WATERSIDE AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1939, Page 5

WATERSIDE AGAIN

WESTERN OUTPLAYED

WILING .GAME

By defeating Western, of . Christchurch, by 4 goals: to .2 hi the national Chatham Cup final on Saturday' afternoon, Waterside, of Wellington, became Uie champion Soccer team of the Dominion■ for the, present .season and created a new record in the competition by' winning the1 trophy for the: second year in succession. About' 7000 people" attended the game at the Basin Reserve, - and after it his .Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Galway) presented the cup and the medals-to the winners. Waterside led 2-1 at the interval. They played their usual type of game, showing neither brilliance nor weakness, but being ever ready to snatch the scoring opportunities that came their way: Western piayea a prettier game, but were always a goal or two behind the winners— a difference represented by Western's inability to flte in their final shots quickly enough. Nearly always the Western fanguard, after carving a comfortable-way to the Waterside back line, would hesitate and endeavour to manoeuvre for position, giving the resolute and speedy Wellington defenders easy opportunities for tackling and clearing. Waterside's forwards, on the other- hand, had not the smooth-working precision of attack, but they attained their objectives more frequently because of their snap and vim at. critical : moments. An additional. factor in Waterside's win was\ an apparent lack of understanding between the Western backs and their goalkeeper, whereas 'Waterside's trio played almost faultlessly. • HOW THE GOALS CAME. Most of the exciting incident was concentrated ""Info two short periods in ■ each spell, although there was always plenty of interest. In eleven minutes- in the first quarter of the game Waterside opened the scoring, Western equalised, and Waterside drew again. Thirty seconds after the start of the second half Waterside-advanced to 3-1 with a typical breakaway from the kick-off, and five minutes later Western netted again. With the score at 3-2 it was still anybody's game, but Watersides fourth score halMvay through the spell decided, .it, and thereafter they were not seriously threatened. •Territorially play fluctuated very, evenly, Western, if anything, having a slight advantage. On,the run of. the play.the losers could perhaps consider themselves unlucky to lose by two goals, . but there was no doubting Waterside's superiority. Knowledge of the ground, of course,. was an. advantage to the Wellington eleven. , Throughout the game the pace was well maintained, ' but there was some unnecessary rough play at times, ■ and on two occasions players were lucky not to be sent off the field. So much willing play with its consequent crop of minor, injuries, marred an otherwise splendid game. '''■''}■- ■ ' THE BEST PLAYERS. For the winners the best men were S. Ward, who played a marvellously'safe game in goal, Calder, the energetic left-half, and McCarthy, the right-winger. Every other member of the team played well, and their win was a triumph of team work, coupled with occasional opportunities for individual initiative. S. Cawtheray was the best of the Western defenders, and Was the best back on the field. Gordon- at centre-half was crafty but at times a little slow. In. the forwards all went well, but Almond arid R. Smith on the right-wing were the most worrying to the winners. Western's combination between halves and forwards at times was a revelation. The' teams were :— . Waterside.-r-S.- Ward: Jordan. Bolton ; Calder, Hazel; T. Traynor; McCarthy, Walker, R. Ward, Longbottom, Janes Western.—Brooks; Cawtheray. McMillan; Anderson,'Gordon, Roberts'; Almond, R. Smith, G. Smith, J. Smith, Galbraith. . The..referee was, Mr.. S...Doree, and the linesmen Messrs. J. Houston and L. McMillan. Scorers were McCarthy (2). Longbottom, an-1 Ward for the winners, and Galbraith and R. Smith for the losers..