SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 18

SOCCER

[BY "VANGUARD"!

THE CHAMPIONSHIP | y.M.C.A. IN GOOD POSITION MARIST'S FORM DISAPPOINTING

Witli four games completed in the senior A division, V.M.C.A. have a lead of two pohits on the championship table, and next on the list are Hospital. Although it is too early yet to make any deunitc prediction as to possible winners of the premiership, form so far favours tlie two leading teams, as in the games played they have demonstrated very plainly that they are forces to be reckoned with. In the winning of matches, ability .to score goals is the deciding factor, and in this respect both V.M.C.A. and Hospital have an excellent record, V.M.C.A. have; scored fourteen goals in four matches—an average of 3.5 per .mateh —and Hospital have placed nineteen to their credit—an average of 4.75. Bach team has had three goals" scored against it, so that in the matter of goal-getting Hospital would appear to hold an advantage over the leaders. Hospital, however, have suffered one defeat —by Scottish Wanderers —so that actually Young Men are in the more favourable position. The two teams will not meet in the League competition uu- I til the end of the present round, but already predictions as to the result are being made. Whatever happens, the game will be well worth, seeing. Marist, who made such a bold showing last seasoir, do not occupy such a prominent place in the sun this season. In their first match they had to acknowledge defeat by V.M.C.A., and last Saturday they could do no better than draw with Institute. The team is practically the same as last year as far as its personnel goes, but their play falls very much below that of last season. Pope is sadly missed in. the forward line, and it is safe to say that until Marist secure the services of a really first-class centre very little success will come their way. Last Saturday they were also without the services of that hrilliunt right-winger, Barton, and his absence told at the critical stages. Thistle are on terms with Marist on the championship table with live points, and then come Diamonds and Institute, each with three points. Scottish Wanderers, who are making their first appearance in the A division, have so _ far placed only two championship points to their credit, and Waterside have so far failed to break their "duck." In j the B division, V.M.C.A. C, Johnsonville, and Pet'one are on terms with six j points in hand, but the first-named [ eleven has played three games as against I four played by the other two teams. Swifts_ and AVelgasco have so far failed to register a championship point. At a Great Speed. Spectators at Association Park last Saturday certainly had their moneys worth, for the match' between Young Men and Scottish Wanderers went through at a great oIU • speed. For a time 'Wanderers had Young Men thinking hard, particularly when the first spell ended with a goal-to their credit and iul to Young Men, but what chances they had of even a bare win faded away when.V.M.C.A. settled down from their rather wild play of the first spell to a solid and more careful game. Wanderers fell away as Young Men improved their game, and the 5-1 score gives a fair indication of the play of the two teams right through. Wanderers found themselves minus a goalie, and Bryee, who played one or two games for V.M.C.A. a season or two ago, turned to in street clothes and walking boots. Light, unstudded boots are not precisely the best for strenuous football, but Bryce certainly did wonders with them. .His goalkeeping—with V.M.C.A: he played as an emergency back—was very bright indeed, even spectacular; sometimes,. probably, rather lucky. Young Men' would have had a considerably larger tally but for his fast work. If lie has not played a great deal in New Zealand h« has handled a Soccer ball at Home, with Bellshill Athletics, Lanarkshire. If he fills another vacancy and keeps goal again as he did on Saturday the chances are that someone will suggest a regular Saturday afternoon job for him. Lothian was missed a good deal by tha Wanderers. His knee, badly twisted on the previous Saturday, is apparently picking up well, but it does not look as if he will be able to take his place again, for a considerable time, at any rate. ■ George Campbell, playing centre-for-ward, for Young Men, places great reliance on being as far up as possible, just on the off-side border-line, and finds himself and bis team penalised quite frequently accordingly. ■ It works sometimes, but that depends on the referee. Young Men gained their lead largely as the result of the work of their halves, Trott, Atkinson, and M'Arthur; they played fast and solid football, feeding out the ball generously all along their front line. Ives, back again in goal, had a fairly easy afternoon. Waterside Outclassed. Waterside were hard put to it to field nn eleven against Hospital last Saturday, and some of the players were 'obviously r.ot of senior standard.' Jimmy Hayward, belter known these days as a legislator in Iho game, filled a gap and occupied his old position of outside right, lie is not the "jimmy" of old. but still ho gave. oiTusionsil glimpses uf his old form, and still knew that the ball should go into the middle, which is more, than many young wingers recin to know nowadays, There is far too much running •Isiwit tin-, wing la llitj cat-tier &V£ ttlw trying tv ekoot Jrem m almost ißipcer

