FOOTBALL NOTES

Lake County Mail, Issue 16, 10 September 1947, Page 5

FOOTBALL NOTES

By Scrum Half

Wakatipu and Northern, played at Arrowtown. The Wakatipu team gave a poor display against Northern on Saturday last, the visitors on the other hand played bright football and thoroughly deserved their win. Once again the tackling of the local team was shocking, and was the cause of Northern getting some gift tries. I. Forde, who was transferred to the full-back position in the second spell, and although caught out of place a couple of times, all round gave a grand display. Eussell Anderson, who was shifted to second five-eighths, added extra thrust to the backs, probably not being as fast as he was, there is still not a better all-round back in the district at the present time. The Northern forwards gave Wakatipu a lesson in quick heeling from line-outs and rucks, and their enterprising backs make good use of a feast of the ball. Dough Thompson’s tackling was an object lesson to his team mates,. This player, with a little more experience and coaching should develop into a really good inside back. Spence, the Wakatipu half-back, got through a good day’s work, but was hampered at times by .tired forwards who were not doing their share in the rucks. G. Douglas, P. Ayson, F. Rae, and L. Inder were hard-working forwards in the Wakatipu pack. Football in the district this season has been the poorest for years, whether this has been caused by. lack of keenness by players or poor organisation by sub-union officials, the fact remains that if Wakatipu football hopes to retain the good reputation of bygone years, players, coaches, referees, and officials will have to take a more active interest in the sport next season.