SOCCER.

Southland Times, Issue 18969, 16 June 1923, Page 13 (Supplement)

SOCCER.

(By

"Shoot.")

It is not definitely known yet how the change in the weekly half holiday has affected the soccer movement in Southland, although many pessimists say it is going io kill it altogether. There is no foundation for this view, however, as soccer flourished in this town before, when Wednesday half holiday predominated. It will doubtless prove rather hard at first, as the teams will have to be re-organised, and other steps taken, so that matches may be played on both Wednesday and Saturday. I think a general meeting should be called, when all those interested in the advancement of association football should be advised to be present, and the position can be discussed and the necessary alterations made. The members of the different clubs need to all turn up, and be ready to advance their own opinions on the matter. The trouble is that Invercargill soccerites have got into a way of leaving things to someone else, and then they growl when they find they have not been consulted. The only thing is for the Association to call a general meeting, and go into the thing whole-heartedly, but the players must turn up. The reason why Nightcaps have such a good club, is only because all the members take an active interest, and are not frightened to say when they think things are not going right. So I say again, you soccerites, wake up, and don’t let the game drop off again juat when we are getting along so famously.

During the week I asked several players if they would take up Rugby if soccer fell through. “Not on your life” was the general opinion. This means that the majority of players would have to stand round and and grow corpulent all the winter, as it can be easily understood that a soccer enthuiast can never take very much interest in rugby. Last Saturday Rangers defeated Invercargill by seven goals to two. Maxwell played at centre forward for Rangers, and the wisdom of his change from back was amply justified, as he played a brilliant game and scored four of the seven goals.

The amended tour of the New Zealand representative team is:—June 20, play Metropolitan team at Manly; June 23, N.S.W.; June 30, third test at Newcastle; July 4, Maitland; July 7, South Coast at Wollongong; July 10, Western District at Lithgow. A London cablegram reports that a committee is’ being appointed to inquire into the arrangement for dealing with abnormally large attendances at special sporting fixtures. The appointment is the result of events at the Cup final at Wembley. Lieutenant-Colonel C. D. Crisp, an arsenal director, was a goalkeeper in his young days. Here is his chapter of accidents:— A broken leg in 1884, a broken arm in 1886, a broken nose in 1887, and another broken arm in 198. They had great times in those “good old days”! The cost of assembling a Canadian team preparatory to its leaving for New Zealand and Australia is estimated at £475, the secretary of the New Zealand Association has been informed by a cablegram from Winnipeg. As one of the members of the council remarked at a recent meeting: "That is a very fair lump for a start.” Members of the council considered that the message made it clear that the team would come to New Zealand next year if that were desired.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. A Sydney critic speaks of the New Zealand team as follows, after seeing them play Granville:—“The game, which was watched by 3000 spectators, was an interesting one, but the visitors, many of whom were plainly out of condition, were up against a stiff propostion in Granville. The locals fielded their best and presented the All Backs from showing the wonderful form which was reported to have been exhibited against the Australians in New Zealand a year ago. In Craxton they possess an excellent goalie, and Braithwaite’s play at full back overshadowed that of both Leadbeater and Doherty (Granville). He was a great tackler, splendid in anticipation,and an accurate kick with either foot. Flood, who partnered Braithwaite, was not sound in tackling or kicking, but shone in headwark. He should do better at half. J. Kissick, New Zealand’s centre half, is one of the best centre halves that has visited Sydney. He weighs 14st and he used his weight to advantage in defence. Though not captain of the team he showed splendid generalship, and it was a treat to watch the masterly way in which he kept his forwards always on the move. Kissick’s scientific game reminds me of the stirring contests played by Alick Mill and Jimmy Millar in the Metropolis a few years back. C. W. Ballard and G. Campbell did not show to advantage, no doubt because they were too well watched. In the middle of the second half Campbell scorpd a goal for New Zealand. which was disallowed by the referee, W. Allerton, on the ground of interference with the goalie. Campbell charged Atchison, who was in the act of fielding the ball, and catching the goalie off his balance sent him together with the ball, flying into the net. In the writer’s opinion Campbell’s goal should have been allowed, as a player has a perfect right to charge the goalie, who has the ball in his hands. Innes and Donaldson proved an effective right wing but Balk in the centre was too slow in moving. • Taken right through the game was clean, and the visitors admitted the better team won.”