Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 199, 23 April 1904, Page 19

Rugby Football.

ONCE more the field-day for the "barracker" has come round. In other words, the football season is in full swing again. I have often wondered what the "barracker" does, and where he goes to, when the football season winds up. Though I may never be able to satisfy myself on this point, there) is no disputing the fact that as soon as the "ball is iv play sluggards at home may remain," but the "barracker" is in his place as surely as the player is in his. Certainly, he is one of the institutions m connection with the Rugby game in this land. And, while the "barracker" keeps himself within reasonable limits, giving the referee and' those opposed to his pet team fair play and no favour, he will never receive a trouncing at my hands. For, I consider him a necessary adjunct of the game, and his encouraging sallies from beyond the touchline often help his favourite team, to success. Let us hope, then, that the matches commencing this week will be as full as they can be of interesting: episodes and that the best team may win every time. The "barracker" and the ordinary spectator will then both be satisfied that the games they witnessed were worth the price of admission. » • » The annual meeting of the Referees' Association was a very cordial affair. The majority of the officers were reelected, Messrs. A. Campbell and J. Laughton being respectively given another year's tenure of office as chairman and vice-chairman. The Referees' Association, without Mr. Beck at its beck and call in the role of secretary, would be like the referee himself without his whistle. Therefore, hia re-election was almost a sine qua non. Mr. Beck has built the Association up into a very strong body,

and it is now a credit to him and the members generally. The formation of a New Zealand Referees' Association caused some discussion at the meeting. It was eventually decided to send Mr. Beck as the representative of the Association to the projected conference. Personally, I don't think this Association is going to do much good. Under the by-laws of the New Zealand Union there is a possibility that the rulings of the New Zealand Referees' Association may be upset by the Apoeal Council of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and it is difficult therefore to see what useful purpose the former body will fulfil if such a happening does occur. If, as I am assured, the Association is wanted as an adjunct to the New Zealand Rugby Union, why doesn't that body appoint it, and save local unions the trouble and expense of sending representatives to Wellington to set up what is practically a sub-committee of the Colonial Union? lam strongly of opinion that a conference of referees at stated times — say two or three years — would do much more good than the projected Association, as far as rulings on the laws of the game are concerned. * * * Now and again one reads in the newspapers about disorderly behaviour on the part of travelling football teams, but seldom do you read of the reverse. A letter sent to the secretary of the Southern Football Club has been shown me, and the following extracts may take the sting out of many remarks that have been levelled at the heads of foot bailers on tour. The secretary of the Kaierau Football Club, Wanganui, writes — "I am instructed to convey to you the club's thanks for the fine sport provided by your club in its match here. "The Committee also desire to express their high appreciation of the gentlemanly behaviour and sporting spirit of one and. all of your team, both on and off the field. Indeed, this is a matter that has caused mudh comment in our town on the part of many who are not in any way connected with football. f 'Mv Committee maintain that your team's visit here was throughout an ob-ject-lesson in good football, good sport, and good fellowship." * » "Hen" Kelly is said to have definitely retired from playing the game. Rugby football in Sydney will be officially opened on the first Saturday in May. It is probable that a Canterbury representative team will visit the West Coast this season.

It i& rumoured that there is a possibility of "Dolly" Gray returning to Wellington, within a month. The Hawke's Bay Union has a credit balance of £9 11s lOd. Its Southern tour last year cost £197 16s 2d. "Cynic" (Sydney "Referee") describes the New Zealand footballers as the champions of the Southern Hemisphere. The New South Wales Rugby Union lost £200 by the visit of the Rev. Mr. Mullineaux's team of English footballers. Joyce, last year's Wellington, representative forward, will be playing for the North Shore Club (Auckland) this season. Mr. Alec Campbell is fast recovering fiom his. recent illness, and anticipates being found in his usual haunts in a week or two. Pihama, who played in the forward ranks of the Taranaki team when here last year, will be playing in Auckland this season. Meredith, the erstwhile Wellington representative half-back, is stated as likely to play in that position for the North Shore Club (Auckland) this season. The Otago Rugby Union have invited the press to be present at their weekly meetings. Is there a possibility of the Wellington Union following such a good precedent ? Beckett, a Taranaki three-quarter of repute, played in the Petone Club's three-quarter line against Athletic last Saturday. He is said to have shown fairly good form. It was pleasing during the early part of the week to notice Jack Grant about town. True, he was still weak on his pins, but it will now only be a question of days when he will be his old self again. A. B. OBrien and P. L. McEvedy, two New Zealand footballers resident in London, are members of the English team which is to tour Australia and New Zealand during the present football season. The defaulters' list of the Rugby Union made its appearance this week ; and it is a stupendous document. The penalty for playing a defaulter is forfeiture of the matches, and club secretaries should therefore be careful. Len Williams, captain of the Wairarapa representative team, will not be playing this season, medical advice being against him doing so. A popular and courteous player, he will be greatly missed by the country union. Stalker, the Otago and New Zealand l epresentative three-quarter back passed through Wellington on his way to Palmerston North last Saturday. He has received an appointment in that town, and he intends to settle down there. At the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, annent the proposed revival of the annual match between that union and Wellington, it was resolved, on the president's (Mr. F. Logan) motion "That this union welcomes with much satisfaction the resurrection of the match." I had a look last Saturday at the footbail grounds at Miramar, which are being placed at the disposal of the Ru?by Union by Mr. Crawford. They are an immense improvement on the grounds on which junior football matches were played last season, and our juniors should therefore rejoice. The British team of footballers is extending its tour, by courtesy of the New South ,Waleg Rugby Union, to New Zealand, and a pleasant season's football may, therefore, be, anticipated. By the way, when will newspaper scribes stop terming them the ''English" football team? Wales, Ireland, and Scotland are also represented in it. The senior matches set down for decision on Saturday are • — Oriental v. Poneke, and Melrose v. Old Boys, at the Athletic Park ; Wellington v. Petone, at Petone. It is probable that Poneke, Petone, and Old Boys will win their matches. As a matter of fact, this is the order in which I think the championship matches will conclude. From private advices I hear that Dan Toohill is doing well in Napier. He has joined the City Club there, and already is showing good form. As the Hawke's Bay Union plays a number of representative matches this season, it is more than probable that Toohill will secure that representative cap which was denied him in Wellington last season. Best, one of the most promising forwards in the Oriental senior team, is a member of the Permanent Artillery. The sports club of this body enters a team for the Wednesday competition, under the Rugby Union, and I believe Best is seriously thinking of playing for the Wednesday Artillery team. This would be a mistake on his part, for his present form would indicate that a place in the Wellington representative team is not beyond him, and that will not be possible if he plays football on Wednesdays.