Football.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 18

Football.

FBy Dhopkick.]

RUGBY.

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON In commenting on the Otago-Welling-ton match, (ho Otago Daily Times remarked : — The game was played in the friendliest spirit, there being no unnecessary rough play at any time. On the whole the exhibition on the part of both teams was a clever one, and moreover it abounded in incident and the dash that go to make so much from a spectacular point of view. Indeed, the game was one of absorbing interest throughout to the spectators, and it was particularly exciting when the visitors were attacking so strenuously during the last 20 minutes of tho second spell, when a converted try to them would have spelt victory instead of defeat. A score certainly appeared imminent at times, and the test to which the_ home defence was put during this period to survived. And it was a severe test. The erratic passing of the attackihg bapks at this -stage also- contributed to their inability to score As far as the backs wore- concerned on the day's play the visitors were a little inferior, except in the art of kicking. ■ Their passing was often at fault, the five-eighths' division being very weak in this department, while their fielding was sometimps uncertain. Several of the rear division showed a .nice turn of speed, and would doubtless soon make chaos of an indifferent defence. Tho backs for the most part are young players, but judging by the display they are well up in tho strategic moves of the game. The forwards comprise a finqi body, clever with their feet and quick after the ball. In the- loose play they probably more than held their own, while on tho line-out and in the scrums the packs were about evenly matched. > The Otago back division was remarkable more lor solidity than brilliancy of play, though at the same time individual play was invariably sound. It was to be 'regretted that tho leather was "co raroly allowed to reach the wing three-quarters except from loose play. .Both wings, howover, did serviceable work on defence if they were not given the opportunities due to them on attack. There were several weak links in the passing chain. Tho fielding was good, but the kicking was sometimes at fault, and the tackling very sure. The home forwards wero badly beaten in the loose at times, and the strength of the visitors in this respect was apparent throughout the game. Recognising 'this, tho Otago, van in the 6econd spell endeavoured to keep the game tight. Whon play broke up the visitors would frequently rush the ball through to the b?eks. Coming to . individuals!, Booth, at fullback, played a sterling game for Otago, fielding well and kicking with accuracy. In tackling he went for his man hard Rind low. During the second spell Anderson made two attempts to pass the "All Black" representative when he had loft the field behind him, but on both occasions Booth stopped him with deadly accuracy. His rush-stopping and general defensive play marknd him out as Otago's best back Scannell got few opportunities. Macpherson, on the opposite wing, kicked with judgment and taokled well. Dwyer, at centre, had most to do, and though his passing was erratic, otherwise he played consistently well. Eckhold'g play lacked judgment at times, and he showed a tendency to kiok on occasions when there appeared to be pood openings for tho backs. Chambers'* play waa faulty all round in tho first spell, but showed marked improvement in the second. Bansey, &t half, played his best interprovincial game this season, rmd made two fine openings from which tries were rcored. There waa usually plenty of sting abotit hia play, though when it came to stemming the rushes of the opposing forwards he was unequal to tho task. Of the forwards, A. M'Donald waa perhaps the most prominent, and Ivimey, Paton, Adamson, and Fitzpatrick all played un tr> form. For Wellington. M. Ryan, the full-back, was safe, and with the exception of one mistake (which proved fatal) played a sound game. Mitohinson, the crack centre three-nuarter. hardly played up to the expectations of tho onlookers, but on