Out Door Sports and Pastimes Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 115, 13 September 1902, Page 18

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Rugby Football.

By Touchline.

TO say that an ardent supporter of the Wellington team like myself was disappointed with their display last Saturday puts the case mildly. But, still it is only a continuation of previous disappointments this season, and one must not feel too much cast down thereby. Not once during the game did the Wellington team seem to me likely to win it — their attack was never sustained or vigorous enough to convey that impression Their play sheeted home the conviction that their efforts in the main were with the object of keeping the Otago score as small as possible, but it would be foolish on their part to attempt to win the game. ♦ # * The match itself needs little description. For the most part it was a multiplicity of similar incidents. There were only two scores in the game, both by Otago, the first one half-way through the opning spell, and the latter at the conclusion of the second half. A beautiful passing rush by the visitors ended in the first try. Knowles (the half), Duncan, Munro, Bennett, and Stalker all handled the ball in succession and the latter, when he got it had only to streak across the line to score — the opposition were all done with. A similar charge a few minutes later found G. Spencer across to meet it, and he brought Stalker down just on the line.

The second score was the end of a series of scrummages on the Wellington line, Knowles finally squeezing through somewhere — some say through the scrummage — and grounding the ball across the chalk-line. Roddick, with a beautiful kick, added the two extra points, and the game ended with the visitors eight points to the good. * * * The best team undoubtedly won the match, and the win was a popular one, excepting among the local team's ardent barrackers. Just here, my thoughts travel to the> two previous matches with Otago. In 1900, it will be remembered that a converted tiy would have made the match a drawn game. But a kick right in front of the goal was missed b> a generally reliable lacker, as these kicks sometimes are, and Otago lost Then last year, can we forget it — those of us who saw the match P Otaeo, 9 points, Yv^elhngton 5, and time up. Let me tell how we won the game once more The ball came to Slattery who punted it high from the left wing threequarter to the centre of the field, and followed through fast. The full-back failed to take the ball cleanly, and it bounced from, his arms right into Slattery's, and this player scored between the posts. The excitement was intense as the ball was placed for "Morne" Wood, and as it sailed across the centre of the bar the bell rang with Wellington one point to the good. Otago's win on Saturday partially atones for both these — for it was a handsome one, and without an element of luck mt it, at all. Mv congratulations to the players of the Otago Union. * # • Among the visitors, Duncan was ever prominent, but he appeared to be resting occasionally during the game. He generalled his team well, and kept them at it, and, although not the same "Jimmy" of a few years back, he is still far from finished with. A trip to New South Wales next year with the New Zealand team is, methinks the magnet that still keeps Duncan at it, and that trip would be a fitting close to a career such as "Jimmy's" has been Stalker infused a lot of dash into his play on the right three-cm a rter, but Baxt-er, on the other wing perhaps on account of his youth, was hesitating

Bennett proved a good substitute for Booth, who had to stand down because of a knock received in the Hawke's Bay match. Bennett fiolded and kicked well, and supplied a solid link in the passing chain. Munro was noticeable at times, but Knowles, a diminutive half, with the nickname of "Chummy," was much in evidence. With his forwards having the better of the deal, many opportunities came his way, and he generally did the right thing. He passed out neatly, but his attempts to get round the side of the opposing pack before passing were not always successful. The manner in which he punted to touch was very commendable. Porteous did fine work on the side of the visiting pack, the way he centied the ball in a dribbling rush on one occasion being very fine indeed. The visitors were very strong in the vanguard, and tied their opponents in a knot Among a very willing lot, Roddick, Fenwick, and Given were always hard at it, and crossed the vision to good purpose. On the home side, Wallace played splendidly at five-eighth. His kicking was the marked feature of his play the way in which he got the full advantage of the wind in this direction beine very good. His tackling and passing were of the best, but if he had run straiehter when he had possession of the ball his game would have been perfect. Molntyre and Claridge had not much to do, but did their work fairly well. Spencer kicked well from full-back, but had not pace enough to get across to Stalker when he scored. Roberts defended finely at half-back, but wants practice passing the ball. He is the makings of a capable player, but this one defect will ruin his chances if he does not remedy it. Bush's game suffered in comparison with his display against Southland. His defence — always a strong feature of his game — was as good as ever. Mann and Watkins played in and out on the wing forward. The former was very conspicuous at times, and at others appeared to have a temporary off-season. Watkins was conspicuous in two ways — his footwork and following wore eood, and his aptitude for getting off-side was just as marked.

