Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 274, 30 September 1905, Page 19

Rugby Football.

THE Pi ess Association — otherwise the newspaper proprietors — of New Zealand have been cursed up hill and down dale during the past fortnight by the football enthusiasts of the colony. From north, from south, fiiom east, and from west cornea, the one cry — • "We want fuller reports oi the football matches being played by the New Zealand team at Home!" Enquiry elicits the information that insructions have been given the agents of the Press Association 111 England to send out reports of the game. But the man at the other end ot the cable us paid for what he sends across the sea, and the more he cables the better is his pay. The inference then is that the meagre amount of news he is sendiing is in accordance with the instructions that have been given him. It is, in short, a question of bawbees — and there are big Australian dailies in this case to pay the piper. "Why cannot we get as full leports at the tootbali matches as the papers published ox the games played by the Australian cricketer^ at Home ?" If that question, has been asked me once, it has beeai asked bjancfeiedß of times. The reason, wiry such tall information has been given us about the Australian cricketers is beea/u&e the newspapers or the* Commonweal en made special arrangements with the cable man' — and paid for those arrangements — to have a full precis of the garnet, flashed across the sea.- We m New Zealand participated in the arrangement in wo far that, having got the news themselves, our Commonwealth friends were kind enough to allow us to benefit by their enterprise. "Why didn't the newspaper proprietors of New Zealand make a similar arrangement in regard to the football matches?" Ask me something easy, please? In case the Pa ess Association feel inclined to make an effort to satisfy the football public of the colony, let me say that the names of the scorers m each match, and the several teams that represent New Zealand, will set owr minds at rest if we cannot get more. I believe the Premier has been approached on the matter, and if ,-iS assistance as of any use — and it ought to be m a case of this sort — things will be lifted from their present unsatisfactory basis directly. Let us hope so, at any rate. The record of the team at Home so far is stunning. Three matches played, all wins, a total of 137 points for, and only 4 against. What did we hear the Jeremiahs saying a little while aoro? It doesn't matter. But, an incident I have heard will serve by way of illustration. There are many English people m Wellington, and m one of the big establishments there is a lad from Yorkshire. Before the matches started this lad was keen to back the Home teams in the international matches, and none of liis shop-mates would accommodate him. Directly the result of the first match came through, they were at ham like a' swarm of bees. But the 55 to 4 had impressed him, too. "No, thank you ; if I make a bet I want to be reasonably sure that I will have a run for my money. If you had taken what I offered you last week I would have to stand the racket. I'll back the New Zealand team now if you like." It seems such a pity the international matches are so far down the piogramme as they are. The team just now seems to be in such good form that one would like to see the big matches of the tour within reasonable distance. The dates of the big games are — Scotland, November 18th; Ireland, November 25th, England, December 2nd ; Wales, December 16th. • * * "The players are tired, and' the public are tired!" This expressed omnion of a spectator at the Wellington-Mana-watu match last Saturday fits the bill. It was wearisome to the flesh to watch the game. The only prominant feature (?) about the play was the persistent wav in which the players on both sides knocked the ball on, and the faithfulness with which the referee blew the whistle every time the ball wen* forward, whether it was inches, feet, or yards.

Sometimes the play would get that witeresting that tne spectators would cheer tiie small boy kicking the ball baok to the held of play after it had gone into touch. When, a crowd laughs heartily at a football match the game is not a very serious one, and the display does not interest them greatly. Saturday's handful of spectators laughed many times long and loud. However, the match has it© redeeming feature — it brought the season to a close. Jerseys and pants — whethei they are your own or somebody else's — can all be stowed away tall next football season, to be brought to light again when the whistle calls the players into action once more. ♦ * * The death of Richaid Maiden Robeatson, while taking part in a football match at Miramar last Saturday, has set me thinking seriously. The circumstances were graphically set forth at the mquest on Monday afternoon. The game had been in progress about twenty minutes, when most of the players allowed signs of being "fagged," and but few of them could keep up with the play. A forward rush was in piogress, and Robertson, in endeavouring to keep in touch with the play, overtaxed his strength, and was seen to fall. The usual methods when a player is winded were resorted to, but, despate the best efforts of his comrades 'and opponents, poor Robertson passed away before medical assistance couldl be pioeured. Coroner Ashcroft has no friendly leanings towards sport of any description, and the suggestion he made to the jury at the inquest that footballers should undergo a medical examination before being allowed to play was not made in the interests of the game. He did not, however, persist in. his suggestion, and the jury brought in a verdict that death was due to failure of the heart's action. Football is a strenuous game, and to play it a man must be physically sound, for the organs of his body, especially the heart, are taxed to thear fullest extent and capacity during tlie time the game is in progress. Therefore, the suggestion of Mr. Ashcroft is worth more than a passing notice, and would be for the ultimate good of the game if it was given effect to. No person should indulg-e in athletic sports of any desoraption if he suffers from a weak heart, and the players 1 themselves, if they have a suspicion of any such weakness, should consult a medical man before indulging in outdoor sports. The New Zealand Rugby Union recognised thus, bv insisting that every membeT of the team now playing in the Old Country should 1 undergo a severe medical examination before being allowed to make the tour. One other point, and I have done. The deceased player was taking part in a shop match. In these matches there is generally a preponderance of men who have either grown too old to play the gamfe regularly, or who have never played it a,t all. ' The result of their

