NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 60

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

The following table shows the positions of the respective teams engaged in the First Grade conteet: —

| The latest statement in connection with the professional team is that Otago w ill •■ contribute "three or four forwards." One is probably the limit of this province. Alleged that Baskiville and Wright. (Wellington), Seeling (Auckland), and .Johnston (Otago) selected the "All Black" ' professional team. Also that a Napier man has been offered the position of manager. Fryer, the Canterbury wing three-quar-ter, has put up wmething of a record for | a New Zealander in Australia by scoring five tries against Queensland. Stated that the "All Black" professional j team is to leave Wellington for London ' by the loaio on August 18. Harrison turned out for 'Varsity on Saturday after a retirement of several weeks through injury. The 'V^rsity man signalled his reappearance by kicking three goals. 'Varsity have now a good ;laim for the championship. Although Southern ie at present leading by a point, the students have still the match to play against Taieri Rovers. All anxiety on the question of the wnraing of the tanner for 1907 will be set at rest next week. ! The long season of Senior Grade matohes closes on Saturday next, and on August 10 a. commencement will be made wiih "Country Week." There wa« some tolerably good kicking in the Pirates-Union match on Saturday"Jenkins," th« Pirates full back, kicked three goals out of four. The fourth attempt was from an acute angle, the bail striking one of the upright*. Alex. Dowses was referee in the PiratesUnion nmtou on Saturday, and controlled the game satisfactorily. One noticed that he bad a. keen eye for the player who attempted 1 te pam the ball when on the

ground. A Pirates man informed me that in other matches in -which the Blacks had been engaged the referees had not been so strict on the point. Harking back over a long stretch of yea-rs, the writer remember: the "reception" foreign teams used to receive from the gamin <il the north en-d. The Pirates invariably came in for a more "enthusiastic reception" than other visiting teams. The ! small boy of those long, dead years is a man to-day. but the sramin of 1907 st.ill upholds the hoary tradition, and "receives" *he Pirates as they did in the long ago. The v«fci«.. v c; dies bard. Three old-time players in Burt, Kirkcaldy, and Fenwiok — the latter our old friend Sandy — are plavinjr with the Pirates team, and, ! ' Kiging by their display against Union, ! -Jan etill hold their own in the tight work. Quite a special interest accrued to the University-Dunedin match on Saturday from the fact that it was the last- in which the popular Rhodes scholar would play before his departure for England. And probably the general desire that in his farewell game Colin Gilray himself and his fellew-students as a. team should distinguish themselves made the fine display of football given by the loght Blues doubly popular. In a team that played a. really good all-round game Gilray maintained his usual prominence. On defence he was, as usual, a tower of strength to his side, and in at least four of the 'Varsity's tries he could claim a very large share. Both the triea that he scored were the result of very - pretty play — one in conjunction with Lamas, the other the result of particularly clever work with MacphersonOoiin Gilray began has football career early, joining the High School from the Kaikorai in 1898, with a reputation ac & back. During his six years at the High School he was always prominent on the football field, being captain of the school fifteen during his last season at school. In 1904, immediately on leaving school, he began his First Grade football as wing for the University team. From the first he was recognised ac a- player of more- than ordinary ability. Witness his inclusion in that same* year in the Otago rep. team, in the combined Otago and Southland team against Britain, in the South Island against the North, and also for New Zealand | against Australia in 1905. Ever since he has represented his province with distinction, ami would no doubt have been a member of the All Black team had he not placed study before pleasure. If he had not denied himself on that occasion he would probably not have been leaving for England now in this infinitely more honourable role. What has endeared Gilray to fche football public even more than his brilliance as a player is the absolute cleanness of hie play, combined with a quite unusual modesty. To associate his name with anything approaching rough or unfair play would be unthinkable, and the influence of such a player in maintaining the purity of the game is incalculable. I wish Colin Gilray all success at Home, not only on the football field, but also in the greater issues of life. At