ASSOCIATION r FOOTBALL F.A. CUP FINAL TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26746, 2 June 1952, Page 8

ASSOCIATION r FOOTBALL F.A. CUP FINAL TO-DAY

CANTERBURY TO MEET

WELLINGTON

BOTH SATURDAY’S GAMES

WON, 4-2 (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 1. In spite of rain, mud, and a greasy ball, spectators at the Basin Reserve on Saturday saw an early spell of football In the main match that, for good Association football thrills and heavy scoring, has seldom been equalled on the Wellington ground. In this match Wellington beat Auckland by 4 goals to 2. Wellington thus won the right to meet Canterbury in the final of the English Football Association Cup to-morrow. • How much the conditions affected both matches on Saturday will be indicated in some measure to-morrow. In Saturday s games Wellington’s was the best performance of the elimination round. .Canterbury beat Otago by 4 goals to 2 on the No. 2 ground, in a match starting at 1 p.m. There were several heavy showers during the game, and the ground, especially near the penalty areas, was badly churned up. During the game between Auckland and Wellington there was very little rain. The game was played* on a fresh No. 1 ground. To-morrow Canterbury will play Wellington at 2.45 p.m., and Auckland will meet Otago at 1 p.m. Although the crowd Increased to 2500 for the main match, only a few bedraggled spectators watched the early part of the Canterbury-Otago match. The Wellington team made some mistakes in its match with Auckland, but on the whole the Wellington men overshadowed the Aucklanders in almost every department. From the goalkeeper, K. Lander, who excelled in almost everything he did, through to the fullback line of E. Broad and I. Upchurch, and the safe and sometimes brilliant halves, Traynor, Boyes, and Snapes, and also in the forwards, Wellington was Well served.

Of the Auckland men, perhaps the most efficient was the gpalkeeper, ' R. Gordon. However, Auckland's defence, especially in the early part of the first half, was ndt sound. Either bewildered by the conditions or by the combination of the Wellington attack, the halves, Pollman, Verstegen, and Best, were everywhere but in the right place. They settled down later, and with the inspiration of their goalkeeper, combined to better effect in the later stages. Canterbury’s Success Three goals in nine minutes and a splendid display by the winger, A. Gardenbroek. were the highlights of Canterbury’s win over Otago. The Canterbury team had some bad moments in the second half and early in the first; but except on these occasions Otago seldom appeared in the class of its opponents. The Canterbury defence was just adequate half-way through the second spell, when Otago made its big thrust. The entire game was played in the worst possible conditions. The Otago defence was sorely tested In the IffSt half, and in the early stages of the high-scoring second half. Robertson and Williams were prominent and stopped several promising moves by Canterbury forwards. W. Berry, at centre forward for Otago, is obviously an accomplished player, but he was always well marked.

CHATHAM CUP MATCHES

UNIVERSITY PLAYS WELL

The Canterbury Football Association’s local Chatham Cup competition began on Saturday at English .Park when the two first round matches were played. Typical wet weather football was played in the early match between St. •Vincent’s and Rangers, won by the former after extra time In the second game both University and Atlantis gave a far better exhibition in spite of the worsening ground conditions. University won this match by 3 goals to 0. A feature of the day’s play was that both winning elevens are second division teams. Results: University 3, Atlantis 0. St Vineent’s 3, Rangers 0. UNIVERSITY V. ATLANTIS The record of second division sides in Chatham Cup football in the past has not been good. University, which is leading this grade, should change this record if its form against Atlantis was no flash in the pan. The team has been coached along, the right lines and further experience against good combinations will enlarge and combine its undoubted talents. A present weakness that can be rectified is for the defence to ease pressure from the goalmouth quickly. H. Langley, the goalkeeper, gave a good display and though his full-backs were solid, it was Ferrier and Duckworth who mostly took the eye on defence. The forwards are the side's strongest department, and here Sukoloskl and particularly Feenstra, the Inside men, worked hard to initiate scoring chances. Lal, Shepherd and Searle provided a tricky and determined attack, and showed an excellent understanding of the trend of play. Although Atlantis missed Clarkson at inside left the team nevertheless gave a good display of teem work. A solid defence, flanked by two good halves in Ashworth and Ayres, saw that the forwards had their opportunities. Here, in spite of fine individual play by McFarland, Davis and Dyer, sluggishness was apparent and few breaches in the University defence were exploited quickly enough to get play within easy scoring range. T. Shepherd, P. Lal and W. Searle scored for University. Referee: Mr L. Tointon.

