ASSOCIATION GAME

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 8

ASSOCIATION GAME

The defeat of Everton by North Shore on Saturday is one of the most notable events in local Association football doings in two seasons. The occurrence is such an out-of-the-way sort of happening that it naturally evoked a very great deal of excitement at the time — the heights of jubilation on the one side, the depths of disappointment on the other. Let us keep to the middle way and review the situation with both eyes open. It is only in tbe country of the blind that the one-eyed man is king. The facts are, as the lawyers say, that North Shore scored two goals and Everton scored only one goal. There was nothing else to it. Nobody scored any goal that was disallowed: no goal that was scored was in the least doubtful. Two to one can't he got over, and tbe side that gets the two gets the game. Everton have got so much out of the way of being beaten that it must have been a new experience for them. They took their defeat like sportsmen, and probably feel glad now to think that they did take it smiling. You can't tell a real man till you see bun in adversity i as well as in prosperity. Just as, according to David Harum, "a few fleas is good for a dog; it keeps him from worrying too much about being a dog," so a defeat or two is a good thing for any team. It opens up new fields of interest to be explored, and brings fellows more into touch with the stern realities of a cold, hard world. The greater the rise, the bigger the fall, so that it is not altogether a bad thing to have a modest bump or two as' you go along. If points were given for openings, and for making the lead, as some humorists declare is the case in the judging of boxing competitions, instead of taking notice only of the knock-out, Everton would probably have won comfortably on points. Webster, Isbister, and Boyne showed as promising an attack as they have ever done, but the extra element against them was .the ctrcun.stance that Bennett, in the Shore goal, was having a day out. It would be, perhaps, going too far to say that Bennett won the game for Shore, but, as the keen critic on the line said, "He done his bit." j Captain Baker. Everton's untiring centre-half, who is all heart, never lost courage or slacked up for a. moment. But he did not get the support from his wing halves that he has been getting during the season, and that has been such a bright feature of the splendid progress made by young Booth and young Pitkin. Perhaps they thought that because the skipper wore his magic hat they need not keep up to their usual standard, hut could wait for the miracles of ingenuity which that hat seem 6 to inspire in its owner. Shergolt, as full-back, acquitted himself creditably; such a skilful player could hardly do otherwise, but be was not the Sherry, the deadly shot, who can blaze magazine independent into the bull at twenty-five yards. It was a case of old wine in a new bottle, and the flavour was gone. Ridley doesn't seem to have struck form at all this season. Cantell could not have been expected to stop either of the shots that got past. Temple does not underrate the a.gility of a goalkeeper, and be shoots for the place where the custodian isn't. So many forwards forget that a goal mouth grins six yards wide. The Shore forwards were full of beans on Saturday, and the result was surprising. Stewart made a welcome reappearance, on the right wing, and like the parish priest (a la Allen Doone), at the end of a hard day's work he earned his smoke. Temple was right up to the appreciative things that have already been said of Ids play, and Harper's finishing touch to the second goal was a worthy reward for dashing work all through. Young Wallace, who has been on probation in these notes for some time, is hereby granted a commission as one of the cleverest inside men we have in the game at the present time. But he hasn't got his marksman's badge yet. There is a knack of half over-running the ball. a little to the side, and nicking the toe of the swinging foot underneath, wiiieii will come to him one of these days. and then Temple will have a shooting partner, and the North Shore team a double-barrelled gun. Wooliey, on the outside, with a steady man to curb his impetuosity, is a bright colt, and full of usefulness. His line game and left foot swing across the goal-mouth are the re.tl thing in forward play, and be makes steady progress towards the standard of Rod Webster. Any town team which is fortunate enough to traved to Pukekohe to play, will find in the local fellows as fine a body of sportsmen as ever graced a playing field. The players of the country team do all in their power to cause their visitors to enjoy themselves. They make a habit of entertaining the visiting town teams to dinner after the match. The second-grade match, Adult School v. Pukekohe, played at Pukekohe on Saturday, was an enjoyable sporting game, remarkably clean and free from foul tactics. The local team won by three goals to one. For the winners two players stood out above all others—Willis (left back) and Walker (inside left). Tbe f oi-mer is a young player who kicks a nice length and plays with great judgment. He would use his head more often to good advantage, but this trick of the trade will develop later. Walker is a forward of the rushing type and plays a hard and untiring- game. He i s very unselfish, and feeds his outside man well. He shot one goal himself, and it was from his centres that the other goals were scored. Billingham makes a good centre forward, but Latta would probably do better if he were to try to accomplish more on his own account. Skivington, centre-half, played quite well. Altogether Pukekohe have a fair team, and town teams may look out for squalls later on. For the losers Deverick, who scored the only goal, was best of a poor lot of forwards. Gill, at centre-half, was always in the thiak of tbe work, while Mason and Oorkill, at back, put up a sturdy defence. After the game was over all the players had dinner together at tbe Pukekoho Hotel as guests of the local club. It is not generally known by town players that the return fare to Pukekohe, for a party of twelve, is only 4/ per man. Tabernacle A and V.M.C.A. played a plucky game at Bayswater on Saturday. Tabernacle won tbe. toss and took advantage of the wind. From the kick-off the Tabs took the ball well down the field, where play was concentrated for. a while. V.M.C.A. (playing a man short) gained possession and with brilliant combination carried the ball close to their goal, but Winks returned well up the field. The Tabs forwards worked around | the goal but their shots were cleverly saved by Crombie, who had rather a strenuous time in goal. V.M.C.A. again broke away, and after some close play ; were awarded a penalty. Templeton took the kick, but Youlden (tbe one and only Ja goaljpTg*ed himself -^uaijtoj

