REPRESENTATIVE RECORD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 25

REPRESENTATIVE RECORD.

The following is Otago’s representative record up to the end of last season:—

Totals .. 243 115 98 30 •The province’s record for this season is as follows:— v. Brit'sh team (lost 9 points to 33). v. Vvanganui (won 34 points to 8). v. Southland, at Invercargill (lost 5 points to 37). v. Hawke’s Bay (won 17 points to 11). r. South Canterbury, at Timaru (won 37 points to 16). v. Wellington (lost 8 points to 18). . v. Southland (lost 11 points to 17). v. North Otago (won 27 points to 14). v. Canterbury (won 11 points to 3).

GAMES FOR THE PROVINCE.

THE OUTSTANDING RECORDS. The following table gives the names ot playeis who have taken part in most representative games for the province:— Years

PREMIER CLUBS.

FLAG WINNERS SINCE 1885.

The following is a list of the premier clubs of Otago since 1885:— Year. Club. Year. Chib. 1885—Dunedin 1908—Dunedin Jf?S~? T ir . ates 1909—Alhambra Joni Union 1910—Alhambra 1888— Kaikorai 1911—University 1889— Kaikorai 1912—Southern 1890— Union 1913—Zingari 1891— Alhambra 1914—Kaikorai 1892— Alhambra 1915—Southern 1893— Kaikorai 1916—Union 1894— Kaikorai 1917—University A 1895— Kaikorai 1918—Pirates 1896 — Kaikorai 1919—University 1897 — Kaikorai 1920—Alhambra 1898— Kaikorai 1921—Kaikorai 1899— Kaikorai 1922—University A 1900— Alhambra 1923—University A 1901— Kaikorai 1924—University A 1902— Alhambra 1925—Pirates 1903 Alhambra 1926—University A •1904—Southern 1927—University A 1905— Alhambra 1928—University A 1906— University 1929—University A 1907 — University 1930—Alhambra Both Kaikorai and University have held the championship on 12 occasions, and they are closely followed by Alhambra, which this season brought its number of wins up to 10. The other clubs lag far behind, Pirates, Union, and Southern each having three wins, Dunedin two, and Zto-gari-Richmond one. NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES. FIFTY-SIX OTAGO ALL BLACKS. The following i s a list of the Otago players who have represented New Zealand: — Allen, J .. ~ 1884 Keogh, P. .. 1888 Armit. A. .. 1897 Lindsay, D. .. 1928 Baird, J. .. 1913 Macpherson. D. 1905 Bell, R 1922 Matheson, R. .. 1922 Bennet, R. .. 1905 M’Clymont, W. 1928 Black, R. .. 1914 M'Donald, A. 1905-13 Booth, E. .. 1905-7 M'Mecking, D. 1923 Braddon, H. .. 1884 Morgan, H. D. 1923 Bradanovich, N. 1928 Munro, H. G. .. 1924 Cabot, S. .. 1921 O’Donnell .. 1884 Casey, S. .. 1905-8 Paton, H. 1907-10 Cuthtll, J. .. 1913 Patterson, A. 1908-10 Dickinson, G. .. 1922 Perry, F. ~ 1923 Dickson, D. M. 1925 Porteous, H. .. 1903 Douglas, J. .. 1913 Richardson, J. 1921-24 Duncan, J. 1897-1901 Robertson, G. 1884 Duncan, W. 1920-21 Sinclair, R. G. 1923 Eckhold, A. .. 1907 Sonntag, C. .. 1929 Fea, W 1921 Soutor, R. ~ 1929 Gilray, C. .. 1905 Stalker, J. .. 1903 Given, P. ..' 1903 Stevenson, D. 1926 Graham, J. 1913-14 Stewart, E. B. 1923 Harris, W. .. 1897 Taiaroa, J. ~ 1884 Holden, A. .. 1928 Ward, F. G. .. 1921 Hore, 1. 1928-30 Williams, C. .. 1910 Irvine, J. .. 1914 Williams, L. 1922-23 Ivlmey, F. .. 1910 Williams, P. 1913 Johnstone, W. 1905-7 Wise, G. D. .. 1925 Only 10 of these players have represented the Dominion in more than one year. Alex. M‘Donald’s appearances, however, extended over nine seasons, and J. Duncan’s over five. In all 56 Otago players have worn the All Black jersey.

THE GAME IN THE COUNTRY.

PLAYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. Football began in Central Otago about 1885. when clubs were formed at Roxburgh and Lawrence. In 1887 Cromwell and Bannockburn formed clubs and played matches. Then followed Clyde, Alexandra, and Matakanui. Mr W. J. Strong, who is head-master of the Ravensbourne School, was the founder of the Bannockburn Club, and Mr James Horn, ex-M.P., was also one of its leading'players.

