ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 17 April 1933, Page 2

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIAN TO UK TRIAL. I XTKR-ISLAND GAME. NORTH WINS EASILY. (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) WELLINGTON, This Day. Almost faultless weather favoured the official trial for the New Zealand Soccer team to tour Australia, which was played on the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon, before a. large attendance. The South Island team represented a larger number of associations than the North, including players from Canterbury, Otago and Buller, whereas the North Island players were from the Wellington and Auckland provinces only. The match was for the benefit of the sole selector, Mr B. L. Salmon, who is expected to make his final choice on Wednesday or Thursday.

The teams lined up as follows; South Island—Timlin (Westland), Cawthery (Canterbury), Cope (Otago), Teic.hart (Buller), (Canterbury), Chapman, Ives (Otago), D. Sutherland (Canterbury), Trotter (Canterbury), Groves (Otago), Walker (Canterbury).

North Island.—Zuill, Gerrard, Stone (Auckland), McLeod (Wellington), Christie (Auckland), Crabbe (Hamilton), Barton, Condon, Leslie, Kershaw (Wellington), Kay (Auckland). Referee, Mr G. Jackson, of Wellington.

The North Island played in black, and the South in white.

The first movement brought Kay into prominence from a long clearance by Gerrard, the former beating Teichart to centre beautifully to Kershaw, who shot over. Following a repeated aggressive movement by North, in which Kay gave Leslie a possible chance, Groves opened up with a nice adroit movement, sending a. long swinging pass to Trotter. The attack bore down on Zuill, but was defeated by the North backs packing their goal. A beautifully placed corner by Barton was saved by Timlin, Crabbe, of Hamiuton, showed promise after initial nervousness, and placed nicely to his forwards, but North missed another opportunity through ineffective inside play. Twice at short intervals South showed weak finishing, and Kay, who was much in the picture at this juncture, and was doing well, lobbed a lovely long shot, which Timlin successfully negotiated. The .Aucklander ultimately scored, but was not successful in evading the watchful eye of the referee, who whistled him off-side.

Four Goals Up. The South attack was improving, and Zuill. was given his chance a few moments later, saving brilliantly from Trotter. In a trice, however, the Ohehunga custodian’s stock dropped by a faulty clearance, but he recovered brilliantly to clear. After 20 minutes North scored, Condon putting the finishing touches to a faultless cross from the Auckland leftwinger.

Play thus far was surprisingly good for the opening of tlm season. Just here Ives, of Otago, and. Crabbe had spirited, tussles, while Christie was also prominent with clever constructive play. Timlin took his life in his hands when he dived, at the ball at Kershaw's too, saving a, resultant drive from Kay. An instant later Timlin collided, with Kay, and had to receive attention. North's second point was from the foot of McLeod, who centred beautifully for Leslie to head a pretty goal. The wind was with the North, and a two'-goal lead was no more than their due.

At this stage the bustling tactics of Stone twice stove off attacks from the South, and Gerrard was safe and reliable in his defence. North, however, were not yet done. Stone sent a timely pass to Christie, and the latter gave to Kay. The Auckland flyer neatly sidestepped, and, beating Teichart, scored a line goal in surprisingly little space to operate. Just on time North went a further point ahead, Kershaw scoring after a great movement by Crabbe, who outwitted three opponents before giving the Wellington inside a clear

passage to score. The change-over came with North four goals ahead. Goal-less Second Spell.

In the second spell several changes were made in the teams. Stewart, of Hamilton, was brought, into the Northern forward line in place of Kershaw', whije for the South Taylor (Otago) replaced Cawthery. Teichart took Cope's place and the whole half-back line was replaced by Stenhouse and Brown (Otago), and Graham (Buller). Chapman, playing left-half, was transferred to centre-forward in place of Trotter. The opening stages were evenly contested, Zuill being tested first. A pretty triangular move by Crabbe, •Stewart, and Kay made ground, but the South team were soon again pressing. The now middle line of the Southerners was making a difference to the strength of the attack, and Christie was seen in pretty short passes to relieve pressure. Brown stopped a constructive move by McLeod and let the forwards aw r ay, Zuill conceding a corner, which was rather indifferently placed by Ives.

Play was particularly devoid of incident just about here, and unofficial selectors were confronted by serious difficulties to pick possibles. Stewart had. his first real chance of opening; up the attack, and cleverly transferred to the right in place of to his partner on the left, who was marked, but the movement came to naught. The breeze was fairly stiff and judgment was often awry.

As was to be expected, the game was not a brilliant display of the code, although it was taken part in by some of the best players in the Dominion. The goalkeepers were both . excellent, but the good backs were not too plenti-

ful. Stone and. Gerrard were as goo I as any. Crabbe, Christie and Brown showed most promise as half-backs, with Graham in the running. The forwards Jacked a right-wing. Condon and Kershaw disappointed. Stewart is worthy of consideration. Kay seems a certainty. None of the South Island inside men impressed. Leslie seems as sure as Kay. • Wellington-Auckland Match.

The Wellington-Auckland match mav reveal discoveries. The Northerners were, easily superior today save in the closing stages, when South, with their fresher men, were more vigorous. South had a gift chance about live minutes from, time, when Ives manoeuvred cleverly for position, giving Groves a sitter, but he headed past. Then Twill saved brilliantly. He was kept more than busy for a few moments, saving with credit. The final whistle sounded with the score: North 4 South 2