ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 132, 5 June 1915, Page 12

ASSOCIATION

(By "Vanguard.") POSITION OF TEAMS.

DEFEATED BUT NOT DISGRACED, Although Y.M.O.A. B were beaten by 4 goals to 1 by Hospital, they were far from being disgraced ; in fact, if anything, the honours were with them They _ kept out their heavier and more experienced opponents until about the last twenty minutes, when they seemed to go to pieces. Hospital had as strong a team in the field as they are likely to .have this season, and that the junior team could keep them on level terms so "long— so long that the former team's supporters were getting very anxious — speaks volumes for their keenness and quality of play. Skinner and Hughes, on leave from Trentham, received an ovation _on taking their accustomed places in their team. They signalised their reappearance by scoring all the goals for their side. The Porirua men played as if they had plenty of time to win, at least that was the impression in the earlier stages of the game. They were slow in their movements, and in getting to the ball were repeatedly beaten by their more nippy adversaries. The Young ,Men were full of dash, and showed a great amount of pace and smart footwork. But they did not retain enough control of the ball, and, although they were often in good positions to score, their ' efforts when in front of goal were weak. This was due more to over-eagerness than anything else, and when .they get more experience in First Division soccer this fault will no doubt be remedied. They play the typical Y.M.O.A. game, plenty of dash and pace, constantly turning defence into attack with spirited rushes. The first goal wascaused through a bad miskick by Bessell, who, generally, was faulty in his kicking. The advantage was at once seized by Stirritt, and, wasting no' t^ime, he passed to Pamplin, the latter drawing first blood. Some time elapsed before Hospital equalised, and it was a beautiful shot by Hughes that drew them level. So the* first half ended. It was generally thought that the older team would soon put the issue beyond doubt, when hostilities recommenced, but V.M.C.A. thought otherwise, and very near forced a score in the first couple of minutes. Webb sent in a f round shot, which made Porteous throw imself full-length on the ground, in order to save. This gave Hospital somewhat of a shock, and they set up a scries of attacks, which tried the Young Men sorely, but still they kept their goat intact. So the game progressed, with V.M.C.A. occasionally making the home defence move quickly to keep them out. It began to look as if the teams were going to divide the points, when through a slight relaxation, the Hospital forwards got going, and Skinner placed his team ahead with the sort of . shot one would expect from a soldier. From then on the match was Won, as Y.M.G. A. seemed to go right off their',' game, or perhaps the experience of the Hospital players was asserting itself. Two more goals were added before call of time, one being from a penalty kick. Among the Hospital players the most noticeable of the back division were Batten and Wallace, while Daily, Hughes, and Ferguson were the pick of the forwards. Smith got through a lot of work creditably in goal for V.M.C.A., and had 1 no chance with any of the goals scored. Williamson, Henderson, and Adair gave him great assistance. All the forwards played well, particularly Admodt, Webb, and Stirrett. POOR SHOOTING. The outstanding fault common to both teams in the game Corinthians-Rovers, at Wakefield Park, was the weak, indefinite shooting. Corinthians were perhaps the worse side, and a whole bagful of goals was lost through this fault alone. Frequently it happened that the forwards worked to a good position, and then — over the top (this was the result on three successive occasions), three or four feet wide of the mark, or so gently 3hot that, had Goalkeeper Heaps been away and the rectangle empty, it i 3 questionable /whether the ball would, at times, have had power enough behind it to have crossed the line.' There is little doubt that Corinthians know ' better, and will remedy the defect in the forwards. Not only were the forwards weak in this important branch, [ but the backs had a touch of tiredness and left openings for Rovers, who should have turned them to account. So, Corinthians, make your shooting accurate, and don't be afraid of putting your feet through the ball when a score is in sight. Rovers were overweighted, and, being without the services of the Harts, were unable to offer much resistance to their opponents. They lacked initiative and dash, and seemed to have made up their minds that they had little chance of winning. But, though they had little hope of victory, Rovers should endeavour the more for that reason to put up a fight, and they never know when some strong team will hold them too cheaply and have its colours lowered. "Vanguard" was sorry to learn on Saturday that Hart, who injured his knee the week previous, will not be fit for some time, if again this season. Ballard (Corinthians' left wing) showed some pretty work, and his goal was cleverly obtained if rom a lone run, during which he dodged nicely and finally placed himself in an easy position right in front of goal. Apart from this effort, Ballard's play throughout was heady, and several bits bf good combination were begun by him. Rickerby (centrehalf) was fair,, but he would do well not to talk so much in the way of giving advice to others. Once he himself made an' exactly similar mistake to that of which he had/ a moment before accused a fellow-player. Of Rovers, little need be said. There are some fair players — Elford, Jackson, Bex'lin, and others — but the team generally seems to need a. leader, and, perhaps,' a trainer. Rovers did not show up as well as against Wanderers, and will have to put in some solid training if they wish to be in'the picture at the end of the season. , A WILLING GO, BUT POOR FOOTBALL. The Swifts- Wanderei4 match at Dnppastreet did not provide any sensational items. It. was a keenly-contested game, but neither team really showed to advantage from the kick-off until' Mr. Claughton sounded the', whistle at the end of the second forty minutes' spell. From a critical point tfie match "was a poor one, though it was made very willing throughout. Neithcr'side excelled in combination, and both elevens have given better display* this season. Wanderers jytuxt^jut fl»t to ftttwfki .the. fwwajto

