Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 169, 26 September 1903, Page 18

Rugby Football.

THE final match of the Southern tour w as played 1 on the Caledonian Ground Dunedxn, on Saturday last, in the presence of a fair attendance of spectators. The ground was in splendid order for the playing of a game of Rugby football but a keen north-easterly wind, which blew straight up and down the field, militated against a good display. To say that I was disappointed -Kith the result — a win for Otago by six points (two tries) to three points (one try) — but feebly conveys my feelings. After the fine showing given by the> Wellington players in the match against Southland, the previous Wednesday, it seemed almost a certainty that the match against Otago would result in a win for the travelling team. Especially did this appear so when the Otago team had only a lead of three points at the end of the first half, dnr^ing which they had had the advantage of playing with the wind behind them. * * * The reasons for the defeat aie not many. The first one, to my mind, was the use the Otago players made of the touch line and the fence beyond it, in the second half of the game. It was good tactics on their part, but, at the same time, it was galling to the Wellington players and their supporters to find so much time passed away in bringing the ball back to play after it went into touch. Some of the spectators in this connection, displaced unsportsmanlike actions in kickxn the ball further off when it came their way. The remedy for this is simple, and the Otago Union could follow the precedent adopted by the Wellington Union, and that is, to play the game with two balls, having one always ready to keep the game going when the other one , goes out of touch However, that is only an excuse at the best, and I verily believe the Wellington team, if placed in a similar position to the Otago players, would have follow ed the samo tactics. But, the powers that be should, as far as possible, provide against such contingencies. Another reason for the defeat lay in the back play of the Wellington team. In the first spell, the players in those positions did not make enough use ot the touohhne, and in the second half, when it paid them to keep the play infield, they kicked to touch too much. True, the combination of the rearguard was disorganised through an accident to Gray, the No. 2 five-eighth, in the first quarter of an hour of -ta game, which made it necossarv to play him. at centre three-quaiter. He twisted his knee, and, although it easily went into position again, the pain made him late m getting up for his passes. A tactical blunder was made by the Wellington captain in the later stages of the game. His foi wards were dotng well, and, when he found his backs were not working effectively, he should have instructed his forwaids to keep the ball when they got it, and try to break away with it. In this department of the game they were superior to their opponents in the second half of the game, and they might have turned the tables if this game had been played. The high wind caused straight throwing-in of the ball from the lineout to be almost a matter of impossibility. In this department of play the touring team had given fine exhibitions in their two preceding games, and they were handicapped by the ball not coming true to them. » * * However, when all is said toid done, it is the glorious uncertainty of the game of football that makes it worth the playing, and if the Otago team, in the match under review, had the best of the luck in winning the frame it does not take much hard thinking to bring back to mind many occasions when the fickle goddess has favoured the Wellington players. I refer here particularly to the matches m 1900 and 1901. In the former game, a draw was the result of the game, because owe of the simplest kicks in the world was missed by an

Otago player, w hile in the 1901 gaane a beautiful kick added tw o points to Wellington's score, and gave them the< viotoiy by one point, the try off which the goal was kicked being obtaaned right on the call of time. So it appears only in the order of things that Otago's turn should come. » * * There were not many outstanding episodes in the game. There was a sameness about the play on both sides that caused one of the occupants of tho press box to remark "Well, there is not much to write about anyway." From my view point this reinaik is peculiarly a propos, but from the play here are a few of the features I noted — Otaigo kicked off with the wind behind them, and a, faulty take by ai Wellington back saw play settle down early in the visiting team's quarters. In the early scrummages the front-rankers of the' Otago team were m evidence in securing possession. A quick pass frcm Hislop to Munro, and from the latter to Duncan,, threatened danger, but the veteran knocked the ball on at tile critical moment. Directly, though, Duncan was i&sponsible for a fine piece of work. Vlie ball came to him on the open side of the field. Quick to perceive there w as too much opposition on that side, he sprinted across the back of tlhe pack. From him the ball went on in turn to Munro, Adams, and Baxter, the latter outpacing Hales in the run to the line. His'lop made a fine kick, and Hales, to save the position, kicked back over his own line to the dead ball line. From the succeeding scrummaige, the ball came out at the side, and Poiteous dashed over the line. The Wellington players claimed that the ball did not go fairly into the pack, but the referee ruled otherwise. A great rush of the Otago forwards, in which Casey, Porteous, and Given were prominent, carried the ball over the Wellington line once again, but Hales saved by forcing. Hislop, Duncan. Adaras, and Duncan weie associated in passing rushes of the Otago team, and things were looking anything but gcod for their opponent. Up to this stage — about three-parts through the first half — the Wellington team had been beaten all along the line, and the prospects of having to make up a lot of leev. ay in the second spell seemed very probable. But, they pulled themselves together, and soon Dodd and Driscoll headed a fine rush into their opponent's territory, tne fullback returning nicely. The ball came to Roberts from a scrummage about the half-way line. Ho passed to Mclntyre, and from the latter it went to Johnson, who cut in. He was tackled, but dropped the ball, and, during the succeeding play, Scott Wilson put in a speculator. The full-back (Miller) was caught betw een two minds. Instead of taking the i>all on the full, he allowed it to bounce, and before he could recover himself Driscoll and Hardham w ere on to it, the latter scoring a t~y near the corner fla^. Following this score, fierce scrummaging ensued on the Otago li.ie, and Cocky" Roberts, who was acting as line umpire, incurred the hostility of the main body of the spectators by giving the ball out two yards from the goallme on one occasion, instead of declaring it touch-m-goal. How ever, no harm was done, and the play changed light down to the other end of the field. Mclntyre secured the ball a couple of yards from his own line, and made one of the finest runs of the day. He easily evaded his opponents who w ere charging dow n on him, and ended his 11111 by kicking oat beyond the half-way line. * * # With only a three-points deficit to wipe off when ends weie changed, it was generally anticipated that it was only a question of how many points Wellington would win bv. But' — ' I have said it all earlier, v.hy repeat it here ? Early, Hales made a splendid shot for goal from a mark by Johnson. An extraordinary thing happened from the succeeding play. From every \ tew point on the ground the ball appeared to strike the' Otago full-back between the shoulders, and he had made a valiant attempt to get out of its road. Given, who was running back to his assistance, picked it up, and the whistle blew. Many contend that the ball struck the goal-post, but there is no question but that the referee made a mistake in blowing liis whistle. He either blew to penalise Given for being off-side, or he should not have blown at all. His decision was that tlie full-back had knocked the ball on, but that it was impossible for the player in question to handle the ball in the position he was in is generally admitted. But, even allowing he had, the whistle was not Continued on page 19.

