FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 135, 29 May 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

BRUTSII-OTACO HATCH Per Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. At a meeting ol tile management committer of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night the n|)]K>intini'iit of Dr. Crawford, of Invercargill, as referee in 'lie British-Otago match was agreed to. A suggestion from the Otago f'nion that, a practice match between the New Zealand team and Otago he placed on • linn- :Sn! was not acceded to, tli'e committee (on-idoHng that the element of risk to the players was too great. THE WELLINGTON-BRITAIN MATCH. ' - We take the following from the Wellington papers 'reports of Wednesday's hig match:— Wellington won the game mainly on the eondition of their forwards, and the fact that their hacks showed themselves capable of retrieving their mistakes, which in several instances were changed into trumps, simply by ijuirk-wittuil-ness.

Had the Anglo-Welsh men played ir Hie first spell as thev did in the second half, there i s a slight, probability Hint (hoy might have won. The fail has to be considered, however, that in the lir-t half the visitors were playing against a still' breeze, and that, with'(ho help of the elements Wellington men subjected I hem to a verv streiuion- attack, which found several weak ehains in the Anglo-Welshmen's defence. The question as to w'hich wcie the better men was quickly settled in the Second half, when the Anglo-Welshmen had run their score up to 1:1 points, and i were only 3 points to the. bad. The Wellington men immediately threw themselves into the vortex of the struggle with all the skill and strength which they were, capable. The visitors had ex-1

.icily the same chance of stemming the J tide, and, if possible, turning it inl;r," victory, but tliev were manifestly mil equal to the eli'ort. They fought hard, ami re.si.-icl even- foot of the way. Out gradually but surely, the Wellington men wore them l,aek. ami limilly set the issue beyond all doubt by a inost-desevv-ed store. Wellington's brilliant eli'ort on this occasion will long be remembered, when games will be fought time and again in the conversations of the "Old Ilus-lSeous" or days gone by and the "young-ideas'' of the days to come. Although (lie Wellington forwards were superior in the scrum, generally in following up, and also on the line-out. and their backs were much better at passing, the AugTo-'Welshmen may be ; said to have taken the honors at 'kick- 1 in«. Dyke's plan-kicks over the goal from different angles were features' in themselves, while the same player was also very successful with his touch-line kicks. It is perhaps only in this department of the game that the visitor, were superior.

The most noticeable back oil the Held was Green, the Wellington half, who played with the shrewdness of a veteran, lie worked, kicked, ran, and passed in quite the approved style, and although one of the lengthy list of players who were temporarily incapacitated. he stuck to his work through thick and thin, and came out with Hying colors.

Had the Anglo-Wels], lack's taken ad vantage of their opportunities in Uic lirst half there might have, been a dill'orent story to tell. That they did no! do as they should have done', time after time, proved in some measure their weakness. That they did score, ami in such an unexpected fashion, „nlv served to show what they might have done had they followed the ordinary rcu'iilalious regarding the plaving of the .<amc. In the position of fullback .lacked was unfortunate in being injured in the first ten minutes „f the game, and although he returned to the field at intervals he really was not lit to do himself justice. While he was playing, however, lie did some very fine punting.

Five minutes before the loams entered the ground two non-phiving overcoated and muMcd English ' foot ballcr.advanccd to the kick-nil' spot in the centre of the ground, and there set up their mascot los- two toy poodles bedecked in t'he visitors' colors. Having sat them up, they turned to leave the field, when a shout of laughter caused them to look back. The toy dogs had fallen over. Did it in.an ' England's overthrown Manv regarded the incident as an omen. Xo soo ■ had the teams abandoned the lield after the lirst spell, on the Athletic Park than hosts of boys swarmed on to the greensward to enjoy the luxury of kicking the leather which had touched the boots of the Britain* from over the seas. The desire was infectious. Football was in the blood. Hat less boys, bootless boys. an d lank adolescents pulling breathlessly at the 'fags" of cherished cigarettes, entered into the melee with infinite zest. The crowd was delighted. It roared its approval. Xo sooner did a youngster clasp the tall in glad grasp than he was sent hurtling into the mud. The others ran over him and went in breathless pursuit round and round the field, hooting and hacking the ball whenever it came near.

Some of the "All Blacks'' selected to reprcM'nt Xew Zealand are getting on in years. Wallace U 2!) vears of age. Hunter 2S, Stead 3(1. Gilleit 30. Thompson 2t>. and Cunningham 31. of the others, Robert- is iii Deans ■?:). fasev 21, '.McDonald 2-1, Seeling 24. Mynnti. the emergency back, is 31. i'onsonby is the leading team in the Auckland senior competition.

Waiinale. with 3 wins and 1 draw, ileading for the southern division senior competition, llawera, with Ii points, being close up.

Wniiuatc 11. have won all their matches so far. and are leading for the I second-class championship. In the third I grade l'ntea HI. arc leading. ! ' Referring to' the late Mr. A. IV. Baskerville. a writer in the Auckland Herald says:—"He was a young fellow of many sterling <|ualitics Amongst his companions on and oh" the field he was a warm favorite, but behind all that there was about his private life real nobility of character than endeared him to his intimates. It may not be generally realised how sad fle'rt Baskcmllc's death is. and what a severe blow it will have indicted on his widowed mother. Some years ago the deceased's father met with a fatal accident in Auckland. Since that time Bert, who was the eldest of a family of three sons and three daughters, had devoted himself as fewboys do to his mother. Owing mainly to' his steady conduct and industrious habits, .Mrs. Buskerville was able to provide 'herself with a comfortable home at Kelbumo, a suburb of Wellington, where she now resides. Her son was her mainstay, however, and the relations between lii in and his mother were such as to entitle, him to the utmost praise. His place in the family circle will leave a pathetic gap. anil no less will 'his comrades miss the manly young fellow. The qualities >„ mark, .i in homo life were just as apparent during his athletic career.''