SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 22

SOCCER

BY ' VANaUAHDI"

GOOD FOOTBALL

MARIST DEFEAT V.M.C.A.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

SENIOR "A.

Spectators at the Basin Reserve last Saturday saw one of the finest games of the season. It was generally expected that Marist would put up a great fight against V.M.C.A., who had unti^' Met Saturday an unbeaten record' in^bampionship games, but there were few who expected that Marist would score a decisive victory by 2 goals to nil. Such proved to be the result, however, and on the day the better team won. With their forward line strengthened by the inclusion of Condon, a junior player with a great reputation as a scoring man, Marist played great football and gave Y.M.C.A. no quarter. There was no score in the first spell, but in the first ten minutes of.the second Marist put on the pace in surprising fashion and' placed two goals to their credit. For both goals Condon was responsible and there can bo no doubt that *he will retain his place in Marist's vanguard. The V.M.C.A. forwards, who have been responsible for some excellent displays this season, had a day off. Possibly the stubborn nature of the Marist defence had a lot to do with this, but even so better things might have be"n expected of the front rankers. Ballard did his best to help his side along, but the inside men failed to turn their opportunities to any account. Rigby was decidedly off colour. Seatoun put up a good fight against Institute, 'but they had to accept defeat by 2 goals to nil. Neither side played good football, and the display as a whole was lifeless. Diamonds scored an easy yin at the expense of Brooklyn, who appear to be heading for relegation to the B grade, and Hospital, who are still in a handy position on the championship table, accounted, for Thistle by 4 goals to L, ... -.

V.M.C.A. and Marist are now level at tho head of the table, each with ton points. Hospital are close up with eight points, and Institute are 'in a handy position with six. points. Present indications point to. V.M.C.A. Hospital, and Marist again fighting for championship honours. '

Good Goal-keeping,

Good goal-keeping by Tarrant was one of the features of tho Instituto-Sea-tpun match played on tho Basin Reserve on Saturday. Tarrant is one of the best goalies in Wellington, and in playing between the posts for Institute ho is getting plenty of practice. Tarrant is a first-class man in. his position, and tho display he gave on Saturday was quite equal to his best. Gill and Coronna, who played ia the fullback positions, made a safe pair. Bing, Jefferys, and Miller made up tho halfback line. Jefferys, as centre-half, was the only prominent man in the line. He put in some solid'work, and some of his long shots at goal almost brought results. Of tho forwards, Dickinson (centre) and Maddoeks (ins.ide right) were tho most successful. Dickinson availed himself of openings, and broke away several times, and never missed a chance. He scored the first goal aud Haddocks hotted the second. Bilby (right wing) and' Smith (left wing) were not as prominent as other members of the side. May played at inside left, but his game was of only average quality. .

Seatoun also fielded a good goalkeeper in Wyatt, and though he was called on a great deal, he allowed little to pass him. Duflill mid Grhnstono wore the full-baeka. Duffill was in good form, and he often turuod a defensive movement into an offensive one. Once ho prottily sent tho ball out to Smyth on the wing, and tho outside man sent in a shot which Tarrant was lucky to hold. The half-back lino was composed of Murie, Chapman, and Kcrshaw, but this department was not Seatouh's strongest. Their forwards wore their strength; and on Saturday they showed they had a nice front line. Both wings, Saunders on tho right, and Smyth on tho left, played in good style, Smyth particularly. Smyth's was a bustling gnuie, and the majority of the Seatoun attacks camo from his side of the field. Kinder made a good centre, and Tolford (inside right) and Mackenzie (inside left) completed tho line.

The game was evenly contested, in f:ict in parts it was dull. The sides were evenly matched, and as isfrcquent in such cases play suffered. Seatoun were unfortunate, but they found a tough proposition in Tarrant', and had it not been for Institute's goalie, they probably would have scored more than once. • . '

A Casual Display of Football

It is probable that Diamonds would have won their game against Brooklyn had the latter fielded a full, team, but it was unfortunate that a misunderstanding should have'resulted in only nine Brooklyn men turning out, for what should have been at least an interesting game turned out to be rather drab and casual. Brooklyn's front lino was reduced to three,, and naturally tho whole team system of play went to tho pack, though those three .front-liners :tuck to an almost impossible task wonderfully consistently, in spitfe of the discouragement offered by Diamonds' very solid defence, of which defence Guest was lie brightest unit. He played an excellent game . throughout. Anton, who seldom goes through a match without sending something successful towards the not, could make no effective headway last Saturday, for he was seldom allowed within reasonable shooting-distance.

