ASSOCIATION GAME

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 125, 27 May 1913, Page 8

ASSOCIATION GAME

A correspondent a_ks whether, when a player is hurt, the referee cau stop the game at once or must wait until the ball is out of play. It is not necessary to wait until the ball is out of play. The whole matter is in the discretion of the referee, who, it is useful to notice in this connection, stops a game right on time, whether the ball is out of p?ay or not, except when a penalty kick is being taken.

'Dane" Harvey, of the Huntly Club, has been transferred to Auckland, and has registered with the Corinthians. Harvey has been connected with the Huntly Club ever since its formation, and has played some- very fine games on the right wing. He will be cordially welcomed by Auckland footballers in general, and by the Corinthians in particular in their present anxious time of putting their forces in order. His introduction was made under very promising circumstances in the ma-teh against Everton at Victoria Park on Saturday, when he played a sound game on thei right wing of the white vanguard.

The only goal which Corinthians scored in this match was directly due to a clever opening made by Ilarvev. One of hia well-timed crosses" got right to the goal mouth among the Everton backs. The opposing forwards were well down on them, and the best clearance seemed to lie in a back heel to the goal-keeper, who would thereby have more time to get the ball away. The [transfer was full of good intentions, but it was made so quickly that it took the goal-keeper unawares, and he let the ball through. He could not be -blamed iv the circumstances; it was Corinthians' chance, and fortune lav with them.

An extraordinary feature of the •Everton-Corinfchian gaane was the brilliant performance of Isbister on the blue and black left wing. Last year this very bright player was only sometimes particularly prominent, but on Saturday he was right on hia game, and hie perfect crosses from the wing were something to cheer the most pessimistic has-been, who will tell you that football ie ,not now what it was ten years ago. labister was always doing some-' thing, and he invariably 'did it well. He realised that it is the business of a wing to work his own strip down the line, and to cross the ball after he has drawn the defence from the three insides, who are properly the marksmen of the team. Where Isbister shines is in swinging acrpss such perfect centres that they are more dangerous than many deliberate shots at goal by less expert boot men.

The difference between Everton and Corinthians was that the -former had a forward line of good shots to do something with the chances supplied by the backs, whereas the Corinthians were distinctly weak in shooting. The white backs played excellently, McCarthy fairly surpassing himself in goal. He uses his feet a good deal better than most men can use their hands, bnt it makes one nervous to see a goalie rely so much on his feet. Never use your feet where you can use your hands is a safe working rule for a goal-keeper, and to follow it faithfully pays in the long run. McCarthy did not make any mistakes on Saturday, jwit it is too late to complain when a ball is mis-kicked, and, anyway, speculating kicks cannot be placed with invariable accuracy.

It does not reflect very great credit on the football knowledge of the spectators who stood on the line at Victoria Park on Saturday and shouted congratulations every time Evertou's powerful full-back, Robinson, got in one of his mighty kicks. Tall kicking might be useful sometimes, but it is senseless to praise it when the ball goes sailing down to -the opposing full-backs to give them a clear return. Backs, as well as forwards, must have some definite objective in tbeir passes, and mote often , thaamot the fueoper phrce for a-i>all -to

go is along the ground. It gete there quicker, for one thing, and it gives a man a chance to pick it up before his opponent reaches it. Some full-backs do -_ot seem to realise thct it is often a very useful move simply to tap the ball pact an attacking forward on to their own_half-backs, who are, as a rule, in a very much better- position to make openings for the forwards of their own side. .In the matter of placing. Robinson has a very fine practical example in his own centre-half, one of the most thoughtful players we have in Auckland. Iv this connection the display of full-back work given by Sale and Roberts for Corinthians on Saturday was admirable. Their centre-half, Shepherd, an exceedingly fine exponent of heading, was right in the same class.

The match Hotspur v. Shore was remarkable chiefly for the number of stoppages occasioned by minor injuries received by some of the players. Let it be understood that these were all purelyaccidental, for throughout the whole game the whistle was not requisitioned for anything more serious than hands, and the game was entirely free from anything approaching foul play, the injured being afflicted mainly with loss of wind and with cramp. Out of the eight stoppages, Hotspur contributed the material for six. In this connection it might be suggested that it would be a movement in the right direction if the injured were at once led over the line for attention and the game allowed to proceed, for Saturday's match was prolonged into the stilly watches of the night, and at the closing stages it was almost impossible to see the ball across the ground.

Shortly after the kick-off Hotspur scored twice, while Shore were still thinking of starting, and then Hotspur were generous enough to put one through their own goal, counteracting it shortly afterwards by piloting the ball once again into hhore's net. In the second spell Shore woke up a little, and the play was confined mostly to Hotspur's half, but .although Shore managed to score again, the need of a good quick centre-forward was palpably evident. Until they get one their attack will be without a"great deal of sting.

The third grade match, V.M.C.A. v. Shore, was a very even go, the former doing most of the attacking in part of the game. Shore retaliating later. Sinton from a penalty scored for Shore, YJMLC.A. equalising later, no further score being recorded.

• In the fourth grade neither Richmond nor Shore scored, the forwards still being rather elementary, with a strong desire to wander too much, so that the backs did not have much difficulty in keeping the goal clear. Lunn, in goal for Shore, well stopped a penalty, the only outstanding feature of the game.

Shore fifths had matters all their own way with V.M.C.A. B, winding up with a total of eight to nil—Clark 4, Perrctt 2, and Brown 2, being the culprits. The forwards gave a really fine display, although Perrett is inclined to do too much work, and might pass a little sooner, but it would be difficult to pick out any for special commendation.

The Carltonitea journeyed over to the Richmond ground on Saturday, where they were pitted against Adult School. Those who witnessed the match were rewarded with a very fair exhibition of soccer. From the start of the game until the whistle went for time both teams were out to win, the goalies at each end of the lield being called upon to do plenty of saving.

Guerdon, in goal for Carlton, played a fine game, his fielding and clearing of the ball being of a high standard. The way in which he stopped one shot when lie was at one corner of the goal and the shot was directed to the other end of the goal, brought forth applause from the spectators. Captain Goodc at left fullback played a safe game, and saved his side time and again. Lovell, playing right, was handicapped through this being his first game this year, but all the same he got through a lot of useful work.

The half-back line showed a great improvement on the previous Saturday's performance, and the Bennett brothers and Newcombe trio all worked hard. Of an even lot of forwards Dow and Venables were probably the best, although they were well backed up by Rcld. Sutherland and Knight. There is one little fault which is very noticeable and that is tho crowding together of the two insides and the centre. Time and again on Saturday one of the positions was vacant when a pass was directed to tbat position, and consequently the opposing half had no trouble in getting the ball and placing it to his forwards.

Por the School, Gussy in goal made some very nice saves, and had to be all the time on the watch for short shots. Mayall was very useful in the full-back line, and was kept very busy evading the Carlton attack. Dance, inside left, was always on the ball, and he and his outside man were responsible for some very pretty passing in the closing stages of the game. *