ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL JUNIOR NATIONAL CUP

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27737, 15 August 1955, Page 8

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL JUNIOR NATIONAL CUP

SOUTH ISLAND FINAL CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO The South Island final of the Junior National Cup was played between Canterbury and Otago at Elmwood Park on Saturday on a firm ground. Canterbury was superior in all departments, winning by 3 goals to 0, and will now play the winner of the North Island final later in the month at Christchurch. Previously in this Dominion competition for players under 18 Canterbury had won the South Island final twice, Otago five times, and Southland once. However, a South Island eleven has yet to win the New Zealand final. On Saturday Canterbury had seven players with senior experience, with three qualifying for next season’s senior competition. Otago had only one player of senior experience, but will have eight players under the age limit next season. Canterbury’s maturity was the decisive factor. The side enjoyed a territorial advantage for the greater part of the game, mainly through better cohesion. But though Canterbury retained possession by good positional play and accurate transfers, slowness blunted the attack. Another weakness in the Canterbury team was the tendency of the forwards to take passes with their backs to their objective. Besides giving the defence time to rally, this stopped the whole momentum of movements.

The teams were:— Canterbury—R. Harris; S. Samson. A. Doig; T. Brownlee, T. Graham (captain). W. Pugh; T. McCallum, C. Whitehead, D. Ennis, P. Rennell, D. Stapley. Otago—B. Davidson; A. Seterp, B. Hollebon; A. Dunbar, J. Keene • captain), A. Gillions; D. Robertson, R. Robb, R. Briggs, N. Niven, G. Hastings. Harris, in goal for Canterbury, was not overworked, but never seemed likely to made a mistake. Canterbury had three excellent full-backs, who would grace any senior side with credit. They allowed the Otago spearhead little latitude, and also endeavoured to initiate attacks through their flank halves. This latter, in conjunction with the inside forwards, paved the way for Canterbury’s midfield superiority. Brownlee. Pugh, Whitehead, and Rennell, by good positional play, were always handy in support of either the forwards or defence. The spearhead showed both speed and ability, out could have made more of their many scoring opportunities.

Otago appeared to lack understanding. B. Davidson, in goal, impressed with some really fine saves, and ahead of him he had three solid backs, brilliantly led by J. Keene. The flank backs, too, did sterling work, but here there was not the close association with the inside forwards so noticeable in the Canterbury side. Niven attempted to bridge the gap when on defence, but his injury and change to outside right left another gap in Otago's cohesion. Apart from the two flank men, Robertson, on the right, and Hastings, on the left, the Otago forwards were mediocre. Hastings and Robertson worked hard to put sting into the attack, the latter being decidedly unlucky in not scoring two goals. There was little to commend the bringing of Robertson in to .centre during the second half. He was given little room in which to work by Graham. Graham has proved a match for the province’s best centre forwards during the present season.

Canterbury scored first, 10 minutes after the start, when McCallum centred for Rennell to swerve through and send the ball into the net. Canterbury’s next goal came 25 minutes after the resumption of the second spell, when Pugh slipped the ball to Stapley, who centred to allow Ennis to score at close range. Three minutes later the whole Canterbury forward line swung into action, and Stapley scored from the edge of the goal area, making the final score:—Canterbury 3. Otago 0. Referee, Mr A. L. Gray. ENGLISH TEAM BEATEN IN MOSCOW (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MOSCOW. August 12. The English Soccer league team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, lost 3-2 to the Moscow Dynamo team in Moscow today, in spite of a fine second-half rally. The Russians led, 3-0, at half-time. Then the Wanderers fought back, with Wilshaw scoring both their goals. The Dynamos snatched an early lead in the thirteenth minute through insideright Feodosov. In a dramatic burst just before the interval, they scored two more to put them further ahead. Wolverhampton fought back in an effort to avenge their 3-0 defeat by Moscow’s Spartak on Sunday, and might have been on level terms but for some great saves by the Dynamo goalkeeper, Yashin. The 80,000 Dynamo Stadium crowd saw a different team from the one beaten by Spartak on Sunday. They were faster and more tenacious in the tackle, but the Dynamos’ speed and .physical condition proved superior in the end. AUSTRALIA WINS TEST AGAINST CHINESE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 14. Australia scored its first win in an international Soccer match this season when it beat South China 6-1 in an exciting second test yesterday. Towards the end of the match, which was marked by heavy tackling and some vicious play, the South China team did not try. AUSTRIANS WIN, 8-2

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) ADELAIDE. August 14. The Austrian Rapid Soccer team played brilliant football yesterday to outclass an Australia XI by 8 goals to 2. In the second half the Austrians completely dominated play.