the conclusion of the 'Varsity-Dun-e<lin match on Saturday there was much enthusiasm. C. Gilray, who played his last game for 'Varsity, was carried shoulder high off the ground by a number of admirers. Mr Bernie Gallagher, one of the selectors of the Wellington representative team, arrived in Dunedin on a holiday visit on Friday night. Mr Gallagher was an interested spectator of the 'Varsity-Dunedin match on Saturday, and was much impressed with the play of the student footballers, i Pirates have an exceptionally clever hooker in Thomson. This player is regarded by his club mates to have more than a passing show for this season's Otago representative team. The Northern Rugby Union has completed arrangements for marches next season with a professional team from New Zealand. Twenty-seven matches have already been arranged, but 34- will be played. The Sydenham Club has won the Senior premiership of Canterbury ' for the season 1907, having played 12 matches, winning 10, losing one. and drawing one. The Sydenham scored 120 points and had 24 points scored against them. Albion are the rnnners-up, having played 12 matches, winning 10, and lo^nc: two. Albion scored 171 points, and had 57 scored against them. The dpatli is announced in Chrtetchurch of Mr W. E. Fantham. one of the founders of the Kaiapoi Club, and a life member of that body. . Old-time members of tTi* Union Club will regret to learn of the death of "Jiminv"' Taaffe, who was a great supporter of the game, and was a prominent member of the Linwood F.C., Ohristchurch. Onp of Wellington's best forwards is put out of count for the rest of th*» .«>a=on for the sin of endeavouring to strike an opponent duriner the battle between Pf>tone and St. James last Saturday. Tom Cro««. th& player referred to, was subievted to groat provocation (sava a Wellington writer), and he was kicked whilst myitr.ate on the ground. The- Rujrnv T'^ion investigated the circumstances, with the result that Cro«s goes out of action for the rest of the season. Colin Gilray. the Rhodes scholar and Otago University footballer, departed by the Monowai on Wednpedav for Sydnov. en rout© to England. Much interest will he centred in Gilray's career at Oxford, where he i* certain to be not only a success nt college but alSo on the atMetic field. Many fine athletes, have left this colony for England, but probably none who had io euch a marked degree tbe qualifications | possessed by the Otago University student. i Prior to his departure Gilray was tendered a complimentary dinner by the members o£ rhe University team, and was presented with a r-urse of sovereigns by the Otago Rusrhy Union. Much surprise has been expressed locally af the inclusion of Eckhoid's name in the hvt of those published making rhe trip to England with the professional teajn. It bas all along been contended that Eckhold was proof acrainst the wiks of professionalism, and it is hard Io believe that the Otago five-eighth will make the trip. Mr Ernest I*eicester. the ex-Blaekheathean footballer, who was here last week, is of opinion that the visit of a professional Rugby team to England will do a lot of harm to the game not only in the Old Country but in the colonies. He deplores the professional element entering into the King of Sports. A pretty warm Auckland team should be available for the southerr *our next month, despite the fact that nine of the best men will be en xoute to England.

The New Zealand professional team was | the subject of discussion at a recent mteting 'of the Northern Union, when it i was stated that arrangements had been ' made for a visit of a representative New Zealand team to play the counties and clubs in membership with the union. "The team selected," the report states, "is an exceptionally strong one, and the visit should undoubtedly give an impetus to the game." The University-Dunedin match, played on the Caledonian Ground, was one full of excitement and interest. In the first spell the Dark Blues put up a very stubborn fight, and at the close of the spell, when the scores were 6—5,6 — 5, in favour of University, matters looked fairly promising for the Dark Blues. The students, however, played with an entirely new dash in the second half, and by the electric-like movements of their backs almost demoralised their opponents. All the tries scored were the outcome of brilliant efforts. Some of them were pretty to watch. The try scored by O'Sullivan in the first half, and the play that led up to it. was of a very creditable nature. O'Sullivan showed a fine turn of speed, and cut in splendidly. The Dunedin forwards, redoubtable as they are, worked like Trojans, but the University was a much faster pack, and ftp times had the upper hand in the struggle. Fitzpatriclc was in every sense of the word the best forward on the ground. There is certainly no other forward in Dunedin who works as he =does. Colin Gilray crowned