NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 57

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Saturday was a footballer's day— very flittle wind, dry overhead, and just enough "'sting" in the air to make playing pleasant. ■'All the grounds were soft from the recent a-ains but not so bad as to render postponement of any of the senior fixtures neces•^Dvmedin footballers will be pleased to hear that "Scobie" Mackenzie is looked upon »s one of the crack three-quarter backs of Auckland at the present time. D. Mason was unable to play for Zingari •im Saturday owing to an injury to his hand, received in the Alhambra-Zingari match two Saturdays ago. . ; Alderman J. O'Donnell, of Randwick '(N.S.W.). is identical with "Jim ODonfcell the eld Intercolonial forward. He was a member of the first New Zealand team to frvisit New South Walea in 1884. It was jiwith that team that H. Y. Braddon first Weared as a footballer in Sydney. The I-188* New Zealand team played eight fetches, and won every one of them. Jim lO'Donnell was captain of the Gordons, who jchec'ied the successful career of the then [sr,vinrible University ream, ana won the mremiership in 1886. j The display of. the forwards on both sides tou the Ime-out in the Alhambra-Southern janptch 0:1 Saturday was very poor, the vhistle sounding for knocks-on with nearly j «s much regularity as the rumour that the j «n<l of the Transvaal was has been reached. |' A fa*t, fairly heavy, dashing set of for.nvards, when bearing down or. their opponents' go^l with, the ball at thtir toes, apparently inspire terror in those located beittv.een the aforesaid ball and goa 1 . I have Hoimed ttiis impression after watching the | USoutliern-Alhambra match. This is cne of lithe occasions when precept ha 3 the acivanitage of example. I O'Brien, crack Wellington and Alhambra forward, was ordered off tho field on SaturHdav shortly after the commencement of the {•second spell for some doubtful compliment Hho paid the referee, while Stephenson had to Wire just before the end of the game, owing l<to straining a sinew in the back of Ins (iknee. "" - ' W. Dey was very much "off on oaturQay. So wae Bennet, at centre. Had the Alhambra forwards "toileci as liard as their skipper, Hobson, Saturday's floss again3t the Southern might not have becurred. He proved to demonstration that Wample is streets ahead of precept, so far Vs football and the barrackers are concerned. 1 Patter.ion. Alhambra' s wing three-quarter, Jib 011 gh handicapped somewhat in the matter «f size, is a very game player, and his fine Washing runs on Saturday were the only Beature that relieved the monotony of the tAlhambra backs' display. I One or two of the Alhambra forwards are sadly in lack of training. Past performances .should not ensure a place in a senior team 'fcill a player chooses to cease playing. "Blind * side ! Blind side ©very time! .Thus a, disgusted Alhambra supporter on And very truly. In their anIxiety to play to Stephenson, the Alhambra Shalf backs ignore t'iree good men at the Seast out in the open. And the other side Hknow this weakness, and profit by it accordJSn gly . I Stephenson's display on Saturday, before &c received the injury to his leg, was very v iar below senior form. No one eeemed more I'idisgusted with his exhibition, however, than ""She ex-Manningham player himself. 1 Jimmy Duncan, the popular Kaikorai skrpiper, relates an incident of last year's northern tour of the Otago team which has npt Ijpefore reached this writer's oars. Duncan !ijayj3 that in one match on this tour he was Offered £200 to nothing that Otago would \osb. Of course such offer was indignantly liefuaed, but on further consideration T)im-V-au jocularly says he thinks it was a bit Jiasty — he should lia-ve seemingly consented, imd demanded £50 for a start and £50 at jialf time — of course playing all he knew )lo win at the same time. It would have iewed such a rogue as the proposer of this >eheme to have been thus "taken down." The win registered against the Alhambra. pn Saturday by the Southern is the first over recorded by this club against the Eed W Blacks.

Casey's claims to interprovincial .honours Received material assistance by his display •gainst the Alhambra on Saturday. His securing of a mark when falling was an especially clever bit of work. His collaring was lalso very sure, tlie opposing players finding &t nearly as difficult to get past him as it da to ob*tain a '•shake-down" iv Dunedin at ithe present time. Clarke, the Southern full back, kinked in fine style in the match against Alhambra. •He should remember, however, that when ithe opposing forwards are right on him it is better to retain possession of the ball. 'One of his kicks was charged down on Saturday. and had it not been for the übiquitous "Casey, a score might have been recorded lagainst his club. Neil gave a fine dashing forward display for the Southern, and through his efforts his club were enabled to score at least on? of the two tries secured.

