Association.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18543, 17 August 1928, Page 13

Association.

ENGLISH TEAM. The English Cup series will be continued to-morrow, when two games will l>e played at English Park, and two at Richmond Park. Nomads v. Technical. Nomads will probably be favourites for this game, which will be staged as the early attraction at English Park, by reason of their sound display last Saturday, when they showed a return to their best form. At their best Nomads have nothing to»fear from any club team in Canterbury, being capable cf producing football of the highest order, but until last Saturday they had been striking a rather lean patch, and could only succeed in drawing with two teams which ordinarily they would easily dispose of. Technical had a comfortable win from St Albans last week, and now seem to be striking their best form. With three rounds gone in the English Cup, they have five points to thencredit:, having previously defeated Thistle and drawn with Rangers. They are a young team, and can last the full ninety minutes, but if Nomads are at top, they should have no real difficulty in accounting for the ex-college men. M M 3 Western v. New Brighton. This game will follow the TechnicalNomads fixture, and should produce fast and open football. The teams play the same type of game, keeping the ball constantly on the move and opening up the play, but Western are backed by more experience than the seaside eleven, and they possess a wonderfully solid defence. The Hurley Shield winners will be at a disadvantage in that they had no game last week, but several of their players were engaged in the representative match with Wellington and they should be in sufficiently good form to collect the points. k Rangers v. St Albanc. This will probabiy prove to be the most evenly-contested game of the day. St Albans have been inconsistent throughout the season; they have lowered the colours of Western and have drawn with Nomads, and again have gone down to defeat to Sumner, a senior B side. They are capable of a really good display, however, and if they go right to-morrow, the issue should lie in doubt all the way. Rangers, the senior B champions, have attracted favourable attention by their recent showings. Their game is very pleasing to watch, a nice blending of dash and pace with skill and cleverness, and they are a fairly consistent side. In what gives promise of being a very open game, Rangers appear to have slightly the better chance. Sumner v. Villa. Villa will probably have little difficulty in notching a win against Sumner. The latter are a very youthful and inexperienced side, and, despite their win against St Albans, they are a little out of their class in a competition of this kind. What they may lack in football skill and brains, however, they more than balance in energy and enthusiasm, and they may possibly upset calculations. Villa have registered a draw with Nomads and an easy victory over New Brighton in this series, and now seem to be well into their stride. A w-in for the seasiders would come as a surprise, and would be very popular,with all followers of the game.

The F.A. Trophy, ** The long-disputed question of the rightful ownership of the English F.A. Trophy was settled on Saturday last, < when Wellington defeated Canterbury on the Basin Reserve by 7 goals to 4, in the first match under the new challenge rules. The Canterbury representatives made an unexpectedly good showing, it being fully anticipated that the weak team that made the trip would be defeated by a margin of at least four goals. Actually Wellington were a trifle lucky to win, being favoured by the awarding of a goal which made the scores 4-4 and which undoubtedly had a disastrous effect upon the morale of the red-and-black men. From that stage they went to pieces and although they made a desperate rally in the closing minutes, it was too late to be of avail. The team, however, left behind them very favourable impressions concerning their conduct, both on and off the field, and that is no small measure of satisfaction. Apparently the team's comparative success was due to the fact that theyAvere a happy band of energetic and enthusiastic young players, who gave of their very best from end to end. They played in a cheerful spirit, reckoning the game the thing, but always having at heart the honour of their province, and their efforts met with totally unexpected success. That a team composed of players many of whom made the trip at twelve hours’ notice could have given such a good account of themselves, says much for the ability of the younger set of footballers here, and one can only conjecture what success might have been theirs had they been in the hands of a competent coach for some two or three weeks prior to the game. At all events, the result of this venture should give the selectors no little food for thought and cause tfiem to ponder deeply before including some of the older members in future representative teams.

South Island Schools' Tournament. The annual South Island Primary Schools’ Tournament will commence at Greymouth on Monday next, and will be attended by representatives from Otago, Canterbury and Westland. The Otago boys arrive from the south this evening, and will travel with the local representatives to the West Coast tomorrow. During the progress of the tournament, the annual meeting of the South Island Primary Schools’ Associa- j tion will be held. Chatham Cup. The South Island final of the Chatham Cup takes place at Dunedin tomorrow, when Thistle (Christchurch) meet Northern (Dunedin). The winner of this match will meet the North Island winners in the New Zealand final at Wellington on August 25. The Thistle team leaves for the south this evening by the night express, returning by the night-express on Sunday. ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR SCHOOLS’ TOURNEY. A meeting of the Schools Committee of the Canterbury Football -Association was held last evening, Mr C. H. Eascand presiding. Mr Parry reported that arrangements were in band for the sending' of two teams *o rhe South Island Schools tom - nament,' commencing at Greymouth on Monday next. Both teams would be provia«d with representative jeraeyß, and the A team would be provided also with shorts and stockings. The B team would n e required to find their own shorts and stockings. The teams would leave by the Coast, express to-morrow The Otago boys competing in the tournament will arrive from the south this evening, and those who are billeting the visitors are asked to be at the Christ-

church railway station at 5 p.m. Several billets are still required and any supporters of the game willing to billet a boy for one night are requested to bo at the station and to make themselves known to those in charge. A final practice for the Canterbury teams will he held this afternoon (weather permitting) at North Park, when the remaining vacancy will be filled. The teams will assemble at the railway station at 9.15 on Saturday morning.