ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 8

ASSOCIATION

THIRD CLASS' CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. Great interest was evinced in the match played on the Association football grounds at Lyall Bay between the Karori and Institute teams. The teams had tied on the previous Saturday for mo third-class championship, and a decision was fully expected on Saturday afternoon, but after an hour and a half of strenuous play,'the referee, Mr. AVilson, could not award tho honours. Fully 500 people watched tho progress of the match with the keenest enthusiasm—quite a large number of Kaxori residents journeying to Lyall Bay to see the lads of their suburb in motion. Institute kicked off with wind and sun behind their backs, and immediately rushed the ball into Karori's goal area, where Owens (Institute's left-wing) drove in a splendid shot, which was brilliantly cleared by M'Farlane (Karori's goal-keeper). Karori, through the instrumentality of Halley and Mauley, initialed a splendid piece of combined play, in which Lissington and Wilkins participated, ending in the latter driving m a shot which just missed its objective by the narrowest of margins. For a while splendid footwork in midfield ensued, in which M'Arthur (Institute) delighted tho spectators with his cleverness. Karori's forwards now settled down to some tine combined play, and bombarded Institute's goal tunc after time, but the sterling work of Cox (goal) and Bell and Lambert (full-backs) kept them out, the whistle sounding for halftime with t'he bull in neutral territory.

Oil resuming it was easily seen that Institute meant business. A fine piece of work by Eastwood (Institute) set the alert Owens onco more on tho attack, iind at the right moment ho passed lo Houston, who sent in,a lovely shot which struck the crossbar and rebounded into play, where the alert Russell (Karori)i cleared with a hefty kick to midfield. Crano (Karori) here obtained possession, and cleverly threaded his way through Institute's backs and passed the ball beautifully to Manley, who drove in a territicly hot shot from close quarters, which Cox magnificently turned—a corner resulting, but which was not improved on. Excitement was now running high, first one side and then tho other attacking alternately. Eastwood was putting in splendid work for Institute at this juncture, and his good play evsked rounds of applause from the spectators. With only a few minutes to go for "noside,'' Institute were continually on tho attack, one beautiful shot by M'Arthur deserving a better fate than just to result in a goal kick. Karori's defence, however, proved too sound, and they successfully withstood all Institute's attacks, and so the whistle sounded for time on a game which will lonpr be remembered by thoso who wero privileged to watoli it. Mr. J. Wilson capably controlled the game.