HURLEY SHIELD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22112, 7 June 1937, Page 7

HURLEY SHIELD

SATURDAY'S MATCHES KEEN CONTESTS PROVIDED In view of the approaching match against England, more than ordinary interest was shown in the Hurley Shield matches played on Saturday. Considering the state of the grounds, the play was surprisingly good. Two matches were played at English Park. In the early contest Western, the competition leader, was opposed to Y.M.C.A. The game produced many exciting exchanges, and although Y.M.C.A. was defeated by 5 goals to 2, the form displayed would suggest considerable Improvement in future matches. Thistle and Nomads provided an excellent contest in the second match. After being four goals down, Nomads spurted to put on three goals in quick time. Nomads were definitely on top over the closing stages, but did not score again. At Ensor's road, Technical Old Boys contested the issue with Rangers. At the interval Old Boys were two goals down; but in the second spell they overwhelmed Rangers and won by 5 goals to 3. Championship Table The position of the teams in the championship table is:— P. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Western ..6 5 1 Technical 0.8. 7 5 0 2 28 16 10 Thistle ..6 3 2 1 21 19 8 Nomads ..7 2 1 4 21 19 5 Rangers ..7 1 2 4 11 13 4 Y.M.C.A. ..7 1 0 6 14 35 2 THISTLE (4) v. NOMADS (3) Nomads should not have lost against Thistle at English Park by the odd goal. Apart from a missed penalty. Nomads should have drawn the game. Thanks largely to a keener discrimination by the selectors of the respective teams, both Nomads and Thistle have recently shown vast improvement, and each is likely to be in line for honours before the season closes. Perhaps the Thistle defence could

be improved. A. Walker is a better halfback than full-back, and although Jock Simpson is very effective, he is a veteran who has lost much of his speed. There is a judicious blending of youth and experience in the forwards. In the Nomads' side, C. Pickup is the only player who may have reached the veteran stage. The forward line is comprised almost entirely of young players who are sure to improve. Saturday's game showed an improvement as a spectacle. There appeared to be an honest attempt by both sides to concentrate on positional play. The combination of both sides was thereby iinproved, and an exceptionally fast pace was maintained throughout. Perhaps the most effective work was contributed by the Thistle right wing, R. Adam and W. Sutherland, with J. Nelligan in support at centre. Occasionally J. Paton, from the half-back line, joined in with a triangular movement which penetrated deep into the opposing territory. Then again there was a converging on goal by the Thistle flank men which always gave added punch to the final assault. In this respect Thistle showed to better advantage then the Nomads' forwards did. Both Sharr and Parle neglected the opportunity to use the full width of the goal as a target. There is a considerable element of luck attached to a goal scored from the wing. Mcßae has been seen to better advantage in goal for Nomads. He twice misjudged the pace of the ball when racing out to take it, and two goals were scored against his team. He should also cultivate dropping on one knee to take a low shot. He let one shot through his legs and only a nimble hook by Fail prevented a score being made. Both sides could improve in their shooting. Particularly bad offenders in this respect were G. Walker and A. Wilson, of Thistle, and C. Sharr and Parle, of Nomads. Nomads were first away, and from a cross by Parle, Wilkins shot into Birchall's safe hands. End to end play followed, with both keepers putting in good work. Wilkins scored fox Nomads, but was ruled offside. Nomads were hard pressed for a spell, and finally Mcßae misjudged a clearance for Sutherland to notch an easy one. Nomads failed to equalise when Pickup missed a penalty, and then Mcßae repeated his early mistake and allowed Sutherland to score In a further Thistle raid Gordon failed to cover a pass by G. Walker and Nelligan goaled. Half-time score: Thistle 3, Nomads 0. Resuming. Billcliff and Parle changed places on the Nomads' left flank. Thistle quickly attacked, and from a cross by Adam, Wilson made Thistle's tally four. From a penalty to Nomads, Fail scored. After a sustained Thistle onslaught. Nomads rushed play to the other end, where Beale goaled. Just before time Beale added a further goal, and the final score was: Thistle 4, Nomads 3. Referee: Mr E. C. Crake. WESTERN (5) v. Y.M.C.A. (2) Although Y.M.C.A. was beaten by Western at English Park, it was by no means disgraced. Indeed, on many occasions (and more particularly in the first half) so vigorous and fast were many of the raids by Y.M.C.A. that Western must have had grave doubts as to the final issue. But after the interval the play of Western improved by the same ratio as that of Y.M.C.A. deteriorated. To Western's defence must be attributed the major num-

