Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 150, 16 May 1903, Page 18

Rugby Football.

THE Poneke-Old Boys fixture, on No. 1 ground, attracted most attention at the Athletic Park on Saturday. It was a splendidly foughtout game, although at the end the former were doing all the scoring. • • • The Ponekes were minus the services of Wallace, Slater, Mcl&ae, and Sweeney the new men being Conder, Stevens, S. Galbraith, and Mitchell. The Old Boys were without Odlin, and soon after play commenced Brake's injured knee gave vray, and Nilsson took his P lace - # The ex-Collegian6 had the sun behind them at the start, and the first few minutes' play was carried on, in their territory. Some ~ood kicking by their backs, and some solid work by the forwards, shifted the play to the Poneke end of the field. With a grand concerted dash the Old Boys' forwards carried the ball from about the twenty-five flag over the Poneke line, Gilmer scoring a try right under the Dosts. Ingle® had no difficulty in kicking a neat sroal, making the score o-O in favour of the "Boys." A lot of even play followed, and eventually Slattery marked. The leather was placed for Stevens three or four yards on the Old Boys' side of the half-way line from whence he kicked a really fine goal — a kick that place-kick-ers like the Campbell brothers, Fache, or Mclntvre might have been proud of in their day. The only incidents of note for the remainder of the first half were two force-downs by the Old Boys in self-de-fence. With the tally 5 to 4 in their favour, the Old Boys attacked strongly in the early part of the second spell, but giadually their opponents wore them down and from thence to "no-side" the Ponekes had decidedly the best of the play. The "Boys," however, pluckkept their base intact till within twenty minutes of time. At this period of the play the ball was well within the Old Boys' twentyfive, and was worked right across the field. After some loose play, the oval was carried over the goal line, and here Toahill dashed between two or three playeis, and scored a meritorious try. The angle wa.s a difficult one, and Stevens failed with the kick. Poneke, now with their nose slightly in front, again attacked, and swept across the line Stevens scoring the try. A successful kick by the same player brought the Poneke's tally to 12 points and the game was practically won The Old Boys, determined to die fighting, elected to have a scrummage l.j yards out every time it was their ball when it went into touch. A few minutes before time they madei a great effort but some weak play gave Gray a chance, and this player, after beating a couple of men, made an excellent pass to Toohill, who, dodging one player, left his opponents far behind in the race for the line. Stevens* did not increase the score and time was then called, the older club winning by 15 points to 5. * * ♦ The Poneke forwards won the match for their side and in the second spell they gave an excellent account of themselves. They frequently broke through their opponents' pack, and their all-round work left little to he> desired. Cross and McAnally were especially prominent, and the latter, who captained the team in Wallace's absence, showed that he is still quite up to his best form. Mann was very noticeable on the wing where W. Spencer also put in «ome good work. Conder, at half, was not a great success 1 but he did not often have the ball heeled out by his forwards. Gray filled the five-eighth position, and Stevens and he did excellent work. Both played soundly, and kicked with judgment Slaitterv was well watched, and had little to do, but did that little well. Toohill takes his passes nicely, and is a very fast runner. His kicking, however, larelv gains much ground.