coming along with dash, but they failed, j as they often failed, when in front of } goal. White played a vigorous back game, and frequently intercepted hie opponents, placing the ball judiciously to his forwards and halves. He, however, made a bad slip shortly after the game had begun, an<? in so doing let in Hayward, who banged the ball between the posts. It was hard luck on Swifts that a few moments later the same player should again get through, but the Wanderers' forwards, were a little too elusive for the Swifts. The subsequent, stages of the game were characterised by a lot of kick-and-rush tactics, which, while it gave both ends plenty of work, deprived the contest Of a certain amount of interest. Swifta were lucky in getting their goal It was the result of a smart oblique shot by Davies. Webster, who has proved himself to be a custodian of exceptional qualifications, made a bad blunder In striking at the ball he entirely misjudged its direction, and the leather sailed between the posts. After this Wanderers pressed. The half-backs co-operated well for a time with , the forwards and fed them nicely. But there was no persistent effort in this direction Players became too much a law' unto themselves, so that the individual, monopolised the ball at the expense 1 of the team as a whole. The goalkeepers had a good deal to do all through, and •considering the numerous shots saved, they both played consistently well. Webster's unfortunate contretemps at the beginning was amply atoned for during the progress of the game. Mackfin worked hard, but like his colleagues he was apt to over-run the bill. The forwards on both sides frequently found the leather kicked too hard by the backs, a fact that was an- ! swerable for much of the absence of methodical combination. Swifts opened out the play in the second half, and were i, frequently on the aggressive* Hot work ensued in both goals, but over-anxious-ness was apparently the cause of erratic shooting. It* waSj however, exhilarating to see the ball taken from' end to end in rapid succession; the backs on both sides had repeatedly to clear amid a forest of legs. Trevethick put the issue of the game beyond question half-way , through the last spell by getting a good ■ ,goal. The game was not without its : merits. There were some really smart performances, and these stood out in te- ; lief from the kick and rush tactics. Both sets of forwards showed" a commendable celerity when in possession of ' the ball, but in accurate passing, faulty ■ judgment, sending the ball yards too ] far in advance, spoiled many a good ■ forward sprint. Bufc from a willing j point of view the game would have been hard to beat. Without exception, the i players were in the pink of condition j physically, and they apparently finished. ( up as fresh as when they started. j A MISTAKE MAKES FOR A WIN. It was unfortunate tor the Diamonds 1 that one of their own Bide should have ■ made a mistake in front of goal, and '. thue enabled the V.M.C.A. to score. To | a certain extent it was due to Taylor, the blacks' veteran, who had played a real good game in goal. He ran out too far, thus leaving 'the goal at the mercy ' of their opponents, but even so !ie could not have conceived the possibility of one of his own side putting the ball j through on behalf of the enemy. But i that is what frequently happens in ■ "soccer/ and it all tends to confirm " Vanguard's " opinion, which has been expressed on several previous occasions, that the majority of players do not take ! themselves or the game seriously The . charge sounds rather a sweeping one, it \ may to some extent be an exaggeration, but on the whole it is justified In ] almost every ; other class or form of ' ■sporfe ■thoce- wWwish to"&xcel play'' for * all they are worth, not only on the day j of their arduous enterprises, but many j ' times previously by way of rehearsal. ! ] . With infinite care they construct all : ' , sorts of possible (and sometimes impos- , * sible) situationß,and work out a solution to the self-imposed problem (You ask any chess player or tennis player, for instance, and see if he does not agree.) That