FOOTBALL OLD AND NEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 13

FOOTBALL OLD AND NEW.

(To the Eflltor.l Sir,—Your sub-leader, in Tuesday's issue on "Football, Old and New," is timely, for quite a lot of extravagant talk has been indulged in following Auckland's wins aga:nst weak teams. In saying that I do not wish to detract in any way from the performances of the blue and whites, but rather to draw attention, as your writer did, to some obvious defects in present-day football. Regarding the Otago match, to my mind one of the big differences between the sides was that the Southern players persistently went low when tackling, while the home players invariably went high —and missed. Again the Auckland pack broke up elowly—evidently working without any pre-arranged plan—and practically never came across to the assistance of their backs. I am convinced after watching the past games that there are one or two "passengers" in the Auckland pack. In regard to football in general I should like to stron<*lv condemn the present unseemly practice of the Ambulance Brigade in rushing on to the field from all quarters of the compass every time a player falls down, and before the referee has stopped the game. I y iela to no one in my admiration of those who so willingly give their time ana knowledge, as members of the EH., j John Brigade do, but as an old player ; I am certain the present procedure is not in the best interests of the gnnie,; and indeed has a most harmful effect. , I hold that no one should be allowed to step on the field of play till stalled for by the referee. The present spectacle of play proceeding in one <l' ua " e y and a couple of men in uniform and | civilian mussing over a player in another, is one that should be. ,m J nc . d '' ately stopped by the controlling body. The marvellous recovery of some players immediately the whistle Wows, and the attention (of the c™ wd > " assured, and the sudden disappearance of a distressing limp when the ball has been secured in the "limelight, re» the tale that the sympathetic applause of spectators is often sought for under , false pretences. Sloppy and gallery play are the bane of good football, and I was distressed to see so much of it in recent collegiate games. In regard to the discussion °V? r P 01 ! hunting in connection with the Moaswr, Cup games, lam convinced that ' various games' masters have a lot account for in their poor training ot the boys. Touching on the selection of the All Black team for next y e " hope that "attack as the best means of defence" will be insisted on, but, tfl attackers who can tackle only willl be considered. The Springbok and *ew South Wales matches reveal also tnai temperament is not taken enough cognisance of by our selectors.— I am.c ~ a GIUiORE GRIFFITHS.