FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1922, Page 6

FOOTBALL

ASOCIAm TO-DAY’S CIG MATCH. NOTES ON AUSSIE TEAM. All eyes in the Coast Soc.mr world will to-day 1 c fvussed on Gj.-ymouth. the attr <-T - :i bt : ng tiio !><•; v. i't‘l! the Australians an 1 West’aiid. Th? * selectors have left the picking of the Coast team rather too late, consequent- I ly not much combined practice has been done. Howev« r each men knows h’s place and may b • relied upon to ex tend himself in an effort to main! in the reputation the Coast possesses in the sporting world. The management has spa re* 1 neither time nor expense to make the fixture a credit tu the Association code of football . As Greymouth is the t.niy town I on the West Coast where a game will be played, residents in ami around Greymouth are '.o be provided with '. real treat this afternoon. The Au-ura-lian team to tour the D- m’u.i m m a nippy one and although the majority of the players are on th? young side, they can be relied upon to give a good fast exhibition of the game. Given line weather their should be a record attendance at Victoria Park to-day. The Bailw ay Department has extended the I ordinary timetable to-day and every facility will be given visitors to sec the match. The team will be entertained at a smoke concert at the Albion Hotel this evening. AUSTRALIANS ARRIVE. WELCOME BY THE MAYOR. The Aussie Soccer team arrived by the express last evening ami w< re welcomed at the station by the Mayor ( Mr J. D. Lynch) and officials of the Football Association. The municipal band turned out and played the visitors from the station to the Albion Hotel where they are staying whilst in Greymouth. In extending a welcome to the visitors from the balcony of the hotel the . Mayor said they ha d come to introduce soccer to the (oast. Hitherto there had not been a great ileal of interest taken in the game, but he hoped that as a result of the Australians’ visit the code would prosper. lie was pleased to welcome the Australians because he felt sure that t’ley would return to the Commonweal’-h fully appreciative of the good feeling existing between that country and New Zea land. The team had met with one of the misfortunes of the game at Wellington on Saturday last, but that was all in the game. If th? Westland team did not beat them they would at least provide them with a good game. Mr .Morgan. the manager of the Australian team briefly thanked the Mayor for the welcome extended to his team and himself. Since they arrived in New Zealand they had received a xery good reception everywhere they went, but the welcome of the Greymouth people was the best yet. They were hardly prepare.l for such a display of enthusiasm. On behalf of the Aussies he assured the gathering that th? sentiments expressed by the Mayor were appreciated. Ihe loss by his team at Wellington last week was due, to a large extent, to the weather, and the w?t ground, a feature they were unaccustomed to. If the Westland team beat them in the match he would be the first to congratulate Cheers were exchanged between the gathering and the visitors. A noticeable feature of the visitors is lhe apparent youth of the players. The average weight is stated to be in the vicinity of 10 stone. A CHAT WITH THE MANAGER. A pleasant quarter of an hour was spent last evening by our r -porter m chatting with the manager of the te: m (Mr Morgan'. Referring to the >L f?n* of th? Aussie t -am at ■ • ! d-’ugtou t -a mon Satin uuy Mr M.irg.m attributed the result to th? : iH-’-.-immcy of and the day being on? of the ruhb-st experienced in Wellington for some tine. It was towards the 1- tter part of the game that tin* cold and wet be gin to tell on the visitors, who wore totally unaccustomed to such conditions. Even th? Wellington captain was nigh exhausted at the conclusion. If th? day had been dry Mr Morgan considered the result of the game would have been different. In reply to :: query regarding their prospects in lhe tests, Mr Morgan said- “ Owing to only having played three matches in New Zealand we do not yet fully appreciate the relative merits of our plavcrs, but. on Saturday’s plav (at Wellington) I think we have a good winning chance. Although our te m is very light and the nmjorily of the players are young, the combination 1 is good. Our players arc fast and t!:defeiice very solid. However, the class of play we r.’iruiiii!cred at Wellington was better than anticipated.’’ The playing fields of the two coun tries were compared,"Air Morgan stating that those of New Zealand were better than those of Australia, although the turf here was heavier and consequently slackened play. The personnel of the te - in numbers 16, all of whom are visiting Greymouth. It was explained that tin exertions of the tour have an

