GAMES ON SATURDAY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1918, Page 3

GAMES ON SATURDAY

THE FINAL FOR THE CHAMPION'

SHIP.

A WIN FOE PORIRUA.

The most keenly contested, and, as it decided the senior championship, the most important, game of the 191S soccer season so far was played "between teams from the Marist Old Bays and Porirua Clubs in the -presence of a large number of spectators a.t the Association Park on Saturday afternoon, and ended in a ■win for the •visiting' team by one goal to nil. Tho grounds were in good order, but perhaps a little on the hard side for so strenuous a, game. Though the match was certainly willing, play was clean and sportsmanlike- throughout. Porirua ha-d the heavier team in forwards and backs alike, but this gave them no apparent advantage; in -tact, during the first spell particularly, Marist, playing, with their usual sound combination, did the greater part of the attacking. Time and time again Auld, N. Lowe, and Eeilly fed .the ball to the front line to be rushed almost down to goal by their forwards, who, however, were unable to get through. Carruthers (outside right) played a rattling and unselfish -game, his repeated tar- 1 tics being to centre tho ball from near the side line to the waiting forwards, but every timo the defence -was too good. For this the winning team owe much to Wallace and Cross (full backs), both experienced players whose judgment was all the time, souud, and to Wineera, whose exhibition of goal keeping was one of the finest seen on a Wellington ground for some time. Auld at no time contributed much to spectacular play, but it was largely owing to his quick and consistently clever, footwork that the ball went out to the Marist forwards. Rene, the opposing centre half, played a brilliant and strenuous game, and was well supported by Parata and Whitehead. Marist forwards 'by no means had things their own way, for Daly, Tyrer, Sorbie, Mairs, and Mungavin.were a solid combination, and . Hayes, in goal, was kept Busy at times and brought off some pretty jsaves, though once or twice he ran big risks in meeting the ball well out, and thus leaving the goal unprotected. The first ten minutes saw Marist on the attack, and in this space Carruthers five times placed the leather near the goal mouth. On the last occasion Auld shot somewhat feebly, and tho ball trickled over the line beyond the posts. Sorbie then led tip the field with Daly, Tyrer, and Mairs, and a promising drive by the latter was returned by Hayes. Marist then quickly rushed the ball the length of the field to within four or five feet of .goal, where A. Lowe drove hard, but Wineera, with the team right on him, brought off one of the ' brightest saves of the game by a long kick to line. A promising rush by Marist was 6poilt by over-eagerness on the part of Bidgood, who was badly off-side. from tho free kick Whitehouse {Porirua's left-half) took possession, later passing to Sorbie and Rene, who carried on till.the halfback line was reached, when Rene sent on to Mungavin, who heat Hayes with a fast ground shot. Porirua 1, Marist nil. Porirua continued to press for some little time, till Marist forwards went right down the field and kept play in dangerous ground for some minutes. Carruthers shot for goal three times, but Wineera returned each time, and from about halfway A. Lowe brought the ball solo through* Porirua's defence; only to be beaten by the goal-keeper, and the ball went behind. The corner was-again spoilt by a Marist forward being off-side. Marshall put in good work in all rushes about this time, and narrowly missed scoring in three attempts at goal. Rene relieved with a long kick up field, and Tyrer,- backed by the front line, carried on, but shot high. Marist were again pressing when tho whistle Bounded. Immediately after the -recommencement Marist attacked. A free kick was followed fey a scramble, and Marshall headed in, but Wineera was equal once again. Marist appeared to flag for a time and the ball did not come out to their front line _as cleanly as before, and Porirua made^play willing. Parata, and Daly figured in a rush, but Klilly returned. When Marist again took up the attack Wallace, Cross, and Rene bore much of the weight of the rushes in brilliant defensive work which never failed. A bunched attack gave Marshall another chance, but the ground shot did not paes the goal-keeper. Mungayin, Tyrer, and Sorbie in turn shot for Porirua, but Hayes, Duignan, and FizgeraM were "safe." A final rush was made by Marshall, Cashraan, Bidgood, and A. Lowe, just on time, and Marshall again missed very narrowly. Wineera, being hard pressed, conceded a corner. Carruthers took the kick, and placed the ball right in the goal mouth, but the vigilant Rone secured and kicked neatly to line, and with the ball out of play, the whistle sounded for time.

Mr. V. Astill ably controlled the game.