Association Football Notes

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17537, 14 May 1925, Page 3

Association Football Notes

Bv

“NESTOR”

The second series of matches in the Canterbury Football Association's competitions was played off on Saturday last under excellent conditions. Of the six senior matches played most of them- provided very close and interesting toot ball. Taken id l round the standard of play showed an improvement on that of the previous week. At English. Park Nomads secured the •points at the expense of Thistle, whom they defeated by three clear goals. A closet* finish would have, been recorded had the Scots shown any ability as marksmen. Lack of finish was also the downfall of Lyttelton in their match against tSunnysi.de at the Mental Hospital ground. Sunnyside registered thrice ■without response from the watersiders. Hangers, playing one short, put up a good performance in defeating a strong Western side at Lin.wood Park, ■with a score of three goals to one. Playing on their ow n ground Xaiapoi maintained their winning form by decisively beating Villa with a score bf five goals to nil. In the match St Albans v. Lin wood, fet North Park, the Saints appeared to bare- the game won at flip interval* ■when they were leading by three goals. Liu wood played brilliantly in the second half, "however, and drew level, thus sharing the points with their op portents. Technical Old "Boys were "lucky to beat Addington "Workshops at. Elisor's Road by the odd goal in three. Addington were the better team, hut pi ared without luck. The position in the championship of ♦the senior teams is as follows : • SENIOR A. Matches Hoal*. AV. T>. Tj. T 4 *. A. Pts. iPunnyside .2 o o ]0 o a Rangers . .10 1 \ 2 Western * ft ft 22 F, 0 ►Thistle . .0 0 2 0 10 0 SENIOR P.. JKa ia poi .2 (» o s 1 4 Linwoofl .110 x :! 'Tech. O. B. . 1 i» i ?. A 2 Kt Albans . 0 2 0 i A 2 A ilia ..Oil 1 C, 1 .Addington . 0 0 2 1 7 0 liA N(i EJ i 8 COl , LECT. If is many moons since Hangers fathered a couple of points at. the expense of Western. Before Saturday's engagement Western had collected a total of seven points out of a possible eight in their matches with Rangers. In their winning efforts it has usually "been the stamina, of the Blacks that lias proved the deciding factor. In Saturday's match. Rangers, who playtrd a mau short throughout, stayed the distance wonderfully well and by employing a superior strategy to that of Western they ran out winners by three goals to one. Whittington worked like a Trojan at Tight ha.lf for Western, hut lie allowed the Rangers’ left wing a little too much scope. Roberts played a delightful game at centre half and was easily the best- individual player on the Western side. Hoy was aggressive f end constructive, hut could not get a line on the larger. Reece was speedy hut erratic, and NorHe failed dismally as a marksman. Of the Rangers’ side the defence of T.usk and Aapinall was superb. Neither wa= at a. loss when a sturdy tackle was required and unsupported they often held the Western attack at hay. Roth Gibson and Howarth .showed fttrategv and constructive ability in the intermediate line. Of the forward s Norman placed one of his best games. On the left Ives was crafty hut somewhat erratic in shooting. Morlev was effective on the right, and Leo h Rissett and Harwell exercised fine Judgment, when approaching goal. Air H G. Rhouler handled tlie game very efficiently. SL NNYSIDE SUCCEED. Sunnyside played an improved game on the Mental Hospital" ground when Lyttelton provided the opposition. It was anybody's game at the interval, when the scores stood at a goal to nil in favour of Sunnyside. In the second half the latter registered two more goals, and finally ran out the winners by three clear goalu. Lyttelton disputed every inch of the way right up ■to the final whistle, and they were decidedly unlucky in not piercing the Funnyside defence on more than one (Occasion. The winners undoubtedly displayed •more superior finishing ability than their opponent®, but only in that respect might they be considered to have, held an advantage. Behind the attack Lyttelton were quite the equals of their •opponents in anticipation and football strategy. There was not. for instance. * halfback on the field to compare with [Wales, of Lyttelton. On more than Une occasion be completely outplayed Punnyside's brilliant leader. Trotter, hnd it was largely due to the Lyttelton mans ingenuity in defence that the winners did not run up a bigger Jseore. M'Oilp spoils good play by not displaying alertness in dispatching the ball. On the other hand O’Brien fails to draw the opposing play before serving his wing, Taylor was a sturdy de- j

