Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 168, 19 September 1903, Page 18

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

By Touchline.

UNDER very favourable auspices, and in accordance with previous arrangements, the representative team left Wellington on the Southern tour on Wednesday night last week. A goodly crowd gathered on the wharf to wish the team good luck and success on the tour. The weather, which was ot the best, kept in the same good humour all the wa- down the coast, and tne arrived in Lyttelton, on Thursday mornmg, found the players rejoicing among thfmselves at their good fortune .in getting the opening scene of the tour over so pleasantly. , Mr Garrard, the secretary ot the Canterbury Union, was in evidence on the Lyttelton wharf to meet us, and a special train being in readiness, we were Si the Ca&al City, and quartered at the Zetland Hotel. . * • In the afternoon, the order of the day was practice on the North Part. In packing the first scrum, Dodd foUd an injury to his ribs he had received in the Auckland match would not permit him to play in the front of the scrummage. Fred Roberto refrained from practice altogether, Restrain to his ankle, which he received in, the Manawatu match, making him chary of using his foot. * * * George Mason (vice-president) and George Scott (a member of the Managemlnt Committee)-two well known members of the Canterbury Rugby Union— with Mr. Garrard had been appointed to look after the social side of our stay in Christchurch And just here by the way, their efforts were keenly appreciated by the party. An evening with Fuller's Company, at the Tuam-street Hall— beg pardon, Opera House— was enjoyed by many, the performance of Christchurch enthusiasts on skates, at the Skating Rink, being appreciated by others. * * * Friday morning, it was decided to have a run round on the Lancaster Park The morning was one ot the finest, the sun shining out of » olear sky Needless to say, about an hour's work found all hands pleased to <*et back home and in civilian attire. * * Up to this stage, the team were very confident of giving a good account ot themselves in the match next day. ±sut, iust here, Scott Wilson, who had been sickening for influenza, had to he by. A doctor was called in, and his opinion uas that Wilson would be fortunate if he escaped an attack of scarlatina. At the time of writing I am pleased to say that the doctor's predictions have not been verified, and in all probability Wilson will be himself again in a day or two. „ * * * Hardham had been appointed carcbain of the team, and the manager and Mr. Stevens were deputed to act with him as the Selection Committee. On getting together to select the team to play Canterbury they found themselves, including Hales, Wylie, and W. Roberts, uho were timed to arrive on, Saturday morning, with but fifteen players to choose from, only six of that number being backs. It was decided, as no other course was open to play two wing forwards, Wyhe and Watkins being put in the front of the scrummage, and Driscoll on the wing with Hardham. * » * THE CANTERBURY MATCH. Punctually to time (3 o'clock), the teams lined out on the Lancaster Park, which was in beautiful playing order. The Canterbury captain (Harvey) won the toss, and decided to play in the face of a light wind blowing straight down the field. In describing the match, one cannot help expressing a feeling of disappointment with the result, although, on the day's play, the better team won. Still at the same time, it must be stated that Canterbury's first try was a lucky one, but of it more anon. The game was as open as Bell's Life, and the ball was passed about in good style. At one stage Wellington would be attacking, and right on top of this play the Canterbury men would be on the aggressive, the ball in the meantime not having gone out of play. This comment describes fairly well the maiority of the incidents during the game, but a few of the most noticeable features may be detailed.

