FALL OF MOUNT EDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 172, 23 July 1929, Page 13

FALL OF MOUNT EDEN.

\ (rood pace was maintained in the opening stages of the game, and the players of both sides did very well, having regard to the fact that they were operating%n a soft and sodden ground with both circles in a state of quagmire. Early the state of the turf did not seem to be troublesome, but, with the rain failing, the ground became worse, and the players experienced difficulty in keeping their foothold when on .the' move. Therefore it was hard to control the ball, and in consequence accurate hitting was almost a lost art. There is no doubt that University displayed the better tactics on the--day, and* kept a better formation that the opposition. The lead at half-time suggests that the students had the better of the play, and so they did. Still, Mount Eden lost an excellent chance of scoring and Crawley made a splendid save, but a great deal of the play was in Mount Eden territory. Be ore halttime, Mainland, the clever and diminutive full-back, retired, and Jansen took the field, necessitating a rearrangement of the team. ' . As the game progressed University continued to have the better of the play, although Mount Eden rallied, but thenattacks lacked, cohesion, and, being mostly of the dribbling order, came to orief without much effort on the part of the students' backs. In contrast, University persevered with more open and freer methods, and they were able to keep the Mount Eden backs on the move. The Mount Eden forwards were quicker on the ball, but their opportunities were not utilised to the best of advantage, their work being ragged with a lack of understanding among the quintet. In Crawley the students possess a goalie of much promise, and actually he Save the best exhibition of the halfdozen custodians. At full-back, Hay performed avcll in the mud. Brown received a painful injury in the second spell but was able to continue after a few 'minutes' delay. Kadcliffe hit to some purpose and also intercepted cleverly. Stony played a sound game at right half. Mei'klcjohn appeared to relish the heavy going, being to the fore in almost every attack. Don, alongside the big fellow,"grafted hard and to some purpose. • Seelens was also good in the open. Mount Eden were a somewhat disorganised team. Vail dropped some shots, and was lucky to escape trouble in connection with the penalty bully.' Anderson possesses all the qualifications of a skilful hockev player, but is brilliant at times, and then again not so reliable. Still, the burden of defence, after the departure of Mainland, fell to him. The middle division was frequently under pressure, and no doubt Kelly proved the pick of the trio while he occupied the position in the centre. In the forward line H. and M. Jones were most conspicuous for work of the daring order. Chaplin had a tendency to dribble too much; and did not reveal the form displayed against Country.