The late S. H. Turton and D. A. Jolly founded tire Cromwell Club. Mr Turton, who represented Otago in 1878, wag the first president, and the late Captain W 4,^;. Joll y tbe hist captain. William Laidlaw was the captain of the Clyde team. There was no competitlorl. ln tb ose Jays, and when one club challenged another to a friendly match the whole town journeyed by trans, wagons, and often by foot to see the event Un one occasion when Cromwell nas placing Bannockburn, excitement was running high. An old Scottish lady from Bannockburn, who was a very keen suppoiter of her club, began to barrick with the president of the Cromwell Club and became so excited that she knocked the presidents hat off and ran the umbrella through it. Ihese matches created keen rivalry, but were always played in the best sporting spirit. The first county match between Vincent and Mamototo was played in 1891 at Naseby, and these matches have been continued ever since In 1890, Otago sent a team through the goldfields, playing matches at Lawrence. Roxburgh, Clyde, and Cromwell. Pat Keogh, then in his prime, was the star back of the Otago team A good story is told about Keogh on this trip. In one of the matches he ran clean through the team till he came to the full-back. As he approached him he held out the ball and told the full-back -o take it. Thinking Keogh was goin<r to hand the ball to him he put out his arms, and. when he looked around Keogh was behind the goal posts. The first countrv team to visit Dunedin toured in 1893, when Otago won by 11 points to nil. Foot ball was not very interesting during the pe l, I< ?fi TT fl ’ o m 1894 to 1903. In 1903 the P presented a flag for competition in Vincent County, and this helped football a great deal in the country. The stan dard of play improved to such an extent that in 1906 the O.R.F.U. inaugurated a country week, and teams from Vincent Maniototo, South Otago, and North Otago met in Dunedin and played a series of matches, finishing, with a combined team playing Otago. Vincent was the champion team tor three years, and several player:were picked to represent Otago—E. J Dwyer. D..C. Jolly, J. Davidson, J. Holden, R. Haig, J. Morgan, from Vincent; F. Reid, from South Otago, and Rougley, from North Otago. Country week was continued till 1909, and then the O.R.F.U decided to discontinue it. It was resumed, however, in 1927 on a modified scale.

Since 1909 several country players have found places in the Otago team. They are F. Donnelly, G. Donnelly, J. Donnelly, T. Clouston, J. Stewart, A Marslin, B. Dougherty, H. Davis, J. Miller, anj H. M'Skimming. Before the advent of motors footballers in the country had to play under hard conditions. Travelling by coach for 40 miles to play a match the same day was quite common, and “ pay one’s own expenses ” was the rule. No hot and cold showers were provided after the match, and there were no pavilions to train in. However, it made better footballers and certainly more contented footballers than those of to-day. Motoring, lawn tennis, and golf have helped in no small way to lessen the interest in Rugby in the country districts. The clubs to-day have the x difficulties in carrying on, and the standard of football is not improving, but rather deteriorating. It is only by the parent body helping to foster football by interchange of visits that the standard of football will be kept up. THE NASEBY PROSPECTORS’ CLUB. Perhaps the most noted club in the history of goldfields football was the Naseby Prospectors’ Club, which was established in May, 1889. It adopted dark blue as its colour, and on their breasts the players wore a monogram in the form of a pick and shovel. An old player, who was one of the club’s most prominent members, recalls a match in July of the year in which the club was formed. It took place at St. Bathans, and the ground was covered with snow. Such were the conditions that one of the Naseby men played in gum boots. Another forward broke away with the ball and did not hear the whistle. He raced over the dead-ball line, which waobscured by the snow, and continued on his journey until he collapsed in a tai race. Naseby won by 11 points to nil, and before the smoke concert, Instructor M'Pherson, from Oamaru, gave the players an hour’s drill. They were let by a band, the members of which player tin whistles and beat tins for drums.

The same player recalled an amusing incident which occurred when the Rugby Union brought a goldfields team to Dunedin. One of the country forwards dribbled the ball three times to the Town full-back, “ Scobie ” MKenzie, who dropped on the ball. The forward raised his hand and appealed for a free kick, which was always allowed in the goldfields. No whistle went, and the forward was completely baffled, the crowd enjoying the position. Once more the same thing occurred. The referee’s advice was “ Pull him off it,” and the country mar, this time made no mistake. In a match between Eweburn and Naseby three of the Eweburn players were dribbling the ball, when a Naseby player dropped on it. All the Eweburn players stopped, as no whistle sounded, and Naseby took tilt opportunity and scored. The Eweburn ’ players left the field and refused to pla” under the referee, who had to be replaced.

In 1894 the Naseby Prospectors visited Dunedin with E. Marslin as captain. The country side defeated Dunedin, which was the only team to score against Kaikorai that season, the points coming from a potted goal. The visitors, however, were beaten by Pirates.

In 1895 the Vincent-Maniototo match was set down to be played at St. Bathans Owing to some trouble in Vincent only the Matakanui team put in an appearance. The Maniototo men considered that they had been badly treated, but eventually a game was played.

Auckland .. P. 19 W. 4 L. 9 D. 0 Ashburton 1 1 Buller .. .. 1 1 8 Bush Canterbury 1 50 1 23 19 liawke’s Bay 12 9 2 1 Manawatu 5 3 2 Marlborough .. 1 1 Melson 2 1 1 Month Otago .. South 2 2 Canterbury 12 6 5 1 Southland 69 36 27 6 Taranaki .. .. 11 4 2 " Wanganui 8 6 2 Wairarapa 12 8 4 West Coast .. 2 2 . Wellington 35 11 20 4

Played. Games, C. Sonntag (Kaikorai) 1915-1930 58 S. Casey (Southern) .. 1903-1913 57 A. Eckhold (Southern) 1905-1913 54 J. Buncan (Kaikorai) 1889-1903 48 E. Watson (ZingariRichmond) 1910-1923 47 A. Paterson (ZingariRichmond) 1908-1921 42 VV. Duncan (Kaikorai) 1914-1924 39 R. Bennet (Alhambra) 1899-1911 36 F. Given (Alhambra) 1895-1905 34 A. ATDonald (Kaikorai) 1904-1914 33 R. Webb (University) 1923-1929 33 H. Porteous (Kaikorai) 1900-1906 32 H. Paton (Dunedin) .. 1906-1911 31 E. E. Booth (Athletic and Kaikorai) .. .. 1900-1907 29