SOCCER CODE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 10

SOCCER CODE

SEASON WELL UNDER WAY. FOXTON WITHDRAWS FROM SENIOR LEAGUE. (By “Centre-Half.”) With the senior league competition well under way a more interesting position than at this time last year is furnished. St. Andrew’s, last year’s premier team, who came through the season without a defeat, lost their first two games, winning tho third, however, on Saturday, by a comfortable margin. With seven or eight new players in the team it was thought that they would not bo able at onco to work up that combination which is so essential to a strong soccer team and this forecast has proved correct. In their first game, despite individual superiority and greater weight, they were just beaten by block House, while against R.S.A. tho forwards again failed to combine. On Saturday, a different tale -was told and the blue and white outplayed Athletic, the forwards dominating the game. Now that the eleven have settled down, some good exhibition of the code may be expteced from them and St. Andrew’s should soon make up for their two initial reverses. Flock House have won both the games they have contested so far, their victory against R.S.A. last week-end being very easy. Though on the light side, this team always proves a difficult proposition. Coming' from tho home of soccer, they play the game in the right way and in this respect are doing a large amount of good in tho Manawatu. This year they have an extra strong side and should be well up on the championship ladder when the curtain is rung down on the 1928 season. After their narrow defeat of St. Andrew’s, R.S.A. appeared to bo a strongeleven, but this was rather discounted on Saturday when they went down to Flock House by the substantial margin of eight goals to one. At present, the ex-soldiers are running level with St. Andrew s in second place, each side with a win to its credit. , ■ . ... Athletic are in a somewhat novel position this year, having as yet not won a game, while for the greater part of last season they were running neck and neck in the lead with St. Andrew’s. Owing to a large number ot players leaving the district and fresh talent not being available, Foxton have had to withdraw from the competition. Though very regrettable in many ways, this may prove a blessing in disguise as there will now be no weekly bye. Also, a certain amount of travelling will be saved tho town teams. The withdrawal of Foxton is to bo taken as from the end of last season, so that neither Athletic nor R.S.A., which were drawn with the river port team in the first two games but won by default, will bo credited with those wins on tho league table. Owing to Foxton having been drawn in these two cases, St. Andrew’s is the only team which has played all its matches. Flock House and R.S.A. have each played two, while the Athletic side lias taken the field on only one occasion. Extra games will consequently have to be played at the end X>f the season.