sible -.ingle. The first half was stubbornly contested by Waterside, although Hospital tried hard to break through *-he defence: It was just on half-time when the home team opened the scorItitj, and there was just time to kick-off again when the whistle blew. In the second spell the town team went to pieces, and could do little against the fine play of the home team, and Cox had to pick the ball out oC the net no less than seven times. Porteus had several shots to clear, especially in the first spell, and saved a couple of "beauties." The defence generally was too strong for the opposing forwards, M'Kce and Simon being outstanding in the halves, while Gibb and Thompson were powerful in the back line. MnlHus and Hughes did all tho scoring, but they were greatly assisted by the other forwards, particularly Dick, who is playing exceptionally well this season on the right wing. Dwyer was the pick of the backs for the town team and played a hard, determined game, making few mistakes, while Cox, in goal, saved a groat number o- c shots and had littin chance with those against him. The three halves, Jenkins, Busted, and Irvine played well, but the forwards generally were very weak. White, on tlip left wins, is n nice player, but re-' ceived little support. A Draw and a Win. There was little to catch the attention of spectators, and still less to keep it, at Wakefield Park on Saturday when Thistle and Diamonds met. Both teams are about as strong as one another, and this fact probably accounted for the uninteresting game which resulted. Right from the kick-off they strove for possession of the ball, with the result that tho leather .hardly ever got an opportunity to be kicked about in the manner which makes for a bright game, at least as far as the spectators are concerned. Diamonds were evidently feeling dispirited over the • previous Saturday's game, for they were never at any time playing up to the standard they have displayed on previous occasions, and Saturday's exhibition was not a creditable one. They have complained recently of the ill-luck which seems to be dogging them, but although their statements perhaps have not been taken seriously so far, they certainly did have cause to suffer from Dame Fortune in their latest match. After a very closely-contested game, Diamonds found themselves with a lead of one point half-way through the second spell, the score reading 3-2 in their favour. A few minutes before time was called they conceded a'corner, and in an effort to clear the ball one of their men put it through his own goal. Of course, there was not sufficient time left for them to score afain, and they had to be satisfied with a draw. Thistle also have been known to give a- better display than they did on Saturday, but. they have the credit of scoring- the prettiest goal in the game. Crun dwell made a break-away on the wing, and after a fine run beat the backs, and scored with a swerving shot— a very pretty goal. An interesting senior B game in last Saturday's competitions was the Gas Co.V.M.C.A. B match, which was played at Kelburn Park. Although the game was won by Young Men by the decided score of 2 goals to nil, the match was not as one-sided as the score would indicate. In fact, at times it developed into football which would have been creditable to any senior A side. From the moment the whistle blew, both teams mado strenuous efforts to score, and shortly after starting when Y.M. were pressing, Pearson struck, the upright—an unlucky shot. Immediately afterwards Berry had hard luck in not scoring in what was really a fino piece of play. The first spell w;i's hard for both sides, and tho whistle blew without any score having been registered. In the second spell Young Men, who were the superior team, pressed continuously, but Gas Co. held them well, and it was not till half an hour had elapsed that Loadsman opened the scoring. A few minutes afterwards the same player struck tho goalkeeper's legs with a hard shot, and from the rebound Dailett scored. Those were the only occasions on which Y.M. got through, and although Gas Co. did remarkably well in holding their opponents, they could not muster sufficient strength to score. It was ;i hard game, but enjoyable to the players and spectators alike. Those Points. When a team has to forfeit a couple of points for playing an ineligible man, or for any other reason, who is to benefit by those points, or is anyone to benefit at all V This was a matter which was brought up at this week's meeting of the W.F.A. The case under review was one in which Island Bay played an unregistered player in their match.with Seatoun. The chairman pointed . out that only two tilings could be done. The match to be replayed, or the points to be awarded to Seatoun. It was pointed out that no penalty was involved where the match was replayed, and so the committee decided to award tho points to Seatoun. Should similar cases arise in the future, it is probable the committee will award the forfeited points to the team which has suffered from the breach of the rules. What's Wrong with the Game? Fs (.hero iiuything wrong with Association fnotbsill '! Committee members o[ the W.F.A. nsked this question this week when reviewing the accident to N. Smith, of Institute, who, it will bo remembered, broke bib log recently. A total of three serious accidents within a sheet, time tvet tho eeanajtUe fiieraburfi wpudoriag, wid the queetjeu >vaa. »atu-.