occasions gdve a glimpfo of his form, 'and nrovod to bo a dangerous man with the ball. Anderson, on tho right winpr. was wo?.k on defence, hut was fast, fioldod well, and kicked with judgment. On the opposite wins?, Kvenson playc-d sounder football. Of the five-eighths. J. Ryan was the best. Cleary noi nlavinp his usual game. The bad parsing of both players lo^t, several good chances of Fcorirg for Wellington. Green's game at half back wai nippy, md he usually made gr>6d use of the ball with a good opoping. D<>war was thn bpit forward, followed in ortfar of mpvit by Wilson, King (wing). Rush, and Bell. ASSOCIATION NOTES. H3y Tangttabd.l Auckland has the satisfaction this year of holding the premiership in Akscciation foctball It won the Brown Shield, which was compotcd for by Wellington, Taranaki, and Auckland ; but until last Baturdav there was dcubt-as to the superiority of any North Island team over those of the' South Island rontrp.H. Wellington defeated Taranaki,.nnd in- turn was boaten by Auckland, at the tournament. Canterbury, some three weeks a-go, camo up to Wellington, and fluttered defeat, and then returned to Christchurch and boat Otago fey 7 goals to 1. According to a Southern writer, the Otago team, "although short of the strength of tho province, i* not unreservedly a weak combine." The backs, he went on to say, 'woro a solid set, and the Canterbury forwards would not get past them without strategy and energy. The fivo forwards were conspicuous for their dashing qualities moro than lor clever footwork, and it was iust that dosh that, might cause a surpriso at Ohrietchurch. Tho Canterbury team included sevpral players unknown to the Dunodm scribr, and one representative from the newlyestablished Ashburton Club Tt was noticeable that Timaru waa not represented. What was most striking vrus that backa like Forrest and Jones, who wero coniridered good enough' to represent New Zealand in their tour through New South Wales, were only emergency men in conneotion with the Canterbury rep. team this year ! And a forward of tho physique and skill of Harvey, who played centre forward against tho Ota3o team which visited Christchurch two years ago, was also on tho emergency list this year. Tho inference was that Otago was going to meet a cracker of ft team. A further deduction Jo that M'Nish. formerly of the Wakari Club, had caught, tho pyo of tho judges in Chri«tchurch, and , had been showing good form. Otago would probably have a hard»fight, but the representatives wero men of courage and, a? oforo«aid, vigour, and under the captaincy of a solid man like Morrison might bo depend o<l upon to put in their last, ounce After the rest of several wcoks it was perhaps too much to expect that- many of tho team would be in particularly good form Bissett, who played for St. John's team in Wellington a couple of een'ons ago, scored two goals for Canterbury, Pitt, the clever left-winger, three goals, and Dowkor and Andoroon one goal each. The goal for Otago was scored by Airy. Some interesting note* on tho prospect* of intercolonial match os appear in tho last issue of tho Sydney Referee. "Aston Villa" stated that "at. a special general meeting of tho New South Waloi Football Affirteiah'on it wns decided by 11 votes to 7 that the time was premature for bringing o, West Australian team to Now South Wfvlos next reason. In other words, caution gained a, victory over enterprise A strong point urged against fho vcninro was the neod for pushing ahead tho ganm in this Stale boforo lUtprnnfiiifj to dn.il with outsiders. We have nopn pushing nhead for twpnty-five years, and appear to bo going- tho wrong way. It sophis a pit.y that another season is to pas« without fmy more af tractive "programmo than Mmo-honoured olub matches. Of courKc it, ir certai'i fcha* a hoafon of financial r.rodir will bo it boon to I lip Association, but if tho money oarriod noxt year in to ho sponr on home affair*, whon will a visiting toom bo invited? Tlio cry "no monpy in tho treasury" w<»nt ii long wny townrrl* friehjenine delegated 1b it to be inferred that no long a* the nsecciation i luui sot £100 or mm a hthind it nra ur«