Roberts. Gray, and Mclntyre indulged in a nice passing run into Canterbury territory, but Cooke came back at the head of the forwards, and, from a mark by Harvey, Roddick ha,d a place-Kick for goal. His kick was charged down, and a succeeding Wellington forward rush, with Abrim in the van was stopped by another mark by Harvey— this piece of play being a brilliant effort by Canterbury's half-back. Mclntyre dashed down the far touchline but a hard kick by one of the vanguard spoilt the effect of his work — Canterbury forcing. The game at this stage was very fast and open, the backs on both sides, with but one exception, rarely finding touch. From a scrummage close to the Canterbury base. Driscoll made a great effort to cross the chalk mark, but the brick wall was too solid — m other words, the defence was sound. Directly Driscoll got right out by himself, and a fine opening was lost through no one being handy to take the pass from him. Deans, one of the Canterbury five-eighths, was* obliging enough to take a pass that wasn't meant for him, and a threatened attack by the Wellington team was turned aside. Lavery over-ran a pass from Harvey, and Hardham, by fine dribbling, earned the ball well down the field. Abrim joined in. and rushed the oval over the line, but Manning (the Canterbury fullback) was too quick for him, the try being missed by inches only. Abrim erot right away again directly, but a knock-on by Hardham stopped them, and from the succeeding pack Gray tried a pet, but a grubber only resulted. * * ♦ The second half of the game opened well, both sides attacking m good style. Arthur Wilson was giving a fine exhibition of line-out play just here, and, following some good work, he and Cross carried play right over the Canterbury line, but a force was the outcome. Manning charged down a kick of Barber's, and in the resultant play Hales fumbled. Gray just nipping in at the right time, and finding touch when a try seemed imminent. McGregor tried a pot-shot with no better success than Gray, and Wright was prominent directly for a bit of flash work from a line-out. At this stage, Rice (Canterbury's centre threequarter) was responsible for a lot of fine hne-kicking — so much sio that the remark was expressed at the Press table that he was the finest touchline kicker m the colony. He is good — of that there is no question — but I think many Wellington friends will agree with me that in this style of play Wallace has many followers, but no equals. However, to continue. The game was now nearly three-parts through, and no score had been notched by either side. From a scrummage near the Wellington line, Roddick shot over, but the ball was "not in," in thei opinion of the referee, and was brought back. Wellington forwards came away once more, with Abrim in the lead. Harvey got in his way, and Samivel stopped the good work by dragging Harvey out of his path. A free-kick was awarded Canterbury for his effort. Roddick got right away on his own shortly afterwards, and the finest piece of individual play in the match was the result, his dribbling being especially good. From a loose rush, Cooke picked up the ball, and made a long pass out to Rice. From Rice it went to McGregor, and the Canterbury galloper and try-getter was soon under way. He made a great effort, but a beautiful tackle by Roberts laid him low a yard from the line. The result of the tackle placed Roberts hors de combat., a slight concussion being the outcome. He had to be taken off the field, and from thence onward — about a quarter of an hour — the Wellington team played one short. From the succeeding play, the ball came out to where Roberts would have been had he been on the field, and Harvey, picking it up, ran in unmarked. Roddick converted with a splendid kick from right on the touohhne. Wellington were not beaten just yet, however, for soon Gray made a beautiful kick to touch, the ball going out almost on the Canterbury goalline. Both teams lined, out deep, and a gap being left Arthur Wilson filled it, and went across almost at the touch-m-goal flag. Eales took the kick, and made a brilliant shot, the goal being registered. If the game had ended here, both teams would have been satisfied, but, after a lot of up and down play, a great passing rush of Canterbury backs was started, in which Harvey, Deaus, Rice, and McGregor handling the ball ; the latter crossed the line, and scored his try. Roddick's kick was unsuccessful, and the game ended shortly afterwards in favour of Canterbury by eight points to five.

Charlie Manning, the ex-Poneke player, gave a good exhibition at fullback for Canterbury. His work generally was clean, and his kicking solid. On one occasion he followed a kick through which nearly proved disastrous to the Wellington team. A reminiscence of the days he played three-quar-ter for Poneke. Peter Menzies, the veteran back on the Canterbury side, made one or two dashes, but was not much in evidence. Rice kicked finely from centre threequarter for Canterbury, and his work right through was marked by thoroughness. Duncan McGregor is a great wing three-quarter. His dashes were made at the right moment, and there was a nippiness about his play pleasant to see. The trip with the New Zealand team has knocked 1 a lot of the rough edges off his play. Deaus passed well from five-eighths, and gave a fair showing, but Lavery was the weak link in the passing chain of the Canterbury backs. A remark I made in my notes last week is a propos here. Peter Harvey has, according to critics, played faulty games at half back, but it has not yet happened that I have seen him in that humour. His displays when I have been watching him have been all tiptop, and in the match under review he was at his best. He passed out quickly and neatly, marked splendidly, and made excellent openings. New Zealand's next half-back, without a doubt. Among the Canterbury forwards, most of them played well. Some critics give Matthews and Mahoney the palm for best individual efforts, but I do not agree with them. My vote goes for the burly ones — New Zealand representatives Fanning and Cooke. "The best lock in New Zealand, sir," worked his pack in fine style, and made the most, of his position. He screwed the pack with good effect, and heeled out quickly and cleanly. Cooke was there, or thereabouts, in the open, and grafted in the pack. Roddick's work on the wing-forward was very good. The goal he kicked from Canterbury's first try . was a beauty. Hales made but few mistakes at full-back for Wellington, his kicks generally being full of power. He made some fine shots from free kicks, but the goal he kicked from Wilson's try was one of the best in his career. It ■went straight and true right over the centre of vie crossbar. Barber was solid at centre threequaiter, without being brilliant. "Pegery" Clandge was clean off-colour at ii^ht-wmg three-quarter, his fielding and catching of the ball being streets behind his best form. His kicking was also misjudged. Mclntyre made some fine dashes down his wing during the first half of the game, but little came his way during the concluding portion. Gray did a lot of fine work at fiveeighths, his kick to touch that led to "Wilcon's try in the second lialf, and a save in the opening half, being very noticeable features of a good display. W. Roberts' play at half lacked vim, and was mediocre in comparison with Harvey. His tackling was solid, and he stopped many a dangerous 1 rush, ihe tackle that "sent him out" was a particularly good one. He is suffering no ill effects ; as a matter of fact, he was his usual self shortly after tea on Saturday night. # * * Watkms had quite 1 an experience! in this match. He started in the front with Wylie. went on to the wing in the second spell, and wound up by playing half-back. He played well in all positions. The best forward on the Wellington side was Abrim. He was prominent right through the game. Arthur Wilson gave a fine exhibition of line-out r>lay, and should keep his place in the team throughout the tour. Driscoll, Hardham, and Cross were in evidence in the open a lot, and Wright, in the look, gave a good showing in comparison with his more experienced vis-a-vis Fanning. Joyce and Wylie grafted well, but did not appear to view many times. Mr. Evans carried out the duties of referee in his usual impartial style. A referee is liable to make mistakes. That "Dutchy" made some is only in the nature of things 1 , but generally not much damage Avas occasioned thereby. The team were entertained by the Canterbury Rugby Union after the match, vice-president Mason saying some nice things about the good feeling existing between the Wellington and Canterbury players, and the pleasure felt by Canterbury at having a team from Wellington sojourning with them. The Wellington manager reciprocated Mr. Mason's sentiments, and thanked him, on behalf of the team, for the many kindnesses shown them during their stay in Christohurch.

