incurred bv the Old Boys centre three, quarter dehbeiatelv w aiting off-side. The leferee, in his statement to the Commattee, said he gave -the free-kick against the Old Boys Club for atelv waiting off-side. Ihe Manage ment Committee decided that the ieE, statement made the incident a, question of fact,, and dismissed the protest On what rule the leferee based his de* eision is a m\sterv to me I cannot find one wheie a penalty can be even against a player foi 'deliberately waitone of them The only one that can even give the least indication of such a penalty is section < . and it reads < Not in a scruramaae'wilfulh obstructs his opponents backs bv standing on his opponents side of the ball when it is in a scrummage And further— an off-side pla^ei £ placed on-side (section (b law 8) hen the ball has been kicked bv 01 has touched, an opponent Tins rule distinctly shows that a phner cannot be off-side no mattei where he may be on the field of play when an opponent has the ball, and therefore, in declanng a p^ei clcliberatelv waiting ofF-side when he mteicepted a pass from one of the othei side the refeiee eired on a mattei ot law . It is atneed that the pla\er in question was not penalised under section d) of lule 11, and it is m\ him comict'on that it the Old Boys Club appealed aga.in.st the findmg of the Management Committee then appeal would be upheld. * * *" Touch," m the 'New Zealand Time*-" last Saturda\ made a suggestion which hasmv heartiest approval, and that was —that the Management Committee of the New Zealand Union appoint Mr W. McKenzie as the sole selector of the NeV Zealand team which is clue to visit New South Wales next season The qualifications of that gentleman for the position need no exposition from me— the\ are well know n from one end of the colony to the other \s Touch" suggests the best couise to puisueto enable him to make a good selection would be to appoint him to the position before this season's senes of representative matches commence, and give him an opportunity of soeing each ot the mtei -unions play, and horn what he noted in these games, he would be able to select a team that would do oiodit to the colony The expense would not be a gioat baruei, and could be fairly chaiged against the tiust account. For instance Canteibmy, Otago, and Southland all pla\ Wellington m Wellington. Mi McKenzie could see those games heie and could tiavel with the Canterbun team to Auckland, see the Auck-land-Canterbun match \ rating in Auckland till the Auckland- V.Vlhngton match was placed, and then tia\elback witJi the Wellington team, and watch the Taraaiaki-Wellmgton match A tup as tai as Chnstchurch would enable him to see Caaiterbun -Otago pL<\ one anothei and thu«. ! aving seou the \aiious tftnns play under diftorent conditions lie could anno at a coriect estimate of the qualifications of the \ arious pla^(•ls The whole expense of tlu> trip should not exceed £20 and undoubtedly would be money well spent The suggestion should commend itself to the Management Committoo of the New Zealand Rugb\ Union The first lound of Semoi Championslup matches is now concluded, and the following is the position of the competing teams Poneke ")\\in.s 1 draw 11 points Wellington "i wins, 1 loss, 10 points Molrobc, 4 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw 9 points Athletic, 2 wins -i losses,, 4 points Old Boys, 2 wins 4 losses 4 points Oriental 1 win 4 losses 1 draw 3 points Petone 1 diaw ."> losses 1 point.

Tom Pauling caines the whistle again this season m senior matches, ni Svdnoy Hardcabtle is still a playei on Sydney side, his name appealing among tho Globe team's foiwaicls Hamson, the Auckland vmg tlneot|iiaite>r, is said to be' playing up to his best f-oim of a couple of seasons ago "Cross nas scarcely at lils best, and at present is some distance behind New Zealand foim."-A Cante:buiv comment . On his foim so fai McTca~ue is a long way below the senior class," is the n,n a Southern w liter sums up the exAthletic playei Alec Wilson is occasionally prevailed upon to play tor Newton in Auckland and the othei week he place-kicked a fine goal from a tn A copy of the Queensland Rugb^ Uiuou Annual is to hand, but it is too late to make more than a passing obser\ation to that effect this week B\ its win ovei Atliletics, on Saturday last the Poneko nmior team is now the onh unbeaten team in the iunioi competition , and should be. the ultumaite w mnei^ Junmv Corner has boon eriven a "la.cc in the North Shore (Auckland) second fifteen T presume that tendency of sticking to the ball is the reason of his ' Irish" rise ?/lony Wood had the misfortune to injure his knee a few weeks back in Chnstchurch, and it i«- now reported doubtful whether he will be able to play again this season The only team in which any inteiest is taken in Petone is that club's fourth fifteen, wiio, up to the piesent, has lost none of its matches, aad is leading for tho championship in that grade. Champion, the New Zealand swimmei of repute is at piesent in Dunedm, and the Alhambra Club are endeavouring to secuie his services Full-back" says tho police ieoula,tions may debar him from tnkiii"- am pait in the B/Ugb-s game Wallv" Drake is captain of the Monva,le team this year Quidnunc" s"a\&, in a recent comment an cat him --- Drake's footwork and geneia.l play was of a high ordei The only surprise is that some of his men ean.iot leain a little about dribbling; fiom their captain." The St. .Tamer's team is considered to bo at the present time the probable wmneiis of the Third-cla^s Championship Ongi.iallv an Association team, since its giaduation into Rugby it ha,« made s+ead\ progiess. and should it be succi^sful tliis <-eason its success will be deceived The Ponsonby fiist fifteen l.s the surpnse m senior football in Auckland this season. They aie now leading v> itb the Cit\ tram for tho championship One writer says of their display in a lecent match — Kick to make ground, and urn to score" is sound football and Ponsonln adheied to it stnctlv A plavei who will have to be leckoned with when the representative team comet to be chosen tins veai is Petei Geraid In all ma+chefe played to date he has been the mainstay of the Noith Shoie back division, both a& an ofFensne and defensm c player "—" — ' Hsm iiei " in the Auckland 'Heiald." The New Zealand Rugby Union ha\e decided to instinct the Management Committee to approach the Knghsh Bugb\ Union to give it discretional \ poweis in the mattei of tiavelhng expenses to enable a New Zealand lepiofc,ei,tati\e team being sent on toui tlnough Gieat Bntam in 1903 if possible This is the be^st meth.od to puisiu^ under existing circu.insta.ncos, and it is to be hoped the oiortiiies will be met m a fan "spirit by the governing bod\ An enjoyable little smoke conceit was held in the Caledonian Hotel last Satuida\ night to formally hand cnoi to Mossis A ¥ Wm'ii .iMfl T B KMi<.on two of the handsome trophies won b^tl c Poneke Club when in the hc\dav o." its caieer Mi Bock piesided and the vspeech^s weie above the «i,\eiage of smoke concert oraton . Mi Minifies orchestra lendered some choice music which was much applet lated and songs b\ \aiious peoule whiled awa\ a 'iv.s«int Saturrla\ night