the occasion and saved by putting the ball around the post-for a corner. V.M.C.A. held their own in the first spell, and showed better combination than the Tab. boys, but the heavy ground and forced play was beginning to tell on them. In the second spell, with the wind against them, the Tab. forwards began to strike some combination which at times was first class. Kees was the pick of the forwards. Fletcher at centre was well marked; V.M.C.A. have learned how dangerous he is in front of goal. For V.M.C.A., Templeton on the left wing, McMirtrie at centre, and the right wing forward were well in the limelight. In this spell the play was practically all in the V.M.C.A. half, but the 191*2 champions still kept the red and blacks from scoring. From r. throw-in at the half way line Massam got the ball at his feet, took it down the line on his own and centred, and Fletcher obtaining, passed to Smallwood, who scored the only goal of the match for Tab. The Baptist boys now began to rain in shots, but the V.M.C.A. goalie was always there. Just before time V.M.C.A. reversed things, and some close play around their goal was relieved by a strong kick by Olark. Soon after tbe game ended. Tab winning by one goal. Hogan at right-half played a surprisingly better game than usual, bis combination with the forwards being a feature. Some first hand informartion concerning the Canterbury-Wellington contest for the Brown Shield, which resulted in tbe tTophy being lifted from Wellington, where it has been for so many years, may be of interest at the present time. Tbe teams were:—Canterbury—Tupe (goal); Cornish and MeFarlane (backs); Baxter, Fullarton and Scrivin (halves) ; Ward, Bissctt, Norman, Taylor and Tanner (forwards). They are taken from right to left. Wellington—Hollis (goal); Cross and Parsons (backs); Shaw, Roots and Skinner (halves! ; Loadsman, Oi-Kson, Hughes, Barnett and Lowe (forwards). The attendance at the Basin Reserve, where the game was played, was about 3000. Wellington kicked off against a light southerly wind, and the challengers at once bore down on Hollis but Parsons cleared. Canterbury's fine forward line gave the local backs some anxious moments but Cross and Parsons wcto in tine form. Cornish, the visitors' right back, tested the home custodian with a fine shot but the goalie cleared splendidly. Hughes broke away and made a nice run but MeFarlane pulled him up and sent Norman away. The centre-forward tricked several men but sent behind. From the kick Gibson swerved and feinted through but wae stopped by MeFarlane. A beautiful piece of passing between Norman and Disse-t-t took play to the Wellington end, Norman tricked the backs, worked close in, and drew first blood with a beautiful shot. The same two players again delighted the spectators with their fine footw-ork but Shaw saved the situation. Canterbury had the best of the game at this siagc -and Norman was steadying himself for another shot when Parsons relieved the tension. Lowe, who is veryfast, made a fine run up to the left wing, and centred nicely hut Gibson missed. Wellington improved and Tupe was given more to do. Hughes hit the upright with a rocket shot. Loadsman. however, made a poor attempt when in good position. When half time was called it seemed that the holders would have no trouble to keep the shield. In the second spell Tanner at once bested Hollis, who just managed to keep the bull out. Roots narrowly missed equalising for Wellington with a long shot, and Wellington kept up a dangerous attack, amid keen excitement. The Canterbury forwards, however, snapped up chances and relieved the pressure by returning the attack with interest when opportunity offered. It was from a long crass by Loadtsman that Lowe secured and dribbled in to make an opening, from which he shot the Wellington goal that made the scores even. Hughes netted the ball shortly afterwards, but the referee held that the goal-keeper had heeji unlawfully charged. Barnett shifted across to outside right fof Wellington, and centred well, but Bowe was pulled up offside. Tupe and MeFarlane were kept busy defending : for Canterbury until Taylor broke away aud turned the tide. Wellington kept at' it, however, and Tupe was" really brilliant in his wonderful saving. Roots and Skinner kept up the pressure without avail. Hughes had a chance in front of goal, bnt put the ball over the bar. When the Reds took charge again, the only result was a behindhand it was here that the mysterious "misunderstanding" occurred which was so vaguely referred to in the Press Association report. From the goal-kick the left-wing received .the ball, but some of the players appeared to think that tbe whistle had gone for some stoppage, and stood. Biseett "went on past the fullbacks, however, and netted a goal, which the referee (Mr. Dawson, of Auckland) could do nothing but allow. There was some feeling shown .by a few of the younger spectators at the time, hut the players and impartial observers readily acquitted Mr. Dawson of any -blame for the unfortunate incident. Somcbodv else bad apparently blown a whistle jus*t then. The game ended a-moment or two Later, with Canterbury a g„ al to the good.