RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

APPRECIATION OF AITKEN. FLEET OF FOOT. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 30. '1 he Sunday Sportsman gives a column of chatty comment to football topics, written by “Old Public Schoolboy," who. after describing H. H. Forsayth as the greatest fell-buck in England and T. Lawton ns ’one of tho great players who would not be a failure in any position" -two very gallant gentlemen on the field, and two wonderful products of Australian football—

proceeds: “Then lot ns not forget G. G. ■Aitken, the New -Zealander, up at Oxford. A\ e are prone to regard C. N. Lowe as the greatest thing ever in wing three-quarters. W c may b c justified in this when wo iejnember that for 21 consecutive occasions the Old Allevnian has served his country with distinction. ’But after witnessing several games in which Aitken has participated, one rather imagines that our wonderful little International is at last challenged for supremacy by another. In his career Aitken has captained New Zealand in international frays. He has had a unique experience for a mere boy, and he is destined to play an important part in the Rugby game of this country while at Oxford. Ho is fleet of fool. In fact, he is probably several yards faster with the ball than is C, N. Lowe or V. L. Stoyn, the Guy’s sprinter. Ho accepts and gives passes with accuracy, and lie realises the value of cutting in when ha has drawn the defence." SOME POINTS ABOUT FORSAYTH.

He further comments: “Why the colonial footballer is superior to the average nluyer in the .Mother Country it. is difficult to say. Of course, we realise that many of llietn me Rhodes Scholars at Oxford, ami as a result must have excelled in games as well as in mental spheres of activity. But the difference in style is unaccountable. There may be as good a full-back in England. Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Franco as Forsayth. but I do not know him. Pickles or Middleton, of England, Rees, of Wales, Clement, of France, and Crawlon.. of Ireland, may at times have played as oli'erlively or. the Scottish International. .1 agree, but for stylo and in the perfection ■of execution not one of (hem can compare with the tall Australian.

“Forsayth is a very deceptive individual, os ho strolls on the field, hands in pockets, with the typical colonial walk. Ho is not a massive individual of the Gumberlege type. He does not give the impression of strength; he is small of limb, with long arms and legs, and is more of the greyhound type. One would imagine Forsayth as a speedy wing three-quarter, but not as a back who frequently has to ‘go down’ ’:o ugly forward rushes, and who has to collar fast-travelling men several stories weightier than he is. But in his case appearances are deceptive. Forsayth is fast, fie fields (he hall as Jcssop fielded the cricket ball at cover point, he tackles with the certainty and ferocity of a tiger leaping at its prey, and he punts the ball a great length with an accuracy unapproached by any presentday player. The Scottish international is the personification of grace in all ho does. He does not run in the accepted term of the word: he glides over the ground in bis pursuit of the ball or man. It must bn an uncanny experience for mi attacking player to realise tile close proximity of For‘nytli. There is no hesitation in his case--(he man with the ball is the man who is tackled, and it is useless to attempt to deceive him with the ‘dummy.’ ’’