Association Football A GOOD EXHIBITION SCOTTISH WANDERERS AND ONSLOW INSTITUTE TOO CONSISTENT CHOICE OF GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 12, 13 July 1935, Page 22

Association Football

A GOOD EXHIBITION

SCOTTISH WANDERERS AND ONSLOW

INSTITUTE TOO CONSISTENT

CHOICE OF GAMES

Players in the First A Division who narrowly missed inclusion in the Wellington team which visited Auckland— and there were many of them—may iind themselves picked to make the trip to Christchurch on' July 27, for Mr. George Aers, the sole selector, told "Vanguard" that while.the nucleus of tlie team for Canterbury would be formed by those players who had gone to Auckland, he would take the opportunity of including other men with the idea of giving them interprovincial match experience and possibly of finding an improved team for a return match with Auckland.

Though Mr. Aers stated publicly after the Auckland game that he had every confidence in his team and would choose them again without hesitation, he did not mean that there were no other players in Wellington worthy of a place in the representative team. Despite the dismal croakings of those Jeremiahs who can find nothing as good as it used to be, Wellington footballis in a strong and flourishing condition. Proof of that is afforded by the superfluity of players eligible for representative honours, and anyone who doubts that this is so should ask Mr. Aers whether selecting is an easy job.

The framing of 29 men for the last representative game is an indication of the numbers of potential representative players in Wellington. And that 29 by no means included all the possibilities. .

Seeing that Mr. Aers'has decided on a partial change, "Vanguard" suggests for his favourable consideration Wilson

and McGrath, the nippy Waterside left Aank, and, of ..course, Leslie, who,, in ?Ihe ; opinion of. many,: is the only really outstanding centre-forward in' Wellington.' Webster, occupying the same position for Hospital, has been in great form lately, and he may possibly take the choice from the more experienced Leslie. And . what about; Abernethey,: the Waterside full-back, who . always plays the same reliable game? And half a dozen other players that could be mentioned?

The plain fact is that Wellington cpulc' field a second representative team that . would fully extend the eleven who went to Auckland. With such a wealth of talent available it would be unfair to send the same team" to Christchurch, but by making a iudicious'selectioQ ol old and new Mr. Aers can give a fair deal to the local players and at the same time send a first-class team, as good as and even possibly better than the Auckland challengers, to help the game in Christchurch.

While Swifts showed that they were capable of bright football and concerted effort against Institute- on the No. 2 ground at the, Basin Reserve, their attacks were spasmodic, and the goals they scored came from more quickly-seized opportunities than systematic campaigning. Institute, on the other hand, worked more as' a unit, showed greater stability, and did not exhaust themselves with.aimless clearances. The game throughout was played at a brisk tempo, neither side asking quarter; and the final spurt of Swifts, if it had been supported earlier by better—and rather obvious—tactics, would have clinched the argument. Neither side realised the strength of the Swifts right wing. Institute did not mark it sufficiently, and Swifts did not feed it sufficiently. Healy, the outside right, is a powerful runner who combines speed with ball control, and; unlike many wingers,' knows how to finish off a movement, and is not afraid to come infield when opportunity offers. The dictum of a winger hugging the line is sound on paper, but if the inside men are not right up with the play it is so much wasted effort; and the value of the surprise of the unorthodox can be appreciated. If Healy continues as he is'going now he will be a man to be watched in Wellington Soccer. His inside man, P. MacGregor, did his best to keep the flank moving, and combined in some pretty movements. Shankie, centre forward, was a good distributor a/id a dangerous snap-shot. He kept his head in the tight, goalmouth play, but was rather prone to wander from his position iri the more open engagements.. C- MacGregor, right half, was disconcerting with his speculators from the line, lifting the ball with neatly-judged accuracy. He paved the way for one good goal, and was frequently a stumbling block in the Institute offensives. The full-backs,' Dickson and Long, found the snappy inside forwards of Institute difficult to handle, but they had behind them a good man in Turner, the 'keeper, whose display, although five goals were scored against him, was creditable.

The stamina, tenacity, and generalship of some of Institute's smaller-built men was one of the best features of the game. Their short-passing tactics not only saved themselves but wore down the opposing defence, and they were never guilty of wild passing or reckless shooting. Probably Hip hardest worker on the field was G. Sutherland, the stocky ihside left whose thrustfulness and iniative allowed Swifts no respite. Tanner, who was outside him, had, the penetrative power, but too often overran hSmself and spoiled his efforts by weak shooting. Ward showed fine poise and distribution at centre forward; his weight was vseful in the close work, and his ball control was excellent. Three of Institute's goals went to him, and he nar-

CHOOSING TEAM FOR CANTERBURY

WEALTH OF TALENT AVAILABLE

FREEDOM IN SOUTH

side right, had all the cunning of an old hand in his solo runs, and there was perfect understanding between him and his inside man, R. Sutherland. R. McLean, tV*e centre half, was a useful man on defence, and did much to keep the front line on the movo, The goaliee. King, was sound.