not to havo an iutor-Stato visit? Too much was mado of the financial failure of tho Now Zealand tcur. In moro than one particular better arrajigomenrs might have been mado at that time, and with one 01 two improvements in the programme, etc., a visit next season would havo bettel prospects than the last one had. However^ the decision was against tho project, and it remains now for eveiy one to lend a hand next year, whon all this hard work we hear about is to be done at home." In these days, whon we hear so much about tho '"slackness" of r.ui youth because tho Britishers have lost some of their most cherished championships honours, "Tityrus," in tho Athletic News, is "surprised that none of the croakerb havo troubled to argue that the defeats which the Corinthian football team have already sustained iv . South Africa d 6 not -constitute further evidence of tho decline and fall of tho British nation. I certainly do not believe that (he Corinthians are as strong as they were whon I first remember them in the eighties, but I should iv more regard this as evidence of the 'slackness' •of our youths than I do these reverses in Capo Colony. There wero people who thought the Corinthians were shadows of their greatness, but when they thrashed Bury ono fine day by 10 — 3 they quickly chnngod their opinions." Members of .the Northern Wanderers Association Football Club, which' was formed two years ago entirely by players fiom the Old Country, have established a suite of elub-rooma on Lambton-quay. That they oro greatly needed goes without saying, for, while the colonial youth has in the majority of cases a homo in which he can. spend his evenings; the new chum i* not so happily situated. In these rooms tho committeo ha,3 already placed a billiard tablo, and, should success attend it 3 efforts, it Jb expected that a second table, will be added. In iho front portion of thu building a room has been sot aside as a reading and card room. In the rear the olub has another largo room, which it is expected will be utilised for training purposes, and will bo open to all members of the club, whether they play for the Wanderers Football Olub or not. It jb intended not only to run Association football tearna from the club, but cricket, lacrosse, and other outdoor games. In fact, a lacicsse team already formed has applied to tho committoo to become members of the club-rooms. Already several donations in the way of furniture and fithngs have beer, given, and as a further-help towards the cost the proceeds of tho football match, England v. Scotland, thi3 afternoon are to bs addod to- tho club funds. The committee, which up to tho present has undertaken all responsibility in connection wilh tho venture, also intend to make appeals for support by making a general canvass of tho city. Mr. J. J. Roberts is the chairman of the committee, Mr. J. Lewis the hon. secretary, and Mr. J. Davidson hon. treasurer. It speaks well for tho interest of the game when ono hears that tho whole of tho debentures wore taken up by Association players and by members of tho committee. A critic writes as follows: — "Dear Vanguard, — Knowing that you were doing battle on the Rugby field on Saturday last for tho Evening; i'oi't versus tho Dominion, and so unable to keep your ever-watchful eye on the New Zoaland v. Great Britain match, I havo taken the liberty of writing a noto or two on tho game. I anticipated a willing and interesting "go," hut was tadly disappointed. I don't think 1 havo ever witnessed such a poor exhibition, especially that of the Home players. Thero was certainly a sprinkle of dash on tho part of tho coloniaU, but any attempt at. combination was absent from both sides. Oldnall, in goal for tho Britons, was tho saviour of his side, and effected several marvellous saves. Barron ployed well at full-back. Grant kicked .woll, but is far too slow at recovering. Ready merely walked past him on Saturday. Gibson and Tempest played vory steadily in the half-back line, but, neither backed up the forwards. The forward line looked very strong on paper* but their display was not up to third grade standard. Saunders made several nice runs in the first spell, but seemed too tired to chase the leather in the second half. Ash and Mouat were very much off, and their shooting was execrable. Oilier and O'Shea had very little to do. Irvine filled Fitzgerald's placa in thoeolonial team, and acquitted himself well. Ho should, however, havo stopped the goal registered against his side. Roberta was in good form, and was a stninblingblock to tho Home forwards timo after timo. Taylor scemß to have benefited by his sojourn in Palmeiston, and on Saturday played well up to form. He was ably assisted by Thorloy. 1 Roddy played one of his real tip-top games, and was, without doubt, tho best forward on tho field. Hathaway did not *cem to take to the gamo .Bbriously. Hits shooting was very poor Duffy also tailed in this respect, and invariably lifted tho leather over the bar. Lowo and Miller seldom got going, and had little to do all tho game Summed up, the colonials were tho bettor team on the day's play, and had they possessor! their full strength the score v.ould haw. rerd diffcruntly. Thoru was a fair number of sepocrators, vho appeared to r>" joy the glorious sunshino rather than tfcu "game.