ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16514, 26 August 1921, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY BEAT OTAGO

SOCCER AT ASHBURTON,

(By

“ NESTOR.”)

The two visiting teams from Christchurch gave a good account of themselves, each registering a win. A closely contested game at Dunedin between the Canterbury and Otago representatives resulted in a win for Canterbury by the odd goal in three, whilst Rangers had no difficulty in accounting for the newly formed Ashburton Wanderers’ team by 7 goals to 1. CANTERBURY (2) v. OTAGO (1). The Carisbrook ground at Dunedin was rather heavy for the inter provincial match last Saturday but weather conditions were entirely favourable. There was an attendance of about 2000 spectators when the teams took the field. Canterbury won the toss and immediately attacked and Colville booted a neat pass from Bissett over ■the bar. Otago retaliated, but Canterbury repulsed, and Norman gave Bissett a chance from a difficult angle, but the ball struck the upright and went out. Play was taken to the other end and Dunn tested Swift with two raking shots. Frazer followed with a hard drive which .just missed, and from the goal kick Canterbury attacked. Aspinall beat the Otago defence and put in a hot shot which Scott deflected for a corner. Another corner immediately followed and Colville, centring nicely, Norman headed through. Canterbury 1, Otago 0. Otago attacked strongly. Flood relieved from Frazer, and play was quickly transferred to the home goal, but the Otago backs cleared from some sharp shots. The local forwards were not show ing their usual combination, but Dunn was doing good work and frequently gave Swift a hot handful. Hands against Otago gave Mitchell a free kick near goal. Scott fisted out and Allen cleared with a strong kick. Ruddiman gathered nicely and broke through, but T'lood relieved. Otago again pressed and Swift ran out to challenge Ruddiman and a corner resulted, which Dunn placed behind. Frazer broke away for Otago, but Flood tackled and the shot went wide. A fine combined movement by Canterbury transferred play to the other end, where Colville brought Scott to his knees in saving a sharp low shot.

There was no further score at halftime. • On resuming Bissett intercepted art Otago clearance and *put to Norman, whose shot at close quarters almost found the net. After a period of defensive play Otago relieved and Ruddiman sent Duun away, but off-side by Balk nullified the movement. Canterbury again attacked and Colville centred to Norman, who just missed with, a fast shot. Otago replied with a right wing attack, but Dry den shot wide and play swung back. A hot shot by Norman was kept out, but he gathered the clearance nicely, and beating the defence he put Canterbury two goals up with a hard drive. Canterbury 2, Otago 0. Fast give and take play followed j until Frazer broke away lor Otago, and finished with a shot which skimmed the bar. A series of shots from the home forwards were successfully repulsed, Canterbury playing a great defence. Another sparkling run by Frazer for Otago was finished with a strong shot, but Swift cleared and the visitors replied with a fine combined movement which was checked by the Otago defence. Fast exchanges ruled until the Otago forivards broke away and Dunn put over a smart centre, with which Balk rapped the cross-bar. Ruddiman was handy and from the rebound registered with a fast drive. Canterbury 2, Otago 1. Otago now made strenuous efforts to equalise in the closing stages, but the (Canterbury defence wan unbeatable, and the final whistle sounded with the scores — Canterbury 2, Otago 1.

RANGERS (7) v. ASHBURTON (1). Great interest was shown in Ashburton in the visit of Rangers to give an exhibition game with the newly formed Ashburton Wanderers’ team, and a crowd of 1500 spectators assembled on the oval to witness the match. Some years ago Ashburton had an exceptionally strong Soccer team and actually defeated a Canterbury representative team which was then on tour. The eleven which did duty on Saturday, however, showed a decided lack of practice, ’but considering it was their first game for some years they showed promise of developing into' a very useful side. Two of the most vital positions on the field, however, will require to be considerably strengthened for the display of the centre forward and centre half was decidedly below senior form. The wing forwards were good, particularly Anderson on the left. In better company this player would be as good as any outside left in Canterbury. As is often the case with a star player in a mediocre team lie was woefully i neglected by his partners. In the fo«r j ward line combination was somewhat ! lacking, but practice is bound to show | improvement in this direction. AYithJ out being impressive the outside halves, i Beauvais and. Taylor, were solid in de- | fence, but the former showed up better | i ban his partner in feeding. The backs j wore the hardest worked pair on the field and their display left nothing to ! bf. desired. Although the goal-keeper I was beaten seven times he played unj der a disadvantage—an injured knee ! troubled him right throughout the ! rn atch. I The enthusiasm of the players and ! the interest displayed by the spectators I augurs well for the game in Ashburj ton, and the officials of the club intend ; making a strenuous endeavour to enter j two teams in the C.F.A. Senior com- ! petitions next season. i JOTTINGS. i The West Coast team to play CanI terbury at English Park to-morrow ar- | rived in Christchurch to-day. Several ; English players of repute are included j in the team, and a fine exhibition of | Soccer is promised. The team will, be i the guests nf the C.F.A at dinner to ! morrow night, and the lady footballers have arranged for a dance to follow. The triangular schoolboys’ contest in Dunedin last week was closely contested throughout. Otago won, with

Wellington second and Canterbury third.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMING SEASON. HIGH FEES FOR PLAYERS. (Special to the "Star.”) LONDON, July 13. Not for many years has there been a quieter close season of football. There lias been the customary search for players, and Scotland has been a. hunting ground for English club managers, but the " catches ” hare been small and undistinguished. The truth is that the transfer fees demanded are almost prohibitive. The first-class player to-day is a priceless asset. For instance, Newcastle United have been trying very hard to obtain the services of M’Mullan, perhaps the best half-back on the other side of the Border, and they have made an offer of £SOOO for his services. But this is not enough. The club insist on getting £SOOO out of the deal and M’Mullan before he will sign the necessary forms also wants £2OOO. So to get him Newcastle would have to put down £7OOO. and this they refuse to do. So the player has taken the matter into his own 'hands, and has cut himself adrift from first-class football for the time being, having signed on for Maidstone, a junior club in Kent. It is not likolv that M’Mullan will remain long in the obscurity of Maidstone, though he is no doubt doing well enough there from the financial point of view, and it is probable that he will go to Newcastle in the end. The result of this hard bargaining for players is that few men of note have changed tbeir clubs, and teams next season will be much the same as last, with the execution, of course, that a certain percentage of young men will be introduced. The one question the clubs are considering is whether the boom of the pifst two years is going to survive. If it is, then grounds must be enlarged. In some cases this is being done, especially in the way of increasing stand accommodation, which is so profitable. A Tost of tbo clubs made large profits last season, though they are not all shown on the balance-sheets. This is due to the fact that the monev made has been used to pay off bank overdrafts and settle* debts which accumulated in sorry confusion before the war. At any rate, football will begin the new season in a state of unusual prosperity.