SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 143, 20 June 1925, Page 18

SOCCER

IBY "VANGUARD"!

MORE OPEN

MARIST SHOW IMPROVED FORM

Although no great changes have taken place in tho position of the teams in the senior A division, the championship bears a much more open appearance, as in the last two matches it has been shown that V.M.C.A., who started off well enougli to justify a prophecy that they would go through the various rounds without defeat, are not invincr ible. On the Saturday before last Hospital—always a hard team to defeat— held the leaders to a draw in a match noted for big scoring, and last Saturday Marist repeated the dose. In both cases it may be stated that V.M.C.A were very fortunate to stave off defeat. Against Hospital they went to pieces in the last half-hour of the game, enabling Hospital to make a splendid recovery from an almost hopeless position, and against Marist they were outclassed practically throughout the second spell. These two happenings would appear to indicate that V.M.C.A. are not devoting all the attention to training that they might do. Certainly it was Marist's superior con- j dition which told last Saturday. Both Hospital and Marist are still in the championship picture, although the former lost a splendid opportunity of improving their position last Saturday when they were forced to ancept a draw at the hands of: Scottish Wanderers, v/ho appear to have the habit of coming into tho limelight at odd intervals. Not only has the championship been made more open, but any prediction of Chatham Cup representatives have been made extremely hazardous. Since Marist have made

an improvement in their forward division by the inclusion of Marchment, the team has been showing better form, and, judging by their determined display against V.M.C.A. last Saturday, they will no doubt make a stem bid "for Chatham Cup honours. Hospital are also very keen to represent Wellington in the competition, and they too must be given the credit of having an excellent chance of realising their ambition.

On Number Two,

Good Witling Game. When V.M.C.A. and Marist met m the first match of the season, the former proved themselves to he the better side and gained a well-merited victory. On Saturday last, at Association Pai'k, when the teams met for the second time, there was a different tale to tell. On the run of the play, Marist were the better side, and V.M.C.A. were very lucky to escape with a draw. The teams were evenly matched in the first spell, and each secured a spectacular goal, each by a winger, strangely enough. In the second spell Marist turned on the pace in no uncertain manner, and for the greater part of the forty minutes they ran rings round their opponents. Unluckily for them they were unable to penetrate the defence on more than one occasion, and as V.M.C.A. also broke through once, owing to a brilliant piece of work by Nicolle, the game ended with honours easy.. A three-to-two victory for Marist would have made more satisfactory reading. . Without a doubt, the outstanding figure on the field last Saturday -was Burke, the Hard-working, bustling left-half for Marist. He took the burden of defence largely on his shoulders, and he also played no mean part in the attack. There were times when lie came into the forward line, doing- the work of Oudby, who was not at his best on the left wing. Apart from his goal in the first spell—which was a really briliant effort and marked young Oudby as a great opportunist—the left-winger, who usually plays consistently, did very little of value, and in the second speil he faded out of the picture altogether. It was then that Burke came into tho limelight. Some of liis centres were worthy of an international winger. One thing appears certain—Borke must secure a place in the Brown Shield team. If the selectors think otherwise, every Soccer player will want to know the reason why. M'Elligott was in good form on Saturday, and played one of his best games this season. " He put in a lot o[ attractive solo work, and his foot work was remarkably clever—too cicver for some of, tho V.M.C.A. backs. Marchmont made a good centre-forward. Ho is improving with every game, and should prove the means of greatly strengthening the Marist vangnard. Thomas, the Maxist skipper,' received a rather nasty knock in the first spell, and m the second he fell back to left fullback, where he -played quite effectively. P. Ballard, a brother of Charles of that ilk, made his first appearance with the \.M.C.A. eleven, filling the inside-right position. On the whole his display was disappointing, and Dempster's presence in the forward line would have made all tho difference. Campbell did a lot of wandering on Saturday, and much of it appeared to be quito unnecessary. In tho second spell, ' particularly, 'he was c-aught out of place on sfworal occasions. There were times when ho was playing in tin- hal Mine. apparently wilh tin; ol" joet or strencrllioniiicr tl u; " defence al a. time when Marist m™ in aggressive, mood, but as things eaine nu't° attack would have proved a l.otlcr form (if de-fence-against Uifi persistent IMari.il, forwards. Apart from defence, iliore wore limes-when Campbell's presence in tho forward line would'havo had Urn effect of letting V.M.C.A. forwards away. M'Girr was off his .game, and in the second spell ho was niiskicking quite, a lot and at dangerous times, aMhat. Prince \v;is sound, and T;u-r:inl did some very fine, work in goal, although il came, as a surprise 1.0 see. him mull the l.all and let Marisl l.livougli in tho second spell. Oe tho whole, tho gamr. \rm full of inci-'3sttl>,__-jijid it- ssrv.e-cl. ,to Jkecj* asYei'a!

