Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 10 September 1928, page 7


SOCCER.

B.D.F.A. COMPETITION.

NORMAN PARK'S ACHIEVEMENT.

By "WANDERER."

I PREMIERSHIP TABLE TO DATE. |

p. Bundamba . 14 Latrobe ... 13 Bush Rats . 13 Thistle ... 14 Pineapple R. 13 Blackstone . 13 Norman Pk. 14 Eris. City .. 13 Wynnum . 13

W. L. D. F. A. Pis 12 1 1 48 20 25 9 3 1 40 17 19 8 4 1 31 22 17 6 6 2 21 42 14 6 "6 1 38 43 13 5 7 1 53 32 12 5 7 2 28 16 12 3 10 0 16 56 6 0 11 2 15 48 2

The premiers for two years,, Bun-damba Rangers, have only lost three points this season, and every one of them has been taken by Norman Park.

This'is an achievement on which they can-take some pride. Bundamba had to make several changes in the return match at the 'Gabba on Saturday, but they made no secret of their intention of avenging their only defeat of the reason. Norman Park were also bent on proving that their victory at Bundamba was no fluke, and they set about their task with far greater relish than when they were beaten by Bush Rats in the Tristram Shield the pre-vious Saturday. They did not win again, but they went very close to it, and the Rangers can ,count themselves lucky to have got off with a point. Apart from the fact that the Park had more of the game, especially in the first half, even though they were two goals down at the change of ends, the premiers had a fortunate let off when time alone prevented Fowler from converting a penalty. There were two almost unique incidents in this game, and this-was.one of them. A Rangers' defender handled in the penalty area, and Fowler took the kick. Before he placed the ball on the spot he was told that time was up, a moment after the infringement, but he (Fowleri would have time^ to take the shot. This, of course, is in accordance with the rules, which says that the refeiee can extend time to take a penalty kick. Fowler aimed right at Lotz, who saved, and the Park captain, seizing on the rebound, drove it into the net. The referee at once intimated that no goal was allowed, and the specta-tors, who were not acquainted with the facts, were furious at the. action of the official. But he was on iii m ground, although Fowler can count himself very unlucky.

AN UNUSUAL GOAL.

The second peculiar incident was after Lebeter had beaten Lord with a penalty. From the kick-off, Fowler and Naismith took the ball right down the field, and before an opponent had a chance to get to it, Lotz was pick-ing the leather out of the back of the net. This is a feat very rarely accom-plished, and the surprise of players and spectators, alike, was obvious.

The game was one of most fluc-tuating fortunes. The premiers estab-lished what seemed a winning lead at the interval only to see the Park draw level. Then came a goal to each side, with a thrilling little duel for the winning point, which did not come. It was a surprisingly good struggle, see-ing that really nothing hinged on the result, and, although the heat was severe, for football, a solid pace was set from start to finish.

If Norman Park had played half so well against the Bush Rats the pre-vious week, they would have met Thistle in the final of tile Tristram Shield. Lord was a different man altogether between the , sticks, and there was far more ginger in both attack and de-fence. The Park missed many chances of winning, and Lumehee should have plied his partner with the ball far oftsner than he did instead of cutting into the centre or essaying a shot him-self. Time and again, Hesse was stand-ing unmarked when a pass to him would surely have meant the leather being banged into the goal mouth. This comparative starving of Hesse was a relief to the Rangers, especially to Kitching, who was tree to go and help the defence elsewhere. Had Kitching been forced to pay closer attention to the Park winger, quite a different story would probably have been told. Kitch-ing was one of the best defenders on the field.

f BIGBY.IN FORM.

One of the outstanding players on view was Bigby, formerly of Latrobe. This left winger showed a fine turn of speed, and put up a splendid per-formance against two good men like Newman and Oliver. It was Bigby's best display of the season.

It was a fruitful brain wave when Fowler went into Rennox's place at centre-forward, and the benefit was obvious from the commencement. He lent dash and steadiness to the attack-ing line, and thereafter the Rangers had a series of narrow escapes.

The premiers played a hard and solid game, and did well considering the several changes which were necessary. They deserved their goals, and although they had not a surfeit of the ball, many times they came close to winning. ¡

It was a hard and exceptionally clean contest, and was relished by the spec-

tators.

. THE GAME.

The teams in charge, of Mr. Hudson

were as follows:

NORMAN PARK.-Lord; Gibson and Fowler; Naismith, Peters, and Stur-gess; Hesse, Lumchee, Rennox, Shinnie, and Blgby.

BUNDAMBA.-Lotz; Oliver and Bognuda; Newman, Hawkins, and Kltchlng; Nunn, James, M'Dowall, Lebeter. and Creighton.

Hesse was early in the limelight, and he quickly put across a couple of cor-ners, which, however, came to nought. Then the Rangers swept down the field, and Nunn looked like opening the score when he was robbed by Sturgess. Bigby next essayed a fine drive, which Lotz parried well, and a great chance was lost by the Park when Rennox volleyed over the bar. At the other end Lebeter gave the Park supporters a shock w.hen he let fly from point blank range, but again the direction was all wyong. Judgment in shooting was very much wanting on both sides.

THE FIRST GOAL.

The opening goal carne after 30 minutes' play. It was due to a mis-take by Gibson, who let in M'Dowall, who had no difficulty in beating the helpless Lord. Another mistake by Gibson led to the second goal, although the Park defender could not be ser-iously blamed. In attempting to clear he sent the ball haid at James, and it cannoned off that player into the net at lightning speed. It was a point which surprised everybody. A hot duel continued right on to half-time, when the penalty incident took place, which has been fully referred to above.'

At half-time the score was:Bundamba, 2.

Norman Park, nil.

On the-change of ends it was seen that Fowler had changed places with Rennox, who had not been a success. The change was obviously, a good one; and within Ave minutes . the margin had been reduced. Sturgis sent Bigby away well, an'd the winger dashed for goal. Lotz carne out, and Bigby sent the leather over his head to the un-marked Fowler, who netted without

trouble.

Lotz was next in the limelight with a series of splendid saves, and in this period the Rangers had often looked like scoring. Many anxious moments for Normán Park had been experienced before their -forwards again were given possession, and this time they suc-ceeded in equalising. Bigby, who was being Judiciously plied with the ball, centred to Fowler. The latter had his back to the goal, and was hard pressed, but he managed to backheel the leath-er to Lumchee, whose job of netting was made very simple.

Then ensued a hard battle for the winning goal, and it looked like the end of the chapter when Gibson, who was having a most unfortunate after-noon, handled in the dreaded area. Oliver took the kick, and although Lord got his hands to It, the ball was travelling too fast, and it eptered the net. From the restart, Naismith and

Fowler went right through the defence, and scored a sensational goal.

The closing moments were full of thrills, and each side-looked like scor-ing in turn. However, the defence pre-vailed, and a draw was not a bad result -not by a long chalk. The players were warmly to be congratulated upon the vim they infused into the pro-ceedings. It was most refreshing, and quite unexpected at this period of the season when the honours of the season already had been decided.

FINAL. Bundamba, 3.

Norman Park' 3. ,