rally asked if anything was wrong with the game. In connection with Jeffries, ■who broke bis leg, the committee sought the opinion of the referee of the match (Mr. V. Campbell) who, commenting on the accident, wrote: "There is a growing tendency in Wellington football to throw out a leg to block a man in possession of the ball, and in my opinion it is rather dangerous. It is a thing difficult to stop, as a player when spoken to, will say he is playing the ball, which is quite true, and in nine cases out.ot ten he gets the ball. The damage is done in the tenth case when he gets the man's boot or leg. How to prevent this is more than I can say. It has been done for years, and will, I suppose, be done for many more. It does seem hard luck to have three such accidents in a fortnight." Mr. Harding drew attention to the fact that if the^ play was dangerous, it naturally came under the heading of "dangerous play," and could be stopped. Other committeemen seemed to think the three accidents were misadventure. The matter is to be re [erred to the Referees' Association. American Teams? It is not definitely known whether the American fleet will turn out a Soccer team or teams, but it is very probable they will. Baseball they most certainly will play, but as baseball is considerably of a dead letter in Wellington, it looks very much as if they will have to play themselves. Still, as there are to be roughly 12,000 men and officers aboard the ships to visit Wellington they should be able to muste>' at ,least a couple of teams for an exhibition game. Invitations are being sent I by the. Mayor to all sports bodies to lend a hiind iv the entertainment of the visitors, and Soccer people will no doubt be represented on one or other of the committees. If there are any grounds enthusiasts and experts among the visitors maybe one of them could bo invited, in a friendly way, to give some general advice as to making Association Park lit ■ 1 to play on, not merely on one ground, but all over. "But perhaps the ManageI meut Committee and the Park Company would feel disinclined to admit that Association Park is the principal playing area for Soccer football in Wellington. Perhaps it would bo wiser to I stick to the Basin for . exhibition j matches. Pen Pictures. George Hughes (Hospital).—lt is fitting' that this series suould be headed | by the veteran . player of the League, j and one of the best-known forwards in New Zealand. He was a prolific scorer in his palmy days, having three wonderful seasons in 19X2, 1913, and 1914, as his record shows, and his tally of eight goals in one first League match is still ; the record in local football. Bom in j 1690 in London, Hugnes soon showed an I aptitude for tho game, and it was not i long before he found a place in the Atley .Road School eleven. That the school team was a good one is. shown by the ; fact that he assisted them to win the championship of the Tower Hamlets' I Division two years in succession. School I days over,' a period was spent in the i Junior Eastern League, and then for i three seasons he played regularly with j Aston United in the Manor Park Dis- : tricfr League. In the last two seasons of | his association with this team Hughes ! was captain of the side, iind in oneseai son had the pleasure of receiving medals i with his colleagues for ruiiners-up in the League. Hughes then came to New Zea. land, and at once donned the jersey |at Palmerston North. 