SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 22

SOCCER

By ' VAN9UAHD-" CHATHAM CUP

THE LOCAL FINAL

V.M.C.A. AND HOSPITAL LEFT IN.

V.M.C.A. and Hospital will, fight for the honour of representing Wellington in this year's Chatham Cup competition. These two teams have emerged from the eliminating rounds without suffering defeat, and . when they meet at the Basin Reserve next Saturday they should provide a sterling contest. a

In the semi-finals, played last Saturday, T.M.C.A. and Hospital both won well, although the margin of goals in their favour was small. Hospital found Thistle a harder nut to crack'than was anticipated, and it was only a goal scored early in the encounter that gave the championship leaders victory. Thistle had plenty of the game, but their work in front of the goal was not all that was to be desired. In addition to that, the Hospital defence was sound, and Porteous, in goal, and Gibb at full-back, did excellent work. On one occasion, .Porteous made a brilliant save from a great shot by Lothian, who, by the way, showed something of his old form. The Hospital forwards also found themselves up against a strong defence, but had it not been for the excellent work of Murray, who played in goal for Thistle, more goals would have come Hospital's way. V.M.C.A. had to fight;hard for the two goals that gave them victory over Marist. In the early stages of the game the losers had the best of matters, but they lacked one great essential —combination. Neither side gave a finished display, the play being marked by Much wild kicking, which led nowhere. It is impossible to forecast the result of the final. Both Hospital and V.M.C.A. are capable of playing great football, and no matter what side wins the margin will bo small. V.M.C.A., the present holders of the Chatham Cup, may be relied upon to battle yery hard in an endeavour to retain the trophy, but if they defeat Hospital they will thoroughly deserve their success. Soccer enthusiasts may look forward to a great game at the Basin Reserve next Saturday.

Might Well Have Been a Draw.

Hospital defeated Thistle at Porirua by the only goal scored, and the latter team were rather unlucky in not making a draw of it. It was rather an expressionless first half, with Hospital generally having the better of the play and scoring the goal within ton minutes of the start. The home team lost the toss, but there was practically nothing in it, as the absence of sun and only a slight breeze made tho conditions almost ideal. Tho opening was sensational, as only for the alertness of Murray, in goal, Newman would have been through for an easy goal. A few minutes later the solitary goal was obtained by Hospital, but they' neglected to drive home the superiority they were showing over their opponents. They were doing by far the most of the attacking, but did not penetrate the sterling defence. The play was toneless, and lacked the cup-tie flavour.

More Like It,

The spectators were, however, amply recompensed in the second half, as the fare provided by both teams was firstclass, and, especially by Thistle, the real cup-tie stuff. Thistle had the best of this half, in that they did most attacking and were more often than their opponents in good scoring positions. That they did not score was due to the great defence of the home team, to bad shooting on their own part, and, again, to sheer bad luck on more than one pecasion, Hospital showed a good sporting spirit in releasing Murray, who is employed on the staff, to take Kirkland's place in goal. The latter was indisposed, recovering from an attack of the "flu." Murray, despite lack of practice, gave a very fine display, his anticipation being quite a feature of his play. Hospital persisted in the short passing game/with the ball on the ground. Thistle, on the other hand, kicked fairly hard, and halves and backs punted the ball goalwards.; The defences of both teams were generally superior to the forwards oopposed to them, and the latter were given very little time to dwell. . .

Porteous again gave a good display, although- he was lucky to keep his goal intact in. the closing stages. Gibb and Thompson had a strenuous time in the second half, and stoppepd many a dangerous rush by the Blue forwards. The same remark applies to the halves. McKec is at the top of his form and he, Brown and Simon made a strong trio. Brown received a nasty kick in the early part of the game, but it did not seem to affect his ..play, arid his judicious passing of the ball and cheeking of oppponents were a treat to watch. Dick reappeared in the forward line, but he was obviously out of form, although doing good work at times. Newman was well watched by McDougall and Taylor, and had fey/ opportunities to score. White and Ferguson did well on either side of Newman, but the forward line, as a whole, should have done better in the first half, when the chances to score were more plentiful.

