DELIGHTFUL DISPLAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 210, 6 September 1927, Page 14

DELIGHTFUL DISPLAYS.

SCHOOLBOYS' EXHIBITIONS OF THE CODE.

ADMIRABLY TUTORED TEAMS.

if Sh *M e *P° B \ tum of Soccer, much as be "played scientifically, and with combination the key note of all efforts, and cleanness in spirit, schoolfZVh^V*^,^* o ™* •» almost mvanably be-relied on to give it. The matches throughout the week past, when the primary schools contested the championship of the North Island, and again the meetings of New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, and Auckland and Australia on Monday, brought this home, for m nearly all cases the standard of bowser was high, and always it was keen and played in a real sportsmanlike spirit. Mud undoubtedly prevented the "midgets from giving of their verv best on Victoria Park during the week, and the Test teams on Saturday from striking then- highest mark in playing and team craft, but, nevertheless, if applause and keen interest count for anything, the displays pleased immensely. The various instructors of the boys are worthy of hearty congratulations. They have undoubtedly given the boys the right idea and put them well on the road to the mastery of the intricacies of the game. Wellington boys played consistently well to win the Webster Shield, but one can see that they will need to do still better next year if they are to retain the trophy, as both Manawatu and Waikato boys are being w;ell schooled and fast improving; and Auckland has little to learn. Though the locals lost the shield, they acquitted themselves exceedingly well. In point of hall craft and combination they were, if anything superior to all others in the tournament, but what they lacked was initiative in front of goal and weight.'They were, it seemed, the lightest of all. If they had had more confidence in their own powers of penetration and more weight behind their kicking a different tale might have been told.. .. J : . •<«*.■= "'". Test With Australia.

A dramatic last half-minute goal undoubtedly saved New Zealand boys from defeat by Australia at Blandford Park on Saturday, but it was just what they deserved, and anything but a draw would have been unrepresentative of play, for in general play was very evenly contested, Australia played the stronged game the second half, but—there's the rub—New Zealand were■-unquestionably the better side thfr.fifStj It dean, Soccer, co n teet«d, f *hd the spectators present were thßlled by the dash and skill and-'"the" swift changes in attack and defence, and they cheered lustily. jsis doubtful # \i. senior Soccer game has ever roused spectators to a greater pitch of excitement.

The Australian boys play a skilful, well-balanced game, and as a team, that is a unit, were better than New; Zealand, But that could only be Whereas the visitors have of ten together, it -was the ;tiin> toe Dominion eleven had played together,; and no team can pull together like a machine at a first trial. Individually, the Kangaroos, were not a bit better, compared in a general sense, than the Dominion boys, whose superior dash, very much in evidence in the first half, counterbalanced the superior team work of the visitors. . •

Cleal, in goal, and Stone at fullback, were the stalwarts in New Zealand's defence, and at half-back, Bates and Knight, of Auckland, and Hooper, of Canterbury, were sound, the former verging on brilliancy. White, of Wellington, and Williamson, of Auckland Tech., made a really enterprising, clever wing, and Nelligan put in some nice funs and centres. ' :

Australia's custodian played a class game and delighted with his skill, as did Hooper (right-half), who had a fastV resourceful pair to watch. Sullivan, at right back, was somewhat unstable, and on the day's .play was not the equal of Cambrell. . ; j^