HOSPITAL'S SUCCESS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1933, Page 24

HOSPITAL'S SUCCESS

Petone received a setback in their race for championship honours when Hospital defeated them by 2 goals to 1 last week. With a little more luck Petone might have made a draw of the game, and certainly a score, of 1-1 w aid have been a fair enough indication of the run of the play. The game was played under trying conditions. The ground, as well as having numerous minor irregularities, was at the summit of a hill and con-vex-shaped, giving one the impression that one was standing on top of the world. The' impression was heightened by the boisterous northerly wind which swept across the field and made ball control almost impossible. Still, it was the same for botli teams. Hospital scored a surprise goal in the first minute and again in the last five minutes, Petone.'s only score coming early in the second half. Hospital had most of the play in the first half, when Petone were facing the wind and the sun, and positions were reversed in the second half. Play generally was loose and open, there being few concerted movements. The pace throughout was fierce. Leslie, Dunlop, and Riddolls were the star performers for Petone. The two first-named, ably assisted by Watson, the inside right, were a first-class forward combination, and they gave the Hospital defence a lot of trouble. W. Woods played well, but his passing was slightly erratic. At out-side left Craig was unusually weak. Time and again, when in a good position, he spoilt things by an aimless kick towards the corner, where the ball was invariably snapped up by a Hospital back. Smith and Campbell wero the best of the halves, though Cameron played j a good game. Petone wero without the services of Scott-Brown, who was on the injured list, but Haincs and Biddolls were as capable a pair of backs as one could wish for. MeVean was his usual safe self in goal. Jeffery, the centre-forward, and Thompson, at left full-back, were Hospital's two best players, :.nd much of the credit for the win can go to them. Jeffery played a splendid attacking game, continually harassing the Petone defence. Ho was well supported by Marshall and Windley, the two wing-

crs. J. Woods and Stanbridgo filled the inside positions with distinction. Trewick did not show up as conspicuously as usual at centre-half. The kick-and-run type of play necessitated by Saturday's conditions did not suit him. Briggs and Simon were an able' pair of wing-halves who did their full sharo in Hospital's sterling second-spell defence. Thompson and Miles played excellently at full-back, neither showing any signs of being bustled even under the heaviest pressure. Eil has left the district, and Hospital's goal was kept by the versatile Gibb. He showed a fine certainty in his handling and; kicking.