Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 158, 11 July 1903, Page 18

Rugby Football.

YET once again the meeting of the Poneke and Melrose team® was the occasion of a keen game of football. Saturday's match had been looked foru ard to with a great amount ofr interest, there being many who considered the leading team in the contest for championship honours were more likely to receive a check at the hands of their old opponents than from the Petone team, who have been showing such fine form in their late engagements. The Poneke team had their full strength in the field in the match under review, but Melrose, though Wngley was pressed into service against his wish, were without the assistance of their half back— A Claridge. Both teams had taken full advantage of the facilities offered them for training, and took the field in fine condition. The battle was a most interesting one, but was mainly fought out between the opposing vanguards. • • • The Ponekes had the best of the opening stages of the game, and in this they received great assistance from the Melrose half-back, who, getting the ball from his forwards, persisted m running behind his five-eighth, and then passing forward, the consequence, being that several free kicks wer& eiven against the Melrose team for off-side play. The kicks at goal from said free-kicks were resultless, however. Notwithstanding that the Melrose "hookers" invariably got possession in the scrummage, their opponents continued to have slightly the better of the play, there being some determined rushes amongst the forwards on each side. Slattery made one fine run, which was splendidly stopped by Spencer. Ilad the Poneke three-quar-ter passed infield to Wallace, it looked as though a try must have resulted. Melrose eventually worked their way to the Bed quarters, and were soon rewarded with a score. Gray attempted to find touch, and, slipping, kicked a grubber amongst the Melrose forwards. Jack Spencer gathered up the ball close to the line, and notched a try. His brother failed to improve the score and for the rest of the spell the Ponekes had somewhat the best of matters. A mark by W. Spencer was almost converted by Stevens. # * * For the first few minute® of the second half play was of a give and take character. A quarter of an hour after starting, Wallace passed to Gray, who bolted for the line, with Slattery in attendance. The Melrose backs made the mistake of waiting for the pass, and the speedy little centre three-quarter cleverly eluded several opponents, and scored a fine try. It was the best bit of play in the match, and was heartily applauded by the spectators. Wallace found the posts, and the Melrose forwards made a gallant and splendidly-sustained attack on Poneke's goal for the succeeding twenty minutes. They got dangerously close to the line more than once, but the Poneke rearguard sent them back again and again with some excellent kicking. Twohill was prominent at this juncture, snapping up three clever marks when the Melrose forwards were almost on top of him. Eventually play was shifted, and the Reds had the better of the final ten minutes, and once Murphy threw away a good chance by a wild pass, after he had broken away from the ruck in good style. Play was transferred across the field, and, from a scrum near the Melrose line, Roberts got possession, and, darting round the silly side, ran up to Faulkner, and passed to Slattery, who crossed the line near the corner post. Stevens could not convert the try. and, after a few more minutes' play, time was up, the Poneke^ winning by 8 points to 3. ' • • • The winning forwards all played soundly, and none better than Mcßae, who opened up well throughout. Once he dribbled the ball from his own twen-ty-five up to the centre flag.

