NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 57

NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAT.

The game between the Kaikorai and Zingari-Riehmond was not particularly exciting, but the spectators witnessed a good deal of clever and interesting play. The winners had the best of the game, but it is doubtful if the difference in the capabilities of the two teams was as great as the score would indicate. The forwards on both sides played very well, and on the whole gave a much better exposition of the game than the backs did, their combination being good, and some of their • loose rushes very effective. In the early etages of the gam© the Kaikorai generally managed to get the ball from the scrum, but the Zingari-Riehmond afterwards became more successful in this department. The teams were evenly matched in the loose, but the Kaikorai had the best of the line-out play. The Kaikorai baoks had several good chances of scoring early in the game, but their passing was very erratic, and all the chances were lost. The Zingari-Riehmond backs handled the ball with a good deal more accuracy, but, owing *o the admirable tackling of the Kaikorai, they were unable to make much headway. The kicking and fielding on both sides were good, but the Zingari-Rich-anond's tackling was not so determined as that of the opposing backs. Smith, the Kaikorai full back, though not brilliant, .was very safe, and never got his side into

(difficulties.

Arniit was probably the best

of the three-quarters, but Dobson also played well, his excellent judgment in kicking being a feature of bis play. Booth jpufc in a lot of excellent work, and Don and Beeby performed very creditably, the ilast-named shaping well behind the scrum. Of a good set of forwards, the most prominent was M'Donald, who played a hard game from start to finish, being almost continually in the thick of the struggle. Porteou3 also played a fine game, and 'Adamson put in some good work on the iine-oufc. Thomson, the Zingari-Rjchmond .full back, played a good game, and the Ithree-quarters, who were weakened by the absence of Smith (Curtis taking his place), "did as well as could be expected. Collie jwas probably the best back on his side, and QtJow lent him adequate support. Of the .{forwards, the most noticeable were Cara.dus, Low, Hobbs, and Stewart, M'Donald ,;' /playing well on the line-out. Mr 'jJM'Donald controlled the game in a manner ;',;*hat left nothing to be desired. Kaikorai ... 8 points. Zingari »~ Nil.

The XTniversity-Dunedin match was dcci- , Hedly interesting to watch, and mainly so ' (because of the clever handling of the ball -.fey the University backs, who on Saturday's ■££orm must be considered as all round the

test combination playing in club football ,3ft*9 JSffiSz Tks University agaia^ jig^ld

its reputation as a scoring team, made the game open from fche start, and the passing of its ' backs was a feature of the game, being smart and always a danger to the opposing side. Adams, at centre thr&equarter, played a sterling and unselfish game, and his place-kicking was decidedly good. Of the wings, Macpherson got most of the work, and excelled in both defence and attack, while Gilray scored one clever try, and made quite the most of his opportunities when the ball cams across to him. At five-eighths Healo played an almost ideal game in that position, taking the ball and passing splendidly. His try wa3 a particularly fine one. Borrie is a sound defensive player, and smart afc getting in l>is kick, and Lornas, the other five-eighths, has plenty of pace and a good reach, playing an excellent game. Wi Repa was, on the whole, good at full back. Of the forwards, A.- Thomson was a particular thorn to tho other side, shining in the loose play, and dribbling_ in capital style. Foote, G. Thomson, and Harrison were particularly conspicuous among the others. Dunedin missed the services of B. Watson at fiveeighths, Mason, a Second Fifteen player, creditably filling the vacancy by playing in the three-quarter line. Clarke, the Dunedin full back, was of invaluable service to his side for his fine tackling, which kept the University score much lower than it must otherwise have been. The University wings found- Clarke an almost insurmountable obstacle in their path. Teesdale played a good defensive game, tackling well, and Morgan was £he best of the fiveeighths. " Among th© forwards, Falla played an excellent game, and so did Dunne and Fitzpatrick. The Dunedin forwards more than held ( their own in scrum, work, but the ball rarely came out to their backs, who handled it .with indecision . when it did oome. The University forwards excelled on the line-out and in the loose. Mr H. White controlled the game. University... 19 points Dunedin nil

The recent decision of the New Zealand Union that an injured player who had to leave the field could not be replaced dealt harshly with the Union in their match against Southern, for shortly after the commencement of the game two Maroon players were unfortunately injured, one o-f whom had to leave the field for good and the other for some 10 or 15 minutes. Practically the Union played Southern with 14 men. In the first spell the handicap was not apparent, the Maroons holding their own in an even game ; but in the second half the weight of odds began to tell, until towards the finish the Southern were overrunning their opponents. Probably owing to the Colours' vanguard having undergone several alterations through the absence of three of the regular players, the combination of the pack was disorganised. Whatever the cause, the play of the whole team was degrees below form. There was no solidity about the forward rushes, and no system about the attack of the backs. Faulty handling and bad fielding of a dry ball were frequent on the part of Southern in the earlier stages of the game. On these occasions the Union forwards were quick to seize the advantage, and they frequently broke away in loose rushes. While Union fell away in the second half Southern improved, the Colours' backs giving a good exhibition of the passing game, and the forwards playing with better combination. Kindley, the Southern full back, took the ball accurately, and kicked powerfully and- well, albeit not always with judgment. The Colours' three-quarter line did not show to great advantage in the first half, their passing being invariably straight across the field, with the result that the wing was "boxed" onJjhe touchline. Improved play was noticeable in the second half. Chambers and Bennet put in several good dashes for the line, but they were not always certain in taking the ball. Harley kicked well, but in his anxiety to take a pass at full speed frequently knocked fche ball on. Eekhold, »t five-eighth, was the star of the Colours' backs. This player initiated the majority of the passing rushes on his side. In the forwards, M. Casey, Sheehan, Simpson, and M'Kewen stood out for good work. On the Union- skte, -Gray, at full back, had a great deal of work to- do, and with the exception of an occasional lapse he acquitted himself creditably. This player's defence at times was superb. For the most part, the Maroon three-quarters had to make their own play. M'Lennan and Littlejohn are a pair of speedy wings, but they had little chance show their pace. Both these players, however, kicked well, making good U93 of the touchline when occasion demanded. W. Munro, who played in the centre after his injury, did a vast amount of defence, while Green, who took his captain's place at five-eighth, was also conspicuous, at times for determined rush-stopping. -Grant, the Union half back, ran and kicked well, but he was not successful in getting the ball away. Sullivan, who was tried at five-eighth, showed some promise in the new position, the possibilities of which he has yet to grasp. Of an even lot of forwards, who excel in the loose. Manley, M'Carthy, Harris, and Dryden were conspicuous. Southern ... 13 points. Union Nil.

At Bishopscourfc the Alhambra baoks were too clever for the Pirates backs. Their passing was good. Johnston, playing wing forward, was not much in evidence, but Forbes, Mitchell, and M'Kewen did some useful work. Talboys was the best of the Pirates' front division, and Cramond, among the backs, put in some good kicks. The scrums and the Jine-out work were carried out with little effort on either side. Mr Hugh M'Farlane controlled the game to the satisfaction of both parties. Unfortunately two mishaps occurred, de Lautour (Pirates) having his shoulder bruised and M'Leod (Alhambra) his collar-bone broken. Alhambra ... 8 points. Piratc3 ... 3 points.