SOCCER NOTES.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 48, 8 May 1930, Page 6

SOCCER NOTES.

The first championship game of the season wa» played on the Recreation Ground on- Saturday, April 26, when the local eleven met the Thistle team from the city. The Thistles who were in the First Division last season and wihq have always been a good team with, a good, following, were regarded as a hard proposition, but only through practice and a little bit of luck were they able to share the points, the game ending three all. Owing to the long spell of dry '■ wcivtfher the ground was very Iva-rd and quite slippery, the day being idead for a good game.

The teams- were as follows :—

Thistle: Fletcher, Hooper, Montgomery, ' White, Tpd'Cl, Finnigan, MeLellan,A. White, McPhail, Cunningham and Arbuthnot.

Hutt: Webster, Gardiner,''"Chapman, -Lowry,. MeDougnll, Barrett, Nichollc, Jessop, Brown, Crundwell and Bat'chelor. ■"' ;

Mr. Sanderson was referee

Tile ."Hustle captain won the toss an& iiadthe advantage of the sun. Brown, a ■newcomer to the Hutt, set the ball in motion, and much to local supporters delight the Hutt.were -having the best of the exchanges. After about 20 minutes' play the first bit of clever work which looked likely to bear fruit was from the Huitt's right wing, when Jessop made a good shot but it was very well saved by Fletcher. The Hutt forwards were . now playing well and Brown forced a corner on the rigitt. Thisy Thistle cleared, but Orundwell who was playing well, secured and after drawing a couple of opponents, slipped the ball to Batehelor, who essayed a shot, but J>he elevation was too -high. He made amends later when lie sent across a good centre and from a mix up in the goal Jessop opened the scoring. From the kick off Hutt kept Thistle penned up, and the Hutt's second goal came off. one of T-histic's own players. The local team were now play ing with confidence, and ife was not long before Batcholor put across and Crundwell, who last season dcvoleped the knack of scoring a goal in each, game, scored No. 3. Half time sounded soon

after,

Upon resuming it was seen that Thistle wctc determined to make up the leeway as t>lioy had re-arranged the team, and th difference was very noticeable; they started to play as a team. From a break away on the right McPhail opened the scoring for the blues. This had the desired effect and it semed as the Thistles improved the Hutt weakened. The visitors were very lucky with their second goal. White, who secured possession of the ball, had a shot which hit, the cross bar and bounced down, ftfow,

th*> Rule Book says that the whole of the ball must be over the line, yet the referee, who was not five yards from

half way allowed the goal. This seemed quite tmfair, because it was well nigh impossi'bio for him to give a decision from wheirc -he was .standing. The linesmen should have been consulted under the eiTCum.stances. This spunked the blues on and they tried hard to equalise and with good play by WMte, Ounningbam was able to have a' shot .alt close range which gave Webster no cihanee, thus making 3—sJ. vAfter this Hutt rallied and on two occasions the ball was taken off Jessop's toe just when he was about to shoot with only the goalkeeper to beat. Another good chance'was- lost when Brown got off side. -

Thistle had a decided advantage as •they have played as a, tqam, being winners of the Palmerston NbTth Tournament and more xthan half of their players have been playing in tfee. First

Division.

It would be unfair to mention any particular player in t>h.e home team for praise, but the two new comers—^Jessop and" Brown —seem to be a'good acquisition. Nicolie Had the misfortune of injuring his leg and though, he was able to see ±h.B game out, he was anything but himself. It would' pay .the halves to try and co-ordinate tiheir play with the forward, line this season as they are nippy arid any one of t&em is dangerous when near the goal. On the whole, if they can raise tfceix e ; ntnu^^m£' attend to training, and remember they^ •are "playing as a team, the Hutt senior team should do well.