Thomas, at full-back was very weak in kicking, but his fleetness of foot often got him out of a corner. • • * In Dodd and Watkins, the Old Boys possess* perhaps the tw o best front-rank-ers in the senior competition, and they invariably secured possession. The Old Boys' forwards' played pluckily, but they met a better combination. Dodd, Marling, and Watkins were about the most prominent, and the latter paid special attention to Slattery. Thomson,, at half, and Buddie, at fullback, were the shming lights amongst the backs. The latter is certainly playing excellently just now, and must have a few good marks to his credit for the representative team in. the selector's note book. Johnson, at five-eighths, was not in his usual form, while of the threequarters — who generally kicked with capital results — Stuckey was perhaps the best. One piece of play of Stuckey's deserves a pargraph. The Poneke vanguard came along with a dangerous rush right down to Stuckey. He secured the ball, and ran round behind his own goal, finally getting in a most useful kick. Mr. A. Campbell ably controlled a very interesting and friendly game. ■* * * The Melrose-Oriental match was played on No. 2 ground at the Athletic Park. It was a hard and well-contest-ed game among the forwards, but devoid of any very startling incidents. Both sets of scrummagers put a fair amount of vim into their play. Melrose having the best of the solid work, but on the line-out and in following-up the Oriental vanguard were ahead of their opponents. There was a great want of combination, amongst the backs of both sides. Reynolds (Oriental half) and George Spencer (Melrose full) must be singled out as the best backs. Roberts, Brewer, and Anderson — the last tw o being promoted juniors — also performed well for Oriental, as did Wngley and E. Claridge for Melrose. Bush put in some good woak at times, but he has played many better games. It appears to me that Roberts and ho could be more particular m their passes. Excellent chances were lost to Oriental through passes being delayed too long, or "chucked" out anyhow . The Oriental full-back was making his first appearance in senior football, and he may be expected to improve on Ins weak showing in this match. Amongst the Melrose foa wards, Calnan played his usual great game his footwork in particular being brilliant J. Spencer was also prominent on the line-out, and in the solid w ork A note of last season comes to me just here, and it is to the effect that the 1 esponsibilities attaching to a captain spoils '"Jack's" play, and now that Calnan has taken up the reins of office it is only in the order of things that Spencer w ill give many fine expositions of forward play. Best and A. Wyhe must be sorted out fiom the Oriental foiward division for good, solid work, the latter being very conspicuous, particularly on the hne'-out. The Melrose score r.as made up of three unconverted tries, scored by Goodwin, Callum, and Calnan the Oriental's four points bem.^ the result of a lightning-like pot shot of F. Roberts'. The Oriental back division has been stiengthened by the promotion of Brewer and Anderson from the junior fifteen. They both made good usiei of the few chances they had. As a whole — with the exception of the full, who should lmprovei as he gains experience — the backs are a good lot. but sadly want combination and system in their play. If they acquire this, there is a likelihood of the Oriental team bringing off some surprises before the season is over. Mr. D. Weir carried out the duties appertaining to a referee in a masterly manner. * * • The Athletic-Petone match was played at Petone. but was very uninteresting except viewed from the suburban standpoint. The play of the Petoae team, however, although they won by 18 points, seemed to lack cohesion, there being too much haphaaardness about it, the individual being more prominent than the team. They have in their ranks many promising players, especially among the forwards, and when the vanguard learns that consistent follow ing-up is one of the fine points of the Rugby game, and having learnt it practise it, they will be a, formidable combination. The forwards have weight, energy, and stamina — what more is wanted make an ideal forward team but the (Continued on page 19.)

necessary bringing of the individual playeirs into a combined whole. However, I am not going to grumble too much— the team put m the field by the Petone Club this season, when one considers their descent into nothingness last year, is distinctly to their credit, and if a comment such as I have written above will stimulate the players into doing them- best as a whole for the club, it will satisfy me. • * • The player that impressed me most favourably m the Petone team was Heblery, the full-back. He has the necessary qualifications for a full-back, with but one failing. He takes the ball splendidly, runs well, and finds touch with a great degree of accurateness a,t the end of a lusty kick. Hebley, however, has a tendency to run too far before putting has kick in— a failing which will get his team into serious trouble if he does not overcome it Mick Ryan is keeping along the road he promised, and will be a good fi vet-eighth w T hen he fully develops. Braid covers a lot of ground, but is not as effective as he should be. Hardham played three-quarter on Saturday, and did well in that position. Pat Ryan, seemed to be suffering from that tired feeling. Joe Cairns has given many better expositions behind the nack than he did last