An Improved Team,

CHAMPIONSHIP. AND CHATHAM CUP

hundred of spectators entertained for an hour and a half. More games of this calibre would help the game along very considerably.

xhe crowd makes all the differenceAt Association Park last Saturday, V.M.C.A. and Marisfc were in the limelight on No. 2 ground, and played quite fjxcftting football, bat Diamonds and Institute, on No. 1, had not more than a baker's dozen of bankers, and played fast 1 football, with a dash of excitement, once every qnarter of an hour ■or so. It is quite possible that had the crowd stood round the lines at No. 1 their 3 would have been the game with the highlights; the thrills make the game, for the players as well as for the spectators, but unless there is a sufficiency of barrack from the line to emphasise what is a thrill and what is not, then the real thrills and the dud passages alike fail to lift play and lead to more bright passages. The No. 1 ground has not been used for senior matches previously this season, and ii Diamonds and Institute had had their way on Saturday it probably would not have been used for their match. The surface is rather near tho danger mark—twisted ankles and knees and so on—and is beyond the good football mark, as witness the eccentricities of the leather many times during ■ thp match. Calvert gave Diamonds their second goal because he found it impossible to jndge correctly a ball which from a ground hillock in an impossible fashion, and very much the same sort of thing occurred in the second spell, when Institute sent through a very lucky one. That evened things, but in the case of an important match a win by one fluke goal would not necessarily be altogether satisfactory to the losing team, or to the winning team either, for that matter. It does not look as if anything will be done to knock this ground into order this season —perhaps next season, let us be hopeful. It has been suggested that wonders would have been worked if the Corporation could have been persuaded to run one of their paving rollers over tho field after the long spell of wet weather, that that treatment would I have levelled off the most annoying oi i the bumps and hollows fairly satisfacI torily. Unfortunately even that would ! have run into a fair sum, and fair sums I are not readily available—and never I will be until the management can I evolve some scheme whereby the park 1 can be made more attractive to spectators willing to pay sixpence for slightly less rigorous afternoons than they have to endure at Association Park as things are now.

Institute this season are not the Institute of last season, particularly in the forward department. They have lost several of their old players, either through accident or transfers, and it is no easy matter to work up a new combination in a few weeks. Their halves stick it out in great style, and against Diamonds did enough work for one halflino and. half a forward-line, plus qnitu a lot of good defensive play. Bell, at back, probably played a fine game; his work was very sure, and he never let up, in spit© of the consistent manner in which the Black forward lino rattled down attack after attack.- Coulton bestirred himself between the posts to some very good purpose, and turned out many hard shots where failure to save would not have been unexpected. The two wing men in the Diamond front line, R. M'Leod and J. M'Leod, the latter not long up from fourth grade., shone out brightly right through the game, J. M'Leod forking in with Daniells splendidly. Dickenson was very mnch on his game after a rather dud game on the previous Saturday, and Stocks, inside to E. M'Leod, balanced off a very efficient forward lino. The half play was sound, but could not be described as spectacular, certainly not nearly so bright to watch as the "frontline work . Dickenson might have been given a trifle more leather; the feeding was nearly always to the wings, even when opportunities presented themselves for centre play and a fairly clear way through. For the most part the Diamond backs had a fairly easy afternoon, as did also Cutler, in goal.

