THE SOCCER CODE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 125, 26 April 1927, Page 2

THE SOCCER CODE

COMMENCEMENT OF SEASON.

, LEAGUE MATCHES PLAYED,

The Manawatu Football Association commenced its 1927 season on Saturday when the first series of games in tho 'senior league competition were played, and several matches in the junior grade decided. Friendly contests in the.primary division were not overlooked and the official opening of the code was auspicious in this department, inasmuch as 60 players from the various local State schools were in attendance for • the preliminary trials. Of the 6ix senior elevens- engaged during the afternoon, two local teams were obliged to travel and only one match was staged at North Street Park. St. Andrew’s journeyed to the Hostel at Bulls where a representative team from Flock House was defeated by seven goals to three, while at Foxton the R.S.A. combination contested honours with tli« home club. A big surprise was created when Athletic, last yes r’s premiers, suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Rangers. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Senior., St. Andrew’s 7 v. Flock House 3. Rangers 6 v. Athletic 2. R.S.A. 4 v. Foxton 1. Junior. Rangers 12 v. R.S.A. 1. Flock House 8 v. St. Andrew’s 1. ATHLETIC v. RANGERS. The senior game played locally was at North. Street Park where Athletic and Rangers met. Rangers (white) won the toss and elected to play with a strong wind in their favour. Athletic (black) set the ball in motion a’nd immediately adopted aggressive tactics. The whites.soon had the situation in hand and five minutes after the commencement Tantrum at centre j received a long pass from Bird, which was sent on to the outside-right, Miller making no mistake against Askam, who was acting as custodian for the blacks.

Rangers 1, Athletic 0. .j; . Desultory play followed for a period, the blacks riot beilig ablo to strike last season's form. Hearsey. was the first to set Athletic on a proper attack, Whitehouse shooting past from a brilliant forward rush. After this attempt the play’ becariie fast, both sides pressing hard at intervals. Crowe, for the whites, trapped the leather to allow tho winger to gain possession and a long shot from the touch line put the blacks again on the defensive, Travers relieving by heading the ball back to his forwards. Rangers, however, were not to be denied and only a few minutes had elapsed when Tantrum shot one into the net. Rangers 2, Athletic* 0.

Tills sudden reversal seemed to dishearten the blacks and for a period the white forwards took charge of the game. Offside play by Rangers on two occasions, at least, saved Athletic from certain scores, and Hearsey, Beer and Whitehouse were mainly responsible for keeping the losers to their game. Rainforth on the wing for the blacks broke away in a conspicuous solo effort and was close to the citadel when Hands intercepted' and robbed him of the ball, only to lo’se it from : a melee in front of Athletic’s goal. McAvinue gained a further point for Rangers just before the conclusion of the spell and the whistle sounded, for half-time with the score reading: Rangers 3, Athletic 0. The re-commencement found Rangers attacking. Childs forced the whites back, however, and Salmon took the ball into the scoring area, only to find Crowe, the goalie, still firm. McAvinue and Crowe were playing an excellent game for the winning eleven, while Whitehouse was equally as good for the opposing team. Athletic were pressing hard now and at one period were particularly unfortunate when the ball was pushed over the bar by the custodian. Whitehouse then came into the picture and, following a determined effort, shot hard for the net, to miss by inches. A corner kick in favour of the blacks brought no and shortly after 1 his Rangers broke away on an attack which culminated in McAvinue securing his second goal. Rangers 4, Athletic 0. The blacks made a feeble effort to even up at this stage, and the white goalie was tested, but Rangers rallied, transferring play to-midfield. The blacks retreated and a melee in front of their goal brought a penalty for “hands” against Tyners. McAvinue took the kick, and Askam, in the net, was beaten, thus making the tally: Rangers 5, Athletic p. Five minutes elapsed before anything- of note occurred. Hearsey then set the blacks in motion and Athletic struck form. The forwards moved downfield with precision and the ball going to Hearsey allowed this player to 6hoot from a handy position. Tho leather struck the upright with force and glanced into the net for a goal. Athletic 1, Rangers 5. Now that they hac succeeded in opening their account, the blacks played with determination and almost immediately Beer gained possession.and beat Crowe with a fine shot to make the score: — , . Athletic 2, Rangers 5. Up and down play continued after this effort, Rangers apparently being content to play a defensive game until McAvinue set out fur an additional point. The blacks’ got lie rushed out to keep his charge intact and it was this action which proved his downfall. Askam mis-kicked and McAvinue shot from an angle, the leather hitting the bar to be guided into the net, making the final tally :

