ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16455, 17 June 1921, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

SOGOER BAILGRS. TWO GOOD MATCHES. H .M’S. CHATHAM t CANTERBURY. (By “ Nestor.”) The meeting of tbe sailor*’ soccer team from H.M.S. Chatham with the local representatives created some interest in the city on Saturday last arid there was n large crowd of spectators at English Park to witness the match. The sailors had previously met a strong Otago team in Dunedin, and were comfortably beaten by 5 goals to one, but the men were somewhat out of condition at the time, and they put up a much bettor fight against Canterbury. Three members of the ship’s team wore unable to secure leave and consequently their places were filled by emergencies. Had the sailors been at full strength it is quite possible that the filial score of 3 goals to 2 in Canterbury’s favour may have been revej*sed. SAILOR JUNIORS v. CANTERBURY JUNIORS. Play commenced at 1.30 p.m with a curtam-raiser between the junior teams of the ship and Canterbury, and victory rested. with the local eleven by the odd goal in three. Showing forceful football in the early stages of the game the sailors quickly established a good lead. Following this success Chatham gave the Canterbury defence an. anxious time, but tine tackling by Johnston, and Luke and excellent goalkeeping by Cummins kept the sailors at bay. Ihe ship’s forward line were fast and D 'PP.T —particularly Smith and Findlay on tho wings, but the inside trio were rather inclined to bunch, and several excellent movements were nullified by off-side play. This fault, however, was rectified as the game progressed. The centre half, Jones, and WDunald. at right back, understand their positions thoroughly, and Cook was a very capable custodian for the sailors. The match was useful in giving an opportunity of gauging the merits of Canterbury’s embryo representative players. With one. or two exceptions lairly good promise was shown. Cummins, in goal, possesses all the qualifications of a class custodian. lie exercises cool judgment under all conditions. and he made some very tine saves in Saturday’s match. Pressed on several occasions he edged the hall from a dangerous position in goal over the line for a. comparatively safe corner. and little fault could be found with his clearances generally. Cummins is bound to take his place iu higher grade football very shortly. In Luke and Johnston Canterbury possess an asset as full backs. Both are strong and fearless tac.klers and possess a hefty kick. A little move attention might he directed to clearing to better advantage but experience should remedy this fault. Their covering was very pleasing, and their tuition in giving tho goal-keeper a clear view has evidently been very thorough. M.’Gill at right half and JMoorhouse a.t centre showed some promise, though both were inclined to get out of position. They require to practise keeping, the ball low in transferring—a far better attacking proposition than lifting it. It is a very common fault, however, even in the best of halves. Selwood’s play at left half was not at all convincing and tbe opposing wing player, Smith, was always too good for him. Taken on the whole the Canterbury forwards showed good '‘ololllll3lloo. Stricter positional play, however, should be practised as the inclination to converge toward tbe centre was always apparent. Tronbnth and Porter made a. couple of tricky wingers and have the speed. Philps was the best of the inside trio and with O’Neil was responsible for most of the scoring efforts. Robertson worked well but was somewhat crudeT H F S BN IO R (i A Hv The selection of tbe senior team to pia\ Chatham created a good deal of criticism -mostly adverse. There was some justification, as it was generally anticipated that ihe opportunity would he taken to try out some of the young talent available iu senior football. As usual, however, the- team was built up with the old brigade as the foundation, ft is a policy which dies hard, but until the Canterbury team is entirely remodelled and younger material is educated up to the representative standaril the chances ol regaining possession of the Brown Shield is extremely remote. The three young players who were included in Saturday’s team conclusively proved by their play that they justified their inclusion. and unlike the veterans they were full of dash right up to the. final -whistle. Tho nature of flic game in (he New Zealand championship match demands staying power and it is inviting disaster to send a team away to compete in such a match without thin vital quality. A certain blending of mature experience may he essential - a brainy f i-yard may make a scoring opportunity of a movement which may be entirely overlooked by one of less ox perienee, and Canterbury is lucky in 'possessing; just such a jplayer. The same point applies to the defence. Apart, entirely from selecting a team icr Brow r n (Shield honours, it is beyond understanding that the Canterbury selectors do not give the younger players of promise an opportunity to tfhaw their best play in select company. The match at English Park opened in Canterbury’s favour and M'Rae, the Bailors’ custodian was repeatedly tested, and he made some excellent clearances. Tbe local team certainly outplayed Chatham in the first half and crossed over with a two goal lead. Contrary to expectations the sailors out-stayed Canterbury in the second half and scored two goals to their opponents’ one. Stone was their star forward at inside left and he scored both goals, but he had a fine partner in Lea.sk on the wing. M’Rae also gave an excellent display of goal-keeping—the three shots which beat him were taken from close in. Swift was in good form between the sticks for Canterbury. FI is save from Stone in the first half was a brilliant effort. The work of Flood and Graham was good at back, the former showing up very much to advantage in head work. It was in tho half backs where Canterbury’s weakness "was most apparent. Durie did not play up to his true form, and the tricky Leask was usually too good for him. Then there was the tendency noticeable in all the. halves of lying too far downfield. It left too much unguarded ground between them and the forwards ond the sailors were not slow to take advantage of it Newell at centre half was always in the thick of the play, and was always ha\*d to beat. % His propensity to work, however, amounted to a fault at times, as it carried him out of position with the result that the sailors repeatedly broke away down the centre. Simpson played a strong game at left half, but he also placed himself in more of a defending than au attacking position. A half’s primary duty is attack. His feeding of Kirk however had a distinct bearing on the result cf tho

