REP. SOCCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 5 July 1926, Page 12

REP. SOCCER.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. WIN FOR NORTHERNERS. (Ey Tclr-^rapli. —Special "Star." l WELLINGTON, Sai urday. Tn brilliant sunshine, tempered with a cold southerly wind, the twenty-fourth rop. match between Auckland and Wellington was played on the Basin Reserve this afternoon, in the presence of only a five-thousand crowd. The Governor<Jcneral, Sir Charles Stathani and pro minent members of Parliament \vcr>! amongst the spectator-. The teams lined up a? follows: — Auckland (blue and white i.—Lucas, Gerrard. Reid, Tinkler, Kissuck, Jone=-, ]nnes. Dacre, Spencer, Hislop, Kay. Wellington (black and gold I .—Kwinj', Ciibb, MeGirr, Thomas. MeKee, Burke. Daniels, McElligott, Lothian, ISallard. Cud by. Referee, Mr. C. Kelly. Before the commencement of ['lay the teams were presented to the GovernorGeneral. Members of the Auckland side were wearing representative caps presented by Mr. Tugby, of Auckland. Play Begins. Wellington won the toss. Auckland made ground through Kay, and Dacre forced a corner. Kay placed nicely, but Burke cleared. Cudby got away for Lothian to clear, and a drive by McKlligott resulted in a fruitless corner to Wellington.. Dacrc, Spencer, Hislop and Kay had a pretty combined move which commenced a dangerous raid. The forwards were always dangerous, and Ewing had to save. On three occasions Danielwas gi\en passes which he swung across Jield, but Cudby missed them. Ballard and Cudby had an artistic run, terminating in a shot by Lothian and a clever save by Lucas. The home side had a look in on the , left wing, giving trouble, but an off-side penalty against McElligott brought relief. Two corners fell to Kay at the other end, Inncs heading the second over. A greasy surface made footing difficult, the backs fluking several kicks.

A Good Effort. 1 lie best effort came after 15 minutes play, Tinkler ending in a great drive, which Kwiiig did well to save. Up to this point any advantage there was lay with Auckland, wlior-e half-backs kept the home forwards at bay and .ent up many dangerous drives. Spencer got 3iis foot to a pass from behind and drove hard for gouL Kwing fielded but ere he could dear. liislop ha I landed the ball in the net.

Just two minutes afterwards Kay took a pass from Ilislop and after a brilliant solo effort, he beat Ewing with a great drive.

Matters Liven Up. Two goals to the good for Auckland saw matters liven up. Wellington laid on tiie most exciting melee* in front of Lucas, but tin; goalie saved pluekily. Then Auckland opened out the plaj. Kiseock passed t<> Dacre, who gave Innes. possession. A bright run by the outside right saw a ■lovely cross come in. .Spencer was on tlie ball with a bounce, and, with a pretty side-foot shot, added the third goal. Auckland's charge was placed in jeopardy when Hislop was penalised, but again pivpd in brilliant style, eh 30 minute! gone, the Auckland team Tiad the lii.i measure of the home side. The defence played with fine covering tactics, and their placing forward was aeeurati, the forwards swinging the ball about with great freedom, which kept their opponents always full of anxiety. • ■ Cudby Tests Lucas.

The bast, piece of play from Wellington came from Ballard and Cudby on the left, the latter testing Lucas with a great shot high up, but the goalkeeper again rose to the occasion with a brilliant save. Auckland had an open goal preaeijted them when Dacre lobbed in a shot which Ewing fumbled. The ball came to Spencer, who missed. Two minutes later Daeie missed with only Ewing in front of him. A bright race by the home forwards saw the ball pass from wing tv wing, for to shoot harmlessly Just afterwards a dashing save by J\eid rubbed Lothian of a certian goal. On the first half showing, Auck'and was playing much more progressive football than their opponents, while the visiting defence sliO'ved complete understanding. Always when Wellington seemed to be threatening danger, one of the visiting rear division would blip into the breach to save. Auckland deserved their three-goal lead. Auckland 3 Wellington 0 Second Spell. On resuming after the interval, McElligott changed places with Daniels, and the home side pressed from the start. T»o corners were faced in live minutes, but Wellington were weak in front of the goal and Lucas was never seriously tested. Play was quiet for the first ten ■minutes, and a tackle by Kissock and Dacre did not please the local supporters. Following some loose play the ball was returned to the centre by McElligott, and Lothian had a try. which was saved by a : great, dive by Lucas. The visiting forwards then hail a look in and showed pretty combination, a cross from Junes being missed by Hislop and Kay. In a trice Wellington transferred play and matters looked dangerous for Auckland, when Cudby had a chance to close in again. However, lie made no allowanc? for the agility of Lucas, who once more saved in spectacular fashion. Auckland •were not exerting themselves this spell as they had in the first, contenting themselves with staving off attacks.

