Not Announced In Australia: Soccer Team For First Test

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 228, 23 June 1936, Page 14

Not Announced In Australia: Soccer Team For First Test

HOTSPUR.)

(By

TpROM Newcastle by a recent Australian mail came an announcement that nine New South Wales players had been included in the Australian Soccer team to play New Zealand in the first Test at Dunedin on Saturday, July 4. The team, it was stated, would be as follows:—L McNabb; J. Evans, A. Mackey; R. Bryant, J. Harden, J. Osborne ; J. Wilkinson, A. Cameron, G. Smith. W. Price, J. Donaldson. Asked on the arrival of the team at Wellington yesterday morning whether apy alterations would be made in the Test team, the manager, Mr. S. A. Storey, who is also sole selector, said that no Test team- had as yet been chosen. “I can tell you definitely that that will not be the Test team,” Mr. Storey said. “It would not have been fair to the players to have announced ■ the team at that stage, and you have my assurance that the whole thing is moonshine.”

Referring to the Auckland match, Mr. Storey said that followers of the sport in Auckland had been generous in their praise of the standard of play of the visitors, and had told him that the spectators had been treated to just the bright type of football which they most enjoyed. Auckland. Mr. Storey added, had given a splendid account of themselves, and al one or two stages of the game would have made Australia’s task harder if they had grasped their opportunities. The goalkeeper had saved many difficult shots and had played with the greatest coolness until about the last ten minutes of the game, when he had let through two easy goals. Yesterday morning, the Australians had a run round at the Basin Reserve. They greatly admired the ground and the playing surface. Mr. Storey said that the ground at Blandford Park had not suited the Australians, and he was pleased to notice that the proportions of the Basin Reserve area were much better.

Australia has fielded a strong side for to-day’s game. Nine of the players are from New South Wales, the team being completed by Love (Queensland), centrehalf, and Forrest (Victoria), left-wing. McNabb is regarded as Australia’s greatest goalkeeper for many seasons, and the presence at inside-right of Alexander Cameron, Australia’s greatest international, will be a draw-card in itself. He has played for Australia against Canada, England, China. Czechoslovakia and New Caledonia. J. B. Evans, who is noted, for his clearing and his'sure two-footed kicking, will lie seen at right full-back. The Wellington team is reported to be fit and well, and should be able to give a good account of itself against the redoubtable Australian eleven.

Saturday’s Games. After having played several games lu which they did not have the best of luck, Institute Old Boys came into their own against Seatoun on Saturday. They were on the ball all the way and thoroughly deserved their 7-3 win. Neither K. Yeoman nor Grimstone was comfortable against the repeated thrusts of Ward and Reid. Ward was right on his game, and with the aid of accurate passes from Marshall and support from his inside forwards he thoroughly rattled the usually reliable Seatoun defence. C. Yeoman could do nothing right, and McKenzies shooting was also poor. The Seatoun halves worked hard but Institute were definitely superior. R. Sutherland and Ward showed excellent understanding, and on the day there was not a single weakness in the team. It was Seatoun’s first defeat this season. In the game that was abandoned, Institute were leading Seatoun by one goal, but though they have improved, their win against the leading team was unexpected. Marist had a close call at the hands of Waterside. The star of the gdme was undoubtedly Tarkington, the Marist goalkeeper. Probably no better exhibition of goalkeeping has been seen on the Basin Reserve. Mr. Frank Sanders, one of the New Zealand selectors, was present at the game; it would be irony if Tarkington were chosen as the New Zealand custodian after having been unable to make the Wellington team. The Marist full backs, Duffy and Laraey, were always sound with Duffy the more polished. Traynor at left-half, is improving with each game. Kershaw and R. Quirke were the pick of the forwards, and were always on the ball. The Waterside team now appears to have .settled down and their play is reminiscent of their style of previous years. The full-backs. Hazel and Topliss, were good but inclined to miskick when under pressure. Cocks and Longbottom gave their forwards excellent service and broke up many Marist attacks. In the folwards Jeromson was outstanding, but was closely followed by the other four. Dunsmuir, on the right wing, gave a polished display, centring accurately and at the right time. Petone deserve to be quietly applauded for a fine sporting gesture against Swifts. Despite that team’s gallant display in the face of a hopeless task. Leslie and Co. could quite easily have doubled the score. They tempered defeat with mercy by refraining from niling np the goals. Many will disagree with such an idea, but after all when victory is an established fact, there s’etns little use in “niling on the agony.” Generous hearted Leslie

