SOCCER FORUM

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 284, 27 August 1930, Page 17

SOCCER FORUM

Coming Boys’ Tourneys THE LATE MR. W. AULD Face Opposition in Schools

(By

“GOALIE”)

The games which were played by the first division teams last. Saturday were in a cup competition which has been inaugurated to remind us—if it were necessary—of one of the hardest workers and supporters of the code in Wellington, the late Mr. W. Auld. It is not that he has been forgotten, but. the trophy which has been named after him will keep his memory green for years to come. • As a young man Mr. Auld was one of the leading players, and represented Wellington on more than one occasion. He was a member of the Rovers Club, which one season hardly won a game and in the foliowing year won the championship flying. He was a great believer in encouraging the boys, realising that only by working at the bottom of the ladder could strong senior teams be built up. TJe served many years on the management committee, and was always to be found on duty on Saturday at the gates or on’the stand. If there was work to be done he did it without any fuss, and tiis death was a severe loss to the code. “Billy Aulds” are hard to find nowadays. Good Games.

The competition provided some good games on Saturday, the greatest surprise and probably the most creditable performance being that of Marist in defeating Hospital. In the first spell of the Waterside-Diamonds game Waterside haij a goal lead at half-time, but in the second spell the forwards did not do so well. The Diamonds’ defence was so solid that it was only occasionally that the Waterside attack could get away. On the other hand the Diamond forwards appeared to have taken a new tease of life in the second spell., and were a different line. They dominated the play, although it was some time before a goal came. Both wings worked well, and Waterside was on the defence most of the time. Guest had Longbottom set when he attempted anything in . the nature of solo work. Had the Waterside team produced the same standard in the second spell as in the first the result might have been different, but the reversal of form by both teams was curious. Other Games. cw.T.M.L made no mistake as to the result of the game with Institute, and the latter team has now completed its engagements for the season. It’s next appearance will be in the second division. Petone only just scrambled' home against Seatoun, no doubt having an eye to the final of the Chatham Cup, which is to be played at the Basin Reserve on Saturday week. There are still some championship games to be played before this issue is. settled, Waterside, Diamonds and Hospital still having a stake in it. Junior Tournaments.

By the time these notes appear the North Island Primary Schools’ tournament will be in progress at Palmerston North, in which Wellington, Manawatu, Auckland and South Auckland are taking part. There is considerable interest attaching to these games, for they will foster the code in the primary schools. The contests are always keen, and tbe standard of play in some of the games, if reproduced in our senior matches, would make them more attractive than they are at present. A special feature at Palmerston will be the representative trial match between the schools in the North and the schools in the South, upon which the team will be picked to represent North Island Primary Schools for the important fixture against South Island Primary Schools representatives on Saturday at the Basin Reserve. It has not been definitely settled at the time of writing, but it is probable that representative caps will be presented to the boys of both teams prior to the match. The New Zealand Council has not too much money in hand, but it is a good policy to give the boys an 1 incentive, and a representative cap means a whole lot to the boys, apart from the travelling and holiday. It is hoped that a good crowd will turn up at the Basin, for it will not only encourage

the boys, but will provide a really good game for the spectators.

Secondary Schools.

The secondary schools’ tournament also commences on Friday, aud hvill continue on Saturday and Monday. There will be from 80 to 100 boys in Wellington from other parts of the Dominion-for, this week-end, and the problem of billeting them is the heaviest job that the Wellington Association has been faced with for a. long time. It is one in which it will require all the help the members of the New Zealand Council can give, and the parent body should not leave it all to-the W.F.A. All supporters of the code who can take one, or even two, of the boys for the week-end, will be doing a really good turn if they will let the secretary, Mr. B. A. Mabin, know at the earliest possible moment, or ring the chairman, Mr. W. B. Hicks, at Ohiro Home. Tour of Canada. ><"

It is satisfactory to see that the NewZealand Council has an eye to the future in seeking an invitation to send a New Zealand team to Canada in 1932. This invitation is due in return for the visit of the Canadian team to New Zealand two years ago. An oversea tour for a New Zealand team is now well overdue, and a trip to Australia does not seem to offer prospects of success at the moment. The split in. the camp on the other side of the Tasman has not yet been heated, aiid it is hardly likely that the council will send a team over under present conditions. The overture to Canada is the best step in the circumstances, and if it can be brought about, it will no doubt result in the. New Zealand team taking part in the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 1932. Mr. Colin Reid, who has been prominent in soccer in Wellington, and acted as trainer for the Canadian team, will soon, be on his way Home for good. He will represent the N.Z.F.A. to the English Football Association, and after staying in London for a time will go on to Edinburgh. It is hoped he will be able to use his influence with the Scottish F.A. with a view to arranging for the visit of a Scottish team to New Zealand. The visit of an English or Scottish team is the greatest need we have at for it would undoubtedly be a big attraction, and would put the game more prominently on the map in the Dominion. But for the unexpected—which happened on both occasions—both the Chinese and Canadian tours would have shown good profits for the furtherance of the game, but the reverse was experienced, and the council has little money for the' development of soccer in senior or junior grades. There are good prospects of au art union being organised in which the New Zealand Council will have a share, and the proceeds should put this body on its feet again. Take Off the Gloves.

In that case the council should then take off the gloves in regard to Soccer in the primary and secondary schools. Up to now they have shied at the fence, and it is granted that The fence is a nasty one. But the time for standing on ceremony is just about gone, and if Soccer is going to make headway the mole-like opposition has got to be brought to the surface. The council knows the nature of the opposition, and shies at it for fear of making the position worse. It cannot be. The game is slipping back everywhere, and those who are interested in the game know the reason why. It is the strong opposition offered by and on behalf of the Rugby code. Those controlling the Soccer game know it. and have said it iu committee. They know there is powerful influence brought to bear against any progress in the primary and secondary schools. It is satisfactory to know that one or two associations have made some advances in the secondary schools, and if all goes well in the next few months the parent body of Soccer should make a definite move toward backing up the efforts of the associations by every means in its power.