The Thistle Flayers.

Taylor, at back for Thistle, played a great game, and was the outstanding player on tho field. : His anticipation and intercepting of passes was an object lesson in back play. Jack ably assisted him, but he "ballooned" too much, and was not so sure as his partner. The halves were great tacklers, and shaped better on defence .than in attack. M'Dougall was the pick of the three, and frequently sent Lothian or the wings, away with nice passes. Lothian led the front line, which missed Logan, also, a "flu" victim..' Lothian spent a great deal of time waiting for chances, but he was also well watched by McKee and Gibb. He did not get much opportunity to shoot, but managed to get in one or two real "raspers" which Porteous did well to 3ecure. The shooting of the forwards was, however, the weak point, and it cost them the game. Daniels and "Weatherspoon were the stronger wings, and at times were very troublesome to the oppposition.

"Under the Bar."

There' is no better known figure in English football than that of Albert Iromongcr, the giant who guards- the Notta County goal. Still able to hold his own against the best, Ircmongcr has the wonderful record of. 21 years' service in first-class football, and has. also played in county cricket for Notts. In a series of articles in "Topical Times," headed "Twenty-one Years Under the Bar," he writes interestingly of varied incidents during his long career. Tho most exciting timo -of all with the Notts team, he considers, was when

they were in danger of going into the Second Division. There were only two games left to be played that season, and both had to be won. If they lost or drew they were doomed. The games were against Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea, and both were to be played away from home. Bolton was beaten after having most of tho play by one goal. Iremonger then says: '"After beating Bolton we had to face Chelsea, and I remember before the game started'a Chelsea player came into our dressing-room and informed us that if wo wished to win we should have to play for it. Some people have the im-, pression that football clubs assist each other on such occasions; let me at once dispel such an idea; they do not. The journey to London that day was not a happy one. I doubt if we were too confident, and the happiness which is often evident amongst footballers on a train journey was not prominent that day. I- was really sorry for some of our directors; they looked like ghosts, and whilst the game was in progress they stayed in the back of the Chelsea grandstand. They were so excited they could not' watch the game. We scored first, and were greatly elated. We decided to stick ,to that lead, no matter what happened, only to find that we were playing against a player who had other ideas upan the subject—Hilsdon, the Chelsea centre-forward. Here was a player that was versed in every art that goes to. make the perfect "leader," and he beat me with an unstoppable shot. ,The game was even, and both sides pressed with eager determination, and,we knew that we had to win. Then when time was drawing very near we were awarded a penalty kick. In my time I have been'the penalty-kick taker for Notts County, and I have often been thankful that at this time I was not the man who had to take the kick. We had a player called Dodd, who was a great shot, and he used to take these "gift-goal" shots. Nlf he had quibbled that day I should not have blamed him, but he did not; he wanted to take it, and did. His great shot saved the day and kept Notts County in the First Division. ■

A Penalty Area Proposal.

The Scottish Football Association has been again busy looking for possible suggestions for changes ,in the laws, and as a result arc > recommending to . the International Board an important alteration by doing away with the penalty area of 18 yards, and having an area of 30 yards. Infringements of Law 9 that take place within the 30 yards' area should be punished, it is proposed, by a free-kick, under the arrangements here set out: "Instead of a kick from tho penalty spot, the free-kick to be taken from the place at which the infringement occurred, and all players shall stand outside the defending team's thirty-yards' area, except the player taking the kick and the goalkeeper, who shall not advance beyond his goalline. The defending players shall stand at least ten yards from where the kick is taken. The other usual conditions that apply to penalty kicks •to remain in force. •'

The Penalty Law.