was in his best form, and if this player bad so desired to create for himself an individual scoring record be could have done so quite easily, this he did uot do nor did he attempt to make his opponents look foolish. Petone, from goal outwards gave the best showing so far this season. Verrail was the only one who suffered in comparison with the others. Connell gave a much improved display and was the best back on the field. Cullen and Craig were a delightful wing combination. Cullen is of greater value to Petone as an insideforward, whilst Craig on this display, revealed the form that rewarded him with representative honours. Graham, at centre-half, showed that he is undoubtedly one of the brainiest and most versatile players in the local competition. One cannot help but pay tribute to the whole-heartedness of the Swifts’ team in. facing the disaster of seeming relegation to the senior B division by sticking to their task in such fine spirit. It is not too late to stem the tide; a little strengthening here and there and the adoption of better field tactics might bring better rcsnlts. Heath, Dickson, White and Kelly played valiantly. Kelly is evidently not the man they wrote the song about, for. he was to be seen during the game bringing off some very fine saves. The defeat of Seatoun makes Hospitals position more unassailable than ever. Having played an extra game, they have a lead of four points over Seatoun. with Marist only a point further back. Diamond could make little impression on the solid Hospital defence whose backs and halves broke np many attacks. Diamond were the first to score but Hospital were not extended t< win by 9 coals to 1. .Miles and Thompson showed excellent understanding, and Webster was brilliant in the forward line. Both Gibb and Woods were effective in th’ wing positions. Hopper worked,hard to stem the tide, receiving sunnort from Geddes and Upchurch. but Hospital’s long passing game had them often in difficulties.

Championship Table.

Notes. - , Mr. D. Murray, secretary of the Buller Football Association, has taken up a position in Christchurch. Mr.- A. Burt, Millerton, has been appointed to the secretaryship in the meantime. The Ashburton Club has now been affiliated with Canterbury. Ashburton have not entered for the Chatham Cup, but will probably play in the Christchurch knock-out competitions Inter in the season. Recently the New Zealand Football Association mad* l a gift of two footballs to Soccer enthusists in Apia. Advice was received at the last meeting of the New Zealand Council that three European teams had entered for the competition. A ground had been prepared by the Administration free of charge. They, were determined to improve enough to give Navy teams good games when they arrived in July. They also intended to play any other ships which called at Apia during the year.

Chatham Cup Prospects. It is difficult to forecast Southlands chances in the Chatham Cup competition (says the “Southland News”). Both Southern and Corinthians have entered and it will be necessary for these two teams to play an elimination game which at present seems a difficult task, for the two teams have played to a draw in their last two games. However, whichever team wins, it should have quite a good chance in the Cup.

THE GAME IN ENGLAND The English football season ended on May 2, and the following particulars show the season’s outstanding successes and failures: — F.A. Cup Final.—Winners, Arsenal; runners-up, Sheffield United. Football League.—Division I: Champions. Sunderland; runners-up, Derby County: relegated to Division 11, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers. Division II: Chamnions. Manchester United: runners-up. Charlton Athletic (both are promoted to Division I) ; relegated to Division 111, Hull City, Port Vale, Division HI (Southern Section). — Champions and promoted to Division 11, Coventry City; to seek re-election, Newport County. Exeter City. Division HI (Northern Section). — Champions and promoted to Division 11, Chesterfield: to seek re-election. Southport, New Brighton. Central League.—Champions, Derby County: runners-up. Newcastle United. Birmingham League. — Champions, Wellington Town; Keys Cup (runnersup). Brierly Hill. Birmingham Combination. — Champions. Aston Villa A. Midland Mid-week League.—Champions, Aston Villa.

Senior A Division. Goals Total k P. W. L. D. for a Kt. Pts Hospital .... 8 7 — 1 44 11 15 Seatoun ... 7 5 1 1 18 10 11 Marist . .... 7 6 2 — 27 13 10 Institute O.B. 7 3 3 1 23 21 7 Waterside ... 7 3 4 — 11 19 6 Petone . .... 7 2 4 1 17 24 5 Diamond .. 8 1 5 2 24 26 4 Swifts .... 7 — 7 — 10 37 0