a- brilliant football career by scoring two sensational tries in Saturday's match. His play throughout was without blemish. The ovation accorded him at the close of the game was a deserved one. Dansey played on. the wing on Saturday; but very often failed to take the ball. Thepasses were, however, at times high. It was in the thick of the fight that he loomed large. One of Daneey'e outstanding features as a player is his quickness off the mark or at getting into play again after a hard tackle. Macpherson played a striking game' on Saturday; in fact, almost one of his best. ai "J, he was, furrher, in a scoring mood. Ihe Dunedin backs appear to have at last been properly sifted and sorted, and are now showing some aptitude for their respective positions. Clarke's tackling on Saturday was of a. very deadly nature, but he made the mistake once or twice of going for the wrong man— that is, going for the man in the expectation of hi 6 ieceiving the ball. His line-kicking is a wtal spot. O'Slullivan, Worger, and doolon put in real good werk.Pirates brought off their record win of the season on Saturday, when they defeated Union. The game was fast and open and full of interest. Pirates outplayed their opponents at n^rl-e 3 i| no^ o f c game Ihe Pirates backs gave their best exhibition tins season, and tossed the ball about with delightful freedom. The passing was sometimes execrable, but on the whole it was of a fair standard. Towards the end of the same the backs revelled in. the passing rushes, and the Union line was constantly in danger. One of the. best exhibitions of full-baok nlav it has been njy good fortune to witness this season was that~ furnished by •'Jenkins," of the Pirates team, in the match against Union. The "Pirate man took the ball splendidly, invariably in its first flight, and his kicking was good to look upon— long, powerful, sweeping kicks to the touch-line, which tested the endurance of the forwards, who were literally raced-, off their legs." Of a "xjod three-quarter line, which was in the thick of the play throughout! Wyrnks and Nicholson were the pick. In the first spell Thomson, on fche left wing, had several opportunities to show hie ability, but just when he appeared most dangerous the ground slipped from under him, and he was swarmed all over by the enemy. Wyinks, in the centre, did a lot of useful work, and took a hand in the majority of the passing rushes. The tall Pirate ma.n took his pastes in fine style, and his effort in the first spell, culminating in a try, well deserved the applause which greeted it. Nicholson, on the wing, made one or two good dashes, and gave a- glimpee of the dangerous man he would be if constantly fed with the ball. He ie a player with a fine urn ot speed, and playe -srith raro d u>h. At fivp-eighfcha, Nicholson and Fairbairn nla-ved well as individuals, but they were not nlwavs in harmony, and had there keen a better understanding between jhe nair I verily believe Pirates would have won by a still greater margin. Behind the scrum. Jardino was seen to some advantage, and, as his forwards were securing the ball, he was given every opportunity to distineui=h himself. Th.-> Pirates' forward team is one of the beat in town, and on Saturday aprainst T7mon they quite played up to their reputation. T was particularly struck with the form of Rcss. Beattio, and Denniston. Poircroy, iho Union full haok, mj far forgot his unreliability as to play a splendid srarac. for the Maroons. His fielding and kicking wero good, but the feature >f his play was his sound t-acklinff. On one ooca*;on np had three Pirates men running to him with the ball, and no assistance forthcoming. Pomerov tackled the firet man. and was on to the second just as the ball was passed, and bustled the third gentleman to the touch-line. It was a clever pi<?oe of individual work, and what looked a certain try for Pirate was saved by he X'nion full bark* resourcefuhv»«. The Union three-auarter line, which for this occasion was the littlejohn-Don-Mac-lennan trio, does not come into harmony with the scrum. For this reprrettable state of affairs neither the scrum half nor the thrce-auarter line itself is much to blame. The trouble lies at the threshold of the fivr-eighths, who are the weak links in a chain which does 'not connect as it should. j Littlcjohn, who is gifted with more than the average pace of the average footballer. i had few opportunities to show his speed i against the opposition, and if he was not blocked on the touchline was bunched 1 close to the line, surrounded by a horde I of the enemy, through which the Union wing found it impossible to penotrate. Don played a safe game in the centre. There are no fireworks about the play of ! the Union man, but he exhibits a good I 'knowledge of the requirements of the position, and only Fate or force of circumstances prevents him putting his knowledge into execution.