Diamonds had tried a fairly complete team rearrangement, which worked out well. Smith appears very much at home in the centre of tho line, and banged his three shots past Dobbs with real finish, though in the later stages of the game he. did not maintain his first-spell showing. It is a question whether Hearne is a front-line man; he certainly does not appear to be so comfortably at home before goal as he v-as last season at back. Stocks, playing out of what is regarded, as his usual position, sent over some excellent work from outside left, not only well placed, but' well timed for .Smith-or Hearne'. After Kiniioar's mishap and retirement to have an eyebrow stitched up, he had a double load to carry, and continued to do first-rate work. M'Leod, on the far wing, was a solid worker, but was hardly up to best form.

The last twenty minutes or so of play were ragged, and were carried through without punch or enthusiasm. The. Brooklyn players Jjad.evideu.tljr tired

in the almost hopeless task of working through to goal, and Diamonds had apparently lost further interest in shooting, being content to lob the ball about in a general sort of fashion, with occasional attacks from the left wing and more centres from Stocks which were not fully availed of. One of the busiest men on the field, taking the game as a whole, was Dobbs, in goal for Brooklyn. Not only did he play a consistent game, but he played a sporting game, making a point of keeping the ball in play if it could reasonably be done. . .

Some Criticism.

A correspondent forwards the following criticism of play in lower grade games:.—

Once upon a time a game of Soccer was played between two Kew Zealand country teams on a ground surrounded by a belt of high pine trees. During the course of the game the ball, from a long kick into touch, found- a resting place high in the branches of the trees. No other ball was available, so a considerable time was spent in endeavours to reach the elusive leather, but without success. "Never mind the ball," said the skipper of ono side: "Let's get on with the game." That, of course, is a ya^L ' The following is a true story. A naval team from an English ship which rather prided itself upon its ability to play Soccer was pitted against a New Zealand team. Playing back for the.sailors was the ship's heavyweight boxing champion, a burly individual of 14st or more.. After the match he was the sorest and most knocked about player of the 22, and some of his New Zealand acquaintances chaffed him, asking why he had noi retaliated. '' I prefer to play Soccer," was the answer. A? third story may perhaps make the point clear. Two young men drifted into a billiard saloon in London where two professional players were compiling breaks of three and four figures with great regularity. After watching in silence for some time, said one of the young men to the other: "Say, Bill, what's the game they are playing?" "Billiards," was the answer. ■ "(then if this is billiards," quoted the first, "what'stho name of the game we play at home?" The same question might well bo asked by a visitor used to seeing Soccer played in England, who happened to witness some of the. lower grade games as played in Wellington: ho would find it hard to recognise it as the same game as expounded, say, by Aston Villa or Chelsea. Soccer when properly played is the fastest and most scientific and spectacular of all field •games, with the possible exception of hockey, but one would never think so after watching the exhibition by some of the local teams. The ball is a secondary consideration, just an incidental to be kicked wildly, towards the opposite goal; the main object of the game, to the uninitated spectator, appearing to be the grassing of the opponent. Science or combination have no place in the playing of the game. It is no uncommon sight to see a,forward obtain possession of the ball; does he' sprint like a hare towards the goal? No not a bit of it; he performs gyroscopic ovolutions with the leather until robbed of it, the rest of the field remaining motionless while the performance goes on. Where are the well-ordered forward rushes, one of the prettiest of football sights to watch? Where is the .lu.deious feeding of the forwards by the halves? These things are not seen, their place being taken by wild kicking and going for the man rather than the ball; and as for shooting . the less said the better. Young players apparently drift onto the^-Soccer field with but a rudimentary notion of the rules, hoping to learn the game, but the absence of coaching leaves them still learning years-after when they should be playing, "if this is Soccer, what's the game we play at Homo," might as was said before, be well asked by' an English player unfortunate enough to have to- witness tho lower grade games fan? in S°me PartS 6*>™ £*■