In a game which was marked for its bright play, Thistle defeated Waterside at Newtown Park on Saturday, by 4 goals to 2. Conditions were ideal for football, and right from the start matters went merrily. TJie're was an absence of wind, and thongh the ground was somewhat greasy from recent rains, it did not affect play to any extent. Thistle took the offensive from the start, and in the first spell kept hammering at Watersiders' goal. The Thistle forwards and halves showed good combination, and some very pretty combined work was seen. The wings were both fast, and time after time they got away and came within an ace of scoring. Luckily for Waterside, the man between the posts—Cox—was as sound as over, ami he alone was responsible for keeping the number of poinUs low. He played a great game, and brought off somo good saves, but was not supported by the backs to the extent that lie should have been. Consequently he had a great deal of work to do, some of which should never have come his way, that is, if tlio backs had been covering him properly. This was exemplified when Thistle- scored in t.ho second half. Cox slopped a. nasty shot from the wing, ;tml though the ball wiia sent away from the posts, Wallace, who was handy, got .&. .grsai pppcrimritg; ±0- scare^ gM fc^,.

sent the ball in between the uprights. After Cox had stopped the shot the greater part o£ his goal was left uncovered for a few seconds, and had the backs been in position it is probable that Wallace would never have been able to score. Although Thistle started off well, they by no means had things their own way, for towards the end of the first spell Waterside showed up ■well, and in good style threatened the Thistle goal on many occasions. The Waterside forwards, who included quite a nnmber of very youthful players, demonstrated that they were a fast and nippy set, and whenever opportunity offered they seldom forgot to avail themzelves of it. But they found themselves handicapped to a. serious extent as regards weight and size, and naturally could not be expected to control the ball when they had big and heavy opponents. For all that, however, they pleased the spectators, and showed that t.hfl team is much improved. Thistle, too, gave a good exhibition, and some of their combined work was very effectual, besides being pretty to watch. Thistle managed to score twice in the first half, and Waterside once, but the excitement increased when Stanbridge equalised shortly after the commencement of the second spell. The game then became much keener,. though not any better, but the more finished work' of Thistle was too much for the lighter Watersiders, and the former concluded with two points to spare. Logan, who scored three of Thistle's four goals, was conspicuous, but the best performance on the field was Cox's, who again showed that he is a goalkeeper of merit. There was one nasty feature about the game, and that was the adverse criticism of the referee by a number of the spectators, who would not accept his rulings. Their remarks were objectionable, and did a great deal to spoil an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable game. Both teams fought the match in the best spirit, and the Waterside players took the beating gamely. That is more than can be said of some of tie spectators.