In the scrummage, there were three "wasters" pure and simple. Piano playing is pleasant to hear at times — of course, it depends on the player — but a "vamper" on a football field is neither good for — his team or the spectators to watch. Dodd, Joyce, and Sweeney are not included in the three mentioned above, for they played hard and well. The former, by his games against Southland and Otago, has again got into line as a New Zealand representative. Mr. F. T. Evans refereed, and gave satisfaction to both teams, as he invariably does. This is the fifth consecutive occasion on which "Dutchy" has refereed in the Otago-"Wellington match, and every time he has satisfied both teams. *■ * * A fine game is likely to result as the meeting of the North and South Island teams at the Athletic Park on Saturday. Both teams are eager for the game and those who attend will be rewarded by, if nothing else, seeing thirty of admittedly the best players in New Zealand engaged in a friendly encounter with one another. The team selected for the South Island is not as strong as the selectors would like to have put in the field but still is a fairly representative one. The absence of Duncan is a notable one. Another peculiar thing about the Southern selection is the resolve of the selectors to play wing forwards. Canterbury, Otago, and Southland ostensibly discard the "wingers" in their representative teams when they select them — although they are in position on the _ field when they play — that a straight-out selection like this comes as a surprise. Smith is a player with a great renutation in Nelson, and it is said that the Nelson team did not travel this season because Smith could not get sufficient leave to accompany them. The remaining fourteen players have all been seen in Wellington this season, and comment on their capabilities is not necessary at this stage. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Union are leaving no stone unturned to make the match a success. His Excellency the Governor will be present, and will present the

Ranfurly shield to the Aucklanders during the interval at half-time. The Athletic Park Company are making complete arrangements to cope with a big crowd and the gates will be opened at 2 o'clock. In the Canterbury-Southland match, last Saturday, the Southlanders were placed at a disadvantage, owincr to se\ eral of their players being indisposed and two of those who had been selected to play had to stand down on this account. The ' Christchurch Press" says — "The display of football was much better than that given the previous week in the Otago-Canterbury match and both teams gave their backs plenty ot openings, the spectators ber- treated to some fast play. "The Southland front-rankers proved themselves cleverer than the Canteibury men at hooking the ball in the scrum but in the loose the latter were the better." Jacobs was an absentee from the Southland team through illness. Christopher scored two tries foi Southland, and for Canterbury Mc-bre-gor V Rice, Harper, and Phillips one each, Harper kicking two goals and Drake one from the tries. * * * The Auckland Rugby Union have been declared the winners of the Jianfurly Shield for the 1902 season, the first year of the inception of the competition. And, justly so too. xheir record for the season is a good one — the three matches placed by their representatives resulting in substantial wins— Canterbury, 19 to 3 , Wellington, 18 to 5 , Taranaki, 21 to 3. From the 1897 season to the present one the Auckland representatives have not been defeated in any of their mterprovincial matches, their record during that period reading —Matches played 22, won 19, drawn 3, points for <30y, against 75. Against Wellington they have played six matches, winning the half-dozen, scoring 8.5 points as against 19 , laranaki, 5 wins, 1 draw, 8b points to 19 ; Canterbury, 2 wins, 1 draw, 46 points to 9 , Otago, 1 win, 1 draw, 16 points to 6 , Wanganui, 2 wins 23 to 0 , Hawke's Bay 1 win, 18 to 10 New Zealand, 1 win, 11 to 10 New South Wales, 1 win, 24 to 9. It is remarkable to note in this connection, that the Auckland Rugby Union appointed a sole selector of its representative teams in 1897, and, with them, the innovation proved a decided success. That it has not done so with the Wellington Union cannot be adduced as an argument against the one-man selector. A photo reproduction is given of this year's Auckland team on an earlier page of this issue, and, apart from the fact ot the Ranfurly Shield being awarded the Auckland Union, the presence of nine of the North Island team to play on Saturday next in the pictuie makes it interesting. Their names aie — McDuff, Nicholson, Cunningham, Long, Tyler, Kiernan, Asher, L«ing, and Mcgregor. Mr. A. M. DeCosta writes Mr. W. G. Garrard that he has had an interview with Mr. Rowland Hill, the seciotary of the English Rugby Union "I had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Hill for over an hour. He pointed out that there would be senous objection taken to relaxing the lules of professionalism .... The unions are dead against anything in the nature of professionalism . . Of course, I placed our position before him very clearly, and he listened to my arguments very attentively and I have no doubt that if I appeared before his committee I could overcome the difficulty "Mr. Hill stated that his union has no objection to a team being allowed at the rate of 2s pei day per man for refreshments, provided the money is not paid to the men themselves. . - . In regard to Mulhneaux's team, the English Union simply obtained a guarantee from Mr Mullineaux to the effect that nothing would be done to break the professionalism regulations " Mr De Costa's interview should thoroughly convince the New Zealand Union that the requests they have sei't Home will meet with but poor suc-es<-and whatever chances they had of receiving a favourable reply have been weakened by the ex-secretary's arguments. It seems to me that, having received a negative answer to his request to interview the English Union, Mr. DeCosta has not acted in good faith in discussing the matter with Mr. Hill, and he should be asked why be did so when he returns to New Zealand • • * "Bob" Oliphant. who was injured in the Canterbury Hawke's Bay match, has decided to retire from the football arena and by his retirement the game will lose a sturdy exponent. He has a record to his credit of which he may justly be proud. He played his first senior game in the Manawatu as far back as 1882, and graduated from there to Wellington, where he joined the Po-

