ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20189, 8 May 1937, Page 26 (Supplement)

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

NEW SEASON OPENS. PLAY AT SEDDON PARI. (By “ Dixie Deans.”) With four teams entered in the senior competition play in the South Auckland Football Association's 1937 season was commenced last Saturday, when game's were played at Hamilton and Huntly. Rovers wept down to Hamilton Wanderers at SeSdon Park, while at Huntly the home team was defeated by Glen Massey. Fine weather favoured the opening games, and the grounds were in good order. Following are the positions of the team 3 after last Saturday’s matches:—

The First Day’s Outing. As was to be expected the opening play of the season did not provide t great deal of an exciting nature, ant the general standard of play vergec on the mediocre. Faults were frequent, and many opportunities wen lost by both sides at Seddon Park However, it was anticipated that Saturday’s game would be more in tin nature of an opening run and wttl many of the players showing an ob vious need of practice it would be un fair to criticise their mistakes to severely. Two Main Features. Perhaps the two main features o the Wanderers-Bovers match were th high kicking indulged in by both team and the slowness at getting rid of th ball. Besides slowing the game u considerably the former fault cost bot sides several scoring chances, an more than once good movements wer spoiled. On several occasions when seemed that a goal was the logici conclusion to an attack the player J possession held on to the ball far to long, thus allowing the defence to be come mobilised. Quick passing i front of the goalmouth makes for quick advance and is the surest metho of confounding the opposition. A Young Player with Promise. Although only a young player witt out many se'nior games to his credi Dave Crabb gave quite a good e> hibitlon as outside left for Wanderei and on more than one occasion h played the ball to advantage. HI speed down the side-line' was chief] instrumental for his team’s first scor and altogether he gave a better dis play than C. Crabb on the other win; However, Dave Crabb would do we to learn the art of using both feet. H was plainly a right-footed player o Saturday, but a little practice shoul overcome this difficulty and make hli a very handy unit for his club. Rovers’ Stroke of Luck.

Claude'lands Rovers certainly experienced a stroke of luck on Saturday when they collected White on the sideline at Seddon Park. The former Wellingtonian came down to the park to play the part of a spectator in the first Instance, but offered to fill a vacancy ’for Rovers. Stocklly built, his tactics are somewhat reminiscent of those employed by Bill Lark, who played for Wanderers two seasons ago. At centre-half he was sound in all departments of the game and his strong, sure kicking was the saving clause for his team on more than one occasion. A Canine Soccer Fan.

From England comes the story of a collie dog at West Bromwich which, week after week, went by tram car to watch Albion play. The dog lived about two miles on the Birmingham side of the ground, and boarded the car thete'. He alighted at the boundary stoppingplace near the ground, entered the same turnstile, and always took up the same place' on one side of the banks. His owner was an old supporter who had for many years taken the collie to matches, and when he died—well, the dog just carried on. * • • • Among the Backs. Of the four backs on the field at Seddon Park on Saturday, McLean was, perhaps, the' safest. The Wanderers left-back showed a handy pair of feet and tackled solidly throughout the game on Saturday. Clark was also * fairly safe, but Davies, although he returned the play on several occasions for Rovers, did not pay enough attention to positional play. Alec. Crabb covered up fairly well, and showed a greater inclination towards hard, fast tackling than in 'former years. Wanderers are unfortunate in lgsing Alec Crabb, who will shortly leave to take up a position in Whakatane. It was thought at one time that A. Crabb would have done well in Rugby circles, and, with the change-over to Rugby League at Whakatane, perhaps he will try his hand at that code. Goal-Kick Rule.

An alteration to the law relating to the goal-kick was brought into force in Britain during the present season and will be enforced in New Zealand this winter, says a contemporary. Originally a favourite method of taking the goalkick was to have the ball kicked ba;k into the hands of the goalkeeper, who then punted it away. Now, by a decision of the International Board in June, 1936, “ it is not permissible for tlie goalkeeper to receive the ball into his hands from a goal kick by another player in order that lie may thereafter kick It into play. The ball must be kicked direct from the goal area into play, and If It is not kicked beyond the penalty area the kick shall be retaken.” If this does nothing else it will result In considerably speeding the game up.

P. \V. D. L. F. A. Pt9. Wanderers .. 1 l — — 5 2 2 Glen Massey . . 1 1 — — 4 2 2 Huntly-Starr U. 1 1 2 4 — Rovers .. l 1 2 6 —