ffeet on the pl: yers if they are not ?st?d frequently. On this occasion 'hompsoJi. the youngest player in the earn, Gibb, who won the medal at Vidlington for conspicuous play, am.i everal others who have participate.l n recent games, are resting. Mr Moigan emphasised tin' fact that vei v member of the party had been m;-re. srd with the be: uty of the Scenrv at the O'ha Gorge and were very rateful for tie warmth of the rerep;on given them by the people here. It is probable that as a result of the isif to New Zealand of the Australian e::;n a lour to Australia and New Zea:.d by an English Lam will be aranged. -Messrs Morgan and Storey (r.sistant manager) are negotiating with hi- N.Z. Association in this respect, dr Morgan stated that the matter will irobably be definitely arranged before he teams' departure from Wellington in their return to Australia. TO-DAY’S AUSTRALIAN TEAM. The Australian team selected to take the- field to-d-y is as follows: — (ioal: < L Cartwright. l-T.’l backs: A. Fisher (right), W. McBride (left). Half hacks: A. S. Storey (right), 1). ;’umberford (centre l , I’. Doyle (left). I’nrwards: W. Dane (outside right), W. Bratton (inside right). W. Maunler (centre:, G. W. Brown (inside left), i >. Ward (outside left). In view of to-day’s match and the interest manifested therein, the following • ommeiit upon the Australian team will be read with interest. THE GOALIE. Cartwright, who springs from th? Balmain Fernley Club, is a goalie worthy of his inclusion. lie gives little if :nv chances, punts well, hud is a rare trier. He is the best Australia has produced for that department of tl:e team. THE FULL BACKS. The back division possesses a wonderful plaver in D. Cumberford. This pl- yer, who has just jumped from the junior ranks, can tackle any position on the field. His astonishing performance as a full-back could not be overlooked. His past work as a half-back in the Queensland junior team was em in ent. Fisher, the captain and full back, is a verv fast, sped* cular player. His work against Wanganui was highly commendable He lias the advantage of being able to kick with either foot. His defensive work is a treat to witness. Of the four visiting backs, Fisher and Harris should be a h: rd pair to evade. Mcßride, the emergency right fullback, belongs to the Queensland Thistle team, lie is an old Barkhead (Glasgow) junior player. Ho has not Hie same ability in defence as Harris. However, he is good when it comes to stepping into a breach. THE HALE BACKS. The te- m has four half backs, viz... Dovle, Gibb ( vice-captain), ('. Sheaton nd S. A. Storey. Dovle is a hard tackler of the spoilHg tactics order. He is a game play- • i, but when relieving pressure has a bad habit of kicking too hard. He is ■i vigorous tackler and keep the opposition wing well-marked. Another half-back who was included in the team at the last minute was S. A. Storey, who plays on the right. Storcv is the secretary of the N.E.W. Fuotb-11 Association, and was in any case coming across with the team. His work in the N.S.W. team last season was appreciated by all who saw him on ’he field. He sticks to his man throughout the match and feeds his forwards we’d. THE FORWARD LINE. The forward line consists of tricky players combine well and shoot acW. Bane is a very smart right-winger ind is of the type usually built for peed on the wing - . 11? is a brilliant •dayer wl.o, by spasmodic efforts (»f qiecd, often turns what promises to be i draw into a victory. His centring •lie ball is p'-rfect, and his hooting at •oal accurately judged. lie is the best winger the te- m possesse i. W. Bratten is another player who 'mils from Queeii-dand, and is comparat.ivMv unknown outride his own Stat”, i'lm principle feature about Ilia play ,s that lie is an unselfish forward and clever with his feet. Just think what m> :ms to a te- m to have forwards like Bratten. unselfish with the ball. It, is a common practice in Wellington to notice srllish forwards. The chances are ten to one they Im’. <• little hope of scoring if they cling on to ‘lie ball as long as they can. It is said that Bratten is a good shooter. 