FOOTBALL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3132, 28 August 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

The Otago footballers have come and gone, They were, we understand, an exceptionally we'll behaved lot of young fellows, but unfortunately they failed to live up to what was expected of them on the field. At Ranfurly, where they drew with Maniototo (12 points all), there was some excuse for a mediocre exhibition, rain and a consequent greasy ball making good play difficult. At Clyde, however, against Vincent, with conditions ideal, there display was again disappointing. A team can of course only play as well as its opponents allow, and this may in a measure account for the poor game. But apart from this the players, and the backs in particular, did not appear to know their positions, and there was certainly little evidence of combination amongst them, Vincent were up against a dazzling sun in the first spell and this was Otago's chance, but they failed to take advantage of it. The home team had the best of the early play and a few minutes after starting Betts made a fine effort to pot a goalj the ball falling short. A detailed account ot tbe game would be both tedious and well-nigh impossible. The Otago backs frequently got the ball but made little use of it, but about half way through got within striking distance,,. and Webber potted a neat goal. Otago 4 Vincent o Good play by Betts and Stewart, and a good forward rush let V T incent away, Jim McDonald scoring near the corner. Hoskings made a splendid effort to convert. Otago 4 Vin cent 3. In the second half, for about 10 minutes, the visitors made the pace warm. Two or three passing rushes looked promising, but invariably broke down. Campbell on two occasions upending a player ' ball and all'' The home team then took a hand at attack. Betts gave the dummy to a couple of opponents, putting in a good run before passing to Olsen who stopped a few feet from the line. Later Vincent had another great chance in the opposite corner, an Otago back just saving by forcing. There was no addition to the score, however, and the visitors winning by the narrow margin of one point. On the day's play they were lucky to win. Mr D. A. CahiU gave every satisfaction as referee, the visitors speaking in very complimentary terms of his efforts. In the evening the teams were entertained at the Hartley Arms at a dinner, as the guests of the Sub-union. Host Purton put on an excellent dinner, at the conclusion of which, the usual toasts were honoured. The only change in the Vincent team was that Stokes played in place of Jenkins (indisposed) The forwards again gave a good showing—Marslin, Hoskings and Attfield being prominent in a solid lou The packs were all patchy. The Maniototo forwards gave a line showing in their game against Otago, and were on top in all .departments. Eric Naylor played a splendid game and was the best forward on the ground. B-grade County match at Alexandra on Saturday was won by Matakanui 15 Vincent 6. The visitors were superior in the back division, but the home forwards more than held their own. A feature of the game was the splendid kicking ol the Maniototo backs.