week. Chambers was not much in evidence on the wing, and the wrestling bouts between Bnce and W. Hales were not good football, but they w r ere the only things worth noting on Brice's side of the pack. Among the forwards, Judd — Arthur Stanley of that ilk — played right up to the form that secured him a place in Wellington's representative team, but a habit he has of charging: every kickoff should be got rid of, mainly because it is against the laws of the game. Drisooll, a forward from the late Kaiapoa Club, Chnstchuroh, is a new man in Petone's pack. The way he fondles the ball one would imagine he was a back if it was not that when the scrummages were formed his head was down with the rest. He is a grafter, though, and will help the team a lot. "Bumper" Wright was full of vigour and go, but a handling at the hands of an opponent he ought always to take in good part. Tannahill, Hansen, Fraser [the secretary of the club, by the way, and a good officer], and Selwood are the remainder of the vanguard, and they one and all work hard for victory. • * # Space is limited, and I will not on this occasion add to the troubles; of the Athletic team by commenting on their play. It is hard enough to battle as they have to with a weak team Saturday aifter Saturday, without a nasty knock from me, and I will content myself with congratulating them on the plucky way in which they fight to make the defeats as small as possible. Mr. Peter Maokie carried the whistle, and his decisions gave satisfaction to both teams. The impression he made was distinctly favourable, and the ranks of the local referees are undoubtedly improved by Mr. Mackie becoming one of them. • • • The big attraction at the Athletic Park to-morrow (Saturday) is the match between the Melrose and Poneke teams. Year by year — no matter what position they occupy in the contest for the championship — the meeting of these teams is always looked forward to with a deal of interest. Both have their partisans, who follow their fortunes whether they are on the up or down grade, and this year both groups of partisans are elated, for so far their teams have been successful m wanning the matches in which they have been engaged. Saturday's game can be confidently expected to be a ding-dong struggle. Both combinations are doing their utmost to get into tip-top condition, and the gymnasium and the other means or training have been made full use of this week. Who's going to win? is the general question. On form — which in football is generally a delusive thing — Poneke should be ahead when "nonsade" is 1 declared. The Melrose team, have won their previous engagements, truly, but they did not seem to have settled down to the seriousness of the game in the matches they have played, whereas the Poneke players have shown good form right from the jump. But, I have always held the opinion — and still hold it — that the Melrose team are the hardest team to beat in Wellington , and there 1 is no question but that, the Poneke match will waken all the dormant football there is in the Melrose players, and if they don't win they will be that close to it that the Poneke supporters will be holding their

bieath pietty hard many times during the progress of the game, and it their team is ahead w ill hail with delight the blowing ol the whistle to end the game. * • • I heard or a strange decision given by a referee in a fourth-class match last Saturday. One of the attacking side kicked the ball hard, the full-back barely touched it, and it rebounded into the field of play off the goal posts. The player attacking secured the ball, and crossed the line, scoring a try. The referee disallowed the try, as the ball was. dead—at least, that was his decision, — when it struck the post. In fairness to thei Referees' Association, though, let me say the referee m question has not passed hisi examination, yet., the demand for referees compelling the Appointment Committee to use all its available members each Saturday, regardless of the fact whether they are qualified to act or not. As a matter of fact., there was nob one available referee to spare last week, when the appointments were made. * • * Watching a junior game on Saturday for a few minutes, the force of the ten yards obstruction rule was brought home to me. The ball was kicked bv a three-quarter back, and went, to a. player in a similar position on. the other side. At the time the latter went for the ball there must have been about seven, or eight of his opponents within five yardsi of him. He fumbled the ball, and before he could recover it the player who made the kick had come through, thereby putting- his own players on-side. The following play resulted in a try beiine scored against the team whose back had fumbled the ball. It has always been a canjtention of mme — and still is — that if players are standing; within ten yards of an opponent waiting to take the ball, the freekick should be given before he touches the ball. It it had been given m the incident I mention the spirit and the letter of the law would have been carried out, and the try would not have been scored. • • ♦ I paid a visit to the Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday and found a goodly muster of spectators there. A few encroached on the grass, but a timely word was accepted in the right spirit. The management of the Petone Club recognise how important it ;s; s to them that the town clubs shall have no cause of complaint on this head, and it is no fault of theirs if speetaibors do