FROM THE SIDELINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 15

FROM THE SIDELINE

PLAYERS AND THE GAMES

The spectator who was not j with the display given by Waterside, and Seatoun must be impossible to please. There was not a player on the field who was out of training or too 'weak for his position, and the patch was played at a consistently .fast clip, with plenty of . snappy combination, good shooting, and exciting incident. It was a game out of the box, and more like it would come near to doubling i the size of the crowds at the Basin Reserve. As it-., was, there was a i noticeable increase. in the attendance lover that which saw, the previous Saturday's excellent encounter between Waiterside and # D. Yeoman, Seatoun's 15-year-old centre-forward, was 'the most successful player against Waterside, netting all three of his side's goals. Of course, the way was paved for nimby the effective combination of his fellow-for-wards and halves, but he showed; himself to be a natural goal-getter.

- Another prominent player in , a game where everyone at-times had his share of the limelight was Boyes, centrehalf for Seatoun.' Some of his characteristic surprise shots from well out had the Waterside, defence on the jump, and he and his wing partners, Whiting-and C. Yeoman, kept.the front [line well supplied with the ball.

|, Ken, Yeoman, at right .back, was another. outstanding player on the Sear | toun side, overshadowing his brother 'in the left back-position,-though. the latter, was excellent. *m ' «

: In goal Jor* Waterside, S/Ward had his share of excitement, and he 'performed his task .well. His greatest feat was the holding of Boyes's shot from the penalty.' Had the! kick' succeeded trie winning points were -Seatoun's, and Ward's effort, though the kick could have been better, was the KriO'ife meritorious because of his knowledge of that.

• The best of a solid Waterside halfi'line was Cocks, though-Hazel was frequently conspicuous. r Like Seatouns' trio, the . Waterside mid-line, gave ■ consistent 1 support • where it was needed, rbo'th ahead and behind. v

R. Ward, Waterside's bustling centreforward, played another good game against Seatoun. He, Cocks, and S. WariL were Waterside's three best, tholigh the whole team was good.

Bennett, the Diamond centre-forward, who has found his way into the first A division second-best team for June 6, certainly merits his inclusion on his goal-getting ability. He is still uncertain in the open work, but when he is anywhere near the goal, either with head or feet, it is usually trouble for the other side. He landed another three goals against Scottish l Wanderers—two with his head—making his goals for the season a little cricketish.

The value of powerful kicking by half-backs was demonstrated in • the Diamond-Wanderers game, particularly by Diamond. With the forwards well up, anything was possible when the "Big Bertha" lobs ; dropped Into the goalmouth. The element of surprise is great, but nice-control of length and direction is needed in the punting.

Both 'keepers gave good accounts of themselves. McLean, (Diamond) was very safe in handling, and Jackson (Wanderers} pulled his side out of many sticky situations. The latter needs to be careful about "carrying,"

as anything might happen with a free kick near the # O'Leary, right-half for Diamond, has energy to burn, and his worrying tactics are a potent factor in breaking up attacks. He suffered a painful strain in his wrist, and went off for first-aid treatment, but he carried on as strongly as ever.

The Wanderers forwards often reached a high standard of combination and ball control. A powerful unit is Calder, the inside-left, who packs a great drive in his left foot.

Tucker, outside-right for Diamond, scored one out of the box to give his side a 3-2 lead. He had been showing pace on the wing, but no one expected the speed and accuracy of his. crossdrive.

Warr, the Technical, outside left, displayed a good turn of speed against Marist, but lacked the ability to. centre, most of his efforts going well behind. Watts, at centre-half, played his usual vigorous game and proved an effective check on the Marist inside forwards.

Redmond, in goal for Technical, took risks by kicking at the ball instead of picking it up, but his work was otherwise sound.

M. Quirke and Kershaw were prominent in most of the. Marist attacks, and were well supported by Nunns at centre-forward. Foley, at centre-half, played better than his opposing centre-half,-although he was never as conspicuous.

Torrington and N. Gates, Technical inside men, worked hard all afternoon, but met with little success in front of goal.

White played a-bright game for Petone on Saturday against Hospital, and displayed his faculty for being in the right place" at the right time. The result was three goals for Petone, all of which were from unusual angles, and were the result of close combination.

Leslie played his usual sound game for Petone, and kept his forwards well supplied with scoring opportunities. He made numerous openings," and went equally well at centre and at outside right.

Lambert was the most outstanding Hospital forward, and has the leftwing game down to a nicety. 'Several times he made openings which should have resulted in a score, but combination was lacking, due largely to lack of speed on the part of some of the other forwards.