BRIGHT SOCCER

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19942, 20 July 1936, Page 13

BRIGHT SOCCER

THIRD TEST DECIDED. ‘ __ i i HONOURB To AUSTRALIA. vlsrrons EXTENDED. (Times‘ Special Reporter.) \ AUCKLAND, SummiExceedingly unpleasant conditions and a field badly affected DY heavy showers, which fell throughout the morning, marred the third soccer test match iplayed between Australia and New Zealand at Blandford Park on Saturday. Although well out of touch with the prevailing conditions, the visitors gave evidence of the torn} which has stamped them as the finesu eieaen to visit these shores. In con—irast. New Zealand found the ground to their liking. and by their forceflll tactics am a great deal to upset the cleverly planned moves of the vlsltors. HOWQYCI‘. the speed and neat footwork of the Australians proved a. deciding factor. Taken as a whole, the game was an exceptionally bright. exhibition of the code. packed with thrilling inci—dents which brought the crowd to their feet lime and again. Smith Outstanding. Any criticism that has been levelled at the New Zealand selectors for choosing Smith as the All Blacks' last line of defence was adequately answered when the l’onsonhy custodian turned on an outstanding exhibition of keeping. his being the brightest display on the ground. Both full-backs, liaggett and Speed. were solid, with the former being the next most impressive player to Smith. lic got through a great amount of work. while his goal was one of the best seen for many a long day. of thc halves for New Zealand perhaps Wright was the best, but no douht his injury tool; some or the sting from his play. Kay was very dangerous when given any latitude, and of the other forwards \Vood did good work but was starved until the latter part of the second spell, when on several occasions he brought the crowd to their feet with elusive footwork, which left even the speedy Aussies standing. lves appeared well below form. For Australia, the captain, Cameron, in the early stages was a man that. took a power of stopping, his foot—work and tactics being of a very high order. while. Price delighted the crowd with his exceptionally flne ball control and elusiveuess. On occasions he completely dumiounded the New Zealand vanguard, and when he was associated with Cameron there was always troulile for the All Blacks. Powerful kicking was the feature of a fine display by the Australians' right back. J. ‘B. (“Digger“) Evans. In goal .\icNah was hardly less spectacu—lar than Smith, and he enhanced the fine reputation which his first appearance at lllandi‘ord Park gained him.. The teams were:— Australia: MeNah, Evans, Forrest, Bryant. llarden, Osborne, Cameron (captain). Price, \Vilklnson. Smith, Donaldson. New Zealand: Smith, Haggett. Speed. Todd, Wright, Chapman, \\'ood. Jepson. Bridge. Ives, Kay. Australia Attacks. Cameron initiated an Australian at.iack. but Chapman retaliated for New Zealend, the visitors however being away again with Cameron and Wilkin—son prominent. The slippery condi—tions made it difficult for the players to keep their feet, but Cameron took the ball well into New Zealand territory where liaggct, full-hack, made a brilliant save, clearing in front of the goal—mouth. New Zealand had a turn on the offensive and things looked dangerous for Australia but Bridge kicked too hard, for Australia to re—lieve from the resultant corner. \Vhen the All Blacks came again, McNah was out in determined fashion to clear. Australia's first goal came when, after Smith had been unsuccessful with a shot, which was partly saved, Cameron put the hall into the open not.— Australia .1: New Zealand 0. Bridge. the All Black centre-for-ward, made a good opening but was charged when shooting and went wide. Some ionsc moments in front of the New Zealand goal saw Todd concede a corner from which Now anland relieved. Price then shot from well out but his essay went wide. The. same player had an opportunity in front of the goal but shot over the cross-bar. McNah was safe when Kay put in a good shot. and New Zea« land lost a fine opportunity when from the rebound Wood went well wide. Kay was again dangerous but this time it was Ives who lost the advantage. A solid attack by the New Zealand for—wards had .\lcNah hustled but the cus—todian came through 'to clear well. The All Blacks made a great run to the goal and gave Australia some anxious moments. but the defence licld. llowcver, New Zeal-and scored soon afterwards, the crowd being delirious with exciicincnt when from half—way liaggci found the net to equallse. It was a magnificent ei‘fort.—Australia 1; New anland 1. Half—time found New Zeeiand on the attack, the exchanges throughout the spell having been very even, with the All lliaciis holding their own under conditions which did not suit the Adsiralians. ‘ Australia Loads. The All Blacks were on the attack at the beginning of the second spoil, but Australia. wan into the, load \\'hcn Pricc pni a good shot JißSir-“Alisii'iiiiii 2, New [Chianti i. \\'hcn Australia onmc with a sharp series of attacks, Smith ('imred woii. rccching \'aiuahl-e support from llaggril. who at this Hus-c was playing great imiiimii. Ham—-

