BRIGHT SOCCER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 14

BRIGHT SOCCER

AIRMEN'S HIGH SCORE Hope-Ede Performs Hat-trick and Collects Six of Whenuapai's Seven

A distinct improvement in the standard of play marked all first division matches played this afternoon in the second series of the Auckland Football Association's elimination round. In both games at Blandford Park there was bright play.

High scoring characterised the R.N.Z.A.F. (Whenuapai) - Watersiders' match, which was the preliminary fixture at headquarters. Outstanding player was L. HopeEde, formerly of Metro-College, who besides performing the hat-trick, collected six of Whenuapai's goals, the seventh going to Wilkinson, who when playing for Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys early last season, scored eight goals in one game. Maher, for Watersiders, was tho first to score and Hope-Ede equalised before half-time. Following the change over the airmen showed more staying power and it was a case of Surtees, Watersiders' goalie, versus Whenuapai vanguard, the pace proving too merry for the waterfront men. Nevertheless, Surtees effected several good saves in keeping the airmen from running up more points. Contested at a fast pace, the main! attraction between Eastern Suburbs and North Shore, both of which registered wins last week, resulted in a draw of two goals each. Shore held a lead of two to one at the interval until after the change over, when Suburbs staged a recovery and showed more stamina and did most of the attacking.

WHENUAPAI'S EASY WIN

There were some alterations and additions in the Watersiders' team, which made its second successive appearance in the curtain-raiser at Blandford lark. .1. Ellis, who last week filled the left back position, went on as outside right, ana the skipper, Callaghan, dropped back from inside loft to centre half. Several other new players filled vacancies m botn hack, half, and forward lines. Again in goal, Surtees was outstanding in his saves. Of the vanguard, J. Ellis, the exCitv League player, was prominent in several sorties. At outside right, was Swan, the ex-Naval Depot right winger, who plaved a solid game. The Air Force men from Whenuapai fielded practically the same team as last week. With the former Auckland representative and Metro-College centre forward, L. Hope-Eade, in the same role, and Wilkinson, the ex-Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys' player as inside left, Whenuapai had a strong striking force. Wilkinson will be remembered as scoring eight goals for Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys in a match early last season. Hazel, '.at centre half, is a former Wellington Watersiders' player, and he captained his eleven. . The initiative was taken by Watersiders, and Morman dive-saved from Gilmour. A few minutes later Hope-Ede headed across from Morgan, but the ball hit the outside of the upright. First blood went to Watersiders when Maber, following a scramble in front of the goalmouth, beat Morman with his shot. When Wilkinson broke away it seemed certain that he would equalise. However, Surtees divesaved at point-blank range to clear brilliantly. The Airmen made further sallies, and in one Hope-Ede gave Surtees no chance with a first-time drive to equalise. Watersiders 1, R.N.Z.A.F. (Whenuapai) 1. Even play characterised the second half until Hope-Ede ran through the defence to give Surtees little chance with a shot which hit the Inside of the net. Almost immediately after Wilkinson made a break-away, but Surtees repelled his shot. A further raid by Whenuapai saw HopeEde beat Surtees to perform the hattrick. Within minutes Hope-Ede collected his fourth. Surtees, however, cleared a stinging shot from Miller. Whenuapai's fifth goal came from Wilkinson, and HopeEde followed immediately with the sixth. The deficit was reduced by Bodman, but Hope-Ede, who had a perfect understanding with Wilkinson, put his side further ahead. Surtees saved a penalty shot taken by Hope-Ede, and the game ended:— R.N.Z.A.F (Whenuapai) 7 Watersiders 2 The teams were:— R.N.Z.A.F.—Morman, Butts, Kessell, Bell, Hazel, Dryland, Morgan, Miller, Hope-Ede, Wilkinson, Calder. Watersiders.—Surtees, Connors, Woolsey. Swan, Callaghan, McVeigh, J. Ellis, Bodman, Greeves, Gilmour, Maber. The referee was Mr. R. Lalley.

★ SUBURBS-SHORE DRAW

In the main attraction at Blandford Park Eastern Suburbs met North Shore. Both sides had registered victories last Saturday, North Shore defeating Thistle by 6 goals to one and Eastern Suburbs beating R.N.Z.A.F. (Ardmore) by the odd goal in five. There was only one alteration in each side, Dempsey replacing Wallace at left half for Suburbs, while McKenzie, who has played most of his Soccer in Dunedin, replaced Rasmussen at inside left for Shore.

The game opened at a very fast pace, with each side attacking in turn. The first incident was a nice save by King from Richards, while at the other end Pratt cleared twice from R. Welch when danger threatened. West sent the North Shore vanguard with a nice pass, but Robinson's cross went begging. King was tested with a dropping shot from Mason, and then Suburbs replied with a couple of raids which were cleared. A concerted North Shore vanguard attfyck saw Mason net with a beautiful firsttime left foot drive.

Collinge had a shot from a Suburbs breakaway, which went; just wide of the upright. A further Suburbs' raid forced Pratt to concede a corner from a header by Neesham. King jumped to clear an excellent centre from Robinson when hard pressed, but Suburbs returned to attack again. Neesham shooting wide when well placed. Robinson, who received a well-judged pass from West, put Shore further ahead when he ran in to beat King with a strong drive. Play was held up for Dacre to receive first aid attention. Neesham converted a cross from Walsham past Pratt to reduce the deficit. A penalty was awarded against Dacre for returning to the field without notifying the referee, but Neesham's spot kick appeared to be purposely wide. Half-time arrived with the scores

North Shore 2 Eastern Suburbs 1 Suburbs was first to show up after the interval, and Pratt, Cameron and Christie had a busy time in the first few minutes. Richards relieved the pressure when he sent Mason away with a good pass, but the winger took the ball too far before centring. Ray Welch equalised the score with a beautiful drive which gave Pratt no chance. Roman, who was playing a solid game at right half for Shore, sent Richards away with an excellent pass, which the v centre made good use of and a scramble in front of Suburbs' goal resulted in p corn*"- nil 1 "1, was not improved. Suburbs replied, and Pratt did well to save from iveeshuui and Welsh in quick succession. Three corners followed on Suburbs' left wing, but all were wasted. Neesham made a great attempt to convert a chopping cross from Walsham with a "first timer," then Dacre set the Shore forwards in action again with a good pass—the ball going behind after a tussle in front of goal. Walsham led a Suburbs raid and put over a fine cross, Neesham shooting over the cross-oar. The whites were now having the better of exchanges, but Richards, Robinson and Mason made best use of their chances when they got the ball. West appeared to be hanging a little hit too far back on defence for an inside forward, which seemed to handicap the forward line —after all the old motto of "attack is the best defence" is a good one. Each side strlved hard to obtain the winning point, but time was called with the final score North Shore 2 Eastern Suburbs 2 The teams were:— Eastern Suburbs: King. Gav, Cheyne, Herrick. Espie, Dempse.v, Walsham, Meuli, R. Welch. Neesham, Coil Inge. North Shore: Pratt, Cameron, Christie, Roman. Hodgson, Dacre, Robinson, West, Richards, McKenzie, Mason. The referee was Mr. E. Page. ★ Philomel recorded another by defeating Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys by 8 goals to 2 in the match played at Fowlds Park. /