SAILORS AT SOCCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 15

SAILORS AT SOCCER.

RENOWN V. AUCKLAND REPS.

Although this Is hardly the season,of the year for the strenuous sport of Soccer, whatever heat there may be on Saturday on the occasion of the rep. match between the team from the Renown and the Auckland reps, should not disturb the sailors. The last occasion on which the sailors played during their pr<*en; tour was in a temperature of 110 degrees, which, they state, is slightly iiotter than they expect it to be on Saturday. Whatever the climatic condition- on •Saturday, there is every indication that there will be a hot enough encounter, lor the men of the Renown are talented exponents of the code, and they are verv anxious to l>e the lirst side to defeat the premier eleven of New Zealand. In this they will have a task not easily to be accomplished. The sailors have this advantage that they are physically in the fittest condftion. and they "have played together as a team on more than one occasion. The local reps, have been at practice recently, but are hardly in the condition to stant. up to a strenuous game which their supporters would like.

The Renown team has iven chosen as follows: Dyer. Lamb and Welchman, Jones. Taylor and Watts (captain). Brant and Burton. Breeze. Ball and Mills. Reserve: Bartholomew.

The *eam had a pr liminary canter yesterday afternoon on Blandiord Park, and they are a vtry smart, clever t-e: of players. What was seen of their ballcontrol. the accuracy and judgment of their shooting and their tackling wa = in pressive. Sergeant Watts. the captain, how? fine generalship and with Dyer, goalkeeper, has gained »ome of the highest honours in Navy football. The other players showed a fine understanding of each other's play and a rare conception of the finer points of the game. The match, wh commences at 3.30 p.m. after a mrsi interesting curtain rai-er. is sure to be well worth seeing, and is ltoinj. eargerly looked forward to by tiic sporting public. Arrangements were made yesterday tor a curtain raiser, and the contestants will be two teams off the Renown. No one who ha 6 not an acquaintance with the Service can appreciate the keen rivalry between the different departments of a ship's company in any realm of sport. The marines and stokers will play the seamen and daymen, and two very competent elevens will be seen in act ion. The curtain raiser is due to commence at 2.30 p.m. The A.F.A., who will entertain the Renown men after the match, have received a compliment in that the ship's band has agreed to be present at Blandford Park, and during the afternoon this very talented combination of musicians will discourse a programme of classic and popular music. The Renown rep. team has just received a request to play a Soccer match at the occasion of th' opening of Parliament by His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, at the new Commonwealth capital.