ASSOCIATION CODE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 14

ASSOCIATION CODE

NOTES AND COMMENTS. THE THIRD TEST. (By "Centre-Half.”) The weather did not help to make the third Test, at Wellington, on Saturday afternoon, spectacular, but under the circumstances a very lino display or the code was given by the Englishmen, tho rough going being handled easily by them. Apparently their boot studs had been cleaned as they were sure-footed right throughout tho game and it would behove local players to emulate them, j The outstanding man on the New Zealand side was Scott, who, with his attacks, proved a most progressive player. Leslie, tho New Zealand cen-tre-forward, was' quite overshadowed by tho English captain, Joy. A noticeable feature of the game was that the New Zealand players appeared to bo learning something about positional play. Despite the fact that New Zealand is not a soccer country. there are enough players in the Dominion to have had a complete change of team for each of the three tests. It is finite likely that New Zealand owed its numerous defeats to the Englishmen’s knowledge of their opponents tactics. In all probability the amateurs will meet more opposition in Australia as the Australians practise the Scottish type of close passing football, which lias, on past occasions, proved to be upsetting to the Englishmen’s game. It. has been decided by the Auckland Association to lodge a challenge with the New Zealand Council tor the English Trophy, which at present held by Canterbury. The date will be arranged by the council alter the challenge game between Wellington and Canterbury. An agreement was also reached to challenge Wellington for the Campbell Rose Bowl. This trophy, which is held by Wellington, is for competition between that association and Auckland and entails a match in each centre during the season. It is thought likely that the lirst game will he played in the Capital City should the challenge be accepted. It is anticipated that 50,000 persons will witness the English amateurs in action at Sydney. Two matches will lie played on tiie Cricket Ground in that city, the lirst being against New South Wales and the second the first Test against Australia. An excess of talent has momentarily embarrassed the Australian selectors. Nine games were played by the English amateur soccer team which concluded its tour of the Dominion, on Saturday. In all 85 goals were scored bv them, and only (i registered against them. A record of the games is as under: Against Hawke’s Hay.—-W oik 12 —0. Against Wellington.—Won, 7—o. Against Otago-South land. —Won, 9—o.

First Test. —Won, 12—0. Against Canterbury-Westland, Won Against Auckland. —Won, B—4.8 —4. Against Taranaki. —Won. 12 —0. Second Test. —Won, 6 —o. Third Test. —Won, 12 —1. _

“Craftsmanship in soccer is not confined to the forwards and half-back lines, as tho finality is just as essential in the full-hacks and goalkeeper,” states an Auckland writer. “For an example of the lack of this, in the case of the ‘last hope.’ just watch the custodian carefully as he takes a goal kick under the new regulations, which forbid a full-back tipping the ball to him as in previous years, to he followed by a lofty punt upheld that sometimes found one ol his own side, but more often found the opposition better placed. The attempt reveals, in almost every case, a woeful effort at kicking ami at the same time directing a dead ball. It is the sainc with most of the full-backs, their one idea almost being to boot the leather upheld as hard as they can with a fine disregard of height and length or craft. These players I have referred to and tho other players in the half-back and forward lines almost entirely ‘telegraph their intentions’ and if the move or swipe of the ball achieves its object in finding an unmarked clubmale, depend upon it you can set_ it down to want ol brains and anticipation on the part of the opposition. That is why I say the majority of our players are past profiting by the example of our visiting English amateurs. who are really representative of the cream of English amateur talent. They say that ‘men were deceivers ever.’ but that certainly doesn’t hold good with our New Zealand soccer players or at least 90 per cent, of them that fill positions weekly on the soccer field calling for a move calculated to deceive the opposition.”