FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1921, Page 5

FOOTBALL

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. The following will represent Okafc seniors against Old Boys at Rahotu on Saturday: Corbett (2), O’Sullivan (2), Shoster (2), Robson, Anderson, Norgate, Milne, Gilhooly, Moore, Tanner, Walshe, Gibson. Emergencies: Waiwiri (2). Okato juniors will be represented against Inglewood at Okato by the same team that played last Saturday. THE TARANAKI REPS (To the Editor.) Sir, —Being a visitor to Wanganui on June 3 last I had the pleasure of seeing Taranaki defeat Wanganui at rugbji football by a narrow margin of six points to three, a lucky win, no doubt Now, Mr. Editor,, if space ie availabh may I try to explain to the supporter* of the rugby game in Taranaki the ’reason of the failure of the Taranaki team. In the first place, I maintain thud a player to play in a representative match must be well used to the position that he is placed in, and such wSe not the case on Friday last. As regards the Taranaki backs, Kingston, and Aitkens were the only backs playing in their right positions, and, no doubt, will be very hard to put out of the team. Cameron, second fiveeighths, was an absolute failure, and was never in his right place. Osborne, who has been playing five-eighths for his club team, and is a very young player, could not get into the hang of centre three-quarter at all, and had an inclination to get in close to the half; consequently he was dragging his wing three-quarters, of whom Sykes is a fiveeightha and Robinson a centre three- ‘ quarter, in with him. This was the cause of Wanganui’s only try, and had this team been more alert they would have scored three or four more tries. However, luck favored us. Now the forwards one cannot complain much about as they are a fairly fast and even lot Possibly we could improve on the front row by placing Kivell or Birchell with Campbell—Birchell for me. Regarding our rover, well, Jack, old fellow. 1 thiqk you have «seen your best days, and J think a big improvement could be madt by putting Malone in your place. 1 don’t suppose Mr. Dan Malone will take much notice of this letter—a fool if he does—but in case the team is troubling hiip and he finds it hard to pick, th;team may help him to have a good instead of worrying what he is going ido about getting more suitable play. c . I suggest a team somewhere near U this, and 1 don’t think they would many defeats: Full-back,* Kingeion-three-quarters, Whittington, ISyk.V • Hickey; five-eighths, Lynskey. Wvuyard (trial); half, Aitkens; rover M a . lone; forwards, Campbell. Birchell. West Masters, Kiesick, Fogerty, Kivell.—l am etc., OLD TIMER,