VICTORIAN GAME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 62

VICTORIAN GAME.

MELBOURNE, August 25. New Zealand (6 goals and 12 beliinds) defeated Queensland (4 goalb and 11 behinds). The New Zealanders played a nior© skilful game. August 26. In the football carnival Tasmania defeated New Zealand by 11 goals and 2 behinds to 1 goal and 12 behinde. There ar© no details. 4ugust 27. The Tasmania-New Zealand match w«us ■very one-sided in all departments. Tasmania showed the more intimate knowledge of the game. The New ZeaJanders were notable tor deficiency in pace. Victoria y. South Australia, which was looked upon m the match of the carnival,

resulted in a win for Victoria by 10 goals 15 behinds (75 points) to 2 goals 14 behinds (26 pointe). August 28. In the football carnival under Australian rules, New South Wales (13 goals 15 behinds) beat Queensland (8 goaJs 11 behinds). The unbeaten teams co far are Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia. August 30. (Received August 30, at 4.20 p.m.) In the football carnival South Australia j defeated Tasmania by 16 goals and 20 behinds to 7 goals. Victoria defeated Western Australia by 13 goals and 22 behinds to 6 goals and 8 behinds. ASSOCIATION. By Left Wecg. The following table shows the positions j of the teams engaged in the Wednesday competition: — % ■ . i m m 2 Post and Telegraph A .... 11 8 1 2 49 10 18 Southern A .. ..10 7 1 2 38 13 16 Laidlaw and Gray 10 4 4 2 22 32 10 A. and T. Inglis ..10 4 4 2 17 23 10 Sout'aeyn B .... 10 '4 5 1 20 11 9 Tramways .. „ 5 1 3 1 9 11 3 Post and Telegraph B .. „10 — 10 -r 5 60 0 i The intimation that Auckland hoe proved unequal to the financial strain of sending a team to defend the Brown Shield is regrettable, although not unexpected. The' expense would certainly be little less than £150, and as publicy4ubscription was largely depended upon, in view of tbe Fleet Week dissipations it is not surprising that the public has not risen to the occasion. This, of course, means that the shield will repose in a new district after the competition. It also means that a rearrangement of the" draw will be necessary. Wellington, instead of meeting Auckland on the Thursday, will probably have to meet the winner of either the Taranaki-Southland or the Otago -Canterbury match. Auckland and Wellington are generally ranked ae^the two strongest elevens in the Dominion. • The securing of Caledonian Ground for wliat is known as the Cup final represents a forward move. It is estimated that the amount of interest evinced in the meet-ing between Northern and Mornington A justifies the venture, in addition to which the importance of the fixture warrants the placing of it upon a ground with a surface superior to anything provided on the grounds Tegularly at the disposal of Association players,, ilornington and Northern, are both prewiring for the struggle with a fervour which suggests that the match will be a veritable battle of Titans. Northern have approached Riley, and the scent of the battle will almost certainly prove irresktifele to the warhorse. The members ofboth teams have been undergoing diligent training, and spectators who visit the Caledonian uround may expect to witness a fast and interesting display bi eoccer football. ■ " As a ■curta-in-raiser .the match, between Wakari and Roslyn should prove appetising. Koslyn, following the popular lead, are bea-ting up pact players, the names of Siedeberg and: Steve Brown having been mentioned. Presuming these two stalwarts to be in anything, like form, their inclusion with the "two Kitchies would make a formidable vanguard, and Wakari would ha-ve need of all that energy they are developing with a view to making a certainty of their match against Rctlyn. This game starts at the Caledonian Ground at 2 p.m. sharp, and to ensure punctuality instructions have been issued to the referee that the game must be absolutely closed by 3.15 p.m. With the exception of the Sectond and Senior Grades all competitions, including the schools, are now concluded. The Junior Schools Competition proved remarkably olose. Mornington take the Cup, but hard behind them— only 2 points away — Caversham, Union Street; and 1 High Street Schools are neck and 1 neck for second place. Christian Brothers managed to annex the Senior Cup, and narrowly mi«sed winning the ' Fourth Grade Cup. Those curious to know • how it is that the Christian. Brothers boys excel at sports might have had the problem solved for them by attending at Culling Park and noting the intense enthusiasm with which Brother Brady followed the fortunes of his boys. Such active 6upport and encouragement is irresistible.

