ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL NOTES

[By Off and On.'J . I cannot recall a representative match, 1 icing played in Dunedin within one week of the opening of the season No doubt it was a movement in the nature of filling in .an oft’ Saturday. Considering the players have not yet found their football feet, so to speak, those who witnessed the match should not bo disappointed with Canterbury’s display, nor, for that matter, with Otago's, particularly in view of the fact that the selectors could not get the best team together. This question has crossed my mind; Will the exhibition of the teams impress the casuals who were out to gauge the merits of soccer as an intei'esting and attractive sport? Not being a thought-reader, I am not prepared to say what the impression left was. This I will eay : The neat and attractive game played by Canterbury, compared with Otago’s open and bustling methods, was the most impressive, but it did not compare favorably with the play of Canterbury in their match against Auckland at the end of last season. In that engagement there was a continual snap, vim, and pace of movement rarely apparent on Saturday. Bob Brown, the referee, will tell you it was hot. It could hardly be expected that the players would jump into express stride thus early. Otago will greatly improve in combination and pace —that is, with the best side in the field. Canterbury will improve more in pace than combination. Next meeting between the two will be interesting. On • this occasion Canterbury taught at least one lesson—-fiddling with the ball is not part of combination. Certainly there are times when a little manoeuvring for position is necessary, bnt generally fiddling is little more or less than a. waste of time, and is a nuisance to the players on your side. Please note, and get it off your mind. In concerted play Canterbury were considerably superior to Otago. Had their shooting been less erratic more goals must have resulted. Hark ness was troubled, not so much by the Canterbury attack as by his own backs closing in on him. A better understanding" is necessary. Shots going clearly to a keeper must bo left to him, not be intercepted by the fullbacks, whose miskicks are an unnecessary source of annoyance to the custodian. Harkness had more than one miskick to field. Canterbury lialves are more educated than Otago’s. They favored their forwards with nicely diverted passes. Norman’s choice in passing was wise. He directed the ball to the' man in the best position to receive it— an example local halves must follow. With the exception of George Campbell our forwards were weak, Vic Evans particularly so. His conception of trapping the ball was crude. It was frequently deflected hy his foot to an opposing back. To get full value from Evans a half must place the ball a little ahead of him, so that he can pick it up while in hie stride. Taking into consideration the lack of training it was a good game, in which friendly rivalry and sporting spirit were manifest. Enough said till the sports edition appears.

[That “Off and On" will again contribute his breezy notes to the ‘ Sports Special’ (which will make its reappearance on .Saturday of next week) will be welcome news to' readers of our Saturday night edition.—Sporting Ed.l