Association Football

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1934, Page 22

Association Football

FINAL OF THE CHAT-HAM. CUP COMPETITION

GAME BETWEEN TWO THISTLE TEAMS

By "Vanguard.'*

When the two Thistle teams from Auckland and Christchurch meet on the Basin Iteserve next Saturday afternoon in the final of the Chatham Cup competition for the 1934 season there should be an excellent display of football. \ Both .'elevens have proved themselves capable of producing a high standard of play in thein respective centres during the past winter and reports would indicate that they will be keyed up to a high pitch for the closing contest for national honours. Last year the final was played between Milleiton All-Blacks (West Coast) and I J orisonby (Auckland), the game ending in favour of the Auckland tesia by Vno goals to one. : In 1933 the final took place on August 26, but this year it is some three weeks later. Fortunately the Chatham Cup competition has not confused the issue this season so greatly as it did last when the local association found great difficulty in having all championship and cup matches played. It is to be hoped that Wellington enthusiasts will give the Thistle-Thistle final plenty of support next Saturday.

other hand, were as rast as their opponents and more studied in their methods, sho-fring a finer, development of team work and the nicer points of the game. Even though Auckland played for two-thirds of the game minus a very useful half-back (J. Grant), territorially the homesters had "as much of the game as their challengers; in fact, Mitchell, the visiting goalkeeper, had a great deal more work to do than had A. Watson in the home goal. This was due to the more methodical feeding of the forwards by the home rear division, and their more accurate and purposeful placing to the four forwards'. That, the ground was more irregular than appeared from the distance of the sideline was evident by the miskicks by several of the players. The home side showed more mastery' in the working of the ball than did Canterbury. But'it was the'wholehearted, thrustful, rushing game of the Southerners that brought them into the picture so prominently and" made them prime favourites with the,crowd.

MARiST'S WIN No sooner had the Swif ts-Marist game last Saturday commenced than it was evident that, the latter side would ha.ve little trouble in annexing the two valuable points which would place them on a par with the Hospital team. Goals came quickly and easily as the result of precise short-passing movements. Condon led the front rank admirably, seldom failing to pierce the defence and part with the ball at the right moment. Credited with two goals himself, ho was the originator of the majority of the scoring movements. E. Kershaw's "hat trick" emphasised the importance of being in position, a phase of the game in which Marist excelled. In the first half Swifts were seldom really dangerous, only Kelly, and in a lesser degree,' Hawkcn, being able 1o make any progress. They opened the second half in far better style, and for about ten minutes their forwards indulged in some concerted movements. Now and again Hawkcn got awaywith some tricky work, while Kelly continued to send across a few tempting balls. Yet shots were few and far between, and such as did eventuate found Turkingtou anticipating and handling confidently. The Marist defence was far too solid and. seldom gave the opposition any opportunity to shine. As the forwards the backs and halves were generally in position, and. on the' whole had an easy afternoon. Swifts' defenders were hard pushed most of the way, with Dickson emerging from the fray with credit. The one-sided nature of the game iobbod it of its interest but demonstrated the machine-likq precision of the Marist attack.

ENGLISH TROPHY CAME

In a game that was at times the most thrilling s«en in Auckland this season, Auckland defeatad Canterbury and ,re-

tained the Biaiglish Trophy in' a* challenge match last Saturday. 'Auckland won by 3 goal? td 2. * ' ' The Canterbury side played, a fast, open, long-passing game from finish (states the "Auckland Star"). Prom a somewhat slow opening they settled: down to a ; dashing game in which the players generally took the shortest road to goal. Auckland, on the