Five-a-side competitions foi the schoolboys are being arranged. From present indications it would appear -unlikely that five-a-side competitions will be arranged for the various grades. Next w-aek, and the Bio-sen Shield 1 competition will be upon us. With some 60 or 70 visiring players in the city, Otago players' hospitality will be put to the test. If these visiting players are to be scut off with a pleasant sense of the cordiality of Otago sports it is not to be done by the efforts of one or two members of the O.F.A. ComiMittee. It can be accomplished if players will make it a point of honour to fraternise with the visitors, invitingthem hither and thither, and spending their time with them. And the greater the number of players who will lay themselves out for this duty the greater the success of the entertainment. I commend the" appeal tc all players. Culling Park was in good order on Wed-n-e'sday of last week, and the large number of 'spectators witnessed a keen struggle and a clo&o finish between the leading teams, Southern A and Telegraph A. W. Young and Elliot replaced Middlemass aud Finlay in the Southern team, Telegraph having their usual side. Southern had the wind and eun at their backs in the first spell. They attacked strongly for some time, and Telegraph's backs had a busy time ftaving off the rushes of Sligo and Co. Southern lo^t many good chances through iaultj shooting, but a high shot from Berry (centre half) was just tipped over the bar by Telegraph's custodian, who ftaved br'lliantly. Telegraph rallied, Lambie sending the right wiugers away, and from a scramble Telegraph notched a goal, Campbell sending in a low shot. From a corner kick well put in by Botting, Sligo beaded neatly through, making scores equal at half-time. The second half was stubbornly fought out, each side attacking in turn. Telegraph forwards came away with the ball at their toe 3, and Milburn beat Botting with a t&*t phot. Play was now very frst. Southern making strenuous efforts to equalise, but the sterling defence of Goodmunson and Mackenzie

kept Southern out, Telegraph thus winning a hard-fought game by 2 goals to 1.

