FOOTBALL.

Southland Times, Issue 19037, 5 September 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TEST MATCH REFLECTIONS. A SLASHING FORWARD DIVISION. (By “Onside Mac.”) The hopes of the New South Welshmen of proving that they were a better team than previous results would indicate received a rude shock at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday last. Although the score again flattered the victors, this time there could be no mistake about the better side winning—most decisively at that. The game was not un to international standard. It was a match demonstrating again the correctness of a proposition which has frequently been emphasised in these columns—“big men for big football.” The New Zealand van averaging 13st 81b held a 151 b advantage per man over their Australian opponents, and simply smashed them to pieces, walked over the top of them, and scored tries. In the loose the Blue-clad visiting pack showed up well, some of their dribbling rushes being particularly good, but on the other hand the work of the All Blacks when they fanned out for combined attacking play was a great improvement on what was shown in Dunedin—the inclusion of Pringle and West achieved its purpose of putting dash and life into the work of the Maoriland front division. The forwards did not have “lead in their boots” last Saturday. Bellis and Pringle were selected in a previous reference to the match as the outstanding forwards, on the grounds of using their heads as well as their mighty limbs—under modern conditions of play the working bullock who thinks slowly and acts as quickly will not get very far. Richardson, West and Williams were a great trio of workers —always on the ball. In regard to Bellis, it must of course be said that the absence of a similar position in the New South Wales formation leaves him with every opportunity of distinguishing himself, but there is no room for doubt that Bellis has “come back” with a vengeance. The New Zealand forwards passed well, but there is room for a good deal of improvement in their dribbling and bunching. Several times their lightweight opponents broke through and came down on the New Zealand defence with splendidly executed dribbling runs. It is too soon to talk about the forward division that represented New Zealand on Saturday as a great side, because a lot of their work wants brushing up, and a bit -more finish put on their efforts, but they are a potential international side of the first water.

The backs were not impressive as a combination. There has been too much chopping and changing. Bell and Perry showed up well individually, while the former was very much in the picture when working sectional back movements with his little Maori friends. It was Bell’s first game at first five-eighth—the hardest position in the backs to fill—and he was inclined to run a bit too far across the field, with the result that Perry, who is a straight-running player, on many occasions found himself cramped for room. Bell improved as the day wore on, and was going great guns at the finish—a movement by him and Piena in the closing stages was a really brilliant thing, but Lucas was not equal to the occasion and a scoring chance was lost. This player was much below his Auckland form, and is being given another chance to prove himself in the third test. Piena played a dashing game, but the wing is no place for a 10.7 man. He* is so obviously at a disadvantage, as Ford was against Erasmus, who played a beautiful game despite an injured ankle. The best way. to describe Erasmus who was unable to play in Southland is to recall Macdonald, with the difference that the Australian is a better ball-handler and quicker in his movements.

Sinclair played a faultless game and goalkicked magnificently. He did not get as much work to do as Nothling, but everything hp did bore the impress of real fullback ability—he is one of the best New Zealand has ever had in the position. By the way he does not quite know how to stop a forward rush. He just dives in without watching where he is going, and at too sharp a rate. Like the hedgehog, a good dribbling rush is something to be approached with extreme circumspection. On the games they played, the three Canterbury men included in the side, to wit, McCarthy, Ford and Peterson, may be accounted lucky to have secured places, which is not to say that any of them played badly, but there are better men available. Two Canterbury players who have been selected in the list of players for the third test, namely: St. George and Parker, look better propositions. My preference is St. George ahead of Nicholls, McCarthy and Mill, although it is hard to see how the dropping of Mill after the first test was justified. On Monday a Christchurch paper published a team which from all accounts' is the fifteen decided on for the third test. The much-boomed and less-deserving Wei lington footballer is well and truly represented. The selectors will cause a violent sensation if they ever drop the Nichollses for its is now recognised that no New Zealand team is complete without at least two of them.

Morgan will probably get his chance at Wellington. By the way I noticed the other day a statement inferring that Morgan was not available for Southland last year owing to an injury. This is absolutely contrary to fact. The same tale was told last season, and putting aside the fact that the source from which it came was sufficient to discredit it, I may mention that the matter was referred to Morgan last season, who stated that there was nothing in it. As a matter of fact he was available at Invercargill when Macdonald was injured, but once again he had to be numbered with several high-grade local players of the past few years, whose non-selection for Southland teams is a source of amused interest in northern centres, where club jealousies play no part in the selection of good footballers. And needless to relate, their Rugby history includes more than one back of high repute.

When the Australians were quartered in Christchurch, Mr Bosward said the Southland backs were the best New South Wales met on tour. A well-known gentleman in New' Zealand football told me after the second test that he thought Hazlett and Gilmour should have been selected as the five-eighths for the third fest, and it may be remarked that the All Black selectors have yet to find the right man for, viz., first five-eighth. Bell is a brilliant second five-eighth or rover, but the edge comes off his work at the key back position, where Hazlett has played consistent,ly well, and really splendidly against New South Wales. The willing horse is still being worked to death. Bell was not fairly treated on the northern tour, and the injuries that have dogged him in inter-island and test match Rugby may be traced to this source. He can surely be spelled to-day against Wairarapa. He needs a rest badly. The ball used in the second test was a very light one, with the result that there were some tremendous punts and placekicks in the game. Richardson hoisted some mighty punts, and Sinclair’s two shots from close to half-way resulted' in a goal and a post struck high up the second time. REFEREES’ ASSOCIATING WEEKLY MEETING. The weekly meeting of the Southland Rugby Referees’ Association was held last night. Mr A. H. Stott presiding. Mr Stori said he wi. .ied to bring up the matter of the appointment of a referee for the Manawatu-Southland match. He wished to know whether thp meeting was of the opinion that the metier should be considered in committee. Mr Lilburne: “No, let the press take it.” T ‘ was decided to take the matter in comnvttee. After a lengthy discussion open meeting was resumed and a me ion was pa-sed expressing complete confidence in ' '■’e president and Appointment Board, and hoping that these '“‘’■'tipmen would continve 'n oiiio*

