FOOTBALL.
TO THE EDITOR. ' Sm, — The selector of the Eastern District | team for the match to be played against the ] Southland reps, at Gore on Wednesday next . has made known his choice, and certainly has made some very bad mistakes. To begin with, what form has McLennan ever showu since be came here to be placed full-back ? Tho selector Of tho team must have a very high opinion of Miller to place him centro three-quarter. On what grounds was ho '. placed in thi3 position ? I have only seen him play twice -last year in tho Eastern J District match and on Wednesday at Biversdale — and if he was judged on his play in | these two matches, he certainly should not j j have been in the team. Anyhow, it is a ' great mistake to play a wing three-quarter in | the centre, or vice versa, as has been clearly i proved here moro than once. Coming to the ; halves, Cameron aud B. McGregor are certainly the first two in tho district for this position, but Flanagan is a long way too light to play against a team of the weight of j the reps., and certainly does not play a good defensive game. Is '£. Smith not a. better man iv lhis position ? It ib questionable whether in the Eastern District wo have a better serum half than this player. Is it not a mistake to play three halves when at least two of the forwards play nowhere ciso but on the wing ? Does the selector think that the six scrum forwards he has chosen will have a chance against the town boys? Again, what has come over Fraser, Dickson, and Stark that they are not given a placo ? It is a well-known fact that these three men are splendid defensive players, and is it likely that the Eastern team will be asked to play other than a defensive game? Mcthinks not. However, nothing can now be done to change the personnel of the team, but it is to be hoped should occasion ever again arise for selecting a similar team, that a little more judgment, and not so much favor, will be shown. I may say that I have uot the remotest idea of who chose the team, as the matter seems to havo been kept a secret. Despite all I have written, I hope to sco the country players make a, good stand, and, better still, score a victory. — Yours, etc., Disappointed. Gore, July 17, 189 G.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ME18960718.2.9.1
Bibliographic details
Mataura Ensign, Issue 164, 18 July 1896, Page 2
Word Count
417FOOTBALL. Mataura Ensign, Issue 164, 18 July 1896, Page 2
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.