Otago “ Hopes” : Likely Players For N.Z. Soccer Team

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 14

Otago “ Hopes” : Likely Players For N.Z. Soccer Team

(By

HOTSPUR.)

ASSOCIATION football has a firm hold in Otago, where the game has many supporters. In view of the forthcoming English visit, the form of players in the south is of particular interest. A Dunedin correspondent with a wide knowledge of the game, sends the following impressions of players likely to be included in Otago and New Zealand Test teams this season.

George Anderson, though nearing the veteran stage, is a born player, and is considered by many who know the game still to be the best full-back, either right or left, in the Dominion. It is doubtful if there are many full-backs in either Scotland or England who greatly surpass him. Though he seems to have slowed down. Anderson’s uncanny judgment and knowledge of pace and distance enable him to subdue players apparently much faster than himself. Thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. he is still regarded as the best back in the Dominion in a tight corner. Anderson is partnered this year in the Seacliff team by Stanley Ruddiman, aged 22, a particularly promising left: fullback. They fit in together so well that they are regarded as the best pair in Dunedin Soccer at the present time.

Dearth of Half-Backs. It is in the half-back line that New Zealand is most lacking in men of brains and class. There is only one Otago half who appears to have the necessary constructive ability to make the grade in Test teams. That is Alex. Sutherland, an ex-Canterbury man, who played centre-half for the Thistle club, Christchurch, before coming to Dunedin and joining up with Maori Hill. He is not more than 27 years of age, is a wellbuilt, upstanding player, nearly 6ft. in height, and his judgment is excellent. He is a neat footballer, and is of the carpet-passing type who only needs two fast wing halves along with him to be a success in good company. Given proper training with spikes, ho would fill the bill as New Zealand's centre-half. es J peeially as he is of the stopper variety who can push a long pass upfield to the wings. In past years Sutherland appears hardly to have received from the selectors recognition commensurate with his ability. W. Chapman, who is playing centrehalf for High School Old Boys, has represented Otago for several seasons, and was vice-captain of the New Zealand side which last visited Australia. He is a probable New Zealand representative, as lie is a hard, fast type of half-back with a penchant for attack. Against players of the calibre of the English amateurs, it may be found, however, that be is lacking in that essential quality which may lie called “craft.” He is very fit, and will probably appear at right-half for Otago against Canterbury on May 22. Not 30 years of age. he lacks nothing in speed and the ability to get quickly off the mark. Actually, he is sometimes too fast for the ball—he lacks the ability to know when to use speed and when not to. He is certainly a good shot, and a two-footer like Sutherland, but as a centre-half is too prone to neglect the opposing centreforward.

Likely Test Player. Jack Skinner, of the Mosgiel club, and formerly of Roslyn-Waikari and Technical Old Boys (Dunedin), is another young player about 23 or 24 years of age who figured successfully in Dunedin for three seasons at outside-left and then drifted into the centre-forward berth, in which position he is playing extremely well for Mosgiel. He is sft. bin in height, is well built, can take and give .knocks, and his ball control is ahead of any other forward seen in the position for many years. Centre is his true position. because he is quick on his feet, holds position well, gathers the ball neatly, and possesses a powerful drive with either foot. In the first Test against the Australians last season. Skinner played with Farmin on the left wing, and evoked favourable comment on his display. Farnam howevur, was off his game. A player of the fearless type. Skinner would be very dangerous, provided he had the support of crafty inside forwards who would give him the ball correctly and not seven feet in the air as most of them do. It will be surprising if he does not appear in all fhe Test matches, as he is the near-

est approach to Ted Cook the game has seen since Cook helped to beat the Australians in the Tests away back in 1922 by scoring some great goals. For business reasons, he gave up the game far too early. Stuart Duncan, High School Old Boys, who has represented Otago on many occasions, is the most versatile player in Otago, as he is equally at home at either left or right extreme wing, and is also a fine half-back on a dry ground. On heavy grounds, however, he is not so serviceable, as he appears to forget that such conditions do not make for flying off the mark at top speed and yet retaining balance. Duncan is certainly fast and a good dribbler, and can swerve cleanly on occasions. He is a real corner-kicking artist, as he freely uses his right foot to a corner from the left wing and his left foot a right-wing corner. This, of course, is the ideal method. Duncan has played more than once in every position in the field from back to centre-forward, and acquitted himself well each time. He is in his early thirties, and with sound training can be as fast as ever. Duncan should be well in the running for New Zealand honours, as his corner-kicking alone makes him invaluable.

Capable Full-Back. George Sutherland, High School Old Boys, is another capable full-back in either left or right positions. He is a full-back and nothing else. Tall, robust and fast, a fine clean kicker and a good tackler, with excellent ball control as well, he has never had justice from Otago selectors, despite the fact that while still at high school, four years ago he partnered George Anderson at full-back against Canterbury in a Trophy match, and played a brilliant game, shading even Anderson that day. Strange to say, he has not played at full-back for Otago since that day. Sutherland is playing well this season at left full-back for his club, and is the mainstay of his team. As some conaider that George Anderson should give wny to younger players—a view not shared by those who admire his shrewdness — it may be that the full-backs to represent Otago this year will be found in Sutherland and Ruddiman. who figured in the back positions for High School on some occasions a few years ago. Both are products of the primary schools, and have represented the Otago province as schoolboys in the primary and secondary competitions against Canterbury Westland and Southland. Duncan and Chapman also have done similarly ’as primary schoolboys, and also as representatives of the High School teams in secondary games.

Other likely players for Otago teams will be discussed later after the trial game on Coronation Day.

follow ng is a suggested Otago team:— Jordan (Seacliff) ; G. Sutherland (H.S.O.B.). G. Anderson (Seacliff) ; AV. Chapin?” (H-S-O.B.), A. Sutherland (Maori mil). s. Ruddiman (Seacliff); Lattimer (Northern). Ryan (H. 5.0.8. T. Anderson (Northern), or Groves (H. 5.08 , and S. Duncan (H. 5.0.8.