Players Puzzled,

. A law tangle which had its humorous Dlivot fn Ugh Xt "^^^ the professional H er'" M'O<>r light, arose in a recent lust Division match at Home. A free kick tor carrying tho ball more than tho permitted number of strides was given' against the homo goalkeeper a ± •. yards from the goal. Pew of the -bouTll sccmc(l to' kl «w what to do Such a commotion. Apparently neither captain know exactly what was the correct procedure. There were committco meetings of the players, and tho local men, forborne reason, appeared to bo taking up positions' behind tho ball, on the hno somo yards from the goal-posts, under the impression that the laws of tho gamo required them to stand ten yards from tho ball when tho ireo kick was taken. ■What is more, the goalkeeper took up a position beside one of the goalposts, apparently assuming that the ball would bo kicked straight into the net, which for this infringement of course, would not have been a goal! Suddenly the home captain, apparently realising how the goalkeeper wag inviting disaster, ran to tho goalkeeper who resumed his position in goal in tune to smother the free kick, which had been taken in the manner likely to produce a goal—viz., by the kicker pacing tho ball for a colleague to shoot. In the^end tha goal escaped, the bn\\ bonig struggled away. Law 10 is clear enough, and the FootpciU League player surely should know tho laws that govern his bread and outtev.

Tho players could not line up ten y.-mlfi from (ho ball, as the free kick took place at a smaller distance from the goal. But they evidently knew only half tho law, which says:— ■ "When a free kick has been awarded the kicker's opponents shall not approach within ten yards of the ball until the kick is taken, unless they are standing on their own goal-line." ■ The defenders could have lined their goal-line, although it is suggested that not all the players knew that the goallrj included tho'line connecting post to post! That is difficult to believe 1 heir actions certainly lend colour to tho impression all the same. But what were the attackers doing? It seemed to us that while their opponents were taking up wrong positions trey had time, without infringing the spirit of the law, to make the two kicks necessary to turn tho award into a goal. Apparently the attackers also were undecided as to the rights and wrongs of tho situation. But the goalkeeper who stands beside'his post in such a case is sadly at fault.

Corner Kicks

During a recent match a.bystander was heard to comment—and" pretty strongly too—on the failure of many corner kicks, which, h<3 observed were cut far too fine indeed. The average man who follow 3 the game from week to week has no doubt noticed this. It seems that the man who takes the kick has a desire to make a safety allowance of only a few inches, and invariably when he does so, the ball is carried behind. This, of course, gives the other.side an advantage, and it should not be so. -After forcing a corner it is wrong that tho side which was so near to scoring should have to s«t-. ni^, again and work its way up to the goa. But in nine cases out of ten' this si le has only itself to blame. 'It would *>ay

teams if they placed their corner lucks in front of goal, not behind.

From the Bank.

On every football field there is to be found the spectator who knows more about the game than the referee. Invariably this man is very free in advice, and if it were not -for the fact that his comment often drops to abuse it would be humorous. In. one, recent match a bystander on the side-line made himself decidedly objectionable by criticising the referee and the lineumpire. The former was too busy to take much notice o£ him, but the latter sqized an opportunity to "talk" to the man on the bank, and he did so in a very convincing manner. The ad.vice had good effect, for the rest of the match was played in comparative quiet.

"Childish."

A strange dismissal recently occurred in English football, at the Sheffield United ground, where Stanley Davies, the versatile forward of Weat Bromwich Albion and Wales, was ordered off by the referee on a charge of having removed the ball after it had beun placed for a free-kick. It was held that Davies twice moved the ball after the referee had placed it in position, and the official inflicted the maximum punishment, presumably after administering a caution, for ungentlemanly con duct

Without venturing an opinion on the Sheffield incident, remarked an English football .writer, it may be said that the childish practice of moving the^tiall a few yards forward or backward after it has been set for a free-kick has become all too common among players, and that the game must be protected from such indignities.

Watch Your Knees.

"Football knee," a first cousin to housemaid's knee, in fact, very much the sume thing, merely caused in a different manner, has probably put more good men off the field thaa all other football troubles—except club disputings—altogether. Football knee, moreover, is, if neglected, particularly difficult o:: treatment, let alone, remedy although the machinery of the knee joint is not so very complicated and the joint is easily enough reached. The difficulty of treatment arises from the fact that the most powerful of the muscles of the body are continually hauling away at the knee cap, one set on one side, one set on the other. The first rule about knee cap cases is: Don't regard that apparently small trouble as something to be forgotten about, otherwise that small trouble may put an end to football and knee comfort altogether.