"The S.F.A. has startled the football world by a companion suggestion to their now accepted reform of the offside rule, that the penalty law should be revolutionised (states a writer iv the Glasgow "Evening Times")- If Carlton Place is not careful, it will be getting a reputation of being actually awake. I am afraid that onthis occasion their idea will receive short shrift. In effect, they propose either to increase the penalty area to thirty < yards from the goal posts to an area, bounded by the bye line, the touch lines, and another mark across the field at thirty yards out, the kick in both cases to be taken from the actual spot of the.infringement. Presumably this is a laudable effort to make the punishment fit the crime. It. seems, however, to have been overlooked that this is exactly, contrary to the purpose of the penalty law, which was placed on the book of football statutes to act as a deterrent to tricky play in the neighbourhood of the goal, even at the expense of justice to some extent. The fact that • a goal is a probability from a foul anywhere in the box was originally regarded as merit, though it seems' nowadays to be considered otherwise. In the bad old days you simply swept the feet from an opponent who faintly threatened danger, and then, to the best of your ability, packed your goal. It was a great scheme, but singularly unsporting. As a preventive, the idea of the penalty was introduced, and I think it would be a step backward to do anything to alter its-severity. If under the new scheme"the punishment were made more severe, then it might, be justified, but this would not be the' case except in the .limited space directly in front of the goal and nearer. to it than the fatal spot. Whatever change is desirable, it does not seem wise to tinker with the 18 yards lines. Possibly a new' area outside of this in which free kicks might be taken more freely, is worthy of consideration, but I doubt it; we do not wish too many complications and mathematical designs on the field of play." '

Boy Footballers,

Since tho war, writes an English paragraphist, first-class football clubs have taken more interest in schoolboy footballers than they did before and cases can be quoted of boys beine signed by these clubs as soon as they leave school. Whether this is wise or not is a matter for debate, but it is certain that a boy who shows promise whilst at school should bo carefully watched, and, above all, carefully coached. The ideal.way of doing this seems to have been found in Sheffield where some enterprising football enthusiasts have got together a team of b.oy footballers who showed promise whilst at school.: It would be an ideal one of these junior teams. They would save themselves much in expense in years to come, and would raise many fine players. The period between leaving school and reaching the age of eighteen or nineteen ,is the crucial time when many promising players lose their skill for lack of proper tuition. ' So there is something in the policy adopted quite generally in New Zealand, purely as a matter of commonsense, after all. .

A Problem Discussed,

Which forward should' the wing-half cover? This problem in flcli.l tactics is discussed by Colin Veitoh, ivho says that of air the questions which arise tor discussion in the consideration of general field tactics, probably the most controversial is that which'relates to the important factor of which man in the opposing camp shall receive the attention of the wing-half. Shall it be the inside or outside forward? '

The Scot and the Southerner may argue that there is no question of controversy in such a matter. They have decided, and there tho matter ends. But it is not quite so easy as that, for as one has decided in .favour of one method aud the other supports the-bg-

posite tactic, the ground for controversy is ipso facto prepared. I don't say that all the teams in the South and Midlands employ the' same tactics, or that the policy of the wing-half marking the inside-forward is entirely confined t) Scotland; but to all intents and purposes the question ig one of England v. Scotland,. and introduces a comparison of methods adopted in these countries.

Personally, I am in favour of the inside forward receiving, the attention of the wing-half. When the new off1 side rule was introduced this season there were grave doubts expressed as to whether this method would be effective under the change, but I have seen no reason to alter my own opinion on the subject.

Work of the Inside Man.

The inside-forward generally is the forager. , He initiates the attacks of the opposition to a very large extent. In paying attention to this iuside-for-•ward, then, the wing-half is getting into direct tduch with the source of most of his troubles. It is better to try,to stem the source than to have to meet the full force of the flood later on. The inside-forward has a light and left of the field in which to ' operate his attack, and so obtain that variation iv tactics which is the essential for success. The outside man has a straight-ahead course, and field room on one side only. His is a restricted field of operation compared with that of his partner, and it does not strike me as the best tactics to devote attention to the individual with the more restricted opportunities and leave the other individual free to initiate all the mischief of which his position is capable. • Again, the outside man is generally lying farther up the field towards the opponent's goal, and the tactic of giving him attention makes the wing-half much more of a defensive player, and leaves him in a much weaker position for developing his.own attack. On the other hand, the policy of playing on the inside-forward brings him into closer touch with his own attack, and provides greater scope for the unexpected! run through so dreaded by opponents' defences. This method also gives a more compact formation to the half-back line which greatly min-. irnises the danger of the attack developing alon- its shortest and most dangerous route —via the centre of the field. The wing-half who knows his game will see to it that this attack is cut off and sem 1 the incursion round the longest journey possible, so as to give his defence the most time possible for recovery s and consolidation.

