SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 680, 4 June 1929, Page 13

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSLWG NOTES

(By

Perseus)

The Navy Packs Up.—There were many regretful farewells at Blandford Parl£ yesterday, when the Navy turned out for its last appearance for some months, and the many Soccer enthusiasts on the sloops Veronica and Laburnum. said good-bye to their Auckland friends, as the Imperial crews of the lighter ships are to leave Wellington for England by the Tamaroa this week-end, the relief crews from Home being due to arrive by the Corinthic tomorrow. The Imperial men of the floral sloops have been valuable assets to the Soccer clubs during their stay, Shore, Northcote, Newmarket, Thistle, and Onehunga having benefited by the cheerful and willing aid given by the naval men on ‘‘their lawful occasions.” No doubt the new men will include some Soccer stars, who will soon be seen in action for a brief time before the sloops scatter on their Pacific cruise in a fortnight's time.

. .Soccer Pressman Accompanies Them. —Travelling with the time-expired men of the sloops wil Ibe Mr. William Russell, for many seasons a popular member of the Press stand at Blandford Park, and a former playing member of the Shore and Y.M.C.A. senior clubs.

‘‘Bill” Russell was a sturdy and accomplished wing-half, who learned his Soccer in that efficient nursery of the game in the east of Scotland, and returns there for a well-earned holiday, on which he carries the best wishes of his numerous friends. Both as a player and a critic, Mr. Russell always upheld the best traditions of the code, and at Blandford Park yesterday he was the recipient of many warm wishes for a happy trip Home, and a safe return.

Dunedin and Diomede Depart.—The sister cruisers are also leaving ns for a long spell on a voyage to Australia, and the lusty barracking of “the lively little lads in navy blue” will make headquarters seem lonesome at the evening and afternoon meetings. The average club supporters seem to have forgotten how to cheer, but the start of the Chatham Cup knockouts may see the reappearance of the Ponies’ cowbell carillon, and the gongs of the Trams clanging away merrily from the bank. There were plenty of good wishes yesterday for the navy men on their Australian trip, and the representatives of the New Zealand squadron are very keen on returning with the Soccer scalps of the Commonwealth Fleet.

Senior B Struggle.—The result of the Northcote—Rangers’ game on Saturday was a win for Northcote by two goals to one, but Rangers are appealing owing to a goal against coming as the indirect result of a young spectator wandering into the goal area. The present position of the clubs is as follows: —*

Laws of the Game: The New Zealand Council at its last meeting approved of the committee’s ruling that where a player has been cautioned by a referee, but not ordered off the field, no further punishment in the way of suspension may be inflicted by the controlling association. Referees should note that in all coses where a personal and specific caution is given to a player tho fact must be reported to the local association, and players must note that when reported for being cautioned they are liable to be called before the Jtidicial Committee for reprimand. although tho decision of the council appears to read that no further substantial punishment can be dealt out.

Breaches of the Law: Some referees still appear unaware of the fact that for “ungentjemanly behaviour” or

“dangerous play” an offender must be warned for the first offence, and the warning should be “personal and specific.” Not a vague warning or general caution, but addressed to the offender personally and the reason for the caution specified. Afterwards the fact of the caution must be reported by the referee. A player may only be ordered off for the first offence when he is guilty of “violent conduct,” and a player using “foul or a,busive language” to the referee is guilty of “violent" conduct,” but “persistent infringement of any of the laws” is only “ungentlemanly behaviour” and must be ca.utioned before ordering off

Offside and Hands; Two other laws which often lead to confusion and wrong decisions, although they are clearly set out and their interpretations emphasised, are the offside and handling rules. A player cannot be offside if he is behind the ball when it was last played, no matter if he lias no opponent in front of him. Yet a player is given offside when the ball is passed back to him from the edge of the goal line. Again the International Board calls attention to “an improper interpretation of Law H,” and lays down that “it is not a breach of the law for a player to be in an off-side position, but only when in that position he interferes with an opiDonent. or the play.” “Handling” the ball is another frequent source of improper interpretation of Law 9. The ball strikes a player on the hand or arm, and there is a roaring appeal for ‘Hands,” or “Foul!” from the field or hillside, and a flustered referee whistles for a free kick. It is emphasised that “handling is intentionally playincj the ball with hand or arm.” If the player strikes at the ball with hand or arm it is a free kick, but if the ball strikes the player’s arm or hand it is no offence/ Too many free kicks arc siven for hands —and often penalty kicks —when the intention to handle was not apparent.

Curious International Incidents; The deciding match for the British International Championship between England and Scotland drew 125.000 to Hampden Park, Glasgow, to the Scots triumphant by one goal to nil. Two extraordinary incidents are recorded in this “freak and fluke” international. A free kick was awarded England within six yards of the goal for Harkness (the Hearts goalkeeper) carrying the ball more than two steps. A goal could not be scored direct from the kick and at first the Scots lined their goal, but were vailed back by their captain to stand behind the ball, leaving only the goalie alongside tl e post to defend. Wain ft coat tapped the ball aside tor a colleague ° \Vainscoat touched the ban a Scotsman appeared from the blue behind him and booted the ball How tho Scot travelled the 10 yards ho should have been from the laeKer in a fraction of a second is not e. plained, but the referee let it „o at nJnuteTof 1 PfSa^comefof 4 ttaS plaved touching it. And that that! CHATHAM CUP DRAW FIRST ROUND ON SATURDAY The first round of the Chatham Cup will be played on Saturday next and the following games will be played off by floodlight in the mid-weelc matches, the proceeds, going to pay the expenses to Wellington should a local club become the North Island finalist. The North Shore Club is the only absentee from the Senior A division, and Manurewa, Corinthians and Bon Accord have nominated from the Senior B clubs. Tho draw is as follows; Onehunga v. Bon Accord. Belmont v. Manurewa. Trams V. Corinthians. Celtic v. Fonsonby. Y.M.C.A. V. Thistle. The first round will be played on Saturday, when knockouts between Celtic and Ponsonby, and Y.M.C.A. and Thistle will be staged at Blandford Park, and both should prove of exceptional interest KEEN SCHOOL GAME MT. ALBERT BEATS TECH. The teams of the Mount Albert Grammar School and the faeddgn Technical College provided an enteitaining curtain-raiser to the big Ip-tee at Blandford Park yesterday, and the lads displayed a good knowledge of the game. An even game sa.w Mount Albert slightly the better side and winning by the odd S oal m three. Rogers and Wood scored for Mount Albert Grammar, while Sloane .netted for Tech.

T*. W. Tj. D. F. A. Pts Philomel ... 6 5 1 0 17 5 30 Manurewa . . 6 5 1 0 14 S 10 Corinthians 6 3 1 2 13 11 8 Rangers ... 7 4 3 0 14 id S Bon Accord .6 3 2 1 14 3 0 7 Northcote . . 6 2 3 1 10 3 3 5 Newmarket .61518 21 3 Metropolitan .6 1 4 1 32 14 3 Tamaki ... 6 1 5 0 y IS 2