SOCCER.

NZ Truth, Issue 211, 10 July 1909, Page 3

SOCCER.

(By "(Jrossbar.")

A very good game was witnessed by about lOO'O spectators at the Basin Reserve last Saturday, when V.M.C.A. met Thistle and defeated them by one goal to nil. Timperley, who scored the V.M.C.A. goal, was always dangerous, and his pretty footwork was greatly admired. The brothers Gibson were not m their usual good form, and "W." was decidedly off m front of -goal. . ' Y.M.C.A. 's big, burly. back, Dyke, does not seem to care "tuppence" where he kicks the ball, so long as he gets rid of it. He lost his side several opportunities on Saturday by his wild kicking. Norman, the outside right, was practically starved all through the game, but the little he had ito do was well done. The Thistle captain and lull-back, Hall, was the best man on his side, and 1 saved his team from disaster on several occasions. McLellan was In pretty good form at centre-half, and made numerous good openings for his forwards, which they did not take advantage of. The Thistle forwards were very weak, and lost no end of chances. The inside right was, to say the least, awful, and if he cannot show better form than on Saturday, the men of Scotland will have to drop him quick and lively. At New town Park the Diamonds had no difficulty m defeating the Wanderers, and, after a somewhat tame game, won by four goals to nil.' , Hathaway once more was m scoring humor, and, when the game ended, he had three out of the four goals to his credit. The Lowe Brothers were m good nick, and played very pretty football. "Sky" Reddy was playing Avell up to the point when he ceaaed play to argue the point with the referee, consequently he viewed the rest of the game from the bank. If it were not for Ash, the Wanderers* forwards would never make any showing at all. After seeing Saturday's match, it is no wonder Ash. is inclined to be selfish ; time and again he made beautiful passes, only to see the ball "booted" instead of having it returned. Jardine kicked very well at full-back for Wanderers, and played with excellent judgment. RoVers defeated Petone on the Kecreation Ground by two goals to nil. At Miramar Swifts won as they lilced against Ramblers, and when the whistle sounded they had scored five goals to* Ramblers nil. Three of the Swifts' goals were scored t by Davy Scott, who played a masterly game throughout. Graves and Marshall also scored. The goal .the former got was the result of a lovely header from a corner kick. The Ramblers, with the exception, of Smallbpne, Jackson, and McLaren, played as though they were all too tired. To-day the Brown Shield challenge match between "Wellington and TaranaW will be played at Newtown Park, and the selectors of the Wellington -team have chosen . a,,, very powerful combination, which should give a good account of itself, and, therefore, an excellent exhibition of football should be "seen. Oldnall, the goal-keeper, represented Wellington last year at Otago m the Brown Shield matches. He is very safe, and clears with good judgment. Cross, the right full-back, plays for St. Johns, and is a very powerful kick, but is a hit on the slow side. Hall is left full-back, and if he plays anything like he did for the Thistle team on Saturday, the Taranaki forwards will have a pretty hard job to pass him. Joe Taylor, the centre half, has played some great games m that position for Diamonds this . season. He played for Wellington last season at Otago. He is to captain -the team to-day. Kircheberg, the right half, has been the mainstay of the Swilts' defence ' this year. He hails from South Africa, and is considered by some excellent judges ot "Soccer" to be the best half, m Wellington. . "Eddy" Bethel— left las.lt— has easily earned his place m the. Eleven by the very good games he teas played for Rovers. He is very quick and feeds his forwards with good judgment. He was captain of the team that defeated Canterbury a few weeks ago. The centre forward position is filled by W. Gibson, of the Y.MLC.A. team. He is a bit on the heavy siae, but that does not seem to effect his pace. He shoots hard and often.Davy Scott is inside right. He has scored six goals for the Swifts m the last two matches. He is very clever with his feet and not a bit selfish. Smallbone, Hie outside right, plays lot Ramblers. He centres very accurately, is .fast, and a good shot. Both he and Scott play a similar game of football, so consequently the right wing should give a good account of themselves, Timperley has the inside left position. He is a good shot, very tricky, and passes well. He has scored a goal m nearly every match he has played fa- lor the V.M.C.A. team this season. ! Jack Redtiy, of the Diamonds, is the outside right. He is very fast, has plenty of dash, and centres well. He played for Wellington m tbe, tournament matches at Otago last year. The V.M.C.A. boys -will play the boys of the Marist Brothers' school as. a curtain raiser at 1.45 p.m. The Taranaki team are said to be a | very strong combination. It includes some very good players, notably Tommy Mclnnis and Gwilliam, both late of the Wanderers Club, also Schofield, who. plays a very fine game at centre forward. At the W.F.A-. meeting last week, it was reported that two members of the Management Committee played m a match the previous Saturday. According to a rule passed at the annual meeting, "No member of the W.F.A.. Management Committee shall be a player," consequently it was necessary fox' the two members to resign. However, after a great deal of discussion, it was decided to re-elect the offenders, but it was m no way the act of a precedent. All champioDship matches are postponed to-day <y\ving to the WeliingtonTaranaki match at NeWtown ParK.

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