Of the others, Me Anally, Murphy, Sweeney, and W. Spencer toiled away steadily. It was only towards the latter end of the game that the Pone^e fronit-rankers got possession. Cross made his first appearance since his accident in the first round, and did very well. Roberts, at half, gave an excellent account of himself, and most times he had the ball he took it from the toes of his opponents. His line-kicking was admirable. Wallace played his usual clever game, and put m some excellent kicks. Gray performed cieditably, his try being one of the hefA of the season. Slattery made some stiong runs, though liis slowness at starting was noticeable. With Stevens' display ait full-back no fault could be found. • * * Calnan and J. Spencer were very prominent in the Melrose vanguard. They repeatedly led their side in their close rushes, and struggled hard throughout. De Blois, too, was all there but Adams was not so conspicuous as usual. Wolff, the new Melros© half, w ais worse than a "frost." In the second half he was shifted to the wing forward Foothead taking his place. The latter did much better work for his side. Goodwin performed excellently at five-eighth, and Wrigley, though not quite at his best, wa,s of immense assistance. These tw o staved off several dangerous forward rushes, and kicked well. Falkner, although he is slow in his movements, played soundly, but E. Clandge has been seen to better advantage. Spencer, at full-back left little to be desired. But, he made an inexcusable mistake when Gray scored his try. A full-back ought to make a positive certainty of bringing the man with the ball down, or, at least, force him to pass it. In this instance, Spencer was plainly eauerht hetv, een two minds, and Gray was heady enough to take full advantage of the opportunity thus given him. * * « There was a good attendance of the public at the Recreation Ground, Petone, on Saturday afternoon, to witness the match between the Wellington and Petone teams. It was splendidly contested, but the suburban fifteen always seemed to have the game in hand, and, although they only managed to score a solitary try in the first half of the match, they ultimately camei out on top by 17 points to nil. It was an interesting game to watch, the play veering from one end of the field to the other, the difference between the opposing teams bemer that, while the Petone team missed few opportunities of scoring in the concluding half of the game, the Wellington players were generally beaten back by the suburbanites when they got into a scoring position. * * * The Petone team scored five tries, the first one being a very pretty one. A couple of the tries scored were the w mdup to sensational play, one got by Driscoll being particularly so. A scrummage was formed right on the Petone line — to be exact, five yards out — and a probable Wellington score was imminent. Sometliing happened not in the order of things, and the Petone forwards, headed by Driscoll, rushed right down the field, and the opposing backs were paralysed for the time being by the overwhelming nature of the rush — the ball finally resting in the ex-Canterbury forward's arms safely across the goalhne. A brilliant rush, in which fine play was displayed by Driscoll. • * • In this connection, I was talking to a friend, one night during the week, about this rush in particular, when the

quc&tion was asked me what was wrong with the Wellington team. The reply I made was that the Wellington backs wcae weak. An old lady who was present remarked, inter aha, 'Pool fellows, what was the 1 matter with their backs?" However, to get back to my task. The salient featuies of the game were fine forw ard rushes by the Petone team, and generally weak defence' by the Wellington backs. The w hole of the Petone forwards weae very piominent — Driscoll, King, and Hardham particularly so. A weakness in the scrummage, however, needs drawing attention to. Dnscoll and King hook the ball in good style, but it does not come out cleanly. The baok-row men are to blame — the ball hanging in that low. A bit of coaching is needed here. Heibley showed good form at halfback, and the rest of the Petone backs played right up to their usual foim. M. Ryan, however, had a day off at place-kicking — four shots, the maionty of them fairly easy, going w ide. On the Wellington side, Rice, A. Wilson, and Bendall worked hard in the solid work, and S. Wilson and Biodie were the best of the backs. Blacklock, at full-back, fumbled very bad'y, and Gray, although he made one or two neat marks, did not relish the forw ard rashes of his opponents. By the way, a point cropped up in this match that could bei explained for the benefit of all players. A "no charge" was given against thei Petone team for charging before the ball was placed on the ground. Many of them were of the opinion that directly the kicker started to run they were within their rights in charging — and it is on this point that many players want instruction . In a place-kick, the wanting side cannot charge till the ball has' been placed on the ground, but in the case' of a drop-kick or punt they can, charge as soon as the player with the ball commences to run. There is a difference, and a plainly defined one, between these tw o methods of kicking, and players should remember it. I would once again recommend players to study the case-law rulings on place-kicks, and also request referees to strictly enforce the same. • • • I have been shown the programme draw n up for the tour of New South Wales bj' the New Zealand team. The matches to be played in the mother State are — July 18. — NNcrw r Zealand v. New South Wales. July 22 — v. Western Branch Union, at Bathurst. July 25. — v. New South Wales. July 29. — v. Metropolitan Team. August 12. — v. Northern Districts, at Maitland. August 15. — v. Australia. August 19. — v. Combined Country. Among the functions are — Reception by the Lord Mayor, Footballers' Smoke Concert, Harbour Excursion, Drive to Laura Falls, Banquet by Australasian Rugby Football Union Councils, Excursion to Hawkesbury River, etc. * « • A "send-off" is being given the Ne<w Zealand team in the Trocadero on Saturday night by the New Zealand and Wellington Rugby Unions.. The Mokoia sails with the team ait 8 o'clock. "Wing Forward" sent me a probable Wellington- W T airarapa combination on Monday, but as his selection only contains seven of the team, got together by Mr. Fache, I will save his feelings b" not publishing it. By the way as a guarantee of good faith, anonymous correspondents are requested to nut their names on the corner of their effusions. Covtinued on page 19.

