SOUTHLAND WINS

Southland Times, Issue 19346, 11 September 1924, Page 4

SOUTHLAND WINS

CHINESE SOCCER TEAM DEFEATED

A SPECTACULAR GAME

Unusual interest was taken in the match between the Southland and Chinese Universities Soccer teams on Rugby Park yesterday afternoon, and aided by fine weather, the attendance was well over 5000. Despite the fact that Southland won by the comfortable margin of five goals against one. the match was full of incident, and the standard of play throughout was fairly high, though the visitors were a trifle disappointing. Still, after a fairly severe tour throughout the Dominion, with only a limited number of players at their disposal, it might in justice be said that they are beginning to feel the effects of the continual travelling and games, and inclined to lack the initiative and dash which characterised the majority of their games in the north. For one thing their shooting lacked vim, while their half-backs were prone to play too far back and lose the advantage of the attack. Taken on the whole, the local team gave a fine exhibition, and thoroughly deserved their win, their concerted work being slightly more effective than that of the visitors. The enthusiasm displayed by the spectators throughout the game was of a generous nature, and the visitors were given a very fine reception, their sportsmanship being highly commented on. In fact,'the match was played in the finest sporting spirit possible, and though the exhibition of the visiting team was somewhat below 7 what had been expected, they nevertheless showed that they were no mean exponents of the game, their quick movements and control of the ball being greatly admired. The teams were as follows: Southland: (Maroon and Blue).—Goalkeeper, Gwilliam; full-backs, R. Cook and R. Maxwell; halves, A. Hobbs, W. Cooper, and W. McKay; forwards, M. Dickson, J. Rudolph, E. Cook, L. Smith, and C. Smith. Chinese Universities: (Maroon and Gold). —Goal-keeper, C. T. Pao; full-backs, T. C. Hung and K. S. Liang; half-backs. T. YTsai, C. S. Wang, P. Chen: forwards, L. N. Lok. B. K. Jap, H. E. Chang, Y. C. Wu, and Alex Ting. THE OPENING PLAY. The toss favoured the visiting team whose captain elected to play with the advantage of the w’ind, and the sun at their backs. From the outset the home team carried play along, and Dickson cross kicked to the centre, Liang clearing to the side with a long kick. Ting took possession and passed infield to Chang, whose shot at goal w r ent wide. Rudolph and Cook were again prominent, but were held up at the 25, and forcing two corners in quick succession, Southland failed to get the shots home. The visiting forwards then engaged in a nice passing rush, Lok sending in a very hot centre, which Gwilliam cleared to a place of safety. L. Smith missed an opportunity through dallying too long, but recovering quickly, McKay sent him a pass and he essayed a goal, the ball going behind. The visitors, principally through the determined efforts of their centre-half, carried play along with some Clever footwork. McKay giving temporary relief by conceding a corner. A. Ting sent in a very hard shot, but the ball went across the goal mouth and out over the line. Lok was conspicuous for some good footwork, and beating R. Cook, he passed to Ting, who again missed. Play was held up for a few minutes owing to Cook being temporarily incapacitated, and on resuming Southland overpowered the visiting backs with the result that Hung conceded a corner which went a-begging. Play was again stopped through Hung receiving the full force of the ball on the forehead, necessitating his leaving the field for about a quarter of an hour. China in the meantime played with only ten men, but nevertheless, they kept the local rearguard busily employed, Hobbs and Maxwell in turn making good saves. China continued on the aggressive for some time, but R. Cook and Maxwell proved equal to the occasion, and repeatedly got the bail away to the halves, who sent it on to the forwards and changed the venue of play. FIRST BLOOD TO SOUTHLAND. Cook, who was playing brilliantly, twice endeavoured to goal the ball, but failed, Hung on each occasion gaining possession, and so relieving the pressure. Ting and Chang endeavoured to score, but Maxwell upset the movement, and with a long pass sent the ball to Cook. The latter made a break-away and, getting within striking distance, he kicked hard, bringing the visiting goalie to his knees to effect a save, and before he could recover sufficiently, Rudolph had rushed in and netted the ball. Southland .. .. .. 1 China. 0 THE SECOND SCORE. Encouraged by their success, the Southland vanguard again appeared to advantage, Dickson missing with a good kick. Hobbs, however, was in a handy position, and gathering in the leather, he passed to Rudolph, who back heeled the ball to Cook, w-ho was able to send in a fast kick which look the goalkeeper fairly by surprise. Southland 2 China 0 The home team again initiated a passing movement which ended unsuccessfully owing to Hung cutting-in and sending the ball away to the centre of the field. Ting took up the running and passed the ball to Jap, who shot strongly but failed. A combined piece of play by Ting and Wang also went astray, while Lok, a second or two later lost possession through good work by McKay. With the aid of Wang, the visitors’ centre-half, Lok returned to the attack, but Maxwell spoilt their tactics. Chang endeavoured to repair the breach, and though he tried hard to find the goal, McKay managed to intercept the ball and sent it outside as half-time sounded. SECOND SPELL OPENS. On the resumption of play a slight alteration was made in the visiting team, Wong replacing Pao in goal, owing to the latter having received an injury to his arm. By no means dismayed at the two goals against them, the Chinese took up the attack with a good deal of determination and only clever play by Gwilliam, the local custodian, kept them from scoring. On one occasion Lok, who showed a very fast turn of speed on the right wing, sent in a magnificent shot, only to see it turned aside by the local goalie, who proved very reliable CHINA’S ONLY GOAL. For quite a while the visitors’ forward line kept the opposing backs hard at it to keep them out of the danger zone, Ting and Chang being unfortunate with their shots. Lok, who was playing brilliantly, again tested Gwilliam’s strength in goal and found him wanting. The score was loudly applauded, and was easily the most brilliant of the afternoon. Southland 2 I China 1 A heading duel between Hobbs and Ting enabled the former to let the forwards away, Cook missing with a nicely judged shot. Fast play of an even character followed, the ball travelling from end to end as the result of some clever passing rushes. PENALTY AGAINST THE VISITORS.

