SOCCER FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1928, Page 9

SOCCER FOOTBALL

RBP. TEAM V THE REST.

This trial game eventuated at the R; c. on Saturday in ideal weather. Only a meagre attendance of spectators lined the ropes, when the following teams faced each other: —

Rep. Team: Timlin, Caldwell, Moor, Wilson, Sharp, Cowie, Hewison, King, Cameron, Gibb and McNeil. The Rest: McNeish, Crawford, Mairs, Mailey, Kelly, McNulty, Hoggarth, Mitchell, McGougan, Henderson and Bayley.

Referee: Mr. J. Vaughan. ,

McGougan started the ball rolling for the Rest. Mitchell made headway, but Cowie repulsed the attack with a neat header, and sending Gibbs and McNeil away. Caldwell mis-kicked, but Moor booted out of bounds. Neat combination by the “Rep” forwards •carried play once more into their op‘ponents’ goal area, McNeish bringing 'off a masterly save from King. The Rest forwards returned the ball to the other end of the ground, Timlin tipping the ball over the bar from a hard shot by Henderson. End to end play ensued, both sets of defenders indulging frequently in the bad habit of keeping the ball in the air instead of along ’the ground. Wilson, by neat footwork, 'sent Hewison away, but Gibb volleyed over the bar from his cross. Henderson next sent Bayley away, but Cald'well tackled well and sent down-field again with a ponderous kick, but Mar'ley and Sharp returned the compliments. Mairs beat McNeil and sent along the line to Hoggarth, who crossed into the goal-mouth. Henderson fastened on the ball, but Caldwell headed out of range, when the Rest appeared likely to open their account. King was next in evidence with a neat solo effort down the centre of the field, 'and sending out to, McNeil when chai'ldnged by Crawford, saw McNeil run the ball over the line; goal kick result’ng. Mairs was playing well at right half back for the Rest. Hoggarth was bnce more on the warpath, but Moor ■'Cleared. Kelly next tried a long range 'drive, but Timlin was equal to the occasion and caught well, and punted blear. The Rest came to the attack '■.gain, but Caldwell headed out of' the Manger zone, Sharp sending the leather further down field. King tested McNeish with a difficult shot, but the 'custodian was quite equal to the occasion, and brought off a great save. McGougan and Mitchell carried play <o the blues’ end. • Mitchell shot in. Timlin speculated and booted claar. Gibb and McNeil carried the ball into ’neutral territory, but Crawford relievled the situation with a timely kick. Back again came the blue forwards, McNeil sending over a good cross for 'King to beat McNeish, and open the 'scoring for the Reps, after 28 minutes 'play. Resuming, the Rest forwards' 'came away to their opponents’ goal 'area. Mitchell and Hoggarth beat Moor by neat footwork, but Caldwell came across and dispossessed McGougan when in the act of shooting for goal from close range. Cameron plied ’Hewison with the ball, but McNulty cleared well, and sent one to Bayley who ran into the penalty area, and 'dressed the ball for Timlin to bring off a smart save from Henderson. The 'Reps, by nice footwork, the inside trio 'being noticeable, once more besieged 'the red and whites’ goal, King meeting 'a centre from the right and beating ' M cNeish once, again from close range, after 40 minutes of the game had elapsed. End to end play ensued for a time, Mairs being in evidence with 'some neat play in dealing with the 'Reps, left wing pair. Half-time was called with the score*. Reps 2 goals, 'Rest 0.

King re-started operations, Kelly saving with a neat header when Cameron and Hewison essayed to get away on the right. McGougan accepted the ball, but failed to get past Caldwell, who booted clear. McNulty returned the leather into the Reps goalmouth once again, but Hoggarth sent past for a goal kick. From tile resultant kick, Cameron sent away, and put down the centre. King sent out to McNeil, who ran in and beat McNeish from 18 yards range, after six minutes of the second half had gone by. Resuming from centre, Bayley was first in ‘evidence with a neat run down the line, and beating Crawford as he came 'in to tackle, continued 0n,.t0 shoot, into the side netting of the goals. It was hereabouts noticeable that Mairs, who bad played a great game at right halfback, had left the field of play for some unknown reason. Wilson was prominent with some fine outside touches, which put the Rep forwards bn the attack once again, which culminated in King fastening on to a forward pass down the centre, and again beat McNeish from close in. Fpllowing the centre kick, Henderson and Bayley carried play into Rep quarters, but Caldwell cleared well when danger threatened his goal, Moor doing likewise from another sustained attack by the Rest forwards. Cowie was displaying great headwork, and was ever to the fore with great breaking up tactics, Mitchell and Hoggarth being given very little latitude to make any headway at all. The Rep forwards were hereabouts assuming the upper hand over a, somewhat disorganised defence. Several players already seemed to have cried “enough,” and were making very little effort at recovery when once beaten for the ball, King adding two goals for the Reps in quick succession, besides having another goal disallowed for offside play. The game from now on was devoid of interest, there being practically only one team in it, Cowie and Sharp adding further goals. From a spasmodic breakaway 'by the Rest forwards, Henderson was .‘temporarily laid out by Caldwell, but resumed after attention. McNeish made several small clearances from various Rep. team forwards, and was in no way to blame for the overwhelming defeat of the Rest team. The final whistle sounded with the score: Reps 7 goals, Rest 0. The game from a spectator’s point of view was rather dissappointing, especially in the latter stages. Timlin was quite safe 'in what little work he was called upon to deal with. Although McNeish made several smart clearances during the proceedings, he had little chance of saving any of the •shots that beat him. Caldwell and Marley were the best backs on view, Moor not shining out so well as on previous occasions. Cowie was the outstanding half-back, although Mairs and Wilson followed him closely on the day’s play. Of the forwards, King should win his spurs at centre-forward.

Apart from his goal scoring propensities, he kept the position well, which is a big failing in present day centreforward play. McNeil and Gibb were the most successful wing pair, Hewison seemingl}' appearing to take things quite leisurely. Cameron on occasions showed out well, and what chance Henderson and McGpugan had of appearing in the Rep team was nullified by their failing to take first time shots at goals when the openings presented themselves. However, it is a foregone conclusion that better form will have to be exhibited if the Westland Rep. team are to deprive Buller of the honour of retaining the Peter Dawson Cup on Saturday next.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. A team much changed when compared to the Emms Shield combination a few Saturdays ago, will travel to Westport on Friday in quest of the Peter Dawson Cup. Trial matches were played last Saturday, but several prominent players and certain reps, failed to put in an appearance, and with a resolve to “stand on their dignity” xigainst men who absent themselves thus, without reasonable excuse, the selectors have decided on the team as follow':—

Timlin (goal). Caldwell and Moore (full-backs). Mairs (right half), J. Rarity (centre half), Cowue 17eft half). Hewison (outside right), Wilson (inside right), King (centre forward), McNeil (inside left), Gibb (outside left). Reserve, Cameron.

The team begin their trip on Friday, leaving Dunollie at 4 p.m., and passing through Runanga and Greymouth stopping there and at Ngahere to pick up players. SCHOOLS MATCH. In the curtain-raiser, Blackball School team defeated Grey Main School by 7 goals to 1.

WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY

WELLINGTON, August 11

The English Football Association trophy match between Wellington and Canterbury, resulted in a yvin for the former by 7 goals to 4.

DUNEDIN CHAMPIONS DUNEDIN, August 13. Maori Hill 3, Northern 1. The former won the Premiership.