Different Views.

Apropos of this question, I am re-1 minded of an incident which occurred in an international game in which England was concerned. The wing-half and back selected came from teams which pursued different tactics in this matter; In consultation before the game, the half-back volunteered to change his tactics to conform to those of the back; but the latter, with more experience behind him, arranged that •he would be the individual to change, and leave tho half-back io look, after the inside-forward.

At half-time a member of the selection committee approached the halfback and pointed out that the wing man was receiving too much scope. On the half-back explaining the situation that the wing man was the back's business, according to arrangement, the Football Association selector was astounded. He was an advocate of the other 'arrangement.

As, a matter of fact, the back was not: capable of changing his game at a moment's notice, and the half-back wisely suggested a rearrangement as the result of the conversation with ' the member of the selection committee. The back was'not favourable, but the half varied his game sufficiently to give greater attention to the danger from outside resulting from the inability of the back to assume an understanding in a changed role. In both schemes, therefore, the' eo:operatiou of the back is absolutely essential. In choosing which method is the better, that co-operation is assumed, and as a result of experiment and experience, I have no hesitation in- declaring for the" Scottish method which advocates a wing-half giving his attention to restricting the activities of the opposing inside-forward."

An Expensive trip,

If the calculations made by the "Waikato Times" Association writer are correct, the. Poverty Bay team which visited Hamilton in a vain attempt to carry away the shield, ran into fairly heavy financial weather. The gate was poor, amounting to about £40 gross and £25 net, of which Poverty Bay receive three-fifths, or round about £15. The expenses of the visiting party, however, were not less than £80, so that their loss amounted to approximately £&5. Tentative arrangements have already been made, continues, the writer, for the next challengers, Manawatu, to visit Hamilton on 31st July, aid ifc was hoped that the general public would attend in larger numbers than at the Poverty-Bay-South Auckland match, otherwise thevlocal, executive, in fairness to the exchequers of visiting teams, would have no opj/jon but to play future matches' elsewhere, as at Blandford Park, Auckland.

Big things were expected of the Poverty Bay eleven by Poverty Bay people, particularly after its success against Hawkes Bay in the East Coast Challenge Cup, but the South Auckland team had, in fact, rather an easy afternoon of it, winning by 4 goals to nil, and keeping Poverty Bay to their own cud of the* ground almost throughout the match, with the exception of a period about midway through the second spell when the visitors narrowly missed scoring through Hoots and Haworth. Poverty Bay lacked combination, especially iv the forwards, while South: Auckland gave a finished exposition of the code in all departments, the halves being especially good. ■ ' . Notes. The Hospital team wore arm bands last Saturday as a mark of respect to. the late Mrs. A. Wallis, who died during the week. The deceased lady was the wife of the well-known past player and captain of the Hospital Club, and the sympathy of all followers of the game will extend to him and his young family in their great bereavement. The late Mrs. Wallis was a great Soccer euthusiast, and had been closely identic ficd with the Hospital Club for many years. • .

"The ball always seems to go.to Taylor," was a remark I overheard at the Thistle-Hospital match last Saturday. It was a fine complipient to the player, although made quite unconsciously. The fact that the ball appeared to always go to the player, showed the latter 'a fine anticipation and great experience of positional play. Taylor, of course, has plenty of experience, and on his form last Saturday, there are few, if any, better backs- in;.the League. Manchester City have fallen into the Second Division, when a successful penalty kick would have saved the situation. But this is not new. Cardiff City missed a penalty award' at Birmingham in the closing match of ..1923*24, and this cost them the First Division Championship^ There is sympathy for tho player who fails under such a trial. In contrast to the Chatham and Charity Cup 'games last Saturday, when the scoring was low, tho juniors went for high scoring. One game was won 12-6, while several others were decided with a difference of seven goals.