FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 58

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

A promising youth named Taylor, late £f Christ's College, with which fifteen, he played five-eights, will be found playing for Otago University this coming season. London calls I Macpherson, the Otago and New Zealand representatve three-quar-ter' back, has sailed for England. His club mat© Allan Adams ie to depart for London this mouth. England will have scorn drawn away all our best foofcbalere-. Last year's Otago three-quarter line will be in the Old Country next year, and the British 'Rugby team visiting New Zealand next season !

Other- University ajid Otago representatives leaving us before next season are Drs Seanme-11 and Harrison, who have obtained their degres at fche Otago University, and JJercy -Foote, last year's 'Varsity captain ; and Arthur Thomson.

Up to the present I have 'x>t heard of a movement beiitg made to erect a headstone to tiie memory of the late John Taiaro», the famous Ota-go and "New Zealand footballer, whose remains are interred in the' Native Cemetery at Otakou. Perhaps the footballers of Otago will take the matter up. In the course of his lecture on "Clean Sport" a-t the City Hall, Chrietchuroh, Mr J. E. Green -said that if professionalism was to invade football in New Zealand it would foe in every way advisable that the New Zealand Rugby Union should take control of 'it. It could keep the game clean even when professionals were concerned, but out ot its hands professionalism would run riot.

It puzzles Australasians (cays Sydney Referee writer) why such players as Gilray (three-quarters) and Portus (half back) were not able to gain places in the Oxford Fifteen, more especially if the strength of Rugger at that university iB to be judged by Oxford's efforts against the v New Zealanders in 1905.— {1t may interest Sydney Referee to know that Gilray was kept out of the Oxford Fifteen owing to an injury, •but since then he has been asked to play for fche semior team.— Full Back.] Mt Alfred G. Dent, hon. treasurer of th© Metropolitan Rug-by Union, Sydney, died at the Sydney Hospital the other day *iter a lengthy illness. The* British Rugby team will leave LonHon for New Zealand in April. Eighteen matches will be played in New Zealand, two probably against Combined New , Zealand, one in the North. Island and one in the South. In the Fortnightly Review for NovemS&er, Mr E. H. D. Sewell has a very good Article on the New Zeelanders, and especially the famous All Blacks, He voices drtrong appreciation of the New Zealandere, and very rightly hots hard ait-Eome of their DriAisb critics. Under date December 13 a. London correspondent writes: — At the present time *h« New Zealand footballers hay* about *M(ht players unable to take the field. WMkine, one of the best forwards, was hurt at practice iiefare the fire* match of the tour, and has no* yet been able to griay. He is progresinw satisfactorily, but It will be some time before he -3an turn iurt. The most serious losses are, however, the two five-eights, "W. Wynv*r<J and Todd, both of whom are nimible and skilful backs. T3ter« is a chance that Wynyard will be fit in a few days, but it will be some time \ «ft>re Todd is again available. M'Gregor, Wright, Byrne, and Callum are ako on the Injured list, but with the first two it is >nly a question of a few days before they ' rill be aJble bo play. Gilohrist is ateo on the casualty list this week, having got a. Jjdsty knock if the Rochdale match last Saturday.