Y.M. Collapse.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 145, 21 June 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

Y.M. Collapse.

Thistle Romp Home in Chatham Cup Local Final. There was a good attendance at Blandford I'ark this afternoon, when Y.M.C.A. and Thistle contested tlie Chatham Cup, Auckland final. The teams were:— Thistle (black and white). —Gerrard, Ferguson, Hibbert, Johnstone, Wright, Kcan, Gdmmings, Dick, McLeay, liislop, Wilson. Y.M.C.A. (colours). —Hilliard, Mowat, Otter, Malcolm, Chapman, Riddolls, Chalmers, Jay, Humphreys, Whaley, Kay. lleferee: Mr. A. E. Parkinson. The opening stages were bright and evenly contested. Colours were the more dangerons, and came near scoring when Humphreys shot just over the bar from a rebound off Hibbert. Thistle retaliated, forcing a corner, that Cummings placed beautifully, but Hilliard jumped out to save. For a time Y.M.C.A. had easily the best of the play. Thistle attempts to drive them back faded out through indifferent passing, and Chapman was prominent in breaking up as well as placing with accuracy. The opening goal came surprisingly to Thistle -from a break away, and a cross from the right. Hilliard seemed to err in judging whether to run out, and Wilson got possession, to flick the ball into an empty goal. Colours, nevertheless, eon.tinucd to be more methodical, but a second reverse awaited them, when the Thistle left broke through. Wilson swung the leather into the centre. Hilliard failed to fild and clear his lines, and Dick, in a handy position, put Thistle two ahead. The game continued oil interesting lines, Y.M.C.A. still pressing but "tlie black and white defence did some successful breaking up. Y.M.C.A. tried long shooting for goal, but their attempts lacked accuracy, while Kay was not in his usual deadly shooting form. Thistle goal ran a narrow escape when Gerrard only partly cleared a lengthy drive. The ball rebounded to Kay, but was again cleared by the goalie. Then tLo Scots had a look in, but a promising raid on the left was nipped in the bud by Wilson getting off-side. Keeping up the pressure, Thistle were granted a penalty against Mowat, but Hilliard distinguished himself by a brilliant save. Colours' goal, however, ran the narrowest escape of the day, following a corner by Cummings placing beautifully, but Dick's shot goalwards was blocked. Two corners to Y.M.C.A. by Chalmers looked promising, but the attack was shaken oil. McLeay fastened on a clearance by Kcan and got the better of Mowat, to let Wilson .-away. The outside left beat the Y.M.C.A. defence in a run for the ball, and beating Hilliard, put Thistle three ahead. After a desperate raid by Y.M.C.A., in which Gerrard saved a hard drive from Humphreys, the interval arrived with the score Thistle 3 Y.M.C.A. 0 When Y.M. resumed, Chalmers and Jay changed places on the right wing, Thistle were first to press and for a time kept a close grip on the game. Y.M. played with desperation, Kay racing far infield in an effort to free the pressure. Twice Gerrard fielded and cleared smartly and then Y.M. forced two corners, but the packed defence of Thistle cleared. The game was somewhat tame for a time after this, but in the general run of the play Y.M. were more progressive. The best shot of the day came from Cummings. Just after this a lovely drive from the touchline was fisted out, but not a Thistle forward was in position to take advantage of the chance that followed. The exchanges

were willing and the game was stubbornly contested every inch, ranging from goal to goal, but towards the end the play deteriorated and was hardly like a national cup tic. There was no further scoring and Thistle earned the right to represent Auckland iu the Jsorth Island final. Score Thistle Y.M.C.A 0