The meeting of Hospital and Petone in the local semi-final of the Chatham Cup competition attracted a considerable following, whose anticipations of a rear ding-dong struggle-were not disappointed. Except for the concluding ten minutes, play was fast and willing, interspersed with sufficient individual and combined efforts to sustain interest and enthusiasm. ■.

. The Hospital team was very evenly balanced, being built round a mid-line that would do credit to any side. In the pivotal position Jeffery proved a full ninety-minute player, dominating the situation. Woods on the extreme wing was in exceptionally fine form, while McGrory certainly rose to the occasion. In tS»e centre-forward berth, Webster's dash secured two goals, and possibly a place in the Wellington team against Canterbury, while Caisley fitted nicely into, the scheme of things. The alertness of the Hospital van and their understanding, one with the other, kept Petone's defence •at high tension all through. • ; . ■

The visiting forwards were by no means idle or inept, but.were slower on the whole than the home five. They worked the ball down well on occasions, only to be thwarted by the first time methods of Hospital's defence, with the result that Wyatt had comparatively little to do in the first half. McVean had a busier time, and proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Despite an injury, Leslie accomplished a lot of fine work, foraging well and distributing judiciously. Craig gave glimpses of his old form, and Cunningham had an. eye for any opening that offered. Though harassed by the opposing forwards, Campbell bore the brunt in attack and- defence,

At the end of a torrid first spell, Hospital led by the only goal. .Petone opened Well in the second period, but their equaliser was almost immediate!ly countered. The visitors made many desperate bids to draw level once more. A third goal to Hospital accrued, and Petone were unfortunate to lose the services of White who had been doing yeoman service. From then play lost its sting, but, as both sides had lasted the pace marvellously well, there would be few to cavil at any slackness before the final whistle brought welcome relief to the players.

This game at Kelburn Park produced •rather a surprise, inasmuch as Scottish Wanderers did not have it all their own way. Onslow giving their .best display of the season. Against such strong opposition they did extremely- well to keep the score down .to.such .a small figure as 4-1. If •Onslow'keep up such a vigorous attack, and pay attention to organised training they will weld into a combination to be reckoned with.

. Scottish Wanderers are a formidable eleven, and.on both defence arid attack they are sound. They, gave.; aft, excellent' exhibition of the code pti Saturday:.,' ■-■.■■■-.■■ •.'.■■. :•■-..

Guppy had a lot of work to' do, arid did it well, v ~.-.-.. , '.■.'•:'.. --

Philip and Briggs (full-backs) came through a heavy day's work with flying colours. Briggs was the best back on. the ground. Ransome was1 noticeable for several pieces of neat play. Le Gal played sparkling football. He takes advantage of every opportunity that comes his way at shooting for goal. ■A player who gets through a lot of work in an unobtrusive manner is Dalgleish. He has a fine grip of centrehalf back play. Of Onslow's quintet of forwards Leake .and Well wood .performed best. Both shoot well. Wellwood's goal was a good effort. ■

Dougal, Mander. and Fawthorpe performed fairly well, but they must put more pep into their play in front ot goal. Scottish Wanderers gave a delightful exhibition of combined play both back and forward.

Cuthbert (goalkeeper) gave a masterful display. ;; ... ■/

Colleges in Wellington which forbid their boys the right to choose their football contrast strangely With such important centres of secbndary education as the Otago Boys' High School and the Dunedin Technical College, in each of which colleges, according to Mr. T. Ruddiman, of Dunedin, about 150 boys are playing Soccer. "The game is very well placed in the secondary schools," he told the-council of the N.Z.F.A. at its meeting this week.

Mr. Ruddiman, who is a vice-presi-dent of the N.Z.F.A., and ex-president of the Otago F.A., took the opportunity of a holiday visit to Wellington to attend the council meeting, and his presence caused a slight discussion on Soccer in the schools. He was asked to convey to Mr.. M. G. Mclrlnes, of Dunedin, the council's great appreciation of his work.for school football, especially in the Otago Boys' High School. '

"The game, in the Wellington primary schools is making remarkable strides," said the chairman of the council, Mr. B. L. Salmon, "but it is different in the secondary schools. We have obtained this year one or two schools that previously blocked the game."

The game is in a flourishing condition on the West Coast, according to a report in an exchange.. The Westland F.A. is fortunate this year, it states,-in that the lower grades have'a wealth of material at their command. There are five teams in the junior and five in the fourth grade competition, arid some keen competition has resulted. Greymouth were the winners of the Vaughan Memorial Cup. while Cobdeu A won the fourth grade competition. With new competitions now starting, however, some keen, matches are assured. In the junior erade Technical have already upset Greymouth. the winners of the last competition, whilst Marist and Runanga will h,gve to be reckoned w>*Vi in fii<? fourth grade.

Mr. Gordon Harkness, who ws*s present at the Stadium last Saturday to see his first Rusby League gax.ie, has joined tine Rugby League Board of Control, which is now a strong body. Mr. George Bassant, president of the St. George Club and a member of the Wellington Rugby League Board of Control, was at Carlaw Park last Sat»