FINAL WON BY SEACLIFF.

A Bright Exhibition.

The Chatham Cup has found its first resting place down m the small hamlet m Otago . called Seacliff.

The final game for the trophy was played at Athletic Park, Wellington, on Monday of this week, when Y.M.C.A., the North Island winners, met the South Island finalists.

It was a great day, perhaps a trifle too hot for such a strenuous game, but the turf was like lightning, and this made for an ideal try-out.

The opinion was freely expressed before the game that Y.M. would be successful through their more thorough training. Seacliff were thought to be at a disadvantage In this respect. ' \ But for once the prophets were wrong, and at the finish the lads from down south were going a deal more strongly than their opponents.

The match was a great exhibition of the code, and was far superior to Saturday's semi-final.

Both teams took some tlmo to sottle down, and the' initial exchanges were all m favor of the Wellington boys. It was early apparent that the r.M. combination was sadly at fault, and the placing was very bad. There was a big contrast on the other side. Once the Seacliff players found their feet they gave of their bost, every man was m his place :o take his pass, and it was only good work on McGlrr's part that kept the Blues out. Snowy was playing , the team on his own at different stages. It was close to the interval before the first goal was chalked up. Misunderstanding between McGlrr and Tarrant allowed Hooper to slide through a shot that either one of the V.M, pair could have stopped with the utmost ensei But thero It wan. and one up m a cup final is worth two m a:i ordinary match.

Orange time was called without any alteration, and tho respite was gladly accepted. Tho Young Men started oft with a great dash after the interval and looked like evening matters up, but the Anderson brothers were too hig a. stumbling block, and many were the ptomislng movements they broke up. Tho pair were playing the back game to a finesse, and they never at any stage became bustled. Number two was hoisted after v fine bit on piny on tho part of J. Anderson, and McDougall scored.

Things wore looking Rlum for Y.M., whoso supporters were trotting n Jittlo unxious. though they woro trying hard to believe thut the la«t (tuurtcr of an hwiir would ltnd thoir team on the Job.

The •minutes ticked off. and ptill Sencllff were making all the play. Cmainly Y.M. were giving It a go now and then, but all their work was of a solo nature: there was a lack of cohesive play. Opportunities that m the ordinary courno of events would hnvc meant a goal were lost through that very necessary Item of combination being Ucklns.

'. Ten minutes before time Baxter spooned a booby up to Tarrant,. and the- custodian juggled with it long euough to see it get over the chalk line. Seacliff three up and time drawing near, and here Y.M. said good-by to the cup.

Just on the final whistle the fourth goal was awarded. I say awarded, but it was really a gift. McGirr did not take matters too seriously, and had the ball taken from him, and Hooper scored the easiest of goals.

Then the whistle/ and off went Seacliff, the winners, carried shoulder high by their supporters.

The teams paraded m front of the stand for the presentation, which was made by the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. In a few well chosen words he congratulated the winners on their fine display, and said that the winning of the cup would no doubt give the game a great ' boost •own m Otago. Mr. Wright incidentally mentioned that ten of the Seacliff team were returned soldiers and that the eleventh was a naval man.

Taken throughout it was a bright exhibition, with Seacliff always having the whip hand. The whole team pl&yed with machine-like precision, and it was a treat to see the* way they combined. The ■ Blues did not open too confidently, and were inclined to balloon too much. The sun, which was down at an acute angle, troubled them, a great deal, and anything that the -Young Men put up had the opposing. back line m queer street. A sweet centre by Ballard' early m the piece .was, nearly dropped into the net by these methods.

Soon as they settled down the Seaciiff players kept everything down on the carpet, and it was by these tactics that they found the measure of their opponents. Their combination then became apparent, and with combination behind them they quickly became confident. And that is' why they won the match— combination . and conflderce, the two best assets possible.

Y.M. lost the. game through the inability of their centre forward, George Campbell, to do the heady work that he is always called on to undertake. Campbell was off his game, but it is or.ly fair to state that he was troubled with a bad ankle. He did not go looking'for play — he was satisfied to let it come along his way. Too much hard kicking was Indulged m by halves and forwards alike — not hard enough to trouble the Seacliff goalkeeper, but just hard enough to get within killing distance of the Anderson brothers.

Then any attempt of concerted play by the Wellington side was quickly broken up. There was too much blind passing, and the halves were the biggest offenders m this respect. What is the use of making an opening and thsn go and throw it away with a wild pass? It would have been infinitely better for the man with the ball to have gone on his own. He could have done no worse, and many was the time he would have done better.

.There were very few breaches during the game. From the bank it looked as though the referee missed a couple of hands, both m favor of Seacliff. > Once or twice the players were inclined to mix it a little, and Smith and Hanlon had a few arguments during the second spell. '

Rivers, m goal for the winners, had thc^easiest of times, and only handled the' ball on a few occasions.

"What a great pair of backs the Anderson brothers, George and Jock, are. It is many a day since there has been witnessed such a fine display of back play as this pair gave us on Monday. Jock is the daddy of the pair, and his ?ame was a treat. The defence they offered would break the heart of any team.

The halves were good, and Murray, on the left, played particularly well. After the second goal was scored he dropped back and was practically an extra full-back. McKechie also shaped well, and quite surprised the team's supporters on his display. Rogers was always handy, and never gave his man much latitude.

Of the forward line Hooper was undoubtedly the star. He wan always it source of annoyance to the Y.M. backs, ond his shiftiness had them thinking hard all the time. McDougall, at outside right, was ever prominent, espe cially so m the second half. Baxter, though small, Is good. That backheel stunt of hi 3 looks fine when there is a player to take it, but he looks very foolish when it falls to an opponent. Burns and Hanlon were workers rltrht through the game, but they dli not shine so much' as the remainder of the line. With such good men engaged somebody had to take a back seat.

Tarrant, as custodian for the Young Men, had a hard day's work. Prior to the first goal he brought off some spectacular saves. The opening score seemed to unnerve him a little, but again m the second half he was at times brilliant. Two of the goals could not be laid at his door, but he certainly should hp.ve cleared the last one notched.

McGirr was the only full-back, though he was m a measure responsible for two goals against his Bide. In the first spell he repeatedly repulsed the Blue raiders when danger was near, and sent the ball well up to his waiting forwards. Rarity was otf color, and his form was too bad to be true. If the ball had been as big as a pumpkin he could hardly have kicked it decently, Judging on his display.

The half-back line was poor. They trusted! too much to Providence instead of playing: science with science. Trott was tho best of a very ordinary trio.

Ballard was the best of the forwards, and he was called on ctov a ton of work. He never shirked a bit, and it was no fault of his that his team went off losers. Always on tho look-out for an opening, ho was ever a thorn In the side of Seacllff, and they did not give hltn..too much rope. .Oampbe l ' was hampered by his ankle, and not once was a power to be reckoned with. Smith put very little heart into his srßme. and his centres were atrocious. Phillips jjl&yed wretchedly, and hardly ever troubled his man. In a sharp doph he was noticeable now and again, but that was all. Hindmarsh was fair only. He had the easiest man In the team to mark, yet he could not make any headway.