FOOTBALL.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 164, 18 July 1896, Page 2

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.