Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 9 July 1928, page 8


SOCCER.

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PREMIERS STILL

WINNING. -----<>-----

LATROBE DEFEAT

BUSH RATS. -----<>-----

SURPRISE FOR NORMAN PARK,

By "WANDERER."

FIRST DIVISION TABLE TO DATE.

P. W. L. D. P. A. Pts. Bundamba .. 9 8 1 0 26 9 16 Latrobe .... 9 6 2 1 29 5 13 Bush Rats .. 9 5 3 1 26 17 11 Blackstone .. 9 5 4 0 39 12 10 Thistle .... 9 4 4 1 14 29 9 Norman Park 9 4 5 0 17 6 8 Pineapple R. . 9 4 5 0 24 32 8 Brisbane City 8 2 6 0 9 40 4 Wynnum .... 9 '0 8 1 11 35 1

The prospects of the first division competition of the Brisbane and Dis-trict League developing into an inter-esting struggle were not improved as the result of Saturday's round of fix-tures. 'Tis true that Latrobe got over the obstacle of the enthusiastic and persistent Bush Rats, but Bundamba Rangers made no mistake about dis-posing of a reconstructed Thistle eleven which again included the bril-liant goalkeeper Perotte. Thus the premiers remain at the head of affairs, three points better off than their nearest rivals, Latrobe. Encouraged by the success of Norman Park the previous week, Thistle did not lack confidence in tackling the Rangers on their own ground, and they only went under by two goals after a most deter-mined fight.

Probably the surprise of the after-noon was the defeat of Norman Park by their neighbours and rivals, Pine-apple Hovers. Wynnum again failed, and this time Blackstone trounced them on the seasiders' own ground.

PINEAPPLE ROVERS' DILEMMA.

The once proud Pineapple Rovers were in a dickens of a stew on Satur-day morning wondering how to get eleven players together, and the prob-lem was not solved until almost the last minute. Even then the kick-oif was deferred, and when the ball was set in motion the Rovers only had nine men on the field. Some of the crowd naturally resented this fact, and there were derisive shouts of "play a five a side match." It certainly was a regrettable incident, and criticism on the stands was as solid as it was justi-fied. The fact that these nine men held the fort-more than held it in fact-against superior numbers, did not ameliorate the position, for Nor-man Park's ineptitude also became the butt of hostile comments. Little won-der, therefore, that many who agreed with the booting out of the old govern no: body, now are patiently wait-ing for the new controllers to grace-fully retire from the arena. The first season of the Brisbane and District League looks like proving a dismal failure.

Some idea of the way the game is slipping may be gauged from the fact that the receipts in the inter-city game the previous week did not reach a third of what was garnered in by the Q.F.A. in the corresponding game last

season.

The gates are 'falling off week by

week, and there is not much prospect of a revival before the curtain is wrung down

Another unsatisfactory incident on Saturday was the playing of short time in the first match and it is just as well that nothing hinged on the re-sult or there may have been tiouble The first half barely lasted 30 minutes, and the second half was no longer Why was this? Did the refeiee act according to instructions, or was it a mistake? If it was a prearranged affair It was wror>7 and if it was entnely the fault of the referee then he ought to be called upon to explain Things are bad enough in Soccei without malting them worse

THREE MEN DErEAT ELEVEN

There can be no doubt that the spectacle which was seen in the early match at the Cricket Giound was of three men outwitting eleven It was this fact which helped to put a bit of life and interest in the pioceedmgs Jock May, Billy Gibb, and the goal-keeper, Hamilton, played Norman Park on their own, and they are to be warmly congratulated on their per-formance Had the Rovers played with their hearts in their boots no one would have blamed them foi they were reduced to asking an old-timei, like Moirison, to strip again and partner Harris to play Jock May at rentre half instead of in the forwaid line and to put anothei veteran in Bob Craig m Mays place at inside right, and ask Brown, a goalkeeper, to fill the outside left position And with all this, Pineapples won against a team which had inflicted the first de-feat of the season on the piemiers' No wonder that the supporters of Norman Park left the giound m sheer disgust

In the winners' forward line, Gibb nlayed almost a lone hand The only assistance he got was from May, who got through more woik than any other inan I have seen play this season May saved at least half a dozen goals and even then took part in spasmodic raids on the Norman Paik goal He never spared himself, and he placed his club under a debt of gratitude And when the Park forwards did get a shot in thev found Hamilton equally as enthusiastic as his captain, and just as hard to bpat

A LIFELESS LOT.