blown till Given handled the ball, and the greater penalty should have been given againat the Otago team. * * * The second half of the game needs little description. The passing rushes of the Wellington' backs, whenever attempted, seemed to lack the something that was necessary to make them thoroughly effective, and the forwards appeared occasionally to have lost their dash. But the kicking into touch, previously referred to, had a lot to do with the lackadaisical play of the vanguard . On one occasion the ball came to Roberts, m a good position. It seemed all Lombard-street to an orange that passing among the backs would have resulted in a try, but Roberts attempted a pot-shot at goal instead. The ball flew wide, and many were the execrations heaped on the head of Wellington's half-back. But the other side of the picture must not be forgotten. If Roberts had kicked a goal he would have been a hero, and, no doubt, earned shoulder-high off the field. And he has kicked goals from worse positions in cup matches. Wellington kept up the attack, but time wore on, and, despite the best endeavours of the players, Otago's line was intact when time was called. * * * On the Otago side, the player who stood right out by himself was Hislop, the scrum half. His passing, kicking, and stopping were all first-class, and if a New Zealand team is picked next year his claims for inclusion cannot well be ltmored. I have not seen Humphries play this season, but, even allowing he is showing his oldtime form, Hislop and Harvey, mainly because they can confidently be expected to improve on this year's showing on account of their age principally, should both be selected before him. It was against his wish that Duncan played. - Barring the play that led up to 'the first try, he was not much in evider.ee, but the master mind was apparent in many of the moves of the Otago players. Miller was middling to good at fullback but occasionally he had a lot of hick in getting out of trouble. Baxter was the best of the threequarter line Adams being solid and Stalker spasmodic. Munro did all that came his way well at five-eighth. Among the forwards, Given was prominent all the time, his dashes in the loose being good features of the play. Mitchell, in the lock, gave weight and solidity to his pack, and the arguments agaanst his inclusion m the team were defeated by his play. Porteous played solidly on the wing of the scrummage, although he appeared to hold his opponent when there was no necessity on many occasions. The remainder of the paek — Spiers, Casey, Abbott, Stewart, and Taylor — all played well in the solid, Abbott and Stewart being prominent in the open. * * Hardham played a fine game on the wing of the scrummage for Wellington, the fairness of his play being in marked contiast to the general run of wingforward play. He made some fine dashes in the open. The forwards grafted hard right through the game, but the play did not give many chances of flashes of individual play. All worked well, Cross, Dnscoll. and Dodd being perhaps the best. Roberts gave a good display at halfback, his line kicking being neat. He passed out well, with the exception of the pot-shot above referred to, and cut m nicely at tunes. Johnson made some fine dashes, bub generally hung on a little too long. Barber and Gray were not seen to advantage. Mclntyre was full of running, but did not get enough to do. Wilson was patchy in the first half, but did good w ork in the latter half of the game. Hales kicked well from the full-back position, but generally his three-quarter line w as too far f orward to give him . a fair chance. His place-kicking was good, with no luck. Mr. R. Barry (Christchurch )acted as referee, and w as, in the main, satisfactory in his decisions to both teams. * - * A feature of Rugby football that was brought prominently under my notice during the Southern tour was the unfair play on the line-out. A good man is generally marked by one or two of his opponents, and invariably is upended before he can even have a chance of goin? for the ball. And there is no denying the fact that the worst features of RuHby football are displayed on the line-out — indiscriminate kicking, hitting out at opponents, and so on. What is the remedy for these unfair tactics m the game as it is played, for the experiences of the Southern tour are