TO-DAY’S REP. MATCH. THE TEAMS. The following is the Wairarapa team to ' play against the Southland representatives this afternoon:— I, J. Yates 10.7. 2, R. Booth 12.0 4, J. Morris 9.10 3, D. Provan 12.0 5, R. Jury 11.10 6, V. Flaws 10.0 7, J. Horiti 10.8 8, R. Laucher 11.4 9, K. Reid 12.4 11, I. Harvey 14.7 10, W. Knowles 12.10 12, G. James 12 11 (captain) 13, J. O’Dowd 11.9, 14, M. Willoughby 13.0 15, F. C. Wickens (winger) 10.6 The Southland team is as follows; — 1, G. Cleland 11.0 2, H. Shand 11.13 3, E. Gilmour 10.10 4, R. Oughton 10.7 7, J. Hazlett 11.12 5, Bell 12.4 6, Jas. Oughton 9.12 8, D. Clark 13.4 9, P. Rice 12.8 10, J. Fraser 14.0 11, A. White 12.7 12, B. Scott 13.0 14, R. Blick 12.10, 15, W. Matheson 13.0 16, Richardson (winger) 14.7 , (captain) NORTHERN v EASTERN. The following will represent Northern District against Eastern District at Gore to-day to decide who is to meet Central for the Sports protection Challenge Banner. Full back: B. Moffitt. Three-quarters: C. McKay, T. Lynch (Capt.), R. Lindsay. Five-eighths: T. Ibbotson, S. Lynch. Half: A. Lee. Forwards: J. Ogilvie, J. Crawford, E. Hamer, G. Alley, J. Walsh, J. Gibson, H. Colling, T. Moffitt. Emergencies:—Backs: R. Lee, N. Crosbic. Forwards: F. Belesky, P. Sim. SOCCER. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 4. The annual primary schools’ triangular association football between Wellington, Canterbury and Otago was played at English Park on Saturday and Monday, and again to-day, when Otago defeated Canterbury by two goals to one. For Otago, Connelly scored both goals, while Turner shot Canterbury’s only goal. On Monday, Otago drew with Wellington, one all. Connelly again scored for Otago and Fisher for Wellington. Wellington defeated Canterbury to-day by four goals to two. For the winners, Clements and Tracey scored two each, and for Canterbury, Knight and Kingston scored one each. HOCKEY SOUTHLAND v EASTERN. A representative match between the Southland and Eastern Southland teams will be played on Queen’s Park commencing at 2.30 p.m. The following will represent Southland: Misses H. Horner, H. Ashley, O. Bell, R. Geddes, W. Clarke, A. Turner, A. Rabbidge, M. Watson; R. Burt, M. Horner; M. Morton. Emergencies: Misses Humphries, Davis, Carter and Rose. CRICKET INVERCARGILL CLUB’S MEETiriu. The annual general meeting of the Invercargill Cricket Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening, Mr J. A. Doig presiding over a good attendance. Apologies of absence were received from Messrs R. Camm, W. Carswell, G. W. Dennis, and T. *. Henry. The annual report and balance-eheet, which was pdopted, showed a small credit balance. The f flowing were elected office-bearers for the coming season:—Patrons: Hon. A. F. Hawke, Messrs T. D. Kingsland, H. F. Drewe, and ( . F. W’atson; President, Mr R. A. Anderson (re-elected) ; Vice-presi-dent-': His Worship the Mayor, Mr A. Bain, Dr MacGibbdn, Messrs F. J. Loughnan, Eustace Russell, Chas. Gray, D. W. McKay, J. McLeod, Walter Henderson, R. B. Caws, R. Deacon, A. Calder, R. M. Strang, and

W. Carswell; Club-Captain, Mr T. R. Abercrombie; Committee, Messrs P. McCallum, R. Camm, E. Cooke, N. Weir, •and G. W. Dennis; Hon. Secretary, Mr G. M. Corbet; 1 Hon. Treasurer, Mr L. E. Bell; Delegates to Southland Cricket Association, Messrs G. Corbet and E. Cooke. The following new members were elected: Messrs R. N. Porter, E. A. Vial, O. Cheyne, R. Duncan, R. Padget, P. McCallum, T. McKenzie, N. Weir, and C. Traill. It was decided that Wednesday, .October 10, would be the opening day of the club. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair, and all retiring officebearers. UNION CLUB’S MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Union Cricket Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening. Mr C. W. Patton presiding over a large attendance of members. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The club finance is in a very satisfactory position, the balance-sheet showing a credit of £4 2/1. The following office-bearers were appointed for the ensuing season:—Patron, Mr W. Quinn; President, Mr C. W’. Patton; "Vice-presidents, Messrs C. E. Borne, A. le H. Hoyles, R. Taylor, J. Kilkelly, A. W. Jones, J. T. Lilburne, P. Brass, H. Kilby; Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, Mr A. J. Hamilton; Hon. Auditor, Mr V. Raines; Committee, Messrs O. Paton, S. Austin, J. Hamilton, A. E. Barlow, R. Barnett, F. Hinton, V. Raines, J. Padgett; Chib Captain, Mr A. E. Wish. Delegates to Southland Cricket Association, Messrs R. % H. Parker and R. Barnett. Several new members were elected. The opening day was fixed for Wednesday, October 3, and Saturday, October 6. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 3. The Athletic News says that the Lancashire County has decided not to avail itself of the services of McDonald and O’Keefe for next season, although both are qualified.