SOCCER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 232, 29 June 1939, Page 16

SOCCER

Date For F.A. Trophy Challenge

JULY 15 POSSIBLE

Chatham Cup Replay On Saturday

(Bi-

Hotspur.)

Difficulty is being experienced in arranging a suitable date for Wellington s challenge to Auckland for the F.A. Trophy. The Wellington association has suggested July 20 as the date, but the Auckland association in the meantime has suggested July 15. Either way, there are difficulties. The North Island final of the Chatham Cup is set down for decision on August 5 in Auckland, and if the trophy game is played on July 20, it will involve some players obtaining leave to travel on two consecutive weeks. At present, the 'Wellington association has fixed July 15 for the Wellington final of the Chatham Cup, and the match between Wanganui and the 'Wellington finalist has been cet down for July 22. The Wellington association is anxious for the representative fixture, and would probably accept July 15, if permission can be obtained from the N.Z.It.A. to advance by a week the two Chatham Cup fixtures.

Navy Matches. The Wellington Football Association has been investigating the possibility and arranging a game with the Navi', but such a fixture could not be arranged till the end of the season. H.AI.S. Leander will be in Wellington for at least a week early in October, but the Basin Reserve available after September 2. A Navy team would be willing to travel to M ellington, the suggested date being September 23. Such a match would be ideal to close the season.

Comment on F.A. Trophy Game. Otago won the F.A. Trophy from Canterbury in the final game last season, but/ failed to survive the first challenge for 1939 when Auckland beat them by o goals’ to 2.- Commenting, on. the match the “Otago Daily Times said that the excellent showing of the Otago players during the first spell gave their s "M >ol ' ter ® hope that the trophy might possibly stay in Otago for another challenge, but the challengers 'by sheer speed and determination in the van, put the issue beyon doubt by adding tour goals to Otapoone in the second spell. In tais halt, Auckland proved much the .fitter team. A- soon as the visitors obtained the the lead, Cleal, the centre-half, adopted the third back game, and played it to’ adianta"e In Auckland he is looked on as the Bernard Joy in New Zealand, and he certainly earned the distinction m the trophv game. Otago was to some ex tent unlucky in the run of the play, the ball during most of the game, favouring the visitors Otago forwards played the better football, but Auckland’s front line was a lively set, and proved yards faster and better finishers. They moved quicklyinto line and shot from all angles, lhe inside players Fyvie and McCallum, appeared alwavT to run the line into position Stevenson, the centre-forward, “°F® of an opportunist than a spearhead in the attack.

Waterside’s Winning Way. _ Waterside had a close call at the-hands of Swifts, winning by one goal to nil after a scoreless first half. Swifts had rat er the better of the play, particularly in the qnell. and there were at least three times when it looked as though nothing could stop the vigorous Swifts .forwards from scoring On each occasion, success eluTed & As against .that, Waterside at times came close to increasing thei score, R. Ward missing a * sitter with only the goalkeepeer to beat. Five PO”>ts behind the championship leaders, Swilts hopes of success in climbing to the top look slight, but they will cause other teams a good deal of anxiety as they are playing first-class football at present. Waterside’s combination was not so much in evidence as Swifts, but tjieir defence is sound, and they have certainly earned their position at the head of the championshin ladder. , , Next Saturday’s match against Seatoun should provide plenty of excitement and Waterside will have to show their best form to win. However, their record is better than Seatoun’s so far this season, and they will be the favourites. Seatoun, nevertheless, have proved capable of rising to the occasion in the past, and a win for this solid young team is by no means beyond the bounds of probability.

A Close Call. . , „ Seatoun had to fight every inch of the way to beat Diamond on Saturday. Their showing in the first spell was very di* appointing, Diamond, whom they had beaten the previous Saturday by 7 goals to nil, playing all over them. There was a ead lack of co-ordination between the Seatoun backs and their forwards. However, they put more snap into their play in the second half, and were able to snatch a win by 4 goals to 3. Diamond are to be congratulated on their fine game. They have a young team, and with a little more experience will develop into a sound side. Geddes and O’Connell, helped materially in the Diamond defence and undoubtedly their fine play was an inspiration to the 1 rest of the team. Diamond player's who impressed were Bold, Alexander, Smith, Geddos, Nicol and O'Connell, and the youthful McLaughlin played -well in goal. For Seatoun, Boyes played sonndly and was well supported by Whiting. The Yeoman brothers, at full-back, were not so good as usual, and were often caught out of position. Gendall and Tauner were the most dangerous of the forwards.

Pleasing Form. Marist played well at Porirua on Saturday to beat the solid Hospital side by 5 goals to 2. The forwards, led by RQuirkc and supported by the halves with low, well-timed and well-directed passes, gave the, Hospital defence a busy time. The whole Marist forward line showed improvement in positional I play and the players sent long and accurate passes when about to be tackled. In a hardworking half-line, T. Hiudlc shone in constructive play, and Foley’s neat tactics at centre-half greatly helped his side. Tarkington, in goal, played his usual reliable game. The full-backs, C. Nunns and F. Tarrant, began shakily, but. soon settled down and sjQ.od up well iu the last 30 minutes of play to a sustained attack by the, Hospital forwards. Hospital lost, because their opponents x on the day were quicker on the ball and shot more accurately. Miles, in goal for Hospital, stopped several hard shots, hut two of Murist’s goals had him badly beaten. McCallum was the better of the backs, and Rogers and Jeffrey were prominent in the half-line. Jeffrey was always up with the play and there is no titter man in the team. Pulled up for what looked like a bad infringement—the state of the ground, however, may have been partly to blame —Jeffrey showed temper, but it. was only a minor incident. Hospital's main weakness lay in the forwards. Good openings made by Trewick, who played a fine leading out game, were not made use of. Lawlor and Mehle were the biggest offenders, but Jeromson gave Trewick all the support he could have wished. Four-goal Margin.

The gamp between Petone and Technical Old Boys at Petone was not productive of first-class football because the ground was so heavy. Petone won by 6 goals to 2, 'but that margin rather flattered them, as Technical had a good share of the play without being able to score so freely. Turner, in goal for Technical, played well, and was ably supported by the full-hacks. All the half-line worked hard, but found difficulty in holding the tricky Petone forwards. The Technical forwards had quite a few shots at goal, but with disheartening regularity they missed narrowly.

The reliability of the Petone full-backs, Hughes and Haines, made things comparatively easy for Jackson in goal, but he showed coolness in stopping a number of shots. Heid was the nick of the halves and the forwards, led by Leslie, all played good foottbglL