_ Some useful hints to players in getting knee joints back 'into order- were recently written for an English sporting paper by a player-physician. ; The shallow knee : cartilage (he says) slips out of place and is nipped between the bones. The joint is said to be dislocated. "What happens to the victim is this: ... -,

He falls in great pain with tie joint locked . usually bent. That something is out of place is obvious £b everyone, and the sooner it is put back the better will it be for that, joint and for the chances of his playing again. For a "knee" may easily terminate a player's career.

Hints for Cartilage Cases.

It is usually quite easy; in fact, it often slips back itself. Place the player on his back; turn the foot inwards, and at the same time gently manoeuvre the displaced part whilst ttie knee is moved slightly up and down. It usuaJy goes back with a click, and the joint is no longer locked. / ...

But the player should not stand or walk on it—let alone play. If he does, it will almost certainly "go" again, and, in any .case, fluid will appear in the jp.int.

Therefore, bandage the joint evenly and securely, and have the player conveyed home in a cab, keeping the knee straight. There he must recline.

By far the wisest thing to do now is to summon a doctor, who will decide how long he must rest, for some synovitis (fluid in the joint) is bound to follow.

"When it subsides will come this question: When will it be safe to play again? On this matter the bost surgical advice obtainable should be sought—and followed. . Under the most favourable circumstances, however, some form of support, such as an elastic knee-cap, will have to be worn,"to prevent the joint from going again.

Once it has gone, the way is paved for a second disablement, and the only" safe motto for sometime is ea-canny. A great deal, therefore, depends on how the injury is dealt with on the spot. The longer it is left the worse the outlook.

It is not only in winter games that the kiiea may get injured in this way. I have 'known it occur to a fast fowler during a sudden twist iv delivery.

Other Injuries.

Kicks, abrasions, and even sprained ankles are not common in properly-con-trolled winter ' games (continues the doctor); still less are broken! limbs. The common accidents are these: During a tight scrummage a player may get completely winded in the crush, and appears unable to breathe. It is quickly overcome by one or two efforts of artificial respiration—raising the arms well over the head and then' lowering them and compressing the chest with the hands.

But sometimes in a tight scrum "a rib is fractured, or, in a particularly hefty charge or tackle , a collar-bone snaps. A broken rib usually makes itself known to the owner. He feels a sharp pain at the spot where it is broken when ho takes a deep breath. When this'pain appears iris only proper course jj6 to go to the dressing-room and send for a doctor. A broken rib, if properly strapped or bandaged up, will do no permanent harm at all.

Or in a nasty tackle the collar-bone —really a big and prominent rib—gets broken. This generally declares itself; the arm on the side where it is broken droops and is more or less helpless. What should be done, pending /medical attention is to place the arm against the chest, with the fingers resting on the opposite shoulder; raise the elbow and,run a wide bandage around the arm a*id chest. If a big pad of cotton-.wool is available, place it in the armpit. ■ .■ I have said a broken rib or collarbone is usually obvious. But this is not always so. Both accidents sometimes occur and are undetected till revealed by some much later examination: This should not be the case. It is far bettor for them to be properly set at once. ' . * • Perhaps these hints may lead to fewor undetected injuries and less chance of possible complications. Massage Hints. . Massage does not necessarily mean employing a trained masseur, though, of course, that is the best thing to do. If you are unable'to do so you can get a friend to rub, stroke, knead, and pinch the various groups of muscles, always working toward the centre of the body. You can even do it a little yourself, and will quickly gain experience. It clears out waste.products and makes for suppleness. Stiffness after ix game is lessoned or removed by gentle message with warm olive oil on the finger tips. If the muscles get too hard and rigid, give training a rest for a day or two. Staleness not uncommonly results if a course of training is too long and steadfastly pursued. Finally, do not forget the value ,of early hours. Early to bed and early .to rise is essential here, whatever may be the case elsewhere.

Points. Chp. Y.SLC.A 6 5" l' "' 16 A5 JJarlst 6 5 1 0 IS 11 10 Hospital. i 6 4 2 0 17 13 s Institute 6 3 3 0 14 13 6 Diamonds ...... 5 2 2 1 15 9 g Seatoun 6 1 3 2 12 15 4 Thistlo ........ 5 1 4 0 10 ir 2 Brooklyn 60 4 1 9 03