SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 6

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Interesting Position In Championship WINNERS UNCERTAIN As a result of Saturday’s matches the Wellington first A division championship is in an interesting state, with Petone and Waterside level, and Seatoun still within possible striking range Petone, however, have a game more to play than Waterside, and, as they have lost only one match this season, their record at the moment leads the’better. By their win over Marist, Swifts, who are behind in their games, advanced to fifth position on the table. A crucial test for them will come next Saturday when they will meet Petone on the No. 1 ground at the Basin Reserve. Hospital will meet Seatoun at Porirua, and an even game should result as both” teams played to form on Saturday. Waterside’s Chances. Waterside have ambitions to repeat their Just year’s double —championship and Chatham Cup—‘but occasional lapses of form have affected their chances. Success for them in the championship would appear now to rest largely on the performance of Petone against the teams in the middle of the championship table. Chatham Cup Match. Waterside will be engaged next Saturday in Auckland, where they play Ponsonby in the North Island final of the Chatham Cup competition. The match is arousing considerable interest in Wellington and the special train from Wellington is expected to be crowded. The train will leave Wellington at 7.40 p.im on Friday, arriving at Auckland at 11.1 a on Saturday morning. The return train will leave Auckland at 3.5 p.m. on Sunday, arriving back at Wellington early on Monday morning. Additional interest will be added to the match by the curtain-raiser at Blandford Park, in which the Wellington and Auckland Flyger Cup teams (under 21) will meet. Auckland are the present holders of the trophy, but the challenging team is stronger than any previously- sent north. Player’s Misfortune. Playing his first game for Diamond at inside-right, L. Page, who has played in Auckland and Christchurch, had the misfortune to break his leg when he fell after being tackled by a Waterside player. Dour Struggle. The Hospital-Petone match fell below expectations as a spectacle, _ but there were one or two first-class individual performances. Haines, Simon and Patterson were often prominent for Petone, and for Hospital, in addition to their two mainstays, Todd and Jeffrey, Lambert worked hard at left-half, and Jeromson on'the left-wing, gave the Petone defence some anxious moments. It was a dour struggle with the backs having the better of the opposing forwards in both teams. Made a Difference. W. Woods was an absentee from the Petone forward line on Saturday, and the combination of the line suffered in consequence. Craig seemed lost without him, and, though he often beat his man, tried to do too much on his own. White, who deputized at inside-left, played attractively, but he has not the flair for following up which has made Woods such an asset to Petone. Injured. . , ~ . C. Yeoman, who injured an ankle in the match against Marist the previous week, did not turn out for Seatoun. on Saturday, and may be on the bank for the rest of the season. H. Salt damaged a hand at work during the week and was also unable to play. Recovered. Webster, the Hospital player who transferred to Seatoun at the beginning of the season and played only a couple of games because of an ankle injury, turned out at inside right on Saturday, and, though obviously not quite fit, played up to Jiis best form, scoring one goal and making many openings for D. Johnston at centre-forward. His ankle appeared quite sound again and his presence in the remaining matches of the season will considerably strengthen the forward line.

Courageous Showing. Diamond, who in the first round nearly upset Waterside, being beaten only by the odd goal in seven, played courageously against -the same team on Saturday, scoring first and being beaten only in the closing stages. It now seems certain that Institute Old Boys, who have already won the first B division competition, will replace them in the senior grade next season. Consistent.

Both Technical’s goals on Saturday were scored by their centre-forward Liddicoat, who has been playing consistent football this season. Though his play just falls below representative class 3 he keeps his position well, and, were he a little taller and heavier, he would be a really dangerous forward as he is quick to take advantage of mistakes by defending players of the opposing team.

Valuable Half. ■Undoubtedly Chapman is a tower of strength to Swifts. Time and again, at centre-half, he broke up Marist forward movements, specially in the first spell, and allowed R. Quirke no latitude at all.

Lethargic Display. Waterside, with their Auckland Chatham Cup trip only a week away, gave a lifeless showing against Diamond, and could not have raised the hopes of their followers very high. At times their midfield play was good, but there, was a decided lack of punch among the forwards.

Takes Watching. Hickmott was the star forward for Swifts against Marist. He is quick to grasp an opening, and his two goals were the result of alertness and quick thinking. Baker impressed very favourably at centre-forward. He came to lighl with some clever touches, and his positional play is excellent.

Playing Well. Leonard was the pick of the Marist forwards. He is fast and has good ball control. Marist would have done better if they had concentrated more on his wing.

Solid Half-back. z F. Hazel was an absentee from the Waterside team on Saturday, his place at centre-half being taken by J. Calder. The ex-Scottish Wanderers nlayer is sometimes inclined to be on tile slow side, but on Saturday he played a great defensive game, and the Diamond centre-forward, Tucker, was seldom out of his sight.