No Fluke. Scottish Wanderers defeated Hospital, 1-0, in the first match of the season, and demonstrated in the return game last Saturday, when they drew, 3-3, that the first result was no fluke. On their form shown last week it is indeed surprising that they axe not higher in the league table, as they played really fina foothall, especially amongst the forwards. The presence of Lothian, who made a welcome reappearance after his injury, no doubt made a wonderful . difference to the team, as, apart from playing ' a fine individual game, he kept his. other forwards together, and his wings well supplied with the Ball. And they all kept their places; position play was the keynote of their success. The team is keen, very keen, and their large following of supporters are very keen, too keen. At least many are, and their actions laat Saturday, culminating in a regrettable incident in the closing stages of tha game, is a type of keenness that will do a club a lot more harm than good. On more than one occasion when the whistle stopped the play, one or two Bupporters would run on the field and give their version of the incident. This should have been sternly checked by the referee. In the closing stages, with the scores even, there was great excitement, which, however, was no justification for the behaviour of some of the Wanderers' supporters. Hospital had swept all before them.in one £reat rush, and Hughes jumped in the air to. head a dropping shot from Lambert. The goalkeeper, however, got to the ball first, and Hughes landed in the net. Then the goalmouth was rushed and filled by r.n excited crowd of spectators, and Hughes was not too gently treated while on the ground. It was some moments before the ground was cleared to enable the game to proceed: The game was a good one, and one did not notice the bitterly cold weather in watching the splendid football, especially Wanderers in the first half. Murray and Main were absentees, but their places were well filled by Kirklend and Montgomery, and the former pair could not have possibly improved on the display of the latter. Kirklend, in goal, in particular, gave a great display, and when he was or should have been beaten, Lis good luck stood to him. The goalgetting was remarkable, as the first five goals out of the total of sis were scored in the first twenty • minutes of the game. And it was not due to weak defences, as. both sides were exceptionally strong in this department. Porteous brought off two or three magnificent saves; once in par ticnlar, when he pared from Lothian he showed great anticipation and courage, and he is undoubtedly a brilliant goalkeeper. M'Kee was the most prominent of the other defenders, and until he was hurt was frequently seen in attack. The forwards played well once they got going, but it seems to take them a long time to get going, as in the last two matches they have played much their best football in the second half. Trophy from the F.A. The trophy which has been presented to the New Zealand Football Association by the English Football Association was officially handed over to New Zealand's representative in London, Mr. A. E. Qibbs, at a meeting of the council oi the association. In making the presentation, the chairman (Mr. J. C. Clegg) said that it earned with it the best wishes of the council for the success of Association football in New Zealand, and the prosperity of its governing body. It was a matter for regret that it had not been possible to make arrangements for the English.team to visib New Zealand, but it might be possible to meet New Zealand's wishes in this matter at some future date. In accepting the trophy, Mr. Gibbs re-echoed the regret that the team would not visit New Zealand, as tin's had caused profound disappointment there. On behalf of New Zealand he accepted tho trophy with gratitude, and assm-ed tho council that this practical proof of the interest of the parent body in the football of that far-distant Dominion would be most highly appreciated. The Association game there had had a hard struggle, but it was now making good progress, and he hoped that the trophy would be awarded to somp competition that would increase the popularity of the pastime, and make it the. success they all desired

It is a cnrions fact that Tnnatall was the only player of the 22 playing in the last final who had ever played on the sladinm ground before. He was in the English team against Scotland there last season, He has gained many honours and scored many great and valuable goals since he first donned the red anrl white jr.rsey, but surely his cup final goal eclipsed them all. An Irishman and a Scot tossed for choice at Wembley in the final. £rood dd-iiEngList'-'. Cugi.

SESIOE A. _ Goats Co. _ „ „ P. W. D. L For. Ag. Fts. T.M-OA. 8 6 2 0 31 0 14 ilansfc .- .. 8 4 8 1 19 9 11 Hospital „ 8 4 2 2 23 12 10 Thistle 8 3 3 2 16 15 9 Scot. Wanderers 8 3 S S 35 IB 8 IJiamonds 8 S 1 4 20 13 7 Tnstitnte 8 ] 3 4 14 80 5 Waterside ..„ 8008 7 14 0

SEJIOE B. Goals Ch. P. W. D. L For. Ag. Pts. YXOA. "C" 7 7 0 0 31 1 14 Brooklyn 7 5 11 25 11 11 JohnsomHle 7 5 0 3 33 16 10 YM.C.A.. "B" 7 1 3 0 15 14 S Petone J. M I 8 IS II S Seatoan 7 3 1 S 22 11 7 Diamonds 8 2 0 6 5 30 i Welgasco ...„..„ 8 10 7 8 38 2 Swift 3 7 0 0 7 3 26 0