Morris, the Southern's scrum half, is a [plucky little nlayer, and goes from start to finish. He play 3 to some purpose, too, and rendered his club material assistance in their victory against the Alhambra. Allen thoroughly justified his position as Ttring forward for the Southern, and though Very much on the small side, as compared with his opposing wing, — Oscar M'Kewen, — he showed the latter that there are one or two points at least yet to be learnt in the

art of wing forward play. Allen's followingup and tackling, too, were Al. Recce, Southern wing three-quarter, should remember that it is far better for him to try to nick the ball up and make sure he has it, than to take the risk of a flying kick and the chance of missing it altogether.

Chambers played a first-class game at wing three-quarter for Southern. He rather took the wind out of Stephenson's sails by emulating to some purpose the latter's trick of throwing the ball out of play.

The Southern-Alhambra match was a fine exhibition of forward football. The game was fast and interesting from start to finish. By their fine, open, dashing play the Southern forwards fully maintained, their reputation of being the best forward pack in town. Once started on a loose, dribbling rush they are a formidable lot to stop, but they spoil many a chance by kicking too hard. The Alhambra forwards, in the loose play, suffered by comparison with their opponents, but they played equally well, if not better, in the tight work. Their centre men secured the ball more ef ten than the Southern, but the ball was not allowed to come out clean, the back ef the pack keeping it among their feet, and trying the " screwing ' game. This came off several times, and then their opponents dropped to it. The Alhambra forwards were guilty of a number of infringements in the first spell, and that, too, at times when they were pressing the attack pretty hard. It would scarcely be correct, perhaps, to say that scores would have resulted but for (he infringements, but nevertheless one or two good chances were lost in this way.

Again it is necessary to comment on the amount of talking among members of football teams. It was noticeable on Saturday in the first spell of the Southern-Alhambra game. Footballers are very slow in. taking hinta.

The Southern back division has often been condemned for poor play, but if their display in the remaining games reaches the high level -of Saturday's match, those who have condemned hitherto will change their tune. They did not do much in attack — the forwards were net getting the ball often in the scrum, — but in the defence they give an excellent all-round display. It is safe to say that but for the splendid tackling of the backs, the Alhambra must have scored several times. Fiach man went for his man determinedly, and made no mistake about colla' 1 - The Alhambra backs did not play as wel as usual. When the ball came out of the scrum, each of the backs seemed to be content to run a short distance and then transfer to his neighbour, the consequence being that the wings were almost invariably jambed on the line when they got the ball. The art of cutting in should be practised a good deal more. It. was noticeable only by its absence on Saturday.

■ Alhambra full back Dey was safe in what he had to do. He was not overburdened with work.

Patterson made several dashing runs during the game. He is a fast man, and somewhat difficult to stop when he gets going properly. Stephenson's display was somewhat disappointing after the way he has been playing of late. True, the ball did not come his way very often in the first spell, and when it did he had no room to run, bit his play" otherwise was poor. Of course allowance must be made for the fact that ho wa3 hurt during the second spell. Bennet played a fairly good game at centre. His running and kicking were good, but he might try and stop a few more rushes than he does. Also he should cut in more, and so give his wings better ciiances. Kuowles did a lot of useful work behind the scrum. His kicking on Saturday was somewhat poor. It is hard to single out any individual players from among the Southern forwards because they all played a good, hard, dashing game. Christie, Olson and Neil wf, perhaps, the pack, and Allen was a lively member on the wing.

The new rule that a foot may be put up in the scrum, which, I presume, has been brought in to make the game more open, tenda towards a lot of rough play among the forwards which is not seen b,v the public, and is too often ignored by |he referee. The rule allowing- 'players to put a fool up in the scrum before the ball is in, and that of allowing players to put the ball into the scrum should be abolished, and the old ruling on these points allowed to prevail. The secret .of 'Varsity's win against Zingari on Saturday was the excellent combination of both back's aud forwards, and- also to the fact that the Light Blues got the ball from the scrum more frequently than did the Colour?.

J. Macdonald. tlie -ex-'Var o ity player, and one- time Otago rep., who has been on the West Coast for some time, is in Dunedin over the Duke's festivities. Mac donned the jersey on behalf of his old love against Zingari on Saturday, and was a regular demon in his play- against that club. His long kicks into touch, his deadly tackling, and his play generally was tip-top. Macdonald also kicked two of the goals for 'Varsity.

Dive, the 'Varsity's wing forward, is a regular clinker — goes all out from start to finish — sprawls all over his man when collaring—^lays with his head, and is full of dash. Thus his game against Z'ngari on Saturday. Dive, however, is an off-side sinner. Frequently on Saturday he got 'Varsity penalised for coming round the scrum ton quickly. Thompson, Varsity's full-back, had very Hi tie to do on S<jturd<iy, but when occasion offered he was all there, and made no mistakes.

