THRILLING SOCCER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 6

THRILLING SOCCER

Chatham Cup Semi-finals PETONE & DIAMONDS Waterside Team Defaults LESLIE’S SIX GOALS Playing on a ground which had been reduced in width by nine feet on each side at the Basin Resetre on Saturday, Petone defeated Diamonds by six goals to three. Leslie . made a record performance ,in senior football by scoring all six goals. Waterside should have gone to Hospital, but defaulted as a protest against Hospital not being brought into town to play. Both these fixtures were Chatham Cup semifinals, and Petone and Hospital will now meet in the Wellington final, the winners going into the provincial round. In the senior championship, Seatoun secured two points at the expense of Marist, and ' the Thistle —W.Y.M.I. encounter ended in a further defest for W.Y.M.I. The default of Waterside will be dealt with by the Management Committee on Wednesday night.

CHATHAM CUP TIE

Petone’s Great Victory SENSATIONAL GAME The-most important game of the day was the Chatham Cup semi-final between Petone and Diamonds at the Basin Reserve, at which there was an improved attendance. In accordance with the Instructions of the Now Zealand Council, the width of the ground had been reduced to 68 yards. The change did not appear to meet with the approval of the players generally, but the game was the most sensational seen at the Basin this season. Bearing in mind that the teams engaged are two of the strongest in Wellington, the number of goals scored was veryhigh, the half-time score being as heavy as might have been expected for the whole game. Two goals were scored from corner kicks in five minutes. A penalty was awarded and converted in each half, one to each side, and in precisely similar circumstances. Diamonds led 3—2 at the Interval,

and did not score again. On the other hand, Tctone ecored four times in the second spelL The outstanding feature of the game was thut Leslie, the Petone centre-forward, scored all six goals. Diamonds kicked off against the wind, and very soon Wyatt had to tip over the bar from Watson. Leslie sent In a shot which would have scored had it had any sting behind it. Diamonds were kept defending, and were saved by a packed goal. Craig whipped in a centre, which Leslie followed up, but Wyatt saved before he went to grass under Leslie's charge. Quest relieved the pressure, and Diamonds went away like one man. Smith secured and sent In a shot which did not look dangerous, but it deceived McVean, and found the net. The brothers McLeod figured in a clever move, enabling Dickinson to get in a screw shot which McVean gathered welL At the other end Watson missed by Inches, and in the next five minutes both lots of forwards were making weak passes; Petone came under pressure, to be relieved’by a Diamonds player offending. Clearing the goal, Petone advanced, and J. McLeod conceded a corner to keep Holmes out. Craig dropped the ball right In the goal mouth for Leslie to net. Three minutes later Diamonds conceded a corner on the other wing, and Balstow, placing well, enabled Leslie to repeat his performance. Referee Intervenes. Putting more ginger into the game, Diamonds broke away; and McLeod sent across a fast centre. Scott-Brown, crossing to Intercept, handled in the area, a penalty being awarded, which Wyatt converted. Play became hard, and there was a little exhibition of feeling when Dickinson and Campbell collided, and the Diamonds player turned in angry mood upon the other. The referee promptly intervened. Leslie sent a grubber, which Wyatt cleared to McLeod. Away wont the winger, and from the side-line he put over a dropping Shot. McVean fisted out, but the bail rebounded to Dickinson to head Into the net. Both sides were further tested before the interval, which arrived with the score: Diamonds 3, Petone 2. It was the second spell which provided the best thrills of the day. Both sides were tuned up, and it was soon evident It was going, to be a stern tussle. Hanlon threw in, and a scrum followed for possession. The ball went up in the air with a lot of spin on it, causing it to swerve behind J. McLeod, who went to head and missed. Hanlon flashed it to Leslie, who was waiting, and he streaked for goal to put Petone on even terms. . The Paco a Cracker. Petone then began to play as it inspired. Balstow crossed for Leslie to head to Craig’s feet, but the winger skied the ball over the top. Wyatt booted away an attempt by Watson, Campbell returning smartly, and a terrific shot by Leslie gave Wyatt no chance. Bishop initiated a move which should have placed Diamonds level, but Dickinson shot badly. Petone then secured a penalty in just the same way as had Diamonds In the first spell. Baistow had made a run and centred with a fast shot. A Diamonds player rushed across to Intercept, and stopped the ball with his hand. The penalty was Inevitable, and Leslie put the leather in the corner ot the net. Petone C, Diamonds 3. This success had a depressing effect on Diamonds,- and Petone made the pace a cracker. Bishop drove hard for the ball to rebound off Campbell to Leslie, just outside the goal area. Pouncing on It like a shot, he bullocked his way past three opponents and added his sixth goal amid hearty applause and congratulations from his team mates. .1. McLeod put In a dropping shot, which Dickinson headed over, and the same half forced McVean to give a corner. The bail was well placed, and a shot hit the crossbar. As the ball came to the ground Diamonds had a great chance to score, but were too slow. So the end came with a fine win for Petone by 6 to 3. Mr. F. Sanders was the referee. WATERSIDE DEFAULTS Refusal to Go to Porirua The other esmi-flnal in the Chatham Cup should have been played between Waterside and Hospital, and was arranged for Porirua. Waterside had been twice to the hospital,ground in the championship, and had asked the management committee to have this game played at the Basin Beserve Hospital, on the other hand, had already been twice to the Basin. The point was fully discussed at the meeting of th# onmmlttea iMt W»ane«KJsty. awJ it VM te- ~

