Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 259, 17 June 1905, Page 19

Rugby Football.

THE sum of £60 was taken at the gates of the Petone Recreation Giound on Saturday last, on the occasaon of the senior championship match between the Petone and Oriental teams. At sixpence a head this represents a total of 2400 people- who paid for admission, and bears favourable comparison, with the attendance at championship matches at the Athletic Park in the past. Last season the principal matches played were those between the Petone and Poneke teams, and the recorded attndiances at the Athletic Park on the attendances at those matches weie respectively 2700 a,nd 2900. The crowd were coped with in good 6tyle at Petone on Saturday, and it would seem that the experiment of playing big matches on the suburban ground could) be tried) again if there arose a necessity for it. * * * I would suggest to Borough Engineer Cook, of Petone, that something should be done during the off-season to level the principal playing area on the Petone Recreation Ground. lam told that he is eager to get the cycling tra-ck removed to of another ground being made in its place. As a cycling track its usefulness is gone, but as a viewpoint from which to watch the matches it is undoubtedly of much service. The removal of this track will oast some mon.ey, which, I venture to assert, would be better spent m level linig the present playing area. The opportunities are there to make it a fine playing ground. The) formation, being a shingly one, allows the water to get away quickly. I would like to see my suggestion adopted, and I have no doubt the pi avers feel as I do. ♦ * ♦ The game between the Petone and Oriental teams was interesting, but it was made too close by the players 1 to be unduly exciting. True, there were occasions when both sides got within measurable distance of their opponents' goals, but the efforts in that daiection were not frequent enough and sustained enough to rouse the spectators. The "barrack" was kindly and 1 good-natured, the only ones who seemed to me to get imd'ulv excited being some hookey girls, who were inclined to rush the field now and ag:ain to assist their favourite team to keen their opponents out. • • ♦ In the heavy forward work the teams w&re evenly matched, and there was a similamtv between the play of the vanguards in the open. Among the back divisions, the two New Zealand representa,tavets — Roberts on the one side, and McGregor on the other — stoodl right out by themselves for consistently good 1 work. Each back team had a weak link in the pass^m<z chain. Highet playing much beilow has usual form at five-eighth for Oriental, and Barber sticking to the ball like a leech at centre three-quarter fior Petone. The Petone team had the better of the luck of the game, the goal kicked by McGregor, albeit a beauty, being in the nature of a piece of good luck. For example, several" efforts from easier angles by the same player went wide of thei mark * * * Referee Fache v\ as in great form with the whistle, keeping a firm hand on the players Hi> interpretation of the held-ball rule was not appreciated by the contestants, but it was the correct one nevertheless. "The leferee must not blow his whistle except to give a free kick." It is a pity that all referees dlo not interpret this rule m the same way. There were cautions flyin^ about pi^omiscuously, and, although they seemed over many, it was better to see them than rough play, or players being ordered! to stand on the bank. It was a hard match to adjudicate upon, and I congratulate Mr. Fache on the way he kept the players under control. ♦ • • "The best forward on the ground." This is a statement you generally hear after a match aeent some one or more players. In this match lam prepared to give this qualification to Dnscoll, the Petone front-ranker. He worked like a Trojan in the pack, and in the loose work he was going all the time.