1). Wnrd is ;■ member of the Balgownil- (’lub, South ('oast (N.S.W.), and is a very clever imide-right, who has the credit of making great opeyingfor his tram mates. His dribbling the ball up the field and bis passes to the centre forward are the essence of hi.cleverness on the football field. G. W. Brown, from th? same club a? Ward, above mentioned, is a player en dewed will', versatility. He is the sec oi.d member of the team who can fill more than one position on the field, and is b\ no means a young player. Il isaid he is as fast and clever as evci he was and will be. There is no doubt that if lie cannot be classed as a bril limit player, his is at any rate one of the most useful members in the for wards. lie has been a tower of strength to Queensland football. V\’. Maunder playe at centre for th team at Wang- nui. From criticisms re g:.irding him, this player, who has jus! passed bis 21st birthday, is evidcutb

going to be the “hope of his side.’’ He is the best forward N.S.W. has pro duced for many a long year. Though not a robust player, lie can shoot straight, and mostly good shots at that. lie has the. facility of being able to kick with either foot, and is particularly fast on his feet. OTHER FLAYERS. Ollier members of the Australian team are:— F. Bryant, the emergency goalkeeper, is clever with his bands, takes no cham.-iw, and studies the play. He is a competent custodian. Another Queensland back in the te m is Harris. Ho fills the position on the left and is dexterous in that d-‘pa it ment of th? team. The New Zealand forwards will find him a somewhat stubborn opponent. Local backs should learn something from his play. Alex Gibb is termed the veteran halfback of the team. If some of our players possessed the same knowledge of the garni’ as he does they could well pride themselves. One could not point out to Air Gibb any rules without his replying. He is the most artful player in the position, ami will, without doubt be a very useful unit of the half line. Shenton comes from Queensland, and fills the position of centre-half. He replaced Peebles : t the last moment, the latter being unable to make the trip. He keeps his wings well fed, and comes up to meet the opposition onslaught. H<? is a clean, steady centrehalf. The inside-left is F. (.’umberford, a noted neat, clever forward, with an exact knowledge of what an inside-for-ward should do. He shoots :nd passes well, and is altogether a very dangerous attacking player. The youngest member of the team is T. Thompson. He has just turned l'.», and has been playing senior football in Australia since he was 17. An interview with this player elicited the f: vt that lie never expected he would be in New Zealand with the team on bis performances during tin* season. He showed up when selectors were about 1 and managed to scrape in. His xxoik on Hie left wing is not as good as one would expect in suc'n a. team; however, he is fast and dangerous and crosses well, but Lis kicking at goal is not extraordinary. REFEREE. .Mr M. Thornley, of Christchurch, who has been selected to referee the match, arrived last ('veiling. He was accompanied by Mr W. D. Ramsay, of the New Zealand Association, who will act as linesman. Mr Ramsay is the South Island selector for tlie New Zeal: nd Football Association, and is seeking a suitable rep. ]»laver from the Coast for inclusion in the New Zealand team. POSSIBLE N.Z. TEST TEAM. WELIdNGI’ON. June 6. The following tram were selected last night to train for lhe first Soccer tvs* match at Dunedin: Goal: J. S. Ewing (Wellington:: backs: McAuley (Otago), B. Hr;; ith wait e (S. Auckland), J. I’. Flood (Canterbury); h: Ives: W. Brown’ve ami I). G. Jones (Wellington:, Knott ami Corbett (Am-kland), Simpson (Canterbury); forwards: W. Brum dell and Rarity (Otago), A. BisseN (Canterbury), Hooper (Auckland), v?. Campbell, C. W. Ballard and W. Anton (Wellington). N.SAV. V. QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY, June 5. At Soccer, New South Wales d-M'ea.t--ed Queensland by three goals tu two.