FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18322, 12 August 1921, Page 10

FOOTBALL

By Full Back. Ford, the Canterbury three-quarter, who is to take tlio place of Algar, of Wellington, us an emergency lor the New Zoulund team, arrived in i>uneuin on \Vednosday mght, and was training with the Ail lilack team at (Jarisbrook yesterday morning. 1 understand that l<ord was not, responsible lor the reply suit to Mr D. M. Stuart, one of tlio selectors, that ho preferred to ploy with the Canterbury team, which is now on tour in tho North Island, and did not intend to come to Dunedin. M'i>ean, tho stalwart All Black forward, injured his knee while training at Uarisbrook yesterday morning, and hud to be assisted off the ground. He was taken to Mr Booth's rooms, and had his knee massaged, but it is not certain yet whether he will be able to play on Saturday. If M'Lean—whose absence will .bo severely felt by his side—is unable to plav i'ogarty will find a place in the All Black team. The three-quarter line for the Springboks in tho first test will probably be— Van lieerclen (right wing), Meyer and Clarkson (centres), and Henry Morkel (left win s)- ... .„ , 'i'lie visiting pressmen will be accommodated at the table in front of the grand stand. The press box on the opposite side of the grandstand is already fully booked up. The gate receipts at the match between Otago and the Springboks on Wednesday totalled £1560. It is estimated that there .were just on 14,000 people (including the school children) present. Mr "V. G. Gavariagh, chairman of the Works Committee of the Otago Union, confidently states that the ground will comforta-biy hold another 10,000 people. The ground arrangements at the match on Wednesday wore well arranged. The spectators had practically all arrived by 2 o'clock, and they proved a most orderly crowd. The large number of exits made in the fence allowed the spectators to get away within ten minutes of the final wlustlo. The New Zealand Rugby Union is showing a very careiess regard for the convenience of the public. I pointed out a couple of days ago that the numbered linen cloths on the jerseys of the Springboks were becoming much the worse for wear and that it would cost only a few shillings to prov'de new ones. On Wednesday some of the Springboks had on new numbers and others still wore the old ones. This is a {.iebald arrangement and the New Zealand Union officials should see to it that every player has a new number en Saturday. Tho feeling displayed by some of the players in Wednesday's match was a most regrettable feature of the game. Who started the " rough stuff " is immaterial—as a matter of fact. I have' had at least four men named as the ones who commenced it: two on each 6ide. But that by the way. New Zealand and South Africa are recognised as providing some of the very best players in the world, and for the prestige of the game it is to be hoped that it will be played in the sporting spirit it should in tho first test tomorrow. At the dinner on Wednesday night both Mr Gallaway and Mr Bennett (the manager of the Springboks) spolto of the influence of sport generally, and of Rugby in particular as unifying the Empire. The exhibition of feeling by both sides on Wednesday, however, if repeated, is not calculated to promote the best relations between the two countries. Moreover, the ignorant class of barracker should be strongly discouraged.

THE FIRST TEST.

PLAYERS’ FOOTBALL CAREERS.

