Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 203, 21 May 1904, Page 14

Rugby Football.

THE meeting of the Meliose and Petone teams, at the Athletic Park, last Saturday, provided one of the most interesting contests of ieoent times in senioi championship matches. Right from the kick-off till "no-sade" the interest of the spectators w ho numbered' a goodly crowd— wab fully maintained. That the better team worn there is not a shadow of doubt, but the margin oi poants— l6 to ml m Petone's favoui — ■was not a faar ontenon of tlhe iela,tave merits of the t\\ o teams. # * * The thing that pleased 1 me most among the Petone players was the clean way in which they ddd their work, the backs especially taking and kicking the bafll with hardly a fumble during the whole day. The Melrose backs, on the other hawd lacked that solidity m their play which mspnesa team's supporters with confidence. Both teams of forwards were well matched, and played the game right up to the hilt. Some of them, however on occasions, went beyond fair play in then keenness to get an advantage over their opponents. ♦ • • Petone's kick-off was mulled by a Melrose three-quarter back, but before play could settle down, Sullivan, and then Adams, took a hand, and the ball went out well up the field. A passing run between McGregor and Braad was followed by some fine kicking by Hodgson and G. Spencer, and then. Mclnnes and J. Spencer got away at the head of a rush, Barber stopping them in good style. A return lush of Petone forwards, with Cross, Selwood, and Driscoll in the van, was frustrated by G. Spencer. A kick of G. Spencer's went well up the centre of the fiedd, but Gilchnst could not our>> his impatience, and' an off-side decision was given against him. From the scrum that followed almost under the Melrose goal the Petone frontrankers secured possession, and, quicker than I can write it, the Petone rearguard 1 were in motion. From Ramsden the bail wen* to McGregor, on to Barber, and then to Bnad. The latter was splendidly tackled when almost to his base, but he let the ball go, and Barber, who had got into position for a return pass whipped the oval up, and grounded it across the chalk-line. A stolen did display of football, that gladdened many hearts, and thoroughly deserved the applause it received. Towards the end of the first spell a couole of chances of scoring came the way of the Melrose team, but they didn't "come off." On one occasion, Evans, who has a reputation as a sprint runner, had apparently a clear field in front of him, brat McGregor was too fast for him. A ragged! Melrose rush saw the play out near the Melrose line, but from the succeeding scrum Petone secured possession, and McGregor found touch some distance down the field. • • • The second half of the game opened with a lot of give and take play, first one side and them the other being on the afircxessive. Once, when Melrose were within measurable distance of the Petone line, one of its vanguard was brought down with the ball in his possession. When, prone oni the ground a Petone player Who ought to know better deliberately kicked at him. How he missed Ms head I know not, but I verily believe that if the kick delivered had taken, effect the consequences would have been awkward. It was one of the most cowardly acts I have ever seen on the football field, and even at iMs distance from the happening I feel my nerves tingling when I think of it. It would serve the offender right if he were named publicly. A deliberate case of obstruction by Goodwin, Melrose centre three-quarter, caiused' the second score againsit his team Barber kicking a penalty goal. From a line-out, Brice took the ball cleanly, mainly because of his extra length and sent a pass to McGregor, who took it going at top. "When in a good position the latter sent it on to P. Ryani, who scored 1 the try. McGregor added the two extra points.

A scrambling rally of Petone foiwardi saw *. Spenoei in difficulties, Hardham aiddnuo- amothei try to Ins team's credit, and, as McGiegor 'converted it, the t a Illy reached 16 points. * • * The display of back play by McGregor at five-eighths was one of the finest seen on the Park for many a da,y. Runnan q straight- as a die, with more than average pace, kicking splendidly, fielding and 1 taking the ball' in good style, and passing neatly, were the features of his play, and what more is wanted in a back ? I have heard oritics say that McGregor is inclined to turn the game up when *t is going against him. but after his latest exhibition I am inclined to think "Duncan" tsill stand the test of the severest came. The whole of the Petone backs placed Mgiht up to their best form. Briad, who was genen-aillv considered weak in takine the ball did not miss a pass all da,y. and galloped in good l style. Barben, Ramsden, P. Ryan, and M. Ryan did all that came their way in a business-like style. Among the forwards, last yeai's repieseoitatives—Ctoss, Wright, Dnscoll, and Hardham— were in evidence right through the piece, the "burly one" particularly playing a fine game. Kinp. Selwood, Knight, Brice and Swindell all added their quota to the result. * * * G. Spencer locked splendidly from full-back for Melrose, and played solidly the most part of the At the end, however, he shirked some of the rushes of the opposing vanguard, Hardham's try being a case in point. The other backs were in and out. Hodgson kicked well at times, anld at others aJJowed the ball to bounce, and he was beaten easily thei eby. Evans pace seemed to be no good to him for he seldom made much headvt ay. Wngley was brought out fiom his 1 etiremeait for the occasion, but his mam failing was in hanging on to the all. Wrigley was, however, useful in getting in front of some of the Petone rushes. Goodwin and Thompson did nothing above the oadinary during the day. ''Bill" Adams was easily the most conspicuous, foiward on the Mekose side. He seemed to be here, there, ant 1 every- •« liere , now at the head of a forward rush, aaioin stopping a rally of the opposing forwards like a good old halfback of the last decade. Adams is an honest grafter, and a good man for his side. "Jack" Spencer, though not so often seen as Adams, was nevertheless working splendkdly right through the piece. Gil christ is a forward I have a, liking foi , and, though young at the game, has ni esent foam, would indicate that tjiere are great possibilities before him. Ki.if, Sullivan, McGrath Osborne, and De Blois neie the balance of the Meirose "pushers." King <and McGiath were, perhaps, the more coiispicuou-> of the quintette. * * * The result of the Poneke-Old Boys match was a bit of a surprise. lam told the Poneke team have been doing but little training, and, as a consequence, many of their supporters fully expected to see the Old Boys triumph over them. The tally of 17 points to nil was, therefoie, the more surprising. The outstanding feature of the game was the fine goal-kicking of "Tommy" Stevens. Before the commencement of championship matches, I hinted that there was a possibility that the Athletic Club would not be able to put a senior team m the field. Although I did not say so in words, the inference was that the Athletics should have withdrawn from the senior championship. The hint was not taken, however, and, although they aie playing in the senioi championship the biggest stretch of the imagination cannot by any means credit them with contesting it. It seems a pity, too. The Athletic Olub is practically the strongest m the cl ty — I mean numerically. It has fine junior, third, fouith, and fifth class teams, but none of those coming on seem yet of an age or strength to fill the places in the senior team. The present ta-lly of 101 points to 0 in three matches against the olub's senior team is not pleasant reading for the officers, and I wish them more success in the future. * • • An ex-English county player, now resident in Christchurch, writes to a Wellington friend as follows • — "On Saturday last I saw the principal clubs Ixere — Albion and Merrvale — play football. Being a constant spectator of big Rugby matches in England, I make this comparison. The New Zealand forwards are better than, the backsi, who will be very much outclassed by the British team unless different stuff play than those I saw in the match mentioned. They were slow, they mulled the ball often, and lacked dash.