ber of the team's successes. There is a unity of action between the backs and half-backs, which, when put to the test, is both admirable and instructive. Superb physical fitness makes of the intermediate line not only a bulwark in defence, but also a weapon of attack. Certainly the very unorthodox methods adopted by Y.M.C.A. in attack olten threw the Western defensive machine out of gear; but it was not long before it recovered itself. Yet Western was far too prone to balloon the ball both in attack and defence, and had Y.M.C.A. taken the fullest advantage of this persistent fault it would undoubtedly have made the closing stages more interesting. Y.M.C.A. appeared to enter into the spirit of the thing, and the bandy of long kicks at times got monotonous. Generally, had either side (and more particularly Y.M.C.A.) realised the effectiveness of the half-backs as a connecting link between backs and forwards, much more interest would have been imparted to the game. As a goal-scoring force, the Western forwards demonstrated the effectiveness of collective action in the second spell, and this was due primarily to the service of a much less harassed intermediate line. Y.M.C.A. produced many admirable movements, and had the forward line in particular maintained its early aggressiveness, it certainly would have added to its tally of goals. There was not a very noticeable weakness in the half-back line, but in the second half , some of the forwards persisted in drop- , Ping back to assist the defence. Thus , Y.M.C.A. was deprived of a weapon of ; attack when many opportunities occur- , red, and hence during the second spell not a goal was scored. The Western team was uniformly good throughout, with the half-backs, Henderson, Roberts, and Galbraith outstanding G : Smith, W. White, and E. Hal] were the best of the forwards. For Y.M.C.A., J. Harker made some good saves in goal, with P. Brookes, J. Pegley, and R. Fail up to form in defence. C. Liddle, D Boa and S. Lancaster were the pick of the forwards. The teams were:— iv/r^ ? n ern -r Whi te; S. Cawtheray, A. McMillan: R. Henderson. G. Roberts, G. M^wTte 1 ; E W Ha!l hite ' G " EI " S ' G ' Smith ' ,^ Y - M ;C.A.—J. Harker: P. Brooks. W. Mowatt; T. Archer, J. Pegley, R. Fail- S Lancaster. D. Boa, J. Dougall, C. Liddle, M. Burnand-. Y.M.C.A. opened with a flank raid, from which Henderson conceded a corner Western cleared and at the other end Galbraith tested Harker with a rising shot. Y.M.C.A. came back for Burnand to shoot wide. Then Dougall shot Weakly into White's hands at easy range. After a rrus-kick by Pegley. Roberts sent out to the left. Hall lifted over for Smith to head in. Western 1, Y.M.C.A. 0. A moment later Y.M.C.A. attacked. Liddle sent iy\»t? . Dou £all, who scored. Another Y.M.C.A. raid was clinched by Dougall beating White from a well-placed pass by Lancaster. At half-time the score was: Y.M.C.A. 2. Western I. On resuming, Western forced the pace. After a race clown the wing, W. White placed a cross shot which Harker just failed to reach. Y.M.C.A. 2, Western 2. Drives by Ellis and Roberts hit the uprights, and from the rebound from Roberts's shot Smith nipped in to put Western 1 up. White cleared a corner kick to Y.M.C.A., and Western rushed play downfield. Hall sent over for Ellis to make the score Western 4, Y.M.C.A. 2. Western came again and after Harker had punched out a shot from W. White, M. White raced in to make the final score: Western 5, Y.M.C.A. 2. ' Referee: Mr C» G. Sweeney.

