FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1590, 24 June 1903, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

PIAKO RUGBY ONION. The match between CVaihou and Te Aroha, played at Waihou on Saturday last, was the best-contested match of the season, Te Aroha winning by one point, the scores being : Te Aroha, 4 points (a goal from a mark) ; Waihou, 3 (a try). Mr W. Moore, of Paeroa, gave every satisfaction as referee. PIAKO V. WAIPA. Ou Saturday next the annual interUnion fivture between Piako and Waipa will be played on the Recreation Ground at Te Aroha, when a close and interesting game is anticipated. Mr W. Moore, of Paeroa, will have charge of the game, which will commence at 3 o'clock flharp. The following are the names of the players of both teams : Piako : Full-back—D. Curry ; threequarters C. Watts, Leo Shaw, A. Cobrough ; five-eighths ~ Dillon Shaw ; half—A. Andrews ; wings —A. Johns >n and G. Mason ; forwards—R. Harrison, A. Lennard, N Sorrensen, H. Walsh, A. Lovell, J. Wilson, D. Borrie.—Emergencies : R. Johnson, T. Lennard, T. Timmins (backs), A. Mikkelsen, H. Driver, A. Burchell (forwards). Waipa : Full-back —D. Ryburn ; three-quarters Armer, S. C. Macky, Clifford ; five eighths—L. Macky ; half —D. Barker ; wings—Potts and W. Kiy ; forwards—Wilson, Keeley, W. Livingstone, Cunningham, Montgomery, Sing. Papesoh. Emergencies : Ashwin (back), Connor (forward). The Waipa team leaves on Saturday morning. Atnonp the names of the Piako team will he noticed that of R. Harrisoo, an old Hamilton representative. - THE IDEAL REFEREE. The troubles of football referees are fruitful of joke, though the hard-working referee would be the last man in the world to see any fun in it. The time is said to be past when referees can be bought and sold, but there have been occasions when important decisions have been open to severe examination and criticism. The time has also passed when a captain can threaten a referee with murder should his side be declared a loser, but if such threat ever be made again the referee's course of action is certain. Declare a draw and everyone is satisfied. Ten to - one the game will be played over again, more bets will be made, more gingerbeer, milk, and other liquid consumed, and more money drop into the coffers of the competing teams. It is really a great game. The referee occasionally swallows the whistle, and thereby impedes the game and his own digestion ; but trifles such as these should never couut. Let the referee not forget that the credit of England and Scotland is, perhaps, at 'stake, and that uncertainty in his decision may bring down upon his head the condemnation of a multitude of Scots who know, with surprising aptness, how to let their wrath go forth with intensity of effect. Ou behalf of the referee, be it said, he rarely has full justice done him. It is sometimes forgotten that he holds the most difficult position in the game, that his responsibilities are great, and that the reward of his diligence is usually oomplaint. The ideal referee should be a man with thin legs, seven-leagued boots, a cast-iron constitution, eyes on all sides of his head, and some knowledge of the manly art wherewith to defend his honest convictions against scurrilous attack. He Bhould be bigger than any player in either of the opposing teams, and should always be where he ought to be, and not where he usually is. One writer has said : ■ He must expeot all' kicks and no halfpence, and be content to be almost always blamed and but seldom praised.' In other words, he should be a paragon of righteousness and prosperity.- Exchange. The first match the New Zealand team will play in Australia will be against New South Wales on July lSih. There is one evil at the present day which is fast becoming a perfect nuisance to football players, referee, and spectators alike, and that is the growing tendency for half-backs to get off-side when the ball is in the scrum (says a writer in tho Athletic News). If a half-back sees that his opponents have got the ball in the scrum, he, in most cases, dashes round the side of tho scrum, following just behind the ball, so that unless the heeling is very smart, the half who roceives'the ball is completely bottled up by his vis-a-vis the moment he receives it, and thus a chance of opening up the game is spoilt. Also, though many conscientiously try to keep always ou side, yet it is very hard to do so sometimes, especially if the ball hangs in the scrum before going out. The Northern Union rule is that tho half-back must keep behind the last man in the pack, and a very good rule it is. For it obliges tho halves to keep on-side, and also makes the games far more open and interesting. Southern critics describe the New Zealand football team as individually a strong one. One of the leading local writers reflects fairly clearly expert opinion when he declares that it is rather difficult to understand on what principle tho N'ew Zealand team has been selected. If it is proposed to play tho two fivefeiehths game, why are wing forwards selected, aud if wing forwards are to be plavcd, why the superabundance of backs V In any case, eight scrummagers, which is all the team contains, are not sufficient for an Australian tour. There is little doubt, from what can be learnt, that the back game is very strong in Australia. This fact must have been known to the selectors, aud, in view of tho known comparative weakness ot our own backs at present, it seems strange that they should have neglected tho opportunity of strengthening the front division. It seems to mo that the selectors have mapped out a new style of game for the New Zealand team, judging by their selection, viz., two wing forwards, six pack men, and seven backs. The same writer says : ' I do not propose to find fault with the personnel of the team. At the same time 1 would like to point out that here, as in other distinctions, some inconsistency is apparent, for while some of the players have boen chosen on present form, others have to thank their reputations for their inclusion iu the team.'