ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 7

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

FIRST JONES CUP MATCH

CANTERBURY DRAWS WITH OTAGO, 2-ALL

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, June 6. Otago and drew, 2-all, in the first of the Jones Cup series of Association football matches on Saturday. The football was fast and full of incident without being of a particularly high standard. The result was a fair indication of the merits of the sides. Canterbury was a goal down at halftime, but had had more scoring opportunities in the first half as the result of? a territorial- advantage for much of - the spgll. However,, the Canterbury side lacked finish. . Otago was more determined in breakaway movements. Canterbury evened the scores early in the second spell, but Otago scored again to take the lead. Then Canterbury again equalised, but Otago held the initiative at the finish. • •.The winner of the Jones Cup is determined bn an aggregate of goals scored in two garpes, home and away, each season. Scorers for Canterbury were B. Shaw ;and M Saunderson. Otago scorers were W. Berry and I. Walsh. V-In a Ruddiman Cup match, Canterbury beat Otago, 4-2.

COMPETITION MATCHES

HURLEY SHIELD GAMES WESTERN BEATS NOMADS Nomads’ unbeaten run of successes this season ended on Saturday at English Park, when Western won by 3 goals to I. In the early game at English Park Technical was too good for Christchurch City, and won by 6 goals to 1. In the other matches. Air Force beat Rangers, at Wigram, Shamrock outclassed Sydenham Rovers at St. Albans, Thistle beat St. Vincent’s at Spreydon, and Atlantis and University drew at Beckenham. Results:— > Western 3, Nomads 1. Technical 6, City 1. Wigram 4, Rangers 1. Shamrock 8, Sydenham Rovers 3. Atlantis 3, University 3. Thistle 2, St. Vincent’s. 0. Championship points are:—Nomads 16, Western 16, Technical 16, Shamrock 12, Atlantis- 10, City 9, Thistle 8, Rangers 6, Wigram 6, University 5, Sydenham Rovers 4, st. Vincent’s 0. WESTERN v. NOMADS It was a pity that the meeting of the two leading teams in the competition coincided with the representative match at Dunedin. Nomads had five players engaged there and Western four. The substitutes for Nomads were, in the main, seconostring players, but Western's were well qp to senior standard. As a result. Western’s superior cohesion proved decisive. Western excelled in mid-field piay, where Banham and Longmuir, the Rank halves, and R. Smith and L. Wells enforced a territorial advantage for the greater part of the game, and only the good defence of the Nomads backs and goalkeper kept the score down to modest proportions. Western had two promising youngsters, T. Glasson and B. Sumner, on the wings. It is a pity that they cannot be gaining more experience by regular games in the senior competition. J. White, at centre, showed his adaptability in a new nosition by scoring two well-deserved goals, even though he was marked by the brilliant !?• Van Rooyen. The Ndtnads forwards were not well supplied with the ball, but even when openings were .made they did ndt look likely to make much impression on the solid Western defence, the side’s only goal being scored by a Western defender in a misunderstanding with his goalkeeper. O. Batchelor, on the left flank, was an exception, but he had to contend with both Longmuir and. Mackie when in possession. Western’s full-backs, F. Haydon and F. Bradley, were faultless, and it would not be surprising to see this pair playing for Canterbury. J. White (2) and R. Smith scored for Western. Referee: Mr L. Tointon. TECHNICAL V. CITY In the early match at English Park Christchurch City had only a depleted side to pit against Technical. It had six of its usual team either in Dunedin or indisposed, and soon'after the start lost E. Millward with a leg injury. As a result it did not give a very convincing display of combined football. This uncertainty was reflected In every department. Individually the defenders worked gamely, but this was not sufficient to match the fast Technical forwards, who disconcertingly switched play from one wing to the other once a gap had been made. Technical only occasionally eased the pressure, and neither of City’s wings looked likely to make any impression on Technical’s defence. J. Quickenden, at centre, was an exception. sa>d always looked formidable in possession. ■ With only W. Logan absent, Technical maintained a high standard of cohesion. V. Smith, at centre, with solid support behind him, generalled his attack well, and if the centre field attack was overdone its success emphasised City’s weakness there. V. Smith (3), J. Hollows, A. Gardenbroek and K. Lucas scored for Technical, and J. Quickenden for City. Referee: Mr M. Cassin. WIGRAM V. RANGERS At Wigram, Air Force scored an unexSected win over the solid Rangers eleven. i the opening exchange Rangers looked the more promising, and during the first half looked the winners After the interval, however. Wigram took the initiative and put the issue beyond doubt. Rangers were disappointing. When movements did get under way poor markmanship nullified the advantage. Generally, however, the passing was poor, almost inviting interception, and too much individual play served little more than to halt the impetus of attacks. Rangers gave glimpses of their possibilities when Ellis, Nota, Head, and Hassan were associated. Wigram did not take the initiative until after the interval, and then possession was used to much fuller advantage. Attacks were made along the flanks or down the middle, and in each there was dose support from the halves. In this department Calderwood, Carr, Dalton, and Clark showed good understanding, and were the basis of the side’s success. The Wigram defence was solid, and G. Burrows, in goal, gave his usual steady exhibition. R. Clarke (2), J. Master, and A. Dalton scored for Wigram. and H. Hassan for Rangers. Referee: Mr T. Semple. SHAMROCK v. SYDENHAM ROVERS Both Shamrock and Sydenham Rovers were weakened by the absence of players at Dunedin. Tie former had five members* there, and the latter two. However, even with this handicap, Shamrock won convincingly. The game was a mixture of haphazard kicking and bright periods of more orthodox passing. In this latter respect. Shamrock had the .advantage. B. Newsome, at centre, worked in well with his wings. Gentry and Yields, and with the closer support of NfphoHs and Gray, put greater possession of the ball to advantage. Sydenham Rovers lacked the teamwork to withstand pressure for any length of time. J. Kir- ck, on the left wing, did valuable work, and on defence J. Squibb