The team selected by Mr. Fache to represent the Welhngton-Waararapa etc., combination against New Zealand is not a good one In the first place, it has the same fault as the New Zealand team— it is a hybiid arrangement, one v> ing-forward and two five-eighths— and, from that view alone, does not command respect. The inclusion of Wuiiaita in the team I don't like at all. Reports say he is a marvellous player in either of the back nositions, but he has yet to prove that he is capable of doing the many things he is reported to be capable or Another player I cannot have on my side at five-eighths just now is *rank Johnson. A better arrangement of the team would have been to have played Johnson on the right-wing three-quar-ter Fume in the centre, and ». Wilson on the left, leaving Gray solus at five-eiehth. On present form, and considerine; the quality of the opposition, my opinion is that "Cocky" Roberts would have filled the bill better than his namesake at half-back. I cannot understand the exclusion of McAnally. If Mr. Fache considers Cross or Calnan are at the present time in better form than McAnally, I do not feel inclined to flatter him on the keenness of his judgment. Another forward who has not been given his dues is Drisooll, of the Pettone team There is no doubt whatever but that just now he is playine an excellent - «,me. and I think might have been given a place in the selection. I do not intend cavilling at any of the country forwards given a place in, the team, but,, as between the city nlayers, I certainly think McAnallv and Driseoll ought to have been selected before Calnan and Cross. The vacancy on the wing-forward position I would have filled with either Jury or J. McKenzie, from the Wairarapa. The selector saws there' are. no good wing-forwards playing in Wellington—well, there are plenty in the Wairarapa. As a matter of fact, with Armstrong not available, the country union have still three top-notchers for the positions on the outside of the scrummage. * * * "Porteous has been ordered off the field.'' Such was the first news I heard when I got to town on Monday morning, and what action the Otago Rugby Union would take m the matter was the main theme of discussion in football circles during Monday. The decision of that body, as the result of their meeting the same evening, "That Porteous's charging of an opponent, for which he was ordered off, was' unavoidable," may be a correct one according to the evidence submitted to them, but one cannot help the feeling that the whitewash hrush has been used to allow Porteous to make the trip to Australia as a member of the New Zealand team. What the referee who ordered him off the field thinks of the decision of the Otago Union is another matter. Personally, it seems to me that such a slap in the face as the published decision is to him should cause him to put his- whistle away from view altogether in the future. * * • During Mr. Norris's absence with the New Zealand team, Mr. Fache will act as secretary of the New Zealand Union. S. A. Spragg, the crack Queensland three-quarter back, has been unfortunate enough to sustain injuries to his leg that will probably incapacitate him for the remainder of the season. A scribe says, "It's a great pity, and wall prove a tremendous loss to his country if he is unable to do battle against the New Zealand team." A correspondent sends me the following — "Here is Ashers record for this season in championship matches, in every one of which he scored — City v. Newton, 1 try , v. Ponsionby, 4 , v. Grafton, 2. v. Parnell. 6, v. North Shore, 2, v. Suburbs, 2; v. Newton, 1 ; total, 18 tries m seven matches. He played in five representative matches last year, scoring in every one, ringing up six tries. The above speaks for itself." My correspondent considers the above fully combats my criticisms on Ashers inclusion in the New Zealand team. Is it any wonder that "Jimmy" Duncan sometimes boasts of his deeds on the football field ? Listen to this— some of "Full-back's," in the "Otago Witness" —"While watching the Kaikorai back [Duncan] doing the work of half-a-dozen men, and doing it brilliantly — now leading in a superb piece of attacking work, anon defending, and m his defence smothering three and four opponents — always where the play was hottest, and ever in the forefront of the game — my one wish was that those long-distance," out-of-touch critics could have seen him as 5000 enthusiasts saw him on Saturday." There you are now — such fulsome praise should satisfy everybody as to the veteran's present form.

