FOOTBALL.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 64, 21 August 1919, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

By If Kipling had in his. mind conditions something like what prevailed on Saturday he,can in a measure be excused for his doggerel about "muddied oafs at the |-goal/7. Old Jupiter Pluvius, the gentleman in celestial regions that controls the watering can, had a real day out on Saturday. Rain fell throughout the night previous, clearing off for a few hours on Satin-day morning,, justifying the Sub-Union officials in deciding to play the match,'but at noon the rain re-commenced and fell steadily if not very heavily throughout the whole of the "afternoon. The 1 result was that the game towards the end was more like water polo than football. A few pools were observable when the teams -made a belated kick-off, but these spread over practically the whole of the ground, and it would be quite true to say'that the latter was entirely under water when the Avhistle sounded "no time," even if it was-only to the extent of half an inch.

The interest of the public was manifested by the attendance in spite of the weather conditions, the sum of £l7 12s being' taken at the- gate. The crowd waited in the drizzling rain until about 25 minutes past 3, when fhe teams put in an appearance. Then it was discovered that a very necessary element in the game—a footballwas missing, and when-'this was secured and brought on to the held to the accompaniment of a cheer the kick-off was delayed un-til-10 minutes to 4. .It appears that the arrangement in South Ola go is for one of the competing teams to provide the ball, and as the weather conditions did not encourage any kicking about beforehand, its absence was not noticed. Considering the conditions there was much bright football. From the start Crescent showed' much better footwork, and it was this xeatiire that won the'Kaitangata men the game. Their forwards broke away and kept the ball at their feet/enabling them to immediately down the opposing rush stoppers, whereas nearly every Toko forward rush was spoilt by a hard kick, giving the Kaitangata backs time to take the leather and boot it well down the field. The ball hopped about like any decent football in the early stages, enabling accurate handling, but both teams realised that better progress would be made by leaving, the ball on the ground once it got there. Near the start Kaitangata, through the instrumentality of Cowan, got on a passing rush, that player whipping 'round, taking the ball again, outpacing an opponent and passing to Bolting, who ran over at the corner. It .was an excellent piece of play under the conditions. Play shot'up and down, and on one occasion Toko was almost over under the goalposts, Cowan saving with a mark. Hard kicking, causing, foredowns, spoilt other possible chances. Invariably, however, the Kaitangata forwards came away solidly together, and they took some stopping. The second spell took on the aspect of soccer, little but high kicks being fielded. Toko, with the little advantage provided by the weather conditions, were expected to perhaps even up matters, but the leather oscillated between the goalposts with the most thorough impartiality. Just on time Toko made a determined effort to get over. Lusty booting and fast following up took the ball right on to Kaitangata's line, where Heads tackled a defending back. A threefoot high kick was cleverly marked by Cowan, thereby preventing what appeared a certain score, and the leather found its way from the resultant kick to" the touchline, and 'the whistle sounded. " The banner winners are to be congratulated on their success. They had ;a good deal of leeway to make up after the first round, but' trained-- on determinedly, a fact responsible for their success. Their superior condition : stood them in good stead at the end of -the matches. -Moreover, they persevered with.;the material they had (as did. Toko). Generally when teams are fighting out a banner competition there is a tendency to find a billet for some hot member of the footballing world 'for the sake of his assistance. Neither team adopted this objectionable practice. ; On the day's play Crescent were entitled to the win. Their forwards -played, the game the conditions justified,'and whereas their own backs were having-a" comparatively- easy time, the Toko backs were being continually Harried by Barron, McCauley and Co. That is the difference between forwards that dribble the ball and those that boot it with a 6 h.p. kick. Toko erred in making so much use of the touchline, even when the play was in their own

territory. . Their only ' chanee of evening' up the score was for their backs to keep the ball in theotten, where it-scooted about in a manner that nutde it an annoyance,to the Kai'fangata backs, who were very much - at sea (no pun) in their attempts to gather it off the ground. However, }he game has been lost and. won. Probably /the conditions favoured the 'winners, but football is, a winter game. It was never intended to be played to the accompaniment of larks .singing, and blossoms blossoming, and mosquitoes biting, or other summery manifestations. Under the circumstances - it is scarcely fair to review the individual performances. Josephs at full-back never erred in taking the ball and returning his kick..and played a totally different game to the previous Saturday.

Bolting, Avho carries a shade of overweight, made a fine, dash when he scored, and appeared to have pace. Peete, on the other wing, gave his best exhibition this season, and dev.otcd his entire attention to the ball on Saturday. ,Pre.seott was safe, his big kicking being of value. Cowan won the.game. The try was largely due to him, and his clever fnark on time saved a draw, if not defeat. The public was pleased to see his fine display. Matchett was safe, and "Pow,ley" Hughes was of invaluable assistance to his side by his clever marking on thelineout. He got .his side out of a Jot of heavy .weather thereby. The forwards "worked well together, their footwork evidencing a knowledge of soccer that stood .them in good stead. Barron, Hansen, and Gribben were prominent throughout. Several of the forwards, however, showed a tendency to offside play, and paid the penalty by frequent free kicks against them'. Cuff was not as good as usual. The opposing forwards did not give him much time. The same may be said of Heads, although the latter initiated one or two .movements which, with backing, would probably have resulted in a score. Shepherd.was safe,,and MeLeod moderate. The five-eighths ;and half were not up to the standanhof their opponents in those positions. • The forwards played well in the loose, but spoilt innumerable chances by hard 'kicking. Lusty kicks invariably placed the leather ju the safe hands of Josephs, who had plenty of time to send, it well up the field. Hewitt, Costello, and jVloffit were prominent. Mr P. C Hislop controlled the game impartially, and. under the bad playing conditions, with ex'cellent 'judgment. There were about 2000 (more or less) on the .line that could tell him what to do, but their advice was inspired more by their sympathies than their knowledge.

RETURNED SOLDIERS v SOUTH OT AGO.

The following team will represent: "South Otago next Saturday against a South Otago returned .soldiers 1 team. The match will be played on the Balclutha ground: Full-back—Josephs (Crescent). Three-quarters—Shepherd (Toko), Prescott (Crescent), Hand (Clutha). Five-eighths—Cowan (Kaitangata), Jackman (Romahapa). Half—Prebble (Romahapa). Forwards—Baird (Crescent), Hansen (Crescent), McCauley (Crescent); Ban-on (Crescent), Hone Anderson (Clutha), Hewitt /Toko), Costello (Toko), Begg (Romahapa). Emergencies—Sherborne (Clutha), back; ' Smith (Crescent (Crescent), forward.