ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22414, 30 May 1938, Page 7

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

the hurley shield COMPETITION i FIRST ROUND CONCLUDED nomads and western LEAD The first round of the Hurley Shield tompetltion was conducted on Saturday. There were two surprises on the day, Thistle overshadowing the unbeaten Nomads team to win 3-0, and Rangers drawing with the Technical College Old Boys learn, 4-4, at Linwood Park. At Spreydon Park, Western was too good (or the Inexperienced Y.M.C.A. team, winning comfortably by 7 goals to 0. At the end of the first round, Nomads >n d Western are equal with four wins »nd one defeat. Thistle and Technical occupy the next two places, within easy itriklng distance of the leaders. Rangers ond Y.M.C.A. may cause some surprises, but it is very unlikely that their opposition will affect the two leaders’ hold on the competition. The following table shows the present positions of the teams in the Hurley Shield competition after the first round of

THISTLE (3) v. NOMADS (0) Nomads was the favourite when the (teams lined up -at English Park on Saturday, but the loss of F. Craggs on the right wing, who is on the injured list, land the injury to T. Waddell soon after jthe game commenced put a very different complexion on the game. J. Souter (was placed on the right flank. Souter had Eever played as a wing forward and it ould have been a much wiser move to ave retained him in his usual position lat right half, a berth he has occupied with credit so far this season. F. Adams bnade his first appearance of the -season tat right half, and although he played a pair game he showed little- understanding jof the play of his flpjik forwards. C. Pickup, the other flank half, played very well and also made his debut in senior football this season. Both he and Adams showed lack of fitness, however,' In supporting attacks, by- the forwards. The Nomads attack was considerably (Weakened without the brilliant Craggs and, ■with the possible exception of D. Souter, 'had little penetration in the face of a fairly steady Thistle defence. H. Wilkins's play suffered through lack of knowledge of ball control. A. Gordon gave a slashing defensive exhibition; but carried too great a burden in the face of the weight of the Thistle attack, and as a result was not seen to advanatge. M. Fail, at left back, gave a sterling defensive game, made few mistakes, and tackled determinedly. P. Knight, at right back, replaced the injured Waddell and under the conditions played very well. Mcßae, the goalkeeper, gave a great exhibition of safe goal-keeping under pressure.

Thistle has improved steadily throughout the first series of the round, and gave a great display completely to outplay the formidable Nomads’- eleven for two-thirds of the game on Saturday. Their success is an excellent example of the gradual welding of eleven individuals into a smoothly-working machine, strong enough th win the-Hurley Shield championship. On Saturday's display Thistle be particularly successful In the next round of matches. Both back and forward divisions of the side combined excellently, seemingly without possible improvement. The two members of the Thistle team who have shown the greatest Improvement sre undoubtedly D. Gowans, the tall centre, half, ard J. McLennan, the outside right. Gowans, with his deceptive - stride and ability to be almost everywhere at once, has proved ■ himself to be a remarkably hard man to pass with the ball, and his play is right up to. the high standard set by the Gordon brothers’, both of whom are specialists in the centre half position. McLennan, the former St. Albans player, although at times hesitant and rather obvious in his mode of attack, Is a very determined player and scored a brilliant goal from the wing on Saturday. . • The Thistle forwards, led by Sutherland and Hall, showed plenty of dash and penetration, both players showing discrlmlna* tion in easing pressure on to the wings when suitable. D. Gowans, at centre half, was -the pivot of countless Thistle move-ments.-and used his head and height to advantage. With A. Walker and J. Baton willing: outside men he acted as a sure cushion to his backs and an unfailing reforcement to his forwards. A. Wilson had an able partner in N. McCann at full--back, both men playing dashing defensive games. Chatham Cup prospect? look very rosy for the Thistle team at present.

, The teams were:— f Thistle—T. Harker; N. S. H. McCann, A. Wilson; J. Baton, D. Gowans, A. Walker; J. i McLennan. W. Sutherland, A. Renwlck, E. Hall, and G. Walker, , . Nomads—D. A. N. Mcßae: T» Waddell, ' M. Pall, B. Knight: F. AdamS, A. Gordon, C. Bickpp; J. Souter. H. Beale, H. Wilkins. D. Souter, and M. Bumand. ' The Play

Thistle attacked In the first minute and -looked like getting a gift goal when awarded a' penalty; but Mcßae made a splendid save from G. Walker's shot. Soon after this Waddell suffered a badly bruised leg and was replaced by P. Knight. Both sides staged bright movements, but both back divisions quickly filled any breaches opened by the attacking forwards. A great solo effort by W. Sutherland let Renwlck through, but McRae, though unsupported, brought off a spectacular save. Nomads returned, a great header by Wilkins narrowly missing the goal. At half-time neither side had scored. '