White was the be3t of the 'Varsity's threequarters. This player uses a fair amount of speed to advantage, lacks well and collars in good style. His fast following up on Saturday was responsible for one of the Light Blues' tries. Adams and Fairclough. the other two 'Varsity three-quarters, divide the honours meted out for good play against Zingari. Uttley assisted Macdonald behind the scrum, and put in some great work. His kicks to touchline saved the 'Vaivity forwards a lot of unnecessary running, for which they were truly grateful.

Fisher, Hotop, Neill and Dive were the pick of a fast lot of forwards, who worked like natives throughout a trying game.

Zingari team appeared to be completely disorganised «i<rain«t University on Saturday, and. ra spite of the efforts of Captain Smith, they only orce rose nbove themselves.

Zingari full-back had a 10l of bard work lo do stopping r'isliG'. In this direction he was fairly successful, but was more or less bustled throughout the game.

The three-quarter backs got very little chance to show what they could do a? the ball rarely came in their direction. When they did secure it one of the trio \yas sure

to become tangled before getting far, con sequently very little ground was gained.

Mason and Austin, behind the serum, grafted willingly and look all the gruel meted out to them by the 'Varsity pack. Mason on three occasions broke away with the ball and passed out to his backs, but they invariably mulled it. On one occasion, however, Mason got out a good pass to King, via the centre three-quarter, and this wing-player streaked for the line,scoring a good try. Austin worked as only he can against a good team, putting in a lot of work. He is, however, inclined to play a lone hand.

The Zingari forwards played all they knew, but on the day, that was not very much. G. Smith and W. Smith, to my mind, were the only two players who shone ovit conspicuously, the former especially being easily singled' out. Time and again he came out with the ball at his toe, and alone dribbled it half the length of the ground. Successful attacking against a team of backs with a rudimentary knowledge of defence is, says a writer in Sydney Referee, often carried on by very ordinary players, who possess considerable speed and can catch the ball, whereas the same players against strong defenders are helpless. As an example, I might quote tlie ■final N.Z. •*•- N.S. Wales match in Sydney in 1897, when there were a number of players on our side who shone in the loose, and were never guilty of tackling a man, and some, at least, who had no . idea of tackling. As another instance, you will remember how W. Warbrick, with the Wentworth Cftib, composed of players mostly young and not known to fame, set all the senior clubs a very difficult task a few years ago. Warbrick not only knew the value of defence, but he had the ability and the knowledge of the game to get the be3t possible results in defending out of his men. Tlie return New South Wales v. Queensland matches at Brisbane are likely to be played on August 24- and 31. As the New South Wales team for Now Zealand will have left Sydney prior to those dates, New South Wales will accordingly have two representative teams in the field at the same time. Fortunately, there is any amount of talent of about the same quality. Referee considers that the New Zealand tour should be either restricted to five matches (three against N.Z. and two against the provinces) or not undertaken at all. New South Wales wanted a programme of this nature, and N.Z. wanted seven matches. The former gave way. Referee thinks the time has arrived when visits to New Zealand and visits by New Zealand to Australia should be better regu lated. A regular interchange of visits could be arranged whereby the New South Wales-Queensland contests would not be interfere! with. Why not say three Australian v. New Zealand test matches each year, and arranged so that the players could make the trip in four weeks instead of the seven weeks, which is far too long for most men to obtain leave for? This question has been discussed in the Union meetings, and it is quite likely that a definite proposal will be sent to New Zealand and New South Wales before very long. The popularity of Rugby football in Sydney continues to increase. In no other season on record did the matches bring in such fine returns, the "gates" each Saturday being uniformly good. , Mr T. Familton, a member of tho Excelsior Football Club (Gore), was met by his fellow club members on Monday night prior to his departure for Oamaru, and presented on their behalf with a ca?e of pipes and a silver match box, while on behalf of Mr G. H. Mair he was the recipient of a cigarette holder.

The Porteous-M'Guirk incident in the match which was played between Wellington and Otago in .September last is not yet closed. Porteous, it will be remembered, was ordered off the field by the referee, and the Otago Union suspended him from playing for a period of 12 months. He pleaded provocation in that he had been struck by M'Guirk, of the Wellington team, and several reputable witnesses, including members of the Wellington Vnion, bore out his testimony. M'Guirk was, however, not punished by either the Wellington Union or New Zealand Union. A member of the O.R.F.U. committee wrote to Mr G. Rowland Hill, secretary of the English Union, on the subject, pointing out the injustice of a course by which the assailant got off scot free while the assailed was placed under the ban of suspension. He has now received a reply from Mr Rowland Hill stating that the committee of the English Union is bringing the matter under the attention of the New Zealand Union.