si. VINCENT’S V. RANGERS Neither Rangers nor St. Vincent’s showed much adaptability to the heayv ground conditions. The game finished without either side scoring and this in spite of many grand opportunities During extra time injuries to P. Regan and D. Cotten, Rangers’ best forward and back, ruled out the side’s chance of victory, and an all-out burst by the St. Vincent's forwards soon had the issue beyond doubt.

Play generally hardly ever rose above that associated with the bottom elevens of the first division, which meant little combination and a lot of tenacious bustling play. These St. Vincent’s men were disappointing: little progress in good positional play, passing, and ball control was apparent. Determination and sound tackling were in evidence, however, and several players revealed considerable promise. Foremost was K. O’Flaherty, at centre half, who gave a grand display both on cover defence and the initiation of attacks by his forwards. After O’Flaherty J. Oughton, at outside • right, took the eye most. A strong tricky runner, he tried to get full value from possession. T. Grice and J. Hollows also worked hard and proved good opportunists.

The defence rested on D. Cotten, in particular, E. Cousins and M. Freyberg in goal, and until the first-named was injured appeared to be strong enough to handle the St. Vincent’s attack. Rangers generally were disappointing, especially in fitness, which made recovery of position sluggish. J. Hollows (two) and T. Grice scored for St. Vincent’s. ‘ Referee: Mr C. Sweeney. OTHER MATCHES First Division.—Friendly match: Nomads 12, Port Campbell 0. Second Division.—Shamrock 6, Western 2. Senior Reserve.—Christchurch City 4, Technical 2. Junior A Grade.—Canterbury Agricultural College 1. Western 0. Junior B Grade.—Thistle 4, Oriental 2; Western 3, Canterbury Agricultural College 2. Fourth Grade,—Nomads 4, Technical 1; Shamrock 2, St. Vincent's 0. Fifth Grade.—Technical A 3, Nomads 3; Shamrock 9, Technical B 1; Western B 1, Christchurch City 0; Western A 1, Celtic Seventh Grade.—Shamrock R 3. Celtic 0; St. Joseph's 3. St. Vincent’s 2; Shamrock A 1, Western A 0. Eighth Grade I—Western 2, St. Vincent’s 0; Nomads 8, Celtic 0; Christchurch City 2, Shamrock R 0; St. Joseph’s 3, Celtic 0. Eighth Grade ll—Western B 3. Shamrock R 0; Shamrock A 0, Rangers 0. JUNIOR NATIONAL CUP TRIAL The following teams have been chosen for the Junior National Cup match to be played at English Park to-day as a cur-tain-raiser to the England and Scotland v. The Rest fixture. Blacks—A. Fox (Western); E. Anderson (Technical), P. Flynn (Shamrock); P. Fletcher (Shamrock), J. Campion (Sham- ' rock), J. Salkeld (Western); N. Donnelly I (Shamrock), R. Gray (Western), W. Smith . (Western), D. Glasson (Western), B. , Lavery (Celtic). Greens.—A. Hatcher (Technical): H. Stuart (Western), G. Coote (Thistle): D. 1 Billeston (Thistle), L. Glasson (Western), ! M. Pickworth (Christchurch City); T. i Leahy (Training College), B. Turner > (Training College), D. Adams (Western), ; M. Wild (Christchurch City), J. Price (Nomads), ; Reserves for both teams: K. King (Western), R. Thomas (Shamrock), B. • Thornton (Nomads), D. McGregor (Thistle), J. Dunnage (Western), P. Ger- . rard (Shamrock), R. Mausaphia (Nomads), JN. Barney (Thistle), X Morgan (Shamrock). B. McGregor (Thistle). B. Watson 1 (Technical). L. Mummery (Sluunock), B. Byrne (Training College).