FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 87, 16 February 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

KBy "Pakeha."} I ■$ crisis has arisen . m Northern [football m England, and several of :the clubs are showing a desire to ! approach the Rugby Union to be readmitted to the amateur ranks. P. F. McEvedv. who came round these parts with Seivwright's combination, and is an ex-pupil of St. Patrick's College, has passed the M.8.J8.5. examination of the London University, and is now a fullfledged medico. The Welsh Rugby Union has suspended D. Jones, the Welsh international forward, for a month "for misconduct m the Treherbert-Aber-dane match." Cardiff's big defeat of the South Africans is instructive m view of the Welsh Club having .played only seven forwards and eight backs against the Springboks. An English writer says, "Cardiff have decided to adopt the New Zealand formation of seven forwards and eight backs. The idea of this probably is an unwillingness to leave either Bush or Gibes out of the team. Nicholls himself expressed a wish that non/ 3of the usual backs should be crowded out, and even signified his preference for standing, down so that nothing of the sort should happen. The difficulty has been overcome, however,' by the selec-., iion ; i"of;ei^;bire^'': v ' : ''"r J - ; " .."'" It is curious; how the excitement of a game ; sometimes makes a playerforget a. physical injury: Montgomery, of Woolwich Arsenal, recently played for forty minutes - -with a broken nose ; while Dunkley, the Bristol D overs- 1 ex-outside left, played for a little while after a severe charge which injured his ribs. He was ultimately obliged, however, 'to leave the field, and learned, to his amazement, after the had examined him, that he had also broken his left collar-bone. < George. Robey, the music hall comedian, who returned to England from Cape Town, stated that Scotsmen m South:- Africa when they heard the news of their countrymen's victory over the "Springboks" went wild with joy. They invaded the music hall and. draped all the bpxes with Scotch plaid shawls. Harry Mclntyre, who has brought forward certain resolutions dealing with the conditions now attached to the Ranfurly Shield competitions was m Auckland, last week, and the "Star" newspaper's Rugby critic had a chat with him regarding his proposals. Mr Mclntyre made, it clear that his intention was that, although m the event of a union within a province : winning the shield from the capital city, the challenge matches must fte played on the ground of the union holding, the shield, the defending side shall be representative of the whole province. Thus the Wellington Union does not desire to take -Auckland -on m sections, rather does it desire to be rid of the present position m which the City of Wellington meets the .Province of Auckland. But, is Mr Mclntvre,'s proposal the best solution of the difficulty ? asks tine 'IStar" writer, and he goes ■, on to say. I have, already expressed the opinion that it . is a pity the Ranfurly Shield was. ever donated, for the struggle for possession has only served to emphasise interprovincial 'rivalry and to make the contests a little more .than football, something m, ;the nature of Mr .McJ#by.re "adfchlts thisi "and agrees wltli n}y.#6iitentionj but < says, that the same rivalry will not exist m inter-union football. Perhaps "it won't, but it may, and what is the use of extending a bad system •? The argument on which Mr Mclntyre laid most stress was that m view of the, forthcoming visit of . the English team we wanted to make the mpst use of all talent, whether m the back blocks or near the- centres, and his proposal would tend to make the out district players acquainted with good football and good footballers. The .Wellington Union* has done a great deal to discourage visits to and from country districts, and Mr Mclntyre admits their vulnerability m this respect, but ■• asks if ; his 'scheme.be rejected that a better be brought forward. Off-hand, I think I can supply his demand j- for I believe that the "institution of a country week, similar to that adopted m Sydney, would prove more effective. The cost would be a fair amount, but it would result, say. from the playing of the Auck-land-Wellington match at Waihi or Horowhenua. The Goldfields, Thames, Wairoa, Tauranga and Whangarei unions could visit Auckland, play among themselves during the week, and then a combined rep. team meet the city reps, on Saturday,., while the individual unions met the various city teams.. Similarly the scheme could be worked m Wellington, and merit among, the out-back players' would thus have a fair .opportunity of attracting attention. All true sports m Auckland regret that the province does not present a united football front, but I for one do not

think that Mr Mclntyre's scheme is the T>est way but of the difficulty, for that is undoubtedly the primary object of his proposal. As regards tfae foregoing, I hope to have something to say m reply to ray Auckland friend before this matter comes up for discussion at the annual meeting of the N.ZJEKU. m May. . - •The story is going the rounds that the present Managing Committee of the N.Z.R.U., or at least a majority of its members, has made up its mind that the managership of the team to visit Sydney and Brisbane this season is .to be presented to a colleague tyho ; has never been known to get up on his feet- and speak on any subject potfiing. up for deliberation, since . .he . has betfn connected with the Unjon. /■■' A private' letter received* by a Wellington resident by a recent mail, gives the 1 recipient the impression that there is npt 'much prospect at present of ■> a British corolbination visiting these shores this coming season, thou.ejh ; •■.efforts are being made to bring about this result. J. H. Merries: appointment as a paid official of the New Zealand Rugby , Union will give rise to much hostile criticism when the annual meeting Comes round. Two or three delegates are determined to ascertain all about the: "funny" business which led up to Merries selection. . Word comes by a late English mail that William :Stadden, ; a well-known Rugby, player,.., and ■ formerly a Welsh international, Vattockißdv- his wife m their bedroom at Dewsbury, on Dec. .27, and strangled her.,' ... After killing his wife Stad-den ■ cut ■ his throat with a, curving knife. He: subsequently surrendered to the police. Jfalousy is assigned as ;-.;>the motive for the murder. The tragecly reca,lls memories of . , the. great days- of Yorkshire; football, ■'before '''the forxtiation of the Northern Union had riven the ' Rugby I world m twain." Stadden may be j described as, the pioneer of the considerable arrives of Welsh footballers who have ''since" emigrated to the North. Pie piayed regularly for , Yorkshire &nd Wales, his cp-uartner | being Bpnspr, the br-illiant English*, half . Stadden was ■ a *tyi>ical Welsh half— always clever, .full of wiles, his game often illuminated by sudden inspirations. •'.' '.^ Krige, of the South African team, was prevented from --Bjayaap against Enscland. o\j7>ing to. anv attack of appendicitis, for" which he underwent an operation. Another member, S. Morkel. was- also, a victim, to the complaint, and was opiated on at Christmas: time. .*.,