neke Clvb — then in. the zenith of its caieer. During the 1892 and 1893 seasons Oliphant was chosen in the Wellington Union's representative team, playing in nine of its matches, and in the latter season played in the New Zealand team against New South Wales. He was then transferred to Auckland, where he continued to make his maik as one of the best wing foiwaids the colony has seen, being chosen to play in the North v South Island match in 1894. In all his football careei Oh-hant had never met with a single accident till the one which laid him out. There have been many complaints about the programmes issued in connection with the representative matches in Wellington this season, and I have been asked to comment on the matter. The only official programme issued this year was the one issued bv Mr. Knott for the Canterbury match. All the others have been canvassed and circulated outside of the Rugby Union, and in one case — the Southland match the compiler of the programme did not approach the local union even to get the numbers, weights or names of the playeis. He. though called it an official programme, but forgot to put the imprint of his firm at the end of it. Of course, there is nothing to pi event people getting out programmes of the football matches, but the way the public have been misled in the later Wellington gamesi calls for some action on the part of the Wellington Union next season to keep the evil in check. There is an old saying that one 1 as got to go from home to learn rows. T>p local newspapeis said nothing about there being a probability of the North and South Island match not eventuating on account of the Auckland Rugby Union declining to pay the transit expenses of the members of its representative team chosen in the North Island combination. I heard the whole ms-and-outs of the matter, but considered the information sub rosa, as nothing of it had appeared in the daily papers, but a clipping m front of me, from a Wairarapa paper, lets the cat out of the bao-. I have come to the conclusion therefore that the information was not privileged and if it can be commented upon bv a special reporter of a country newspaper it surely can by me The clipping before me states that the Auckland Union gave as its reason for declining to pay its share of the expenses that it wanted all its money for dressing and training sheds. When one lets his memory travel back some years, and calls to mind the spontaneous offer of the Northern union to pay the whole of the expenses necessary to send four players to New South Wales in 1893 to strengthen the New Zealand team then playing in that colony the decision of that union in the matter of the North Island team is hard to understand. Anyone who cares to lead between the lines will readily peiceive that the North and South Island match this year is purely and simply a game to give a good line to the selectors of the New Zealand team next season as ti> probable 01 course, other players may come to light in the early part of next season, but the chances of their displacing any of the players in tlio two combinations playing in Wellington on Saturday are very remote indeed. So that, if the Management Committee of the Auckland Union did the right thing in 1893, their successors are wiong now. Theie is haidly a union in the colony which does not covet the huge credit balance of the Auckland body yet it is passing stiange that the latter should be practically the only one to decline to meet the New Zealand Union in the matter of these transit expenses. The action of the Northern union's Committee cannot commend itself to the followers of the game in the colony and it is pleasing to note that their attempt to throw cold water on the North and South Island match has been defeated by the head body deciding zji far as the proceeds fiom the match will permit to pay all the expenses of the game. That their enterprise may be rewarded bv a record attendance at the Athletic Park on Saturday is a fair wish "Hen" Kelly is stated to be settling in the Grafton district of the Auckland Rugby Union, and it is understood he will play for that team next season. "Full-back," in the "Otago Witness," says there is little interest being taken by footballers in the South Island in tne mter-island contest, and expressed the opinion that the South Island team would be only a scratch one. "Thomson proved an extremely brilliant man in attack, and no player could have more fully justified inclusion^ but his defence was generally deficient. —An Auckland comment on "Monas showing in representative matches m the Queen City.

The St. Patrick's College team play the Masterton first fifteen, at Masterton next Saturday. "Jack" Grant was sent up to Levin on Saturday by the Referees' Association to referee in a final cup match ot the Horowhenua Union. Yarning to him, he told me that if everybody had their dues, Winiata, a three-quarter playing in the match he was officiating in, would have been in the North Island team. His all-round work — kicking, running passing, and taking nasses — was of a very high order, and as good as "Jack" had seen for many a day. Opinions appear to be divided about Ashers capabilities in Auckland. "The finest three-quarter since Bob Whiteside," was a remark passed about Asher at Epsom on Saturday. Even allowing for every latitude for the difference of oninion which must necessarily exist about the merits of players it is hard to credit such an estimate, and one is forced to the conclusion that the utterer must have been a City barracker with his head turned by extravagant heroworship. Has this person ever heard of Jervis? Has he ever heard of McGregor, Harrison Buckland, McPike or Absolum, all of whom would be admitted by any good judge to be in their best form, better men than the City three-quarter? — "Actseous' " opinion.