SOCCER

Evening Star, Issue 19021, 17 August 1925, Page 9

SOCCER

PETE!) DAWSON CUP OTAGO RETAINS TROPHY. At Culling .Park a big crowd saw tlie Otago Soccer team successfully deal with South Canterbury’s effort to snatch the Peter Dawson Cup, retained by the home side in virtue of its recent draw with Southland at Invercargill. It was an interesting game, and developed in the second spell into a stern struggle on the greasy ground. The final score—Otago 5, South Canterbury 3—is a pretty fair index to the trend of play. A feature of the game was the good work of tho home half-backs, who shone both in supporting the forwards and assisting in the defence. Caskio and Bellenger gave good displays between the posts. The latter is a "goalkeeper of great quickness and resource. Braithwaite was the hotter of the Otago full-backs. The forwards were all keen and quick, but would have been improved by more practice together. Playing for the visitors, Baldwin and Grieve defended solidly in the second spoil, and Davies was the "best of The halves. The last-named player worked like a Trojan, and kept the side together. Logie and the right wing were outstanding among the forwards. The local superiority was due in large measure to the three half-backs. They were good. Mr W. P. Smith (referee) kept up with the game, and was fair and prompt.

THE TEAMS. Otago (Navy Blue). —Goal, Oaskie (High School); full-backs—Braithwaite (Mornington), Thevathan (Southern); halves—Dryden (Northern), Scoullar (Northern), Bardsley (High School); forwards—Watkins (Mornington), Fraser (High School), M'Tavish (Northern), Walker (Mosgiel), Latimer (High School). South Canterbury (Black and Green). —Goa!, Bellenger; full-backs—Grieve, Baldwin; halves —Hamilton, Davies, Thackwell; forwards —Stewart, W. Durning, Logie, Brown, and W. Burning. FIRST SPELL. Otago were soon away, and Latimer wont down on the right, but his centre, though good, wont over. A nice piece of work by the visitors was followed by a dash*by the local right-side forwards. Bellenger came out to field a grubber, and soon Otago set up a hot attack in Lite centre, Bellenger finally saving. Fraser later headed tho hall over the top. South Canterbury backs had been kept busy defending, and the Otago raids did not cease. Otago had a corner. Latimer crossed finely and Scoullar hooted in, Bellenger saving magnificently the still close-range shot. Off-side pulled up a further Blue attack. Braithwaite fended off a Canterbury raid, and sent the leather up to the forwards. Fraser dashed in, but he was shepherded by an opposing back, and the ball boat him. Bellenger held a high dropping shot from the Otago right; but tho local men still pressed, and Walker ended the movement by goaling with a ball that hit the under side of the crossbar and found the net. That was ten minutes after the start. Otago 1, South Canterbury 0. Caskio fielded a long, useless snot from a visiting forward. Off-side play by cadi side held up the game more than once. Braithwaite missed with Ins head, and Logie headed a forward dash hy tho visitors; but Ircvathan 1 added him, and Caskm cleared. Scoullar was playing a forcing game, and half the time was up with the forwards. The South Canterbury vanguard got awav in a swift dash, and Brown tried a low, hard one from well out, and Caskio fielded. The Otago custodian dealt also with a couple of oilier shots. Walker, MTavisb, and Latimer tried shots at the other end. Tho • first effort was two Jiigb, MTavish’.s shot was stopped by another man’s stomach, and Latimer’s drive was bold by Bellenger. Tho visitors’ right wing was doing good work, but did not receive from the inside the support be deserved. Caskio held another shot. Confusion among the inside forwards spoiled a good raid hy the visitors; Logie passed where a shot taken by himself would have bad a far lief ter chance. Watkins scut in a good shot, and Bellenger held another from Walker. Fraser inaugurated an attack, and sent back to Watkins. The wing centred, and M'Tavish goalcd with a low one. Otago 2, South Canterbury 0.

In tho ensuing play Caskie cleared a few times, though lie had nothing serious to cleat with. Braithwaitc, too, stopped an attack somewhat luckily. The Otago half-line was doing fino work. Bardslcy sent the hall up-field, and M'Tavish got away with only tho goalie to boat. Ho made• no mistake, the ball eluding tho hands of the outstretched goalie to find tho net. Otago fi, South Canterbury 0. The next sight was a groat .struggle by Sconllar, who forced his way past three, or four men, but was finally pulled up. Then came a swift pass from Bardslcy to his club mate Fraser, who, taking tho hall beautifully, sent in a lovely first-timer—the best goal so far. Half-time: Otago 4, South Canterbury 0.

SECOND SPELL. With the opening of the second spoil W. Durning tried to get through, but he was held up by Bardslcy and Trevatlian. Caskie somewhat weakly fisted one away from Stewart, and a moment later Bellenger saved at the other end, Walker’s* further attempt failing. A great roost by Trevathan was easily fielded by Bellenger. Braithwa.ito tackled an attacker, and gave tho first corner given by Otago. The kick was a weak one. Nice work was then seen among the visiting forwards, and Caskie was tested once or twice. Braithwaitc gave another corner, but the kick was again without result. Otago then had a turn at attack. Bellonger held a long one from Fraser, and a shot by M'Tavish failed. Trevathan fended off another effort, and Otago attacked, but without result. Bardslcy, Walker, and Latimer were prominent in these transactions. Then came an effort by the visitors, disclosing weak play by the forwards. They go! right in at the goal mouth, and Brown missed a lovely chance. Logie was in front with tho ball at a later stage, and ho seemed to unnecessarily fiddle about with it. However, his shot when it did come found the net. Otago 4, South Canterbury 1. Tho crowd became enthusiastic. Davies had a run, and kicked well, Caskie just turning tho leather away from the net, and giving a corner. Stewart centred well, and Davies headed in. Otago 4, South Canterbury 2.

After a fruitless Otago effort, the visitors again pressed, but did not score. Drydon and Watkins'shone in the ensuing play. Later, South Canterbury attacked. The left wing shoved in a centre, and Cnskie came out to clear; hut Logie was waiting, and goaled easily. It was all a result of good work by Davies. Otago 4, South Canterbury 3.

Otago assumed the offensive, and pressed for several minutes. The goalie was down on one occasion, and a score looked certain; but the defenders darted back, and no goal came. The tussle continued, and the Canterbury defence was well tested. Trevathan stopped a reprisal by the visitors, and later, from a corner by Watkins, M'Tavish goaled. Otago - 5 South Canterbury 3 The end came soon afterwards.

P. AHD T. AT OAMAFiU The Post and Telegraph Association third grade team travelled to Oamaru, and defeated the Oamaru Rangers by 2 goals to 1. This is tho third consecutive occasion upon which the Telegraph team has won this match. IN OTHER CENTRES CHRISTCHURCH. Sunnysde 2 beat Kaianoi 0, and Rangers and Thistle drew—2 each. WELLINGTON. Y.M.C.A. 3, Scottish Wanderers 0; Hospital 1, Institute 1. In the Victory Cup final Brooklyn 5 beat Y.M.C.A. 4. In tho fourth Charity Cup Watersiders 1 beat Marists 0. AUCKLAND. Thistle 2 beat Royal Navy 1, North Shore 3 beat Y.M.C.A. 0, Hcllabys 2 boat Watcrsiders 1, Ponsouby 4 beat