SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 22

SOCCER

BY ' VAHGUAKD"

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND COMMENCED WILL DIAMOND HOLD THE LEAD?

The scjiior championship entered on its- second round last Saturday after a brief'interval in which the first round of Chatham Cup elimination^ matches was played. Last Saturday there were no surprise vcitories, and as a result of the games played, the championship table remains tho same. Diamond still have a lead of two points from Marist, with Thistle and V.M.C.A. each two points again behind Marist. The question that is now being asked is, can Diamond hold their lead? The second round admittedly is the harder, and this is more so for a side which has coino through the first round unbeaten, or with perhaps only one defeat. The strain on players begins to tell, especially if the earlier games have at all boon closely contested. Last week Diamond, who have boon beaten only onco this season at time of writing, fielded a team much below usual strength, but in spite of that they were able to win from Institute in a convincing way. They .were lucky in not having to meet a stronger side. They arc only two points—ono win—ahead of Marist, so it will be necessary for them to maintain their ■ hitherto splendid record if thej' arc to secure the championship witlout playing an extra game. Perhaps tho team which has mado most progress this year, is Thistle, which started low down the ladder, and is now level with V.M.C.A.'; in third position. Petone's performance, so far, has not been that' which was promised by form .shown earlier in tho season, but when the fact is taken into consideration that tho club advanced from senior B .football last season, the team's performance is very creditable. Apropos of Chatham Cup matches, the council of tho New Zealand Football Association ordered a replay in the Petone-Thistlo match, which was won by Petone, owing to that team playing ah unqualified man. The match was to be played to-day pi conjunction with the championship. Marist and Petone. A disappointing display of Soccer resulted from the' meeting of Marist and Potono at tho Basin Boserve last Saturday, and spectat6rs received but a poor return for their investment. Neither, team gave a display worthy of senior players. During the first spell Petone held the upper hand, but it was Marist who left the field with tho goal advantage. The Petone forwards lacked finish, andmahy excellent chances of scoring were thrown away. Leslie, who has proved a dangerous centre in previous matches, wandered far too much, and was soldom in position when the ball came his way. In addition, he was closely watched by the Marist backs, and on tho'whole he experienced a very lean time. Campbell was tho mainstay of the Potonc half-line, but he, too, was not at his best. He was inclined to try too mueli fancy work. Time and again ho was robbed of the ball when a kick earlier in the proceedings would havo placed Petone on tho initiative. M'Vean gave a good display in goal, turning away many, difficult shots. Cudby, the Marist loft-winger, gavo a good account of himsolf, and produced something of the form whi,ch won him a place-in the representative team last season; Ho used his speed to advantage. Barton, the other winger, was also in form, /but M'Elligott, inside right, was seldom in tho picture. If M'Elligott would chase the ball occasionally instead of letting it come to him ho Vould be of greater service to his team. Burke was the outstanding figure in the half-line. He was prominent both in attack and defence. Fitzgerald played good football untilhe retired with an injury. Hickey was quite safe in goal. Diamond Win Easily. '- , Institute had an unusual opportunity of defeating Diamond on Saturday, when tho latter team took tho field very much below strength. In the first place, Ewing was debarred from playing in goal, and Diamond played Waller, who is no stranger .to the position. Auld plajred at right back, and Bolt occupied tho right half-back position. Tho forward lino was very little disturbed. -In addition to Ewing, other absentees wero T. Wotherspoon and Findlay. There was not tho slightest doubt that Diamond missed the services of these players. Had thox match been against any other team in the competition (with .the exception, of Seatoun) it is extremely doubtful whether Diamond would have won. Wallor, who played between tho posts, gave a good account of himself, and showed that he is still a player who can bo relied upon. Auld and Guest made a pair of backs of average califrc. Bolt certainly did not strengthen tho half-line, but with Wothorspdon and M'Connack was rcsponsiblo for some nice work. Anton played his usual game at ' centre-for-ward. Ho had Dauiclls on his right, and M'Leod in the' outside position. The winger did not appear to bo playing up to standard, and sometimes failed at crucial times. Smith, at insido left, was a valuable man, as also was Stark, who played 01V the right wing with distinction. Stark is 'holding to his game this season well, and is giving exhibitions of .pretty play. Institute were a dangerous combination in the early stages of tho match, but as the game progressed they lost tho force of their attack. The forwards wore the strength of the side, Dickenson in particular being prominent. Others who played well were Maddoeks, May, and Smith. 'The halfline was composed of Byng, Brownlce, and Corrono. The -latter received a nasty injury to his ankle in the second half, and had to ,leave the field. Gill and Bell made a, safe pair of backs who cculd be. relied upon. Rustcrholz, in goal, played well in the first spell, but the persistent attacks of Diamond in the socond half proved too much for him. Seatoun and V.M.C.A. Playing nt Seatoun Park last Saturday, Seatoun found V.M.C.A. too hard a nut to crack. The-suburbanites tried hard enough, and in the first part of the game outclassed their opponents.; biit in the second spell did not maintain tho same level of play. V.M.'s scoro of fivo was'the, result of their centre forward's ability to snatch the opportunity. It was in this respect that; Soatoun failed. Had thoir threo inside forwards made the fullest usd of

