FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2359, 27 November 1908, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NOTES. In connection with the inquiry as to professionalism in the Midlands, the following players have been declared to be professionals by the English Rugby Union, viz., J. Jaelcson, F. W. Murdynian, W. T. Smith., and S. -Matthews- It is proposed! to hold an inquiry into the management of the Leicester F.C. AY. T. -.Smith was a member of the Anglo-Welsh team 111 Australasia. The New South AYales ltugby "Union has forwarded to England a number of suggested alterations in Rugby Union laws. They are practically of little moment, the most important being the suggestion till it the advantage rule, should apply in all eases—that i« merely how the law stands a.s it should be administered. The matter of off-side play while the bull .is in the scrummage is not touched yet, iris as Important, perhaps, as all the other suggestions combined. Air. J. L. Williams, the Welsh three-quarter back, in the .South Woles “Daily News,” lias written of the Auglo-AVelsh tour in the Antipodes. Of the Wanganui match he says: “Afany of the tactics of the local team wore certainly not conducive to good 'feeling, and whit, we resented most behind the scrummage was tlie off-side positions taken up by the opposing backs and the Impunity with which the wing forward was permitted to come round on Laxon and prevent him getting the bill away after the forwards had got possession, a.s they continued' to do in good style.

Air. J. C. Al. Dyke, interviewed at Coventry, said the Now Zealand tour had been financially a- great success, but be doubted whether any of the players would care to go again. It was a case with the New Zealanders of playing the man and not the ball. There was also too much of the .idea that a man was a good footballer because lie might happen to beat the referee! They must win at any cost, whereas in Australia the game was pYiyod in a more sporting style. If they lost .in Australia they admitted they were beaten, but in New Zealand there was always some excuse found. The British team, be thought, had done better than most- people imagined, because nobody could realise until going out. and taking part in hte games what difficulties the visiting side were ‘under. Ho considered there were better players in the British team than some who were playing for England at- the present time, and they would form the backbone of a team who would go very near beating tho New Zealanders when they came here next time, because of the benefitof the experience gained.