SOCCER FOOTBALL.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 3

SOCCER FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY “OBSERVER.” , So the mighty have fallen. It sure was some feat—the first team to beat the pick of Canada. I think if they had been playing yet, the score would still be I—o. As one old party said, the Canadian centre wouldn’t have been dangerous, even if he had had an open lazor in his hand. But what goalkeeping. They couldn’t have beaten Timlin . with batons. And they tried everything but that, and now shall we congratulate the management committee? Not yet, not yet. The team as reported picked by two selectors, wa?

chosen by them. Shall we take them man to man? Right, Timlin in club form was behind Ennor, but no one could have excelled him against the Canadians. He was daring and marvel lous. Now the backs. Erskine, the general, cool and collected, but what a pity, lacking a decent punt. Still the best back on the field. Wick, steady and with a few more games alongside Erskine and he would take a bit of shifting. Now the halves, Marshall, 1 take as the pick of the halves, bur what a pity he lacks inches. McFarlane a trifle slow and not up to his club form. I fancy Barnes with his height would have been more effective in this game. Jock received a severe kick on the thigh which practically finished him. Cowie I noticed was inclined to fall back instead of tackling straight away. He played a hard game for all that. In the forward rank, which was a failure, Rarity alone shone. McNeil was severely handicapped by being played in a position which he doesn’t like, and which his club won’t play him in. Consequently they lost the true value of this clever inside forward too. but the business management thought they knew best. Are there no centre forwards on the Coast? Everywhere I heard them asking for the Dobson centre, ami Winstanley, what of him? Undoubtedly, he is the premier outside left of the West Coast. Syd was his old self, but was starved completely. With McNeil beside him, I reckon this wing would have shown the Canadians some clover football. The Canadians had the pull in height and weight over our boys and didn’t forget to use it too. Tn my opinion they were very fortunate in not being shown the way to

the pavilion. They played clever mid field football but wore very poor at finishing. I am inclined to think the light ball was against them, as they repeatedly shot over when close in. Well, the result should make the New Zealand Council sit up and if less than six of the West Coast are picked for the test match, well their ought to be a. shindy. The big game this week will be Blackball v. Runanga. Bill Parsonage, Blackball’s clever keeper, who has always played well in rep. matches, says back Blackball for the sweep this week. Genial Danny Barnes says Run- I anga will put up a cricket score.

The writer learns that Mitchell, the Dobson centre, has nine goals for five games. Well the Management Committee have spoiled his chance of being in the test match my not playing him. 1 would like to hear a few more com ments from Soccerites. A Dobsonito writes: The Coast leftwing found its difficult to Steer over the Moon, but they eventually got Tae-it. The right half Marshalled his forces Brawley to repel the invader and he did Turn her. Canada’s best Paynter was sent over to do the good ship Westland; but his efforts cam’ Timlin doon. Boy to angry father on June 15th: Beat Canna’ da!” GENERAL NOTES. (By Shooter.) Great excitement prevailed on Wednesday when the suffered their first defeat. The weather was ideal and the Park was in perfect con dition though it was easy seen the Canadians were far from being at home on the turfty ground. This was why they had to adopt the high shooting method. The managing committee had all the arrangements well in hand,

though in the writer’s opinion it would have been a much wiser idea had they seen to having the ground roped off and marked out more clearly. This is a thing that is badly needing attention especially in big matches, as T does not give players a chance when the spectators are continually on the field.

The Canadians were by far the superior team and showed much prettier football than the home team, though they clearly had a day off in scoring, and the Coast had all the luck with them.

Timlin, undoubtedly was the hero of the . day, and some of his saves were marvellous. He easily gave the finest exhibition of goal-keeping ever witnessed on the Coast, and has gained his place in any rep. team. Erskine dedefended well using his head always, and he is worthy of rep. honours. Wick seemed to be having a day off, and did not appear to settle down to his usual game, though he did good work in the open. This player has a lot to learn about passing a ball. Marshall and Cowie (the two halfbacks) played up to form, hut were lacking in feeding the wing men. McFarlane played a great game, and earned quite a lot of praise from the spectators with his pretty passing. Hewison in the wing was on the light side for the Canadians, but did good work and managed to give them a lively time. Clark was a trifle selfish though occasionally he sent some pretty passes to McNeil (centre) who was

playing a great game, though at times was shooting wildly. Rarity showed his usual good form and had the Canadian defence on the move. Spier did not get many passes; but most of what he did get he made good use of. I would have liked to have this player fed oftener.

• The Canadians could teach the Coast something about passing the ball, and their short passes from one player to another were pretty to watch, though, had they adopted the long-swinging game, the scores would have been much different.

The Coast forwards will have to do a lot more training and have a better understanding between them if they are to bring the Dawson Cup home from Buller.