The following particulars of the record of the piayers who will take part in the first test should prove of interest; — (J M. Kingston, aged 26, height sft ?iin, weight 11.4 (full-back). Learnt his football in military teams at the front, and when he returned to Now Zealand joined the Grafton Club, Auckland, with which club he played at lull-back. Played for Grafton for a couple of seasons (191 a, 1920). He shitted to 'iaranaki this year, where he played at full-back for Clifton. He represented Auckland at full-back in 1920, and laranaki this year against the Springboks. Played for North Island against the South Island 1921. G. G. Aitken, aged 23, height sft 9in, weight 12.4; centre three-quarter. Commenced football on West Coast, representing Buller when 16 years of age when he played under Clem Green; has been playing in Wellington for five seasons; captained New Zealand University representatives 1920 and 1921; WeJington representative and North Island representative this year; usually plays as five-eighth or centre three-quarter. J. Steel, aged 21, height sft 13.10. Right wing three-quarter. Learnt his football with the Star Club, Greymouth. Has represented the West Coast since 1918. Played in his first big match when he represented South Island against the North Island in 1919, and in which he put up a brilliant game. Played for the South*lsland in 1920, and went with the All Black team to Australia that year. Was only selected as an emergency for the South Island this year, but got a game, and was then selected to play for New Zealand. P. Storey, aged height sft 94in, weight 12.12. Started playing football in the North Otago district. First came into prominence as a member of the Army Service team which won the King’s Cup Competition in England and subsequently toured South Africa. Played for tno South Island in 1920, and was picked as a member of the All Black team which went - to Australia. Has represented South Canterbury on several occasions. / C. Badeley, aged 24, Height sft 64in, weight 10.5. First five-eighth. Commenced playing with the Auckland Grammar School in 1915, ondi then joined Grammar School Old Boys. Played lor the undertwenty Auckland representatives, and also in the Auckland representative team of 1919, 1920, 1921. Played for the North Island in 1919, 1920, 1921. Went to Australia with the Ail Blacks. IVL. Nicnofls (Petone), aged 20, height 6ft 9in, weight 11.4; live-eignth. Commenced football with Petone, and at Weilington t_oUcgo as captain of me first fifteen showed much promise; this is his second season m senior footuall, to. which fie was promoted from sixth-mass; represented Wellington last year; usual place, five-eighth. H. E. Nicholls (Petone), aged kf, height 6ft sin, weight 10.1), fialt-oack. Learnt. his football with Petone Club; represented Wellington at various times since 19f i; North island representative 1919, and emergency 1921; has always played at half. J. G. Donald, aged 23, height 6ft, weight 13.0; wing lorward. Commenced nlaying .footoall at Wellington College, and has played with the Featherston Club (Wajrarapa) since 1917. Captained the Wairarapa team in its southern tour last year. Represented the North Island in 1920 and in 1921. Went to Australia with the All Blacks in 1920. W. Duncan, ago 29, height sft 94in, weight 12.12; front-rank lorward. Has played senior football since 1911, and has represented Otago fr6m 1913 onwards. Represented South Island in 1920 and 1921, and was a member of Now Zealand team to tour Now South Wales last year. Captained Otago against the Springboks. J. Richardson, ago 22, height, 6ft lin, weight 14.6; forward. Has played senior lootball since 1920, and represented Otago in that year. This year represented South' Island, and played tor Otago against the Springboks on Wednesday. E. Hughes (Ponoke), age 36, height sft Tin, weight 12.10; forward (hooker). Has had an interesting football career since 1902; has represented Southland, Wellington, South Island, North Island, and New Zealand (1907-08), and is in tliis year’s Now Zealand team; captained Southland, and was captain of the Britannia Club for seven years; since coming to Wellington he has played for Poneke; played with a New Zealand ihilitary team in , Great Britain; usual place, hooker. J. Mollitt (Oriental), age 31, height sft lliin, weight 15.2; forward (lock). Commenced football in Wellington, playing for the St. James’s and Oriental Clubs; while in the South Island represented South Canterbury, and South Island (1909); Wellington representative since 1910; New Zealand representative, 1920; North Island representative, 1920-21; member of New Zealand Army team in Groat Britain and South Africa; has captained Oriental, and St. James's; usual place, lock, but also good support. f£. Beilis, aged 26, height 5.11, weight 14.8; forward. Learnt his football at Taihape, where he played for the Pirates Club. Was a member of the Army Service team. Played for the North Island in 1920 and 1921, and went with the All Blacks to Australia that year. Fastest forward in the team, and can handle the, ball like a buck. A. L. M’Loan, aged 22, height 6.04, weight 14.1 l ; forward. Learnt his football at Auckland Grammar School, and played for the Aucldand College Rifle Club. At present he is a member of the Opotiki Club, Bay of Plenty. Represented Auckland province in 1918, being then 19 years of age. A splendid type of forward. A. White, aged 27, height 5.10, weight 13st. Learnt his football in Invercargill and represented Southland in 1919-20-21.