The fOlf 01 wards were a fine, heavy type of men., solid and cautious, but they neglected their backs, and kept the bail out of play thiee-parts of the 1 time. ' The loose serums of the British, with their quick passing and extra pace, will outplay New Zealand if what I saw is repi esentative. The close-packed scrums and lack of heeling-out as adopted here is ten years out of date, but this is only my opinion, and I may be wiong." The comparison instituted by the gentleman who penned the above between the play in a. senior championship match under the Canterbury Rugby Union and big Rugby matches in England is hardly a fair one. His conclusion, therefore, on New Zealand football is not correct, and if he still continues following the game in this country. I think he will yet agree with me when I say that heeline-out is 1 one of the marked features of New Zealand football. • • • Results of Napier football — Suburbs 0 Te Aute College 0; City 7, Ahuriri 0. Wairganui matches — Waverley 6, Pirates 0, Kaierau 13, T.Y.M.T. 3. A brother of Wallv Drake's is mentioned as a coming forward' in Canterbury. ''Twohill figured weill on Saturday." — A criticism on the ex-Pomeke player in a Napier paper. "Bill" Joyce's play for the North Shore Club is favourably commented upon by Auckland critics. George, the ex-Taaanaki player. is playing m Auckland again this, season. Nicholson and Tyler, the New Zealand representatives, are also chasing the leather once more. "F. W. Stringer, of New Zealand, has been granted a permit to play for Glebe." — This clipping from a Sydney panei leads one to lemark, "Who is Stringer, anyhow?" Asher did not play in the opening matches in Auckland on Saturday week, an accident at a fire being the cause of his standing down. "Opai" is a member of the Auckland Fire Brigade. I hear persistent i umoursi that there is a probability of Meredith and "Morry" Wood playing for the North Shore Club, Auckland, this season. The last time these two players were associated their clvb — Wellington — won the champion^ ship. Numbers ai c to be placed on. Sydney first grade 1 players. Many spectators in Wellington would appreciate it if a similar course was 1 adopted with local players Even the best of us have a job to distinguish individual players at times. At a meeting of the Dannevii ke SubUnion of the Hawke's Bay Union, it was decided to inflict a minimum penalty of twelve months' disqualification for the first offence in all cases of offensive language by playeis brought before the union. The Rugby Union have collected £65 from, defaulted*? sine© the 1 beginning of the season. As this amount has been refunded to> clubs, less 1 5 per cent, for collection, it is not necessary to say who is getting the benefit of the scheme. xxie whirligig of time," etc. Last season the Rugby Union had occasion to order a spectator off all its grounds fore insulting language to a referee. The s^ectatai in question is a leferee himself this 1 season, and he complains about unfair treatment by the spectators in a match in which he was officiating. "The stone that rebounded." The Petone Club have scored 87 points m the four matches in which they have played, and have had nary a score registered against them. The Poneke team's tally is • — Points for, 52 . against, 3. At the time of writing both teams are unbeaten, and the match between them on Saturday week should be interesting. It will be played on the Athletic Park. One has to go from, home to learn news. A Ghnstchuroh "Spectator" item — "Telegraph operator A. C. Norris, of Wellington, expects to be manager of the next M.L. team to Hingland. There aie others after the job, of course, and there are some men in Wellington who aren't speaking just now." 1 wonder was this news learnt at the animal meeting of the New Zealand Union?