SOCCER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 230, 26 June 1935, Page 14

SOCCER

“Poaching” Should Be Investigated PETONE’S POSITION General Notes and Comments on the Sport

(By

Flag-Kick.)

The Petone club has come in for a lot of adverse criticism since charges of “poaching” were levelled at it by the Seatoun club, but it appears that the question has been given undue prominence and that the action of the Petone players, who were alleged to have endeavoured to entice Seatoun players to join up with the Petone club, has been exaggerated. It is true, and the Petone people will be the first to admit it, that one Seatoun player was approached, but even in that case he was not directly asked to leave his club, but he was asked to consider playing for Petone if he thought of making a change. They are the facts put forward on behalf of Petone, but Seatoun alleges that some five or six of its players were approached and asked to join up with the other club. However, evidence to that effect was not presented to the management committee of the Wellington Football Association by the Seatoun players, but only by the club secretary. As this question has aroused considerable comment and a good deal of abuse, the committee, in fairness to Petone, should make a full inquiry, and obtain evidence from each individual concerned. Not that there is anything in the rules to prevent “poaching,” but, as has been officially stated, it is against the spirit of the game, and therefore a stigma has been cast on the Petone club. In anj’ case, it is a pity that one club has been singled out when it is known that “poaching,” an unpleasant word, has been practised by other clubs and nothing said about it. That aspect is touched on by a correspondent who asks why there was not a hue and cry when the Kershaw brothers, the Caisley brothers, Wyatt, and others, left the Seatoun club. The correspondent also criticises Mr. J. H. Janes, who made a pica for clubs to leave Seatoun alone, and asks why he took his son away from Seatoun seeing he has the interests of the club so much at heart. If the management committee is so opposed to “poaching,” and the discussion at the last meeting made it appear that it is, then it should have tried to get a clause in the rules to prevent it long ago. It is its intention now to draft a notice of motion on the subject for presentation to the next annual meeting. That is all to the good, for the question must be decided one way or another, but the committee would have saved a lot of bother had it acted earlier. Insurance Fund. The recent injury to Barny Brown, the Hutt forward, calls attention to the fact that it is time an insurance fund was instituted for injured players. Admittedly the authorities have given a good deal of time to considering the matter, but they have not been able to do anything because of limited finance. At the ■same time the question has not been discussed this season, and it would be interesting to hear the views of the committee now, for it is possible that members might have fresh ideas. It is essential that something should be done soon, because it is hard on a player if he has to find his hospital expenses, and it is humiliating if he is not in a position to do so. Perhaps the various clubs could help to work out a scheme to get over the difficulty. Advice Needed. Last week advice was given in this column that with a forward line of small stature the ball should be. kept low. That advice was directed particularly at Institute, and it was pleasing to note that heed was taken of it last Saturday. The result was that Institute simply walked over Lower Hutt, the score being 11-4. Great Centre-forward. Those persons who saw Andy Leslie play on Saturday left the ground convinced that this centre-forward knows more about the art of scoring goals than any other centre in Wellington. Leslie gave a remarkably good performance, better than any he has given for a long time, and his anticipation and co-opera-tive tactics stamped his as a player of class. There are many people who are wont to underestimate this man’s skill and ability, and claim he has at least one superior in Wellington. On many performances this season they are right, but if Leslie always played as well as he did on Saturday there would be no question about his superiority. Excellent Exhibitions. After so many ordinary games this season it was indeed refreshing ot see the excellent exhibitions of most teams on Saturday. The Marist-Waterside fixture at the Basin Reserve revealed some very fine play, and kept the spectators keenly interested for the full 90 minutes. Let us hope the form will be maintained to the end of the season. If it is some bumper gates can be looked forward to. Future Representative Back. If Connell, the Petone right-hack, goes on as he is af present, he will be Wellington’s future representative back. This young fellow has not had a great deal o-f experience, but he is showing a natural aptitude for the game, and was one of the most conspicuous defenders on the field at North Park on Saturday. He anticipates well, and works in harmoniously with the halves, instead of booting the ball recklessly to any old part of the field, which is a bad habit of many other fullbacks. It is a treat, too, to watch, how he heads the ball. Relegation and Promotion. Hutt’s crushing defeat further accelerated them toward relegation, and nothing short of a miracle can save them now. It is hard to say who will take their place in the First A division competition next season, for the B division teams are very even in points.