FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2829, 3 June 1908, Page 60

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK. The members of the Now Zealand team to play the British, team on Saturday will undergo a thorough system of training duiing *hedr stay in Dunedin in anticipation of the first test. They will be quartered at the Criterion Hotel. Mr Humphries, manager of the New Zealand teaim, has arrived in the city, and is seeing to it that everything possible iet being done for the comfort of the men under his charge, and for their training vn view of the big engagement.. E. J. Jaokett, the English international full baiokf v/ihef was injured in the match against Wellington, is a useful member of Rugiby society. Be has played in every position outside the scnum, even unto that of wing forward. By the way it is not generally known that Jaokett is an amateur boxer of particular merit, and, like "Darky" Bedell Sivsriight, of *he British team of 1904, has achieved some fame in amateur circles. TJie English international, quiW apart from bis many athletic qualificatione^ is a fine man to know, and whom to know ie to appreciate. Popular as were the members of the British tefum. cf 1904, the present team threatens to eclipse that combination in popularity off the field. From the courteous manager (Mr George Harnett) right through the teajn the Britishers are good fellows all, and one must admire the sportsmanship with which t!hey have taken their defeats. 60 much ihae already been said and written concerning the Britifih-Otago match that there remains little more io be said. My review of the play and player© in the now historic contest have already appeared, and I am not prepared at this stage to supplement those opinions. Save this, tihat I wouid again emphasise the fact that we have noi seen the Britishers In anything like form, and on Saturday's shewing it would! not only be unjust to judge, but it would be forming a totally wroOig in>pression based on a false foundatiop. I have previously stated that the Britishers were lamentably lacking . condition in that desperate forward stouggle on Saturday last, and in writing- fchia I am not overlooking- the fact that the teams respected trainer had given it out that the members ot the team were in good form. With all due lespeot for the opinion of the trainer, I hold tihat the Brutshers on Saturday's showing were oleariv not In condition to last out a> keenly-fought game, and tine maton on Saturday was more than keenly fought— it was desperately cofitected, and tioe Britishers could po{ keep

up the pace, particularly ac their able leader, A. F. Harding, was ''crocked." i sincerely trust that bobh he and E. J. Jackett will be able to take the field in the first tost, on Saturday next. Were I asked as to the strongest threequarter line the British team can place in the field, always provided every member is sound, I should unhesitatingly ea,y : R. A. Gibbs, H. Vassall, Ponty "Jonoe, and J. L. Williams. Gibbs and Williams are Welsh, internationals, Ponty Jones is a Welsh reserve, and Vassall i© the English "star" three-quarter back. The British team must have put up eomething of a record for injuries in the first three matches of -the tour. No fewer, than 12 of the team have received "wounds" of some sort or another. This is an extremely heavy casualty list, and suggests either very bad luck or vigorous Afaoriland methods. In connection with the souvenir supplement of the British Rugby team of 1908, but particularly the reproduction of the English team of 1888, th« question has been asked who are the players in that famous combination. For the information I am indebted to Dr Hunter and MrR. Mar-, tin, mambcrs of the Otago team who played agajnst Stoddart's team in 1888. By referring to the picture in our souvenir supplement of Stoddart'e team, readers will bo able to pick out the players as follows: — Back row (left to Tight) — M 'Shone (trainer), J. P. Clowes, J. Anderton, J. T. Haelam, W. H. Thomas, A. P. Pinkett, Lawlor, A. Paul, J. Lang, P. Burnett, Dr D. J. Smith. Middle row: T. Kent, A. E. Stoddart, Burnett, R. L. Seddon, T. Banks, W. C. Speakman, A. J. Stewart, C Mathers. Front row: H. Eagles, W. Bumby, J. Nolan, S. Williams. Dr Brooks absent. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Union has appointed Mr T. W. Leslie trainer to the Angla-Weleh team for the tour. Mr Leslie is well known as an athlete, and a 6 an authority on training. He has a gocd record, having been one of the best walkers New Zealand has had, and he still takes a great interest in all branches of athletics. Mr Leslie will accompany the team throughout the Dominion. Some of the All Blacks selected to represent New Zealand in the first test match are getting on in years. Wallace is 29 years of age, Hunter 28, Stead 30, Gillett 30, Thomson 26, .and Cunningham 31. Of the others, Roberts is 25, Deans 23, Casey 24, M'Donald 24, and Seeling 24. Mynott, the emergency back, is 31. It is possible that Dr P. F. M'Evedy, the vice-captain of the British team, will remain in New Zealand at the end of the present tour. He is a native of Nelson, and ha» been studying in England for •> about eig*ht years. The Supreme Court at Wellington was adjourned in order that the jurors engaged in a case might witness the British match against Wellington. The 12 good men and true evidently did not regret their afternoon's outing, as on resuming they acquitted the prisoner under trial. Regarding the merits o. various members of the British team, the following will be of interest : — Vassall represented England this season againat Ireland; Davey and Oldham against Scotland ; Harding represented. Wales against England and Scotland ; J. L. Williams represented Wales against TSngland, Scotland, and Ireland; Gibbs represented Wake against Sngland, Scotland, Ireland, and France; and Dibble represented England against Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and France. The New Zealand team to play againf the visiting footballers at Dunedin next Saturday is a grand advertisement for the . All Blacks. What would have happened if the whole of that combination had been playing at the present time does not need much arguing, for the selection would have been limited to them without a doubt. Included in the fifteen are many who could not possibly have been selected on their form this season. For instance, Gillett and Deans had only played one game this season when they were selected, and their form was not surprising in the respective games in which they played. M'Donald was a doubtful player until a couple of Saturdays ago, and iStead gave out as his reason for not accepting the captaincy of the Star Club, Invercargill, that he did not intend to play regularly. But those mentioned in this paragraph were All Blacks, and the fact of their playing at all was apparently enough for the selectors. An injustice hae been done WaUace by playing him full back. Ho is a right wing three-quarter, <fend this fact was conclusively proved on the All Blacks' tour, and it is good business always to play a man where ihe can do the best service for the side.