Nomads settled down first after the resumption of play, Wilkins beating two men before being shouldered off the ball when within striking distance. After more sklr.mishlng A. Walker profited by a misunderstanding between- Adams and Wilkins and passed to McLennan, who screwed In a great shot from the right flank. Thistle J, Nomads 0. I ■Nomads retaliated. Barker Just bundling D. Souter’s shot out and off a counter McRae dealt efficiently - with a shot from ■ G. walker. Thistle came again, G. Walker sending in to A. Ren wick, who followed up a clearance by Mcßae to head the ball into the net. Thistle 2, Nomads 0. Thistle kept" the pressure on and from a corner by J. McLennan W. Sutherland got; his head to the ball and goaled. , Thistle 3, Nomads 9. Nomads made a last rally. Pickup sending in a shot which Wilkins diverted, but Harker was safe and cleared. The game «nded soon after with the scores; . Thistle 3, Nomads 0. Referee. Mr R, H. Neville Western (7) v. y.m.c.a. (0) Y.M.C.A.’s steady improvement over the last few Saturday's suffered reverse when the eleven was matched with Western at Spreydon Park. Western continued the good form shown against Technical Old ■oys on the previous Saturday, and with ail units working smoothly the side made ‘he match look like a practice game. Y.M.C.A,. on the other hand, tried to match Western s fast, open team work, but failed to come up to their more exopponents. . was without the services of Jt. Fall, and the half line certainly suffered as a result. The V.Rt.C.A. half line i v, n S .J 00 dependent on the ability of the juil-backp, and the Western van was quick io profit by this weakness. The Y.M.C.A. Passing, too, was very badly placed, the Players generally disposing of the ball ■ in a haphazard way. W. Weir and J. Pegiey played/fairly welMn rather an average forward line, and C. Liddle w bright spasmodically. Liddle, after some good displays in goal, ' Impresses more as a last line now than a potential Both Hastier and Tolchard, me backs, took too. many risks, but were otherwise dependable. G. Smith gave a «if djstfiay in the Western van. J. Smith, , r » looks like becoming even a beter’ beln ® unusually tricky and hni S i S ,l ssi V g _. a , vcry accurate boot. ThewaVrf 8 ’ led by M. Gordon, gave the for--255 a feast of the ball and also were a • mSESoi 1,1 Y.M.C.A. falling to score. A. - was well partnered by J. Galtion'Si two showing a keen anticlpatrend of attacking movements. - teams were;—r ' r MArhi Gaffaney; t. Galbraith, A. Hoh£» an i. P ’ ByP«?kes, M. Gordon, G s - Csvhhersy, J. Smith, G. Smith, • and W Ives. • A. Williams; ,T. Hustler, D. A?& h j „ ard i, A Harland. G Miller. T lev ur' yielding. E. Harward. J. Peg‘•f* w. Weir, and C. Liddle. \\ . The- Play : .J , . fc,* £f ern soon settled down, and in a I ; . """ movement J. Smith glanced the ball] fe ■

