FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 58

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FULL BACK

With, the departure of Gil ray, Adame, Macpherson, Scannell, Harrison, Foote, and fThomson there will be little left of Otago ("University's bright fifteen of last season.

Apropos of the 'Varsity, there is a tumour to the effect that the Royal Blues have started practising already.

Alan Adams, the Otago representative three-quarter back, who is at present on the West Coast, ie returning to Dunedin next month to take a fond farewell of bis 'Varsity colleagues prior to his leaving for England. Little Macpherson has already £one to England, and when Adams departs Conservative England will have swallowed HP the Otago University and Otago representative three-quarter line.

On good aiithority a Wellington writer (hears that tfliree of Wellington's crack players of laist season have received tempting offers from the Professional Rugby League of New South to take up their jresidence in Sydney.

'Uotwithstandinpr that the inclement weather meant a bi*» loss of revenue to the , Wellington Rugby Union, the operations last season will probably show a profit of about £150, leaving- the union in the pleasant position of having £700 on fixed deposit, and about £200 in cash at the bank.

Commenting on the future of professionBlum an English writer says : "In so far M it is possible on the evidence before one to form an opinion, I think that D. Gallaher's fifteen would beat the present fifteen, giving the latter G. W. Smith. D. M'Gregor, W. Johnston, and W. Mackrell. who were also under Gallaher. The present team has not a Roberts or a Hunter, a Gillett as a full baok for kicking, a fieelinpr, Newton, or a Cunningham. H. H. Meseanger may be as good as W. J. Wallace — he is unquestionably a finer placekicker, — and E. Wrigley may be as good V 3 R. G. Deans; but neither is a better blayer. The present backs as a body are flower than those of 1905, the forwards are hot, as a body, such a fine set of men, though T. Cross of this team is as trcod as any of Gallaher's pack exoept Seeling. IW. T. Winyard is not. I should think, as good as Roberts as a half, and certainly not ac good as Hunter as a five-eighths. O. W. Smith is quite as fast as he was fin 1905, and every bit as grood, but he Xros, perhaps, not the fastest back of that feam, while he is unmistakably the fastest »f this."

What are we to make of the New Zealandoi's (says an Athletic, News writer)? ©fore reasons have been made for their defeats than for any team of modern times. First, we were told that they could not do themselves justice unless tackling the Stronger sides ; most of the stronger sides jhave now beaten them. Then people were '.tasked to make allowance for mishaps, Sthouph from a pa-rty constituted of 6O jjmany representative players it was reasonable to expect that thirteen to successfully *ackle. cay, Barrow, Leigh, and Runcorn pould be selected. Next the state of ground knd ball was declared to be not to the diking of the colonials, while the assertion Ithat they were strangers to the rules was *nade further excuse for a while. For a long time the Yorkshire clubs failed to .©vercome them; then twice last week the fnen from the Dominion were defeated in llhe- county of broadacree. Bradford, in a «ame which was not worth looking- at, flbeat them at Greenfield ; Halifax at Thrum Slall on Saturday outplayed the New Zea- ' landers so far ac skill behind the scrummage .•was concerned. Pitch and ball were bad, imt Halifax passed beautifully at times, (tohereas there was little combination by the rrisitors that was effective. Their forwards 'did better than usual, but the half back, 'the five-eighths, and Messenger and Writrlev were not great.

ENGLAND BEATS IRELAND

LONDON, February 9.

In the International Rugby match England (two goals and a try) defeated Ireland (a pepalty goal). Portus, a Sydney man, played for England.

Last year Ireland defeated England by two goals and three tries to one goal and two tries. England has now won 20 'matches and Ireland 11, while one contest resulted in a draw.