The visitors were once again hemmed in, and the unintentional handling of the ball by Wang gave the local men a penalty kick which Cook make no mistake with, his kick, which was an exceptionally fast one, giving Wong no possible chance of saving.

Southland 3 China 1 The succeeding play was for a time quite in favour of the visitors, who unfortunately did not seem able to drive home the at-

tack sufficiently to bring it to a successful conclusion. Lok, Jap, Chang and Jap, in turn attempted to shoot, only to have their shot intercepted by the opposing backs. THE SCORE MOUNTING UP. Hobbs was responsible for changing the issue and by giving Dickson a nicely placed pass, that player was enabled to try the defence, Wong saving by striking the ball with his fist. Smith, however, quickly gathered in the leather and piloted it into the net. Southland 4 China 1 The visitors continued on the aggressive, but to no purpose, R. Cook and Hobbs in quick succession relieving the pressure by some clever footwork. E. Cook was instrumental in taking play along to the visitors’ territory, and a short shot at goal was intercepted. Cook, however, was determined, and with the assistance of his colleagues, he again got within striking distance, Wong bringing the crowd to their feet with a plendid save. Chang and Jap both had opportunities to score, but feeble shooting on their part enabled Gwilliam to clear his goal with long kicks. Chang, a little later made another effort and though he succeeded in wearing down the opposing backs and was nicely placed for a dangerous shot, Gwilliam was ready for him and cleared in a splendid fashion. THE FINAL GOAL. Rudolph spoilt a promising movement among the local vanguard by off-side play. L. Smith quickly recovered the ground lost however, and tried Wong, who was equal to the occasion. Rudolph caught the ball on the rebound and carrying on passed to Dickson who again moved infield and tried the goal. Wong made an effort to stop the ball, but only did so with a weak kick and Smith rushed in and netted. Southland 5 China ’ 1 Ting was prominent in a break-away, but his shot went wide of the mark just as time was called. Mr W. F. Cree controlled th? game. MATCHES TO DATE. Up to the present time the visiting team has played seventeen matches, the results of which were as follows:

