VARIOUS NOTES.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 428, 22 July 1913, Page 5

VARIOUS NOTES.

The Maoris defeated Southland at Invercargill on Wednesday by 8 points to 5. Great interest waa displayed m the meeting of InInveroargill and Star on Saturday, theae teams being on equal terms for the Invercargill premiership. After a very keen struggle the Blues were defeated by Star, the score reading 8 points to nil. Star are now practically assured of the premiership. Never before m the history of Western District football has suoh a position arisen. regarding the premiership points as they at present stand, three teams being equal m points, and one team, with a game less played, 2 points behind. All four teams, therefore, have almost an equal chance. In all the previous seasons sinoe the formation of the Union, never more tnan two clubs have been m the running, and on two occasions a play-off has been necessary. At present a play-off looks almost a certflinity, but the diffioulty is to select the teams who will figure m it. •

The position m tht second grade competition is also rery interesting, and should Biverton win their protest against Otautau, nnd subsequently meet de. feat at Nightcaps on 30th June, a play-off will be necessary also. Otautau will be strengthened m their next match at Riverton on Wednesday week by the inclusion of three members of the Heddon Bush Club, two of whom have previously figured m their ranks, The players m question are F. Boyle, L. Cody and M. Forde, all fine types of footballers. "First catch your bird before you eat it." Thus the Western Star : As the Eastern District SubUnion has expressed a wish that the inter-district match, Eastern v Western, be played at Riverton, the match will be played on the recreation ground here instead of at Otautau as formerly arranged. N. Cowie played a great game at Riverton on Wednesday, his defence being of great service to Nightcaps. He used his pace to advantage, and his ability m handling c. c ball, coupled with his agility, carried his team out of many trying corners. Had he not met; with a severe accident to his nose it is doubtful

if Kiverton ".would have scored their try, for it waa while rushing across to save this attack that one'.oi his own team collided with him and put him out .of action for the time being. Although devoid of any great football features, the Riverton-Nightcaps match was a good ona to watoh, It was a hard game throughout, entirely free from malice, and did the heart good to watoh. Biverton are a decidedly improved fifteen and their forwards are hustlers, and it is evident that they are doing considerable training, as they were going at top when the whistle blew for time. Cant, the Nightcaps full-back, was not entirely reliable m the first spell, but for. soundness and safety was hard to beat m the second spell. His vis-a-vis, Small, of Riverton, must have given his team a trying time, and makes one wonder how he gained his place m the (previous Western District team. Orawia are training hard for their next fixture with Nightcaps on Saturday week. Calls incidental to training for defence purposes gave robbed Orawia of W. Whyte's services, but they expect him back for the Nightcapf match. No doubt the Southland selectors, while busy choosing the country team on Wednesday, will have time to consider that m the country are players possessing the finest natural powers .for football, and that representative teams of the future should not be without a leavening of men from beyond the confines of Inveroargill.

Mick Coulter, one time member of the Otautau Football Olub, and a Western District rent-caentative*: -imo4>o«rnoimnat;e<rfor"a^iaceTir^h'e""^V i ?^feailind team to be chosen shortly for the trip to California. Mick was a member of tho North island Country team which played at Inveroargill last year. All local players will wish him luck m being one of the chosen 22.