The old war-liorbe, King, came through tJite ruok many times, and other Petone foi wards. I noticed for good work were Knight, Cros-te, and Wright. McGregor was the best Petone back, his kicking, passing, and running being first-class. Sharpe was full of go, and did everything that came, his way m capital style. He could' have been given a lot more to do ruth 1 advantage to has side. Ramsden was weak in his kicking at half, anud Barber seemed eager to make up for the matches he missed playing in. He wanted to feel the ball foi a much longer period than was necessary for the success of has team. J. Ryan was in and out, on several occasions showing hulhancy, and on others mulling the ball badily. He is young enough to make excuses for him, and hei will yet develop into more than an ordinary back. M. Ryan was safe at full-back, his kicks being full of power, and reaching the line, in most eases. * * * Roberts reproduces his present, good form. Saturday by Saturday, and does all that comes his way like the tradesman he is. Bush was a tower of strength* to the Oriental team at full-back. As a matter of fact, he was a stone waill in defence. Many a time a weak piece of play on Bush's part would have seen the Petone vanguard swarming over the Oriental line, but he was equa^ to all the demlandis made on him. Mclntyre did some beautiful pieces of work, but he did' not seem to me to relish, the tackling of the Petone. players. As a consequence, when a dash might have resulted in him. beating his opposing back, he preferred to kick and follow up. Though) this would have been a good movement if it had been successful, the kick rarely went beyond; the player waiting to tackle him. C Manming, the ofd Pooeke player. who, since last playing in Wellington, has represented Canterbury m the three-quiarter line, does not seem to have altered his play one what. The old circus tricks are therei — the short jerky runs, in which he tries to beat too many of his opponents. He was safe and solid, and made many good kicks, but his attack was weak. I could have written the same comment about Manning three yeaie ago. I have said all I am. going to say about Highet, and Anderson is the only other Oriental back to whom I have to make reference. Although >he played well, he did 1 not reproduce the brilliancy shown, by him in earlier matches. E. Wylie, the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union, was prevailed upon to don the jersey onoe again, Wells, the ex-Aucklander, who plays wmnig-forward l for Oriental, being barbound) at Blenheim. The two brothers Wylie were hooking for Oriental, the younger one being much in evidence in the loose. Bunckenburg improved has chances for inclusion as wing-forward) in Wellington's representative team, the presence of Warner in the match not preventing him from giving the best showing on the side of the scrummage. Best., Gumley, Gillespie, and Manniaug all showed up well duinng the game, though the latter, who filled WeLLs 3 s place, kicked rather hard on occasions. * * * The "Auckland Star" writer may know a lot about Auckland football playersi — thus I will not deny. But, listen to one sentence of his — "Roberts is a long way below Kiernan at his best." Kiernan,, I am, prepared to admit, was a brilliant attacking hailf-back, but he is done, taking the writer referred to as my authority, for in another part of his notes he states that "Kiernan's display was 1 very poor indeed." But, m defence Kiernan never was, nor could be, in the same class as Roberts—anybody with an atom, of fairness in his composition will agree with the statement that Roberts is ouie of the finest defensive half-backs that has played the Rugby game in this country. tip to last season his passing was weak, but during that year he showed promise of improvement, with the result that in this class of play he can now fairly be placed on the same plane as Kiernaru was at his best. Wellington has been badly treated m the matter of representation m the New Zealand team. If my Auckland confrere is hurt at Mackenzie's non-inclu-sion he should pick someone to have a tilt at who is not so fully entitled to his place as Roberts is on his present season's all-round form at half-back. * * * I hear good reports of Cumnimg, the Athletic Club foiwaid, who haals from Napier. M. O'Sullivan, who promnsed to go very near a place in the Wellington representative team this season, had the misfortune to get his nose broken la«t Saturday.

