SOCCER FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 6

SOCCER FOOTBALL

NOTES BY “OLYMPIAN.”

On' Saturday last I witnessed the Dobson-Taylorville game at Dobson in the first stage of the recently instituted Westland F.A. Medals Competition. The competition will now be played on the home-and-home basis, with goal averages to count, as on former occasibns. The Dobson team by a 4 goals to 0 victory have a decided advantage over their neighbours from Taylorville, and the latter team to achieve success are called upon to secure a 5 goals to 0 home win to eliminate the Dobson team from the Medals Competition. On present form it is hardly feasible that the Taylorville team can surmount the ( 4 goals obstacle confronting them. Suiprise victories have been obtained on innumerable occasions, but to achieve distinct success the Taylorville vanguard will have to make better use of their opportunities to score goals. Their weakness'in that capacity being quite discernible on Saturday. Crawford (in goal) saved well on several occasions during the game, and this custodian would not disgrace any Westland rep. team. Watt, Russell, Mcllroy, Pickering, and Beaton defended stubbornly for the Reds, but the forward department were all at sea, and wholesale changes will have to be made in that direction before the team can hope to strike a winning vein. The Dobson team on the day s play were clearly a 4 goals better team. At various stages the Dobson team displayed neat footwork. King, on his ieturn to the Dobson fold, signalised his reappearance in the team by register - ing two fine goals, Shortt obtaining one goal and Berry the other goal. The goal-scoring effort of the latter playei earned prolonged applause from the side-line. For a certain period of the second half of the game the Reds appeared likely to get on equal terms at any moment, but the home defence were taking no risks and booted the ball well out of the danger zone, when the occasion demanded. On Saturday’s display the Dobson team are likely to be candidates for this season’s medal final. The Westland rep. team to visit Westport on Saturday in quest of the Emms Shield has been finally chosen. Several of Westland’s seasoned players again secured promotion, and, ■of course, the usual surprise selctions have eventuated, as on former occasions. However, the team as published should render a good account of themselves. “Olympian” having been a selector of rep. teams on several occasions refrains from hurling adverse criticism at the heads of the selectors. No matter how impartial a selector may be, he is almost sure to offend someone, when the personnel of the team is made known. There is an old adage, “That a still tongue makes a wise head” and the “least said the soonest mended.” The selectors have fulfilled their obligations to the Westland F.A., and as their decision is final all Soccerites will join with me in wishing the team every success on Saturday, and may the Emms. Shield once more find a- resting place at Greymouth. An interesting schoolboys’ encounter will take place at Dobson on Saturday (noon), when the undefeated teams, Runanga State and Blackball, will meet in a Primary Schools’ encounter. Both teams will be all out, to preserve their hitherto unbeaten certificates. The Dobson Soccer Club have granted the use of their Domain and Mr R. Hunt (Dobson) will officiate as referee.

The South Island Primary Schools’ Championship tournament at Dunedin will commence on Monday, August 26, which will necessitate the Westland Boys’ teams to leave on Thursday or Friday, August 22 or 23, for Christchurch, leaving Christchurch for Dunedin on Saturday, August 24.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Question. —In a match the custodian got hurt and was carried behind the goal-line for treatment. One of his team mates put on his jersey and took his place between the sticks. Some time after an opposing forward came down the field, beating all opposition, till at last the substitute keeper moved out to meet him, but was also beaten, and the ball shot towards an empty goal. At the critical moment the original goalkeepei - rushed on to the field of play (without notifying the referee) o,ncL saved tlie situation. Wliat decision would you give? Answer. —A player must obtain permission from the referee before he can leave the field of play, but he can re-

turn at any time without requiring to notify the referee. The goalkeeper, however, cannot be changed during a

gam© unless th© referee has first been notified. If, therefore, the injured goalkeeper rushed on to the field of play and kicked the ball when the temporary goalkeeper was beaten, he could not be penalised, as he had not committed any infringement. If, however, he returned to the field and used his hands to stop the ball without the referee being notified of the change of goalkeeper he is committing an infringement and a penalty kick should be granted. Here is the official decision of the International Board passed in 1901: If a goalkeeper has been changed without the referee being notified, and the new goalkeeper handles the ball within the penalty area, a penalty kick must be awarded. Question.—The centre forward of the attacking team is in the act of passing to the outside left, who is covered by the opposing right back, standing beside him. Knowing full well the backs’ tackling powers, and with a view to getting an unhampered try for goal, the winger charges the back and sends him down. The ball at this moment is on its way to the winger. The laws of the game do not say that a player must be on the ball when charged, but say referees must allow a fair charge. Of course, I do not mean by this that a player can charge an opponent whenever he thinks fit, but if in reading the Soccer rules (as every player, should) this winger saw no reason why he should not charge an opponent fairly, provided

