NOTES ON THE GAME.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13151, 25 June 1908, Page 8

NOTES ON THE GAME.

(BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER.) WELLINGTON. June 24. Had it not boon for tho wretched state of tho ground, the match would harp been one of the highest excellence, ami oven unde-r the conditions it was a remarkably good game, far remore:! from tho scramble that would have boon witnessed hed two ordinary toams mot on a erimilar ground. Tho play of the iNorth Island backs had all the dash that characterised their exhibition at Lancaster Park last year, and that they wero able to achieve ench. good results to-day, when tho surroundings were all against back j>lny, only proves what can be done by hiich grade plovers. It was tho backs who won tho game for the North Island, and it is no disgrace for the South to be beaten by a team that had an "All Black" combination in the rearguard, as opposed to o, mixture of Otago and Canterbury players, who must necessarily bo lackin.2 in combination, both in attack and defence. Tho Northern back division showed themselves muoh quicker and more ready to eoize the situation than_ their opponents, and if they made a mietako they coolly set to work to rectify it. and showed no signs of flurry. In their use of the touch-line, too, they showed some very clever play. Golinan and Wallace wero particularly noticeable in this respect. If they arrived on the eoento first, and it was tlieir ball j they were not impressed with the idea that it wonW bo ungentlemanly not to w-ait until the other sido was properly lined out. As far as the forwards were concerned, it may be said that the Sotrthenlers quite held their own. If not quite so successful in securing the ball. in the scrums as the Northern brigade, they, showed c lot of dash in the loose work, and eorce of the rushes, especially those in which Patterson gave the winners' backs a good deal of trouble. Neither of the full backs was up to Near Zealand standard. O'Leary •usually hnd more tkne for his work than Doell. who had a very trying period in the second spell, but his handling of the ball was not too reassuring. Tho most reliable and most versatile of th" Northern backs was Hunter, who handled the ball accurately, end was rarely at a .loss either in attack or defence. The three-quarter line was sound., while Roberts at half made some capital onon-Lrurs for his «de. Colman played with a. lot of dash as wing- forward, while Witeon-, Seeling, and Francis wore, noticeable in most of tho rushes. The South Island three-quarter lino lacked cohesion Fuller got fey. if any, chances of showing his skill in attack, and Fryer was not- tho dashing player that tho Christchnrch jvvblic know him' to bo. Burns and Gray had to bear the bulk of the defensive wonk. and in that respect the Albion pair have never been known, to' fail. Patterson was unquestionably tho best of the forwards.