match and a further trial in -representative football is justified.

It is remarkable that our half-backs in Canterbury do not utilise the art erf ground passing more generally. The usual mode of transfer is a lifted ball, but the advantages offered, by the ground pass are. beyond argument. Not only is the ball directed faster to its objective, but the receiving player is enabled to take it on the run thus placing the defending unit at a disadvantage. A lifted pass almost invariably gives au o]>ponent an opportunity to reach the player for whom the ball was intended, a a soon as the ball itself, with the additional advantage of meeting it with his head. Kirk was tho outstanding forward on the field and his line work was excellent. He. has a fine centre which would be still further improved by putting more over toward "the inside right. His play was full of high class football and if Saturday's form was any criterion, he should "be one of the lew certainties for Brown Shield duty. Grant was riot very impressive at inside left. He was often too slow and in working for position near goal was usually caught in the act by the sailor backs. Tho same point applies to Norman. He put some good shots to M'Rae—and some very poor oues. Bisset at inside right made some fine openings ior Smith on the wing, particularly in the first half. He somewhat neglected him after the interval. Bisset may not now have the pace required of a forward but he is the brains of the attack. His service and placing was consistentlv good ond he has the further virtue of being entirely unselfish. He. put in some stinging shots which called forth M’Rae’s best ability to keep out. Smith on the right wing was clever and repeatedly out-pointed the opposition in footwork. The selectors are bound to have him in view when the Brown Shield prospects are being discussed. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. The combined teams and officials were the guests of the Harbour J fight Girls’ Club after the match last Saturday and high tea was served in St Luke’s schoolroom. A dance followed, during which an interval was called and the ship**’ concert party gave a breezy entertainment for an hour. During the evening Mr R. English returned thanks to the ladies on behalf of the sailors and the C.F.A. and hearty cheers wove exchanged on the call of Mrs Holmes, president of the Harbour Lights Club. JOTTINGS Wellington has a strenuous pro gramme to fulfil in regard to Brown Shield matches. Six challenges hove been received by the northern associa-tion-including a new aspirant in South Auckland. Ihe lost games in the first round of the C.F.A. competitions will be played to-morrow. The star match is the meeting of St Albans and Rangers at English Park. Both teams are turning out Jti strong force and the game is creating a great deal of interest.