SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 4

SOCCER

WANGANUI ASSOCIATION LAST SATURDAY’S FORM 1 ‘ROSPECTS DISCUSSED Fixtures for Saturday arc as foi lows: — Eastbrooke v. Athletic, on Cook’s Gardens; referee Air Phizacklea. Thistle v. K. P. ’s,' on Victoria Park; referee Al r Phillips. Junior: —Wanganui East v. Athletic on Cook’s Gardens; referee Mr Weatherhead. Thistle v. Atills, On Vii-toria Park; referee Air Langslow. Review of Play ■ Tiie Association were uniucky as re|gards weather for their opening game lof the season but despite the slippery 1 slate of the ground play reached a fairly high level. K.P.’s, last year’s champions, ha 1 a substantial win over the newly foim.'d Athletic, but the result rather flattered the winners. Eastbrooke and Thistle on Cook'scored eight goals and the result was a fairly good one, although Eastbrooke got their goals easier than Thistle di.l.

As regards individual player-, neither goalkeeper took any credit from the game, their clearances being generally a bit wobbly. Stent on at least two occasions showed bad ju ig ment. Of the four full-backs engaged none 1 ok the eye more than A. Walker, of Thistle. This young lad tackled ami kicked well and promises to turn out a good player in years tc come. Gillon was the best of tuv Brooke’s pair but no doubt AlcMillan will soun be back in his old form.

Thistle had the pull at half Dickson and Gilbert playing well. The former 'was the best player on view. Killeen I was th*c best of the Eastbrooke trio and played quite a serviceable game, although he was out of position. The forwards of both teams were a very mediocre lot. V. Clapham was the best of Eastbrooke’s live and scut in a few good crosses. Along with Jones he made up the best wing on the field. Thistle forwards never scemt'l to strike a good combination. As an individualist Heath was the pick, but his play was marred on more than one occasion by selfishness. Next Saturday

On Saturday the needle match will be played on the Hill between K.P.’s and Thistle. It is a pity this match was not booked for Cook’s Gardens but the powers that be, ruled otherwise. This game promises to be a hard one and the team ’ that cau secure the points on Saturday will have a lot of confidence in their ability to win the Shield. Unless Thistle strengthen their [last line of defence they look like baring on the losing side. The game on Cook’s Gardens looks like a win for Eastbrooke, but perhaps tf \thletic will rise to the occasion and give the “blues’’ more than they expect. Juniors

The junior game does not seem to bo in too healthy a condition. There was only one game played on Saturday, Mills gaining the verdict over Athletic by five goals. It appears as H Mills are going to be cock of the walk for another season. The team is much heavier than any of the others eugagI cd and that gives them a big advanJtage over their younger and lighter ! opponents. THISTLE CLUB JUNIORS TO MEET TO-NIGHT There will be a meeting of the Thistle Juniors to-night at the Y.ALC.A. at 7.30. Any players who would like to play for this club or any intending players arc requested to attend. NO OVERSEAS TOURISTS NEW ZEALAND’S LEAN YHAR FINANCES NOT TOO HEALTHY’ It docs not appear very likely that, New Zealand will have a visit from an overseas team this year, as the associx’ons which have been approached the subject by the New Zealand Council have been far from enthusiastic, states a "Wellington writer. The proposal was to invite an Australian team to New Zealand this winter, but it is extremely doubtful if such a visit would prove a payable proposition. New Zealand has already demonstrated very clearly, both in Australia and New Zealand, that it is too good for Australia at Association football, and an Australian team is not likely to prove a very strong gate- drawing attraction. From an educational point of view, 100, a tour by an Australian team would not be of any great value, as the Australians have little or nothing to teach us. So far, New Zealand’s experience of overseas visits has been particularly unfortunate, and the council should hesitate a long time before it undertakes another. The council would be well advised to sit back for a few years, and then concentrate on bringing an English or Scottish team to New Zealand. It' is well known that the council’s finances are far from healthy, and no further risks should be taken until the finances have been built up. The council is making an appeal to the various associations in New Zealand to give a helping hand in improving the financial outlook, and it is probable that the associations will respond quite well if they are not handicapped by an overseas tour. Probably the council is very largely to blame for the position in which it finds itself, but at the same time it was a legitimate claim on the affiliated associations. After all the good of the game is the main consideration, and all the bickering in the world will not help to straighten out matters. Associations should realise that, and their delegates to the annual meeting of the parent body early next month should bo instructed to offer constructive criticism only. Criticism there is bound to be, tor it is known that many of the associations arc tar from pleased at the manner in which the game has been controlled in New Zealand, but as long I as the criticism is along the right lines no objection can be raised to it. Not Warmly Supported. The council has also put forward a

suggestion that a New Zealand team should pay u visit to Australia this year, but this proposal is not likely to "be any more warmly supported than the proposal for a visit from an Australian team. The associations seem to be anxious to have the opportunity of concentrating ou club football, with one or two representative matches as well, of course, and it seems only right that they should be given that opportunity. The English trophy matches will provide the public with all it wants in the way of representative fixtures, ami in addition there will be the Chatham Cup competition, although there is a feeling in certain directions that this should bo dropped as well. This is what; an Auckland writer has to say about it: “It is strongly urged that Auckland should once and for all cut this farce out of the yearly programme. The Chatham Cup is neither use nor ornament to the code. It has been the means of pauperising many clubs, and the inconvenience aud worry it causes in the arrangement of fixtures is overwhelming compared with any good results. Most emphatically it ought to be dropped. Were the A.F.A. to show the common sense that appears to bo wanting at Wellington and elsewhere, aud demonstrate their conviction that the competition is impossible and useless if run on the lines of its present constitution by intimating its intention of withdrawing this season,” Chatham Cup Competition. The writer is not in agreement with those views. The Chatham Cup competition is as yet in»its infancy, and it should be persevered with, although admittedly there is room for improvement- in the manner in which the competition is controlled. It is a fact that clubs which get into the semi-finals and final find the travelling expenses a severe drain on their finances, for the gates provide little in the way of a return for the outlay that is necessary. Many clubs have been seriously embarrassed as a result of their success in the Chatham Cup competition, and it is highly desirable that there should be a revision of the rules governing it, particularly in reference to the question of travelling expenses. This is a matter to which the council might well address itself early in the coming scasoi