SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19364, 22 July 1925, Page 6

SOCCER

NOTES AND COMMENTS Tn view of the fact that the English eleven simply played with Australia's best at Sydney last Saturday, the following comments on the Lome side which appeared in a Sydney pamcr last Wednesday will be perused with interest by local followers of the non-han 1ling code: The Australian selectors have chosen a strong eleven to play the unconquered Englishmen in the fourth Soccer Test match, to be played at the Agricultural Ground ou Saturday (England won The third Test match, which was won by the tourists, B—2, revealed a weakness in the Australian defence, although it is admitted that the Britishers brought to light their best forward display of lhe tour. Elkes, Batten, and Hannaford are pastmasters in ball control, and possess a rare knowledge tof the duties of forwards intent on notching goals. They are all accurate target artists and let drive at the goal without the slightest easing up when going at top speed. As they completely outplayed Gallon. Faulkner, and Edwards, thr Australian selectors seem justified in giving a new defence a trial. Bourke, the Granville winger, has also been left out for Burns, of Canterbury. The Granville man has been mastered on every occasion by Graham, an International of this season. The English half-back has

probably no superior in the world as a half-back. An expert tackler, with a minimum of exertion, and a rare prompter of the forwards immediately in front of him, the English half-back will take a lot of beating. Burns is fast, and can middle a ball with great judgment. But can he out-manoeuvre the incomparable Englishman? Lambert ’s inclusion in the intermedia i\v line should stiffen the defence, and if he can slop Batten, his selection will be justified. Edwards failed, at Mait land, to hold up the English attack, but Lambert is a more solid tackler than the displayed centre half-back. Apparently Ihe changes made in tl. n team were not very effective, for the cabled account of the game staled that the English forwards turned their backs on the goal to keep from scoring! In short, it was a debacle. The following correspondence will also be of interest to Soccer enthusiasts here: Mr .John Lewis (joint manager of the English Soccer team) has received the following communication from Mr S. Storey, representing the Football Association of Australia: ••Payment io Australian Players.— Payment of 10s a day is paid by each of the New South Wales ami the Australian associations to N.S.W. tor days on which loss of work is actually incurred as compensation. It has been now decided, to pay. in addition. £5 as honorariums to each player who plays in a Test match. This intimation is conveyed to you on account of our press denial to your statement at Syd noy I'niversily criticising the Australian association.” In reply, Mr Lewis has issued the following statement for publication: “I staled at the Uni' ersity that under the rules of the Football Association (England) Australian players were not amateurs. The Football Association of Australia is affiliated to the Football Association (England), and, therefore, must conform Io the Football Assocition’s rules, which state definitely that an amateur must not receive remuneration or consideration of any kind for playing football. If so. he is declared a professional. T pointed out that Australian players wjpre, receiving £1 a day allowance and £5 each for a Test match. Mr Storey and his commit leee published a statement the same night which was at variance with mine. In face of that, it. is interesting to receive the above statement from Air Storey.' ’ ENGLAND DEFEATS GRANVILLE t Received July 21. 10.55 p.m. SYDNEY, July 21. England defeated Granville, which is the metropolitan premier team, by 6 to 1. For a time the locals held the visitors, then the latter’s superior technique told, ami England ran away with the game.