LADIES AT “SOCCER”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 5

LADIES AT “SOCCER”

TRIAL MATCH AT KILBIRNIE “GOOD HEALTHY EXERCISE FOR GIRLS,” SAY PLAYERS. COMING “REP.” MATCH. At the last meeting of the Wellington Football Association an application was received from the Aotea Ladles’ Football dub far permission to play a match with the Masterton Ladies' Football 01u& at Masterton, the permission readily being granted. On receipt of the permit members of tho Aotea Club decided to play a trial game for selection purposes, and they met at Association Park yesterday afternoon. A “Times” representative put in an appearance at the park at 3.30, when it was reported that practice would begin at that time; however, only two ladies wore on the field practising shooting at goal, but in the course of another halt-horn eleven others arrived.

The father of one of the young ■ladies explained that nearly all the young ladies concerned were at business plying the needle, the typewriter, or more domestic duties. He considered that the exercise “soccer” football gave them was good and healthful, and not in the least likely to do them any harm, and the exhibition they afterwards gave certainly lent colour to that (few. There was no charging, although now and again one of them would trip up or slip in tho mud. A few of them could give the ball a good hefty kick, and as they were not all adepts in dodging the ball one may question whether a blow on the body from a hard-driven ball might not do them an injury. CORRECT DRESS. So far os their attire is concerned, little exception could be taken to it. So far as a mere man may describe it, it was very much like a full fitting lady’s bathing oostume plus a short skirt, black stockings, football boots, and a cap. The name of the club was worked in white on the blue body of the jersey or whatever that part of the costume is called. . One or two gentlemen were disposed to criticise the view in “soccer” notes on Saturday that neither Rugby nor “soccer” were suitable games for ladies, and that the “Times” ought not to go against the ladies if they desired to play football. The note in question was written purely in tho interests of the gentler sex themselves, having regard to any injur./ they might sustain, injury to which men would not be susceptible. Captain Jones, of the "Waterside F. 0., has been giving some time to coaching the ladies, and he is teaching them to play the hall, so that collisions are few and far between. EIGHT AND FIVE. There were thirteen ladies—unlucky number I —who ultimately presented themselves in the hope of securing a place in the “rep.” team, and the coach decided to play five forwards against the other eight, divided into three forwards, two halves, two backs, and a goalkeeper. On the other side two schoolboys of 12 or 13 were called in to assist, one in goal, one as a back. The five forwards on one side were: Miss L. Landymore (outside right), Miss G. Landymore (inside right), Miss Sawkins (centre), Miss Nickless (inside left), and Miss Sullivan (outside left). The opposing side consisted of Miss Love, MjSs Orange (centre) and Miss Johnson (forwards), Mies Macdonald and Miss Sutherland (halves), Miss McKenzie and Miss Sullivan (hacks), and Miss Rowell (goal). THEY KNOW SOMETHING.

The kiok-off was made in correct form, and the centre passed to the right wing. Miss Landymore made an advance of a few yards and passed acrosß the goal-month, but her partners had not travelled so quickly and Miss McKenzie was able to kick clear. Coach Jones directed the receiving player to put to the left, wing, which she did, and when the ball was next centred Miss Nickless shot and scored. The three forwards then made headway and passed the ball along nicely until the young man who was playing at back ungallantly robbed them. A few minutes afterwards the three returned to the attack again, but thi3 time the stalwart back was beaten, for Miss Johnson quickly kicked forward, and Miss Orange landed the ball with a lusty kick at goal. Here the other lad was in charge, and probably the last thought in his mind was that a mere girl would score while he was between the sticks. Use bis hands to save! Not he. He would show them something. He put his toe down for the ball to run up his foot so that he could take a drop kick as it fell, hut the unexpected happened. * It" didn’t run up his foot as he intended, hut glanced off, and before be could mend matters the ball was in the net. LADIES v, WATERSIDE.

They went on playing till dark, and the “Times” man did not 6ee the finish, but the young ladies seemed to enjoy themselves, and exercise they certainly had. Before they go to Masterton the Waterside first division team will probably play on exhibition game with them with a view to improving the ladies’ knowledge of “soccer.”