In the matches played to date, the New Zealand teams have scored 39 goals, while the Chinese have registered 23 goals. The visitors have yet to play the Fourth Test match at Christchurch next Saturday, after which they will meet the representatives of Westland, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough, and complete the tour with a farewell match at Wellington in about a fortnight’s time. COMMENTS ON THE MATCH. SOUTHLAND PLAYS A HARD SPOILING GAME. (By “Goal-keeper.'') China in the last minute altered their formation and decided not to risk Wu and the full-back Ting. Most of their players are suffering from severe bruises which have no time to heal during their strenuous programme. A very stiff wind blowing down the field spoiled good ball control and seemed to put China off their usual passing game. Southland fielded a very strong eleven which seemingly was playing to spoil. Especially was this so in the early moments of the game, and that they were successful was proved by the way the halves held up the potential Chinese attacks. Cooper was seen to advantage at nipping in the bud what may have been quick, dangerous attacks. Cook, Rudolph and C. Smith showed up with pretty footwork but Hung and Laing repeatedly shepherded the ball away. The game was being contested at a fast pace and no sooner was it at one end than it was back at the other goal, China frequent ly applying the pressure. The Southland halves, Cooper and Hobbs, were noticeable for clever stopping play and several duels between the half back lines saw China heading away very cleverly under pressure.. The Chinese did not seem to be able to adapt themselves to the conditions, their forwards invariably being beaten by the wind, with a fast running ball. They would have been more effective lying down on the home backs and trusting to their pace for an opportunity. When their forwards did move their crisp inside passing was clever and A. Ting should have equalised as he hit the side net twice with fast shots. Southland backs, Maxwell and R. Cook, varied the game nicely to check the triangular movements of the Chinese forwards Maxwell at times clearing brilliantly. Hung was proving his value as a defender to China when he got a nasty smack from a close ball which caused his temporary retirement. He was loudly cheered on resuming but was practically blind in one eye for the rest of the game. China, not to be denied at times, pressed severely and several fine combined movements were checked by Cooper, Maxwell and R. Cook, who were all playing an exceptionally safe game. Southland cleverly adopted their formation, always keeping the Chinese backs on the run, and it says a lot for their ability and speed that they spoiled these advances.

There was no denying the Southland forwards, they tested Wong who replaced Pao, and Wong, with cat-like agility, as the last line of defence, saved China several times.

Lok realising the solidarity of the defence for a time tried a roving game and was repeatedly over on the left wing trying to get Ting away. R. Cook, however, had the situation well in hand and Gwillam had little anxiety in his department. Maxwell played his finest game to date and never made a mistake, while in front of him McKay played a safe, solid, game and troubled Lok considerably. Gwillam, in goal, gave a first class display, his handling of the ball being quite up to All Black form and this player must in future have a strong claim for higher representative honours. R. Cook and Maxwell proved a hard proposition to the snappy Chinese forwards. The former was undoubtedly the headpiece of the defence. Maxwell at left back was the “surprise packet” of the day. Hobbs, Cooper and Mackay formed a very strong proposition in the middle line, and as one who witnessed the third test, the loft} 7 centre-half produced the form in the local match which evidently gave him a place amongst the select of New Zealand.

Hobbs and Mackay, taking a lead from their sapper, Cooper, acted as sound

spoilers, but at times showed a weakness by ballooning the ball instead of getting a little more over it. The inside forwards had a day out and playing well up put in some very effective work. Dickson and L. Smith the two extremes struck a happy patch and the large ground was apparently* all in their favour. There is no doubt that the strenuous training done by the local team proved of great value to them. Although the game may have been more spectacular, it did not lack in speed; in fact at times it was very fast. The visitors were showing a staleness owing to travelling so much, and with only five reserves, several of whom are on the injured list, it has been a difficult proposition to Mr Colin Reed and Mr W. S. Wang, the trainers, to save their men for the big games. It was evident in the dressing rooms that several of the team who' took the field were suffering from painful sores. Perhaps on an excellent side Maxwell, R. Cook, Cooper, Hobbs and Rudolph, were the best, while for China Hang, Wang and the backs Laing and Hung were the most outstanding. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS. (By On-side Mac.) A big proportion of the crowd of several thousands which viewed the soccer match at Rugby Park yesterday may be considered in (he light of confirmed followers of the Rugby game, and it would be interesting, if it were possible, to know on what lines public opinion was working in its survey of the merits and demerits of “football” in the true sense of the term, and a comparison with the Rugby, or handling game. In passing, it is interesting to recall that the Association game has furnished Rugby with some of its greatest forwards of all time, Jock Richardson, the vice-captain of the 1924 All Blacks, being a case in point. The footwork learnt under the soccer code will always stand a player in good stead in Rugby forward play, and the modern developing of the hard passing attack has not diminished the value of effective footwork in the slightest, but has rather accentuated its value in combination with the handling game. “Rugby will do me,” was a remark that was heard on several occasions as one wended one’s way to the gates after yesterday’s game, but in dealing with this view of the question, it is well to ask whether the Chinese University-Southland game was typical of the highest grade of soccer, and with all due deference to the Southland team’s convincing victory, it must be said that it hardly was that. There have been seen faster matches, including a greater degree of combination, in less important soccer games, and it was the forceful individualist methods of one side aganist a combination that had weariejd of its former brilliance and failed to produce the fireworks, that was the basis of victory. It was not until the second spell that the Chinese put the dash and fire they had shown in the north into their game, and their forward transferring attack in the earlier stages of the second half was first-class, but in general their play lacked sting, a fact which will cause no puzzle to those who are aware of the amazing endurance test that was set them with a team of only 15 players! In Rugby, the general practice on a lengthy overseas tour is to send close on two fifteens away, and even granting that the soccer pastime is a less* strenuous form of sport, one can only admire the fine sporting spirit of these Oriental visitors in agreeing to tackle the unsparingly formidable itinerary set down for them in New Zealand with so limited a complement of players. It struck the writer yesterday that two particularly fine exhibitions were given by Maxwell, one of the Southland full-backs, and Wang, the aggressive centre-half of the visitors. The brilliant Cook showed all the artistry of a great player who is recognised from one end of the Dominion to the other as one of the best in the land, but it was not often that he got the ball in a reasonably good scoring position, and he was well marked. A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER. SPORT IN CHINA. In the evening an enjoyable complimentary dinner was tendered to the visiting team by the Southland Football Association, there being a representative attendance of the players of both teams, as well as of officials and supporters of the Association. The President (Mr F. Bowden) occupied the chair and, in extending a welcome to the visitors, he complimented them on their sportsmanship that day, at the same time wishing them success in their few remaining matches and a safe return to their homes.

