ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 8

ASSOCIATION

By

"GOALIE"

THE MATCH WITH AUCKLAND

LOCAL FINAL CHATHAM CUP

The report of the manager of the Wellington team which went to Auckland shows that the team upheld the prestige of the capital city iu every respect. It was a real contest until within ten minutes of the finish, when cither side might have won on a snatch goal. The manager was fair when he said that, ou the whole, Auckland were the better team, for they gave a better display of positional work, while at times Wellington were apt to wander a bit. This is a weakness to which attention lias On previous occasions "been drawn in this column, aud we shall not get first-class football until our representatives realise how essential it is that players shall keep their positions on the field. Only by so doing cau they play as a team. Once a player begins to encroach on another player’s job individualism creeps in, and individualism is not consistent with team work, although occasions do arise for individual display. It is realised that the Wellington team was practically a new one compared with the team which went to Auckland last year, while eight of the Auckland players have been appearing in the representative teams there for the last three years. It is not, therefore, difficult to understand why their combination is so good," and why they have been such a hard proposition for a Wellington team. A few years ago Wellington was in the happy position of having a representative team which could be relied upon for a few years, but those players have mostly retired, and it has been a hard job to r find a team with really cood prospects of putting Wellington in its old position of supremacy. Without doubt, the prilm at present belongs to Auckland. ’ An Invitation.

In view of the very fine game played by Wellington, Auckland has expressed the hope that Wellington will visit Auckland again before the end of the season and play another game for the trophy, This, of course, is subject to the Otago challenge, but, as was stated last week, the heavy expense of tiavelling, and the time involved will be the deciding factors, and it is doubtful if Otago will travel to Auckland to play for the trophy. It is costly enough for a Canterbury team to go to Auckland, and the flying trip there and back over the week-end is certainly no joy ride. Everybody spoke well of the wonderful display given by McVean in goal for Wellington, and it is said that it has rarely been excelled. Under the heavy rain Blandford Park was in a dreadful state, and it took it long time for the players to get rid of the mud after the match, taking ari hour at the Tepid Baths. The Auckland Association and the Tramways Clqb did everything possible to give the team a good time, but this is in keeping with Auckland’s usual hospitality to visitors. Whether the invitation will be accepted has yet to be decided. It is rather difficult to say in view of the Chatham Cup games to take place in the next fortnight, but if it cgn be managed it will be accepted. Auckland believes that the game, played on a fine day, and a dry ground, would be very open, and would be a Strong attraction for the Auckland public.

Chatham Cup. The local final of the Chatham Cup takes place, next Saturday, and the Wellington representatives then’ enter the provincial round. This will have to be put through fairly smartly to bring off the North v. South,lsland,final in a month’s time at the’Basin Reserve. Now that Petone . has been eliminated, we find Y.M.O.A. and Institute in the local final, and these teams should provide a very interesting game at the Basin next Saturday. The result is as speculative as it dan well be, for both teafris have sprung surprises. Institute defeated Marist in one of the most sensational games in the competition, but after Y.M.’s performance against Petone one can only say that the issue is in the melting pot. Both teams are capable of a hard, willing game, fought 'in the best of spirits, and for this reason the game should be well worth seeing. Petone Checked. Petone has now suffered a cheek from an unexpected source, just as did Diamonds a fortnight ago. The defeat suffered by Petone last Saturday, however, was a greater blow to them than a defeat in the championship, for it put an end to their aspirations iri the Chatham Cup so far as this season is concerned. Having.won the trophy last season, there is not much doubt that the villagers felt fairly confident' of getting thrdugh the local round, and the coup de grace administer’d by Y.M.C.A. is something in

the nature of a blow to their pride. It brings home to them that no team is invincible, and that it is always a dangerous procedure to underrate one’s opponent, however poor their performances may be on paper. Such teams have shown that they can rise to the occasion, and that when least expected. I would not go so far as to say that Petone did hold their opponents cheaply, but if they started with that idea they were quickly undeceived. Y.M. had them on the defensive early, and on the whole had the best of the. play. Petone have a good halfback line, but never before this season have I seen them so harried as they were on this occasion. Boe, who was playing right half for Y.M., has not had a lot of senior experience, and on previous occasions has rarely indicated that he was likely to be a great success, but if lie can maintain his dash, vigour and initiative, as he did last Saturday, he is going to be a useful man in the team. Y.M. have had to scratch round for halves, and this time gave A. Ward, who performs the Secretarial duties for the club, a try at left-half. He is only a junior, but he never let Stobbs alone, t the latter’s only chance being to get rid of the ball at once. Hanlon had the same experience with Boe, who is oh the diminutive side, and it was rather amusing to see the six-foot Hanlon actually charging his opponent, who would not keep away if Hanlon had possession. Campbell was’rather better than Armitage at centre-half, nevertheless, the Y.M. player did his share, and was always willing. Forwards Active. Worth was showing signa of tiring just before the Interval, but Rigby, McLeod and Ballard kept the Petone defence on their toes For a while there was a disposition on the part of the inside wing men to fall back too far, so that when the ball went up the backs had plenty of time to clear. Leslie was playing inside right for Petone, but he was not a success, and the one or two shots he had were poor. He had an open goal once, but a wild shot went yards Vide. McGirr was right on form and seemed to be everywhere when Petone did get to clos qeuarters. True he gave the penalty, but the goal would have been . scored had he not done so. Lucas's luck was out when Campbel! caught the rebound after he saved the penalty. The ground was In surprisingly good order, and if there are any games to be played after the closing of tne Basin Reserve there need be no hesitation about playing them at Association Park. Mem-bers-of the W.F.A. and players were satisfied with the Improvements which have been made. Association Park. There are reports to the effect that the ground at Association Park is In splendid order, and if so some senior games should have been played there before now. It is good to see the school football going along Well, but the Association ground should not be reserved exclusively for school football when it Is fit for senior games at which a gate can be taken. Junior A. One sympathises with the Juuior A Island Bay team in their desire to play a game at Basin Reserve, and so far as performance goes they certainly deserve the encouragement. The performances of the first three teams In the junior A division speak for

With three matches In hand, while Seatoun have only two, Island Bay are in an unassailable position as regards winning the junior A division, and so have qualified to meet the winners of the Christchurch junior championship In a match for the Rickard Cup, It was a very natural desire to play this game at the Basin Reserve, but the fixtures for these grounds are so full that the Management Committee reluctantly had to decline. Island Bay are looking forward to running a .senior B team next season, Clnb. While, holding second place in the junior A competition, S-.-atoun will once again enter the senior A competition as senior B champlop this year, for they cannot now be displaced. They should make a better showing than they did a year ago, when it was their fate to suffer relegation. Far from discouraging them, they have this season played’ sound, consistent football. Parkin has been doing excellent work between the sticks, and is worth looking after. Newton has been an energetic defender, and Kershaw has at centre half been shaping splendidly. Grfmstone, McKeen and McKenzie have been playing well enough to secure some notice, and Hamilton 'will be a better player as he learns to get rid of the ball more quickly. Hanging on to the ball gives the defenders time to mark the players and anticipate where the ball is likely to go, so that goals are hard to get in these conditions. Keep the ball moving qilickly from one player to another and more goals will result. Seatoun Club is to be congratulated upon having a very lite secretary In Aloe Henderson.

themselves:— P. W. L. D. Goals F. A. Pts. Island Bay .. 11 11 — — 52 18 22 Seatoun 12 8 3 1 38 23 17 Marlst 11 6 3 2 39 37 14