TECHNICAL OLD BOYS (5) V. RANGERS (3) There was a great deal of merit in Technical Old Boys' win over Rangers at Ensor's road by 5 goals to 3. That they added four goals in the second spell and did not allow their opponents to score signifies not only all-round efficiency, but thorough physical hitness. As a scoring machine their forwards show an average of four goals a match—an enviable record. An improvement could be shown in the defence, yet for a young team whose enthusiasm is one of the main factors of its success its average is second only to that of Western. The most pleasing feature of Technical's victories is not only the players' ability to score goals, but the method in which they are scored. Their positional play and snappy passing with the ball taking the shortest route along the ground, suggests coaching of a particularly high standard. The forwards and half-backs appear to be moulding their play more on scientific lines (the type so successfully exploited by the visiting English team) and are discarding the futile kick and rush tactics which are at present so prevalent. The Technical full-backs could improve their defence by realising that a short pass with the object of keeping the side in possession, is far better football than a big spectacular kick which gives the oposition charge of the ball. Rangers opened well when playing with the wind, but went all to pieces in the second spell. Rangers possesses far better players than , its position in the championship would indicate; but not until some finality is reached in the selection of the team will these players be seen at their best. It is impossible to expect a team to show any degree of combined work when the players are constantly chopped and changed about. That complete understanding which is so essential to success cannot be fostered under such conditions. That is abundantly proved by Rangers' poor record as a goal-scoring side. Then the defence must be strengthened, and that permanently. It should be quite obvious that W. Barnes is the logical goal-keeper and to regulate him to a place in the field—as was done on Saturday—is mere folly. Players who took the eye for Technical were D. Richardson, A. Porter, and G. Browne in the defence, the right wing, A. Almond, and R. Smith and W. Mitchell at centre forward. For Rangers, E. Barnes, D. Miller, and B. Muxlow—the latter the best half-back on the field—in defence, and in the forwards S. Benger, J. Souter, and T. Walls. The teams were:— Technical Old Boys—L. McKenzie; A. Porter, T. Lennon; D. Richardson, H. Sherwood, G. Browne; A. Almond, R. Smith, W. Mitchell, C. Adie, E. Collins. Rangers—J. Dougal; E. Barnes, W. Barnes; D. Miller, B. Muxliow, R. McConie; J. McLennan, J. Souter, S. Benger, C. Souter, T. Walls. After even play Walls lifted the ball to the centre for C. Souter to open Rangers' score. A combined movement put Rangers further ahead. Miller blocked a run bv Collins and sent through to Millar. The winger went down the line and a well-timed centre was driven home by Benger. Rangers staved off a determined Technical raid, and Barnes sent out to McConie, to Walls. The winger made ground and in-passed to Benger. who again goaled. Technical retaliated and when Dougal misjudged a shot by Smith, Almond nipped in to score. Half- . time score: Rangers 3, Technical Old Boys 1. Showing improvement. Technical was : first to score. Dougal failed to hold a dropping shot by Browne from well out. . The scores were levelled when Almond goaled after receiving a pass from Mit- ' chell. Technical now had Rangers on ■ the run and Collins notched a further

goal. Mitchell added another and time was called with the score: Technical Old Boys S, Rangers 3. Referee: Mr L. E. Doherty. SENIOR RESERVE GRADK Linwood 6, Nomads 0. St. Albans 2, Y.M.C.A. 1. JUNIOR GRADE St. Albans 1, Marist 0. Celtic 7, Nomads 0. FOURTH GRADE Marist 3, St. Albans 1. Technical 4, Nomads 1. Western 7, Rangers 1. FIFTH GRADE Y M.C.A. 6, St. Albans 1. Technical A 5, Technical B 0. SIXTH GRADE Marist 2. Nomads 2. SEVENTH GRADE Marist A 7, Celtic 0. Western 0, Nomads A 0. Marist B 10. Thistle 3. Technical 5. Y.M.C.A. 0. Linwood beat Nomads B by default. EIGHTH GRADE Hornby School 5, Marist 1. WELLINGTON RESULTS (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAVJ WELLINGTON. June 3. Waterside 1. Seatoun 1: Marist 7. Technical Old Boys 3; Petone 9, Diamond If Hospital 5, Institute 3.