18 May 1912, Hobart Mercury

NOTES BY "HALF-BACK."

A close contest should eventuate at Cornelian Bay to-day, it being the first meeting of St. George and South Hobart in the Dormer Cup competition. Both teams secured substantial victories last Saturday, and, as a win for either team will put them at the head of affairs, onlookers should be provided with a strenuous game. Judging by the result of the practice matches, Y.M.C.A. and Hobart are well-matched combinations.

One noticeable feature of last Saturday's matches was the very small number of long shots attempted by the different teams. Why some present-day forwards have the tendency to work the ball to within a few yards of the uprights before letting drive at the goal seems to me a mystery.

Even among some of the leading clubs at Home, it is admitted that the "pattern-weaving" system of combination is overdone in front of goal. Perhaps some of my readers have witnessed the shots which emanate from the feet of such players as Whittingham (Chelsea's crack marksman), Harold Fleming, of Swindon, or Freeman (England's centre-forward), and many others too numerous to mention. These players often net the ball from a distance of 30 or 40 yards. Of course, we do not possess men of this calibre in local soccer ranks, but even then it is very seldom that local players attempt shots at this range.

It is pleasing to record that the refereeing of last Saturday's matches was of a very high standard, both at Lindisfarne and Cornelian Bay. One erroneous decision, however, was noticed during the progress of the Hobart-South Hobart match at Cornelian Bay. The Hobart goalie was penalised for running with the ball, and from the resultant free kick South scored. This goal should not have been allowed, for under law 11 of the F.A. a goal may only be scored from a free kick which is awarded because of any infringement of law 9, but not from any other free kick. As carrying of the ball by the goalkeeper does not come under the category of law 9, a goal kick should have been awarded.

Just a word about appealing. This subject comes under several headings, but the one I would like to refer to is that of players appealing to the referee for every little so-called infringement of the game. There is certainly too much of this done, and the sooner that players recognise the fact that the referee is in charge of the game, and will award penalties for intentional breaches of the laws, it will be all the better for the game. How often do we see a full-back standing appealing for a man offside, and then he has the mortification of seeing the player put the ball under the bar, and the full-back's side is one goal down. I hardly know how to drive this matter home to players, unless it is by having a big sign stuck up at the back of each goal -"Play on until the whistle goes." Players don't forget this, as it is one of the most important points of the game.