1950-11-29 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1950.

Referees Agreeable To Independent

Timekeepers For Soccer

Says HAROLD MAYES

When I raised the question of independent time-keeping for Soccer I expected a good deal of opposition from referees. I didn't get it. Most of the whistlers who've discussed it have in fact agreed that it would help them enormously.

One of them went so far as to say: "If you're going to be particular about seconds, to be consistent you have to be equally particular about inches."

I asked him to explain and he promptly informed me that in his opinion something like 95 percent of the goalposts on all football grounds, first class and minor, were not erected in the proper position.

That's a bold statement, but, All the referees with whom I after weeks of observation and have discussed the point agree inquiries with referees who that it is meant to qualify the control games of all classes I "equidistant from the corner fid that everything he says flags" phrase, but add that it is is borne out.

more often interpreted to mean that the posts shall be astride the goal-line so that the leading edge is actually in the field of play.

There are many games where one can point to loosely-worried cules and laws where varying interpretations can result. There are few items In the laws of football, fortunately, where there is ambiguity, but the one deal- ing with the goals is, strange to say, one of them.

It begins "The goals shall be placed on the centre of each goal-line and shall consist of equidistant two upright posts from the corner flags and eight yards apart...."

Now the word that gives rise to ambiguity is "centre."

|

VARIATION TOO GREAT

In June this year the Interna- tional Board made an alteration that "the space to the effect within the inside areas of the field of play includes the width of the lines marking those areas."

That' means that all of the

50

lines are within the playing area and

my friend who rande the original suggestion says categorically that the posts should be outside the lines otherwise they are on the field

9 To 1 On An of play.

Even Money Chance

London, Nov. 28,

Examine your ovni ground next time you sțe a game and sce how the posts are placed. And then consider that a post. protruding into the field of play can make all the difference between a ball striking it, re.

goal can be scored, and passing harmlessly outside by the thick

I

FAXI BEAT THE ARMY

A Football Association XI beat the Army by three goals to two in their match at the Arsenal Stadium, London.

Here the Army goalkeeper, Sims, Royal Artillery and Wolverhampton re serve, falls full length to take a hard ground shot.

This Year's Army Soccer XI Is The Best

Since The

Says ARCHIE QUICK

War

In many respects the present Army Soccer side which Secretary Colonel Prince has welded together is the best that has represented the Service since the war. It is not star-studded like it was in 1946, but it has eleven tremendous triers. It was a good performance to force a goalless draw with the Irish FA in Belfast, but greater still-even in defeat-was the 3-2 loss to a Football Associa- tion XI at the Arsenal Stadium.

The FA felded a side which] and perhaps the Triangular | RAF and Royal Navy have each compute was worth £200,000 Tournament against the French fost by wide margins to FA bounding into play so that a lin transfer fees at current and Belgian Armies as well. It sides not, nearly so strong as values, but the Army was not to must not be forgotten that the the one which faced the Army. be intimidated by reputations, and what the narrow margin of defeat does not reveal is that With the depth of the post the soldiers were actually lead- five inches it's possible for aing 2-1 with but a quarter of an variation of up to about six and hour to go. a half inches in the position of the post in relation of the field

quoted "coat of paint."

One of the strangest rac-ness of much more than the oft- ing oddities occurred at the .Ayr races, last weekend when punters got nearly 9

to 1 on an even money chance by putting their wagers on the totalisator.

There were only two runners in the Highfield Steeple Chase -Jedburgh Lass and Golden Prospect,

to finish alone.

of play.

THE KEYSTONE

The keystone undoubtedly

around which

Yet the Football Association, the side has been built is Trooper John Charles, Leeds United's 19-year- old Welsh International centre- What a treasure this 13 half.

is stone six footer

to Major Frank Buckley!

while admitting that "theoreti- cally the front edge of the goal- post should be on the outer edge

to of the goal-line After some

keep the keen exchanges, in the betting ring, Golden posts clear of the field of play" Prospect became the favourite add that "it is relatively an un- at 10 to 11 with Jedburgh Lass mportant point compared with One wonders why the Welsh at 11 to 10. Those who sup-

good playing conditions, good Selectors preferred Ray Daniels, ported Golden Prospect saw play and good refereeing." of Arsenal, for their side against the horse fall three fences from This "spirit of the game" stuff England. Charles, the persont- home, leaving Jedburgh Lass is all right, but it's no use fication of coolness, held telling that to clubs in highly- Arsenal's Peter Goring in a vice- The backers of the winner commercialised competitions, like grip, and it was not until lined up at the totalisator win-where inches mean the the list 15 minutes that Goring dows, expecting to draw at the difference between, vital goals got the two goals which won best four shillings for their two being scored or not being scored, the FA the game. shillings' stake in view of the and incidentally can account for fact that Jedburgh Lass seem-thousands of pounds in pro- ed to have the better form and motion and relegation issues. overnight betting forecasts had Full marks to the referee made her a warm odds-on who thought up this poser.

agree with him, and the sooner the law is clarified the better.

