Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 269, 26 August 1905, Page 19

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

THOSE of u^ wlio have argued! that there are as good footballers left m the colony as those who have gone on the tour of the Old Country arc feeling nattered with ourselves, after the match on the Athletic Park last Saturday. It may be true that the ground was heavy after the rain which fejil ou Thursday and Friday, and the Australians were therefore handicapped against showing the best that was m them. Manager Henderson, at the mayoral reception, stated that the season had been such a dry one in Syd ney this year that they had not had a wet ball to play with. All the same, they should have made a better showing if the reports of theu form this season are to be believed, for they were absolutely beaten out of sight by the Wellington provincial team. At aM points of the game they were the weaker team. We have been told that the visits of the British and New Zealand team have tended to make the play in Australia better, but I must confess that the form shown by the visitors on Saturday was mot equal to the display given by the New South Wales team in its first match at Wellington in 1901. I am prepared to believe that the Australians did not play up to their correct form, and also to admit that the loical team one and all played above themselves. But, still, a team that could play a drawn game against the New Zealand fifteen that recently visited Sydney should not have been snuffed out by 23 points to 7. ♦ * • The New South Wales captain (Stan--fey Wickham) won the toss from Jack Spencer, who, for the first time, led a Wellington team. The visitors naturally took advantage of the strong southerly wind that was blowing. They started well, but it was soon apparent that the team that defeated! the New Zealand representatives for Home a few weeks ago Would again oome out on top unless something marvellous 1 happened. For, in spite of the wind, the local team were the first to score. Winiata, Horowheraua^s solitary representative in the team, gathered the ball near the line, from a mis-kick by the full-back of the visiting team, and grounded! the bell in such a ©ood position that G. Spencer had no difficulty in kicking the g!oaJ — 5-0. A lot had been told us about Wickhlam's place-kiokiner, andl a couple of opportunities that came has way proved that no idle boast was made of his capabilities. He kicked a beautiful goal from almost the half-Way line, off a mark by Judd, and directly aftexwaards sent amother one the same way as tlhe result of a free kick given aspainst o"re of the Wellington forwards for obstruction. In the meantime, from a scrumima.ee neiar the Australian base, the ball came nicely to Ram-sden, who looked 1 as if he was ffoing to try to score himself. Just at the right moment, however, he passed the ball prettily to Wrwley, who had no difficulty in adding the three points. Ends were changed 1 with the Wellington team leading by 8 points to 7. * » * The second half had not been in progress many minutes before the visitors were found to be a badly beaten team, and before half-an-houir 'had gone the black- jereeyed brigade had increased their score to 23 points, while their opponents had remained stationary at 7. This is how the points were scored : — Scrummage, to Ramsden, to Sharpe, to Wiigley, try ; scrummage, to Ramsden, to Sharpe, to O'Leary, to Wxigley, try; O'Leary potted goal from between twenty-five and' half-way line; scrummage, to Ramsden, to Sharpe, to O'Leary, try— Spencer, goal. • « « Calmly thinking the match over, two thoughts come to me that I cannot help drawing attention to. The first is, that the Australian team did not 6how their true form on Saturday, and the second is, that, if they did, there was something radically wrong with, the New Zealand team in the second match against New South Wales in Sydney recently. I am positive, though, that the visitors are capable of better things than they showed us in the match under re-

view. For instance, theai passing was capable of muoh improvement, and wa<s not worthy of a team of their reputation. When the half-back got the ball he would invariably pass it to hint nearest attendant without moving a step, and similarly it would go straight to the wing three-quarter without one of the intervening backs attempting to make any headway. A> a lesult, the back that finally got the ball would take it standing, and whatever ohance there was of making an aggressive movement would be defeated from this cause alone. I am referring here to occasions wihere t!he visitors got the ball from the SiCTummage. It must be admitted, though, that the half-back's oa*is was clean and quick. The move might be a good one on occasions, and that occasion would be where the wang three-quarter, directly 'he got the ball, centred it. The passing would tend to draw the opposition away from the centre of the field, and the counter move would, therefore, prove a success. In tihe open work, when the passing was made on the run, the visitors were more effective, but generally just when things were looking their brightest for tibe wearers of the red l and blue jerseys, a pass would be sent right ait the feet of the following player, and a.n, attacking movement would be easily outflanked, and a counter forward rush initiated therefrom. The centre-kick was often brought into play by the Australians, and occasionally they did not get the full advata.ta.ge therefrom that they should. This feature of play is of no use whatever unless the player making it indicates to hi® forwards that he has put them "on-side," and unless the said forwards are in the humour to take full ad/vantage of the opportunity that is offered them. • • • Truth to tell, I was thoroughly disappointed with the players from across the Tasman Sea. I had beeun to hope that the improvement in their play I had heard' and read so muoh about was a reial quantity, but, heavy ground and all eriven in, there was not the finish about their play worthy of pil avers fitted to find a place in an, inter-State or an inter-colonial team. True, they were meeting a forward team that bad beaten the New Zealand selected pack on the same ground a few weeks previously, and who were elated afc their success on that occasion, and were also at the top of their form 1 . The only department in which they showed a. superiority to the local team was in the line-out. They were cleverer at securing the ball from the throw-in, but even then they were slow in getting rid of it, so much so that the ball would be held, and a scrummage given by the referee that spoilt a3l the aidvantage they sained by getting possession of the ball . I have a wholesome respect for Referee Mackie, but I think lie made a mistake in invariably ordering a scrummage on these occasions. The circular letter addressed to referees by the International Board says undier this heading: "In such, a case (held ball) the referee should! blow the whistle, and award the penalty of a free-kick instead of simply ordering a scrummage on the plea of danger, as by so doing he deprives one side of an advantaige, and does not inflict a penalty on the other, both, of which are deserved." My contention is that the intention of the writers of this circular is 1 to do away altogether with the scrambling and tugging at opposing players and the ball which takes place on the lime-out, and in every case to award a free-kick to one side or the other. One referee in practice always gives the free-kick against the player who has the ball in his possession when he gets a fair view of it. If the player is not offending, at any rate the intention of the rule is. being carried 1 out. * • • A lot has been written and said about the ouibcry against rough play m Wellington, and the watch being kept against the same by the referees, with the intention of proving that such measures are taking the sting out of our forwards'* play, and the vim and dash always associated with Wellington, football would be missing when the representative matches came round. But it was all claptrap. It is many a long day since a Wellington representative forward team has shown to such advantage as in the matches played so far this season. True, the whole of the set are just now at the top of their form, but, all the same, they pan all play a hard and! willing game without recourse to underhand tricks. And if the "Rugby Rough" tirade has done this, it has served its purpose well. Edgar Wrigley, from Masterton, was the hero of the provincial team. For a player of his weight, 'he showed rare dash, and finished up hi® runs in a businesslike style. He took all his

