Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 764, 10 September 1929, Page 14

Soccer

HUNTLY In connection with the visit of the New Zealand primary schools soccer team to Australia, a test match will be played at Huntly in about three weeks time when the sole selector and manager of the New Zealand team, W. R. Harrison will bring the cream of the Auckland boys to play Waikato and the players from the Huntly schools association to be selected for Australia will be chosen then. This will be a red letter day for the lads in the Waikato who are noted for their prowess in the soccer arena. It goes without saying that the youngsters are all alert in and around Huntly and it is certain that a good share of the complement of New Zealand representatives will come from there on the allocated proportional basis. Of the local players, Powell, is a certainty for selection. This boy is a veritable wonder with a round ball and was the “star” in the recent tournament at . Wellington for the Webster Shield.

Last year Yarn ton, Auckland, was looked on as a clever player with wonderful ball control, but Powell is a better lad and the Wellington critics were unanimous that the Pluntly boy’s superior has yet to be seen. A few months in age however is going to be a stumbling block to the selector, and some top notcliers will have to be erased from the list of the New Zealanders under that head. Soccer football in the Waikato is heriditary, the fathers of the youngsters having learned the game in the Old Country and it is handed down to the present generation, for mining populations are keen on the round ball game. There is no keener critic of soccer in New Zealand than Mr. M. J. Play ward of Wellington and from the pen of that gentleman comes the following in reference to the Waikato team at the recent "Webster Shield tournament. “They were the best team in the Shield tournament, their behaviour was much admired, their football splendid, and in the hour of defeat they took it like the good sports they were.” Junction defaulted to Huntlj'- on Saturday while Pukemiro beat Thistle on the local' ground 4 —2 under Mr. Jas. Wallace. The contest (Jlowden Cup) was not a good one. Thistle having the better of the game for two thirds of the time but lack of condition told its tale in the last quarter of an hour and Pukemiro never looked like loosing. For the winners, P’airless in goal was beaten twice, the first from a scramble, and the second a high one over his head. The full backs were fair but Wilson and Walker (halves) were sound. In the front line Harsell was the pick and in a new position booted two into the net and he was well supported by the outside right. For the Scots Moodie and Greenhill were weak especially the former and he let his side down twice while Peden in goal has played better games. The first goal that passed him should have been stopped. Hugh Stirling (half) was sound and Eddie Tate was a bustling back and a good toiler. The front rankers were not sound but Tate was the pick. A pleasing feature of the game was that the old timers J. Tait, Whitelaw and J. White turned out for Thistle.

BUSINESS HOUSES DRAW

The draw for matches to be played in the Auckland Football Associations business houses competition tomorrow is as follows: Power Board v. Auckland Hotels, Outer Domain No. 2, 4.15 p.m., Mr. G. Person; Farmers’ Trading Company v. Takapuna Dairy Company, Outer Domain No. 1, 4.15 p.m., Mr. H. G. Crocker: Shell Oil Company v. Auckland Milk Company, Ltd., Inner Domain No. 1, 4.15 p.m.. Mr. E. G. Caton; Training College v. Abel’s, Ltd., Inner Domain No. 2, 4.15 p.m.. Mr. L. J. Check; Kent’s, Ltd., and Hellaby’s, Ltd., have byes.