playing generally results m much, discomfort to themselves in the shape of staffenied muscles and joints for many days and weeks after the match,, and many of them are sorry they allowed themselves to be prevailed upon tot play. This being admitted, my opinion is that the playing of tthese games year by year is not worth the candle. » * * South Sydney have won the premiership of the New South Wales Rugby Unaon. Dan Twolull lias succeeded in getting a place in the Association representative team. Good luck to him. Stalker and McMmn, who were members of the 1903 New .Zealand team, played for Manawatu against Wolling*ton last Saturday. "Wait till they get to Wales!" If anybody wants to know what that means, ask the first Englishman who takes any interest in football to tell you. An Auckland item : — "Saturday's game against Australia is said to be the last for Kieraan, Bonella, and Mackenzie. They say that they will now retire. We shall see." "The visit of tlhe British team to Australia has evidently borne fruit, and the game played by the vusators on Saturday was exactly an the lines adopted by the Britishers." — So says an Auckland paper. "Off-side Mac," commenting on Mr. Hendersons statements re New Zealand players : — "Mr. Henderson (tihe mianager of the Australian team) may be an able manager and a right good fellow, but he does not know much about Rugby football." The New Zealand team's close engagements are: — To-morrow (Saturday), v. Leicester; Wednesday, v. Middlesex. The Middlesex team yon the Counties' Championship last season, and they should be able to extend the New Zearlanders. This match will be played in London. Dr. Newman, the president of the Union, made both presentations, ajn_ a very happy speech, and the gathering altogether was a very cordial and pleasing one. May Mr. Bethiune have occasion in the future to erather the Old Boys together in a similar manner is the hope of a well-wisher of the club. "Go thou, and do likewise." Noticing the Bert Willis paragraph in the Lance, Fred Midlane sent a small donation all the way from Sydney to add to the fund that is being raised. Should anyone else — near or far — feel similarrlv disposed, I will be only too pleased to be the medium through which the donations can reach the right quarter. In five successive matches Wellington has been represented by five different five-eighths. The latest one to fill the position — Mitchinson, of the Southern team — scare a very creditable exhibition against Manawatu, and, if appearances go for anything, he has the making? of a good player in him. It is only a few years since Mitohinson pleased the spectators by his. display as full-

back for the school representative® against the Wairarapa boys, and the promise ne showed oil that occasion seem® likely to be realised. The St. James's dub's record for the ' season is a pretty good otne for a young club, and will take a lot of beating. It is as follows —

The Old Boys Club have a good friend and well-wishea.- m Mr. W. E. Be^lbmne. So pleased was that gentleman with, the form shown by the senior fifteen during the season mow closing that he tendered them a eompLimeintary smoke concert. The gathering was held in the Masonic Hotel last Thursday night, and occasion was taken thereat to hand to each individual member the brilliancy trophies presented by the Rugby Union to the Old Boys for the displays of the Rugby game they gave during the season, and to the captain of the team the Charity Cup won by them from the Petane Club, the winners of the senior championship. Mr. Henderson, the manager of the Australian team, says: — "The Australian forwards are stronger than those of New Zealand, a fact which proves the scrum formation of three in the front row to be a good one. He thinks this formation will be ad-opted by some of the provinces." I wondler which will be the first province to prove Mr. Hendersons guess to be a correct one, for a guess it is, I warrant. If he> believes New South Wailes forwards are stronger than New Zealand, he is welcome to has belief, but lam positive that no one who saw the "Wellington Province l-Aus-tralia match will agree witih him. The Australian forwards in that match were out-classed. (Continued on page 20.)

If he who grows two blades of grass Where only one had place Deserves the thanks of every class And benefits the race. Then worthier still of honouied name, While coughs and colds endure. Emblazoned on the scroll of fame Is Woods' Gre\t Peppermint Cure.

Matches 'oints !h. Played Won Lost Di'wn For Agst Pc. Junior . . 10 t> 4 0 108 45 12 Third Class 11 6 4 1 116 59 13 Fouith Class 12 9 3 1 83 18 19 Fifth Class 10 10 0 0 236 6 20 43 31 10 2 543 128