fender, and much less erratic than his partner Mayo. Wilsons defence in goal was admirable. He gathered and cleared many shots which would have beaten hopelessly a less experienced keeper. Parle and Greenaway were the outstanding forwards. Each displaced skill and excellent ball control in attack. AVith a little more luck both would have registered. Smythe on the left showed speed and ability to gather the ball, but. his centring to goal was fan!tv. M Lachlan and Orton on the right were effective though their opportunities were limited. For Sunnyside the outstanding player was Trotter at centre-forward. In approaching goal Trotter s tactics are most deceiving for the defence can seldom truly estimate his purposed line of attack. His shots at goal are delivered at lightning speed and with perfect judgment. On the left, Mizen and Browning comprised the more forceful wing, and their service to the centre was well timed. M’Lachlan and Sutherland produced many sparkling combined movements. As a connecting link between the centre and the wing Sutherland would be hard to beat. Purdie at centre half was a worker from start to finish. He was not always discreet in his methods, for he often left a dangerous gap down the centre. Back in his accustomed place at left half Bond played an improved game. On the right Thompson was a compelling force in attack and sound in defence. Simpson, at full-back, was rather wild in his clearing. Then lie showed a fault in playing right tip into the halves. Jackson was safe and reliable, but was inclined to use his weight over much. Callaghan had perhaps half a dozen serious shots to handle but he was very safe. Mr E. Davey handled the players firmly, and his decisions met with, general approval. KAIAPOI AGAIN. Although Kaiapoi. on their own ground, defeated Villa by five clear goals, the game was more even than the score would indicate. The goalscorers were Isles (3) and Jlowarth (2). For Kaiapoi A. Ilirst in goal was very safe, but was never really extended. G. Hirst, right full-back, is a player of promise. He was seldom beaten, and showed good judgment in his clearances. Bayne, his partner, also played well, but should correct his habit of handling the ball. Drurie was the outstanding player in the intermediates. He fed his forwards with judgment and his defence was equally good. Simpson and Fowler were good in defence but should give more support to their forwards. Howarth’s display on the left wing was pleasing. His shooting and centring of the ball was always well judged. Bruce showed ability at inside left, and made some openings for his partners. His shooting, however, could be improved on. Isles, at centre, distributed the ball well. Ilis shooting from all angles was deadly. Cowan, inside right, was perhaps the trickiest forward on the field, but was inclined to over-do it. Sheard, on the wing, did not come up to expectations. For A'illa, K. W. Johnston, in goal, played a fair game, but Jacks anticipation. C. F. Johnston was an excellent defender. His tackling was keen and his kicking powerful. Streeter also showed ability in defence. C. Ranson was the pick of the half-backs. He displayed ability in feeding his forwards and his defence was sound. The forwards showed good football in the outfield, but there was not u marksman in the line. On one occasion M’Donald failed to register with not even'Hirst to beat. Air J. Hirst gave every satisfaction as referee. TECHNICAL 0.8. WIN. A very evenly contested game was that between Technical Old Boys and Addington Workshops, on the Ensor's Road ground. It was by the odd goal in three that Technical secured the points. Several alterations were noticeable in the Addingto nteam, and a better combination was the result. For Addington Workshops L. Sharr, in goal, played a splendid game. B. A 1 orris was a tower of strength in defence, and was well supported by A. Pash. The latter would do better if lie converted his propensity for wild kicking. Of the half-backs G. Lamont displayed ingenuity and was the originator of many promising movements. M "Clean, at centre, was the embodiment of dash and bustle though he was inclined to wander. He scored the onlygoal for the Workshops. J. Mahoney, at right half, tackled well, and was hard to beat, but his passing was erratic-. Of the forwards, S. Tomblin and C. Gibson were outstanding. Tomblin was unlucky in not scoring on more than one occasion. Gibson was neat and clever in all he did. J. Crew seems to have found his position at outside right and was always dangerous. He combined nicely with W. Coates, who has a good conception of the game. F. Riding, who made his first appearance, is a promising marksman. He was unlucky not to register. On the whole, the Workshops team are a wellbalanced side, and should improve as the season advances. Technical Old Boys are a good fast

