THE SECOND TEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11249, 29 June 1922, Page 8

THE SECOND TEST

SOCCER PLAYER’S CRITICISM. To the Editor "N.Z. Times/’ Sir, —I note your Rugby enthusiast states he failed to find any thrills in "soccer" re last Saturday's game at Athletic Park. Really, sir, I don't think ai > soccer enthusiast did either. Soccer had its chance, to make converts before such a crow on Saturday, but really I have never before witnessed such a dull uninteresting fl-ame. It was no more a sam. pie of the association game than the cur-tain-raiser was of Rugby. As an old English rjlayer I am absolutely impartial (it was in fac** the first game I had seen South of the Line), bnt I must say the blacks were miles ahead of the Aussies, and ought to have won easily: in fact it appeared to me the Blacks did not want to win for fear of spoiling the Auckland gate. Be that as it may both sides will need to learn a good deal about ball control, and goal potting, before they meet a decent English team. Both teams appeared to rely on their defence, but football is like war. Hie best defence is a strong attack, and the main object should be to get goals, a lot of fancy short passing in mid-field is wasted energy, and would not be tolerated by an English audience (this applies to the Aussies). The Black’s had far the better idea of ranking ground ouickly with the ball, blit the Aussies' hacks chanced to be in good form, and were in fact the only bright spot of the visitors. i INSIDE-RIGHT.