BY TWO GOALS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 7

BY TWO GOALS

CANADA BEAT WELLINGTON

GOOD, EVEN CONTEST

LOCAL TEAM LOSE CHANCES

In the presence of fully 12,000 spectators, one of the largest crowds seen at a Soccer match in Wellington, the All-Canadian team yesterday afternoon defeated' the Wellington representatives by 2 goals to nil.

So far as the general run of the play was concerned there was little between the teamsj but the visitors made the most of their opportunities in front of the goal, whereas the Wellington forwards threw many chances to the winds. There is no doubt about the attractive nature of the . Canadian game, and in the ranks of the visiting team there are several players Who could probably take their place in any company. Those who shone out yesterday afternoon were Tait (the goalkeeper), Crawley and Edmunds (the two,full-backs), Monaghan (the righthalf), and Archibald and Turner (in the forward line). Wellington's main weakness was in the forward line: Not one of the forwards at any stage of the game looked like scoring goals, and a forward who cannot shoot is of little use to a side. M'Kee ana Burke worked well in the half-line, and the two full-backs, Gibb and M'.Girr, did splendidly. M'Girr was easily "the be3t back on the field. Beritley; in goal, did all that could have been expected of him. . ,

Those present at the match included His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) and party, the Primes Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates), the Chief Justice (Sir Charles Skerrett), and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Troup). The teams were:— . ' . Canada . (Royal blue). S. Tait, F. Crawley, E. Edmunds, J. Monaghan, W. Brolly, H. Paynter, W. Gibson, J. Davidson, D. Archibald, D. Turner, P. Francis. ' Wellington (Black). . G. Bentley, A. Gibb, L. M'Girr, D. M'Kec, Haines,, J. Burke, E. Barton, J. Lothian, Rigby, Marsh-

ment, and Cudby.

Prior to the commencement of the match both teams lined up in front of the official stand and gave three cheers for His Excellency the GovernorGeneral. .

FLAY DESCRIBED.

Lothian was successful with the toss, and he decided that Wellington should play the first spell with the strong sun at their backs. Archibald set the ball in motion, and Wellington commenced briskly, Cudby leading an attack, only to be robbed of the ball when la. a. handy; position. Then the Canadian forwards gave.a taste of their ability, and Bentley was called on to save a snap shot'from tke ruck. Following this Gibson made progress oh the right, and a splendid centre was met by Francis, who headed over tho top. Gibson was again prominent a little later, and Archibald tested Bentley with a shot.; The Wellington jsustqdian again cleared. A goal kick gave the local team gome relief, but the visitors were Boon, oil the move again and Monaghan narrowly missed with a rshot. Hainos conceded a corner, and from this Bentley had to save again. Payntor waß next to try his fortjine, but his shot went over the I cross-bar. Then Wellington went away again, and Barton was responsible for a splendid pieco of play, culminating in a stinging shot almost from the sideline. He had a hard man to beat in Tait, however, and the custodian turned the ball for a corner. A freekick against M' Kee was '-.welt placed, but M'Kee,. who was playing well in a position that was strange to him, headed clear. Barton was away again, but Edmunds stopped his progress by kicking into touch. Wellington kept things, moving for a while after this", «ud Lothian passed nicely to Cudby, who placed Wellington in a good position. When the ball camo back to him from the right-wing, however, he was too anxious and shot wildly over the top. He had plenty of time to steady his shot. A goal-kick gave Canada much-needed relief, and a hot attack saw Bentley hard pressed. Tho Wellington custodian camo through it well and : saved brilliantly twice in succession. Marshment and Cudby then got away on the left wing ; but the movement culminated in a long shot by Lothian. Tait had no difficulty in effecting a clearance. Then Canada sot up a strong attack, during which Gibson received an injury which placed him out of action for a few minutes. His absence did not upset jtho Canadians, who maintained tho pressure. A general melee took place in front of tho Wellington goal, and during this Turner managed to got one past Bontley, It was a swift, high shot, which gave Bentley no chance. Canada 1 Wellington .. 0 Wellington set up a strong attack from the kick-off, but a shot by Lothian was far too high. Down the other end again Gibson had a shot, but his, too, went wide of tho mark. The goalkick lot Wellington away again, and Cudby-sent in along shot which had Tait thinking seriously. Canada again attacked strongly, and Tumor, always a dangerous man in front of tho goal, sent in a stinging shot which struck the cross-bar and rebounded into play. Another attack by tho local team promised well until it was brought to an end by Crawley, who was proving a great source of trouble to the Wellington forwards. A nice movement originated by Burko looked promising, Cudby sending in a good centre, which brought Tait into action. , The goalkeeper just managed to clear, but Canada had had a narrow escape. For a while Wellington dominated the position, but just before tho half-timo whistle sounded Canada instituted another strong attack which brought results. In blocking Gibson from getting in a centre, M'Girr conceded a corner. Gibson sent the ball nicely across the goal-mouth, and Turner, jumping high, headed the ball into the net. > Canada 2 Wellington 0 ■ The first spell ended without further score. ■ .

THE SECOND SPELL,

It was evident during the opening stages of the .second spell that Wellington were a vastly improved team, and for the first ten minutes or so they dominated the position. From the kick-off a promising forward movement was initiated, but Bigby kicked high over tho top of the goal. He would have done better had he made more ground before shooting. Haines was. the next to send Wellington away, and Tait left his goal to clear a centre by Cudby. Lothian sent Barton away, but the winger lost position. There followed a series of free kicks, and from one of these, given in Wellington's favour, Tait did well to clear. A little later another free kick was awarded to Wellington, and Gibb, who was entrusted with the kick, sent the ball goalwards, with terrific force. Tait was equal to the occasion, however, and ho made a good clearance. Following this Canada had

a spell on the attack, and it was during a promising forward movement that the visitors were awarded a penalty kick. This was taken by Davidson, who drove for the corner of the goal. Bentley, anticipating well, sprang for -the ball, and managed to save. For this brilliant effort he received an ovation from the large crowd. In the last quarter of an hour, both sides turned on the pace, and the crowd was treated to some fine football, with plenty of incident. Gibb and M'Girr were prominent in 'Wellington's defence, the latter's strong kicking being a feature of the play. Towards the close Wellington had many opportunities of scoring, but the shooting was Weak in the extreme. Barton was a particular offender. On one occasion, when the ball was crossed over from Gudby, he had only the goal-keep-er to beat. His shot was a weak one, however, and Tait had no difficulty in turning the leather aside. The final whistle sounded with Wellington attacking, and with the score' Canada 2 Wellington 0 Mr. E. Ormrod controlled the game ir< an able manner. A full description of tho play was broadcasted by ■ Mr. George Campbell, an ex-captain of New Zealand Soccer teams. • The members of the Canadian and Wellington teams were entertained at dinner at the Grand Hotel last evening after the pna'tch. Mr. W. Duncan, chairman of the Wellington Football Association, presided; A short toast list was honoured, and Ijhe proceedings terminated early, enabling the visitors to spend a quiet, evening.