side. and are fortunate- in having a goal-keeper of such abilitv as Kirk. He was alert and quick, and showed a good sense of anticipation. The full-backs are inclined to bunch in the centre, but cleared well under pressure. <". Teichert was the most skilful of the half-backs, and distributed the ball well. A. Teichert was too much inclined to substitute brawn for brain, and was thereby frequently penalised. Afuirson at right half was tenacious and hung like a burr to his wing. The forwards were tricky , with the left wing the more effective. Smith was very prominent until he changed to centre forward. O’Loughlin showed a fine penetrative power and is a dangerous marksman. Blackler, at centre, played. a good bustling game, but should not try Lo walk the bail through. Bridgicy sent over some fine centres from the right, but "nis partner crowded the centreforward too much to be effective. Air W. .Mitchell gave everv *,ai i»(action as referee. liK decisions being HONOURS EASY. Linwood put up a remarkable performance in their match against St A leans at North Park. Alter being 3 goals down at the interval, lire v succeeded ill tlm. second half in. drawing level and .sharing the points. It was a lasi and interesting game in spite i>l the fact tb.il bin wood, being one .-lioil, adopted the one back game. hi the St Albans forwards, Hoban, a promising junior player, filled Spiers’ position at out slide left. St Albans produced some very line combined movements in. the first half during which Colville (2) and Hoban registered. After the interval the St Albans defence showed a lack of stamina and they wore unfortunate, in losing Henderson at right half who was injured. Li wood made the most of their opportunities and Harwood (2) and Spence contributed goals, tints drawing the match. For St Albans Hie whole of the attack pluayed well with Hoban, Colville and Donaldson prominent. Henderson. Bryan and Cullen were the pick of the defence. Bird was the outstanding player for Liu wood and Atkinson was prominent in the intermediate line. Nelson and Harwood played well in a fast and nippy forward line which combined well. THE SCOTS DEFEATED.. An exceptionally fast game iron play, ed at English Bark between Nomads and Thistle, which Nomads won by 8 goals Lo nil. Vet the score is by no means an indication of the character of the game. There is a good margin, but Nomads had to fight for -every score, and had it not been for the first-class goal-keeper possessed by Nomads. in the person of Ja rksnip Thistle would probably have come within one of the score, at least. Both teams were fit, and what gave Nomads their lead was the combination of their forward line. The club possesses a row of fairly fast, q uiek-siiooting players, one or two of whom, notably j>. AUDougall, can be very tricky with the ball. 'The Thistle forwards, on Saturday’s showing, play hard, but lack that conception of the finer points that welded the Nomads’ front line into co-orclinato action. In the half-back line, Nomads were a trifle better than their opponents, though Burnside, the Thistle centre-half, used his feet or his head with equal facility. .1. AUDougall was the most prominent half, though Afuscrol't. back in . what is understood lo be bis former place, at centre-half, played a- steady, and well-balanced game, very different from bis rather indifferent performance ns centre-forward the previous week. There was not much to choose between the rival custodian,s. Both bad a worrying time, and were kept busy, each making some great saves. Jackson just saved a goal front a high, fast shot, by jumping and tipping the ball over the bar with his fingers, and Faulkner’s star piece of work was during a. Nomad rush, when lie collected the ball, but slipped and fell just in front of several of the Nomads forwards. He succeeded in punching the ball clear. The game was altogether well worth watching, being hardly-fought, spirited