FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14927, 1 September 1910, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. • Bi Foil Back. INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES, September 1.-Otago v. North .Otago, at Oamaiu. September l 3.—Otago v.' Canterbury, at Chrißtchurch; Southland v. Wellington, . at Wellington; I'aranakiiv. Auckland, at Auckland; /W-angnnui v. Manawatu, at Palraeraton North. September B.—Otago v. Wairarapa, at liivs'terton.. September 10.—Otago v. Wellington, at Wellington; Canterbury v. Auckland, at Auckland; Wellington B v. Marlborough, at Blenheim. ' September 15.—Canterbury v. Wairarapa, at Caitorton. September 17,-Cantarbury v. Wellington, at Wellington.. . September 2-I.—Manawatu. v. Wairarapa, at Masterton.

The selectors of the Otago team for the northern tour are lo bo sympathised with in tho difficulties with which they were confronted in tho selection of • players to' make the trip. At the outset it ettould be recognised that the paucity of good in Ofcc-go this season has made the selection ono of extreme difficulty; but when two of tho best players in the back division drop out, tho trouble is intensified. Even with the inclusion of Duthio and JVorrie, who .wero in the original selection, the Otago backs/ must have been 'counted at best an ordinary lot, but in their absence tho Otago rear division is little better than that -which a fow seasons ago would have done duty in a club team. No blame can be attached to tho selectors for this unfortunate state of affairs. 'Good backs are simply not playing football in 1 Otago to-day, and fcho most must bo made of tho material available.

1 itfcle cause to become anxious concernuig\the full-back. Scott may not be an ideal tost line of defonoe-he has hiß weaknesses, but tackling is not.one of those, though he did, much, to my surprisslet Wall, the South Canterbury- threequarter, beat him on Saturday. One could wish that Ulie Taieri player would run a little moro before kicking, mid tako the ball on t3io full instead of waiting for the bounoo. This is fatal in a full-back, and is tho causo of much anxiety and trouble, not to mention tho opportunity it gives tho opposing team to cross tho goal line. .

Tho real difficulty is in the selection of a good tifree-quarter line. J Wo may lay tho description aside and. kll it simply a threequarter line for ono can scarcely claim that a trio of our be.s't, players would mako a "good" tJiraequarter line. Turning to the players available, our best might road Watson, Hardingham, and Chambers. No call hfcpe for undue flattery—tho line 'speaks for itsejf. Tho players ato useful club men who havo had intcrprovincial honours thrust vpon them, ■No blame is attachable <to ' anvone, for better men aro not available. Tho names of Berniot and Marston suggest themselvee, but WHig-throequarter is unable' to make'tho trip,. and the oentrc, on form, would scarcely, improve the line, though, truth to toll, be would not weaken it. Weak on defence, probably, but with a good pack of forwards in front—and the Otago forwards are good when they arc all out—an attacking threequarter line is dosirahle Teams should be picked inoro 011 their attacking capabilities than on their <lcfensive—that is, if the Rugby axiom, "attack tho best defonco" holds. Tho Welshmen have great faith in this theory, and to its practice attributo many of their victories. Roverting to flic Otago touring team and its threequarter lino, we must put our faith in Watson,. Hardingltain, Chambers and Co.—the " co" probably bcinK, Graham, of Port Chalmers. The five-eighths lino also requires some hard thinking. Tho wrong man in this Ijoaition, where only two are required, will upset the play of IJhc wholo back division. Therefore, we may expect a great deal of care to bo exorcised in tho choice of tho players. First let us have F. Williams, tho most- intelligent and tho most skilful of the five-oighths. As a partner for Williams must bo sought out the playor who will best harmoniso with the Alhambra representative. -To my mind that is M'Dougall, who is not. only a better fiveoighths than a half-back, but a playor who can mako an opening and give a pass when 110 has fooled tho <lefcnce. Too many ptayors make openings, .but they do not understand the art of leaving off. M'Dougall does. ■ He' should pair well with Williams, and' I trust the eolectors will givo him a trial. ; Behind'the scrum' play Eekhold. He .will stop rushes with the best when defenoe is • required, and. if 110 will pass tho ball out'on attack, and' - there .is - 110 reason why he should not, the Southern player will have earned his : placo 111 the team. Of the forwards it is unnednssary lo speak. With ono exception they aro a lino lot, and should worthily uphold tho reputation of the ■provinos. If tho backs fail, and this will occasion• .little surprise, tho forwaitls may .tie looked'to lo more than hold their .own. ■ •

