FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 62

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK

The subject of the Rhodes scholar and Rugby football is of interest to New Zealanders by reason of the fact that Rhodes scholars are sent to Oxford from the Dominion, whose "Rugger" qualifications pave played a not unimportant part in Vheir selection. It is now being regarded tfhat the colonial Rhodes scholar at Oxford ctf high Rugby attainments has an advantage over the British public schoolboy. In this connection' a famous "Old Blue'.' writes:—' Seeing that experience of good footer counts for so much in Rugger, few people can be prepared to deny the fact that that alone gives many Rhodes scholars an enormous pull over the average British pilhlio schoolboy No member of either university is qualified to represent his 'varsity after he 'has completed four years' residence. Would it hot be a reasonable suggestion that those who proceed to Oxford (or Cambridge, for that matter) after residence at another university, or, at any rats, ..after having represented another university, should', for purposes of athletics, add on the years during which they have previously resided at that university ?_ Under such a rule a man who has 'been in residence for, say, thee years at Melbourne University, ■wOuld still have one year in which he might secure a Blue. This sdheme. while not depriving the average_ colonial of a recognition of his skill (which is more often than npi superlative), would at the same time prevent him from being a permanent obstacle to the_home-grown article. One can't help feeling that at present the public school boy at Oxford has an almost unfair handicap —and this quite apart from any consideration of the increasing disadvantage under which Cambridge labours." A feeling is said to exist against the appearance of what mght without offence be termed "aged" colonial athletic experts in Oxford and Cambridge University teams. The case of Colin Gilray. of Otago University, is oited as an instance of the unfairness of the present system. By what process of reasoning (writes E. H. D. Sewell in the latest issue of Rugby football) can a competition for a place in the Oxford fifteen between him, an accredited international from such an advanced JRugger country as New Zealand, and Jones, Brown, or Robinson straight from Clifton, Fettes, or Merchant Taylors be termed a fair one? Supposing a whole fifteen of Rhodes scholars. many of whom would be about 22 to 25 years of age, arrived at Oxford between January and September of one year from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and California, not to mention the States. •Would their appearance at Queen's be regarded as fair play to Cambridge? An extreme case, of course, but it seams to me that in cases of this 'kind it is, best to legislate for the possibilities and ignore the probabilities, .■»

Colin Gilray, the Otago University and Otago representative, also Rhodes scholar and Scottish international, turned out the other day after a long: retirement for Lon-don-Scottish against Richmond. Another New Zealander on tlbe side was Meuli, of Wanganui, playing full back, of whom one critio says: "A feature of the game was the good back play of Meuli. the New Zealander, who was assisting "the Scottish. lie is'a powerful young fellow, built somewhat on the same line as Gilray, whom, as regards appearance he much resbmbkss." , New Zealand football and the legislation thereof i 3 kept in the public eye in England during the present English season. Tho latest "issue of Rugby Football contains the following:—" There appears to be trouble brewing in Rugbv Union circles in New Zealand. Mr F. H. Campbell, president of the Otago Rugby Union, is very persistent in his advocacy of withdrawing from the English Rugbv Union. In a recent speech he said that New Zealand should go on its own, and show England that it could not only play football, but also control it. Wanpanui, too, wish the rules altered to make the game more soectaoular. in order to compete with the Northern Union. This is a matter which will doubtless be settled bv the New Zealand RugbV Union, and we do not tihink that they will cut the painter, whatever mav be tifce aotion of single ■bodies." In this connection the pvi'ner rubbishes a cartoon, modelled on Tenniel's famous illustration, " DropDinc the Pilot." A New Zealand footballer is shown looking over the sn'de of the vessel as John Bull, in the garb of an English footballer, is descending t/he gangway to the nilot boat, " Will it come to this?" Personally. I trust not- It is not a question of New Zealand Wnc able tn .do without England and the English Rugby Union, but it is a question of T>res<*rvW the national Fame. The English inteirniational full back, J. J J*ckett.r who toured New Zealand with the British team in 1908, has been swing hie views and observations on the full back In Rugby. .Taokett eavs:— "The full back i&ands out in his lonely glory before the

