SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 734, 6 August 1929, Page 13

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES

(By

PERSEUS.)

Vive La France.—This evening we bid farewell and bon voyage to our Soccer friends on the French cruiser Tourville. The brief call of our Allies and the bright game on Saturday, have been a purple patch in a season which is growing very drab and muddy. The naval match gave us an opportunity of realising the cosmopolitan ana universal aspect of the Soccer code, and also how little we see of players from the outside world to give us an idea how the growth of the game here compares with other countries. In spite of meeting our lads under such .wretched conditions, the gailant Frenchmen really enjoyed the game, and the free mud bath most of them got was enjoyed just as much as if it had been one of Rotorua’s famous ones. Some of the visiting players impressed as useful men. Etienne at outside right was a star performer in attack, and his brilliant equalising goal brought the loudest cheer heard at Bland ford Park for many a day. Hamel and Tliuaut were nippy halves, and Le Jacq and Dreau solid lullbacks. Parfout was a clever and intrepid goalkeeper with plenty of sangfroid, but should watch his steps. Anything over two when holding the ball is barred. v International Soccer. —The return of 11.M.5. Diomede to port after the Australian cruise of the New Zealand Squadron brought full news of the triumph of the naval Soccer team there, and in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart the fine display of our lads was greatly appreciated. General regret was expressed that Soccer teams from here do not visit the Commonwealth more frequently, and it is a pity that exchange visits on alternate seasons are not arranged. The Australian critics were surprised to learn that Auckland possesses a provincial Soccer team that is too good for our navy. Some of the naval stars received tempting offers to buy their discharge and exchange the service for a good shore job, but they were loyal in sticking to the ship. Brisbane has followed Auckland’s lead in introducing the electric game with great success, and the toughest match our navy team had was the night one there against almost a Queensland team, which ended in a draw of three goals each. A Visit From Home. —A local enthusiast, who was once in the professional ranks of one of England’s most famous senior Soccer clubs, has been in private and unofficial communication with the directors of his old club with the idea of finding out the prospects of a visit toe New Zealand. When anything tangible has evolved the proposition will be laid before the New Zealand Council for the governing authority to carry on negotiations. Many of the wealthy clubs at Home send a team abroad during the English summer, finding it a good idea, as it is a reward for the jaded players after a strenuous season, and sets them up for the following one. Continental tours are no longer popular; but Canada, South Africa and South America are favourite touring places, and there is no reason why a trip to New Zealand should not be equally tempting. The clubs have to pay their players winter and summer, “wet or dry,” and perhaps if the authorities here are prepared to pay bare travelling and accommodation expenses while the players are in the Dominion, an enjoyable and educational visit may eventuate.

Championship Ends. —The championship ended on Saturday with no positional changes, only the Y.M V-Bel-mont game remaining unplayed, and this could be reserved as a special cur-tain-raiser for some future attractive date. There now only remains the Falcon Cup knock-outs, and unless some special competition can be arranged the season will be completed at a very early date for the first victims of the K.O.’s. This is unfortunate, as players are then enticed into other sports and sometimes do not return to the fold. There does not seem much prospect of another interprovincial challenge, but Gisborne advised yesterday that its solitary Chatham Cup entrant is travelling up on Thursday, and the champion Tram- ; mies may be called on to play a knock-out on Saturday against the Poverty Bay aspirant for national clubhonours. Wellington Y.M.C.A. won the capital’s final on Saturday with an over-

feat of Institute, and should have no difficulty in eliminating the Manavvatu - Hawke’s Bay survivor. With Lucas, McGirr, Bra ith waite, and the two McLeods, the Wellington Y.M. lias a particularly solid club combination, which should give our local champions a severe test

if they meet in the North Island final here Senior B Championship. —With the senior championship settled will now be keen interest centred on the Senior B grade, which promises an exciting finish for the honour of being first holders of the Skerrett Memorial Cup and qualifying for promotion to full senior rank. The positions of the clubs are;

Reclaiming Headquarters.—With an almost continuous downpour for the past month, and little prospect of permanent improvement in weather conditions for a while, the state of the arena at Blandford Park is causing some concern, and a spell there may be deemed advisable. Until the rainy season set in the ground was standing

up splendidly, but each cliurning-up it receives now makes matters worse. The proposed excavation of a large area at the War Memorial Museum for the cenotaph setting may afford a unique opportunity of securing a largo amount of good soil and valuable old turfing, which is all that is needed to make the Soccer headquarters one of the best playing grounds in the Dominion. It would cost money, but a solid drive for a new debenture issue should provide the necessary funds, and the capital would be well invested in a permanent and essential improvement.. The loss of revenue temporarily would be repaid tenfold in a very few seasons. Schoolboy Reps.—The names recently given as the primary school representatives for the tourney in Wellington this month were only those of “probables, ” and are subject to revision before the final selection. Some changes have been made, and the following are now regarded as the most likely boys from whom the team to defend the Webster Shield will be selected: Goal, Abernethy; backs. Saxon, Wheeler and Johnson; halves, Young, Menzies. Pascoe and Harris; forwards, Gilbert. Riggins, Cleal, Stephenson, Allen, Bowers and McGowan. BUSINESS HOUSE SOCCER A meeting of delegates representing teams entering for the Auckland Football Association’s Business Houses’ competition was held last evening, when the colours of respective clubs were allotted. Eleven teams entered for the competition. Following is the draw for the first round, to be played tomorrow:—Auckland Power Board v. Farmers’ Trading Company, Victoria Park No. 1, 4.15 P-m., Mr. J. Ball; Auckland Hotels B v. Shell Oil Company, Victoria Park No. 3, 4.15 p.m., Mr. Jackson; Takapuna Dairy Company v. Auckland Flotels A, Inner Domain No. 1. 3.30 p.m., Air. L. J- Check; Kents, Ltd., v. Auckland Training College, Inner Domain No. 2, 4 p.m., Mr. A. McGarry; Parisian Tie Company v. Hellaby’s, Ltd., Victoria Bark No. 2. 4.15 p.m., Mr. T. R. Wilson; Auckland Milk Company a bye.

P. W. Tj. D. Pts. Philomel 12 9 2 1 19 Manurewa .... 12 9 3 0 18 Corinthians .... 12 7 2 3 17 Hangers 12 5 5 2 12 Bon Aeooi'd .... 11 4 4 3 11 Northcote .... 12 4 6 2 10 Newmarket .... 14 4 S 2 10 Metropolitan ..12 3 6 3 9 Tamaki 14 3 11 — 6