'He was almost immediately selected in the Manawatu "reps.," which went to Canterbury in search of the Brown Shield, but they came home defeated. Hughes had his revenge later. The next season saw him in Wellington football, playing for Wanderers, and the year following, 1912, he became a member of the Hospital Club. During the three seasons that followed he was always Wellington's centre-for-ward. Iv 1912 he helped to gain that memorable victory over Canterbury when Wellington brought back the Brown Shield. Of the eleven players, Hughes is the only one still playing in first division football iv Wellington. It was early in 1915 that Hughes answered'the sterner call of his country, and saw much service in Egypt and France. But even here time was found for football, and in that historic match, New Zea land v. England, played at Cairo, Hughes was centre-forward, and helped his side to win 2-1. After the war, Hughes returned to England for a pleasure trip in 1920, and the round ball called again, he this time playing in Essex, for .Gray's Athletic. Returning to Hospital, ho was captain of the team in 1921 which won the League. He has appeared regularly for the club since, and his form is still surprisingly good. It is worthy of note that during the three seasons mentioned before, 1912 to 1914, the Hospital won the Charity Cup three times in succession, and only lost two League matches during the three years. It was a great record, and George Hughes had a remarkable record of goals scored during that period. Able to shoot with either, foot, and splendid ball control helped to make him what he is, even now, a, dangerous man iv front of goal. A Great Referee. The death occurred in England recently of Mr. Arthur Pellowt, president of the Referees' Association of Great Britain. He will be chiefly recognised as a Football League referee of long standing, who frequently officiated in the south, and no more popular official has been seen for many decades. He did much valuable work for the referees' organisation, and he had the satisfaction of seeing it grow under his guidance to a remarkable extent, the membership now being close on 4000. He was a prolific and always an interesting writer on football matters. One of the last,little home truths I recently read by Mr. Pellowe, was as follows:—"When you have handled a game with skill and done really well, you hear critics say: 'Yes, quite a good game; it did not need reforeeing.' In a game where you have had to hold the reins tight and have awarded a couple of penalty kicks, and sent a player off, they say :" 'What a,rotten referee.' Who ever selects such men? We don't get referees to-day like we used to.' On looking through the records one realises what a wonderful club Aston Villa is, and was. Among the many achievements are: League champions six times. League vunners-up six times. F..A. Cup six times. Cup and League championship in one season. Cup scmifimilists eleven times. They were visitors on seven occasions when records liavp' been established for receipts and attendances on opponents' grounds. Won more league points tlmn any other club. Hold the record for highest scoring match in League, beating Accrington by 12-2 in season 1891-92. Have provided 33 itUevaittioiiitls—'England 29, Wale* S- Scotland 3, iiud li'skud 1.

Goals. Cli. T. W. -D. L. For Agst. Pts. V.M.C.A. .1 4 0 0 14 a 8 Hospital i 3 0 130 S 0 Marist -12 117 4 5 'J'liistle .4 2 1 1 9 0 5 Diamonds 4 1 1 2 S 7 3 Institute 4 1 3 2 8 14 3 S. Wanderers 4 1 0 3 A 10 2 Waterside. i 0 0 4 1 19 0

SENIOR A 1

fionls. Cli. I. W. D. L. For Agst. Pts. V.M.C.A. C 3 3 0 0 14 1 (J Jolmsoiivillc .... 4 3 0 J 13 a « Petone 4 3 0 1 11 6 0 Brooklyn 3 2 1 0 10 4 5 Scatoun 4 1 1 2 11 9 4 V.M.C.A. B 3 2 10 4 4 4 Diamonds 4 10 3 6 0 2 . Swifts 4 0 0 4 2 l(i 0 "Wclgasco i 0 0 i 0 0 0

, SENIOR B