SOCCER TEAMS CAN BE GRADED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 144, 19 June 1931, Page 11

SOCCER TEAMS CAN BE GRADED.

QUALIFYING ROUNDS NOW ALMOST ENDED

The qualifying round in the senior competition will conclude to-morrow. Western’s win over Sumner last week practically assured them of inclusion in the Senior A Division, and to-morrow’s results probably will not affect the composition of the two divisions. The chief game, New Brighton v. Rangers, at English Park, should provide a bright display. Other fixtures are:—Technical Old Boys v. Thistle, Sprevdon No. 1. Western v. Kaiapoi, Kaiapoi. Sumner v. Nomads, Sumner. St. Albans v. Marist, Richmond Park. At English Park. New Brighton and Rangers, without I the necessity for worrying about places in the Senior A Division, can be relied upon to open up the game, and lively, interesting football should result. These young teams have reaped the benefit of solid training, and they will have to be reckoned with in the championship struggle. Improvement in marksmanship will make Rangers a very dangerous side, and New Brighton’s young players can be expected to improve with added experience. Technical Improved. New blood has given Technical a new lease of life, and if the pace is on all the way to-morrow they may have a point at the finish. Thistle are finding some of their old combination, but they are a shade slower in action than formerh r , and the bustling Old Boys may set their own pace. Though not affecting the status of the teams, it should be a game worth watching. Kaiapoi at Home. It is hard to predict the issue of the Western v. Kaiapoi game. The town side are higher on the lists, but their recent form has been very disappointing. At their best, and on their own ground, Kaiapoi might make matters interesting. They will have to improve, however, on last week’s form against St. Albans. Nomads Look Winners. Nomads’ useful displays of late indicate a win for them over Sumner. A shuffling of places in the seasiders’ forward line might make an improvement. Bruce would be a dangerous man in the inside berth, with goals instead of good centres to his credit. St. Albans’ Hard Task. Despite an indifferent display against Rangers last week, Marist should have enough in hand to hold off St. Albans to-morrow. They play a much more robust game than the Richmond Park men, who will probably be kept on the defence. International Laws. The International Board will probably shortly consider proposals to change the laws of the game. The first is to amend the rule allowing the goalkeeper to take only two steps with the balb, so that he shall be permitted four steps. The second proposed change, sponsored by the Irish Football Association, is that for an infringement of the throw-in, no free kick be awarded, but the throw-in revert to the opposing team.