The third of the Union trio.. Macl^nnan, who is also a youth gifted with mo. ; pace than the average, put in one or two meteor-like dashes, and on one occasion got to within striking distance of the line before he was brought up all standing by a splendid tackle. The weakness of the Union five-eightis was apparent from the outset. The men are probably all right as individuals, but they have no definite understanding, so far as the three-quarter lin*> is concerned, as to what they should do when they secure the ball. Owing to Pirates beating Union for the ball from the majority of scrums, DutKie, the half back, was not as prominent as usual. On the occasions the Maroons did ! succeed in hooking the ball he got it away snartly, but it hung fire in the five-eighths division, and the passing' rush which, in tho ordinary sequence of events, should have followed seldom materialised. For once in a way the Maroon forwards failed to play up to their reputations of coming strongly at the finish, and were for the most part kept fighting for their lives to clear the line.. The. Union pack played strenuously throughout, but they were opposed to One of the strongest forward teams in senior football, and their work was not so effective as usual. In the loose dribbling rushes the Maroons more tha.it held their own, but in all other departments they were beaten. Southern* were up against a fairly stiff proposition on Saturday when they met the Port team, which has been rapidly cemmg to the front oi late. The play was not altogether brilliant, but it was a good exhibition of the Rugby game. Port beat tha opposition for the * ball from ihe majority of scrums, and gave the backs every opportunity ; but the passing was not always well-directed, and was invariably across the field. Montgomery, at full back for Port, stood out for good work, kicking and collaring in good style. Of the threequarter line G. Dougherty, who plays with rare dash, was easily the pick. The Port centre played well at times, but Slattery, on the wing, was not in his best form. The ex-Wellington player is always overanxious, and frequently overruns the ball. The Port .five-eighths, W. Dougherty and Kelly, played well, opening up the game and getting down to rushes fearlessly. Immediately behind the scrum, Hart showed to some advantage,- getting the ball away smartly to his hades aod playing . well on defence. All the Port forwards played well, but Perry, Clarke, and Heaiey . were the most prominent. The Southern becks, Tfere. gqaatly handi- . capped owing to their forwards being' ■ beaten for the ball, but even when they did secure the leather the- passing of _• ' Black-and-whites was at 'times, deplorable. - There was nothing brilliant about the play of the Southern full back, who, though making few serious mistakes, failed at time* to find the line. The three-quarters have played better games. Bees was the pick of the trio, in an ordinary display. At five-eighth the real strength, of Southern lay, and here Goldsmith and Chambers did good work, bearing the burden of a. -trying day. Fullarton, the midget scrum _»lf, was not so promir . nent as usual, this owing .to the fact that his forwards were beaten for the bail, and the further fact that the Port forwards were quick to get on to him. . The Southern forwards played well In the loose and on the line-out, but there was a decided weakness in the sorums, in which they were badly beaten. The play in the match Zingari v. Alhambra, from a spectator's point of view, .ma rather uninteresting, the game being chiefly confined to the -forwards. The backs shewed a disinclination to go in for the passing gome, being quite content with find, ing the touch-line. Alhambra were more successful at this than. their opponents, who invariably failed to find touch, with the result that their forwards were continually being run off their feet. Dryden was absent from the Alhambra team, his place behind the pack being taken by King, who, along with Williams, ra« the mainstay of the backs. Although retired from the game, King showed he has lost none of his defensive powers, and wast the means of checking the majority of Zingari's forward rushes. Williams is a, promising young player, and wiM, no doubt, improve in time. Marston, at full back, played safely, while Harrhy was probably the pick of the three-quarters. Of a young forward team, Williams, Mifchell, and Harridge were .the pick, while Watson played well as an emergency. Although defeated by a. penalty goal, the Zingari team were not disgraced, and were unlucky in not making a draw of it, as they had their opponents penned on their line for the greater portion of the second spell, and with a good scoring man amongst the backs must have scored on more than one occasion. The weak point about the Zingari backs is their kicking. Davidson, at full back, had his hands full all' the after* noon, and came