get closer to the game in their excitement than they should. The custodian is willing to do his best, and I would suggest to the Petone Club that they reouest the assistance of the man in blue to help tlhem. He i's fond of the game, and will be only too willing: to help them if requested to do so. • • » ' Jocky" Breen, a player as well known as any during the past score of years in Auckland football, is now-a-days purser of the "Penguin," trading between Wellington and Nelson. Talking of "Jocky" one match in which he took part comes vividly before me. It was before the days of the district scheme in Auckland, and was between the Ponsonby and Grafton teams 1 . In the first round of matches, Ponsonby had beaten Graftom, Grafton being successful in the match in the second round. A final game was played for the championship, and the odds were that, Grafton would win comfortably. But, "Joeky" got to work for Ponsonby, and that afternoon potted three goab from the field — two with the right foot, sir, and one with the left — Ponsonby finally winning by 16 points to 0, under the three-one scoring system. If this should catch the eye *>f Breen, a visit from him next time he is in port, will be esteemed by an old schoolmate. A sign' of the improvement of the Petone Club. Last Saturday it put five teams in the field in the Rugby Union's contests, and won all it's matches. Hear 1 hear' The New South Wales Rugby Union has a credit balance of £2259 13s lOd ! "Oh, dear l What a handy sum," do I hear the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union exclaim? Wallace was eagerly looking forward to the match with Old Boys last Saturday. A cold, however developed on Friday night into influenza, and, although he made a valiant effort on Saturday morninpf and went to work, he had to acknowledge himself beaten, and went home to bed. His suspensei on Saturday afternoon can better be imagined than described, and the announcing of the result of the game to him shortly after its conclusion went •* long way towards putting him on his feet again,. He will be found, at piesent advices, in his usual place, leading his team to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon.

' Bangor" Row is on the retired list in. Sydney this season. "Kiltie" MoGrath — a Wellington representative of three seasons back — is putting in his second season as wingiorward for thei Melrose junior fifteen. How the mighty have fallen! McInnes, who a couple of seasons back bid fair to reach the same plane that Calnajn occupies as a forward, is this season playing as emergency for the Maltose second fifteen. The talk of football circles on Saturday night was "Touch" as a tipster. He ventured three shots last Saturday morning, and all of them were wrong. Verily, a propheoier of the results of football matches has a hard row to hoe. One of Napier's landmarks) — ex-Con-stable Harvey — is no more. The Wellington team that toured North, in 1900 will remember the genial old gentleman in blue, and regret witth me that he is no longer this side of the Great Divide. I am. told that three sons of that old Pomeke and ex-representative, forward, Harry Mclntyre, were playing for the Poneke's fifth fifteen last Saturday. "Train, up a child in the way he should go," etc., seems to be one of Harry's maxims. Jimmy Lynskey, who a few seasons back played behind the pack for the Athletic senior team, filled the halfback position, — as a substitute — for the Petone third fifteen last Saturday. A few of the promising school representatives of Last season) are in th© Petone thirds thisi year, so this may account for Lynskey donning the jersey again. "Duncan, though doing a lot of useful work, was heavily handicapped by playing behind a beaten team of forwards." Still a player, you see, and who will venture the opinion that the old war-horse will not have a tnp to Neiw South Wales and Queensland at the expense of the New Zealand Rugby Union this season as a member of its representative team? Those m the know are smiling. A junior player was reported by a referee last week, and in his notice to attend the meeting of the Management Committee, the letter conveyed the intimation to him that the referee had reported him for "having deliberately kicked an opportunity" [opponent was meant]. It may be getting one on to the secretary of the Rugby Union, but still it is too good to miss making a paragraph of. There are many waysi in which a match can be won. The Southern third-class team believe the St. James' team have found a new way. The only score in the match between these teams last week was through a player kicking at a rolling ball, and sending it over the crossi bar — 4 points. But it is not a new thing, ait all. The Athletic senior players will tell you how Murphy — who was playing front rank for them then — beat the Old Boys last season by kicking too hard in a dribbling rush, the ball rising and going over the crossbar. Slater, the Poneke full-back, has had a unique experience for him. Now-a-days he lives in the Kuit Valley, and takes a jaunt through the bush out that way when he has any spare time. On Sunday week he followed this course, but got lost in the intricacies of the undergrowth, and it was late on Tuesday before he found his way to his home. The doctors predict that "Charlie" will be lucky if he escapes having rheumatic fever as the result of his exposure. Let us hope that that measure of luck may be vouchsafed him, and that he will in a day or two be none the worse for his experience.

