Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 152, 30 May 1903, Page 18

Rugby Football.

GOING home to tea on Saturday night, I chanced on. a conversartion in the train. A gentleman, over whose head many summers' — and winters, too, for the matter of that — have passed, remarked to his companion — "Football is a. manly game. I grant you that there is a tendency to roughness m it, and occasionally the play resembles a pitched battle, but it is their prowess in fighting their own battles that has made the English naition the pow er they are in the world today. Therefore, I encourage my boys to play football." I know not, v.hccher the gentleman referred to was, a spectator at the Athletic Park that afternoon, or whether the crowd of footballers that "ot off the train at the Te Aro station, a few minutes previously. caused his thoughts to wander in the direction n which he expressed them, but they seemed to me to aptly describe the match between the Poneke and Melrose teams # • ♦ It has ever been considered that the meetings of these old opponents provide the keenest contests of each season and the latest one is no exception to the general rule. Right from kickoff to "no-side" the play was as keen as it was possible for it to be. and every one of the thirty players played right up to the best that was in him. There w ere many cases- of pointing by the players, httle tricks that escaped the eye of the referee, more e&peciaJly on the line-out, but, generally speaking, the players did not exhibit in their play that bitterness which has been noticeable on nearly every occasion w hen the w earers of the red and black and red and blue jerseys met to chase the bouncing leather.

Both teams wanted to play different games The Melrose players, early beang convinced that success would not be theirs if they relied on, their backs, kept the play close and tight, only opening up to indulge in the loose forAvard rushes ever associated with the ascendancy of their club. They we're enabled to carry out their purpose, because their front-rankers were more successful than their vis-a-vis in hooking the ball. Occasionally they attempted to "screw" the scrum, but the efforts in this direction were very feeble, not because the ball was not picked up neatly and well by the pivot, or by one of the back row men, but because when it was so picked up the player with the ball received no support from his comrades, and what should have been an advantage to the Melrose team generally turned out the reverse. The Poneke players, on the other hand, wanted the ball among their backs, but the strength of the opposing front-rankers nullified their efforts in this direction. Occasionally the ball came out to them, and thei way those backs got over the ground was very disheartening to the Melrose supporters. The Poneke vanguard made up for their laches in the direction of securing the ball by dashing play in the open and by hard pushing m the packed work. Therefore, the conclusion of the ma-t-tei is; that the Melrose forwards were cleverer in securing possession, in the solid work both packs were evenly matched, in, the open the Poneke had the better of their opponents, while their backs were much ahead of the Melrose rearguard. On the day's play, the better team won, but not once during the afternoon could they relax their efforts. « • * The forwards that stood right out themselves were Calnan and J. Spencer for Melrose, and McAnally and Sweeney for Poneke The quartette gave each and severally a splendid exposition of forward play. In the loose stuff, Calnan was always in evidence, and occasionally appeared to do the work of a whole team. T. Spencer took the ball finely on the line-out, and battled along in good style in the open work. McAnally played one of the best games he has shown in a good career as

