SOCCER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 134, 8 June 1931, Page 9

SOCCER.

THISTLE AND NOMADS PLAY A DRAWN MATCH. Despite the difficulties caused by a strong southerly wind, some good Soccer was seen in Saturday’s senior com* petition matches. Thistle drew with Nomads after an exciting finish to _ a keen and vigorous game, and Marist battled their way to victory over Western, who failed to score. After a disappointing showing, St Albans were seven goals behind New Brighton at full time. On their own ground, Kaiapoi were beaten by the improving Sumner side. The Rangers-Technical match was abandoned early in the second spell, when the referee decided that the studs in most of the players’ boots did not conform to requirements. At that stage, Rangers had a 2-0 lead. POSITION OF TEAMS. Following are the positions of the teams fn the senior competition. Rangers and Technical have a game to complete. Goals Ch.

A GOOD DISPLAY. The handicap of a strong downfield wind did not prevent Thistle and Nomads from turning on keen and vigorous football at English Park. It was a game of fast exchanges and exciting incident, and the varying fortunes of the teams held the interest for the full ninety minutes. Despite the absence of Muscroft and Scragg, Nomads succeeded in tightening up their defence. Pickup and Chaplin dropped back from the front line to strengthen the rearguard. Chaplin gave a useful display at right back and, with his partner, Streeter, showed a considerable improvement on last week’s form, while behind them, L. Sharr kept goal brilliantly. There was a good deal of solidity about the Nomads’ last line.

Centre half was Pickup's new berth and, although a trifle slow, he was hard to pass. He suffered nothing in comparison with Purdy, in the pivot position for Thistle, although the exSunnyside player was superior in generalship. The Nomads’ wing halves, Adams and Muscroft, put vim into it and they were not slow to seize openings. M. Wilson and 11. Chapman, two veterans of the club, appeared in the forward line, but neither was in the condition to keep up with a fast and hard game. _ Chapman’s long passes from the wing, though, were usually well-judged. Back again at centre forward, Smith was always dangerous. Ilis policy of lying well up gave him his two goals. Goode was still nursing an injured leg. The Thistle defence was a wellbalanced one. Gwillam’s work between the posts was clean and quick and, in front of him, Johnston and Jackson were hard to pass. Jackson’s steady, low kicking into the wind showed that he has lost none of his old skill. In the first spell, the centre half, Purdy, varied clever defence with badly-timed clearances, but he was steadier with the wind at his back. His supports, A. Walker and Payton, were as effective as ever. Clements was an absentee from the front five and J. Gibbs, an ex-West

Coaster, filled his place—quite capably, too, in the second session. On the left flank, G. Walker did not always anticipate the passes of Bond, at inside left, but both were effective individually. Trotter’s snap-shooting earned him two goals, and at outside right, Speirs put over some good crosses. s* BRIGHTON WIN EASILY. Playing at Richmond Park, New Brighton had a runaway victory over St Albans, putting on a total of seven goals without having any scored against them. St Albans played for the majority of the game one man short, through L. Bunt going off with an injured leg, but never at any time did they look like being dangerous. New Brighton always had control of the game and showed more science than their opponents. M. Mitchell, in goal for New Brignton, acquitted himself creditably, but did not have overmuch to do. E. Staines and S. Cawtheray were an effective pair of backs, doing their work well. The half line was a very effective combination, B. Porter, at centre, keeping his forwards well supplied. The New Brighton forward line did not have very much opposition, and two or three goals were gifts. Walls and Allen, the wingers, each scored two goals, the rest going to the centre, A. Cope. Cope was right on form and was well backed up by the remainder of the forwards. St Albans had a reorganised team, and this did not help their combination. L. Andrew’s came out of goal to play inside left, and R. Maynard, usually a back, filled the left wing position until Bunt left the field. W. Cook, who usually plays in the backs, went into goal and made some good saves, but threw away many possible saves through his habit of running out. P. Carey took Hinman’s position at centre-forward, and filled it fairly well. J. Dryden battled like two men, but did not get much support. G. Cullen, inside right, was fair, but seemed to have lost the form that gained him representative honours. a a a MARIST v. WESTERN. Marist are to be congratulated cn their win against Western, because they showed that they could master conditions as well as their older opponents and, in front of goal, were certainly more dangerous than Western. Despite the troublesome cross wind the game was played at a great pace, but the control of the ball was not good, Western showing little intiative and largely contributed to their own defeat. M. George, the Marist goalkeeper, played soundly and co-operated with his backs. The latter played a fine game, particularly N. Harrison, a former junior player. The halves played solidly and were instrumental in paving the way for their side’s victor)’. W. M’Donald, at left half, was outstanding and gave the opposing wing few opportunities to shine. P. Toal, on the right wing, did some good work, and his inside man, R. Fleete, fed his wing and centre judiciously. Ilis goal was a splendid effort. T. M’Kendry, at centre, worked hard and bustled the Western defence, and, at the same time, kept.his wings going at every opportunity. The left wing pair played consistently well, but were inclined to crowd on each other when more open play would have paid. G. Roberts and S. Colville were absent from the Western team, the latter suffering from an injury received at Wellington last Wednesday. Without G Roberts, Western seemed to be like a ship without a rudder, for he was sadly missed. S. Ellis could not be blamed for the goal that beat him, but he seemed to lack confidence in him-

self. M. Kelly put in a great deal of work and repeatedly held up the most dangerous wing on the field. The halves, due to their lack of ball control, did not connect properly with their forwards, who were forced to go for impossible balls. F. Brjdgens and K. Anderson were only fair. C. Falloon, in centre, worked hard to get Jus forwards going, but shot wildly at times. The left wing pair, R, Henderson and T. Nelson, showed most initiative, but could not finish their good work. The referee, Mr E. B. Harris, handled the game well under the circumstances. THE LOWER GRADES. Junior. Teohnlcol Old Boys 7, Western A 3. Thistle 7. Rangers 0. Villa 3, Western B 2. Lyttelton 3, Marist 1. Fourth. Nomads A 2, St Mary's 1. Thistle 1. St Albans 0. Technical Old Roys 5, Nomads B 4. Fifth. New Brighton 5, Marist 0. Thistle 3, Y.M.C.A. 1. Sixth. Lyttelton 14, Western B 0. Technical 1. Western A 0. Thistle 6, St Albans 1. IN OTHER PLACES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 7. Thistle 2. North Shore 1; Ponsonby *, Celtic 2; Tramurewa 5, Oneliunga 1; Y.M.C.A. 4. New Accord 1. PALMERSTON NORTH. June 6. St Andrews 3, R.S.A. 1; Athletic 4, Flock House 0. WELLINGTON. June 7. Watersiders 2, Marist 2; Petone 7. Seatoun 3; Diamonds 9, W.Y.M.L 1; Hospital 2, Thistle 1. DUNEDIN. Juno 6. Maori Hill 1. High School Old Roys 1: Scacllff 4, Port Chalmers 1 : Mornington 3. Northern 1; Mosgiel 2, Technical Old Boys 0.

P. TV. D. L. F. A. Pts. Rangers .. G 4 2 — 1811 10 Nomads .. 7 4 2 1 24 12 JO Marist ... 7 5 — 2 1G 12 JO N. Brighton 7 4 1 2 25 9 9 Thistle ... 7 4 1 2 27 13 9 Sumner ..7 4 r— 3 23 IS 8 Western . . 7 2 3 2 19 13 7 Kaiapoi ..7 1 1 5 14 22 3 St Albans 7 1 — G 9 34 2 Technical .6 — — 6 5 35 —