FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18293, 9 July 1921, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. At Oarisbrook to-day, the match between Kaikorai and Pirates should provide a highclass exhibition of Rugby footbail. Kaikorai has, so far, an unbeaten record, while the Pirates team has been showing great improvement as the season proceeds. Their backs are fast and nippy, and, provided they get the boll, will no doubt give a good account of themselves. On the other hand, their forwards, while on the light side, nro a good pack Kaikorai has a good all-round team, which, of course, wdl bo very hard to beat. At the Caledonian Ground, the match between Zingari and University B .should also provide an interesting exhibition. At Tnhuna Park, University A will , meet Port Chalmers on the No. 1 ground, Vend Southern will meet Dunedin on the No. 2 Ground. Both these matches should bo kvell worth seeing. At Bishopscourt, Al_,n;rnbra and Union will try conclusions, and the match should not be without plenty of incident.

NEW ZEALAND v. OTAGO. Tho Otago Rugby Unioii is endeavouring to arrange for the New Zealand team which hua been selected to play against South Africa in Dunedin on August 16 to assemble in Dunedin on August 5, and play an Otago Fifteen on August 6 (Saturday). The New Zealand team is to assemble in Dunedin a week before August 13 to enable them to undergo coaching. If tho fixture with Otago c<m bo arranged it would prove a line draw. Southland will play the South Africans at Invercargill on August 6. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. (Br Full Back.) The North Island has 10 representatives iu the New Zealand team and the South Island five. Of the emergencies the North Is'and has five and the South Island none. The omission of E. Roberts from the New Zealand team is the surprise of the selection. I understand that Roberts was outplayed by the two N'icholls in the trial match at Wellington last Wednesday, and that he was weak in defence. Given that in, however. I consider that ho is tho most brilliant half and live-eighth back I have ever seen. When making this statement I have also in my mind’s eye the sturdy Eliiot, half back in tho Maori tear,. which went to England in 1888 and 1889, and played at Carisbrook on its return: James Duncan, “Freddy” Roberts, “Cocky Roberts, Pat Keogh, “ Scrummy ” Mason, and others. Roberts’s play is full of resource and intelligence, and he is an uncanny anticipator, and he should have found a plaoo in tne New Zealand team. If by the dropping out of any of the backs selected Roberts should find a place in the New Zealand team on August 33, I imagine that ho will put up such a game as will confound tho selectors. In referring to the New Zealand team “ Rugbyite ” writes as follows in the Lyttelton Times: — . . , The three-quarter line is calculated to startle all those who saw the inter-island match. Storey, one of the chosen wings, did not play in that match, but he has the reputation of being a brilliant attacking back who has improved lately in defence. Aitkon in tho island match played os wing three-quarter, and went very patchily. lew who saw him at Lancaster Park regarded him as a dashing back, even against the weak opposition of the southern rearguard. Ho plaved with the University team in Australia, on the wing, but throughout the tour he was not regarded as the equal of Jackson, centre three-quarter, who was high!-/ praised bv tho Australian ■writers as the best back on the ground. The rream of the whole selection., however, is the inclusion of Steel, the West Coaster. This player was not oven included m the first team picked for the South Island, and ho got a game as emergency. His f irm at Lancaster Park stamped him as a very weak defensive player. lie was hopelessly out of position, a ragged tackier, and a directionless line kicker. bteel s game, in fact, was quite the poorest seen in the position, even in provincial matches, for a long time. , B.uleley played a sp'endld game throughout the inter-island match, and he was never seriously in doubt for New Zealand honours. Although neither of the Nioholls was seen at Lnncaricr Park, it was common talk that H E. Nieholls might bo chosen ns half back, but on'y on condition that Roberts should be moved out to tin t five-eighth. The dropnmg of Roberts from fifteen will come as a bombshell throughout Now Zealand. His inclusion in tho team was regarded as a foregone conclusion, independently of any ups and downs of form that he might show in trial game-, for he ’s commonly regarded bv oVI Rugbv followers ns the brainiest. nlaver in New Zealand Rugbv to-day. When ‘Wellington toured the South Island .ast year this impression was deepened at each centre, and his combined co ? l " es \ darin" in the inter-island match should have insured hi- inclusion without further nar'ev The fact that ho kicked five goals for the Probab’es in Wellington was oi ether reason for his inclusion. Donald must be considered lucky to oust Cabot ns wing forward. _ Cabot had the better of the plav m Christchurch, and remained on-s'de. while Donald ™ P«»«lwed foi - or five times, and should nave rw'n penalised oftener. Cabot on the winning skE in Wellington, scored a try—Dorn, d did not score. Cabot showed not only great speed in attack at Lancaster Park, but also very sound defence, and he is the heavier man.

SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. G. MORKET, INJURED. Ascociation —By Tcletrranb—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 8. Gerhard Merkel, a member of the Springboks’ team, injured his arm in Wednesday’s match. It has since appeared to be a dislocated elbow, and he will bo out of action for six weeks. This has necessitated sending a cable to Africa asking for two reinforcements in time for the second test match in New Zealand. The African Rugby Board replied that no ship is sailing til] the end of July, which would be too late for the second test game. Clarkson is also on the sick list, suffering from fever.

VISIT FROM NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM. FRENCH TEAM INVITED. Thu United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 8. At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Now Zealand Rugby Union List, night the Chairman reported that ho had arranged for a visit from New South Wales to the dominion next month, provided the committee approved. A committee was appointed to go into the financial position of the tour, with power to act. It was proposed to play only seven games, as a more extensive itinerary might interfere with interprovincial goraW. The Chairman also stated that he had sent an invitation by cable to France for the team to visit New Zealand in 1922.

ASSOCIATION. Tho Association competition will be advanced another stage to-day, when the two games at Culling Park will be Kaitangata and Old Boys, and Momington and Southern. The two former teams have been playing such great football in their recent matches that a game of more than usual interest should result when they meet Today, and it is expected that a large gathering of spectators will witness the game. The second game between Momington and Southern should also he full of interest and the Southern team is quite confident that , it can repeat its success of last Saturday by defeating the hill team. There have been so many surprises in tho local competition this season that few followers of w(>ubd^^ifTd!or^xlc<^^|^^^g^ck^^be

winners of these two games, as so many teams are of about equal strength, and all are playing good football. Altogether the spectators attending at Culling Park to-day should enjoy an exceptionally good afternoon’s sport.