FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Br Full Back. KEW 'ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA.

July 13, v. 2s'e\v South "Wales, at Sydney. July 17, v. Xew South Wales, at Sydney! Jtiiv 20, v. Australia, at Sydney. July 24, v. Queensland, at' Brisbane. July 27, v. Queensland, at Brisbane. August 3. v. Australia, at Brisbane. August .10, v. Australia, at Sydney.

Tho Rugby footballer is on lite increase in Ditnedin, and to meet requirements it is intended to establish a fifth grade coml»otiHon. There nre now 10 teams in tho iir.st. Grade, 12 in tho Second, 10 in the Third, and nine in the Fourth. In addition lliero are 12 teams in the school competition. "W hen all the teams are in full awing over 1000 footballers will be playiiilg Rugby in Bunedin.

Kaikorai has. sustained a severe loss this season in the departure of Dobson, tho wing three-quarter back, to Oamaru. The ex-Association player was missed on the wing in the match against Union on Saturday.

Referring to tho match between Alhambra and Port Chalmers on .Saturday, an enthusiast who knows his Rugby backwards is of opinion that when tho Port forwards settle into their stride they will take Home beating—lo use his own language, ''they will lieat- more than will beat them."

A veteran footballer in the person of Ad; unsan turned out. lor Kaikorai on Saturday against, Union, The old-time forward was tried on tho wing of Jho threequarter linn. hut. lie did not phine with any great brilliancy in that, position, and in the second spoil was played amongst the forwards, where ho did good service. I understand Adamson does not intend playing all tho season, merely turning out as his old team was a. man short.

Thcro has been inuyh speculation during the past, week as to whether Portcous would bo turning out again for Kaikorai. Tho old Kaikorai wing forward, much to the regret of his clubinaies, has decided to give the game host, and will in future toko- bis Rugby from tho elevated position of tho terrace or the grand stand.

Acknowledged with thanks from an unknown correspondent, copies of the. Yorkshire Sports, containing much interesting football gossip. An item:—"During tho visit of tho Maori football players to this country many years ago they acquired a reputation for rough play. In a match they played with a ocrtain team this feature so developed itself that before tha game wa6 many minutes old three of the home team wore liors dc combat. Finding that expostulation was useless, t-)io British blood asserted itself, and retaliation was indulged in. While a fierce-looking scrimmage was in progress tho loud, clear voice of one oi tho home team was hoard as he thus rebuked a comrade: 'Confound it. Tom; do look out! It was the ball you kicked that time!'"

Tho Kaikorai First Fifteen is sorely in need of a goal-kicker. In the match against Union six tries were scored, not one' oi which was. converted. It is true that one or two of the attempts were from acute angles, but a couple of kicks were taken directly in front of goal. Instead of giving tho kicks to all and sundry, one player should be singled out who shows an aptitude for goal-kicking. It would bo worth whiio 6omo of the Kaikorai players cultivating tho art.

Captain M'Douald's repeated injunctions to his forwards to "go low" were repeatedly ignored against Union on Saturday, alt-hough the "All Black" set. his men an excellent example in the certainty of his tackling.

Tho match between Kaikorai and Union, played at. Bishopscouvt on Saturday, was not a very thrilling exhibition of the P.ugby game, and throughout, the SO minutes' play there was nothing to become wildly excited over. Even ardent Kaikorai supporters found some difficulty in working up enthusiasm. The weather on the hiil was about the right, temperature for football, there being that requisite sting in the atmosphere which made for tho pleasure of the game.

The Union team did not appear a. very formidable lot as tlioy took tho field, and one could not help contrasting the physiquo of the players to-day with those of 60ine seasons ago; but what the Jlareon forwards lacked in weight they . made up for in energy, and infused a great deal of dasli into their play. Union scoured the ball fiom the majority of til? scrums, hut tho half Lack was the weak link in the attack. His movements were slow and undccidcd, and before he could get the ball away to his five-eighths the opposing forwards were upon him. Thus handicapped, tho Union five-eighths and three-quarters 1 vu-;l few opportunities of showing what they could do 0:1 attack; but. the tow chances that came I heir way were not availed of, and tiiey did not impress one as being a. strong,or likely soorir.g combination. The defehco work of the Maroon rear division, too, was weak, and at times Kaikorai went through it- almost without opposition.

I'l'l.ennan and Simpson were the. best of a- weak lot of backs. The former player has a gcoil rum of speed, and on one occasion on Saturday mads a fine run up to Ihe Kaikorai full lack, throwing away a- {rood chan'cc of scoring by a wild pass. Had ll'Lcnnan gone alone he had an excellent chance of getting over, but. he failed to make good u;.e of the opportunity.

Bond, the Union full back, had a. busy afternoon attempting to stave off the repeated attacks of Kaikorai. This player is nof strong on defence, but he kicks' well, and makes good use of tlic'touchlinc. Bond, however, should remember to speculate al a rolling ball is suicidal. Bush, of the British team, tho übiquitous Percy 8., as admiring Welshmen call him, was the most expert player at this game that, ilie writer has seen, and even he made inglorious mistakes at times which cost his side a deal of anxiety.

