Football Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 18 August 1904, Page 5

Football Notes.

[By M Collab Low."]

The Hiitish Football Team, who recently ended a triumphal march Through New South Wales and Queens'and, with an unbeaten record, oaet their Waterloo at Wellington on Saturday last, when they were signally defeated by the New Zealand representatives. In the first spell, the scores were even, each side scoring a penalty goal; but in the second spell, the New Zealanders, playing against the wind, had the Britishers in trouble right from the kick-off. D M'Gregor, the speedy Wellington three-quarter (who has earned the sobriquet of ** The Flying Scotchmaa ") scored two tries, as the result of some fine combined play, but the kicks-at-goal were fruitless. It is generally acknowledged that the Britishers were clearly beaten in every department of the game, especially in forward play. The game ended:—New Zealand, 9 points; Great Britain, 3 points. Considerable interest was taken locally in the New Zealand-British BL.tcb, and a large crowd gathered to h* •- che result, which was posted at the Hehald office shortly before five o'clock, within only a few minutes of the conclusion of the match. The following team will represent Vincent County against Dunedin, to be played at Alexandra on Saturday, August 27:—Full-back, R M'Neish; threequarters, J Campbell, CahUl, Varcoe; five-eighths, King, Cameron ; ha:f, Buroside (captain); forwards, Crawford, Wheeler, Morgan, Riley, Campbell, Partridge, Crabbe, Davidson; emergencies: forward, Thomas, j T Richardson; backs, G"' Jolly. The following will r*; .>■ .uc AlexAlexandra at the f -ji tournament at Roxburgh, on Friday:—No 1 team, King, Burnside, Cameron, Richardson, Morgan, Wheeler and Riley. No 2 team: Mason, Edgecombe, Maitland, Churchill, Bruce, Parsons and Webb. A good deal of comment has been made by enthusiasts concerning the constitution of the team picked to represent Vincent County, and ex« caption has been taken by writers in the "Cromwell Argus " and " Dunstan Times" to the inclusion of certain players. The opinion of this scribe, however, is that the team could scarcely be improved upon. It is stated that Jack Davidson should have been selected as full-back instead of M'Neish, but I think there is little to choose between the two players. Anyway, both players are members of the

Clyde Club, and if they thought Davidson the better man for the jipaitaoD, why did not the Clyde dele-, gate insist on his inclusion f Then exception is taken to the inclusion of Buniside as callback, instead of either Richardson or Jolly} and Cameron's claims to inclusion are also questioned by some, It seems to me that the delegates considered—and rightly, I think—that the Vincent team will be ' called upon to play a defensive game, toad it can scarcely be questioned that Burnside and Cameron are especially Amiable in defence, while they are also good in attack. It certainly seems a pity that room could not be found for •oih ine backs as Richardson and Jolly, who have played splendidly throughout the season. These players, however, shine particularly inlttack, . but are not so reliable in defence; ao. i in view of the defensive work that Vine nt will probably be called upon to do, lam inclined to the opinion that the delegates acted wisely in selecting the men they did. I should liked to have seen Thomas, of Crom* Veil, among the forwards, as I think weaker men have been included; but, here again the nprthern dogates must have failed in their duty if they thought this player wm entitled to a place in the team. Otherwise the forwards could scarcely be improved upon. Regarding the exceptions that have been taken to the particular manner in which the backs have % °en placed, it may be pointed out th t the captain can, if circumstances should render this course advisable, rearrange his team after play has commenced, and place the men in positions where thsy w|ll be of most service to their fids. As the names of the Dunedin taam are .'not yet to hand, it is pre? mature to express an opinion-aa to the f robable result of the match; but it may, be expected that a powerful combination will come to do battle for tfct city Bwtia Y- Tabax+k;. Qur correspondent wired that the •bore match, played at New Plymouth, yesterday afternoon, resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. Rain fall during the match, and the ground was heavy. 7000 spectators were present.