is whero Association playens ate weak, but — and this is the 'lesson to be learnt — the team that takes itself most seriously for six days a w,eek and for forty-two weeks a year will be It." NOTES. > Is the art of coiner-kicking gone ; that is to say, is it much advantage to a team to obtain a comer against its opponents? Of course, the question geems ridiculous, as it should be a great advantage. But I would like to know what is the percentage of goals obtained on the number of corners kicked. I am afraid it would be very small. A "corner" seems to have lost its terrors J for the defending side This season alone, I must have watched at least forty comer kicks taken, but I have not seen one goal scored. To my mind the chief fault ' generally lies with the man taking "the kick. He usually tries to place the ball right in goal,! as near the crossbar as possible. He always earns applause from the unthinking when he does so. But ask any goalkeeper, and he will tell you that is just where he likes them to come ; he knows he can deal with them without much trouble. Now ask any goalkeeper where he doesn't like them, and he will tell you that if placed about seven or eight yards out, the position has him guessing. That is the objective the kicker should aim at. The forwards should also use their heads correctly when trying to score from a corner. How many times is a ball just bumped over the bar, when a judicious use of the head would have meant a goal. These remarks are worth the attention of tlie men entrusted with corner kicks. With only one dissentient voice the centres have decided that there will not be any Brown Shield matches this seagoal? These" remarks are worth the atpointment to many, but on reflection they must see there was really nothing else for it. The W.F.A. have issued a warning to clubs that their players should take as little money as possible to the grounds on which they are playing. This is the outcome of numerous petty thefts from dressing sheds which have been reported. Players will be wise to take heed. BOYS' NOTES. By theit defeat of Karon last week, V.M.C.A. are now in the lead for the Fourth Division Cup. Porter, for the colours, was the outstanding player, while Bussell played his usual sterling game for the losers. V.M.C.A. B had a narrow escape at the hands of Swifts, a lucky goal from a penalty giving them the victory. Cooper, at full-back, is a safe player for this team, and got his side out of more than one tight corner Galloway, at centre-half, also displays much promise, but is handicapped by size. Of the Swifts, Guise, in the half line, appeared to be most prominent. South got in their usual win, defeating Brooklyn at Miramar. The latter team, however, has the making of a, good combination with a little hard •practice. They have a left wing who shapes very well. Bell, for South i Wellington, is a great back, and more should be heard of this player before the end of the season. In the Sixth Division, Swifts and South Wellington had a hard fight, victory ultimately falling to the colours. Wright, for the Swifts, was undoubtedly the finest player on the field, and so far is the beet back I have seen amongst the small fry TRickard, in the forward line Tor the same team, shows much promise. If this player would remember that- talking ' does not help A team it vtoiM bft « flood improvement

In all the boys' teams this year, combination seems to be the last thing thought of. Players should try and remember that five forwards playing together have a far better chance of getting through the defence than has one player trying to do all the work by himself. There is much complaint that many players are over the age limit. Already two protests have been sent in. There certainly appears some ground for the statement that several teams) are playing over-age boys. If this is so, the W.F.A. should bring the offenders to book.

T«ara. Jorinthians 'histle lospital f.M.C.A. A ... r.M.C.A. B ... Vanderera Kamonds Jovers ... Wifts ... S * 3 So «(£ 4 3 1 — 15 3 6 4 3 1 — 15 3 6 4 3 1 — 13 5 6 4 3 1—776 5 2 2 1 7 10 5 5 2 3— 11 17 4 5 2 3 — 612 4 4 1 2 1 712 3 5 — s—lo 22 0