ON TOP AGAIN

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 14

ON TOP AGAIN

English Trophy Goes To Auckland (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) Once again the Soccer premiership has returned to Auckland whence it was spirited away by strange and devious ways by the ■ N.Z. Council. WELLINGTON, after holding the title. " three weeks or thereabouts found the Auckland reps, too much for them on the^Basin Reserve last week and said au reyoir to the handsome piece of silver plate to the tune of three clear goals. '■=■'■'.■' But Wellington lives to fight an-, other day and they will have an op-' portunity of getting their revenge next Saturday at Auckland, though whether the trophy will be at stake has not at the moment been definitely settled. The southerners were asked to make the Auckland game a trophy challenge should they win on the Basin Reserve, but they could not see their way to comply. Of course, the position is entirely „changed now, and they would not, doubtless, be averse to Auckland accommodating them with a challenge. That, however, is by the -way. Auckland at home could be stronger than they were at Wellington on Saturday, though the policy of changing a team that has struck a winning vein is never popular. . While the defence on Saturday must be that by which Auckland will have to stand or fall, there- were .players m the forwards who would not have carried the colors at Wellington if others could, have made the trip. .- Bob Innes, for instance, is an outside right, yet he took the inside berth and scored all three goals and his partner, Percy Humphreys, is a centre-forward, yet he gave a creditable display at outside right. . • . The question of changing the team or otherwise will rest with the sole selector, Phil Neesh'am, but "Truth" says, leave well alone. Club matches on Saturday were almost a weariness to the flesh to watch and with the reps; away, three teams were thrown idle. Auckland Soccer is at a stage when new blood is urgently needed and once more "Truth" urges the wisdom of elevating the best of the second grade teams to senior rank, for the seniors of the present day are little, better than their "younger brothers.".' The code is m its lean years from the point of view of standard of play and. the younger players would undoubtedly benefit by rubbing shoulders with older and more experienced exponents. The most vital need is capable coaching and the absence of this very essential commodity can best be met by experience against skilled opponents. Many of the juniors are m the rough and ready grade, but the material is on hand and should be moulded.