ASSOCIATION CODE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25247, 28 July 1947, Page 5

ASSOCIATION CODE

CHATHAM CUP SEMIFINAL TECHNICAL I BEATS CELTIC The remaining leg ot the local Chatham Cup final was played on Saturday, when, under ideal conditions at English Park, Technical I proved far too goon for Celtic, winning by 8 goals to 1. The match also carried championship points. Technical I and Western will meet next week in the local cup final. Other teams played a further round m the Hurley Shield championship. At Eng lish Park Watersiders could not repeat their previous week’s performance, and were trounced by Thistle by 8 goals to 1. At Linwood Park Technical II caused .a mild surprise by beating Rangers by 4 goals to 2. At St. Albans Park Wester® was too good for Shamrock and won by 8 goals to 1. Results were.—

CHATHAM CUP SEMI-FINAL Technical I 8, Celtic 1. CHAMPIONSHIP Thistle 8, Watersiders 1. Technical II 4, Rangers 2. Western 8, Shamrock 1. Championship points now are;—Western 24. Technical 19. Thistle 17, Technical 11 12, Nomads 11, Rangers 10, Celtic 8, Watersiders 6, Shamrock 3. TECHNICAL I V. CELTIC It looks as though the third back game, exploited so successfully by the visiting South African team, has come to stay in Canterbury. Western experimentea with it the previous week and on Satur day the full Technical side gave a very sound exhibition against Celtic. The scene was reminiscent of the SpringbokCanterbury match, for just as surely as the visitors dictated the trend of play then, so Technical did against Celtic, it can hardly be said that Celtic is a weak side. Rather is it a triumph for the third back game against the orthodox arrangement. Celtic tried hard enough and did manage to get frequently within scoring range, but for the most part it looked like a team of individuals pitted against a smoothly working, cohesive machine. Celtic, like Technical, has the right hard working and skilful material necessary for new style of play, and it is to be hoped that the club adopts it in the future.

Technical, with very little preparation, created a fine impression, the team looking as fit at the finish as the start. The existing excellent understanding of the sidte proved a sound basis on which to build the foundations of the new tactics Particularly was this shown on defence, which the brilliant V. Smith generalled Smith and his two full-backs worked in admirably with the goalkeeper, Davey, to hold the speedy Celtic centre and flank men. The flank halves and inside forwards made a far better showing than the Western men the previous Saturdax in the fetch and carry area between forwards and defence. In this highly, specialised department the accuracy oi the Technical men paved the way for all Technical’s s ores. The spearhead no less demonstrated the ability to cap these movements with nerfect marksmanship Goals were scored for Technical I bv C Bailey (4), C. Thomas (2). and D. Grieve (2). S. O’Brien scored for Celtic.

