SOCCER ARMY ELEVEN TOO GOOD FOR AUCKLAND REPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOCCER ARMY ELEVEN TOO GOOD FOR AUCKLAND REPS.

Avenging its defeat of a fort- * night ago, the Army team out- j pointed the Auckland representa- i fives by 3 goals in a match at ' Blandford Park to-day in which 5 I goals were registered. Hie game ' was characterised by bright play ( on the part of the Army men, i who showed good combination j throughout. Auckland lacked ■ cohesion and the forwards were!' starved for the ball. '! Two matches were played in the championship series. North Shore proved too good for Metro - College by 4 goals to 2, and Ponsonby it- rr- the winner over Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys by 3 goals to 2. In the curtain-raiser at headquarters, the Auckland fifth grade beat Wellington by 4 goals in a 6-goal match. * SENIOR REPS. GO DOWN Auckland.—Gordon, Riggans, McKenna, Matthews, Fineham, Wiseman, Robinson, Price, Welch, A. Francis, Master's. Army.—o. de Feu, Chambers, Mills, J. de Feu, Orr, Dowker, Beattie, M. Francis, Wallace, Hatchard, Pattinson. Referee:—Mr. C. G. Edwards. Army set the ball rolling and quickly showed up in attacking mood. Beattie tried conclusions but Gordon rose to the occasion. A further thrust by the Servicemen saw Pattinson centre to M. Francis and Wallace, but they lost a golden opportunity when in front of the net. A good save was effected by McKenna from a shot by Beattie. Gaining possession, Masters centred but Robinson headed . behind. Army again took a hand, causing Orr to concede a corner, but he cleared I the free kick effectively. The ball went I to Pattinson, who eluded the Auckland! defence and passed to Wallace. The Auckland goalie was called on to save a hard drive. Army was still pressing and Hatchard sent ut to Beattie, who crossed to Pattinson, and Gordon had to run out to save. From a corner Pattinson placed the ball nicely for Orr to trick several of the defence, and his shot just skimmed the crossbar. Territorially, Army was still having the better of play. A'thrust saw Beattie- test Gordon with a high shot to the corner of the net. - The goalie punched clear, but Wallace passed to I Pattinson and his shot found Gordon out of position. Army 1, Auckland 0. Auckland took a turn on the attack, and efforts by Welch and Masters were nullified by Mills. Beattie and M. Francis \ combined in a move which carried play toward Auckland's goal. In spite of' strong defence by Riggans Pattinson cut! in to find the top corner of the net with a hard drive. Army 2, Auckland. 0. i Seconds later Gordon had to punch' clear from a long angle shot by Pattinson. i From the throw in Beattie passed infield, where owing to a misunderstanding among Auckland backs Hatchard was able to beat the goalie with a phot from 25 yards out. The half-time score was:— Army 3 Auckland 0 The second half opened with Pattinson and Hatchard making a strong drive on I the wing. With play in Auckland terri-1 tory, Wallace tried to net, but Gordon withstood the challenge. Auckland now i turned the tables, Robinson taking play | to opposition territory, but O. de Feu I shot clear. The cudgels were taken up by Welch, whose shot went over the crossbar. A second attempt, was made by Welch, who headed for the net, but the Army goalie was not to be beaten. The Servicemen countered strongly, and from the wing Beattie crossed to Wallace, and the latter found the net with an exceptional drive. Army 4 Auckland 0 Army maintained the pressure, and Gordon effected two saves in quick succession from Hatchard and M. Francis. A thrust by Auckland looked promising, but Robinson's shot was intercepted and cleared iby Mills. Clearing under pressure, Gordon sent to Price, who passed | out for Robinson to lift' the ball goal-, ward. Welch cut in to head past O. dc '■■ ' Feu. Army 4> Auckland 1 With Auckland showing improved combination, the forward line launched a good movement in which a cross from Matthews went to Masters. The winger tried to head in, (but O. de Feu was not to be beaten. A determined effort was made by Auckland to cut down the deficit. Excitement ran high wlhen Finehain's shot was touched by four heads, but Chambers nipped in to bring relief. Auckland was attacking when the final whistle sounded. The score board read: — Army ' 4 Auckland 1 * SHORE'S GOOD WIN Shore opened with the advantage of a strong wind, and confined play to Metro's goal in the opening stages, but met a solid defence. Metro relieved with a forward rally that looked dangerous, but Shore cleared to take the play to its opponent's goal once again. Metro was keeping the ball down, and its raids were always dangerous. Craxton had some difficulty In clearing a hot shot from Speed, and a moment later a chance was missed with an open goal. Some further lively play round the Shore goal ended with a penalty kick, which was also missed. Even exchanges marked the closing stages of the spell, but one lively Shore attack forced a corner, from wnlcli Richards headed the opening goal. Shore attacked strongly from the opening of the second spell, and Fricker had to throw clear from a crowd of attackers. Metro relieved to take the game to Shore's end, where Hope-Ede scored twice in quick succession. Shore rallied from this reverse to storm the Metro goal, and after several hectic melees Richards oreasted through to even the score. Metro then penned Shore In its goal for some time, but a solid defence, with Craxton saving in good style, kept the Shore goal Intact. Shore relieved for Agate to score after a good solo effort. Metro came again, with a succession of corners that were without result. The final stages saw Shore more than holding its own and a last-minute sortie by (he forward line enabled Richards to get his third goal, to make the score: North Shore * Metro-College * * PONSONBY LUCKY Had it not been for a stout defence throughout, Ponsonby would have been the losers in their game against Mt. Albert. Ponsonby had the advantage of a high wind from the kick-off and drew first blood when Braekenridge, after the goalie, Thom. had 1 fumbled, ran In to score. Mt. Albert then took charge, Clark, Patterson and McDonald in the: van being conspicuous. Dickie, Veart and the goalie, Gavan, were playing good football however, and sent this trio back repeatedly. Halftime sounded with the score: Ponsonby 1. Mt. Albert 0. After the interval Ponsonby had the advantage when Brackenridge twice got away, to be stopped on each occasion by Speed, the Mt. Albert fullback. Mt. Albert drew level when Rouse, Ponsonby half, made an error, from which Irvine received 1 an opening to score. Ponsonby now "put the . ! pace on, and Dowler. right wing, made a fine solo run to score, after which Chapman, inside left, repeated the dose, and Ponsonby were two up. This was reduced, however, by Ward, who received direct from a fine corner by Patterson, to . find the defence unplaced. Mt. Albert now , attacked vigorously, but could not find the mark, the game ending: 1 Pousonby 3 Mt. Albert ~ 3 ★ 'AUCKLAND WINS i I —————^——• r ' The curtain-raiser at Blandford Park was between the Auckland and Wellington fifth grade • ! representatives. Auckland took the offensive early . and soon went into the lead. At half-time r 1 the home team had registered * goals against Welliixjn's 1. The second half saw Wellington 1 maki desperate efforts to reduce the gap and ; rewara came with one goal. Iwirchtbald scored 1 three of Auckland's goals and WBlins netted one. McKinley scored the pair for "illlngton. Referee: Mr. B. Jones.