Thoy have- same whit© men connected with football in Christchurch. One of the best is Dr. Thacker, ai fine stamp of a man. He showed great kindness and attenti to the members of the Wellington team that availed themselves of his services while ai the Cathedral City. Chatting with the doctor, he recounted some of his experiences while chasing the bouncing football, which were very entertaining. The defeat of Otago by Auckland makes pleasant reading to some of us. A trumpeter in connection with football is never appreciated, and tne crushing defeat sustained by Otago last Saturday should convince the veteran Duncan that there are some fine footballers playing for Auckland. It is to be hoped so, at any rate. By defeating the. Athletic team last Saturday, tho Poneke Club annex the junior championship for the second year in succession, thereby winning the cup presented by Mr. Pagni last year outright. Another trophy to be added to the list. The Poneke Club intend having a jollification directly, to celebrate the winning of the senior and junior championships, and as a welcome home to Wallace. Lewis, who played for Auckland in Wellington last week, was in Queensland in 1899. when the Rev. Mullineaux's English team was playing there. But for illness, Lewis would have been, a member of the first Australian team to play against the Englishmen. Mona Thompson, the ex-Old Boys player, is Iving ill in Wanganui Hospital, with an attack of blood-poisoning and scarlet fever. Many will join with me in wishing him a speedy recovery. Morry Wood did not play against Wellington for Canterbury last Saturday. There is a lot of influenza m the city with the spire just now, and the New Zealand five-eighth is one of its latest victims. Sid Orchard, the representative cricketer of the present day, and footballer of previous years, acted as line umpire for Wellington in the match against Canterbury last week. The result of the St. James-Oriental match, for the third-class championship, last Saturday, leaves these teams where they were. Should another match be played on the Athletic Park next Saturday, it should be full of interest, and draw a good attendance. The Auckland and Wellington RupW representatives (says "Lynx") have now met on fourteen occasions, seven of the matches having been worn by Auckland, and six by Wellington, the remaining fixture being drawn (five points each). The results are as under : —

(Continued on page 22.)

.830— At Auckland Wellington won LSB3— At Wellington. Drawn :88S— At Auckland Auckland won . 889— At Wellington. Wellington won . LB94 — At Auckland Wellington won 1895 — At Wellington. Wellington won :896— At Auckland Wellington won . LB97 — At Wellington. Auckland won . :898— At Auckland Auckland won . 1899— At Wellington Auckland won . L9O0 — At Auckland Auckland won . At Wellington. Auckland won . .902— At Auckland Auckland won .903— At Wellington. Wellington won .. 5 to 5 to .. 4 to .. 3to . . 13 to . 9to 3 to .. 11 to . 19 to . . 14 to 14 to . 9 to 13 to 4 to