ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20270, 12 August 1937, Page 15

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

ANSELL CUP COMPETITION. CODE STRONG IN SOUTH AFRICA. OVERSEAS SIDELIGHTS. (By “Pivot.”) At the present juncture Hamilton Wanderers are leading in the An-sell Cup series, but the fact that Pukemiro have failed to'take part has upset the draw to a certain extent. Glen Massey were set down to play Pukemiro on two occasions, but the games did not eventuate, with the result that Instead of having completed their four matches they have played only two. They have one championship point, but should they win the two games against Pukemiro by default they would have five championship points and thus be level at the top of the table with Wanderers. Huntly-Starr, with four points to date, are set down to play Pukemiro, but there 1s little likelihood of Pukemiro fielding a team, so that Huntly would receive two additional points, to lead Glen Massey at the end of the four rounds. The issue would then depend on whether Wanderers beat Hovel's. Without any indication as to whether Pukemiro has definitely withdrawn the position in the competiiion is rather clouded. Pnlnt.e To kin

Soooer In Bouth Afrloa. In must come as a surprise to Soccer enthusiasts In New Zealand to realise that South Africa could held an eleven which would defeat the English touring team that visited the Dominion this year. According to a statement made by the manager of the English team, however, such is the case. Mr Wreford-Brown, who was in South Africa for a number of years, considers that a first-class South Afrioan team would prove too strong for either the Australian test eleven or the present English tourists. It is understood that Mr A. Storey, the manager of the Australian team which played in Hamilton, and one of the iiutstanding figures in the administrative side of the game in the Commonwealth, Is exploring the possibility of securing a visit from a South African side next year. Newcomer Does Well. Making his first appearance in South Auckland football, McCall, right half for Wanderers against Glen Massey on Saturday, made a good impression. Although he was well out of touch on occasions, this can be attributed to his long absence from the code, this being his first ga*ne in New Zealand after leaving Scotland eight years ago. With more practice he is going to be a valuable man to Wanderers. Aberdeen on Tour. The Aberdeen ' Club, runners-up In the Scottish League first division last year and Scottish finalists the previous year, have recently completed a tour of South Africa, where they lost only four matches. They won all three tests, the first 5—2, the second s—l, and the third 3 —2. A tragic feature of the tour was that Jack Beynor, one of the outstanding members of the side, contracted appendicitis and died when complications set in following an operation. Beynor, although a Welshman, was considered the best outside-right in Scotland last season. Incidentally Strauss and Currer, members of the Aberdonians, are South Africans, and the South African Kelly has joined the Scottish team following their visit. Solid at Full Back. McLean is easily one of the soundest full backs I his year and he played another fine game on Saturday. On several occasions the Glen Massey

I forwards made the mistake of trying to beat him In preference to passing I out, and they found that the experlI ment was not very successful. The I Wanderers’ back has a particularly strong boot and his clearing kicics always find openings well down field. On the day, Fisher was hardly less inferior, but he was bustled on several occasions. Change In Laws of Game.

At a meeting of the International Board recently several alterations were made in the laws of the game. An im- | portant change was that In connection with Law 7. In future all free kicks taken within the penalty area must he direct kioks and not passes hack to the goalkeeper. Law 7 now reads: ; “It Is not permissible for the goal- ; keeper to receive the ball into his hands from a goal kick or a free kick taken by the defending side within the penalty area by another player in order that he may thereafter kick it into play; the ball must be kicked direct from the goal or penalty area into play, and If not kicked beyond the penalty area the kick shall be retaken.” A much-needed reform in Law 1, dealing with the penalty kick, was brought about by the decision that an arc of a circle within a radius >tf ten yards from the penalty spot ■shall be marked outside the penalty area. Within this space no player, other than the kicker of the ball, will be allowed to encroach, so that it will in future be Impossible for players on a defending side to put an opponent off his penalty kick. An amendment to Law 1 provides that in international matches the weight of the ball will be I from 14 ounces to 16 ounces, Instead ' of, as hitherto, 13 ounces to 15 ounces before play commences.

Points Table. V. W. L. D. P. A. PtS. Wanderers .. 3 8 — 1 9 5 5 Huntly-Starr .81 — 286 -4 Glen Massey .2 — 118 4 1 hovers 2 2 0 3 7 o