THE SOCCER CODE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20030, 31 August 1939, Page 9

THE SOCCER CODE

HILL SHIELD GAME W ELLINGTON’S VISIT HOME TEAM’S PROSPECTS By “Dribbler" The old relationship between tiie Poverty Bay and Wellington football associations is being revived on Saturday. when teams representing the two centres will meet on the Childers Road Reserve in the initial match for the J. T. Hill Shield. A handsome trophy indeed, this shield has been presented by Mr. Tom Hill, Gisborne, and a Wellington enthusiast for annual competition between the two districts, and should provide a great stimulus to the players who will contest Saturday’s game.

As a strong team from the capital is anticipated, the Poverty Bay selectors have given their work the utmost consideration, in an endeavour to field tiie most formidable eleven possible against tiie o ,visitors. They have made their final selection, and although several members of the team to represent Poverty Bay will occupy positions with which they are not recently familiar, it i§ a decided improvement on the team that defeated Hawke's Bay, and should make a favourable impression on this occasion. Choice For Outside Left The team’s one weakness lies in the outside-left position, which is filled by •J. Dunsmore, of tiie Mercantile Club. The Bay is unfortunate in not possessing a good left winger, for Dunsmore, although the best to be had, is hardly up to representative standard. He is too inclined to crowd his inside man in his endeavour to take a shot at goal, and would toe well advised to leave the scoring to the inside forwards and concentrate on penetration. A. Waugh, another Mercantile player, can be relied upon to give a good account of himself in the insideleft position, and with a little more support from his wing partner should prove a thorn in the side of the Wellington defence. Likewise, E. Bridge, the Eastern Union centre-forward, is expected to oe dangerous in the Poverty Bay vamguard, and with speed and accurate shooting to his advantage will probably reap further success in this match. Well-Justified Selections The inside-right position has an able exponent in W. Grory, a Mercantile player, who figured prominently in me match with Hawke's Bay. Snoula he repeat his .performance of that occasion, he will nave wortnny represented the district.

The undisputed choice lor outsideright is J. Burns, Eastern Union, who also made a favourable impression against Hawke's Bay. One of the attest players in the team, Burns is a fast and efficient winger, with an unselfish style. He shoots well anc entres accurately.

J. Barbour, Mercantile, who has oeen playing in, the forwards all reason, has again been allotted the right half-back position. “Dribbler" maintains that in this .selection bad judgment has been shown, because Barbour, who was overshadowed by E. Bridge for the centre-forward position, should have received consideration after the players who have occupied the right half position permanently throughout the season. He was too individual in his efforts when last chosen to play right half, and if he is to make amends he will have to endeavour to pass more frequently. Backs With Possibilities At centre half, W. Hall is a proficient all-rounder who is well suited to his position. He has a resolute tackle, and keeps his forwards on the move \yith well-directed passes. The left half is J. Crawford, of Thistle club, who has been playing an the right in recent games and who should have been given first preference for that side. He is a consistent performer and one of the best tacklers in the Bay. J. Watt, Thistle, has been changed from left to right back for this game, and his old place is toeing filled by W. Mulrooney, another Thistle man. The latter was the most outstanding player on the field in the match with Hawke's Bay, and the selectors have made a mistake in taking him from the halves and putting him in the backs, where he is out of position. However, with his team mate, J. Watt, he is a good tackier and a sound defender ,and most likely will make good in his difficult task.

To Poverty Bay supporters of the code who recognise C. Mulrooney’as an efficient and clever custodian, the fact that this player has never previously played in goal during a representative match will come as a great surprise. Replacing A. Silvester, who gave a creditable display last time, Mulrooney is a Thistle man, and is agile and sure in his handling—a firstclass goalkeeper.

The reserves for the. game against Wellington are D. Elliot, W. Findlay, D. Miller, and E. Normanton.

An annual feature in the Scotland v. England match is being staged as the curtain-raiser.

WELLINGTON’S TEAM

STRONG SIDE COMING

(Spuciul to tho Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day

The Wellington Football Association is sending a strong side to Gisborne io contest the new trophy, the J. T. Hill Shield, and it is confidently anticipated that the Shield will return with the Wellington players. The selection made from among those available for the Gisborne trip is as under: —

Goalkeeper, E. Morris: full-backs, K. Yeoman and A. McLean; half, backs. G. White. K. Boyes, A Whyte; forwards, P. McGregor, K. Quigley, J. Shankie, G. Sutherland, ana Whyte; reserve, J. Leonard.