The members of the Otago team for tlio rortliorn tour diopart from Dunedin by the .first- express to-day for Oama.ru, where ,tlu>- opening match oE the tour will toko plaoo against North Otago. On. Friday the t«wn journey to Christdhurch, IlloctuifT Canterbury on Lancaster Park the following day. Steamur will. be. taken io Wellington on Monday, on route for Cartorton, -,vliom it lias been dccided to play the match against Wairarapa on ■ Wednesday, September 7. Tlio Ota-o team returns to Wellington on Thursday, Soptenibor 8, having two days' }>i*acticG prior to meeting Wellington on Saturday, Septomlior 10, Tho playcrc will be absent. 13 days, returning to Dunedin on Tuesday, September 13.

The match Otago v. Canterbury is being footed fonvard to with a good deal of, inwest. "he two provinces are on such a friendly footing that, tho contest alwavs provokes a healthy spirit of rivalry, in which (he best, sportsmanship of the gajtie is ovinoed. At this writing tiro match promises to 1» a batite. not so much of styles, as backs vomits forwards. Canterbury Jmd _ a .flying vanguinxl. of fireMasi backs, while Otago's strength, if' it claims aay at all, lies in its vanguard. Should Otagos best team lino out against Canterbury it will be a keen game, and the ultimate wumeis will bo the team whioh cornmawls tiho ball. ■ If ■ tlio . Otago forwards cannot bold the Canterbury pack and keop •Wio ball away front tho Canterbury backs, I fear, m© for the chances of the Otago °«srsMitativgt,... .

Apropos of tho North v. South Island !. matah, to to played at Christchurch on 1 September 24, it js probable tiu.t some | Difficulty will-be oxporiaßced by theE»leet<-r3 | : ra getting a, strong representation of both , islatxk Tho fact of players having already I-toured with their provinces may prevent «curiii K tho necessary leavo for the ;-mter-isiand match. < .

■no ,l a F Is ' oas °f tho selectors' of 'we t»uth i Island team, advkes that its represestatives will be ohoas® about September 14. He proposes, if possible, to be present at tho match.

The fallowing criticism of the OtagCr .Kugby pinion by "Drop-Kiok" in tho JJjmstsn, Times requires some explanation,: iho representatives of Vincent returned irom Dunwfm on Monday last, not altoigcther satisfied with their trip. The fact that the team failed for the first time to secure tho* county premiership, of course, caused some hearfbornings,, but the chief 'Mason for the generally-expressed dissatisfochon was the shabby treatment of tho team by the O.R.F.U. In previous years country teams have boen welcomed art tho railway station and generally, had, eome Itftle attention shown them "durimj their stay—in tbo shape <jf a trip up the harbour, passes to the theatre, etc., but on this occasion they wore absolutely ignored, it is obvious that the ujiion ,has little sympathy with country football, and, it seems a certainty that Country Woek . will bo dropped. From tho remarks of . the members of toaiii I learned that their oxperienoa was precisely similar to our own, and thoy, along wiUi tho majority of our own players, expressed tho intention ot refusing to play in Country Week again. It has, been suggested that independent unions bo formed in Maniototo, Vinoont, and Tuapelca. and that the O.R.F.U. bo dropped and seooded from altogether. Tho suggestion has much to commend, it and is well worthy of consideration." Apropos of tho: statement-that the Canterbury team will hot play Taranaki on its northern tour owing to Taranaki owing both Canterbury and Otago visits, an esteemed correspondent in New Plymouth who knows writes me as follows;—"Whilo Taranaki owes Otago a yisit, which isl to be paid next season (1911),' Canterbury owes ■the butter province a match, This will be shown when the Taranaki touring team passes through Christchurch next year on its way to fulfil its engagements with Otago and Southland. Of the players who took part in the Auokland-Wollington match only three were .mombers of the famous All Black team—G. Tyler, 'F. Roberts, and W. Cunningham. It is interesting to note that all throe have at one time or othor stated definitely that they have retired from the gome forever, but they have since been persuaded to don the jersey again.