a senior player. The way he took the baJL cm the line-out, and therefrom started a rush and follow of his team was well worthy of his reputation. Sweeney showed a penchant for securing the ball when it got tangled in loose rushes, and hardly ever did he break clear od them without he had the ball at his toe. Another prominent Poneke forw ard was Alec. Thompson. The long, fairhaired player was very conspicuous! for good play. Adams still keepsi up his reputation as a jersey destroyer. Methinks ju,t here it. is "Bill's" fondness for the feel of tihei ball that brings disaster to his jersey. He works' hard and well, but still a little bit more footwork would be of greater advantage to his team. The remaining forwards — CaJlum, Hardham, De> Blois, and Molnnes on the Melrose side, and A. Galbraith, S. Galbraith, Murphy, and D. Wilson — for Poneke — played honest. hard-w orking games to the best of their several abihtaes. I have been in my time one of the keenest advocates of wing-forward play, but match by match my enthusiasm for this style, of play is waning I don't say that, in the game under review my enthusiasm has received a bigger damper than on, any other occasion, but it appears, to me that the wing-forward 's gone and in his place we now have a man who does no more nor no less than, indulge m shady tricks tended to disconcert the man. opposite him and at the same time point on the referee, with an occasional sparring match and bout of wrestling; with his opponent to fill in, the time, where the ball is is a secondary consideration. I don't make this a peculiar charere against the nlayers in this portion vi the match under review , but the feeling has been growiner on me for some time, and fain would I give it expression. George Spencer show ed °-ood form a<full back for Melrose. Many a ti^ht corner he got his team out of and the only things that can be debited aeain c t him are a miskick in the first spell, and the ve.ry feeble tackle he made when Slattery scored his try. Faulkner, the burly ex-Wairarapa three-quarter is a back number He was easily brought down a.nd was not sure in his taking of the ball unless he had plenty of time. A. Goodwin and E. Claridge were safe, if not brilliant, and Wrigley was solid. He displayed a tendency, though, to run in among the opposing forwards instead of opening the nlay out amongst his three-quarters. Perhaps, he was playing to instructions. Arthur Claridge was "so-so" at halfbacK. Occasionally, he put in some fine pieces of play, and again he wa« very poor — especially when he allowed his kicks to be charged down. ♦ ♦ • On the Poneke side, Stevens was nervous at full-back. Hei picked up the ball cleanly, and found the touch-line, but his kicks did not gain as much ground as they should have done. Slattery played himself into the representative team bv the great dash he made w hen he scored. Over-eaigerness prevented him securing a second try a bit later, and why he persisted m

centring the ball instead of finding touch when his team were six points fco the good was a puzzle to me. Thei idea in these instances was a good one, but it was not well carried out. A hint to Slattery in, this connection, and to many other backs in Wellington — when you centre the ball it is not necessary for you to follow the ball to' where it lands to put your team on side, a straight run up the touchline is much more effective 1 . When you have passed all your own men, and put them all on side, don't be afraid to make that fact plain by calling out "all on side" — many a try has been scored this way. The good, though, is generally counteracted by the player calling out "all on side" before he has actually put his team, in that position, and as a result a free-kick is given against his team. He who runs may read. Toohill is improving but he should not forget his nace. Every time the eoal-hnei is within view he ought to put his best foot forward, and more tries will be credited to him Toohill is improving and experience is all he wants to develop into a top-notcher. Gray is a top-notcher already. He is an ideal centre three-quarter. Kicks well, takes the ball cleanly, and runs straight as a die. A welcome addition to Wellington football. Wallace is playing in. his best form this season. His kicking on Saturday was the marked feature of his* nlay One piece of play by itself was worth his place 1 in the team, and that was when he- cleared his goal-line by a kick to half-way, at the emd of a. very persistent attack by the Melrose forwards. There w ere many others, but this is the one that impressed itself deeply on my memory-box. All round, though, his play was worthy his name. Roberts — the same old "Cocky" — filled the half-back position, and earned out the duties creditably. He stood right up to the onslaughts of the Melrose vanguard, but on the few occasions he received the ball from the scrum I think he made a mistake in not shooting it straight out to his fellow backs. They were itching for work and the more he could have given them the better they would have liked it. However, for an initial game, 'Cocky" gave a good exhibition. • • • Mr. A. C. Norris was the referee, and his personality had a lot to do with the game being contested in a manner that w as generally creditable to those taking part, in it. There were a few warnings given but the players to whom they were offered ket>t themselves so far m check as not. to incur a second talk from the referee. It is well-known that the man on the bank or on the touchlmes, can see more than the referee. The latter's attention is centred on the ball, and, in a keen game like the one under notice, he cannot afford to lose sight of it for a second. Thus, many of the little acts of omission and commission by the players pa&s unnoticed. This is an introduction to a comment on the amount of unfaar play that was come: on in the lines-out. All sorts of things were done to beat the mam proing for the' ball, and, although these acts escaped thei eye of the referee, they were not, by any manner of means,

good, or even fair, football. Both teams offended 1 in this direction. » • # ' The day was beautifully fine, and the attendance of the public gladdened the hearts of the officials of the Rugby Union and the Athletic Park Company. The terraced steps at the northern end of the ground were keenly appreciated by the spectators, the view of the game from thence being uninterrupted, and very good. Another feature I noticed in connection with the assemblage, and it was one I enjoyed — and that was, the number of small boys who were seated along the front of the crowd. They were not taking up any of the room wanted by the general public, and the way they were packed in along the fringe gave them every opportunity :>f watching the game, and at the same time causing no inconvenience. This is where the small boy can be stowed away every time there is a big match on, and I hope to hear directly that the Athletic Park Company have acceded to the wishes of the Rugby Union, and granted free admission to the Park of all boys of school age. The small boy may be in the way at times, but he always knows what is for his own good. If this concession is granted him, and he is told it is given under certain conditions, he will take ffood care that his Dart of the contract is faithfully carried out.

