SOCCER

Evening Star, Issue 21080, 18 April 1932, Page 3

SOCCER

SEASON OPENED AUSPICIOUSLY

EIGHT TEAMS IN FLETCHER GUP ROUND The 1932 Fletcher Cup competition under the auspices of the Otago Football Association was commenced on Saturday afternoon, when good displays were witnessed by large attendances on the four grounds. The interest indicates that this season will probably bo the best yet experienced by the code in Dunedin, The results of the games were;— Seacliff 7, Port Chalmers 2. Mornington 3, Northern 1. Mosgiel 2, Higli School Old Boys 0. Maori Hill 5, Technical 2.

OLD BOYS GO UNDER

Queen’s Park, Mosgicl’s new ground, was officially opened, and Mosgiel marked its red-letter day by defeating last year's Fletcher Cup winners, High School Old Boys, by 2 goals to 0. The ground was in first-class order. There was a good attendance, and the Taeri Pipe Band was present, supplying some stirring music before the match and during the interval. The teams, headed by the band, marched round the playing area, and after a few remarks by the president of the club (Mr Steven) and Mr F. Ball, a member of the Otago Football Association, Mrs Steven kicked off to a round of applause. Facing a strong sun Mosgiel opened the attack on the left, a cross from Skinner being partly cleared. O’Rorke tested Hall, who fumbled, but managed to clear. Play was very fast, the ball travelling from goal to goal, Groves having a long-range shot, which M'Dougall easily cleared. Porter received at halfway, sending out to Skinner. Sutherland kicked his cross past for a corner. The kick went behind. Old Boys attacked strongly on the right, but Groves shot past. Mosgiel now settled down, and was seen in some good combined forward movements. Gorric, with a perfect centre to O’Rorke, enabled the latter to slip the ball to Skiijner, who beat Hall with a fast gx'ound. shot, Mosgiel 1, Old Boys 0. The local team at this stage had Old ,Boys hard pressed, but faulty shooting was in evidence. Eventually Chapman sent out the ball to Groves, who broke through, and his shot just grazed the upright. Mosgiel forced three successive corners, Skinner kicking .two behind, but with his third he placed beautifully for Porter to head into goal. Half-time was called shortly afterwards, Mosgiel advanced, Hall coming out to clear. AVhite beat him, but Sutherland stopped a certain goal with his hands. White took the penalty kick, but placed over. Both teams began to slow up at this stage.' Duncan changed over to inside right, and a nice break away by Old Boys found Groves and Duncan with only M'Dougall to beat. Groves slipped the ball across to Duncan, who drove to goal, M'Dougall bringing off a great save. Immediately afterwards Romeril placed a shot just over the bar. Old Boys were now forcing the play, M'Dougall clearing two shots from Chapman and Groves. Stevens relieved the pressure, Truesdale sending on to Dalziel, who shot weakly past. Stenhouse was responsible for stopping a further Old Boys advance on the left. Duncan was prominent for Old Boys, and this player, with a beautiful shot, had M'Dougall all out to save. The game ended: Mosgiel 2 Old Boys 0 Mr F. G. Smith was the referee. $

MORNINGTON DEFEATS NORTHERN

A hard and fast game, surprisingly fast, in fact, for the opening match of the season, was seen at Morningtou, when' the home team shaped promisingly in downing Northern for 3 goals to 1. Play in the early stages was even, neither goalkeeper being troubled, although Thompson spoilt a likely chance for Northern by offside play, whilst M'Lennan shot over following a wellplaced pass by Paul, the Morningtou centre. Northern settled down more quickly than the hill players, whose passing was not so well directed. From a miskick by Lowden, M'Hugh smartly passed out to Cullen on the right, Donaldson clearing. Wallace returned play to Faithful, and the left-winger’s shot brought M'Quarrie out to save. 'Paul was prominent for Morningtou in opening up forward movements, but the Black-and-White defence, particularly Perry and Sutherland, held them in check. Following a free-kick to Northern, Thompson received, and play went to Cullen, who transferred to M'Hugh. The latter gave M'Quarrie no chance. Northern 1 goal, Mornington 0. Play livened up, Mornington showing a decided improvement, with Paul and Connelly prominent in the forwards, and Marshall and Donaldson in the backs. A break away by Paul was relieved by Hall coming out and clearing. A Northern advance saw M'Hugh miss the goal. Watkins, the hill left wing, took play back upheld, Marshall having a couple of attempts to score, one of which was well saved by Hall. Mornington continued to show the better 'combined play, and, with Davidson holding up the few attacking movements of the Black-and-Whites, the latter were mostly on the defensive. Twice Hall cleared his goal from Connelly and Marshall. Moon passed up to Watkins, a beautiful centre to the goal being hooked out by Wallace. A further attack saw Poole penalised for handling the ball, and Donaldson, with a well-taken penalty, equalised the scores a few minutes before half-time. the opening of the second spell Northern was the more aggressive. Faithful, from a throw in, whipped the ball out to M'Hugh, who sent in a fine drive, M'Quarrie, the hill goalkeeper, saving well. Play went to Mornington’s left. Watkins, after a good run, failed to get past Hall, and Cullen swung the ball across field to Faithful’s wing, but solid tackling by Donaldson relieved the danger. Moon was again prominent for Mornington in opening up play, and gave Paul the ball in front of goal, but the latter missed. From a throw-in in Mornington’s area Thompson, the Northern centre, went through on his own to have his well-directed shot stopped by M'Quarrie. Up-and-down play followed with both sides missing chances, but good combination between the Mornington halves and forwards on the left gave Connelly an opening, from which he scored with a great cross shot. Mornington 2 goals. Northern 1 goal. Mornington kept the advantage in play, Hall being called on to save from Watkins. Ho also turned over the bar a shot from Marshall. After a spell of desultory play M'Quarrie saved a great shot from Faithful, whilst Perry cleared from Paul when the latter was almost through. In the final stages Northern was making the most of the play, but the hill defence was too solid for the weak movements of the forwards. M'Hugh was the only

