NAVY CHALLENGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 13

NAVY CHALLENGE.

DIOMEDE DEFEATS DUNEDIN,

KEEN STRUGGLE FOR COLE CUP.

Replacing the Reason Banner, which lias been the emblem of Soccer premiership in the New Zealand Naval, Squadron for several years and has now been fully inscribed, the Colo Cup, donated by Mr. W. A Cole, a former president ot the JSortii Auckland Football .Association, was played for yesterday afternoon on the Devonport Domain between teams from the Dunedin and Diomede. An exciting and cjosely-contested game was witnessed by a large attendance, winch included many naval officers and ratings, as well as Mr. Leo Munro, chairman, and members of the Auckland Football Association management. The teams were:— Diomede: Shirtcliffe, Watts, Ringwood, Atton, Buss, Collins, Hunt, Little, lvidson, Price, Bellamy. Dunedin: Stearns, Salter, Slater, Orford, Bennett, Ryan, Baye, Longbone, Garwood, Green, Ponds. Referee: Chief Petty Officer Luke, Philomel. Though in the end Diomede won the trophy by 5 goals to 1, there was hardly that discrepancy in the respective ability of the teams. But Dunedin lacked the finish and thrust near goal that were responsible for many of their opponents scores. The opening was all in favour of the Diomede, and within five minutes, as the result of a prett.y combined movement, Hunt had opened the scoring. Dunedin responded spiritedly, and Garwood seemed on the point of scoring when lie was robbed of possession. Play ranged from goal to goal by long, swinging passes,- and the Diomede second goal came in the thick of an exciting melee in front of goal, a shot being deflected from Salter past Stearns. Again Dunedin pressed hard, and a combined effort started by Bennett culminated in Garwood scoring a clever goal. However, before the change of ends, Diomede went a further goal ahead. Price being the marksman from a timely nass from Collins. Diomede kept ahead right through the second session, and after fifteen minutes for the first time definitely showed superiority. Kidson scored twice during the spell, while Dunedin failed to. got the ball past Shirtcliffe, though at times Dame Fortune certainly frowned on the losers. A hard, fast, and at times spectacula'r game resulted in victory for the Diomede. Mr. Coie presented the trophy to Buss, captain of the winning, side, who made a suitable acknowledgement, while Captain Cosmo Graham expressed the sentiments of the Service to Mr. Cole for his sporting gesture in donating such a handsome' trophy, as well as expressing appreciation • of the very friendly relations the j naval authorities and the Auckland Football Association. 1