A deplorable crush ensued at the eastern fate at Carisibrook at the termination of aturday's football match, too many people being as usual desirous of making an exit about the same time. Apparently there were no casualties but there might easily have been some as it was certainly no fault of the young fellows who brutally shoved and pushed their wav through tho crowd that no one was hurt. As it was, incidents of a painful nature were witnessed, and more than one lady was an hysterical and dishevelled wreck by the time ehe had come through a most unpleasant ordeal. Whether the width of the gate or the crowd was at fault, visitors to the ground on Saturday may take warning from this experience. The first Scotsman to attain to the Lewis-Meredith-Bloomer standard of 21 (or over) international "caps" is Robert Walker, the famous Edinburgh player gaining the distinction on Saturday -when he played in his 21et international against Ireland at Dublin. Seven times now has he played against England, six times against Wales, and eight lames against Ireland. In addition he has eight times faced the English Leaguers and three times the Irish Leaguers, Walker was a junior in the first half of 1896, and he began hie oareer as a senior with the Heart of Midlothian "A " team in the opening of season 1896-7 In the recent contest between Cornwall and Durham (or the county championship, Jackett (of the British, touring team) was in the pink pf condition. On one occasion he saved hffl side by /running half the length of the field ana then kicking out close to his opponents' line. Behind the scrum Pjavey (who 1# also making the trip) and Wedge- held fcfye key to the position. Smarter in mapping up th« ball and cleaner in passing out, they opened up the gam» wlto rare skill and freedom. Peter who baa been a footballer of wie migratory order of recent years, has reappeared in Sydney matches, pjaylng for tta Newiowu Club* .Want in his

time, has represented New South Wales, Southland, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Auckland. F. Roberts, the All Black half back, is reported to be playing up to his beat form in Wellington. It is not generally known that the interisland match this -season is to be played at Wellington c-n Wednesday, June 24. This in view of the test match to be played against the Anglo-Welsh team at Wellington on Saturday, June 27. The leading players from all over New Zealand will be assembled in Wellin.jrton for the North Island -v. South Island contest, when the team to represent New Zealand in the test match will be selected. In speaking) of the play of Mona Thomson, the All Black -three-quarter, a Wellington exchange says: "Thomson is none too fond of getting down to ' hot stuff' — at least, he gave one that impression on Saturday, — but there are other ' stars ' who make no excuse for taking a little extra, care of themsolces in club matches." The Maori facility for nick-names was in evidence at Masterton at the big football match. After seeing Jackett's fine performance, the Maoris with one accord christened him "Te Tuna " (the eelYf as a compliment to his powers of slipping through his opponents. —^