Norman Park gave an exposition which must have been the very an-tithesis of the previous week. They were almost entirely bereft of enter-prise, and some of their work in front of goal was bordering on the puerile. Lumchee, who has some artistic touches, made an effort to collaborate with Hesse, but when this pair worked an opening nothing would come of it. It was all a lementable piece of busi-ness, and nobody worried when the final whistle sounded long before its time. It is to be hoped that the spec-tators will not have to endure a simi-lar exposition,.

Some interest centred in the appear-ance of a Junior, named Cox. in the centre forward position for Pineapple Rovers. He has many knobs and ex-crescences to be rubbed off, of course, but with experience and coaching he might make a very useful forward. It was his goal which won the match, and was the result of an enterprising bit of work. Combey was the pick of the remaining players, and he did a lot of quick work.

HOW THE GAME PROGRESSED.

' Those among the spectators who thought the game would be something approaching a fiasco soon discovered that the Rovers were not going to be "easy meat." With nine men t-hey set about the business in real winning style, and soon were attacking strong-ly. Before the tenth man had put in an appearance they were hot on the trail, and Lord and his backs were ex-periencing many anxious moments. But the first real shot came from the boot of Lumchee, who forced Hamil-ton to make a spectacular save. The next incident of note was a centre from Hesse, who outwitted Combey and Harris, and put the ball on the cross-bar. Then the Rovers swarmed down the field, and only the spirited defence of Fowler averted a score. Gibb should have opened the score after fifteen minutes, an almost made-to-measure opening being wasted.

Twenty minutes after the kick-off the Rovers pressed strohgly. and good work by Gibb led to the downfall of the Norman Park goal. The ball was swung into the goal mouth by Craig, and Lord onlv partially saved. Cox nounced on the leather and banged the ball into the net. Barely half an hour's play had been seen when the whistle blew for half time, the score being:

Pineapple Rovers. 1. . Norman Park, nil.

May Was soon in the picture on the

resumption, and he gave the ball nicely to Clarke, whose centre was cleared. May next essayed a solo effort, and came to a stop when he met Gibson. Then Norman Park 'attacked vigor-ously, and after Hamilton had saved well a storming on the goal-line nearly brought the equaliser Hamilton hung on well, and eventually was fouled. The Park came again, and Naismltn gave Hesse a chance, but he volleyed over the bar. Then the Rovers got going, and Clarke centred to Cox, who fired over, just as he was charged. A goal looked like coming when Hesse gave to Lumchee, but once more the ball soared over the bar.

A foul against 'May nearly brought disaster to the Rovers, but Hamilton made a fine save.

Naismith had the chance of a life-

time when he was allowed to go on, a claim for offside being disregarded. Five yards out he let fly, but shos straight at Hamilton, who got the ball away, and Harris completed the clear-ance. The Park came again, and several times it looked as though a goal was beyond doubt. Shinnie was the next to be presented with am opening, but his header" was fisted over

the bar. For ten minutes the Park, did everything but score. Finally the i Rovers broke loose, but the ball was

soon back again. Naismith and I Shinnie were clean through the de- ? fence in a perfectly legitimate manner

when the whistle went for offside. !

May next saved the situation when he took the ball from Lumchee's toes as he was about to shoot from point blank range. A delightful touch by

Lumchee looked like bringing results, -but in securing the pass Naismith

handled.

Park strove hard for the equaliser and once more May saved a seemingly certain goal when Hamilton was beaten. It was a case of May versus

Norman Park.

Final:

Pineapple Rovers, 1. Norman Pari:, nil. teams:

NORMAN PARK.-Lord; Gibson and Fowler; MTnnes, Peters, and Rennex; Hesse. Lumchee, Naismith, Shinnie. and Kenney.

PINEAPPLE ROVERS-Hamilton; ¡ Morrison and Harris; M'Lean, May, and Combey; Clarke, Craig, Cox, Gibb, and Brown.

Referee, Mr. H ( Woods.

LATROBE WIN WELL.

