FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16472, 26 August 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. By .Full Back. Tho roll of honour of Otago footballers at the front and m training is a roll of honour in tho highest and nobloit sense, it is not merely a ivcord ol the number of players who have put tho jersey away for tho khaki, but a roil of honour of the best and bravest who have given up their lives in defence of country, and whose deeds are even now written on the scroll of fame. This roll of honour must not be loft to tiie historian to compile, not while there is a Rugby Union to do honour to those who have done such honours for us. A memorial tablet in every pavilion in every football ground in the province should be erected en which the names ni the Oti'.go men who have died fighting for Empire should ho written in letters of gold. If this matter is not taken up by the Otago Rugby Union, which should at least see that the memories of the representatives of Olayo are perpetuated, the affiliated clubs should undertake erecting memorial tablets in the pavilions and dressing rooms.

In distant parts of the Empire Otago footballers are making name and fame on the battlefield with the same delightful disregard for self as they showed on the football fields of Dunedin. The rudimentary training of Rugby has served them well for the strenuous fighting in the trenches in Flanders and GalHpoli. Few were aware that Alan Adams, the well-known ex-Uni-versity captain and the idol of the crowds who thronged the Caledonian Ground in the seasons 1902 to 1906, when 'Varsity football was at its height «md those clever players Gi'.ray, Adams, M-acpherson, Heale, and others were in their prime, had, shortly after enlisting in London, been promoted to a lieutenancy, and that ho had seen a lot of active service in the North of France. And it is surely the long arm of coincidence that simultaneously with the announcement of the wounding of Joel: Cuthill, last year's 'Varsity captain and New Zealand representitive, at the Dardanelles, should come the news of the wounding of Alan Adams, the ex-'Varsity captain and Snufji Island representative, in France. Adams and Cuthill, centre three-quarters both, who could play magnificently at full back and in their years captains of Otngo University, have fallen wounded in distant outposts of Empire fighting the nation's battle. A complete answer to the accusation of shirkers and slackers if applied to 'Rugby Union footballers in Dunedin is furnished in the depleted ranks of every team, senior and junior, in the city, and the closing of the competitions to throe of the senior teams being practically wiped out and the extreme difficulty of the remainder to carry on. The Rugby Union lias decided for these excellent reasons to close the competition for all but the Fifth Grade. It surely could be with no feelings of regret that this decision was come to. Certainly it must, h.-'.vc been with feelings of pride that members realised how nobly footballers have responded to the call to arms. Any sacrifices the Union may be called to make, and it has made sacrifices, will repaid a thousand times over in the knowledge that Otago footballers almost to a man, where fit and otherwise eligible, rushed to fill the vacancies in that groat international team fighting on Gallipoii.

Departed on Tuesday with the Eighth Reinforcements for Trcntham a hest of footballers of all grades who had not previously boon able to answer the call. Included in the little army that left to the strains of "The jrirl I left behind me" -were three particularly well-known players—G. Osbourno (three-quarter). T. Woodrow, and H. M'Donald (forwards), of the Kaikorai team. What a fine record is that of the Blue-and-blacks in the war!

ASSOCIATION. By Left Wing. For m-ost of the teams tho Senior Cnp competition encis on Sntunhy n"xt. Northern, however, iinlcss defeated by South-Tn on Saturday, vrll still have to meet Ohristi:in Bros, before the premiership is decided. On paper, Northern's ch.-iriees for the Cup are very rosv. A defeat, by either Southern or Chris'an Bi'-s., while possible, would ho. surpHsin<r. Two wins will place thorn ono point ahead of Old Boys. A draw and ji win wop'd mcke a most int»rc.=tin«- final—a. play-off between Norther:i and Okl Boys.

According to prs~nt indications, there is every probability of the Charity B-Miner <x>inpctiticn being earned out. The decision th:it no individual trophies are to bo awarded this senson suggests that there will no fivc-n.sidr-r. in srade football.

The Third Tirade Cup Ins been wen bj Northern, with a big lead over all otheropponents.

Southern T? won the Fourth Orndr premiership. This to:irn is an organisation of tolegraph lads, sailing -under Southern's colours, and is to br- congratulated upon grvninc the honours in the first year of its affiliation with the O.F.A.

Ruvonsbonrne's supreme effort against Northern came to nought , , for Northern, although two of thc : r seores rime from penalty kicks for flagrant breaches of the rul"s cov»*ning rough p!;'..v. were easily supr-rior. Rrivensboiirnc resurrect"-! some hnek-dato men. including Rp. mage and Currie; but they were, pnlpably blown liefore tho finish of the nmr. and never showed their old form. M'Tvor n'so fiilrd to reach his standard. French pl-iyed a capital game, saving many good shots. M'Oallnm tlul pjoed work in the ha.lvers. and M'Gregoy w.is the nick of the forwards.. T/iddell ind Kelly were errnt'c. For Northern. 81-iek was safe, ,->nd Aulcl and D. Dvydon—the last-named :i junior, making his firrt appeo.riinc" in First Gnide foothill—kicked well. J. DT.vden wns tho b"St of the half b-icks. Hay and Campbell played capably. Jervis, a promoted junior, showed promise of developing into ,i useful man. Khophcnl -,vns an absentee, preferring to avoid risk of f>ny mishfln thr.t might- jeoparrl-se his chance of leaving wit'i the Reinforcements. It was a game ■ 'th nasty features.

Tn tho early of thoir tu-slo> -.vith Mornincrton. Old Boy? did not look l'ko eventual winners. Their Front line was disorganisprl. White, nncl M'Loiwin bcinc; absent. Arthur and Coci! Alloo turnin?-to nfrain to fill tho vacancies. Combination was lacking at first; but .is tho match proepodod there was a gradual, imiirovemont, until Old Boys at tho close doininntp , ] tho Came. A determined onslaught by Morniniton five min'.rtos before tho end. however, loft a critical position. Old I!ov? lav. bv.t a precnr : ons load of ono ffo.il. A spirited counter and t!ir> third of a trio of beautiful soils 'oy 0. A n ,on placed tho issue bovond doubt.

Christen Bros, nnd Croon Island 'llnved a quiet and fairly rKso camp. T!r> Brothers, on tli" whole, had tho bolter of th" j)'.->y! and d<-r.ervrd tlio ••vir.nintr wvnt. w'licli cn.m-> from a capita Isworvinsr from Ta.rlc<nn. Bnrnos ond th" l;o«~rior nliyd yi-ry ffl'rctively for Gropn Tsliud. Tlio ri'.'lit-winfrer pnt in some cnnitnl v.-bich woro nnft turned to .-icoount bocnus" th-» f^ n tro rnon woro not iroll up. TTor Uro?. C;ispy (nr~ ustnl)," Tinrry. and K-vos were prnmh'.rnt.

Tlv< fo'lowir.T ar<> th" <-f tho=o mom'oo-s o>[ t'.'o S-ii.lhorn Club who havo on--1,-cfrd: —K. ITiirvoy. 1.. V. 'μ-coi, E. Poott. L. -A. Birinl,,, p. -NTIa-ov' J. Mnrkio. R. Willcirsoti. .\. ■\V:llv : n=r».'i ' J. Hollows. A. CeU-'ii- (~,;c,; y_' ?t,rvon?on. C Stt:c'<io. T. Lninpr. E. Shrimpton;—total. 16-0 roally ?rl"nd'd from n. comnarntivolr snnll Huh.