SOCCER NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 4

SOCCER NOTES

Wanganui Association Matches PROMISING PLAYERS ENGLISH CUP FINAL NEXT SATURDAY (By “Waverley.") The Eastbrooke-Marist game last Saturday was spoiled to a large extent through neither side having a suitable ball. Teams must know that good football cannot be played if the bull is not up to standard. Boots also did not comply with the rules. Roper’s leg was badly scratched by nails protruding through studs. Referees would do well to inspect all boots on Saturdays. Easlbrooke will never have greater territorial advantage than they enjoyed against Marist last Saturday, but the forwards failed dismally near goal. * Stokes, in goal, had little to do in the second spell, but one shot from Rush was well saved. Ward and Taylor defended well and in the second spell forced the pace continually. At half-back Eastbrooke were weil 'served. If the halves had shot more in the second spell the result may have been different. When the forwards cannot score the half-backs must try from further out. Local players should remember some of the great goals scored by Dickson when he played at left-half for Thistle. The Eastbrooke forwards never got going all day. They played all over the goal-mouth and tried to walk the ball into the net. This delay allowed the Marist defence time to cover up and thus hold the fort. It was pleasing to see Tom Quinn in action again and he is sure to strengthen the Eastbrooke front line. For Marist, Bates in goal played a grand game and in the second spell was called on to save many shots. He is very safe, and Marist are fortunate to have such a good goalkeeper. Cooper, at left-back, however, was the man who mattered in the Marist team. His tackling was deadly and he cleared his lines with clean, crLp kicking. In the half-back line Ruscoe played well and more than held his own against Quinn and Nelson. In the forwards Marist were best served by Rush. Speedy, and with a nice cross, this player only needs support to bring out the best in him. On Cook’s Gardens Technical Old Boys and Athletic played a thriller, victory going to the latter team by the odd goal in three. A feature of the game was the Stirling defence of Fatterson and Good, and it would not be surprising if both these lads made the representative team this year. A pleasing feature of Saturday’s games was a full quota of referees. The Referees’ Association must be congratulated on its efforts. The final of the Scottish Cup was played last Saturday at Hampden Park when Clyde defeated Motherwell by 4 goals to nil. This is the first time Clyde have won the Scottish Cup. In 1919 they reached the final only to be beaten by Dundee in a replay. Motherwell also have never won th?

Scottish Cup, but in 1933 they reached the final, only to be beaten by Celtic in a replay. Motherwell’s record in Cup football is most consistent as they have reached the quarter-final eight times in the last 10 years. This year they lost in the final. Perhaps next year will see them the winners of the Scottish Cup. Next Saturday will see the final of the English Cup, when Portsmoutn and Wolverhampton Wanderers will meet at Wembly. The Wolves haw the youngest set of forwards playing first-grade soccer at home. The oldest forward is 21 years of age. and Mullen, the outside left, is only 16. The average age of the front line il 18, and Cullis, the centre-half anu

skipper, is 21. Cullis incidentally played at centre-half for England against Scotland at Hampden Park two weeks ago when the Scots were beaten by 2 goals to 1. Tom Lawton, the 17-year-old Everton star, lea the English attack. A Glasgow paper to hand gives an account of the amateur match England v. Scotland. The game resulted in a win for England by 8 goals to 3. In the English team were four players who were seen in action on Cook’s Gardens in 1937, namely Lewis, Leek, Finch and Parr. Lewis captained the Englishmen, who were too fast for tne Scots. A notable absentee was Bernard Joy, who plays regularly for tne Arsenal.

That the soccer game has gone ahead in South Africa is evident by the inclusion of six South Africans in the final, Motherwell playing foui while the Clyde team included two. Perhaps the same distinction will come to New Zealand some day FIXTURES FOR SAT I RD AY GAMES AND GROUNDS Fixtures for senior and junior matches in I he Wanganui Football Association’s competitions for next. Saturday, together with the respective

grounds, are as follow: Seniors, at 3 p.m. Technical Old Boys v. Eastbrooke, on Cook’s Gardens; Athletic v. Marist, cn Victoria Park. Juniors at 1.30 p.m.—Eastbrooke v. Technical B, on Cook’s Gardens; Athletic v. Technical A on Victoria Park No. 1 ground; Marist v. Rangers, on Victoria Park No. 2 ground. Technical Old Boys have a bye.