I their chances their tally would have equalled, if not surpassed, that o£ Y.M.C.A.'s. The introduction of two new men, Hcarno and Harrop, into the Blue forward line has certainly strengthened it, but there is still room for improvement. The two wingers were the best of the Seatoun. vanguard. Smyth played a dashing game, and put in some very fine centres. Grimstone was his usual self, but was^ hampered, in having to contend with M'Girr at lefi full-back. Tho latter had the advantage in weight, but Grimstone was very olusive. Thero was nothing wrong with tho suburban team's half-line. Kershaw was outstanding and fully deserved the honour of scoring Seatoun'a only* goal. Playing skilfully throughout, he often did tho work .of one or. other of his inside forwards, specially in tho last half, when the trio in question were very ragged. The full backs wore a sound pair, Dufflll perhaps being the better man. Wyatt was safe in goal.' The scores which were put past him did not give him much chance. Eigby was the star performer., for Young. Men, as witness the fact that he scored four of his side's five'goals, and this in spite of more than one injury received during the match. Lack scored tho other goal. Both wingers, Stocks and Nicolle, played well, with • tho latter more conspicuous. In the half-back line, Eabbitt, a new man, was tried on tho left, and fully earned his place. Pears,on, at right-half, was also a worker. The defence of Trott and M'Girr, with. Lucas in goal, left nothing to bo desired:. Bad Sportsmanship. .It is high time that the "Wellington Football Association took steps to stamp out tho unsportsmanlike incidents' which are taking place at the Basin Eeserve almost every Saturday afternoon. Soccer has a hard enough fight in front of it in order to gain the public's support without running the risk of receiving a bad name. Last Saturday during ( the Marist-Petone game fooling ran very, high, for a time,, and at least one player was fortunate in being allowed to continue. From a loss patient rofereo he would have received his marching orders at once. There is too great an inclination on the part of players to question the rulings of referees. On a recent Saturday, when .tho referee awarded a goal practically every mau in the defending team surrounded the unfortunate, official and argued the matter out. There certainly was an element of doubt about tho goal, but once tho referee had given his ruling it should have been accepted in tho true sporting spirit. Such arguments on the field are very unseemly, and they leave a nasty taste in the mouths of spectators. , The Wellington Football Association should deal very severely with offenders who are reported by referees. Schoolboys' Tour.; ; The council of the New Zealand Football Association has at present under consideration the matter of sending a team representative of New Zealand schools to tour* Australia towards^the end of this season. Recently the council requested local associations to make recommendations in connection with the project, and at tho last meeting of: the council'several replies embodying recommendations other than those advanced' by: tlia Competition Committee were received. >' The Auckland Football Association stated.that the proposed period of five woeks, including travelling time, left threo and a half weeks in Australia. As the Australian boys found that throe woeks was all too short a time in which to travel through- New Zealand, the. association was of the opinion that it would bo impossible to do the additional amount of travelling required in Australia in practically tho same time and keep the boys .fit. The association suggested that the time be extended by one week. Tho 'association further stated that it had been tho experience in Auckland that schoolboy representative teams .always required a fairly lengthy period of training and coaching, and two days (most of which would be spent in preparations for departure) was far too short a time for/that purpose. The committee would like to see the boys assembled- at least two weeks before the date of departure.1 So sure was the committee that- the extra cost would .not exceed £.20, that if the place of departure were made Auckland, the A.F.A.Avould be prepared to make arrangements, for ,a fortnight's training, tho cost not to exceed that sum. The suggestion that there should be five selectors was considered by the A.F.A. to be unworkable. It would be impossible for all of the five selectors to know each individual player, and the 'association was of the opinion that the selection could be better carried out by one man, who, at no great expense, could travel to the four main centres, and see trial games between teams drawn from the surrounding districts. The association suggested that tho age limit should be definitely fixed at under 15 years on Ist January, 1928. That would simplify selection, as it would coincide with the , present age limit under- tho rules' of the North island Primary Schools' Football Association. . Tho association considered that the manager must bo a school teacher, and as complete'harmony between tho managers was . essential, tho association said it felt that tho manager should choose his own assistant, 'subject, of course, to the approval of tho council. A - Financial Query. Tho Wellington Football Association asked- why tho boys in the team had to pay the sum'of £22 10s and the managers £.15. Members of the committee were at a loss to understand why thero was the difference. ' The association stated that it was in full sympathy with the tour, providing that the final selection of tho managers was by vote of all the contributing, associations, each association that was finding the finance for the boys to have one vote for the appointment of tho managers. Tho association stated that it would stand behind tho tour td the extent of five or six players, providing the. selection of the managers was as outlined. Messrs. J. Y. Walls and B. A; Mabin wero nominated as managers and selectors of the Wellington association. The. Canterbury Association guaranteed tho expenses (as per schedule) of every boy solectid from its district. Mr. E. Harrison and Mr. E. B. Bunt .were nominated for tho '.positions of manager and assistant-manager. The Otago Association nominated Mr. M. G. M'lnnes as one of the selectors for the South Island, and stated that he would get to work immediately to select the boys from tho Otago district. Owing to tho comparatively short time that schoolboys had been playing tho game in Taranaki, that association said it felt'that, there were no boys! sufficiently good to nominate this year.' Tlio Mauawatu Association nominated Mr. H. D. Simmonds as manager. The replies wcro referred to tho Competitions Committee for- consideration. The Only Medal. ..' . Souio time- after tho international game between England and Scotland.at Wembley, D". D. Harkness, Scotland's amateur1' goalkeeper, was presented with

