SOCCER

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1937, Page 5

SOCCER

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Heslin Cup: Last Saturday saw the continuation of the Heslin Cup Competition under adverse conditions. Tech. Old Boys succeeded in turning the tables on Blackball and ran out easy winners. In spite of the greasy ground and' ball a fast clip was maintained with Old Boys definitely superior throughout. Young players, substituting in both teams, showed surprisingly good form, while an outstanding feature of the game was the-good and pleasant spirit in which it was played.

Blackball Players

S. Lester gave a fair display in goal and was responsible for several good saves. His anticipation was a little at fault at times, but on the whole he worked himself into the right position to deal with the shot. On occasions his clearances were slow and this resulted in the second goal recorded against him. Bailey was a tower of strength at full-back and his long range kicking gave his forwards every opportunity. His left foot is still his downfall, however. The other back, Stone, did well when one considers his limited experience in the code. It seems that he could have been better placed than at full-back. The strength of the team was the half-backs, with L. Balderstone the pick. He played a good game, both on defence and on attack, and displays such as this must strengthen his claims for inclusion in the Dewar Cup team. Though off the scene for some time, McFadyen showed that he has lost little of his football. He was particularly sound in defence. Docherty also worked hard throughout. The forwards had few opportunities but McLean was probably the pick. A word of praise must be given to young T. Kerr, who showed up throughout the game. * * * * * * *

Old Boys’ Players: Henderson did not have near the work of Lester, but what he did he did well and did not look like being beaten. J. Kerr and Hogg both were soung at back, but Kerr is inclined to fiddle with the ball instead of getting rid of it. When Hogg went up to centre-forward he gave by far his best exhibition of the season in that position. T. Adamson, who played first at half-back and then at fullback, showed useful form and will strengthen the defence. McDougall further improved and on the day was one of the best players on the field. He had a tendency, however, to play too much to the right, thereby leaving the centre open- W. Paton, who started off at right-half, did better when he was shifted back to his usual position. Wood did fairly well in the centre-forward berth, but gave an even better display in the second spell when he was back among the halves. His opening goal was well taken and he should have had a second when he made a good run from half-way. The pick of the forwards, however, was R. Hall, who played well at outside right. He was not 'given a great number of opportunities, but he put across some beautiful centres, and hardly wasted a ball. *****<*

;What Training Does: Last Saturday Wellington played a return match with Canterbury at Wellington. In the meeting earlier in the season for the English Trophy, Canterbury trounced the challengers to the tune of B—3. Since then Wellington has established a system of training and coaching for the younger players. This has already been referred to in these columns. That it has been a move in the right direction was fully proved on Saturday when an almost new and much younger Wellington team defeated Canterbury by 6—4 in a bright .and entertaining game of football. This only goes to show that if the matter is taken up in the right way, and the lessons of the English tour are properly learned, the tour will prove to be of inestimable value in spite of the financial loss. *»»»*** To-day’s Trial Game: The W.F.A. has now made a definite move to ensure that any ’'Myers with claims for Rep. honourc have the opportunity of displaying their capabilities to the selector. Trial matches have been staged in the past and have not proved a success, but to-day's teams with their greater sprinkling of youth and hence greater enthusiasm should result in the game being contested with keenness and spirit. Players should not regard a game of this type as an opportunity

of not too serious training, but as a chance of showing what they can do. If the chosen players regard to-day’s game in that light, play the game hard and give of their best, then i; is well-worth while, but if not then it might just as well be abandoned.

******* A Welcome Return:

This season there is no lack of players for the position of goal-keep-er. Perrin and Closs, who must definitely be in the running, will have to look to their laurels however; for J. White, formerly of Dobson, and then of Western, has made his return to the Coast. When last here White was unlucky to be in competition with W. Timlin, but now with Timlin out of the way, and in his present form, he must have a chance second to none of making the grade.

Third Grade> There will be no fixtures in this grade to-day on account of the withdrawal of Taylorville, and the fact that the Tech, teams are still in Christchurch. Tech. B and Runanga had a hard fight last week though territorially Tech, held a decided advantage. As Taylorville has withdrawn from the competition games in which they have competed will not count. This means that at the end of the first round for the Campbell Cup, Tech. B have a two-point lead over Runanga. <**»«* A Professional Game?: Some people, in seeking for an excuse to keep soccer out of schools, particularly the secondary, like to refer to it as a professional game. How little they know about it can be gauged from the following: “A recent report of the English Football Association states that 5,000 professionals and a quarter of a million amateurs (that is 2 per cent, professionals), are affiliated and about 400 professional clubs and 40,000 amateur clubs and other local district clubs are not affiliated.”