WATERSIDE-Y.M.C.A.—TWO EACH.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 37, 13 August 1923, Page 4

WATERSIDE-Y.M.C.A.—TWO EACH.

Played on the Basin. KeEerve, in wea--thgr that was not at all favourable from tog point of view of players or spectators, the iiontest between V.M.C.A. and .Waterside provided an interesting fight, in '/which neither side had any marked advantage. The game throughout was keenly contested, and the result, two goals each, was. a fair, one, having regard to" all •'th\e circumstances. Interest was added to the match by the presenco in'the 3£M;C.A. team of Campbell and BaHard, "two of! the AH Blacks, who recently, returned: from Australia, the two players m'aldiigt their first appearance since the, completion of the torn-. All eyes were on Campbell., some of the spectators apparen&ly thinlting that he should score a goal eviiry other minute, but the Watersiders also- kept . their eyes, closely fixed on him, «nd whenever the ball came his, way he t way promptly and ef-' nciently. "smothesrecV." Ballard, however, was a live wire in the forward line/ and; scored,,two go^-ls in fine, style. In many ways his was, a brilliant display of, football, and it is/to be regretted that VieTand Campbell iare not available for next, week's baMfle for the shield at Auckland. Phillijps was absent from the V.M.C.A. team,, being replaced by Baker, and Mullins filled Palmer's place in the Waterside eleven. The game caused many to/wonder whether Waterside would have had matters so much their own way' in the league championship, if Y.M.'/3-A- ranks had not been so Severely di/sorganised.

The teams'were as follow:—

Y.M.C.A^—CTarrant, Bowyer, M'Girr, EaSity, Pearson, Smith, Hindmarsh, Trtijtt, Baker, Ballard, -Campbell. Waterside. —Porteous, Ingham, Jackson^ Bell/ Jones,: Irvine, Brown, Mullinsj Anton, Gilbertsoitj and Patterson. Referee: Air. G. F.. Aors.

"Watevsidey winning the toss, played ■with the advantage of the southerly wind, and when Campbell kicked off the championship leaders immediately initiated a-siro'ng attack, which folded in two shots being taken by Mullins. The secbncf/of thesejeame .from a gooddistance out,; and? luckily for Tarrant, who had lef{ his goal temporarily, the ball was a yard or so too high. Bowyerg relieved well, and Ballard, by a nice run down the wing, transferred play to the other end of the field. He : judged his centre well, and-Campbell was in a handy po- ; sition, waiting for the leather. The lat-,.. ter^ kick,!, however, travelled over the. bar., the? bad direction 'being due to lack of space to operate. Another strong attack 'was'instituted by*the"Waterside forwards, but \jt was effectively checked, wh?n it had gone quite far enough, hy M'Girr and Bowyers, who were doing gooU work at full-back for V.M.C.A. Young Men again headed for Watereiders' "goal-month, and Ballard was unfortunate in just missing the goal by inches, the ball travelling across the front, of the net ..instead' of into 'it..- Play travelled up and^down field for-sortie time, Waterside 'n'6£makmgas much'use of the wind as might -,Kav©;.taeeri anticipated. Faulty play;^b£:"the: Y.M.O.A. forwards gave Waterside J'the opportunity they we're looking "for, and Brown, on. the right wing?', after taking the ball down'field, centred in time to Allan Gilbertson" to send the ball hard into' the net. . The spell ended shortly afterwards without further addition to the score.

Play in the second spell was of a very exciting description, and, if anything, Y.MiC.A. had the best of the exchanges. Some ten minutes after the spell opened Ballard, who had been playing a great game on the left wing, managed to guide the ball pasivEorteous, and a little later he gave his team the lead by repeating the performance. One goal down. Waterside rallied,, but apart from .occasional invasions iiito the V.M.C.A. territory, play remained very much in the Waterside half. It was during one of the sudden invasions that Anton made the scores level again, goaling after a pleasing piece of individual play. Spectators became; aroused to a high pitch of enthusiasm as both sides battled for the goal that would give supremacy, but, tested to tho utmost, the defence on both sides proved sound, and the game ended with the "scores level—two goals each.