English Soccer Trophy

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 121, 12 August 1927, Page 11

English Soccer Trophy

Auckland Meets Wellington at Blandford Park To-Morrow WILL WELLINGTON WIN? THE first of the inter-provincial series of Soccer matches for the handsome trophy presented to the Dominion by the English Football Association will be played at Blandford Park to-morrow. The E.F.A. Trophy competition is now the major provincial one, and is played between Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago on precisely similar lines to the Plunket Shield contests in cricket.

Last year Auckland won it very comfortably, and were decidedly superior to its opponents in every department of the game. But the local representatives of last season and tomorrow are two very different propositions, and Auckland will be very lucky if it can retain the trophy tills year. AUCKLAND DEFENDERS Lucas is no longer available in goal, and, while Batty is a hard battler who can be depended on to give a good display, he lacks the inspiration which made Lucas the popular idol of the crowd. At fullback Alan Reid is again in action, but Gerrard gives way to Ferguson, and it is doubtful whether the change will strengthen Auckland’s last line of defence. Many competent judges consider the Shore colt to be superior to either of the Thistle backs, and he has been the mainstay of the seasiders’ defence when it has been very weakened, but Mr. Neesham is apparently of the opinion that Ferguson is a better mud-lark, and he has the advantage of having partnered Reid right through the season. THE FULLBACKS The Thistle pair have put up some sterling performances this year, but that has been due in a measure to the solid half line in front of them, and the politeness of their opponents in standing off them. Last Saturday, when the Ponsonby forwards played on top of them, and bustled them for the ball, the Thistle defenders were by no means so safe in clearing nor so sure in their placements, and if the Wellington attackers adopt similar tactics to-morrow Batty will be in for a busy time. THE HALF LINE In the half line Dan Jones makes a reappearance, and will lead the Aucklanders. The old All Black is undoubtedy one of the cleverest exponents of the wing- half game that we have seen in New Zealand, and on the good turf q.t Devonport last Saturday gave one of his best displays. But Jones is no lover of mud, and has never been able to do himself justice at Blandford Park this season. Carter and Christie are a solid pair who can be relied on to play a hard game in both defence and attack, but Christie suffers by comparison with the absent Kissock, who will be missed as much in the Auckland team as he has been in the Tramways combination. AUCKLAND FORWARD LINE Innes and Dunsmore are a good right wing which shines in the dismal going,

and if they can repeat their sterling performance against the Canadians the left side of Wellington defence will have plenty to do to keep them out. Spencer, at centre-forward, is another clever and finished player who has not appeared to advantage on thejP somewhat soft surface this season, and lias not been the terror to opposing goalkeepers that he was last year. Humphreys would have been much stronger as a scoring factor, and it is bad luck for Auckland that he should have been barred from playing. Auckland’s left wing is a problematical proposition, but neither Kay nor Miles have recovered from their injuries, and the selector has had to do his best with the material available. Hislop is not so effective without his clue-mate Kay, but Chalmers played a sterling game at outside left for South Auckland against the Canadians. The Waikato lad has plenty of elan and was a thorn in Canada’s side right through the game at Hamilton. If he can reproduce this form to-morrow he should prove a useful substitute for Kay, but the Auckland van is far from impressive. THE WELLINGTON ELEVEN Many of the Wellington players are new to Aucklanders, but Gibb and McGirr are a very fine pair of fullbacks whose de-

fence it will be hard to penetrate, and in this department the Blacks should outshine the Blue an d White brigade. The Wellington selectors have dropped the All Black Campbell at centre half, although the Petone man has been displaying good form

in club games this season, and the pivotal position will be taken by Thomas, of Marists. Burke, at left-half, represented New Zealand in the winning team against Canada at Wellington, and impressed the visitors as a hard player, who makes up in energy what he lacks'in weight and finish. In the forward line the two All Black wing men, Nicolle and Ballard, have dropped out, and most of the quintette are new to rep. honours. The Wellington combination is a very solid one, and they are hopeful of repeating their last performance in Auckland, when they took the Brown Shield away after a hollow victory by six goals to two.