Although Latrobe were forced to take the field without their inter-state forward, Payne, and with-out Edgar Rigby and, again had to ask Keogh to take the field, they did well enough to defeat a strong Bush-Rats' side, which included Gedge be-tween the sticks. Both the goals were scored by the winners in the first half when the wind was in their favour, and on changing round the west Moreton men found it im-possible to reduce the lead. Bush Rats fielded a strong side for the match was of some importance. Both clubs went on the field with hopes of eventually ousting Bundamba from the top rung of the competition table,

and the fact was not lost sight of, that defeat virtually meant the end to all championship prospects. As Bush Rats were compelled to kiss the dust,

that is the end of the competition

so far as they are concerned

Latrobe owed their success mainly to

the solidity of the defence. Bryant was never more confident in goal, and did a lot of convincing things, and

Viertel in front of him was as re-liable as ever. J. Bell, who deputised for Rigby, made an uncommonly good

job of it. but he was lucky to have | such a fine old war horse as Korot coff in support. Korotcoff is play-ing great football these days, and there is no half back in Queensland more difficult to get past or to dispossess. Pedley and Coleman found him a

hopeless problem to solve. Bert Murray reduced Seeney to a state below mediocrity, and at the same time held Pedley and Warrell well in check Henderson was among the best of the visitors, but probably that was because he had the weakest man in the Lat-robe team in front of him.

Latrobe, who have great faith in

local juniors as opposed to the im-ported product, gave a trial to a lad named Hogan. The experiment was by no means a failure, and the new-comer had the satisfaction of opening the score. He showed quite an in-telligent conception of combination play, and no doubt he will be given

another^ chance to prove his worth.

The Bush Rats played hard enough

but nothing seemed to go right with them. Their forwards were swept off their feet by a splendid defence,

and the first goal scored against them, which had an element of luck about it, did not improve their morale

Gedge made a successful reappear-ance, and saved time and again, and Jeffrey and Petie played a good solid game. Eric Nunn was a pillar ot strength in the intermediate line, and saved the situation on numerous oc-casions. F. Nunn did not come out badly in his duels with Carton, and L Warrell was a tireless battler.

It speaks volumes for the Latrobe defence that it has only been pene-trated on five occasions in nine matches. In this respect they promise to create a record in Queensland

soccer.

THE GAME.

With the wind in their favour, Latrobe commenced to attack, and V. Bell forced Gedge to concede a corner, which was cleared. Bush Rats' de-fence was covering up well, and Latrobe forwards were not allowed to shoot. A dangerous situation in the Latrobe goal mouth was cleared by Korotcoff giving away a corner. Lat-robe were doing most of the at-tacking, but their forwards could not make any impression against the op nosing defence. Ross was responsible for a clever piece of work, and cen-tred for Mitchell to cut in and miss the goal by inches.

HOGAN SCORES.

Fifteen minutes after the kick-off, Latrobe took the lead, and the score was first due to Bert Murray and then to Hogan, the new recruit. Mur-ray showed his speed in the way he flew past several opponents, and from this piece of work Hogan got posses-sion. He essayed a high oblique screw shot, and the ball hit the far up-right and entered the net.

Keeping up the pressure, Latrobe had their opponents' goal in danger, and Mitchell centred for Carton to head into the net.

Bush Rats did not give over trying, but the Latrobe defence was always reliable. Towards half-time Latrobe resumed the offensive, but no further score resulted, although Mitchell came very close when he forced Gedge to save in the angle of the net.

Half-time score:

Latrobe ... ... ......2

Bush Rats ... ... nil. In the second half the game was more evenly contested. It was also hard and willing, but clean, except for one incident, in which fists flew for a moment. The defence was always superior, and Gedge and Bryant rarely looked like being beat-en. Bryant made one fine save. Close on time Ross crashed the upright.

Final:

Latrobe, two.

Bush Rats, nil. Teams;

Latrobe.-Bryant; Viertel, A. E. Murray, and J. Bell; Keogh, Korot-coff; Mitchell, V. Bell, Carton, Hogan,

and Ross.

Bush Rats.-Gedge; Jeffrey and Petie; L. Warrell, F. Nunn, and E. Nunn; Coleman, Pedley, Seeney, L.

Warrell, and Henderson.

Referee, Mr. W. E. Donnellan.