LOW STANDARD

Game In Doldrums In Dunedin " (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) MOT m the past five years has soccer 1\ been at such a low. standard as .m Otago this season.. The play is ■ really lamentable, with the Fletcher Cup competition, m the. second and final stage, a visit from an Auckland eleven on the cards and a trek north in' quest of the Chatham Cup under way. ' . . Striking features of the play is;, the lack of cohesion among , any of thermine teams and shocking displays before" the goal mouth. Clever mid-field passing is a. rara avis. • The depreciation of play is due to two causes — the want of thorough and scientific ■ coaching and the presence of too many old stagers. . Shortly after the war, .the Immigration, influx brought its quota of .soccer .players from the Old Country, " But there have been no worthy additions to the ranks In the past season or two. ■: However, public support has not aiminished, which is to be marvelled at, md the playing fields are m better conaition than they have ever been. •In a marathon and almost m darkness, Seaclift! lasted a little longer than North- , crn, to win a place at meeting Port Chalmers m the final to select Otago's contender for the Chalham Gup. The position is ludicrous., Port, the babes of the competition, are a,t the bottom of the Fletcher ladder, yet they will need to have only a bit of luck to play the Canterbury finalists. George Anderson, New Zealand left-back, Is losing his sureness, but he cannot yet be bustled. . The white-headed fellow will give away a penalty rather, than allow a player to beat him. Faithful and Thomson are aggressive In the. Northern van, but they are hopeless when it comes to taking opportunities before the opposition goal.