WELLINGTON V. CANADIANS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 30 April 1927, Page 6

WELLINGTON V. CANADIANS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l notice a probability that this Soccer match will be played at Athletic Park, instead of at the Basin Reserve! fills is to-be regretted, but perhaps*^, unavoidable. It it proves to be the case" I trust the committee will arrange for the sale of reserved and numbered tickets in the stand I should like to know also whether Rugby IJmon seaßOn ticket-hold-ers will be entiled to their Rugby Union numbered seats as of right. They will have to pay for them, of course. But as none of their subscription money reaches the Soccer till, I think that on this occasion they should be on the same footing as the general public. From what I have read of the visitW team, it seems likely that they will be the strongest, overseas team that has ever visited us. Most of them have had experience against the rather strong English team that visited Canada recently, many oi them probably were taught by Home men, they have quite a useful stiffening of men recently arrived from Home, and bemg^ young we must expect them 'to be very fast.

To meet them with any chance of success, either in provincial matches or in Test matches,,l think that we must materially and quickly alter our present style of play. At present we rely' too much on kick and rush; there! is far too much ballooning of the ball; it is far too often kicked out of play when there is not any serious danger; and "playing the man ' and not the ball is a growing evil, complained of by all overseas visitors of recent years and the hallmark of an inferior player. I hope that all coaches and clubs will forthwith abandon the above methods, and settle down to short passiug, with an occasional long pass (at the right time) to the other wing, to keeping strictly in their places, to keeping the ball m play whenever possible, and to the centres and insides being always in position to receive the ball from the wings when in front of the enemy's goal. This is the Rauus that we shall have to meet, and if we do not get busy at once the Canadians will assuredly make rings around us. 3rd .7 line is not very far away.—l am, etc.,