LAST WEEK'S GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 20

LAST WEEK'S GAMES

PETONE AGAIN

The Petone team had its second win in the First Division competition on Saturday and richly deserved it. There was a marked difference between the style and pace of play of the team that day and the manner in which it had shaped on the previous Saturday. However, from the way in which the winners started off in their most recent match no one would have guessed that the game would finish with them ahead by four goals. The first spell honours went to Swifts for speed, resource, and quickness in taking advantage of opportunities, and after a good early goal Petone were never able to apply really hard pressure. On the other hand, whenever the Swifts team broke away they made the best of their chances and gave MeVean some anxious moments. This way Swifts led 2-1 with only a few seconds to go before the half ended, and at that moment their defence slackened long enough for Petone to get within striking distance for an instant and for Leslie to score. In the second half, though, things wero very different, and it was obvious from the kick-off that Petone had been taking counsel and decided to go all out. They were now facing the wind, which fortunately for them dropped quite a few points in strength, and they had to make their own way without any assistance from the suu. But their vigour and skill in the forward line quite overwhelmed Swifts for a good fifteen minutes, at the end of which time the match had been won and lost, for Petone had put on two goals. Yet the winners never let up, and their second-half performance must bo taken as revealing sthe quality of their team, for it was registered against one of the nippiest and most dangerous of sides in the competition. Swifts, in this period, did not seem to go so well, the principal failure being by the halves. They did not seem to bo able to judge the ball, and were apt to wander out of place and open up avenues for the attackers. On the other hand the Petone halves, who had been bothered a good deal in the first session and utterly unable to stop the rush of the opposing forwards, suddenly improved and were quite equal to, the task set them for the rest of the match. But in the main it was a win due to the zeal and ability of the Petono forwards, of whom Leslie, Woods (who did the "hat-trick"), and Craig were outstanding. Watson also was very useful and the young Cartnen, after, an uncertain opening, improved right through the' game. MeVean, Haines, and Campbell were the mainstays of the suburban team. In the ranks of Swifts players Shankie and Bilby stood out, while the first half wing work of Hawkin, who went right through the Petone defence several times, beating three and four men, was notable. Dainty was good in the opening half, but faded later, and Glover was capable, but apt to get out of place. Longbottom did well at full-back, and despite an injured knee Bradford played up finely, especially when he saved a penalty from Leslie's boot. .HEAVY SCORING. Although defeated by 8 goals to 5 by Hospital last week, Technical Old Boys played a splendid game. Their type of game is very similar to that successfully exploited by the Hospital side. Both teams play solidly and aggressively, are always on the ball, and always worrying their opponents. Belying more on these aggressive tactics than on speed and trickiness (except for a few individual exceptions) both teams get their goals straightforwardly. Last Saturday's contest was hard-j fought from start to finish. At one stage Technical were leading* Hospital, but Hospital's greater experience stood them in good stead, and it was to that they owed their victory. Technical should prove a harder proposition next time. In the Technical eleven it would be difficult to single out any individual for special mention. Perhaps the goalie, Redmond, deserves mention for his hard work, and the skill of Stewart and Liddicoat in the forwards and Beadle in the halves was noteworthy. Hospital played their usual solid game. Marshall was back on the right wing, and with Gibb as inside partner, did nearly all the attacking work. GAME SPOILT BY THE WIND. One could not have imagined weather conditions worse than those which obtained at the Stadium last week, when Marist met Waterside. The exceptionally heavy wind which swept the field made anything in the way of ball control impossible, and under the circumstances it was only to be expected that neither team would give a good display of football. The tactics mainly consisted in booting the ball into the air, and then waiting for the wind and a possible mistake on an opponent's part to achieve the result. Marist were certainly fortunate to win by the odd goal in five, a penalty shot at that. On the day's play a draw would have represented the respective merits of the teams. True, the Marist forwards were the more aggressive, but their defence, particularly in goal, was weak. From the spectators' point of view the game was disappointing, but that was not the entire fault of tho teams. The Stadium ground does not lend itself to good football, and under conditions such as those obtaining last week it was not to be wondered at that the match should be a poor one. DIAMOND IN FORM. At the Hutt .Recreation Ground, Lower Hutt proved no match against the better-balanced Diamond side. A blustering wind rendered ball control difficult, and upset many promising movements on both Bides. Hutt opened in promising fashion, both wings combining nicely and .the outside men sending the ball across at the right moment. The finishing, however, was not up to the standard of the midfield play, and the forwards either shot wildly or weakly on most occasions, several chances being thus, thrown away. .On the other hand, Diamond were late in settling down, and, once they had the measure of their opponents, made the mistake of hanging too long on the ball. Beyond the slight superiority of the visitors in midfield, there was little to pick and choose between the teams in the first half. Diamond took their chances, and Hutt did not, with the

result that the blacks led at half-(inn by 2' goals to nil. Both goals were smartly taken, giving Wiikcs no chance Neither goalkeeper, by the' way, was nailed upon to do much up to this stage; most of the attacks being brokeu up the first time by clearances of th« hack divisions. Viewing the first half display and considering that Hutt would have tho benefit of a rising wind in the second spell, it. was naturally expected that Hutt would not find a two-goal deficit too much of a handicap. By powerful kicks, Holmes did his best to keep tho bull downfielil, and was ably backed up by Gardner, who, if less forceful, was more certain in his' returns. But* '•'md gave another premising display, with MeDougall working hard on ono side of him and A. Stobbs feeding his wing m good style on the other. Dia« mond, however, seemed to relish tha more strenuous work which striving against the wind entailed, Hopper .in. particular living up to his reputation in that respect. In this, he was well supported by Geddes and Todd. - The latter was the most impressive player on view, playing at top -all through. With a little more care in his placements, he bids fair to rank with the best, in his position. Wothorspobn, le?3 robust in his tactics, wears well, and could always bo depended upon in :i tight corner. When the Diamond halves and forwards ceased indulging in too much fancywork, progress waa made, and two snap goals were added without reply by the home team. Indeed, Hutt's chances so far had been few and far between, although - Smith and G. Stobbs had to be watched closely. Towards the end. Hutt approached their real form. Nicolle supplied tha thrust and sent over the opportunities, while. McGrath, a promising youngster, scored two fine goals. Diamond, how* ever, increased their tally to five before the final whistle. Oh the whole, Hutt, with an improved team on paper, did not reach their form of the previous Saturday. Among the visiting forwards, Cunningham and Neale showed up most. Baker now finds.himself a marked man, and, though among the goals as usual, was on the subdued side. Beasley, a recruit from a lower grade, evidently had instructions to mark one man. He obeyed his instructions to the letter. ■■-■■.