FROM THE SIDELINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 103, 3 May 1937, Page 6

FROM THE SIDELINE

PLAYERS AND THE GAMES

Of the ten good forwards .taking part in'the trial match- Woods, the Hospital' left-winger, was the best, and possibly he was the best man on the field. Fast, tricky, enterprising, yet not selfish, he was the leader of the winning attack, and /the losers found him hard to hold. Some stenvtussles with his club-mate Miles at right-back were almost always won'by Woods, though Miles acquitted himself well. Hatchard and R. Bell,' the .latter "of Wairarapa, teamed, up well with Woods and with good/support from: Nicol at the left-half berth they made' a formidable combination. , ... ■ i': Leslie, at inside-right .in the first half'and centre-forward m the second, was not as good as he has been and can be, though the change to the' centre position .favoured him. ■ G Longworth, of Wairarapa, at out-side-right, was good but no better than some Wellington . men in that position. "■■ '■■ . •■'■•■ JefTery was another player:.whq. did not. produce his expected form. Hindle was sound. In the back line A. Bell, of Wairarapa, and Haines, of. Petone. were, very safe, the local man perhaps slightly overshading his partner. Wyatt in goal was his usual safe, but sometimes .a, little, too casual, self. ■: Of the visiting five W. Allan, of Manawatu, at inside-right, was the. best. His tricky footwork and excellent ball control were of a standard above the average. .." •£■ The first half of the game was largely dominated by Janes, McKenzie^ and Gendall. Their, knowledge of one another's play was. obvious, and they made the most of that advantage, but their strenuous efforts at the start tired them towards the end. They did more than their share. ..■;■ Todd, Longbottom, and N. Gates were, about equal -as- a' half line with their opposites. Miles and Oman, the latter of Manawatu,. were not cmite as good as the winners' full-, backs.. In .goal..King played well, but he needs ' more experience.... Gibson, the Seatoun centre-forward, showed how valuable keeping1 well up field is to a pivot. His quick-footed attacks and pretty interceptions, to-, gether with healthy weight in both feet,-•■gave him four goals against Marist in the first half. Gendall and" H. Yeoman, his inside men,: were both sound. Yeoman's speculator from well out had the goalie beaten all the way. Gendall's goal was also good. Salt was again a staunch centre-half for the seasiders.: His powerful drives and clean distribution kept the lor-

wards ■Up to the mark, and he was ( always ready to do a little goalkeeperworrying himself. Jones and K. Yeoman, Seatoun's backs, were a solid pair to pass, and Parton, the 'keeper, kept cool under fire and had a safe pair of hands. Swain, keeping goal for Marist, was not as easy to pass as the score of 6-2 might indicate. Most of the goals were short-range drives or twists that gave him little chance of saving. : ■ J Laracy, right-back tor Marist, was solid on attack and on defence. He broke up many attacks, knd kept his winger well supplied. ■ ' The, Marist halves often, used too much weight in their passes to the forwards, with the result that Seatoun were able to intercept. Kershaw, the centre-forward,, however, showed fine ball-control and landed both; Marist's; goals. .; ■'' . ; ', ■ \ ■ : .. .■ . ■;• White, a junior, kept goal well for Institute. :> N. Hicks and A. McLean were good in defence and attack. ,R. McLean, Boyes, and Hurcomb, at; halfback, all played well and helped greatly in their side's success. • King, in goal for Diamond, played well, although beaten six times. He did not get proper support from his backs.' _....- ■■ . .■■.','. . ..-^ ;■'■ ~\■ ■ '■.. ~;■ ■ The half-back line, O'Leary, Geddis, and: Tucker, played f airly! well,:, Geddis was the best : player on the. Diamond side.- •. The forwards have ■ played ibetter, but must improve, if they are to carry the club ,to the. top -of the ladder. "■ .' ' ; " . v ' *. • ■ .*' ■■' '*,■ *■'".•' ■" ,-,'*'■. : ■' Nicolle and.Dunsmuir were.in grand fettle for Waterside, showing heady play on the wings and judging, the wind with ; extreme accuracy; the former made a welcome reappearance after a season's absence. Craig, of : Petone. has ■ reached his ,old standard. On: Saturday he gave a finished display of wing play which delighted an interested crowd of spectators. . . Graham, of Petone, is one of the strongest defenders in the city today; although playing half he would be unbeatable at either full-back position. rtnman deputised at centre for Leslie in the Petone team and made a good job of it.