SOCCER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 4

SOCCER.

THE OFFSIDE RULE. (By Loft, Half.) Tlie Poverty Bay. Football Associations will start to-morrow, when Gisgasco will meet Thistle, and Mercantile will try conclusions with, the newly-formed Harbor Board team. The season promises to be full of interest. One feature of the game as it will be played this season is the new offside rule, which the New Zealand soccer authorities have adopted, following the lead of the English Association. It is early yet to predict how the application of the new rule will work. The half-backs will have a great, deal more work to do, but I have no doubt that the, older hands at the game will quickly adapt themselves to the new order of things. P. Roots should bo at home, for lie has a tendency to play a defensive game rather than an attacking role; Bell is rather an aggressive back, and will probably find the necessity of restraining himself. Woodrow can be relied upon to grasp the situation, while Sweeney may need a few games to accustom him to the ruling,, owing to his having taken up tho centre-half position quite recently. ‘ Among the new hands, there are several promising ' players, Mackie, Wade and Watt being three who should do well. The writer has no wish to single out any players, but these throe se«m to have a good knowledge of the game, judging by their practice appearances. The executive, headed by Mr. ,T. J. McDonald, appears to constitute a happy family, and “Left Half” feels sure that, they will leave no stone unturned to make this a record season. ’The players owe the executive the most implicit loyalty, and this will doubtless be forthcoming.