Association Game

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16797, 28 July 1922, Page 2

Association Game

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“ Nestor "

SENICf! CHAMPIONSHIP. SUNNY SIDE IN GOOD PCSSTION. Very close finishes were witnessed in most of the senior games played on Saturday last. Western and Ashburton collected the points in their games by the only goal of the match and Sunnyside enhanced their prospects of championship horK>urs bv defeating Nomad? by two clear goals. Thus the six teams in the senior “ A ” competition were only equal to producing four goals—a tangible indication that the teams in this division are very evenly matched, lu the. “B’* section a single^goal also decided the match in Lyttelton's favour against Villa, but the wins of Excelsior and Corinthians wore more decisive. So far as the championship goe* Sunnyside are i» a. strong position. Tt is impossible Tor Western and St Albans to overtake the leaders, but- the former, who meet Sunnysido to-morrow is just the team which may create a surprise. Sunny-ode have put up a fine record in being defeated only twice during the season—once by Western—and the result of to-morrow’s match will be watched with considerable interest. If the Green? loose it will make the final games of the round the most interesting on record. SUNNYSIDE (2) v. NOMADS (0). Expectations of a hard game drew a large number of spectators to the hospital ground, and so far thrills and excitement were concerned the match furnished both a-plenty. Of classical football there was lrttie. Perhaps the importance of th© fixture and what depended on it was responsible for the style of play adopted and just a little too much feeling was introduced into some of the exchange^. It would be decidedly unfair to Sunnyside, to discredit their win. They played a hard feist game and were quicker to snap up opportunities. But two goals did not represent the margin of Sunny side’s superiority. Both goals came as a result of Jjad judgment by tho Nomads’ defenders and both mistakes were almost Identical—a long kick played on to a defender by the Sunnyside halves, a. miFKiudged bounce and fast following forwards. That is the whole history of the winning goals. Nomads actually had more scoring opportunities than the winners. The numerous Nomads supporters thought they had the Greens “an toast” when corner after corner was. given away by the Sunnyside defence, in the early stages of the game. Bkit- the placing of the corner-kicks was chocking, and seldom did the ball reach the desired aT€",i. But Nomads gopeivdly appeared to bare « bad attack of “ goalfright.” Excepting a few ripping shots which always found Courtney well placed, the shooting genarallv was erratic. The forwards seemed unable to strike a happy iTedium. A fast run

would often be followed, by a hashy pot-shot with no attempt to bring the ball under control or footwork would bo exercised in front of goal, where condition? called for a hard first time effort. Emm Nomads’ standpoint the trouble was that Sunnyside approved t-o have their whole history of foodhal] and individual play looked up before thematch. J. Frickleton fiannd himself embarrassed almost as soon as he touched tho ball after the kick-off. AA oods was hus«tled off his game and Spence was always kept well shadowed when danger threatened. An interchanging of players might; Jlave thrown the Sunnysido defence oirt of gear. S Fricklebon might have mndo a.ll the dif fere nee at centre forward with T. Friekleton and AA'oods the. left wing, after it became a case of all <or nothing. S. Friekleton has a lot of good foot work, which is practically lost <u full Hack and he might just bare turned the trick on Saturday. Walloon w»s weak at outside left and SLiaw was not too reliable in the first- halt. He played a ?olid game after Tim interval and ran himself to a stands!if!. Grogan a? a right winger is showing .good form. H. M’Crcanor at centre half, and F M’Creanor at right half, got through a tremendous amount of w<*rk and imparted a judicious use of weight into their play. Cummins was better than >v Friekleton at full hack, because he was safer. Cummins got the T>all away first. AVilson had little chance- with the two shot? which beat him, for the players were right on top of him at the time. He is one of oair smartest and cleanest keepers AA ithout a. doubt Thomas nbravs has a decided hand in the winning of Sunnyside games. He engineered both goals on Saturday. Ho is a pfetyer who has received—and perhaps given—more hard knocks than any footballer in the game. Honours were perhaps easy in the duels between Friekleton and 1 homa?i. hut weight usually handed out indiscriminately when the Green centre forward was a inark. He was the fittest man on the fic£d and if were to forget one or two of those little tricks which he did not learn in New Zealand, he would be Canterbury’s premier centre forward. All tlie forwards played wi&U up to their usual form. Cromer was tried at outside left, and in this portion he made some nice runs down the line, and was the source of I*lunnyside’s second goal. A peculiarity out Suni yside s forward game i? tho exposition to launch the attack through the wing in which it first, originates. Time and again passing movements bettreen the inside and outside forwards went the full length of the field with an occasional chip in by the centre forward. The wing player would putt insid? when challenged by the half. A. smart sprint by the line, and he vvas invariably in a position between lv»M ami '■ uk to receive again from his partner. .* tf-nacious half -back and fast «oovering ,<nrks arc likely to block this atyle of r tta- k. w inch is less demoralising to ine »ien*nce than wing to wing play, h Mmnypide’s ability to on the s f ol 1 " ; " ai at the precise moment i. hail received from the w&ng that v lns t hem ma tehes. Gibson and Lamont were again very promising The synchronism y>f their plav repeatedly beat the defence Newell s fine play at centre half was a feature ot the game. His marking and feeding were consistently good Hi? defence was of the stonewall vairiety. Bull was again prominent. A strong lather than a clever half, but a man very difficult to beat. Aitkexi sfiowo.l some improvement, but lie is not a halt. Johnston played another