What happened to Jones ? Who knows 9 Perhaps 'twas a cold in his nose, Or maybe a cough, which he couldn't shake off, And denied him the joy of repose ; Quite likely he both did endure, Which him to his room did immure, Till a friend said one day, " drive your chills all away With Woods' Gbeat Peppebmint Cuke."

Pollards planted their standard in Africa last week, and opened the fiay w ith Djm D;in." * * * Madame Saiah Bernhardt is now sixty } ears of age During last month she biked" fifty-five miles in one day. # • * Sousa's famous band is, on anival in Australia, to- be augmented by twenty three of the best musicians in Austialia. -= * * Mr. Frank Thornton raked in £1008 in six nights at Sidney ' C'ntenon." Australia has been suffeung fiom drought • * * Notwithstanding the reported abandonment of this colony by the Edward Lloyd Concert Company, pnvate advices received from Melbourne state that the tour will in all likelihood eventuate. ♦ * • ' Tom Tom" computes the number of bands in New Zealand at 247. Auckland and Canterbury run very close for first place whilst Wellington is a good third. Giving each band an average of 25, it would <*eem that we have m the colony about 61 70 bandsmen. * * * Mr. George Musgrove was recently asked if he- intended to bring his gorgeous "A Midsummer Night's Dream" + o New Zea.la.nd. Ec pathetically asked :f he was expected to show it on the racecourse, there being no stage large enoueh in Maoriland to crowd its beauties on. Why not a "rustic" show, anyhow ? Outside shows were common enouerh in England twenty years ago, and the "Dream" is of course particularly adapted for this. Footwaimers and fur cloaks could be supplied to the audience by the management. • • < "Critic" gossips about "Tapu" — "Ar thur Adams is well known here as a 'Bulletin' bard, with a nice turn for melodious rhyming, and, judging on the capabilities exhibited in his verse, ho should produce a neat thing m opera®, -but the trouble is that the Maori is too near to the New Zealander to bear idealization. .The opera would be more likely to suit in the Commonwealth than in New Zealand, for the reason that over here we see the Moari through a romantic and poetic haze, and know little of his bad odours, bad habits, and invincible fleas." ■>• * ♦ Madame Lilian Tiee was once tickled by a queer bit of frank criticism upon her singing. It was during her operatic career in London, when she was appearing as Santuzza in "Cavalle.na Rusticana." Thinking to give a treat to an old woman who was in her family's employ at the time, Madame presented her with a couple of tickets for the- performance. Next day, the old dame came up to thank the opera artist for her thoughtfuiness. She had a sympathetic expression on her face as she did so. The reason was evident when she remarked "But, Miss, it must surely have hurt yer a lot to be hollerin' like that. I was quite sorry for yer." You see, she didn't understand highclass opera. • • • Mr Brander Matthews recently toLd •a good story about the feelings of a dramatic critic a\ ho really was the guest of a dramatist aei the performance of his play. An American dramatist, hearing of Mr. Brander Matthew s's arrival sent him a ticket for his play. Mr. Matthews accepted it, and went to the theatre. At. the end of he first act the curtain vrent down amid the blank silence of the whole audience except himself, who, conscious of the courtesy shown him, applauded to the best of his ability. At the end of tihenafrcond act the audience hissed while "he mamtanned a stoical and compassionate silthe theatre At the end of the first act went out, bouerht a, ticket, and came back to hiss with the rest. * * « A critic, in > commenting on the death of Wall ac^-, King, the dark-skmn-ed tenor, says he made his voice famous by singing "Sally Waters." Must be another name for " Sally Homer "' Bv the w ay, talkino- about Sally leminds me of a recently-told yarn in which an Italian manager with a large neck and a spikey moustache came forward, and rejoiced the beautifully classic crowd in front with the information that the quartette "Salanna]i" w ould be sung. The audience hugged itself. It would hear an Italian masterpiece. It would listen to something it couldn't possibly understand, but which would give an excuse for much fashionable comment by themselves as learned critics. When the first line 'Of all the girls that are so sweet" came along, the people tumbled to the Signor's English.