SOCCER

Southland Times, Issue 22333, 26 May 1934, Page 14

SOCCER

(By

“Spectator")

Conditions on the Showgrounds on Saturday were of the worst. Very heavy rain swept the playing fields from start to finish, making good play impossible. Games were concluded before the scheduled time. Mr R. Robinson, the sole selector, was in attendance, but very wisely decided to choose the probables and possibles teams to-day. Southern A, Southern B and Corinthians all played short. No doubt many players thought the games would be postponed. They should have come along to the grounds, however, to make sure. Railway, although they fielded eleven men, could not stand up to the onslaughts of Southern A. The Black and Whites did not possess that final penetrating ability so necessary to score goals. On several instances good chances were thrown away because of poor passing and shooting. Of course the conditions were not conducive to good soccer. Nevertheless, Railway missed golden opportunities in the opening stages when the ground was in a reasonable state. Stevens gave a poor display. He can run well with the ball at his feet, but when he has an open goal ahead of him he invariably fails. His kicks possess no punch and power. Batchelor was, as usual, working hard. He is equally good on attack and on defence, and being an old hand, knows all the tricks of the game. McDougall, a newcomer, impressed me. This player possesses a good turn of speed and when his knowledge of the game is more complete should develop into a player to be reckoned with. Haberfield has been playing soccer since he was a schoolboy, and is always a. useful addition to any side. If I remember aright he turned out for Rangers two or three seasons ago. Railway will find him a useful man in the back division. Southern A turned out with eight players and had no difficulty in holding the Black and Whites. The scores, 5—3, were a good indication of the merits of the respective teams. A Wilson worked hard and was always in the thick of things. Wilson has improved out of all knowledge since he started playing soccer a year or two ago. At first he was implusive and clumsy; today he can be counted upon give a good steady display. Hobbs as usual was always on the ball. He loves hard work. Kerr gloried in the going and was responsible for more than one goal. McPherson plays a pretty game. At times it is good to see him at work. He turned out in Dunedin where he was recognized as a player of merit. Matheson’s idea of sheltering from the rain in the sheep pens is not to be commended. Corinthians found Southern B comparatively easy to defeat. The Light Blues’ extra experience and skill stod the in good stead, and they romped home to victory with the scores standing at 7.0. Heenan proved once again that he can be relied upon. Except for N. Morrison, in goal, and Heenan, the rest of the team comprised the tried and trusted players who have turned out for Corinthians season after season. Southern B, mostly newcomers to the game, found the opposition too good. Points in the McDonald Cup competition are as follows:— Southern A 6 Central 2 Railway 2 Corinthians 2 Southern B 0 Central had a bye on Saturday , and Borstal are all equal with six points each. Technical and Pirates are leading in the fifth grade with six points each. A hard slogging second-grade game took place at Kennington on the greasy ground when Rimu met Star. Rimu secured their first win by disposing of the visitors in a small-scoring game by six points to three. The game was confined almost entirely to the forwards, and accordingly it is difficult to individualize in a game in which anv spectacular play was out of the question. Both teams played short. Rimu started off with 11 men but increased to 14 later on as latecomers put in an appearance. Star played two short throughout. The Magpies fielded the lightest forward pack so far this season. McCorkindale, with a bad knee resulting from a knock received the previous Saturday, was absent, while Wilkinson was laid up with measles. Challis and Reg Bell both had to work, so that the absence of this solid quartet was keenly felt by Star. Rimu played a heavier team and had much the better of the game in the forwards. The Reds showed up to advantage in the loose, and in the tight used their weight to advantage. Star’s lighter pack were unable to stand up to the hard pace. Hodgson, a Star forward, was rewarded with a good try as a result of his enterprising following-up. The ground was in a very bad condition, and the players had to guess at the touch-lines. Another forward game took place at Tweed street when Pirates met Old Boys. The Blacks were if anything a little heavier and this turned the scale in their favour. It was a good, hard game. Strang, first five-eighth for Old Boys second grade, handled well last Saturday. The Bluff—Marist match, played on the Domain ground, was characterized by hard forward play throughout, although one or two bright back movements were seen. Play see-sawed from one end of the ground to the other, and what slight territorial advantage there was was on Marist’s side. Bluff scored within a minute of the kick-off as a result of catching the opposition napping, and' the spell was well through before Waldron, playing a good game in the loose and tight, picked up and forced his way through, being held up on the line; however, he got the ball to Hogan who squeezed his way through a mass of defenders. The second spell commenced with the scores 3 —3, and the spell was about 15 minutes gone when Sylvester gathered in the ball and, changing direction smartly, caught the opposition napping and sent Nixey away for a good try. The Greens settled down to play good forward football and, led by Maher and Waldron, were hammering away on the line. Once Mcßae was over the line and had only to fall down to score, but .finally Waldron burst his way through a line-out to even the scores. Both sides were now fighting for the victory and Marist were the lucky ones when Crowe fell on the ball after Hogan had failed to ground it. Marist were kept busy the last few minutes to withstand the Bluff forwards’ onslaught, but they hung on and the game ended with the scores 9—6. Prominent among the Bluff team were Sylvester and Nixey (backs) and H. Crawford and J. Burke (forwards). Maher and Waldron led the Marist pack in great style, and everyone used his weight, their packing being a great improvement on their previous efforts this season. Ryan and Hogan proved useful in the Marist rearguard.