ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 11

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

NOTES ON CHINESE MATCH. On the visiting side, Pao, the-goal-keeper. had very little to do, hut seemed deceived when Tairanaki’s goal was scored. The two full-hacks were an experiment, and generally played well, but in the second spell Loh was hampered by the greasy ground. The halfbacks are the best part of the team, and all three are fine purveyors of the

ball. Lok makes a great pivot, ami distributed the play with rare nicety. The leewards did not seem together at times in the first half of the game, but improved greatly cluiing the second. Wang, uc outside rignt, showeu plenty of skill, and gave ins opposin', backs a! good deal o< trouble. This player was originally centre forward, and led the team which toured Australia last year. Liang and \Vu were both good at inside rignt, and left respectively. the latter especially . showing form of a very high order. Ales. Ting, at outside left, showed cleverness at times, but did not push home his advantages as he mignt have done. Chang, the centre, is an extremely clever, player, and his footwork aim working for position were first rate, but his shooting is not yet of the best. His goal was well got, but he is inclined to dribble a little too much to. positions. He is net yet a shrewd distributor to the wings, but no doubt will develop this part of his duties as the tour progresses. The. local players showed up well at times, but there was a lack of combination. Fieakley was weak at centre, an dthis hampered play. Pooch hau more than he could manage in Chang, and the centre * forwards’' weakness made things extra hard. Nicholl and Ramsay stood out a sthe best of the local team, and were the chief sources of trouble to the visitors. Pollard dribbled fairly well, but his centres left a deal to be desired. Campbell and Galloway were very fair, and the former’s goal was a goo deffort. The two full-hacks had plenty to do, but their kicking was ill-directed. Beare was the better and was more precise. Hart gave a most promising display in goal, and made a couple of clever clearances. A great defect of the full-backs and goalie was their kicking towards the centre, instead cf out to the wi^igs.

It is of interest to note that Mr Mastei's, of Hamilton, who has been appointed to referee the first Test against China, is a Chief Petty Officer on H.M.S. Philomel. He is in New Zealand as an instructor from the English Navy, and returns in May, 1926. and, incidentally, says good-bye to the Service, as he will have served 25 years’ period by then. . He is the holder of the Kent County Referees’ badge, the Army and Navy Referees’ badge, and is the chief examiner of New Zealand badge candidates in Auckland, so that there is no question regarding his qualifications for the job. This will not be his first match officiating where Chinese teams are concerned (says the Times), as, while serving with the English squadron on the Chinese coast, on several occasions his services were obtained. Mr Masters stated that there is hardly any ti'ouble with Chinese teams. They unhesitatingly obey the decisions of the ruling official, and are taught to do so by their coaches. This feature was very noticeable at Hawera. It is a rule of conduct that might well be copied by all teams.