eron. rounding 011 an Australian for—ward sally, went very close, but .iust missed the net. A good pass by Kay into the goal—mouth game New Zealand a wonderful opportunity, but after several players had shot, unsuccessfully, Australia cleared. Another New Zesiand breakaway saw the Australians too fast. Australia then attacked, Osborne passing to Cameron in a handy posi—tion, the captain making no mistake with his shot—Australia 3; New Zeainnd 1. Kay finished off a New Zeslend rush \\‘ith a hard shot but MoNab cleared brilliantly. Smith was equally good‘ when the Australians retaliated. HOW-‘ over, Australia went further into the lead when Price and Donaldson comhined well. for the latter to put past a hard shot.——-Australia A; New Zealnnd 1. The final whistle come soon afterwards, both teams receiving an enthusiatic ovation as they left the {lO ii. Air A. Firth was referee. t AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS. i BRILLIANT OOMIINATION. ' MATCH WITH SOUTH AUCKLAND. ‘ ____. ‘ Given a dry ground, the Association ‘i‘ootbaii game between Australia and South Auckland to She played at Rugby Park on \Vednesday should prowide tenthusiasts with a brilliant exhibition of the code. It is .too much to expect the local team to be equal to the perfection of team work which .has characterised ’the displays of the Visit—ors in all their matches on the tour. 0n the score or speed. South Auckland can supply some worthy opponents, notably A. crabb and Henley, but the Australians' superior footwork will naturally put the local eleven at some disadvantage. Bali control was one of the outstanding features of the Australians‘ play in the test match at. Auckland on Saturday. and to see Price or Cameron in action is to realisc what standard can the reached. The former has been described as “up to the English first. division standard," and he has enhanced this reputation while on the present tour. 0n Saturday he frequently passed the New Zealnnd defence with amazingly tricky runs. At trapping (as with all the Australians) he is adept. Realising how the Australians fared when well out or touch with condi—tions on Saturday. it will be interesting to see what they will be capable of, given advantageous circumstances on Wednesday. The test some proved that bustling tactics was the only thing which could upset the tourist precision, so that if South Auckland. wish to hold their own they will havei to he right into it from the first whistle. lndecisiveness is a thing on} \\'ilii‘ll the Australians thrive. and anything in the shape of half—hearted tactics will see South Auckland facing a cricket score. Dangerous Forwards. If Australia field their strongest cloven, with Smith. Cameron and Price in the \'an, the local side will have their hands full. as this trio has proved itself a regular goal—getting machine. However. as the team is essentially a combination, working as one man. it is perhaps difficult to judge where the danger will lie. South Auckland would appear to have its strongest team in the field, with an admirable mixture of youth and experience, and their supporters can rest assured that their representatives. if not able to hold their own, will fight every inch of the way. The team will be strengthened compared with that which met and defeated Auckland on the King‘s Birthday. Bate. ileukin and Henley will again be in the van. and the first is a player who is likely to prove a source of trouble to the Australians. At centre-half, Don Urnbb can be relied upon to rise to the occasion, and it will be interesting \to compare his footwork with that of the Australians. as there is little doubt that this part of his play is as good its [anything seen at last Saturday‘s cs .

A great deal will depend on the work or the local backs and goalie, but in McCullum, Alex Crallb and Sohonau South Auckland have really good men. Schonau is capable of keeplng 01‘ a very high standard, but if the Austra—lians reach top form the custodlan wlll hmve hls work cut out to ward ol! the attacks of the vlsl‘tors‘ brilliant van. Everything naturally hinges on the state of the ground for Wednesday, but, whatever the outcome, the game should be productive of sparkling foot—ball and spectators wlll have an opportunity of witnessing the thrllls the soccer game can provide.