The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
Picked Players to Meet i'm Test
of Scotch Against Eng
IiSh
By Bob Shand
sTANDING OF THE TEAMS

scotias ..i...:..llo l -
The lads who are going to play in the
soccer International game today are lit
and ready and when the teams line up
at Freeman's park at 2:S0 % young
men trained to the minute will trot
into the field. The teams have been
selected with fairly good Judgment and
the representative of the Rose and
the Thistle will of course do their best
when the honor of their countries is at
stake.
On paper the Scotch team looks to
have a shade the best of the talent,
although the halfbaek line could bear
Improvement. The defense is composed
of McRitchie (Hornets), Smith (This
tles) and Scott (vampires), and this
trio is sure to give a good account OF
itself. McRitchie's work for the Hor
nets in recent games denotes that he
has recovered the form which was
feature OF the games he took part in
few years ago, and, although there are
many who thought that his younger
brother, who plays with the Thistles,
ought to have got the place, 1t is gen.
orally conceded that the Hornet man
is quite capable of taking care of the
last shots of the Englisnmen.
Dewar, Anderson and McKiernon are
three hard working halfbacks and,
although never in the brilliant class,
they may be depended upon to worry
the opposing forwards. The forwards
on the Scotch side appear a we'll ball
anced lot. Mckenzie of the Vampires
viii play center forward, and in that
position it is admitted that he is with
out a peer on the coast On the right
wing will be found Duneanson of the
Thistles and Walsh from the Burns
and If these players play up to their
regular form it Will take good half
back to take care of them Downie of
the Vampires and Scott of the Thistles
men play the same style of football
they ought to get along we'll together.
AS most OF the players in the league
are of Scotch birth, the Englishmen
had hard time selecting their play
ers, but the eleven which was finally
chosen appears to be a capable bunch.
Crowley of the Independents, who will
take care of the uprights, has demon
strated that he is In the top notchers'
class, and Grant (Burns) and Dowding
SSan Francisco at times play. brill
this pair is that they can not be re-
lied upon, being just as likely to be
off form as they are to play star
lThistles) and Perkins (San Francis
cos) are neither better nor worse than
the Scotch halfbacks. 50 in this de-
advantage. The English forward line
looks to be the real goods and it is
this quintet that is expected to win
the game. Bernard N(Vampires) and
surpassed as right wing, and Elliot
at center is McKenzie's only rival in
that position on the coast Pike CAL
bfon Rovers) and Tommy Fay of the
Independents will cavort on the left
wing, and both are extremely clever
and tricky players.
If the players maintain the reputa-
tions they have gained in the league
games one of the best soccer exhibit
tions ever seen in this section should
is be witnessed, and as Is far far as s the he result
tween the teams at the finish The
Scotchmen excel in defense. but the
Engiishmen even that advantage by
having the better forward division.
The middle lines are a standoff and
neither team has ever played together
before.
The independents are peddling a
hard luck tale since they were defeat
ed by the Vampires. l to- O, Christmas
and the lads in green certainly have a
kick coming; com After After outplaying their
game they retired defeated through
penalty kick. 1t was rafting good
contest and the biggest crowd that
has appeared at F'reemans park this
season was on hand to see the festivi-
ties. The Indies were unlucky. that
was all, and the Vampire defense was
all the credit for the victory
The Building Trades and the Albion
ROverS gave mediocre exhibition of
the soccer game Christmas morning.
Neither side was at full strength and
the game was dull and listless There
was no scoring at half time, but the
Rovers did better in the final period
and tailed three times
The Vampires have not yet been de-
feated in the league competition and
the lads from Crolls look to have the
pennant cinched. The Thistles are in
second place, one game and points
behind the leaders, and if there is go
ing to be a fight for first honors it
will be between this pair.
The teams, reserves and referee for
todays big game follow:
England - Crowley (Independents) Grant
(Burns), Dowding tSan Francisco, Swain (yam-
pires), W. Fl. Jackson (ThistIes). Perkins fSan
Francisco), Bernard (vampires), Walters CAL
bion Rovers, Elliot CHornetsl, Pike tAlbion
Rovers) and Fay Independently.
SEQ l n d - McRitehe tHornets), Smith
fThistles). Scott lvampires). W. Dewar (Sco-
tias), Anderson Independently. McKiernon tAl-
bon Rovers), Duncanson (Thistles), Walsh
lBurns), Mckenzie (Vampires), Downie (Vam-
pires) and Scott tThistles).
The reserves are: Scotland-Selkirk (Albion
Rovers}, Munroe (Burns), McTurk tThistiesl
and W. Robertson (vampires): England-Lynch
Hornets Bromfeld building Tradess, Airey
Independently and Hailes (San Francisco.
Referee, G. d. Bennett.