FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 168, 12 July 1888, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE REPRESENTATIVE TEAM.

The team to play against Napier next Saturday is the best possible to be had, the chief weakness being the full-back, there being no player here this season fully qualified for that important position. The three quarters are much stronger. With Snow, Bull, and Skeet we have three very aggressive players, and behind the forwards, should make it disagreeable for Hawke’s Bay. Of the half-backs, Lemuel is the better cf the two for feeding the three-quarters. Rua is a dashing runner and a good collar in that position, and fit and well will do some good work. Of the forwards, take the men individually, they would be hard to beat, but they have not played enough together to give them knowledge of each other’s play, and accordingly they suffer from want of combination. Ford is about the best man for a scrum, is always on the ball and never seems to tire. Fox is an old Otago Rep, is a fast and powerful forward, and a good worker, plays better in a match than in practice.

Bolton is a good heavy forward, and in good form this year, the best all-round forward in the team, dribbles, collars, and fends well, is also good on the touch line. Dunlop is another fast, heavy forward, whose play is too well known to need comment.

Leslie (Captain of the Rovers) is a fairly fast forward, works well in the scrum, and is a good tackler and a model of quietness.

Booth is a colt, and has improved vastly this season, is fast and heavy, collars and kicks well, and is .a change back in an emergency. Allen played against Hawke’s Bay last year, has not rolled up to play much this year, but is a useful man when in form, and good on the line out.

Loomb, another colt; fast forward, but wants a deal of coaching, plays well in an open game, is in good form and training. Lysnar the lightest man in the team, is another colt, has played for some years; a hard working forward, lasts well and collars pluckily, invariably bringing down his man. Arthur Wade is first emergency—his name was omitted on the list—one of the coming forwards, has not been seen to advantage in the last two games, through indisposition ; is an excellent wing man, dribbles fairly well, and is quick on the opposing backs. Bull is a very'strong runner, picks up cleanly and fends well; good drop and place kick, rather deficient in collaring.

Langford (full-back), is rather slow, but surprised the spectators on Saturday by his excellent kicking. ,