Wellington's Best Share. Wellington had their greatest si.are of the match when twenty minutes of the second half had gone. It seemed then as though Auckland would be content to adopt a defensive attitude. An accident to Jones caused his withdrawal and ])acrc was pulled to C.c left lialf. Wellington pressed, but a shot from Lothian to Lucas was all that resulted. For a time Wellington monopolised the play, Auckland's goal running some narrow escapes, but there was a want of direction in Wellington's shooting. As the game wore on, Auckland kept their opponents at bay and there were some instances where the half backs and forwards obviously took matter* easy. The forwards, however, combined cleverly when they seemed to try. As the close drew near Wellington again pressed but were drueii oIT. After nice forward play by the whole of the front rank, a cross from Inncs saw Spencer raise Auckland'? ecu re. . The final was: — Auckland 4 Wcllin-ton 0

Comments on the Game. The game was always hard and fast. There were several bright flashes of good football, which came mostly —practically wholly—from Auckland. In the'first spell, when things mattered most, the visitors displayed that combination and understanding which caused their followers every confidence. There was move tinis-h and football ability in tlie play of the visitors than was I'ver seen from Wellington, and the tactics of the defence had the home forwards completely in check. The Auckland defence, to a man, played up to reputation. Kissoclc. tliouph he had received public attention before the game, was equal to all call, made on him. while Tinkler and Jones always covered up. Gerrard and Reid, after a-quarter of an hour, were safe and solid. In the forwards. Kay early caught the eye with his pretty and elusive footwork, his goal being a great effort. Hislop supported well, while Spencer, in centre, combined his wings to perfection, limes and Dacre h:id msii-y nice touches, but the display nf the day was that of Lucas in goal. Repeatedly he saved brilliantly, and was quite the hero of the match. Wellington lacked cohesion. MeGirr was the better back, while the halves, though useful, were never outstanding. The forwards did not combine as a line, and were miserably weak in finishing off i heir movements. Auckland fully deserved their victory, which was the reward of tine team work, the whole eleven working beautifully together.

PRAISE FROM GOVERNOR. LUCAS SF.CURES MEDAL. Seen after the match. Sir Charles Fergusson said that he considered the game a motst delightful one. He complimented Auckland on their meritorious win and expressed his pleasure that the game had made euch progress.

The Chief Justice, the Hon. C. P. Skerrett,remarked on the great improvement noticeable in the standard of the game in the Dominion, as instanced in the game this afternoon. It was only a matter of time when such contests would make the code increasingly popular.

JUNIOR GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Chelsea 2. beat Philomel 1. Ouehunga 7, beat Ponsonby 2. Metropolitan 3. boat V.M.C.A. 0. Tamaki 4. beat Glen Eden 0. North Shore G, beat Northcote 1. THIRD GRADE. ' T.M.C.A. 3, beat Newton 2. Kiwi 2, beat North Shore 1. FOURTH GRADE. Belniont 4. beat Onehunga 0. Northcote 2, beat North Shore 0. Eden Rovers 3, bent Comrades 1. Carltou 5, bent Blockhouse Bay 2. FIFTH GRAPF. Onehunga 4, heat Northeote 2. Technical A 3, beat Marathon 1. V.M.C.A. BOYS' LEAGUE. CpUs 3. beat Rangers 0. Rivals 6. beat Spurs 1. Swifts 4, beat Rovers 0. Hangers S. beat Rivals 2. Hovers 3, beat Spurs 2. IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Rovers 6. beat Glen Massey 1. Railways v. Wanderers ended in a draw, no scon , . WHANGAREI. At Hiluirangi, Auckland B reps. 4, bent North Auckland 0. Goals -were scored by Christie, 8011, Dixon and Humphries. The last two ineu scored from free kicks. Auckland played the better game throughout. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WANGANUI. Workshops 2. beat Fast Brook 1. Woollen Mills 4, beat V.M.C.A. 2. CHRIST CHURCH. Sunnyside o. beat Nomads 0. Western 4. ibcut Thistle A 2. Technical 3. brat Lyttelton 2. Kaiapoi <;. beat St. Alhan's 2. New Brighton 4, beat Thistle B 1. DUNEDIN. Soacliffe 4. beat Technical Old Boys 2. Kaitancatn 3. beat Northern 1. Mornlnijton 3. beat Mosfrip] 2. Southern 1, drew with V.M.C.A. 1. Uld Boys 3, beat Maori Hill 1.