WESTERN BEATS CELTIC

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25580, 23 August 1948, Page 5

WESTERN BEATS CELTIC

TEAM NOW ASSURED OF CHAMPIONSHIP Only one senior Association football match was played in Christchurch on Saturday, Western having a comfortable win over Celtic by 5 goals to 3, at English Park. Although the conditions were ideal, play generally through replacements to each side as the result of injuries, was ragged. Although there is one more round Western is assured of the championship. Western provided most of the combined movements. Much of this advantage was gained by more accurate defence and two flank halves, who kept the forwards well supplied with the ball. C. Anderson gave his usual solid display and had with him a youngster, R. Sutherland, who will be well worth watching next season when Western must bring in new blood to replace old stalwarts retiring this season. Sutherland was not impressive early, but later settled down to make a sure link between backfc and forwards. As usual Westerns' attack was led by Dowker, G. Smith, and R. Smith, but, with the defence watching the flanks, it was up to the centre to. put the advantage of possession to account.

Kane, another' newcomer to senior ranks, showed promise at times and with a better understanding of his forwards’ tactics may hold his place in the side. Celtic has scarcely shown the promise this season that marked its play last year. Certainly injuries have upset its combination, but the play of its older men has scarcely kept pace with the improvement shown by other teams in the grade. A few, including J. O’Rawe, J. Shannahan and D. Fowke, have been consistently up to senior standard, but the others are more of a doubtful quantity, good one week and not so good the next. Both are capable of football up to representative standard, but too often reveal little of this skill in possession. The new centre, P. Guthrie, looks an acquisition and handled on the right lines and given the incentive of making the most of his opportunities, he should get his share of goals. The defence, without much organisation, did well, although at times had more than its share of luck. Its main fault was slowness in clearing and a haphazard direction of passing to the forwards. Celtic might do well to reorganise its material in the reserve grade next season. It certainly appears to find the task difficult in the senior grade. G. Smith (3), J. Austin, and W. Kane scored for Western, and P. Guthrie (2) and J. McGlinchey for Celtic. The referee was Mr P. Consedine. LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve Grade.—Wigram 3, Western 3. Friendly match: Rangers 8, Huntingdon 0. Junior A Grade.—Y.M.C.A. 1, Western 0, Y.M.C.A. win knock-out and championship. Fourth Grade.—Thistle 3, Western 2, Nomads 2, Technical B 0; Technical A beat Shamrock by default. Technical A wins knock-out. Fifth Grade.—Western 4, Celtic 1; Nomads 5, Technical C 1. Sixth Grade.—Technical A 4, Thistle 2; Watersiders 1, Nomads 0; Western B 4, Technical B 2. Seventh Grade.—Western 2, Nomads 0; Rangers 3, Shamrock 1; Celtic 5, Thistle 2. Eighth Grade.—Watersiders 3, Shamrock 0; Nomads A 2, Shamrock R 0; Rangers 4, Thistle 0: Nomads B 1, Western B 0; Shamrock B 1, Celtic 0; Western beat Shamrock A by default. CANTERBURY TEAM The following Canterbury team has selected by Messrs R. Smith, N. Billcliff, and J. Cawtheray, to play against New Zealand Universities in the curtain-raiser to the second test. New Zealand v. Australia, at Lancaster Park next Saturday:— A. Laing (Western); M. Dean (Technical), E. Harris (Technical); A. McAnulty (Thistle), T. Jones (Wigram), A. Souter (Nomads); J. McLennan (Technical), G. McAnulty (Thistle), C. Bailey (Technical), J. O’Rawe (Celtic), R. Smith (Western). Reserves: A. Laffey (Shamrock), H. Lloyd (Wigram).