Association Game

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16845, 22 September 1922, Page 2

Association Game

go Comments by “ Nestor " SO

EMGLSSH CUP FSHAL. MATCHES TO COME, Tho Canterbury Football Associaconeluded on Saturday last when th« two surviving teams in the “ knock out ” competition. Nomads and St At bans, contested the final for the English Cup at- English Park. Two matches 0! than ordinary interest still re- ! main to .be played, outside the competij tion games, and the first- of these will eventuate at English Park to-morrow. { when tho Otago championship winners, Mornington, will play the Canterbury J premiers for* the South Island ehan>j pionship. The last match of tlie season. the following week, will be between teams representing Great- Britain and New Zealand, and this gam© should be especially interesting in providing an indication as to the relative ability of colonial and British horn players. Such a. game will undoubtedly assist in bringing to light talent in tlie young players which circumstances hare made impossible in interprovincia.l matches, aud should create a great deal of interest. NOMADS Cl) v. ST ALBANS (Ob It was unfortunate that St- Albans were without the services of two of thej,r best player's on Saturday. Kelly, who played such a brilliant game in the semi-final at outside right., was in disposed and Jewell, at right back, was out of town. A junior player in G. Oarey ape pared as substitute for Kelly and Mahan occupied the right back position. Nomads, on the other hand, were fortunate in having their strongest team available, and under the circumstances their victory seejned to be. assured before the game commenced. A howling southerly made scientific football an impossibility and the game almost entirely devoid of combined ploy. .St Albans secured the. initial advantage by winning the toss and playing with the wind. Nomads opened the game in their usual style—a smart pass back to the centre half, who immediately putthe right wing in possession. St Albans found themselves jammed in their own goal before they knew where they were and in attempting to clear a long dropping cross shot T. Simpson misjudged the ball, which appeared to cannon off his heel through his own goal. This occurred in the first five minutes of the game. As events proved it was a costly mistake for St Albans. for it was the only goal of the match and decided tlie winners of the F.iiglisb Cup. The game can best be described as one of defence more than attack,, for the book divirion of each side were more in the picture than the forwards. Combination in attack is the most difficult kind of play tfie defence has to provide against, and as the wind

made this almost impossible the work j of the forwards was less accurate and ! consequently less dangerous. As a defensive unit. Dobbs, the St Albans custodian, gave a brilliant display. With his backs beaten or drawn out of position, he repeatedly fended off tho Nomads’ final effort, and some of the- shots he held showed remarkable s judgment and agility. For ?>;-round 3 ability his exhibition has seldom been i excelled on English Park. The Nomads backs. S. Fnckleton and Cummins, worked with a bettor unders standing than did Tennant and Mahan, of St Albans. When tackling was required. they did it fearlessly and with j the confidence of being covered if beaten. Their display was marred, however, by booting the ball out of play too often. It was irritating to the players and resented by the spectators. Both Tennant and ?>fohan relueed to take risks in challenging. At times the former gave yards to an op' ! ponent instead of jumping into a tackle j immediately his half was beaten. It showed an ungrounded lack at confidenco in his partner. Both displayed r good judgment in disposing of the ball when in possession. Whilst dealing with the defence Wilj son, tho Nomads custodian, deserves 1 commendation. He was not very hard pressed, but the fact that he remained unbeaten throughout the English Cup ties marks him as a goaf-keeper of exceptional ability. * The Nomads halves put up a good f showing in attack and defence. ~J. ' Frick lot on was always master of the e Saints’ mid-field rushes. H. M’Creanor on the right and F. M’Creanor on the > left excelled in the spoiling gamo and kept up a good service to the wings. F The usual combination of the Nomads -- forwards was discounted by the pre- , vailing conditions. Woods put over some excellent centres from the left, and tliia gave the inside trio, which ?• showed smart footwork at times, many V convertible opportunities. The work of King at outside right lacks polish, but with experience he should develop into a serviceable winger. a The St Albans halves worked hard i and died game. J. Simpson was the s best, and he was seldom beaten. Hil- >: grove was too much of a cripple to bo fc effective. T. Simpson's gome waa marked by tenacity. He should r velop into a useful half. Kelly was V missed on the St Albans right. Carey, X who took his place, has not quite reached the senior standard, but his i dehut was encouraging. i Colville vas the most effective for- ?. ward, and was always dangerous. M’Glenchv did not look for work if it did not come his way, but his partner, ? Hearne. was always on the ball. He ? missed many fine openings for his part- ? ner, Kirk, by indulging in too much i soJo play. 1 For an English Cup final the game did not come up to the usual standard, ? but the unfavourable conditions which ? prevailed were largely responsible for 1 the lack of enthusiasm.