Rangers 6, Athletic 2. Mr Forbes controlled the game. ST. ANDREWS’ v. FLOCK HOUSE. The match, St. Andrews’ v. Flock House, played on th* latter club’s ground, resulted in on excellent contest considering it is the start of the season. St. Andrews’ kicked off against a strong wind, but the hostel representatives soon forced the blues back to their own area. The Palmerston North team rallied, however, and drew first blood through the medium of Bartlett. A few minutes later the

same player netted his second goal, 'while at the conclusion of the first spell St. Andrews’ had increased the lead to three. After the interval the game became faster and fine play culminated in Flock House opening its account, Stewart being the first scorer. The final whistle sounded with the tally reading: St. Andrews 7, Flock House 3. Mr G. Houston acted as referee.

R.S.A. v. FOXTON. ,

The weather was fine and the ground in fair order for the match, R.S.A. v. Foxton. played at the river-port town. J. Parker was the first to open the home side’s account. During the first five minutes of the game this player netted from a left wing pass, and shortly afterward, Baigent for the Palmerston North eleven responded with a powerful shot which left' the local goalie no chance. Keen play by both clubs was displayed from now on, but R.S.A. took charge and Truman

sent the leather nicely to Baigent, allowing the latter to secure his second point. The first spell concluded with the score reading 2—l in favour of the ex-soldiers. After the interval the blues made a bid to even up the tally, but Kempson, the promising full-back, cleared successfully, allowing Truman to send the ball on'to Morgan, the rightwinger. From the line the leather was transferred with excellent judgment to Contaur.' Baigent next came into possession and culminated* the attack by 'scoring. , The blues were showing evidence of tiring after,'this reversal and for the remaining fifteen minutes R.S.A. were easily the better team. Kempson passed the ball well downfield allowing Lpvejoy to find the net for the reds after the shot had glided home off one of the Foxton backs. The blue’s outside left, who had been playing excellent football throughout, again set Foxton on the aggressive, but following a pass to centre and with only the goalie to beat, the home eleven failed and the chance was lost. The reds, however, made a final attack and almost on time Contaur added a further point, the game ending: R.S.A. 5, Foxton 1. • Mr H. Crouch controlled the game in an efficient manner. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Football Association was held during the week-end, Mr J. C. Young presiding. There were also present: Messrs W. Allen, H. J. Simmonds and. T. Ewen (secretary). St. Andrew’s Club notified that one senior and a second division team would be taking part in the league competition. It was also stated that the matter of entering an eleven in the Chatham Cup series would be considered, at a meeting to be held shortly. Rangers Club applied for a transfer for A. £rowe from the Foxton Club, notification of such intention having been given to the club concerned as required.. It was resolved that 11 passes be sent to each club secretary for distribution to the teams... A player appearing at the ground without a pass will be charged admission. Application is to be made to the Borough Council fOr permission to erect goal posts in Milverton Park for the use of players from the adjacent schools.

Minor matters in connection with the fixtures for the junior competition were discussed, but no finality was reached in this respect.

RESULTS IN OTHER CENTRES.

Wellington.—The Association football season opened at Wellington on Saturday, when four games in the first round of the senior A championship were played, results being as follow: Y.M.C.A. 2 v. .Hospital 1, Thistle 2 v. Institute 4, Seatoun 2 v. Diamonds 2, Marist 3 v. Brooklyn 2. Auckland.—Ponsonby 3 v. Navy 1, Thistle 2 v. Tramway 1. Dunedin.—Technical Old Boys 3 v. Southern 2, Northern 3 v. Maori Hill 3, Y.M.C.A. 2 v. Mornington. 0, Old Boys 6 v. Seacliff 1. Christchurch.—New Brighton 2 v. Thistle 0, St. Albans 3 v. Lyttelton 0, Western 1 v.. Villa 0. ... . ENGLISH CUP FINAL,,’ CARDIFF BEATS ARSENAL. LONDON, April 24. The Association Cup' final resulted : Cardiff City, 1; Arsenal, nil. ‘ It was for the most part a, poor game. . There probably have been few finals in which passes so often went to opposing players or tlio ball went so often out of play. Both sides were obviously determined not to take risks. A crowd of Welshmen roughly handled ticket profiteers outside. tho gates. They chased one a quarter of a mile till he escaped by jumping over a fence. Another" was entangled in some barbed wire, 'on which" lie left a quantity of his clothes. The police intervened, and rescued many vendors of faked tickets, to one of whom the Welsh miners gave a frog’s march.— Sydney Sun cable.