out with flying colours. The manner in which he collared his man after he had crossed Zingari line saved a three-quarters. Kellan was easily the pick certain score. Graham was the best of^the of the half backs, and was ably supported by Collie, who, instead of kicking so much, should use his speed to better advantage. Oi a vigorous, set of forwards, Low, Spiers, Abbott, and Patterson were always in the forefront. A suggestive comment: While the- New Zeaianders include several young players, they are a .much more seasoned lot than the New South Welshmen. E. E. Booth, represented his province 11 years ago; W. J. Wallace 10 yetars ago; J. Hunter aod J. Spencer nine years ago; G. A. Gillett, H. Mynott, W. Cunningham eight years ago; and G. Spencer seven years ago. Several of these men cannot hope to mamtain their position much longer in the representative New Zealand team. What we learned from the New Zeaianders was not much (says a Sydney writer on the first match New Zealand v. New South Wales). All they showed us we already knew, but the knowledge w»« not put into execution. Wallace our m<Ti something' new in his revolving run, which enabled him to work himself out of a. tackle. Our eight pack beat their seven almost on every occasion, and Wood got the ball out quickly in the first half. but in the second the visitors put up so solid a. pace that the advantage of heelingout was of no effect That s_ae pace spoiled many of our line kkHu cad passe*. The New Zeaianders used the line to perfection. Sydney Referee's comment on the first match New Zealand v. New South Wales: "The best New Zealand bade w_ ft

Jtoberte, a wonderful player at scrum half. 'Fryer, one of the new three-quarters, is a top-notcher, -with all the bounce and pace of youth, and a strong football individuality. Hunter and Mynott, as five-eighth 6, got in none of their famous combination owing to the deadliness of the tackling. Wallace and Mitchinson were individually all right, but the solid and sure tackling smashed up their efforts to combine. The full back (G. Spencer) was reliable in his general play, but would appear to be a trifle slow. Among the New Zealanders, Johnston, a huge man, ■ played a superb, all-round game in the vanguard, his dribbling being as pretty and effective as anything of the kind one has ever seen. All the other forwards of the visiting team played with great grit and ability, their close ruok work and their dribbling in the second half being immense. M'Donald was a great player; and so was Casey. But their greatness was collective, as, although beaten back in the first half, they kept plugging on, and in the end outlasted the furious rushes and powerful scrummaging of iheir antagonists, though the gruelling nature of the contest left them seemingly content to keep moving slowly ahead 'in- > eead of becoming brilliant at the finish." A New Zealander with the All Blacks in Sydney, speaking to a pressman, said : "It was thought that we took a big- rick in playing only one experienced hookeT instead of two, as M'Donald, who was -in the front with Caeey, has very rarely played in that position, which probably accounts for the fact that our men did' not secure possession' of the ball as often as yours. Of • course,' against that, M'Donald played a much finer game in the other branches of forward play than Hughes (the other hooker) in all probability would have done- had he been in the team." The arrangements for the visit of a New Zealand team next season are now completed, and to-day (says the Athletic News of June 10) -the guarantee fund will be closed. The colonials aek for 70 per cent. of (he ''gates," with a minimum of £50 for a mid-week match, and £100 for a Saturday game. The "minimum" has already been paid by the clubs who desire fixtures, and the amount which lies to the credit of the expected tourist* amounts to £3000. So far the two officials of the Norbhern Union who know the names of 21 out of the 25 players who are making the journey have kept their secret well, but it is understood that seven of the colonials will not be sin-angers to English Rugby football. In other words, nearly half the team will be "All Blacks." The programme to be arranged will consist of 3+ games, for in addition to meeting all the leading Northern Uaion teams, three county matches and two internationals are to be played. rhe team will be here early in the season, and the Northern Union will announce the names immediately after the side has kit New Zealand in the first week of July.

Southern Jniversity Uhambra ?ort Chalmers Pirates ZingariBichmond iaikorai Diraediu raieri Rovers [Jnion ;*> f4 15 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 14 15 3 10 9 9 7 7 7 6 6 o 1 a 3 o 3 5 6 6 6 7 12 14 O E » 5 .= X O 2 133 3 237 3 102 3 109 2 102 2 93 3 107 2 109 0 57 0 30 S* •a g SP ® ■3 1J .5 S.S O -CO 89 22 64 21 76 21 76 17 130 16 80 16 96 15 102 14 170 4 186 2