a medal by tho Scottish Football Association in lieu of payment. As ho was the only amat.our in the team there was only one medal struck so that as a souvenir it must havosome- value. There is every, possibility of this player turning professional, and many clubs arc after Him, but it is a safe bet to say that ho will not leave Scotland. Ho can only receive £20 for signing on, but Scotland, unlike England, has no wage limit so that the money that can not bo given for signing can be given as wages. His first season as a professional may' soo him drawing round about £60 a week. A Victorious Team. Memorable scenes were witnessed in Blackburn on tho occasion of the return of the Blackburn Kovers' team from their Cup-tie success in London. Thoy detrained at Preston, and completed the journey home by motor. Along the route of x the procession through the town thousands of people lined the streets, and tho police were kept busy in protecting tho players. Outside the railway station a large number of tramcars were held up by. tho crowd. Men and women fainted, and ambulance officers wero kept busy. Edward Harper, the old Kover, transferred to Sheffield recently, was seen on the route of the procession by his former colleagues, and they persuaded him to join them. Healless, the Bovcrs' captain, and the old Blackburn-born member of the side, sat in front of .the motor holding the coveted cup. It ik estimated that the crowd assembled at the various points en route numbered nearly one hundred .thousand. Thero were deafening cheers when Healless appeared on the balcony with the Mayor, holding the cup. Charging. 1, • Many players, especially the full and half-backs, seem to think that if they charge, when .tackling an opponent, the referee will award a free, or perhaps a penalty if the charge takes placo within tho penalty area. It has been noted that in different districts referees differ on what constitutes a fair charge, and in many cases the ..law which allows'a fair charge is too strictly administered. "The goalkeeper shall not be charged, except when he is holding the ball or obstructing an opponent, or when'ho has, passed outsido the goal area." That is the law as far as tho custodian is concerned. In charging a player, keep the aims out of the business, otherwise it is a sure freekick. What constitutes violent charging are jumping at an opponent, and when the contact takes place with both feet in tho air. A shoulder charge with both feet on the ground is fair. and must ( be allowed,, excepting, of course, tho "sliding tackle," an expedient sometimes resorted to on slipperyground. Even if an opponent is obstructing, tho hands or arms must not bo Used, and charging . behind is usually put down as dangerous although permitted by ,the rules if the player is "obstructing." A good honest shoulder charge will always draw a, "howl" from,the crowd, but with the' 'referee vigilant, no free-kick will result. On"one occasion Bobbie Walker, the great Hearts of Mid Lothian insidje right, and Scottish-International, was charged by Stack, the Bangers halfback. If Walker hadn't dodged nimbly he would have probably been over the touch-line.. The next time Stack tackled, Walker, who. was a wizard with the ball, made a complete circle round tho half-back, and left him standing and "astonished. Walker still keeping possession and dribbling up the field. This incident happened on Tyne Castle Park, and as well as amusing the spectators was referred to with great' glee by the many supporters of the famous -Hearts, when discussion arose on tho respective merits of players and. their clubs. ,All forwards are not Walkers— very far from it—but when- a chargo is given, and it is fair, then the only way to get oven, is to charge when tho opportunity occurs. But be sure it is a fair charge, and given with {he shoulder, when it cannot bo viewed with any dissatisfaction by tho "Knight of the Whistle," "Offside." .'