SUNDAY SOCCER How far are we from Sunday football? Recognised - - by the Those who back the favourite

Association, I mean. worked "it out that had it been Football

Generations, some folk would successful they would probably have won one penny for each tell you but how wrong they two shillings, or odds of 1 to might be For Lancaster Gate 24 against the

they has, in fact, just given per- 1/10d

for Sunday football, would have got from the book-mission makers-Router.

played by teams who are bona-

Army.

chance.

Thoy could hardly believe their eyes when they saw that they were to get back 19/3d. for their stake.

I

John Dewes Hits A

Fighting

Century

Brisbane, Nov. 28.

John Dewes, the 24-year-old Cambridge University. and Middlesex left-hander, today scored a fighting cen- tury against Queensland on the eve of the first Test cricket match.

His innings of 117 runs-his the bowling but Warr shared highest of the tour so far-almost well and refused to be rattled certainly assured him of a place when he did face the attack. in the England team for the Test starting on the same ground on Friday.

In a last wicket partnership with Eric Hollies, he made a vain effort to give the MCC a first innings lead but after the stand had put on 30 runs the MCC innings ended at 291-14 runs short of the Queensland total of 305 runs.

The other big success of the Army. side was diminutive Peter Hill, Coventry City's inside-left. What is more, he scored the best goal of the matcha terrific drive from a

In the remaining minutes distance taken on the rebound. Queensland scored five runs for I also liked Pace, Aston Villa the loss of one second inning. centre-forward, who was as wicket. speedy as his

name and rare Dewes showed that he had warrior. He got the Army's spirit and concentration but he other goal by cheekily dribbling had several lives. When 50 runs He he had to leave the field for a round goalkeeper Burgin.

massage owing to an attack of crossbar with also hit the

a

cramp.

eat shot taken on the turn.

NOT MUCH WRONG

STAVED OFF COLLAPSE There was not much wrong Another interruption came with the defence in which goal when his overnight fourth

Dewes should have been stumped off McCool when 72 runs and at 81 runs he lifted Raymer near enough for the midoff to make a despairing effort at a catch.

After Warr had gone the cricket became alive with in- terest as Hollies strove to stay in order to help Dewes to reach his first century of the tour and gain a first innings lead for the MCC.

Hollies did no more than keep the ball out of his wicket, but this was just the game needed. At the other end Dewes punish-

power.

ed anything loose with full

-

He was dropped when 91 runa by Johnson off McCool. He com- pleted his century in four hours, 13 minutes, hitting 11. fours.- Reuter.

liue members of the Territorialkeeper Sims made two grand wicket partnership with Cyril FA Cup Replays

saves from the Spurs streak of Washbrook put on 106 · ruus. What's the next step? Well, lightning,

Walters. While he was off the field three NO AUTOGRAPHS don't be surprised if there's a when one remembers that the wickets fell for only 29 runs but similar request on behalf of the FA felded four English Interna- using Godfrey Evans as a run- Perth-Autograph hunters who Cadet Force.

stave off the And in the tionals and the remainder were ner he helped to follow their prey on to playing circumstances, since a precedent all first team league stars, the collapse fields will be unpopular in the has been created, it would be Army's performance represented John Warr, Dewes saw the ninth - Receiving strong support from coming cricket Tests.

difficult for the FA to refuse..

a great piece of team. work by wicket realise 37 runs. The top control body has

How far from there to all nsked the State Cricket Associa-

two Regular soldiers and nine tion to block them and the kinds of organised Sunday foot- National Service youngsters. English managers have been ball? Well, you never know snowball starts asked to instruct players to dis-once courage the practice-Reuter.

the

rolling....

I do not think there is any doubt that this side will win the

··Inter-Services ----Championship

Dewest previous: best score in Australia was his 04 runs against Western Australia.

London, Nov: 28. The following were the results of FA Cup first round Replays today: City

Oldham Athletic 2 Bradford

Southport 3, Lincoln City Llanelly 1 Bristol Rovers (after extra-time)zgibaşı

The second replay win Dewes, in his partnership decided at Cardiff next Monday with Warr, trid to take most of: December 4.–Reuter.