BEST OF SOCCER

NZ Truth, Issue 1189, 13 September 1928, Page 16

BEST OF SOCCER

Vfellington Draw With I Auckland jtFrbm."N.Z. Truths Auckland Rep.) 'Auckland retains the Soccer premiership of the Dominion after a drawn match with Wellington on BJandford Park last Saturday wftioh produced of a standard seldom if ever seen In the Dominion. . . VITIAT ia a big statement, but it Is i* Kmade In no reckless moment, but after calm reflection and comparison With many outstanding games seen m fchi^ country. ; . • . • , The players of both sides vied with eacli other m playing the game as it Should, be played— no reckless kick and rush business from goal to goal, but Studied tactics and scientific methods trorfa first .tq.lajst.. Brpm the point of view of the code m Auckland' the game is : calculated- to do Immense good for the highest honors of the game have been re-won- for the AJFIA. m spite of the withdrawal of what was the strongest club m the game m Auckland and the opposition of the renegade Suburban Association. THe;. suburbanites endeavored to create a certain impression m the publio mind when .they started out by proolaiming that they wished to live m harmony with the A.F.A. . On the first occasion on which they could demonstrate the honesty of this assertion they are found * wanting. ._..,;. • , In .other vordS tnelr alleged desire %as so many enjp.ty words, never intended to be acfed;tipon. On Saturday When the Auckland Football Association had undertaken a financial responsibility of nearly £100 to provide an attraction, the Suburban Association worked m harmony to the extent of playing off their usual, fixtures on a ground a few hundred yards away froinf Blandford Park. , ; Pill For Renegades' , One of the most bitter shockß the Suburban Association has had to Its feonceit and its existence is the fact that Auckland went to Wellington and regained the English 'trophy and held it against the Jflrstt. challenge without, any of the stars of the breakaway organization, some of whom were considered to, be tadißpenaables. The only/feature of note was that 1 Auokland showed more team work, . more finish and more clever foot- \ work. . ■. . ' ' : ' ■ • '...!■.■;. In the. last Instance -?.of course they Ijad a slight advantage over their opponents m knowledge of the ground • which, however, m view of the many tropical downpours of the two or three days previously . was m remarkably good condition. . : r 1 - : The home side settled down to beautifully artistic play right from the kick-off. Their combination was. dazeling. The half-backs tackled m deadliest' form, passed between themselves if such were' "advantageous' or swung the ball ahead with uncanny accuracy to an unmarked team mate to let the Vanguard away. The forwards cris-crossed, in-pass-ed, trapped and shot for goal m a manner seldom seen outside of first division British football. It ' was Soccer m , ©icelsis without a doubt. Meantime Wellington shone m defence. They took their gruelling , like men and they struggled desperately and successfully to shake off the terrific attacks^of their opponents. ',-'■'."", At this juncture Campbell, centrehalf, was here, there and everywhere. JUcGirr, was played at righ%-back, paced the, field with remarkable -agility And with the restlessness of caged animal to cover up his club mates and to stop a break "through. The wing halves were . finding Auckland too" much for them, but 'they improved with the game. . . • „ The visitors twice assumed the lead w- albeit each goal- was of the rather Sucky . order— but on each occasion .Auckland had equalised within -.three tninutes. ! • - •; Then In^th^last ,20 minutes; sA.VLCk r ': land was: canipant. ;>They^hammered at tteiri opponents^:: goal; mercilessly,', but without ayiail. V^let tfte game was not oneVßidedSfpr the: jdeadly .and-dan-, gerous rims' "of Mclieod r and. Stark always constituted moments for the homesters. It was a memorable, game-yone v , which, oould It beconje t,he standard, would make the Association code m the Dominion a force-to bo : " reckoned with. While both teams were well balanced, fast, fit and finished, Auckland must be given the p'aun fb'r-. their more scientific play." ■ ■••• ' '■">■ -■ - \ v .. ; Wellington had a sound* agile and talented custodian m Lucas, who seemed to have determined to play his greatest game against his old home side, but Lucas has yet to outshine the • Lucas who saved Auckland two seasons ago on thCj Basin Reserve and this will take some doing. The goals scored against him on Saturday were beyond human possibility to sayei. v ' McGirr' was better^ thaiiu Haines at full-back, but the line could riot be termed ,weak, while; Campbell was head and shoulders : above, his colleagues. Farquhar and 1 ' x McCormack, the other two half-backs, were far from passengers but lacked.sklU and anticipation. , ■ . ■'..'.;..";.'■!:■ ',■••,•■...■■'■ '■' , '■'. Forward, the two c wingers, were al-! - ' ways as thorns m the flesh to the home: v defence. Leslie was the most prominent Inside player^etftd when he went to centre the line seemed to move more smoothly. Longbottom, though a coriaistent grafter,: was not; outstanding and Smith waß'u'inUch.; 'm.. '■■„ the same category. •''■*;^ -* 1 '" '■ : ';. •■ Auckland's '■. weakness, was m their backs, Gerrard and Simpson. They werpjvneyßr' Impressive "and but for this, repqyery of the half - . . backs, ' have - - made . Batty's . . . ■ '" life muoft- Karder;j v . :■' V;/;.y ."■ •.;" ; ■. The gbaikeeper-^Batty^— was again lafe as the. Rock of Gibraltar and his gaves were the fruits of a remarkable ■ judgment." ■; ;. . •■■'■•; ■■■}■■ Jphes, at. Left-half f : was the .most artißtlc playeripf .the v 22;;but "in ,th,e second epell wa"s inclined to-gettout'of position and gave McLeod ■ too r much ,r ope. : Christie was< the :hero . sf.the .day... From first to last he . was m the thick: Of the frrfy, tackling < w,lth the greatest determination, breaking up attack after attack against* .heavy odds.V^plying , his : forwards moßt. : ;cl6^lx i lwj:tb;':th6: ball right to their,;^feety* and -when 1 a -break through; occurred jhe; was, -back- to therescue. His ■performance was an epic one. Tinkler, the ' right-half, was al- v > ways a hard worker. •■'. • ..... , . „ Auckland's forwards moved like a; Well-oiled machine. There: : .^as no outstanding individualist — • all 1 :flye merged their identity into combined' effort, i ' So with goals* even, Auckland re^ tamed the trophy, but Wellington put up a valiant and a memorable fight whlob brougbt greatest credit on the playeni |ua4 on the aeaociation, , •