Referee: Mr C. Sweeney. THISTLE V.’ WATERSIDERS On the eve of its departure for the annual Watersiders’ tournament, to be played at Auckland next week-end, the local waterfront team gave a very d sappointing display against Thistle in the second game at English Park. After a fine display against Nomads the previous week it was thought that the eleven would prove a pood match for Thistle, but this was hardly the case. Tne goalkeeper. usually as sound as any in the competition, started off on the wrong foot by mishandling the ball into the net for Thistle’s first goal, and thereafter was passed at least four times by shots which normally h<= saves with ease. This had a profound effect on the morale of the side whose performance deteriorated as the game progressed. Another contributing factor was the playing of the outstanding defensive player, N King, as centie forward. He certainly showed an abund anee of dash, but on the day had hardly the ball control necessary to direct the flanks or realise on his own penetration. Thistle again gave an impressive display, a sound defence being well held together by Gowans, who appears to have recaptured his old sureness and steadiness under pressure. The halves, with A. •Sutherland and J King prominent, saw to it that the forwards were well served with the ball. Here for a change the attack was well balanced. McLennan and G. McAnulty certainly bore the brunt of the work in penetration, but it was the left flank which saw to it that this work was not wasted. T Jones, at inside left, well partnered by Hall, apart for some slowness in possession, certainly made amends by good positional play and above all tc finish off movements by finding the net T McLennan, A. McAnulty. rj-T’ McAnulty, scored for Thistle, and N. King for Watersiders. Referee: Mr A. Pritchard. TECHNICAL II v. RANGERS In a . fairly even game at Linwood Park. wuK«.u al J l * Ran / er s by 4 goals to 2. Without detracting from the merits of Technicals win. it - may be said that Rangers were unlucky to lose the services of R. Smith during the f]rst spell with a fractured leg. Although a player was obtained for the second spell. Smith’s generalship at centre-half was sorely missed and the resultant reshuffling of the side failed to get the happy results expected. Barnes, as usual, was a tower of strength, and Contributing work by Cook and McLean also helped to steady the defence. The forwards, in spite of some hkely forays headed by Pash. Head and Furlong, did not possess anyone with shooting ability. Technical 11, after an early reverse, settled down to play,good bustling footH all - ,„. J Mallinson in particular, with F. Milligan, proved the best forwards- in a department which was certainly the least constructive in the team. Technical’s main strength was in the half line, which put in some sterling work on attack and defence.

Goals were scored for Technical II t>y J. Mallinson (2), J. Hollows, and F. Milligan. D. Head (2) netted for Rangers. Referee. Mr T. Mathie. WESTERN v. SHAMROCK

At St Albans Park, Western, in spite of the large tally registered, did not have the overwhelming advantage the score indicated. Certainly Western gave a good exhibition of teamwork, brilliant penetrative ability, and good marksmanship, but there were too many gaps of indecisive and ineffective play, during which times Shamrock took a hand on the offensive. Western will have to sharpen up its flank defensive play against Technical next week. Although the speedy Dowker was missed on attack, R. Sturgess deputised quite well, and generally fitted into Western’s strong department—the forward line—where G. Smith, well supported by his outside men, put in some grand penetrative work. M. Gordon at centre gave his forwards every opportunity, passing witn accuracy and sound discrimination. G. Graham was the best of an able defence. Shamrock put up a dour defence even if it was outmanoeuvred at times by the pace and change of direction of the opposing attack. Here McGlinchey, in goal, Dysart, Paton and Carey put in some telling work, but as has been the case during the season, the spade work put in in developing counter movements found little response in the inaccurate semi-individu-alistic efforts of the forward line. Goals were scored for Western by R. Smith (2). G. Smith (2). A. Almond (2), C. Anderson, and M. Gordon. W. Mitchell registered for Shamrock. « Referee, Mr L. Fleete. Lower Grades Senior Reserve.—University 5, Thistle B 2; Technical A 4. Rangers 2; Western 4. Thistle A 2; Watersiders 2. Shamrock 1; Technical B 4, Nomads 3. Junior Grade.—Canterbury Agricultural College 3. Technical 2; Wigram 2, University 1; Shamrock beat Western by default. Third Grade.—Celtic 11, Canterbury Agricultural College 1; Shamrock 4. Technical 0. Fourth Grade.—Western 10, Nomads B 0; Technical 4, St. Vincent’s 1; Nomads A 5. Thistle B 1; Rangers 2, Thistle A 1. Fifth Grade.—Technical C 2, Technical B 1: Shamrock 5, Watersiders 0; Celtic 1. Technical A 1; Nomads 7, Western 3. Sixth Grade.—Western 6. Rangers 0; Nomads 6, Celtic 0; Shamrock R 4, Technical 0. Seventh Grade.—Thistle 5. Shamrock R 0; Shanlrock 2, Western 1; Watersiders 2. Rangers 0. Eighth Grade. —Watersiders 9, Shamrock A 0- W*>st«»rn A 3 Shamrock B 0; Celtic A 10, Celtic B 0; Western B 8, Shamrock B 0.