elded that the game must be played at Porirua. While there ie some sympathy with the Waterside team, It is felt that it went too far in defaulting in such an Important game. The matter will be considered at the meeting of the committee on Wednesday. SEATOUN BEATS MARIST Series of Injuries Playing at the Basin Reserve, Seatoun defeated Marist by 3 goals to 2. Owing to Injuries a number of Marist players were unable to take the field, and the team was bat a shadow of its former self. Although the game was played in friendlv spirit, there were many injuries, and at one stage Marist was fielding only nine men. Lyons, Cudby, and M. Condon re-

ceived knocks which necessitated their leaving the field, but Cudby resumed later. The game generally was disappointing, there being far too many individual efforts, particularly by Marist. For the greater part of the first half Seatoun held the upper band, bnt there were a couple of good movements by the other team which went close to scoring. The spell ended with Seatoun having a goal lead, McKenzie having received from a good distance out, and beaten the goalie with a great shot. Brighter football was witnessed in the second spell, and although Marlst'g ranks were depleted, it nevertheless gave Seatoun a hard fight. W. Condon and Marshment tried hard to reduce the deficit, and about half-way through the spell, Condon scored the equaliser. McKenzie was playing a fine game for Seatoun, and he lost a rare opportunity when, with only the goalie to beat, he tried to walk the ball into the goal. A spirited dash by Garrod saw the winger swing the ball across the goal-mouth tot McKenzie to touch into the net. Net long afterward X Kershaw essayed a long shot, which Tarkington made no effort ,to save. A couple of shots by Cudby and Burke toward the end looked likely for Marist, but Parkin wag shaping well. Right on time Burke shot from a melee, and the game ended: Seatoun, S; Marist, 2.

EASY WIN FOR THISTLE W.Y.M.I. Loses Many Chances Thistle had little difficulty in defeating W.T.M.L at the Kilblraio Stadium. W.Y.M.I. lost many good chances through the forward line being too glow to force the pace. W.Y.M.I. kicked off against the strong northerly, but gained little ground. Strain Intercepted a forward pass from McLeod, and sent the Thistle forwards away on a determined attack. A long shot by Stewart was well saved by Taylor, who cleared. Stewart was again prominent with a long drive from the wing, which hit the upright. A corner quickly followed to Thistle. Johnstone was entrusted with the kick. The winger placed well, but a W.Y.M.I. defender, in endeavouring to clear, sent the ball into the net. From a free-kick McGirr sent the forwards away. Rabbitt centred to McLeod, whose shot missed by inches. Several good opportunities were missed by W.Y.M.I. forwards, who were far too slow in getting off the mark, allowing the Thistle halves to rob them of the ball and turn defence into attack. Upchurch was prominent in some brilliant play. A good pass to Cunningham allowed the inside man to make a solo run, but the effort terminated with a feeble shot. In the second spell Thistle, in spite of facing a stiff wind, was the more aggressive side. Lothian was robbed of a goal when Taylor In saving brought the ball over the line, but an appeal was dismissed. A corner quickly followed, but. McLeod cleared to send his forwards racing toward Thistle’s goal, Hodder gent In a bard drive which scraped the upright. Shortly before time Stewart sent over a splendid centre, which Lothian headed well out of Taylor’s reach, making the final score: Thistle, 2; W.Y.M.1., 0. Mr. C. Ward wag the referee.

OTHER RESULTS The following are the results ot other games:— First Reserves. Marist L Diamonds 0. Second Reserves. Brooklyn 5, Corinthians 1. Intermediate. Marist 10, Stop Out 0. Diamonds 3, Institute X ;■ Swifts 2, Lower Hutt 2. ' Fourth. Seatoun 5, Swifts 3. Marist A 6, Marist 80. Boys’ Institute 2, Miramar R. L Fifth. Miramar R. 3, Diamonds 0. Marist 8. Seatoun 0. Sixth. ' Waterside & YM.C.A. 0. Seventh. Marist N. A 8, Miramar R. B 0. ■ Seatoun 2. Boys’ Institute 2. Miramar R. A 4. Marist N. B 0. Marist T. 2, Diamonds 1. Eighth. Diamonds 13. Miramar R. 0. Boys’ Institute 0, Marist N. B O. Seatoun A X Marist T. A X Seatoun C 1, Boys' Institute B X Marist N. A 2. Swifts 0. Seatoun B 2, Marist T. B 0. Secondary—Junior. Wellington Technical College X Petone Technical 2, Games in Other Centres Auckland: YJU.C.A. 3, North Shone 1; Tramurewa 2, Ponsonby 1; Thistle T. Celtic 2; Onehunga 3, Hamilton 2 Dunedin: Seacliff 1. Maori Hill 0; High School Old Boys 4, Mosgiel 3; Northern 4, Port Chalmers 1; Mornington 6, Technical Old Boys 1. Christchurch: Rangers 1, Nomads 1; Technical 3, Thistle 3.