FROM THE SIDELINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 4

FROM THE SIDELINE

PLAYERS AND THE GAMES

Leslie, Pelones indefatigable centreforward, was the hero of Hie match m which Hospital mot their first defeat this season. It is characteristic ot Leslie that he always rises to the occasion and on Saturday, with Petone lacing their hardest opposition, and the possibility of selection in an All Black eleven close at hand. Leslie played magnificently. His shooting, hca'dwork. and football craft generally were an inspiration to # lhc whole side. Next best man on the field was Craig, Petone's left-winger. He and Leslie exploited the long- and the short-pass-ing games lo full advantage and had the Hospital defence badly tied up at times. Cullen at inside-loft was tricky, and Paterson and White on the other Wing completed as formidable a torward line as has played on the Basin Reserve this season. . Of. the three Petone halves, Graham, Reid, and Smith, it need only be said that they could not have played much better. Smith, perhaps, was slightly the best # of theatric The backs. Haines and Dewar, did not have as much to do as usual, put they did it as well as usual, and wicklifl'e was sound in goal. m Wyatt, Miles, Jeffery, and W. Woods were the best of the Hospital eleven, and the hardest-worked men in the team were Wyatt, Miles, and Salisbury. Though the Hospital'defence did not rise to its usual heights the teams greatest weakness was on attack, in which W Woods and at times Shankie olayed almost lone hands. Little support was given them by either the rest of the vanguard or by the overworked halves and two were of little avail against the solid Petone defence. Davidson, centre-forward for Diamond, is undoubtedly an acquisition to his team. He has a great conception of the duties of a centre. His work in collaboration with Morris at centrehalf was a treat to watch and his three goals were gems. . Hooker, Diamond's outside left, has a great turn of speed and his gallops down the line were always a source of danger to Marist. This was exemplified when he sent two beautiful crosses to Davidson, who promptly steered them into the net. Diamond's goalkeeper^ McLean, came in for a good deal of praise for his work between the uprights. His saves at times were almost uncanny. The brothers Qulrke both played sterling games for Marist. Their work in scoring Marist's first^goal was nippy. Both sets ot full-backs in the MaristDiamond game distinguished themselves by the excellent standard of their defence. Parton kept goal well for Seatoun, making a few good saves. He was well protected by his backs. Jones, right back, played splendidly, his kicking and tackling being first rate. He was too good for the Technical Old Boys winger, Stewart. K. Yeoman. left back, was also a sound defender, The real strength ;of the Seatoun side lay in the half-backs, whose breaking-up tactics were splendid. Scott, right half, was good but it will pay him more to pass the ball along the ground. Salt, centre half, is a great worker both in attack,and defence C Yeoman, left half, was always on the ball and knew what to do with it when he goMt. Wilson and D. Gendall made a good right wing, Gendall getting two good goals. D. Gilison, centre-forward, played a real leader's game, feeding both his wings with judgment... ■.. Seatoun's left wing pair. 'McKenzie and I. Gendall, did a lot of useful work being very fast and shooting tit every opportunity, biit were sometimes offside. t . For Technical Old Boys, Redmond had quite a busy time and but for one slip kept goal well. Parker, right full-back, played fairly well but ms kicking was not as good as usual. Ronald left back, was splendid right through the game. . He had his work cut out looking after, the nippy Seatoun forwards. ... , Pullen, Beedle, and N. Gates were equal in merit as halves and they were the strength of their side.