'Ihe ICaikcrai forwards had the advantage in weight, but were not always successful in securing tho ball from tho scrums. They showed fairly good form on the line-out, but they did not infuse the dash into file play that was oxpectcd of thorn. In tho loose work there was a want of combination, ami the defence of-.ihe forward lino was weak. Altogether, with ihe exception of H'Doirold (who played a sterling game, being iu the forefront .of the play throughout), Bryant, and Cubit'., the Kaikorai forwards gave a poor exhibition. There is room for vast improvement in the Kaikorai pack.

The backs were seen to much greater advantage than tlio forwards, and on occasions gave glimpses of commendable Rugby. Ono or two of the passing rushes were good to look upon up to a certain stage, then a faulty pass or a bad take upset the attacking movement.

During his term at full back Strang played well. lie had little of dcfonco to do, but, his kicking'was sound ami generally aceurate as regards direction. One missed tho familiar form of Dobson from the threequarters. but Booth and Armit were iu the line, and prominent, throughout, for ranch useful work, both on defence and attack. Armit played iu the centre, a position which he appears well qualified to fill. Armit fielded the ball in fine style, and ran with eharoctci'isiic dash. Booth played very solidly, running well and kicking with fine judgment. There is nothing of the brown paper defence about Booth, and'his tackling on Saturday was sudden and unerring.

Johnstone. a trim youth, showed fine form at five-eighths, lie takes (he hall well, runs powerfully, and cuts in—l was going to write with rave judgment—but that is exactly wherein Johnstone fails. 'He attempts to go too far. and that proves his undoing. Immediately behind the scrum Coulter played well, and thus early in the season is in excellent form.

A fine spirit of sport was evinced in the match between Port Chalmers and Alhambra on Saturday, and the game, while contested with plenty of vim and vigour, was not marred by any 'unseemly play. Truth to tell, it was a. taitl-fought game from kick-off to the rail of time, and was a good test of the players' condition. From the spectators' point of view the game was not altogether an interesting one, play being chiefly confined to the forwards. Why good forward play should not excite as much thrill as good hack play passes coinprehension, Tor next to a. passing rush by the backs down the field is a- clever dribbling rush by those Trojans of the vanguard, the forwards. A couple of seasons ago too'much attention was given io ;ho backs, with the result that forward play was neglected, and teams took the tiekl whose forwards were incapable of dribbling any-distance without overrunning, the ball. Now all that is changed, and the forwards in some eases are surpassing the backs in qualify of play in the respective departments.

To return to the I'orl-Alliamhvo game, the forward: on hoih sides shewed excelled 101*311. biv.tkin.-T away iu line style with the ball at toe. The Alliambra pack it particular showed to advantage in the loose dribbling rushes. The scrums for ihe most port wore badly formed, and both teams require to be taken in hand and given some straight-out lessons iu scrum formation. The littij back play shown by Alhambra was weak, and contrasted unfavourably with previous -exhibitions given by the Red-and-blacks. The real cause for this was immediately behind the scrum, the halt back failing to" get the ball away,

and the uncertainty ot the five-eighth division. Wiiiic weak on attack, the fivocight'ns showed good defence, their line kicking being excellent. The three-qucjier lino got- few' opportunities to show what they could do on ■he attack, but, like the five-eightha, they exhibited sound defence, Hsrrhy and Beqnet saving their side repeatedly by judicious lino-kicking. The Alhambra full l)ack was safe 'without being brilliant. Amoiijst tho forwards the Alhambra had a useful trio in Johnston, Given,; and Ilarridge, who stood out for good work throughout the gsino.

Individually, the backs on the Port side did well, but them was a lack of combination—cohesion,—call it what you will, which dinorganisid the rearguard and rendered ibtir efforts of little value on attack. The Port fuU back shewed some knowledge of I'.ii position, and, moreover, was able to put into execution what/he knew, fielding tile ball well and making good use of his defensive powers. The rhrec-quaiter line showed up as individuals, and were successful in cutting off several dangerouslooking Alhambra. rushes, but the concerted work was poor. The centre throe-quarter was unt quite at .home in the position, and the wings were handicapped when ihero was any combined work to be done. C'olthorpn and 0. Dochorty played soundly on defence, aid, given opportunities, an improvement may bo looked for in their attack. ' "