but replioas of everyday play? Be the referee as eleven aad as quick as he may, many of these happenings occur wheie he has not the least chance m the world of detecting or penalising them. It is ail very well for theorists to say that the game of Rugby football is a pastime and should be played as such. Many of our present-day players believe that their sole purpose in playing the game is to get the best of their opponents, if not by fair means, then foul measures may be resorted to. In this connection, I do not wish to make distinctions — the Wellington players are equally guilty with their Northern or Southern conferes. If there is no other way of curing this ill on the line-out I have ref erred to, I am prepared to advocate the abolition of that style of play altogether, and in its place have a scrummage fifteen yards out m the field of play parallel to where the ball went into touch. It may be said t-iat there are many plavwho shine on the line^out, and occasionally fine dashes by the forwards a/te commenced from there. But — -and here I invite) contradiction if it is dossible — I say that two out of three times said players are prevented by unfair play from showing their abilities on the line-out. Now -a-days the w mg-f orvvard is receiving a lot of attention from many scribes, but here is a subject on which no tw o opinions can be held. Place yourself in confabulation with the forwards of any team you like after a match, and you wall hear how tins one got a tiiokv advantage of that one, and how so-and-so got it back — on the lineout. This is a feature of play that will exist as long as the rules remain as they are at present and referees throughout the country should devote their whole attention to stamping it out. * ¥■ * Judging by experiences on the Southern tour, I am convinced that the time is upe for another conference of referees. In Wellington it is ruled that a player, when tackled and brought to the ground with the bail m his possession, the ball touching the ground, it must be played with the foot before it is again playable. Such a ruling does not exist in the South Island. The referees in the matches played by the Wellington team permitted the ball to be passed if it had not been held. Another point If the ball is not thrown in riom touch at right angles, and the opposing side to that which threw it m gams an advantage, the play is allowed to proceed. lleferee Evans disallowed a charge when a player " as taking a free-kick by means of a punt. Referee Barry held his hand aloft when free kicks v. eie being taken, and dropped it w hen the bail touched the ground, yet he pel nutted players to encroach over the mark before the ball was placed. Instances of differences of rulings between Wellington and Southern referees could be recounted without stint, but the above are sufficient to convince most people that, with an annually recurring representative series of matches, unanimity of ooinion should exist between referees in the colony, and to secure tha/t end another conference of refeirees should be held. For my part, I cannot see why this conference should not be held annually, the delegates thereto for the time being to be constituted the New Zealand Referees' Association. * * «• ''Quidnunc," of the "Canterbury Times," is a scribe who is troubled with a livor. He can seldom see good m the play of either the Canterbury representative or of other teams who chance to play in the' Catliedral City. He must have had a partrcularly bad attack when he w rote his report of the Canterbury-Wellington majtoh. The stay of the Wellington team, m Dunedni was immensely enjoyed by the touring party. The officials of the Otago TJiuon — especially Messrs. Smith (secretary), Harris (treasurer), Macassev, and Wilkinson — were untiring in their efforts to make the sojourn in the Scotch city an enjoyable one. Their efforts were quite successful, and I have pleasure 111 conveying the thanks of the team to these gentlemen. One of the best afternoons of the trip was spent at the Rcslyn Woollen Mills. The site of so much machinery and so many girls working for one firm paralysed the most of those who had the privilege of enjoying the hospitality of the firm. If you don't believe me, ask "Cocky" Roberts. Southern enthusiasts were muchly taken with the fifth-class competition as inst'tuted in Wellington last season, and I would not be surprised to hear of a similar competition being instituted in some of the Southern centres next season. Which is the best team in the colony tli is season? Taranaki has won all its matches, but it has not played any games with other than North Island

teams. But that is not the real object of this paragraph. Which is the best team of the following — Auckland beat Otago, Otago beat Wellington, Wellington beat Auckland; Auckland beat Canterbury, Canterbury beat Wellington, Wellington beat Auckland; Southland beet Auckland, Wellington beat Southland Southland beat Otago Otago beat Wellington? Have you seen the souvenir card got out by a whisky firm, in connection with the Auckland-Otaigo match? It is headed "The Man of the Hour!" and underneath the heading appears a reproduction of Jimmy Duncans photograph, and the full list of his performances as a footballer. It is one of the souvenirs of the Southern tour. The Poneke second has put m some sound work during the last five years, ss the following table will show During this period the team has either won or been runners-up for the junior championship —

1 Pla\ eel Won Di aw n Lost -899 "9801 L9OO 10 0 0 1 -901 ..10 8 1 1 -902 9 9 0 0 903 11 11 0 0 Points for ll 1 ) 107 151 106 ICO Points ag-st Winneis 26 Old Boys 16 Poneke 20 Mehose 19 Poneke 30 Poneke 49 43 1 3 639 111