passes swell, and kicked to gam ground every tame. He has a tendency, though, to wander, even gioing so far as to stray on to the other wing occasionally. Nothing serious happened on Saturday from this cause, but, wuth a team quick to note things, he might be found omt of his plaoe just when he was needed there. Every man in his correct position is a good' axiom for the football field. J. O'Leary, the other Mastertonian in the team, commenced very streakily, taking the ball poorly for a player of his reputation. But, as the gam© progressed he improved a deal, so much so that he scored the last try by a pretty piece of work, besides potting a fine goal from the field. H. Winiata, from Levin, scored the fiist try of the game, anidi did much good work right through. Most times, however, he was either jammed on the touch-line when the pass was sent to him, or else he had' got too far ahead. * • • The three country playens just mentioned composed the three-quarter line, and a strong triplet they were. The way they scored 1 tries made us long for the time when the amalgamation of the Wairarapa and Horowb.en.ua Rueby Unions with the Wellington. Rugby Union will be an accomplished fa.ot. * # Of the city players, G-. Spencer gave a creditable display as full back, fielding and kdckine; tine ball in good style. Ramsden 'got his passes away well, but he was given plenty of time to do so by the opposing playens. Sharpe also passed well, but did: not play as well as be has in earlier matches this season. The forwards were a fine even lot, and they were well led! by J. Spencer. It is hardly fair to single any of them out for special comment, but Dodd, Watkins, Cross, Wright, am'dl Spencer are a quintette that will hold! their own with the next five from any other portion of the colony. If our backs were onK as solid and as brilliant as our forwardls — but there, I won't say it. * ■* * I am a great believer in the seven man scrummage, and I have yet to learn that eight men in the pack are better. Manager Henderson, is a gentleman, that uses his eyes, and he has also the interests of the Rugby game near to his heart, and I would recommend him to give the seven-pack a fair trial. The greatest authority we have ever had in this colony — I refer to the late T. R. Ellison — was so thoroughly convinced of its superiority that he could not but prove satisfactorily to you if you gave him the opportunity that the wedge made by the two. three, two grouping, and the concentration of the whole of the energies of the seven on one given spot, must tend to the: strength of the whole, while showing the weakness of the three, two, three formation. Then, again, the rules of the game seem to me in favour of the two men in front. For we are told that the ball is not fairly in the scrummage unless it is put past the first man in the scrummage with the shorter front. Therefore, in a pack with three men opposed to two it must be put past two men on occasions to be fairly in. « * • There were very few who seemed to stand out above their comrades in the visiting vanguard, and ! those few in>clude Murvin, Swannell, Judd, and Burden. The mjaority of the visiting forwardls did not kick the ball hard enough when occasion demanded it, and likely-looking rushes were nipped in the bud because of the gentleness in their footwork. Dore was very quick behind the visiting pack, and Anzelark was in all the attacking work there was going on. There was too much of the dodige in Wiokham's style for a wing threequarter. Judging by his work here in 1901, and in last Saturday's match, I think he would be better placed in the centre. Penman was not well, and, was therefore not able to do himself justice. Russell seemed to be the weak link m the passing chain, but his fielding of the ball was very good. Carmichael slhowed promise of better things when he settles down to a business style, and gets used to the vagaries of our climate. • ♦ * The Hawke's Bay — Wellington match, on Wedlnesday, was a very tame affair, the heavy rain of the morning causing the ground to become a veritable quagmire before the game was lonig in progress. Wellington, however, managed to win bv 11 points to 3. • • * "The match of the season !" Regardless of the strength of either team, the annual meeting of the selected fifteens of the Auckland and Wellington Rugby Unions is lookpd forward to by ©very enthusiast in Wellington. To-morrows match is on a par in, this respect with its predecessors, andi we all intend to be at the Athletic Park— no matter what the weather is— to db our share of barracking.

The Wellington players 'have loomed large in the public eye because of th« defeats they administered to t>he New Zealand and Australian teams. Therefore many thxnk the result of to-mior-row's game is a foregone contusion, but the Auciklanders have always made * good fight, and! I anticipate on this oooasion, oven with so many of their leading forwards away with, the New Zealand team, ttie loqal players will not need to have many tired moments during the game if the Ranfurly Shield is to remain in Wellington, after to-mor-row. A "Lynx" comment: — "We had fondly hoped that from the material left beMnd, Mr. Murray would! be able to get together a decent forward team, but if the display of Saturday (against Hawke's Bay) may be taken, as a criterion of their capabilities, then we may safely dismiss that hope, and 1 prepare ourselves for the worst." (Continued on page 20.)