SOCKER FOOTBALL IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 58

SOCKER FOOTBALL IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Oj'kom: Ocjb Own Cobresponbent.) A few notes on the game and a brief commeos on socker foctball in general as conducted in New South Wales may be of iniere&t to enthusiasts. The visit, of the New Zealand team was rather ill-timed owing to the number of countcr-a.ttraetiens. There was an exhibition by the two leading Melbourne teams under Australian rules, followed by the visit of the New Zealand Rugby and* Otago University teams, and th&a. the sculling- race beiw-een Stanbury and Towns. In spite of these telling influences it must be gratifying to all to know that the tour was a financial success, and richly did the New South Wales Association deserve it. Tho New South Wales officials &re workers, doing the utmost for the game, with the result that in town and ©ountry alike, and even in the Rugby &tro<ngnolds. the. Association game is making headway. The visit of the New Zealanders has done wonders in the way of stirring matters up in New South Wales, and particularly have the country districts benefited. The backing of country Association means a lot .to the Metropolitan Board .«•<£ Sydney. The advent of the New Zealanders roused their enthusiasm more than anything m the way of sport had ever done before. The officials have realised rhe possibilities ahead of the game in their respective localities and have already made a decided advance by seeking closer conne ction with the parent body at Sydney, with a view to doing something in the way of exchange visits. It will be most satisfactory to the New Zealand Association to learn that tb« team's visit to New South Wales lias, to some little extent, been responsible for the healthy state of affairs now existing, and that the team left behind in the memories of players a standard of play wJiich will do much towards raising flic level of the game in New South Wales. One of .the brightest prospects for she Association game in that State, as in New Zealand, is in connection with school football. In Sydney alone some 50 teams are playing- in competition, while more than that number may be reckoned on in the outlying districts, Granville alone contributing about 20. In addition to this there are many Fourth and Third Grade players. Juniors here play a better class of game than their brothers in New Zealand, being generally much olders and more experienced. Regarding the game of the future, better football ougiht to be played in New Zealand than in the Commonwealth States. The hard, fiery grounds there are a great handicap. Dribbling exhibitions, such as we were treated to by Moore and Medcalfe on the Caledonian Ground, are impossible, as, without the grassy turf, a player has nothing like the same chance of control ling the ball. In spite of the drawback referred to, the New South Welshmen play the game well, and are doing their utmost to do even better. They are at present negotiating with Western Australia, with the object of arranging matches with that State, and they are also in communication with a team of amateurs at Home and are offering them every inducement to visit New South Wales. New Zealand will likewise have to make a shift if she intends keeping her standard of play up to that of New South Wales. As has been proved repeatedly, it is only by encouraging contests of this description that the game will ever win its way into popular favour, and to do that it must be played better than it is at present. The result of the team's tour— viz., six wins, three losses, and two draws — must be considered as fairly successful, and compares very favourably with the I'ecord of the New South Wales Eleven whioh toured New Zealand last year. Without being too critical, the record would have been even better had it not, in two instances at least, been upset by indifferent referees. In one match the captain of the New Zealand team threatened that the team would leave the field unless the referee mended his ways somewhat. But, taken generally, the refereeing was fairly good, its impartiality leaving little cause for complaint. The New Zealaaders were very unfortunate in losing the toss on nine occasions out of 11. The choice of ends means much to a team playing on the Epping Ground, where all the Sydney matches were decided. During the first spell, and before it seeks cover behind the hill, the sun shines directly up and down the ground with a fierce .glare. The credit of the Welshmen's goal, rather a flukey shot, was entirely due to the sun. The ball was kicked high over the backs' heads from about 30 yards out, and dropped easily when Hearing goal. It looked one of the simplest to stop, even for an amateur goalkeeper, but just at the critical moment Fitzgierald was unable to see the ball. The second spell wa? decidedly willing. It was throughout a great struggle between New Zealand forwards and Welsh backs, with honours about even. Repeatedly the forwards smashed their way through, and it seemed impossible to prevent a score,

but just as often were they repulsed at tho roost dangerous portions. Byers, Doyle, and Elgie could not be walked over, although Forsbaw and Ussher in particular made many bold attempts, and it was within 10 minutes of time before Bissett got a shot past Elgie. The re-suit — a drawn game — was perhaps a hapny termination to the tour, for a win and a draw to each colony left them both at least partially satisfied.

The New South "Wales forwards are not the equal of the New Zealanders for individual resource nor as a combination, but their backs, more especially their halves, are a treat. The success of their eleven was xlmost entirely due to their fine work. They are all quick to seize any opening of advantage. Alert and watchful, they cut in, meeting the ball nearly always on its flight, and the player likewise-. Their headwork is clever, and the openings they make for their forwards would be a valuable lesson to our local men could they but get an opportunity of seeing their play.

Just before leaving Sydney the members of the team presented Mr Burfc (seciotary of the New South Wal.es Union), Mr Tathem (chairman of the union), Mr M'Dowall (selector), and Mr Nobbs (M.L.A., Government Whip, and president of the New South Wales Association) with handsomely framed photographs of the team, with autographs attached. Those gentlemen gave freely of their time and money at great personal inconvenience and sacrifice so that they might accompany the team in its travels. Nothing was a bother to them, and their knowledge of local lore and places of interest proved invaluable to tho visitors.