Post. Western 1. Y.M.C.A. 0. Western quelled an attempt at combined play by the Y.M.C.A. van, and returned for G. Smith to head home from a ?P£!?s, r • klck by Cawtheray. Western 2, x.M.C.A. 0; Another goal came Western’s way when G. Smith edged himself past two players to goal. Western 3, Y.M.C.A. 0. , Smart play on both wings by the Western van kept Y.M.C.A. subdued for a spell, but a counter by Miller and Weir eased the pressure. Brookes and Gordon worked play back, however, Ives sending on to White who beat Williams -all the ss c ro an angie shot- western 4> _ scored again soon after. G. Smith bringing the tally to five. YM C A made a determined effort. Fielding, Harand Weir being prominent, but at half-time the scores were still: Western 5, Y.M.C.A. 0. .Western drew ahead still further soon after play had been resumed, and in an ?ir P ra * ( * Smith scored an easy goal. Western 6. Y.M.C.A. 0. Y.M.C.A., in the best movement of the day with T. Archer. Fielding, and Harward in charge, placed to C. Liddle. the wing man just failing with his header to the goal. Western came again in an interpassing movement, Ives scoring. The game ended with the scores still unchanged. Western 7,.Y.M.C.A. o. Referee: Mr C. Sweeney. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS (4) v. RANGERS (4). The Technical team gave its supportersa surprise on Saturday when it drew with Rangers at Llnwood Park. After the previous Saturday’s debacle, it was thought the side would make amends against the comparatively weak Rangers team, but the side at its best just managed to level the scores shortly before the end of the game. Rangers played well against Nomads at English Park the previous Saturday, but improved on that display against Technical. The club appears to have secured a forward line capable of scoring goals, and if the defence can be tightened up a little there is no reason why the side should not present a strong challenge to tlje leaders. Technical has failed to show "last season’s or the beginning of this season’s promise, and a continuance of present form will inevitably result in the failure of the team in the- second round of the Hurley Shield series. Technical lost a good man when L. Muir left, and also was at a disadvantage when W. Mitchell was hurt in the first game. Mitchell has not played since, and C. Adle, a prominent player in the forwards, has not played- this season. L. McKenzie, the custodian, now lives in Wellington, his place being ably filled by A. Laing, Laing played a fair game on Saturday but lacks the experience and keen sense of anticipation necessary for the position. Laing has these qualifications to a mild degree and he should improve as the season advances. A. Porter was the mainstay of the defence on / Saturday, and can generally be relied upon to give consistently of his best. G. Browne was the best of an average half-line. In the forwards, R. Smith was outstanding. For Rangers, J. Dougall, C. Sharr, and V. Cowper" demonstrated an extremely able right flank combination. E. Barnes played a conscientious captain’s game and served his forwards on every possible occasion. The O’Brien brothers at fullback, gave an exhibition of spectacular and very risky football, their main trouble being in obscuring the goalkeeper’s vision when defending. The teams were:— Rangers—V. Hammond; T. O'Brien, W. O’Brien; A. Golding, E. Barnes. S. Lee; J. Dougall, C. Sharr. V. Cowper, A. Sutherland, and K. Greenwood. Technical Old Boys—A. Laing; A. Porter,- L. Fleete; G. Browne, T. Lennon, T. -Neate; A. Almond, R. Smith, F. Milligan, K. J. Sherwood, and E. Collins. The Play Both teams settled down to fast, open football at the start. Technical was on top, but could not force the advantage through weak passing near the goalmouth. Good combined work by Almond and Smith allowed the latter to goal when T. O’Brien miss-headed the ball. Technical 1. Hangers 0. Dougall and Sharr then looked promising in a Rangers raid, but the defence held until Sutherland secured from the right' to slip through and even the scores. Technical 1. Rangers 1. - At last Technical swept to the attack in earnest. Smith scoring after the ball had skidded off T. O’Brien and Milligan. Technical 2. Rangers 1. , Technical, playing more constructive football, held the upper hand, but poor finishing off play nullified their scoring opportunities. At half-time the scores were still Technical Old Boys 2, Rangers 1. Rangers put on a surprising burst of pace Immediately after the interval, a great forward passing bout being capped by Cowper with a fine goal. Technical 2. Rangers 2. , Technical was. not long in drawing ahead again, Milligan securing to beat Hammond with a well-placed shot from well out. Technical 3, Rangers 2. Rangers, undaunted, came again, playing wisely to the right flank where itheir main strength lay. Technical gained partial relief when Browne cleared, but E. Barnes returned play with a well-placed kick to C. Sharr, who went through to beat Laing all the way. Technical 3, Rangers 3. / Shortly after V. Cowper caused a sensation when, after a brilliant solo run, he ran through the Technical defence to score. Rangers 4, Technical 3. Rangers shared the honours with Technical for a spell, but good work by Collins and Sherwood let the wing man drop the ball:in the goal-mouth to give Almond an easy goal. -Rangers 4. Technical 4. Play continued fast and interesting until the final whistle, when the scores were. Rangers 4, Technical Old Boys 4. Referee: Mr R. H. Neville. SENIOR RESERVE GRADES Nomads 2. Y.M.C.A. 1. St. Albans 4, Air Force 0. Technical 2, Thistle 1. JUNIOR GRADE Celtic 5, St. Albans i. Marist 6, Technical Old Boys 0. THIRD GRADE Celtic 4, Nomads B 1. Technical 4. Thistle 2. Nomads A 2, Marist 0. FOURTH GRADE Nomads A 6, Nomads B 2. Technical College B 4, Marist 2. FIFTH GRADE • Linwood 2, Marist 1. Technical A 3, Hornby 2. Technical B .1, Marist 0. . SIXTH GRADE Marist 5, Western 3. ■Thistle 4, Llnwood 3. Celtic beat Technical College by default. ,

SEVENTH GRADE Hornby .2, Llnwood 0. Marist 3, Rangers 0. Nomads 2, St. Albans 0.

games. P. W. D. L. Goals Ch. F. A.Pts. Nomads 5 4 0 1 25 10 8 Western 5 4 0 1 27 9- 8 [Thistle 5 3 0 2 13 14 6 Technical O.B. 5 2 1 2 16 19 5 pangers 5 0 2 3 8 23 2 y.M.C.A. 3 0 1 4 6 25 1