..'. Too often tho appeal fi'oni' the defeneo is heard: "Offside." How many. players aro really-capable" of defining' when an opponent is actually offside? (states a Southern paper). A'prevalent idea seems to be that if a player secures a pass and has no other player between him and the goal-line other than vtho pi custodian, he is off-side, and the referee should award a free-kick. This is an entirely erroneous idea, because if the player who receives. the pass has played behind ,the ball he is onside, and it should be remembered by the player making anyappeal, that the referee is much more capable of deciding than h:o who makes the appeal. Althbugh no player can be offside when an opponent iias last played the ball, when a goal kick is taken,,. when a ,throw-in from touch takes place, or when a corner kick is taken t .it must be' borne in mind that th» protection allowed by the rule ceases' the moment a second player touches the ball without two opponents between him and the goal-line. A study of the clear rulings given in tho Football Association Chart as to the actual "off" and "on" side positions, would result in fewer appeals by the defending side, and incidentally give the attacking forwards more confidence in accepting a.pass. It must be admitted that it is in the practical, application of the off-side rule that difficulties confront tho referee and the player alike, as at times tho distance of a yard, in an imaginary line drawn across the field, may niako. all the difference whether a player is '' off"' Transfeer Tees. , Transfer fees for players get higher and higher (states an exchange). As-' ton "Villa paid the sum of £4700 for tho transfer of Waring from Tranmere Kovers. Waring played in tho centreforward position. A leading English club offered £5500 for the transfer of M'Phail from tho Airdruomans Club, while Burnley paid £6000 for the transfer of Jack Hill from Plymouth Argyle. During the recent international between England and Scotland, Jackson scored three goals for the Scottish team, and incidentally was tho tallest forward in tho Scottish ranks, his height being .only sft 10in. It was the shortest, and perhaps the greatest, front lino over representing: Scotland. Ten members of the teams wero present- at the game who represented 'Scotland in 1900, including 8.. S. M'Coll, th famous centre-forward of that period. During the game, which was a runaway victory for the Scottish side, the score being 5-1, eleven passes wero given and accepted without an English international toeing the ball. E. S. M'Coll, once the idol of Newcastle spectators, at St. James's ground and Queen's Park at Hampden, is now managing director of a large confectionery firm with thirty shops. Ho entertained the members of the Scottish team of 1900 to dinner the evening previous to tho recent International between Scotland and England in London. ' Tho W.P.A. granted tho* following transfers at this ' week's committee meeting: J. C. Watt, Potone third to fourth division; J. Lyons, Marist Old Boys third to fourth division; Duffy, Seatoun second B to-second A. '

Goals Clip. P. W. L. D. F. A.,Pts Diamond 8 7 1 0 34 12 14 Marlst 8 5 1 2 24 13 12 Thistle 8 4 2 2 15 .15 10 Y.M.C.A. ' 8 5 3 0 "26 13 10 Petono 8 2 3, 3 16 . 13 7 Hospital S '3 4 1 19 19 7 Institute ' ...... 8 1 52 16 39 4 Seatoun 8 0 8 0 8 34 C