Last Saturday saw Rewanui get a bad defeating at the hands of Blackball at Blackball. The weather was against good football, and the ground was in a very poor condition. The Blackball team were hardly valued for a four to nil score. Greymouth were unablo to play* Dobson owing to the ground being under water. Dobson Club would do well if the were to get together and improve their ground, as it is hardly playable at times. Rewanui meets Grey at the weekend and. it looks like being a hard, tus-

sle. Runanga travel to Blackball and is likely to be the game of the season. The home team are quite confident or* a victory, but the visitors will give them a hard go for it. This game will be well worth watching. The winners will have Dobson to meet in the final. Banquet for Canadians.

At the banquet held on Wednesday evening in the dining room of Bevington’s Hotel, when the members of the Canadian team, the local team, reserves, and Club officials, numbering about fifty, were entertained by the Westland Football Association. After dinner, toasts were honoured as follows:— The King, proposed by the Chair-

man (Mr Robertson). The Chairman next proposed the toast of the Canadian F.A. and Touring Team, and dwelt at length on Soccer football popularity throughout the world and the progress it was making in several countries where it was recently inaugurated. Mr Adams, in replying to the toast, thanked those present for the manner in which they had been received. Throughout the tour, and especially on the West Coast they had been delighted with the scenery generally. He also thanked the owners of the cars who had been kind enough to convey the members of the team to

Punakaikai, which outing they had thoroughly enjoyed. Commenting on the day’s game, he congratulated Westland on having defeated his team, and wished the Association all kinds of success for the future. Commenting on the display of his team, he attributed this their first, and he hoped their only loss, to very bad luck and the chilled bones of his team, stating that he and his party felt the cold even worse here than they did in Canada, where they had the thermometer registering thirty or forty below' zero. What they missed most was the artificial heating appliances indoors. In concluding, he thanked all who had assisted in making their visit one of great pleasure.

Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., in proposing the toast of the N.Z. Council, •spoke of the progress Association football was making in New Zealand, and the financial responsibilities attached to such a tour as this. He congratulated the Westland team on their achievement of the afternoon, and hoped the vititors’ tour would bo one of great success from a playing and financial point of view.

In replying to this toast, Mr Rennie, the representative of the New Zealand Council, instructed his audience in the workings of the governing body, and what they were doing to foster the game here as in other parts of New Zealand. Tie asked for the assistance of the local Association to that end. Mr Adam was entrusted with the next toast, that of the Westland Football Association, congratulting the Management Committee on the able manner in which all arrangements were

carried out in connection with the game and entertaining generally. Coupling Mr Sharp’s name with the toast, he called upon the party to lose and drink heartily to the Association who had inflicted their first defeat.

In replying, Mr Sharp thanked Mr Adam and party for the toast, and remarked upon the amount of work attached to such a visit, and was really glad it was all over, now that their Association had the honour of registering the first and probably only defeat. He wished them, on behalf of the Management Committee, a very pleasant and successful tour, and hoped to sec them all again on July 2nd, when they were running an excursion train for the second test.

Mr J. McLean proposed the toast of Kindred Sports, stating how delighted he was to be a Vice-President of the Association which had that afternoon given such a fine exposition of the code. He was glad to see people of all sports present at the game, and was quite satisfied all had .enjoyed it. In calling upon Mr A. Adams (Rugby) and Mr Wingh:ftn (League) to reply, he stated there was room for all in the world of sport, and his energies wore extended in trying to arrange for better playing areas. Mr Adams, in replying on behalf of Rugby, stated how pleased he was to have his name coupled with the toast. He had witnessed the game in the afternoon, and was delighted with the class of football displayed. He commented on the play generally, and asked how it was that Scotchmen could play the game so well, especially when they were particularly required to keep their hands off something.. (Tho Scots present appreciated the joke.) Mr Warn.es proposed the toast of the Press, and dealt at length with its necessity, as without the Press the nccessarv publicity would not be given to items of general interest and of sport. He congratulated the local Press on their efforts to cater for all without fear or favour, and asked those present to rise and drink a bumper to “The Press.” Mr Bell, in proposing the toast of The Ladies, wished to thank those ladies who had assisted at Punakaiki in making tho function a success, also those who had given ready assistance in preparing supper at the ball held in honour of tho Canadian visit. The function then closed with the National Anthem. A TROPHY. The ball used in Wednesday’s match has been presented by the Canadian Soccer team to the Westland Associa tion with the autographs of all the members of the touring team. The Association will probably have the bail mounted on a tripod and allocated for a junior grade competition. CONGRATULATIONS. Wires of congratulation on victory over Canadians have been received by the Westland Association from many Associations, including one from the New Zealand Council. FIXTURES. The following games and referees have been arranged for to-day: Rewanui v. Grey at Dunollie, 3 p.m. (Mr. Rutherford); Blackball v. Runanga at Blackball 3 p.m. (Mr. Ritchie).