THE SOCCER CODE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 168, 19 June 1925, Page 12

THE SOCCER CODE.

ATIILETIC'-R.S.A. BREAK EVEN. TRAVERS'S FINE PLAY. (Notes By “Hotspur. •”) , After witnessing tho splendid matches \ of the past two Saturdays the writer con- , eludes that soccer has now definitely got 1 something to offer the public in this dis- ! trict. The St. Andrew’s A-Athletic match of the first Saturday was a delight , to watch, while the hard tussle between Athletic and R.S.A. last Saturday thoroughly warranted the record attendance , of spectators for this season. R.S.A. retained their position at the top of the ladder—on the basis of goals for and against —but Athletic checked their hitherto unbroken list, of successes. Further, in many respects the better playing team, R.S.A., were lucky to draw, for two ol their goals were scored largely through the delending goalkeeper’s difficulties when the ball lodged ; n a quagmire in front of Athletic’s citadel in the first spell. However, the honours were about even over the whole match. Both had equal use of the field in the first spell, but in the second session, when Athletic started off two goals behind, they worked like Trojans to such good purpose that, for the most part, R.S.A. were kept on the defensive

and the match fittingly ended in a draw. Athletic's defence was superb, but there were weak points in the attack. Somehow, they iacked the smooth working combination and mutual understanding of the R.S.A. eleven. The former's was an individual more than a team game, though both sides gave a pretty exhibition of the code when the bad condition of the ground and the greasy ball are considered. “Hotspur” ventures to state that with a little more combination Athletic would have won the day, though he fully appreciates that R.S.A. are an exlent. lot anil that their proud position has been thoroughly earned. Athletic can at least say that on Saturday they doubled the total number of goals which had up to then been scored against their opponents, for the R.S.A. goalie (Chapman) is a hard man to pass. Wheeler’s high shot into tile net on Saturday, though, had him thoroughly puzzled. It seemed that he lost sight of the sphere until it lobbed comfortably into the netting. One thing about the match was that there was a section of the Athletic men who were a little afraid to rush the man in possession. R.S A. never lost a second’s time in that. Travers, jnr., was the outstanding figure. 1 Only a boy, he promises to head the Manawatu players in tlie field to-day. lie works tirelessly and never hesitates to get right on to his man, no matter what his weight or ability. Time after time he saved the position by his adroit control of the ball, hardly ever being beaten for it even if lie was “grassed.” llis centring was well-timed and his defensive kicks much more powerful than the average. He is certainly a lad to he watched, and on Saturday’s form cannot be lost sight of in any representative team. Tucker, of R.S.A., was brilliant in his centring from the right wing and his goal was well merited. Almost always when he got going at all he played unselfishly and gave his forwards every chance to make the most of a scoring possibility. Fitzgerald displayed none of the care lessness which characterised his play of the previous Saturday, and his attempt to “head” a goal off Chapman's kick out was good enough to succeed on many other occasions. There is little doubt now that the honours of the competition lie between Athletic and R.S.A., and it would appear that lh.\v will remain level on points until otto meets the other again, for “Hotspur” docs not think that Rangers, who are three points behind, have a chance of heating either of them, though St. Andrew’s A. who are fourth on the ladder,

may at any time come to light and upset calculations. On Saturday Foxlon gave Rangers all they could do to stave off defeat, and several times the coastal team was unlucky not to score. Had Athletic and R.S.A. not drawn on Saturday. Rangers. with luck in the draw, might have had a chance for second place, as the team would then have been only a win behind .either R.S.A. or Athletic. As it is they are three points behind both, and that means two matches to catch up—quite a different proposition. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE.

Fixtures for Saturday are: Junior competition: Hovers v. Scouts, No. 2 ground, referee, Mr lodine; Technical. a bye. Primary competition (senior): Central v. Terrace End, No. 1 ground, referee, Mr Newman; College street v. Y.M.C.A., No. 2 ground, referee, Mr Crouch. Junior: Central v. Terrace End; College Street, a bye.

R.S.A. .. P. 6 W. 5 L. D. 1 Goals. For. Ag. 35 6 Pts 11 Athletic 6 5 — 1 16 7 11 Rangers 6 4 2 — 15 13 8 St. And. A. 6 2 4 — 14 12 4 Fox ton 5 2 3 — 2 14 4 Flock House 5 1 4 — 13 24 2 St. And, B. 6 — 6 — 7 31