McMinn and Armstrong weie given a big "send-oft" at Caiteiton on Tuesday night. Mr. R. G. Hallamore has been appointed sole selector of Hawke's Bay representative teams. The Poneke Club intend making a presentation to Wallace, at their gymnasium, to-night (Friday). A capable criticism of the New Zealand team appears in a recent issue of the "Daily Telegraph," Sydney, under the cognomen of "Arawa." A coincidence ' New South Wales teams have played 44 matches in. New Zealand, 559 points being scored against them. New Zealand teams have played 28 games in Australia, their aggregate of points being the same number —559. Good reiports have reached Wellington of the play of Gladding, in the' City Club's three-quarter line, in Auckland. Old Aucklanders resident in, Wellington know him not, and if someone can tell whence he came said Aucklanders will be pleased. Ashers hurdling feats are be iiiff condemned by Auckland critics. On© scribe says if he comes back alive from the Australian tour he will have a good record. A better man. than Asher paid the penalty for persisting in. this style of play, and his friends ought to convince him of the utter foolishness of it. The following tabk s show the positions of the various teams in the Uugby Union's competitions :—: —

Inental . . 3 '. Aitilleiy 3 'etone . . 3 itars . . d i. Well'gton 3 >.I C. . . 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 17 17 6 6 3 3 3 9 3 5 14 18 6 5 4 3 0 0

Wednesday Competition.

Petone . . 7 Wei. College 4 Jelwyn . . 7 3t. Pat's Col 3 Dnental . . 4 athletic .. 5 iVaratah . . 6 Poneke . . 5 VTelrose . . 5 6 3 4 6 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 3 4 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 93 56 58 51 33 17 24 0 0 19 14 37 0 27 57 51 80 54 i q ( 4 4 ] ]

Fifth Class.

Ltbletic .. 7 [arori . . 8 it. James 7 'etone . . 8 Vel. College 4 Southern . . 6 'oneke . . 8 )riental . . 5 Telrose . . 7 5 5 4 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 2 6 4 7 2 1 2 1 3 2 1 0 54 32 35 6 51 9 9 27 62 13 0 6 3 33 0 141 12 11 10 5 4 2 1 0

Fourth Class.

Oriental . . 7 St. James 6 Petone . . 6 athletic .. 7 Poneke . . 8 Southern 5 Old Boys.. 6 Kia Or a . . 7 Wellington 6 Mehose . . 4 Vic College 6 7 6 5 3 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 2 3 5 5 4 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 13 97 4 88 17 si> 30 57 28 42 20 83 44 13 69 38 108 8 52 6 176 14 12 10 7 7 6 6 4 2 0 0

Third Class.

'on eke . . b lelrose . . 7 Southern 7 Velhngton 7 ithletic .. 6 Hdßoys.. 8 )riental . . 6 'etone . . 7 [ia Ora . . 7 it. Pat's Col. 7 r \o. College 5 Vel. College 5 0 6 6 6 5 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 u 1 1 1 1 4 4 5 6 6 5 5 u 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 i-1 79 20 64 23 90 12 64 8 102 39 20 78 37 68 15 35 22 90 0 68 14 125 l: l

Junior

Matches Points, pion- -^ % . ship Played Won Lost Drawn Foi Agst Points 'oneke ..8 8 0 0 93 11 16 'etone ..8 6 2 0 90 22 12 lelrose ..9 6 3 0 79 46 12 Hdßoys.. 8 4 3 1 70 63 9 (nental ..8 2 6 0 42 74 4 Wellington 9 2 6 1 54 114 5 .tbletic ..8 0 8 0 18 110 0 Matches