Wright

The annual melee, in the form of a football match, between the Health and Labour Departments, was fought last Tuesday afternoon, on the Athletic Paork battlefield, and proved a great victory for the admanisitrators of the Shops' and' Offices Act. Inspector Aldridge captained the Labour army, and Dr. Makgill led the Health experts. Both teams were confident- of victory, and sanitary and) factory inspectors fought for the elusive ball, knowing full welJ that even if wounds we>ie many there were doctors enough presemit to heal the scare. McC'arth" and AAdridge, for the Labour Department, were veritable Togos, and crossed the Health line several times, each, converting one of their tries, for which, they were threatened to be quarantined by the microbe authorities. Dr. Pomare and Inspector Sergeant, whose combined weight was exactly one ton ; tried again and again to drag their redoubtable opponents to the goalhne, but, although it took six labour mien to stop either of them once they started, they succeeded in. staying their progress. Bv 23 points to 6 the hope of the unemployed vanquished the drafters of tlhie pa-tent medicine regulations, and the Labour Department bugs to* it© bosom the handsome cup presented by the heads of both department for the ensuing twelve months. Labour ommia vincit ! • • • The Auckland) Rugby Union are moving the different unions of the colony to acquiesce with them in getting a meeting called iof the Cbunod of the New Zealand Union. Why? In plain language, because "Scobie" Mackenzie has not been given a place in the New Zealand team. They object to James Duncan, being appointed as coach of the team for two reasons: — (1) The expenenced players composung the team are quite capable of coaching themselves ; and (2) the cost of sending the coach would be better expended in sending anoither player. In reply to (1) — Why didn't, the Auckland Union object to Mr. Duncan acting as coach to the New Zealand teami last year? There were more exper eniced players m thait combination than the present one, and if their silence on that occasion gave approval bo thle appointment of the coach, they should not complain now, when, in my opinion, there us a greater necessity for a coach. The team is undertaking a tour that is unique- in the experience of the New Zealand' Union, andl I submit that that body should leave no stone unturned to make it a successful one. Therefore, a coach is indispensable. As to (2) — If another player is a> ne>cessity, he should not be an Aucklander. This Auckland Rugby Union has more representatives in the New Zealand team than any other union in the colony, and they should be satisfied. During the last two seasons the Aucklanders have been defeated twice by Wellington, and they have had also to play second fiddle to Southland and Taranaki. Yet they have a corusidlerablv bigger representation than either of these Unions. If they had any just cause to grumble I would be only too pleased' to second their efforts. ♦ * • Abrim, who will be called the- muchtravelled footballer directly, left Wellington for Nelson during last week. Did you notice in last Saturday's "Post" how many players there are in the Wairarapa who are worth places in tibue New Zealand team? Of course, the paragraph doesn't say that, but I may be excused if I think it does. The misfortunes of war ! The Rugby Union, on its own initiative, is holding an enquiry into an alleged case of rough play on the part of a Wellington) player in the Melrose^Wellington match. The player in question was ordered off the field last Saturday. The Poneke Club have received! a welcome addition to their ranks in the person of Comiell, who oomes here with the hall-mark of being an Otago representative forwaid. His form in the match against Melro&e last Saturday was pleasing. The Poneke team beat Mel rose m a fifty-minute match by five points to three, at Petone, last Saturday. I have said something similar before, but I will say it again. Fancy a PetoneOnental match occupying the attention of the spectators with a Poneke-Melrose game going on on the adjoining ground. It's hard to believe when you think of past seasons. E. H. Beat., the Oriental Club and representative forward, has left Wellington for Blenheim, where he is establielhajug an agency for Reynolds and Co. . the well-known cycling and) general importing merchants'. Best is one of the most willing and hard-working forwaids that has played the game m Wellington, and I can thoroughly recommand him to Blenheim friends as a player who will do full justice to whatever team he plays for. The Oriental Club made Mi . Best a presentation on the eve of his departure.

Bedell-SivwrigM, the captain of the British team, left Sydney far England on the 3rd June. The matches ait Miramar ended as follows: — Athletic 13, Wellingiton 3; Old Boys 10, Victoria College nil. Alec. Hill is timed to leave Wellington for New Plymouth to-day (Friday). I wisib him 1 all success and prosperity in his new home, andl trust) that many times and often we may see hum in Wellington. The send-off given hum by the Oriental Club was a very jovial affair, in which the valuable services rendered the club by Mr. Hill were inadle much mention' of. "When is a bite not a bite?" lam told that the answer to this question is when the bitten one is not sure who bit him, or how a,nd in what position he was when bitten. And when theotherpairty has a mouthful of false teeth, with but twio of his own in his head. And, further, wihen the marks of the bite are from three to four inches apart.