1 The Wellington- Brown Shield team is \ ' criticised as being the weakest ever picked ', to represent the province. The following ■ critique is abridged from the Dominion: — "Why is C. O'Shea being played as an inside player and not as centre? He is ■ undoubtedly fche best centre forward here this season, and hia work in the RoverV.M.C.A. fixture las* Saturday was faultless. He invariably feeds his wings well, and keeps the badl low. Gibson, the man selected for centre, is, on the other hand, rather a wild player, and his placing to .hie wings is. more often done with big kicks. No fault can be found with the inclusion of Gwilliam and Forbes on their respective wings, but why has Timperley been left out, and the combination of 'the V.M.C.A. right wing thus spoilt. Ash is a forward I have never liked. He is certainly very tricky with the ball, and all that sort of I thing, but I would sooner have seen a player like Lowe or Barry, who would make considerably more headway towards goal. The half-back line must be classed as distinctly weak. Renai can be depended uppn to play a good solid game, but the inclusion of W. O'Shea (if available) would ! have improved the halves very much. ' Taylor is a good club man; but a weak representative player. Renai, in the centre, I would be an added .strength. Jackson, is a very in-and-out player. He has the bad habit of dribbling too much" at times. Duignan on this year's form thoroughly deserves a place in the team. Past reputai tion must have got Roberta his place. There ace very few critics- who would prjsfer him | before Cornish or Pye-Smith as a right back, and, by the way, was Pye-Smith considered as a half? On this year's form Irvine is undoubtedly a better goalkeeper than. Oldnall." The following conditions have been attached to'the invitation sent to the South African Football Association by the New 1 Zealand Association, asking the former to ' arrange for a representative team to tour . New Zealand. The conditions are framed on a- somewhat similar basis to those drafted in connection with the tour of the New , South Wales representative football team which came here in 1904:— (1) The N.Z.F.A. will be responsible for the payment of the fares of not more than 14 or 15 players and manager from South Africa to New Zealand, through the Dominion, and back to South Africa. (2) Accommodation will be provided for the players during~lheir stay a-s a team in New Zealand. (3) A series of matches to be played; one match or more in each centre, and one or more against a New Zealand representative ' team; two matches per week, at intervals to 3uit the travelling arrang.emtend» while on tour. (4) The duration of the tour in New Zealand to occupy about seven, or eight weeks. (5) The N.Z.F.A. to be en- " titled to aJI-gate receipts and profits, and to be under no further liability than «s above stated. (6) The team to be under the control of the N.Z.F.A. while in New Zealand. (7) A first-rate team only to be ae"nt. * The team selected by Mr G-. Brodie to represent Wellington in the Brown Shield competition is as follows: — • Goal: F. OWnall (Ramblers}. Backs: T. Duignan (Roveis), W. Roberts (Diamonds). Halves: W. Jaekeon (Ramblers), W. J. Taylor (Diamonds) , E. /L. Renai (Petone). Forwards: B. Gwilliam and J. B Ash (Wanderers), W. Gibson (T.M.C.A.), C. O'Shea (Roversf, and A. G. Forbes (V.M.C.A.). Extra Men : G. Irvine (Wanderers) r goalkeeper or back; Timperley (V.M.C.A.), forward. It was found impossible to arrange for/ a trial match in Wellington. The selected are to "have half an hour twice weekly in the V.M.C.A. Gymnasium. The only players in the above combination familiar to Otago men are W. J. Taylor and E. L. Renai, who keep the positions they held when Wellington played Dunedin previously. J. B. Ash is spoken of as one of the best forwards in the Dominion. Of the team selected to represent Canterbury in the Brown Shield competition four — Al'Creanor, Binning, Bissefct, and Ward — played ugainet Otago at Culling Park in 1906, and six— M'Creanor, M'Nish, Hettrick, Bissett, Noake, and Dowker— played against Otago 4£ Christchurch last year. The former match was won by Otago by 2 goals to 1, and the latter by Canterbury by 7 goals to 1, against a team which did not by any means represent Otago's strength. If Otago beats Canterbury on the first day then Otago is tolerably certaui to be in the final, unless Taranaki or Southland prove to be much stronger than expected. Judged by previous showings, Otago will have to exert its best 6Txength to defeat Canterbury. Backs such as M'Creazior and 1 Binning let very little past them, and your Biseetts and Wards donot allow the grass to grow under their feet. It is to be remembered, too, that Canterbury will not be hampered by the restricted area of the ground, as they were when last in Dunedin. The probable measurements of the ground will be 100 yds by 75yde, and thie ie a good deal larger than Otago has been accustomed to. There was an exceedingly large attendance at Culling Park yesterday afternoon io see the match Post and Telegraph A v. Southern A. Pest and Telegraph proved the victors by 2 goals to 1. Southern won the tose, and Post and Telegraph kicked off against the wind. Some uninteresting play followed, both sides being conspicuous by "their inaibility to keep the ball in play. Some good kicking by Milburn and O'Connor onabled Campbell to register the first goal for Post and Telegraph. This had he effect of livening up the Southern men. Post and Telegraph were soon again attacking, but good kicking by Dobbie soon cleared. Post end Telegraph were then awarded a free kick for a. foul, but the ball was sent back, and the Southern forwards — Sligo and Elliott being conspicuous — looked dangei-ous. Southern were awarded a corner, from which Sligo managed to rush the ball through. There was a deal of uncertainty about, this goal, but the scramble prevented a- proper view being obtained. Southern were soon attacking again, but a timely kick by M'Kenzie saved matters for Post and Telegraph, and play was shifted to the Southern goal, where a good chance was lost by E. Goodmaneon kicking too high. Some give-and-take play followed, in which Grenfell on the wing showed himself a clever and tricky player. Southern then attacked strongly, but J. Goodmanson put in some good kicking, which appeared to tire the Southern men, and the whistle sounded for half-time

