ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE BROWN SHIELD.

COMMENTS ON THE CAME. (By “ NESTOR. 1 ’) By being: defeated on the Basin Reserve at Wellington last Saturday by 4 goals to 2, Canterbury once again failed to recover possession of the Dominion’s premier Soccer trophy, tho Brown Shield. East season Canterbury's representatives were defeated by even a bigger margin, the Shield defenders scoring four of the live goals netted on that occasion. The selection of tbe team which went north last week w*as subjected to much adverse criticism prior to its departure, but as events proved it shelved itself worthy of Wellington’s best. The Canterbury team arrived at the northern port early on Friday morning, after an excellent passage, and as far as weather was concerned a record gate was promised for the Shield match on tbe Basin Reserve the following day. However. Wellington proved true to its traditional partiality lor wet wealth er when a Brown Shield match was to be played there, for a drizzling sou’-west rain commenced early in. the morning of the game, and the prospects of playing before a huge crowd diminished as the day advanced. About a couple of thousand spectators were present when the. Wellington men took the held promptly to time, and they were greeted with a round of applause reminiscent of a big cup-tie crowd at Crystal Palace. The popular red and black of the “Cantabs” drew an even greater cheer, when the team appeared on the held, and that thero was no lack of support for the visitors was quickly demonstrated by cries of the now well-known local slogan of “ Can, Can 3 Canterbury.” Wellington kicked oh against tho wind and raiu and followed out the usual custom when playing Canterbury by scoring in the first five minutes of the game. This is a “habit"’ of tho northerners which must be noted for future reference if Canterbury again visits Wellington next season in search of the Shield. The wet, slippery ball beat tbe “ Cantabs ” every time in the opening stages, for in Christchurch the game is seldom played under the conditions which ruled on the Basin Reserve on Saturday, whereas the Wellingtonia.ns were quite at home on the sodden ground, and there can be no possible doubt that the weather was a big asset to the local eleven. Swift, tbe Canterbury custodian, was early called on, and he gave A. sparkling display light throughout the match. The shot he tipped over the bar at short range from Brownlee was worth making the .journey to see, and on his showing last Saturday he is fully worthy of New Zealand rep. honours.

Graham and Flood were lost- iu the first, spell, and mis-kickin: the slippery hall gave the “Ellington forwards several scoring opportunities. At all times it should be remembered that, 0. wet. soggy ball commands respect. Trup the ball and thou. kick. is the motto of defenders under such conditions. Their display against the wind and rain in the sew-ond spell was very muv-h better. and their head work was a feature of the game. They fully rlamonsfvratod to the “Ellingtonimm than “ heads were quickt-r than feet" every time.

Simpson 31. left half fully justified his im-luaiou, and ho. was the most. effective player in the lino. He rum—pletely bottled up the opposing wing, and time and again he fell bark f 0 assist, the sorely—tried defenca His n‘eaknes‘s was the thrmvvin. and he has yet to learn the knack) of throwing the hall far enough to be of advantage to the winger. A liLtle practice will remedy this defect.

Blitchcll played a sound tackling: game at, centre half, and was always. lmrd to beat. At- times he Would roam to the right, which was quite a natu—ral inclination considvring his position in club: matches, but he left his ventre dangerously open on several m-casions. He was one of the hardest “ox—lied play01‘s on the fielrl. [Marie was" absolutely anchored by tho wet. ground. and was in difficulties right through the game. Again and again he was drawn by Lln- opposing: imlnlc player. only to find that the Winger rvveivcd the hall and got \roll away. Player.» of I)rurie'fl Llpn lu'c e 559”. tially fine went/her footballers. “Ted " Norman was 0;»in the best. forfiurcl on the field. and his l'ocuvork was. excellent. He was always maxtcr of i-110 op‘posin gdefenvc, and several times: made exvellvnt npmviugs to score. It would have been interesting ‘lO Ngc Nurman in such form lmcl the weather bet-n lino.

Kirk and Smith, on the wings. were speedy and put m-ross some uuoful stuff to the inside players. Both should remember to follow up aner pzxssiug the ball inside.

T’nrlott played up to Norman “(‘ll and made fullwhe 01' Lilc- fou- opportunities that came his \\a_\‘. The goal he scored was a brilliant- effort. and had the \Yelliugton keeper gnawing L'olville played sound football in the first spelL but the weather (unditiuus proved too much for him in the scvond half. ColriHe does not employ enough footwork to draw the. defence—a, Tory essential trait of an inside playcxu The entire team played hard font—hnll right up to the final whistle, and easily outstayed the. \Vgllington pinyers. who showed >igns or" l'utiguc in “'lO second haii

Mr C. Reed, who put the team through a course of training prior to departure, is to be congratulated on the manner in which he turned his men out. and had Canterbury played against the wind in the'first- spell there is no doubt Wellington would have had to put up a hard light to retain possession of the Shield in the second half. THE JUNIOR MATCH. As in the Senior match, the Canterbury Juniors were handicapped by the wet weather, and Wellington won with five goals to spare. For the first fifteen minutes of the match Canterbury were without -Luke at full-back, and it was during bis absence that Wellington piled up four goals. Cummins, in goal, gave the Wellington people something to talk about. His keeping was brilliapt. Had he taken the precaution to wear mittens, Cummins might easily have saved some of the shots which beat him. “ Mits ” are indispensable to a goal-keeper on a wet day. Luke found it hard to play his usual game, but O’Flaherty appeared to enjoy himself. He’s a good “ little That some players shine when playing against better company was proved

by the display of Ransome at centre half. Although not chosen :in the prigiuu] team, the selectors could hardly overlook him in future matches. O’Ctul[aghau in the forwards was as good as ‘Vellington's best. and had the wea—ther been fine there is no doubt there wuuld have been little difference be—tween the two teams.