Tactful Harold Ashton, the champion "advance," is to come ahead or "Are you a Mason?" for the New Zealand tour. * « * George Titheradge, of Brough fame, is playing Rev. Oliver Barry m "The Story of Winifred," at the Kings Theatre, Hammersmith. * • • Miss Alice Hollander is getting on nicely m London. For her first song, before a critical audience, in Queens Hall, London, she received an. enoore. * • ♦ Madame Patti is to receive £1000 a night for two songs at a series oi bU Concerts in America £60,000, or £1000 for every year of Patti s age' She is 60. * * * Ben. Fuller has pitched his hitherto moving tent m Rattray-street, Dunedm, opposite his Alhambra Theatre, and intends to permanently reside m the Scotch city. * * Albert Gran, who was to have toured New Zealand with the Sweet Nell Company, but didn't, has been giving scenes from "Romeo and Juliet, "Hamlet," etc., m Sydney. * * * Madame Yeamans Titus, the clever mimic, around here with the bandow show and her ex-bicycle champion husband are delighting New Yorkers with "a superb musical sketch," "The Wrong Organ." , # . Those who have experienced any oualms of conscience from having witnessed 'The Worst Woman in London, will be greatly relieved to hear that the Prince, and Princess of Wales visited the Adelphi Theatre, and saw the same play, on the 3rd of last month. * * • W H. ("Billy") Speed, a popular variety artist, who some time ago went to Westralia as manager of a show, has (so the wire says) been missing for some time from a place called Onslow. The police dragging near the jetty, have found a pair of trousers much torn by sharks. # # Miss Edytb Latimer has come in for more trouble. A couple of months back Mrs Latimer and her daughter Blanche left Sydney for London, but plague was discovered on the boat and the passengers Quarantined. Fear of her lelatives catching the disease again utterly prostrated Miss Latimer. * * * Last week, in Dunedin, a comedian, who was "rang on," didn't turn up for several seconds. The orchestra played the opening bar of his song, and the people clapped. At last he rushed on, with a white and solemn face, and excitedly asked in a trembling voice ;f; f there was. a- doctor in the audience. A medical man at once arose, and commenced clambering over the seats towards the stao;e "Oh, you're a doctor are you ? " queried the comedian, "well stay where you are. I'm going to sing " Discussing the somewhat curious rights which the British are entitled to exercise in the expression of their views m theatres, the "Law Times" says — "Rather less than a century ago Covent Garden Theatre was the scene of some remarkable struggles. It w^ould appear that the audience expressed their feelings with such violence that the play was virtually inaudible. Chief Justice Mansfield, however in his judgment, shows that' tradition confers upon them a perfect iieht to express in a theatre in any vocail or instrumental way they please, the spontaneous feelings of the moment though the prodigious noise they make* de<te<rs anyone from, hearing what is going on." Ye gods! * ♦ • I've noticed that men are still rude enough to dispute the right of a woman with a large acreage of hat to block out the stage at the Opera House. Last week a couple of men, who sat behind a bewilderment of millinery, had the bad taste to converse about it. The short fellow hadn't a hope of seeing anything, but the big man, who was taller, could see a little bit of "Dick Tom, and Harry" over the top of a scarlet rag geranium. "Funny abojt that hat in front," he said, "same old vegetables stared me in the face it Chnstchurch three years ago. Saw them identical' scarlet rags in a secondhand shop in Woolloomooloo last time I was m Sydney, and now I'm hanged if they haven't been done up and sold at l educed rates to a Wellington torf." The sequel ? Well, the hat stayed right on.