English Soccer Tour: Assisting N.Z. Selector

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 186, 4 May 1937, Page 14

English Soccer Tour: Assisting N.Z. Selector

By HOTSPUR.

Ip VERY assistance is being afforded Mr. A. P. Neesham, New Zealand sole selector, in his task of choosing Test teams to play against the English amateurs. With the first match of the tour set down for May 27. and the first Test at Dunedin on June 5, there is little enough time to get teams selected and working together with some degree of combination.

Mr. Neesham visited Wellington on Saturday when a third trial match was played for his benefit. He also had an opportunity of seeing the Seatoun-Marist game and was in consultation with Mr. G. F. Aers, the Wellington selector, during the afternoon. There is a doubt about the date of Wellington’s F.A. Trophy challenge to Canterbury this season, and it may not take place at Christchurch on Saturday as arranged. An effort is being made to arrange a match between Canterbury and Otago for the J. E. Jones trophy, and this would doubtless provide Mr. Neesham with an excellent opportunity of seeing these two provincial teams in action. Auckland is doing everything in its power to assist the selector, the Control Board of the Auckland Football Association having arranged for Coronation Day (May 12) a representative fixture, Navy v. Auckland. The South Auckland association has also been invited to send a team to play the early match against an Auckland B team. Saturday’s Games Reviewed.

Players at the Basin Reserve were on their toes on Saturday because of the presence of Mr. A. P. Neesham, sole selector for the N.Z.F.A., who made a special trip from Auckland in search of possible material for his Test teams. It was the first game to be played on the Basin this season, and the surface was in splendid order. Included in the teams were representatives from Manawatu and Wairarapa, who were watched by Mr. G. F. Aers, sole selector for the W.F.A., who has not yet announced the Wellington-Mana-watu-Wairarapa team to plav the English amateurs next month. In the A team Miles was partnered by Oman (Manawatu). but tho country player, though he showed good anticipation, had not the steadiness or accuracy of the Hospital back. W. Allan (Manawatu) showed patches of attractive form at inside-right, but he was at a disadvantage in playing among strangers. A. Bell (Wairarapa) and Haines (Petoue) proved a solid combination in the B team. Bell brought off several daring interceptions, and generally kept his position fairly well. Playing with such a reliable partner as Haines must have given him confidence. G. Longworth (Wairarapa), though he did not always trap the ball cleanly, worked hard in the half-line, and R. Bell (Wairarapa) gave a serviceable display both at centreforward and inside-right. Wellington players who must have caught the selector’s eye were Hatchard, Haines, Todd, Wyatt, McKenzie, Leslie, and both Woods and Gendall were prominent in wing play. Institute Old Boys won well against Diamond at Kelburn Park. The young Diamond team is missing the steadiness of Hopper in the rearguard and though Morris and Cockburn are rapidly developing' a knowledge of each other’s play they were too often caught on the wrong foot on Saturday. The Johnston brothers, despite a tendency to overrun the ball, are improving with every game. Institute do not always put so. much thrust into their attack as they did on Saturday, and with the whole forward

line backing him up. Ward had a field day.

Selector Jim Kershaw had some headscratching to do in fielding the Marist I :am to meet Seatoun. Apart from having to replace J. Hatchard and T. Hindle, who were in the trial game, he was also forced to find a substitute for Turkington, who was on the sideline With a wrist injury. An outstanding worker for the eastern suburbs boys was C. Yeoman, who has impressed in every game this season. He should go far in the game. In these days when the boys need coaching from mon who have had the experience it is good to sec old players take an interest in the younger generation. A notable coach this year is Diet; Hickey, ex-goalkeeper for Marist, who is devoting his time to the third grade team. This is the spirit to make the game progress. Another notability on the bank was Lou Daniel, now a Seatoun official. Some years ago he was a Wellington and New Zealand inside right—a real artist and full of football brains. Waterside were a greatly elated team when they trooped off the field after their game against Petone at the Recreation Ground on Saturday. Just before the start they had only nine men, and the position looked hopeless, but the arrival of Ward, the goalkeeper, seemed to infuse into them the real fighting spirit and will to win. The secret of their success lay in good positional play, keen tackling, and bright, snappy forward play. Ward’s goalkeeping in the first half especially was a vital factor in Waterside’s win and Hazel’s generalshi in defence and attack was splendid. Walker, a mere slip of a youngster, was as game as a pebble, and his two goals were the reward of tenacity and courage. The rest of the team gave of their best, and it was team spirit that consolidated the effort to win. Veteran Billy Nicolle scintillated on the right wing and did yeoman service. Petone, “flattered to deceive,” on their first-half display against the wind, when vict'”-v looked as if it was coming their way. Playing against the wind and -in apparent lack of fitness told its tale. The absence of Leslie and Haines was keenly felt, the former for his inspiration, the latter for his sureness in defence. Reid was easily the pick of the suburban team and worked tirelessly against his old team-mates. Wickliffe performed well behind two uncertain backs. The wing-halves-were woefully weak, especially ’n constructive work. The forwards played well at times, but when the tide went against them they lost heart. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE First A Division

’. W. L. Points Ch. D. For Ag. Pts Seaton ii i 3 — .—- 12 a 6 Hospital .... ' •— — •/ 4 Waterside ... ! 2 1. —« 5 (5 4 Marist 5 1 2 —— b <S Diamond .... I 1 2 — 8 10 Petoue i 1 2 —— 6 8 Destitute O.B. . ! 1 2 — 7 9 Tech. O.B. — — 1 6 — FIRST B DIVISION. Points Oil. W. L. D. For Ag Pts Swifts 3 3 — — 17 3 6 Scottish Wanderers : 3 — 11! 2 o Dower Hutt . : 2 1 —— 11 7 4 Nada ; i 1 1 9 9 3 Koro Koro ... 5 1 2 — 5 11 Miramar Rang. — 2 1 9 12 1 Wadestown .. — 2 1 2 11 1 Onslow — 2 1 1 15 1