THE ROUND BALL GAME

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 May 1928, Page 3

THE ROUND BALL GAME

SOUTH TARANAKI SOCCER SEASON’S OPENING DISPLAYS

(By “Kick Off.”)

The ■opening-games of the season on Saturday produced; home good play and players, and the standard augured for a good season for soccer. , ! The match at Huwera was one of the keenest ever seen on the ground m a season opening game, and' the result wais hardly a fair criterion of the pluv In fact, with a little luck, Celtic could easily have, been the" vietons. The greatest failing was lack or combination. Of course it -Is# hardly fair to expect a new team’to produce proper combination in its first game, and as the season advances Celtic will do a lot 1 better and should develop into a strong loam. The outstanding player for Celtic on Saturday was Thorpe, who has represented Taranaki. Ho was playing in a now position, that ot centre half, aiid both in attack and defence he proved a tower of strength to his side. He bus improved wonderfully and should catch the eye of the selector this season. Another player who has undoubted ability is i! rampton. With a little judicions coaching lie should qualify for representative honours. He has speed and can control the ball, but hesitates just'that fraction that enables his op-

ponent to got the ball first. Once in possession, however, he takes a power of stopping, and his centres are a treat to watch. He should improve this season. ‘ The Moloney brothers are great workers, and George has lost none of his cunning. His greatest fault is hanging on to the ball too long.. Combination means better results with less work, and it is seldom that one player can .beat the opposition on his own. . Brother Jim shows great promise. That first timer of his on Saturday had‘ Barker beaten all the way, but it grazed the wrong side of the post. A feature ol : Saturday’s game was the great defence of Cockerill and Haseltine. The latter was playing his first game after ten' years spell. His last game was with the army team in France in 1917, and owing to a war injury lie had to retire from the game. His come-back was a good one, and his inclusion in the side will materially strengthen the Celtic team. Haseltine represented Taranaki in 1910-11-13 at outside left.

The voimgcst player in the team was I. Cowie. who played a. great' game. Celtic’® first goal came front his centre. Pettett played well in goal. A (’little advice to him is not to cciiiie too far out of .pool. * Altogether Celtic are a good side. Tihei Haweira. team has been strengthened by some new players, and when tb;?' centre ball', Gilbert, reiturns to Hawera. tlio side will take a lot of shopping iit the Taranaki competitions.

Barker, .who represented Taranaki against the Australian team tvs fullback, haw taken on the goalie’s job itliis season, and on his showing is quite at home between tlie sticks.

Beam nlayed his usual sound game at left back, being well partnered .by . All' Spice, whose sure"!,kicking saved Haweira on more than one occasion, Danter, Heap and Kuowkis. made: a good half-back line. I heir tackling and feeding the forward link war retv good. - The forward, line worked . noil, but there again combination wate lacking, although cue saw glimpses now and ana in.- - -b, ■ ■ ■■■ • .■ . Galloway lias a tendency to get offside. It is a good faro'-t to keep, wpll up in the'forward line, but a clever .back can put a forward off very easily. Humphries, and Port-way. played yell together. but seemed to tin? towards the,end- cf the game. > . Heap and Morgan who. .with .Gardiner. are new-comcrs from Palmerston North, arc a- decided acquisition to the team. Hawcra lias a "well -balanced team.*, j Strafford- ■ have started tihe seaibii well bv detentin->- A”roa on the latter’s "round. On Satn'dav they ana listed to plav Celtic at Stratford, and a gpod even game should be presented.