rattling game, but Cook was too slow ii- clearing at- times. Courtney handled the shots sent in to him like a tradesman, but he was never really extended. One disagreeable feature of th*; games at Sunnyside is the almost constant talking indulged in by the players. It appears to be more prevalent, on the hospital ground than any other, but all teams are more or lesa guilty of *' tongue riot ” on the field of play. Tho Sunnyside spectators were no doubt an inditing element on Saturday last. Healthy “ barradking.” without aoubt, shows a keen interest which deserves encouragement, but personalities the reverse of pleasant should not. be tolerated. EXCELSTOR (4> v/sT ALBANS B (I*. This match wa-s played in Linwood Park. Neither team was at full strength. M’Gill being a noticeable absentee from the Saints’ ranks, while Excelsior were minus Aluirson, O'Reilly and Luke. From the kick off it appear ed as if the Saints were g°ing to prove that their former defeat of the junior champions was not a fluke, for Butcher beat Cummins writb a good shot soon after the start. From then on the tide turned, and the perfect centres from both wings placed the Reds in an unassailable position. In M’Leod. Green, O’Neill. O’Callagban and Bowden Excelsior have a forward line that would be hard to beat, constant playing together having enabled them to develop perfect understanding. Mahoney. Silvester and Hunt were the pick of the defence, the fine spoiling play of Mahoney being a noticeable featttre. O’Flaherty should check his habit dashing up in the forwards with the ball at his toe. for when he gets beaten the defence usually finds itself one unio shy. Cummins played his usual game between the sticks, but should get the ball away quicker, and not endanger his charge by waiting to sidestep tho rushing forwards. The efforts of St Albans were decidedly weak, and more system and understanding between the different uuits ? essential if they are to win futur» matches. The absence of M’Gill n. doubt disorganised the defence, hut apart from that they did not appear t«» have a grip on their opponents at anv stage of the game. A marked texdencv to neglect the winjp proved tbrir undoing, as three of the goaij score-i came from that quarter. Saints could not get going at any stage, their source of goal-getting in tho form of Spiers being effectively blocked by Silvestei. AY'hy they persisted in playing ham was hard to understand, because he very seldom got away.

Carey at centre is a cool player, and j feeds his wings in the correct manner. A pretty tricky run which he finished by rapping tho cross-bar was the best piece of play on his side. The Keys brothers played their usual 1 ustling game, hut A. Keys should get the ball across quicker and not wait to beat the backs twice. Hie effort of the Paints on the whole was weak, and after their displav o*> Saturday it is hard to understand how they annexed the points in their la**; engagement with the Red *nd Black-. WESTERN (1) v. RANGERS (0L This match was played at English Park, and after a very fast game AVestern proved the victors by the only goal scored. Play was very even throughout, both sides attacking and delending in turn. The Andrews for AA'estern and Tupe for , Rangers, extricated their sides from many tight corners, and one of tho former’s saves towards the end of th© game was really brilliant. For Rangers Norman. Bissett. Asp*ral and Lusk were tho pick, the former pair being a source of Continual won v tc the Blacks* defence, while the latter pair, and especially Aspinal. put in ; some great defensive work. | For Western. Mitchell and Chapp. 1 , plaved up to their usual form in the backs, while Whittington and Druri© worked like Trojans in the halves. Tn the forwards the Blacks were wre!» -erred by Falloon an i Perry, who put over some good centres. This w»« Perry’s first game at right wing. nr. ! his form indicated that he is likelv to develop into an excellent winger. CORINTHIANS (5) v UNITED <OL Corinthian? turned out at full strength at North Park and Unite: were also able to field a full complement after some litt’e delay. United kicked off and at once made ground » :i the right, but were repulsed and play was transferred to their area where Powell put in a fast drive which Keai?. the custodian, collected brilliantly. United lacked combination and it was onlv due to the strenuous defence of Audibert and good goal-keeping I»\ICeats that Corinthians were kept from scoring. although the latter?' markmanshii* was not above mediocrity. Corinthians continued to pre--» and at length Pilling opened the scoro with a shot which gave Keats iu» chance. From the centre kick Unite-! made a combined forward rush ana were almost through. Perry clearing with difii u’tv from AYclff. Half titv* arrived with no further score. On resuming, Perry took up the centre forward position. Pilling goin-; to outride left and Murray in goal. Corinthian* opened with a bombardment of the United goal and Tanner centred for Perry to notch No. 2., and five minutes later he again scored c!o<«* in. United made strenuous effort.? t>> reduce the lead but were easily held by the Corinthians defend, and Flood went through and registered with a good shot. Pilling and Brunetou combined nicely anti just before time Perry was presented with an easy chance and he made no mistake. SOCCER CHAT. Soccerites will regret to learn that E Colville, of the St Albans Club, u seriously ill. The sympathy of all plavers and supporters will he with the popular Saint* player and tlie hope of a speedy recovery will he generally expressed . Club secretarie? are reminded that entries for the English Cup knock-cut competition dose with the secretary {Mr H Froggatt* to-morrow at 5 p m Tt Trill probably astonish soccerite? in Christchurch to learn that no fewer than 140 team?, representing approximately 1700 players, come under the. jurisdiction of the Wellington Foot bad Association. AA'. Bell i' back in Christchurch and v ill assist St Albans in to-morrow's n ntcli against Ranger* in the half back line.