In replying to the toast of the visiting team, the manager (Mr A. E. Dome) expressed appreciation of the unbounded hospitality which had been extended to them during their stay in Invercargill. Referring to the match that afternoon, Mr Dome said that there was no doubt the best team had won and be had no excuses to offer for his own men, except to say that they were undoubtedly feeling the effects of the strenuous nature of the tour and had not put up the game that he had expected them to. One factor which had seriously begun to effect the team was the present trend of affairs in China, first of all with the famine and now with the war. The homes of many of the boys were situated in the devastated areas and consequently they were worrying a good deal about their parents and relatives, but now that they were turned for home he was hopeful that their spirits would change and better play would result.

Touching upon the progress of the game in China, Mr Dome mentioned that it had only been established there during the last 24 years and had been taken up principally by the universities and some of the schools. He did not think there would be more than 50 teams playing Soccer in the whole of China and while they could get some firstclass teams out of that number, it was not possible always to get the best men away on such a comprehensive tour as they were engaged in. The real lack in China to-day was a central organisation with some authority to govern the sport and, until that was accomplished, very little good could be done. In other branches of athletics, China had done very well, but until they were taken up on lines similar to those adopted by British and American athletes with intensive training throughout the year only moderate results would be obtained. His own opinion was that the Chinese had made more progress of recent years in Association football than in any other branch of sport and the results of last year’s tour to Australia and the exhibitions of the team in the North Island of New Zealand on this occasion proved that. Since coming to the South Island they had not done so well, but as he had said before, the present state of affairs in China was greatly responsible for that. Mr C. S. Wang, the team’s coach, in proposing the toast of the Southland Football Association, expressed the team’s keen appreciation of the kindness and courtesy shown them, and said that although the weather had been colder than what they were generally used to experience, they had enjoyed their stay in Invercargill very much. Referring to the game of Soccer, Mr Wang said that he was deeply interested in the promotion of the game and, while he understood that Rugby had a strong hold on the local community, he felt convinced that there was room for a strong Soccer following as well. The strength of the game locally had been demonstrated by the excellent team which had met and defeated them that day and there was no doubt about it that the better team had won. Among the toasts honoured during the evening were those of “The King,” “The Republic of China,” “The Visiting Team,” “The Winning Team,” ‘"The Southland Football Association” and “Kindred Sports.” An excellent programme of vocal and instrumental items was rendered and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was brought to a close at an early hour to permit of the vistors attending a function arranged by the local Chinese residents.

N.Z. C. W airarapa .. .. 1—1 Wellington 4 ] Hawke's Bay f) 9 Poverty Bav 0—0 Manawatu 1—0 Wanganui .. .. 2—4 Taranaki 1—1 Auckland 5—1 Rotorua 1—2 First Test South Auckland 3 O Second Test o 0 South Canterbury .. .. .. .. 3—1 Canterbury .. .. 3—2 Otago 1 1 Third Test 5 5 Southland 5 1