ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22964, 20 August 1936, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

By Corner-kick

SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO JUNIORS In addition to a full round of Fletcher Cup matches, an interprovincial match for the Otago Junior Cup, between a Southland senior team and Otago juniors, will be played on Saturday. The latter game will be a curtain raiser to the Old Boys-Roslyn-Wakari match at Logan Park. The positions of the teams in the Fletcher Cup competition were unaltered following last week's games, and this week the leading teams, Seacliff and Mosgiel, are due to meet Mornington and Technical College respectively. In both cases the leaders should secure the full points, and the premiership will still be in doubt.

My Invercargill correspondent forwards the following particulars of the Southland team, which is regarded as being one of the best ever to represent the province. The display of Corinthians against Mosgiel recently cannot be taken as a fair indication of the standard here, he states, and if the representative side is defeated Otago will need to field a particularly fine team.

There is a good blending of youth and experience, while the forwards have speed and shooting ability. The half-backs are solid, and Pay. in goal, needs no recommendation to the Dunedin public. The following notes on the players should be of interest: — H. Pay will be the custodian, and is a hard man to beat. He has good hands and a fine sense of anticipation.

W. F. M'Donald has been playing fine club football, and is a hard man to get past. He is left full-back. D. Kerr is a solid half-back, but also plays solidly in the forwards. He has not the speed of some of the others, but does not lack dash.

E. Hobbs is one of those tireless half-backs, and is never beaten. A great bustler and grand tackier. His weakness is in shooting; probably because he does not try often enough.

D. Monison is the fastest man on the side and is always liable to be dangerous. He will need to be closely watched.

M. O'Rorke is a full-back who finds his height of some advantage. He has not a strong kick, but places it well.

W. Reddington was selected to play, but will not be making the trip. A. Sutherland is an ex-Wellington representative and very clever. He played a good game against Mosgiel. T. M'Cormack needs no introduction to the Dunedin public, having represented Otago for several seasons. He is playing as well as ever. H. M'Kinnon is a left-wing who appears to have a promising future. He is very fast and crosses well. He has been playing alongside M'Cormack in club games and the experience of the latter has been of great benefit to the young Mataura player. A. Hardy is another "speedster." who plays at centre-forward. He has scored some grand goals this season and should play well. A. Batchelor is getting to the veteran stage, but is still playing well in the full-back position.

LAST WEEK'S GAMES

Although beaten in the return match with Seacliff at Logan Park, Roslyn-Wakari made the leaders in the competition play hard for the honours. The score, 4—o, was not a fair indication of the run of the play, Roslyn's lack of finish to complete its attacking movements accounting for the difference in the scoring. Roslyn were not at full strength, being without Ramage, whilst a Third Grade Dlayer. Smythe, filled the right-wing position, in which he displayed promise. The team's play was the best it has given on Logan Park this season, but the forwards should have played deeper on the opposing backs, instead of allowing them open clearance. Anderson, who is the best back playing here at present, is not the easiest of players to pass, but his task was made easier by the play of the forwards.

Seacliffs superiority lay in the defence, Rankine especially playing a safe game between the posts. The half line was weak, Thompson being the best, and, whilst the forwards' midfield play was not impressive, the strong shooting of Milne and Hooper gave it the advantage. Jordan was the brains of the attacking movements, and his clever play made the way for his team's second goal when he gave Milne a perfect pass right in front of goal. For the losers, Agnew. in goal, was more strongly tested than Rankine, and he could not be blamed for the goals that resulted, two at least being scored from close quarters, whilst another resulted when he was lying on the ground injured. Ness was the better of the full-backs, his sound tackling frequently depriving Hooper as the latter was making for a breakaway. The half line was good, and gave the opposing forwards little chance to settle down. They failed in backing up play when the front line were in position, as, when the defence cleared, the ball was returned wildly, instead of with an easy lob to goal. The latter remarks to do not apply so much to M'Callion. He was the best of the three, and was unlucky in not scoring with several fine itempts. With more experience, the forward line should develop into a strong section. At present they lack .onfidence, being over-anxious in attack. Munsie battled hard all through, but when the play came his way he was closely watched by the defence. Rutherford, on the wing, although crossing well, is slow in action, and this gives the defence time to position themselves to meet the attack. Agnew and Campbell, the inside men, are capable in opening up play to the wings. Both can shoot with power, but they lack direction.

The meeting of the Old Boys and Technical teams at the Oval on Saturday was watched by a fair number of spectators, but the display of both sides was nothing like the games these exschool elevens have given in previous second round encounters. The writer was impressed by the fine display of goalkeeping by Tointon, who saved his side repeatedly. He had, however, no chance with any of the goals scored against him. Taylor, the ex-Christ-church player, who played at rightback, also gave a sound display. He has two good feet, clears, and follows up to advantage, but his style of play should be more suited to the centrehalf position. His junior partner at left-back shaped promisingly. The halves worked hard, but with no construction. Witchall was the pick of the forwards, but would have served his side better at inside. Good opportunities were missed by wild shooting, especially in the second spell. Smith, in goal for Old Boys, had an easy day, his one mistake costing his side a goal. Pickerill and Sutherland were sound. The halves have played better. Duncan again proved himself a capable half, for during the second spell at centre-half, he placed and kept his forwards well supplied with the ball. The forwards did not impress as a line. Beale, at outside-right, is better suited at half. Cameron played a good game, and with Chapman at inside in the second spell, he delighted with some clever movements.

The match between Maori Hill and Mornington, played at Prospect Park, did not produce a great deal of good football. Play was fast enough, but wild kicking and weakness in front of goal lost both sides many chances. For Maori Hill, Holden, in goal, was safe, but he was lucky with two shots. one from Scholleld, which hit the cross bar. and the other from Henderson, which hit the upright. Both of these shots had him beaten. Taylor and Mills were unsteady at full-back. The half line, however, dominated the play, and by excellent placing to the forwards it was responsible for the team's win. The forwards combined well, but displayed poor shooting. T.ittlo and M'Anally were the best of the line.

The Mornington goalie, Baughen, had