with the scores even. The second spell was fast and interesting. Splendid head work by Richards and Siigo made things lookbad for Post and Telegraph, but the 1 Southern shooting was very erratic. Southern attacked strongly for about five minutes, and were awarded three corner , kicks in quick succession, all being unsuccessful. Smith and O'Connor cleared, and rushed down the fieh^ with the ball at their toes, but Young proved himself a splendid rush-stopper. He was easily the best nan in the Southern team. Some good kicking by Campbell and Smith enabled Milburn to beat the Southern custodian with a good low shot. Southern returned to the attack, and Elliott and Sligo rushed the ball along, but M'Kenzie kept Southern well' away from the goal. L&mbie put in some splendid work for Telegraph, but the score was unaltered, the game ending— Post and Telegraph, 2 goals ; Southern, 1 goal. Lambie for Post and Telegraph proved himself very efficient. ! Mr Macdonald made a very efficient referee. I OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. I The usual weekly meeting of the Otago Football Association was held on Monday evening, there being- a large attendance of i delegates. The. Secretary of the O.R.F.U. advised ► thai the O.F.A.'s application, for the use. [of Cariebrook Ground on the extra "day, Thursday, September 10, for the purposes of the Brown Shield tournament had been, granted. . Permission, for the representative team to practice- on the Carisbrook Ground was s also granted. — Received ; the players chosen by the selectors for trial to attend at Carisbrook at 5 o'clock this evening. It was resolved that "the dimensions of the playing area be 110 by 75 yards, instead of 110 by 70 yards, as decided at the previous meeting. The Secretaiy of the N.Z.F.A. wrote suggesting the advisability of issuing tickets for sale prior to the tournament; also desiring that the Mayor be asked to present the Brown Shield at the conclusion of the tournament. — Resolved that special • ticktfs be not issued, and that the Mayor be invited to present "the shield. Messrs Booklaes, Cameron, " Moncrieff, , Crawley, and Gardner were appointed a committee to consider and suggest means of entertainment. In connection with the Cup final between Northern and Mornington A, on the Caledonian Ground on- Saturday, it was r£solved that the match be advertised in the daily papers, and in the twumoars, and that the charges for admission be 6d, boys half price, and ladies fuee, grand stands 6d extra for all corners. It was resolved that the match Wakari v. Roeivn, to be played on the Caledonian Ground at 2 p.m., prior to the match Moraington v. Northern, Hbe concluded at 3.15 p.m. precisely. Messrs W. R. Sinclair and P. Braitihwaite were appointed referees, and Messrs Gardner, Crawley, H. Aspinall, and 1 ' Benzie line umpires. The Secretary of the Wednesday Association reported having ( suspended a member-, of the United Tramways Club until the end of 1910 for ming indecent language on the' field, for disputing the referee's ruling, and for' threatening' the referee witk violence. — Confirmed. BROWN SHIELD. TRIAL. A keen interest centres around the ap. proaohingr Brown Shield competition. Otago is exerting every effort not only to reach the final but to finish victorious, and keep the shield in this end of the Dominion. The trial match on Saturday, therefore, attracted fc fair number of spectators to Culling Park. • The time at disposal was divided off into three half-Lour apells, the teams being varied at each change. Of the two goalkeepers— Knowlet and Jack— the former had a good deal of opportunity, and gave- a notably active, judicious display, making but one- serious miscalculation. A comparison between him and Jsok was unpracticable owing to the fact that the latter had nothing to doj shots from M'Clelland and Ussher which would have tested him almost invariably surmounting the bar. The five full backs present — Aspinall, Morrison, Harrison, Young, and ■ —were uniformly sound, and presented an interesting problem to the selectors. Of the halves, Grenfell, Ratley, and Milton were prominent. Robertson (Morninprton) was not present. A variety of combinations was tried for the probable forward line. Macdonald (centre) was unavoidably absent, and Milton, Griffen, and Ussher were in turn played as centre forward. Clyde, Elliot, and T. Ritchie were tried on the right wing, and the white combination played in the final trial was Elliot, Baillie, Uasher, T. Ritchie, and M'Clelland. There was very little scoring, the shooting being for the most parb inaccurate. Mr Benzie acted as referee, and for the purposes of practice allowed liberties to be taken with the offside and " hands" rules. The players will be practised on the Carisbrook Ground (if available) on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. The team will be selected at the olose of this week. FOURTH GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. The final between High School andChristian Brothers for the Fourth Grade cup provided an interesting game for the large number of person who 'gathered at Culling Park on Saturday. Each team had mustered its beet strength, and the players were for the mosfc part strapping, athleticlooking youths. Mr A. Smith controlled the game, and the names of the players are as follows: — Christian Brothers: Goal, H. Moynihan; backs— -Macdoanld, Tim Laffy ; half backs — Spain, Casey, Wakeland; forwards— Smith, Spiers, Laffy, Higgins^ O'Connor. High School: Goal, Martin; backs— Marshall, Bannerman; half backs— Smith, Stephens, Mondy; forwards — Alloo, Rae, Dawson, Race, Tapper. Intelligence, vim, end staying power were displayed by both sides, and the exhibition was a complete vindication of the wisdom of creating a Fourth Grade competition. Early in the game Higgins and U'Conor manoeuvred on the left wing, and as the outcome Smith scored for Christian Brothers with a good shot. Stound goalkeeping and effective tackling by the backs on both sides prevented further score until • half-way through the second spell. Then High School stemming a dangerous attack by Christian Brothers, pressed strongly, - and forced two goals within «■ few minute?. Encouraged by Brother Brady, their coach, Christian Brothers made gallant efforts to draw even, and narrowly missed the achievement when a sterling shot struck the bar, and was only cleared at the expense of a corner. High School books kept their opponents out until time was

pounded, and thus won the cup, the scores being: High School ~. ta vn 2 goals. Christian Brothers .*» ... 1 goal. SCHOOL MATCHES, Senior. High Street A 2, North-East Valley 0. Christian Brothers A 5, Maori Hill 1. Junior. Mornington 7, St. Patrick's 1. Arthur Street 7, George street 0. Christian Brothers B 6, Kaikora£ B 1.