eyes of all. If he doesn't get in his kicks is time, if he fails* to find touch when that is very important, why, all the crowd and all hia own team see the error ; they regard him as a miserable sinner indeed; their looks, thoughts, words, etc., would generally annihilate him if that were possible. But never mind, my young friend, take heart, do your best at the critical post you hold in the fifteen. Try to make yourself as efficient and reliable as ever you oan; watch the greatest players at full back, the successors of the Stoddarts, the Tristrams, and the Gamlins of the past. In fielding the ball many young full backs make a bad mistake. They try too often to take the ball in full flight—that is, without letting it bounce. Always remember that you can better get and hold a ball that has bounced, that you oan bettor do what you like with it ' then. Of course there will be many times in a match when you cannot allow the ball to bounce ere you try to take it; the opposing men may be too near you, or the screw on the ball itself may make you not at all certain which way it would turn after bouncing, and so you can't afford to take any risks when that danger comes. But I am speaking of those occasions when you have time to let the j ball bounce ere vou seize it, and on all such mv advice is, let it bounce. Keep yourself in form. "Tackle firmly and strongly; kick hard and safely; field the ball e martly and unhesitatingly. Get your kiok in whatever happens, and don t let either the dash of surrounding opponents, or the importance of the occasion, or the critical remarks of an impatient crowd hustle you at all. Play the game and do your best."—[On the New Zealand tour the English full back carried out his theory of waiting for jhe ball to bounce on almost every occasion, and oft to his distress. A splendid full back was Jackett in the direction of kicking and line-finding, but the virtue he preaches in waiting for the ball to bounce was the weakness in his work which we in New Zealand condemned—and that most heartily. I have no hesitation in saying that Jacket would have been a better full back if he had discarded the waiting-for-the-bourice theory and adopted the saner method of always attempting to take the ball on the fly. Tho_moro time a full .back allows himself in which to get in his kiok tho better will that kick be in length, direction, and general execution. Wait for the" ball to bounce and the opposing forwards have gained yards and pressed the full back so closely that he is immediately thrown off his game, bustled into insecurity, and in sheer defence finds his line —if he is fortunate enough to escape being collared in possession—as well as may be. Jackett was frequently thrust into such hot corners on the New Zealand tour, and the effecth'eness of his work suffered. At the same time, so quick and agile was the Englishman that he got out of trouble in a truly wonderful manner—it was this elusiveners which saved him in most instanoes. There is no question that taking the ball on the fly is the sounder theory. The player who adopts the waiting-for-the-bounce system is inviting disaster, which inevitably follows.—Ftjll Back.] The influence of the All Blaok team in England is still felt, and the New Zealand system adopted by some of the clubs is referred to in appreciative terms. I came across this in "Rugby Football" the other day: "The New Zealand formation, properly worked by a good team, and without the wing forward, will beat any side in London at this moment." Advices show that the share of the receipts of the Australasian football team now touring England has already reached £4500, the expenses being £1560. AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE TEAM. LONDON, December 20. The' Australasian League team (four goals and five tries) beat Wales and the West of England (a try) at Bristol. The game was witnessed by 1000 spectators. The weather was wet. In the first half Vivian and Farnsworth each scored a try, and Gilbert two. Francis (New Zealand) converted all four. In the second spell Vivian and Frawley scored tries, Francis converting the latter. Wales's try came between these. LONDON, December 24. The Australasian footballers defeated the Rochdale Hornets by four tries (three of which were converted) to two unconverted tries. Gilbert and Farnsworth scored tries for the winners in the first half, Francis converting both. Frawley and Farnsworth scored in the second spell, Francis converting one try. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. SYDNEY, December 22. The British Association Football Conference has been concluded. The New Zealand delegates took a prominent part in the discussions, aiming at improving the standard of the game and promoting it amongst the boys. Rules were adopted for a Commonwealth Association, which it is hoped New Zealand will join,