the circumstances warranted it. Answer. —After all, what is the one idea in charging? Is it not to place your opponent at a disadvantage, and to alow you to obtain possesison of the ball which you had not got before? And if the ball is in the air, on its way to the winger, is there so much difference that the ball must be virtually at a player’s feet before he can bo charged? Were I referee I should certainly allow a player to charge an opponent under the circumstances narrated by the writer, provided always tht the charge was a fair one. Law 9 says: “Charging is permissible, but it must not be violent or dangerous.” An

official decision of the English F.A. Council passed in 1910 is as follows: — “Referees must allow a fair charge, jumping at an opponent, which in all cases is illegal, should not be confused with charging. No hard-and-fast rule is laid down by the law-makers as to when a player may be charged, and the referee is the sole judge. Many appear to be under the impression that a player must be actually in possession of the ball before he can be charged. Not so, however. One often sees a back charge a forward so as to prevent him getting at a ball which is travelling over the bye-line, when neither player is in possession of the ball. No infringement is caused. Similarly, two opposing players are running side by side for a ball which is, say, twenty yards away. They do not require to wait until they reach the bull before one can charge the other. Of course, players cannot go all over the field charging opponents whenever they think fit, but the referee should not discourage good, honest charging. Sometimes I think there is too little of it seen in the game to-day, and players themselves have a deal to do with such a state of affairs. Many players, when they go down with a good shoulder charge, instead of taking it as all in the game, howl for a foul, and very often get it. However, there is less likelihood of injury through a good shoulder charge than there is with a too free use of the boot.

Question. —During a game a defender clears his lines. An opposing forward, who is following up, is about six yards away, and the ball comes straight at his face. To save same, he puts up his hands and stops the ball. What is the correct decision for the referee to give? Answer. —The correct decision would be a free kick for intentional handling. The player intentionally handled the ball to keep it from striking his face. If he has time to get his hands up to save his face, he has time to get his face out of the way of the ball.

SCHOOLS MATCH.

MARIST (2), GREY MAIN (0). A fast game ensued between these two teams yesterday at the Rec., but it was a case of history repeating itself. Main were without the services of Hignett and Paton, Sharp and Faulkner acting as Substitutes. Main won the toss and played against a slight breeze which increased as time went on, but veered round in the second spell. From the kick-off Marists were lively, O’Leary, McDonnell and Heaphy going great guns. Mcßrearty sent Main back again and again, and with Grogan and Bellamy gave Heffernan and Dargan little to do in the first spell. Heffernan is a solid back and has a ponderous kick. Whyte, Kilgour, Arthur and Harvey essayed several rushes, both Harvey and Arthur getting away on the wings repeatedly, only to have their attempts nullified at either the half or full-back line. Shoi tly before half-time O’Leary shot from well out, the ball hitting the post to bounce across the goal mouth. Sharp made a valiant dive, but O’Leary following on calmly opened Marists account. On changing over, State strove to equalise, Harvey (left wing) getting away past James on several occasions to centre, but Heffernan and Dargan were playing brilliantly; tneir firsttimers sent out to Grogan being a treat to watch. The latter kicked splendidly and gave Heaphy, OLeaiy and McDonnell plenty to do. From one of these movements Heaphy putting on the pace ran past Rothwell and Parfitt (the former playing great football) and with a high shot had Sharp well beaten. Up and down play followed, State, in the closing stages, making valiant efforts to score. From a nice corner sent in by Harvey, State had Marists guessing, but a block defence cleared their lines. The fast ground was telling, but Kilgour, Whyte and Arthur were all out for a score, but the defence was sound, Marist playing their best game to date. Cashmore (State’s centre-half) had a strenuous time through having to support his outsides on numerous occasions. On tho day Marists, were the more polished players and deserved their win. Those worthy of consideration for rep. honours on the day’s play were: — Marist: Heffernan, Dargan (full backs), Grogan, Mcßrearty, Bellamy (halves), James, McDonnell, Heaphy, O’Leary (forward). Grey Main: Luey, Rothwell (full backs), Cashmore (half), Arthur, Kilgour, Whyte and Harvey (forwards). Of these sixteen boys several are unavailable for the trip to the Dunedin tournament on August 26, viz:—Bellamy, Mcßrearty, McDonnell (Marists), and Luey (Grey Main). Brown (Marist), Paton and Hignett (State) are also among the nominations for the Possibles v. Proables on Saturday, August 10, at the Recreation Ground.