B. Newsome (4), D. Gentry (2), K. Gray, and E. Fields scored, for Shamrock, and F. Craig, R. Ivory, and J. Hooper for Sydenham Rovers, Referee: Mr J. Gourley; ATLANTIS v. UNIVERSITY The drawn game at Beckenham between Atiantis and University was last and open, with University having perhaps the better of the play. A solid defence and a hard-working set of halves gave the forwards plenty of scope. P. Feenstra, at Insicfe right, being outstanding. He worked perfectly with his halves, and besides making the openings for the speedy Mahommed and Walsh, varied his play with some brilliantly-executed solp thrusts. For Atlantis, Wheeler and Shuttleworth played well as full-backs, and Meisner, at left half, and D. Cleeman, at centre forward, were the best of the others. S. ’►Mahommed (2> and P. Feenstra scored for University, and W. Friel, S. McMinn, and J. McFarlane for Atlantis. Referee: Mr H. Royce.

THISTLE v. ST. VINCENT’S Thistle always had the game in hand against St. Vincent’s at Spreydon Domain. Thistle settled down quickly and made a good attempt to play constructively. R. Wilson, A. McAnulty, and G. McAnulty were prominent in making openings for the spearhead. In this department, J. Gordon, T. Shearer, and O. Corlett were impressive in gaining ground, but marksmanship was awry. * St. Vincent’s was on the defensive for long periods, and B. Skedden, in goal. D. Adams, R. Whiting, and T. Morton all played well, usually attacks by St. Vincent’s lost way because of poor ball control and passing, although once or twice good backing up had Thistle bustled. T. Shearer (2) scored for Thistle. LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.—Section I: Teachers' College 3, Atlantis 1. Senior Reserve.—Section II: Neerlandia 6, Rangers 1; Technical 2, University 1; Thistle 6, Wigram 1. , _ x Junior Grade.—Thistle 4, Western 2; Nomads 7, Sydenham Rovers 1; Celtic A 3, Celtic B 0.

Third Grade.—Shamrock 10, Western 0; Nomads 6, CHty 3. _ Fifth Grade.—City A 6, City B 0; Western B 7, Nomads 1; Technical A 8, Celtic 0. Sixth Grade.—Rangers 3, St. Joseph’s 1; Shamrock A 9. Western 0; Celtic 2. Technical A 2.