The best, back ou the ground was AV. Docherly, who, in his position of five-eighths,-did'no end of good work, and had ho- been well supported a victory and not a defeat, might lave been acclaimed for Port. The .forwards played a solid game throughout, and did not let up until the whistle sounded for time. One player who 6tood out above his fellows for particularly good work was Ferguson, who was always in i.lic forefront of tho game. Southern secured rather an easy victory oyer Pirates on Saturday. It was nearly a case of Eclipse- first, the rest nowhere, for the opposition put up such a poor defence. Southern played with excellent combination and gave a-gooJ exhibition of Kiigby. Tho forwards secured the ball from the majority of tho scrums, and the backs were given every opportunity. Tho passing of tho rearguard. was, on opening, a trifle erratic, but once the play settled down iho kicks moved about with. somo precision, tlie ball being handled with commendable accuracy. Southern had little defensive work lo do, but anything that came along was promptly attended to. I'uliarton shaped well at full back, but I sliouid like to sec his defence tested before saying much about his capabilities as a guardian of tho goal. The three-quarter line shaped well, executing several commendable passing rushes. Bonnet, on the wing, was conspicuous for good play. This player has a fair turn of speed, which he uses to advantage, but his defence is not. of the soundest. Goldsmith, a new arrival from C'hristchurcli, did not get- a Great deal to do, but gave promise of being a useful man to tho team.

In Eckhold and Chambers Southern have a useful pair of five-eighths, who on Saturday, in the. attacking game, were seen to great advantage. Chambers is a vastlyimproved player, and the position at fiveeighth is ono for which he has many qualifications. Kckhold got through a, lot of ftocd work, and promises to Lb quite as useful a player as he was last season, The Southern forwards arc a very solid lot, possessing plenty of weight and stamina, to see a hard game through until the whistle blows for "no-side." Captain Slicehail set his men a good example, and kept them going, hard throughout the game.

Wyinks, the Pirates full back, lias played hotter games. He lud a great deal of work to do, but never seemed to rise to the occasion. His kicking and play generally were below the standard one expects from the Pirates man. The three-quavtor linn suffered with the rest of the tei-ii, ami gave rather a weak display, both onr.ttack and defence. Thero is vast room for improvement in tho play of the Pirates backs, and .before the season is much further advanced, one hopes to see an improvement brought about. In Saturday s game Cramond was the best of the Pirnres three-quarters, has line-kicking' being of good service to his side. Neither of tho live-eighths wo.s seen to any great, advantage, and tho scrum'halt was handicapped through hfs forwards being beaten for the ball. Tho Pirate' vanguard is light, and tho players lack the necessary dash/for a successful team. Conspicuous throughout a game that was a. strenuous battle apainst a strong force were Denniston. Sibbald, and Thomson. Thd example set- bv th.cie players was a Tcod one for the remaining forwards to follow.

Coach Duncan expressed himself as being perfectly satisfied with the form shown by Zitipnri in their opening match with Dunedin on Saturday, and hopes in a week or two to have tho team thoroughly combined and in form.

Craham. (ho Zingari full back, phyocl in this position in one or tvro marc-lies lust season, and on Saturday ho performed very creditably.. His tackling powers, however, were not tested fo any oxfcent. The three-quarter lino. Reddington, Thomp' son, and Wilson, shape.' very well. Thompson especially seems to have improved 0:1 last season's form.

Davidson, last season's Otaeo representative full back; is playing in the five-eitrhlh division, and gave. promise on Saturday of developing info a lirst-rato man far the .position. Ho has still to learn the finer points of the same, but under Duncan's tuition should improve rapidly. His defensive play is very sound. Collie is in his usual good form, and was mainly responsible for two of the three tries scored on Saturday, Kellau, the scrum half, played last season for Union, and lias evidently a Rood knowledge of t.lie name. In the opening stages his play was streakv, hut he showed excellent form during tho second snell.

Zingari forwards will again have to bo reckoned with this season. The now blood includes a placer named Patcrson, -"who p'avs loek. weicrhs over 13 stone, and is playing his first season's Rugby, having previously played Association. He was probably tho pick of the Colours' forwards on Satnrdav, together with the two Abbotts and St.icrs. Low is out of town, his place being taken by Stewart, a. country player, w.io y.'layed fairly well. 0. Stewart has riven the game host, and will devote his atlcntion to the juniors. AlloI'ethor the forwards, although not heavy, are wiling. ;trv| will take a lot of beating. Tn ihe match against Zingari on Saturday tlio Dunedin team won tho tcss, and had matters pretty much to themselves throughout, the first spell, and it was generally anticipated that the Dark Blues would come cut of the encounter victors by a. substantia'. margin ;• but, tlie uncxnecled happened, and Dunedin tasted the bitterness of iWo.it. As frenuenlly happens when a (cam is favoured with ihe wind in tho first, spell, if. floes not. take full advantage of t'nc kindly assistance of Boreas, and neglects many opportunities of piling up a score. This .was tho ease with Buncdra, and the Dark Blues may v.ell take Ihe lesson to heart. The Dunedin backs aro rather a weak combination Ihis season, aild thoiis showing against. Kingari did not iinprees one favourably. As tho season advances, howover. a sjreat improvement in the rearguard can be looked for. If it fails to materialise some serious questions 6hould lie asked, and the players taken in hand and Riven a. straighiont course of Rugby without, trimmines. Go to the root, of tho matter: get at the cause, and that, to my mind, is immediately behind the serum. Tlio Duneclin forwards are a fine lot. tall, strapping fellows, who shine on the line-out, but in Saturday's game they played without combination.