one to prove dangerous, but ho was unsupported. Perry repulsed a hill ad* van-o, sending up to Thompson, who beat tho defending back, but M|Quarrie coming out of goal forced the former to place over. From the kick-off Moruingtoii broke away on the left, Connolly finishing off tho movement with a goal, giving his team a lead of two goals. Time was called shortly afterwards with tho score;— Mornington 3 goals. Northern 1 goal./ Mr W. Jordan was tho referee.

SEAGLIFF’S EASY WIN

On its own ground, Seacliff had a runaway victory by 7 goals to 2 over Port Chalmers. Seacliff won the toss, Port Chalmers kicking off against a strong sun. For tho first half-hour the visitors were mainly on the defensive, Hooper scoring two goals and Warnock one. By half-time Hooper had added a further goal to his credit. With the start of tho second half Port Chalmers pressed, Madigan completing the movement with a good goal. Up-and-down play followed, Cooper, for Port, kicking a corner post. Port Chalmers again pressed, Watson sending Baillie away to shoot past. Play hung in ‘midfield until Seacliff forced a corner, Hooper missing from the cross kick. Seacliff was awarded a penalty for handling by Evans, and Milne netted. Seacliff 5 goals, Port Chalmers 1 goal. Siminonds and Milne again put Seacliff on attack, but from a well-placed pass Warnock shot over. Following a couple of further saves by Camp, Ives made a good run, but failed with his shot at goal. Seacliff increased its score with a shot by the loft half. Up-and-down play followed. Camp saved well from Warnock, and Stark and Holden carried play back to Soacliff’s half, where Milne missed clearing. Good work by Cooper, Madigan, and Stark ended in the latter’s netting. Both sides continued to share the attack without success until the local half-backs let their forwards away for Baiilio to score. The game ended: Seacliff ... 7 goals. ■ Port Chalmers ... 2 goals.

MAORI HILL V. TECHNICAL

At Prospect Park Maori Hill and Technical College Old lioVs provided a keen match; the former winning by 5 goals to 2. Maori Hill attacked first, and Balk, after nice play, sent over a cross, which Lament cleared. Oliver returned a hot shot, but Holden made a fine save. Technical attacked strongly, Witehell being prominent in a run down the wing, but he made a poor attempt at goal. Taylor quickly transferred play to the other end, where Morris was too slow to accept Holden’s pass, and a good opportunity went abegging. The Technical forwards came away strongly.. Taylor miskicked, and Brown also, bungled, and Batchelor tapped the ball out to Witehell, who sent in a cross shot which beat AVills all the way. Technical 1, Maori Hill 0. Hill kicked off, and after a scramble in the Technical area Maori Hill was awarded a penalty. Taylor took the kick, and made no mistake. Technical 1. Maori Hill 1. From the kick-off play became very even, and Technical made the pace very hot. Brown was rather overshadowed at this stage, the Technical forwards repeatedly robbing him of the ball. Wilkinson, Technical’s left-half, sent in a fine cross to Witehell, who gave Addison a fine opening, but the centre shot wide. Technical was now doing most of the attacking, but wild shooting lost the team chances. The Hill forwards were seeing very little of the ball at this stage, due mainly to faulty placing by the half-back trio, Wilson being the only one to show any dash. Combination was lacking on both sides, but Technical looked the more dangerous. Taylor, at full-back, was playing well, and was brilliant in clearing from Witchell. Bayne fouled in the area, and Hector put his side in the lead with the spot kick. Following this success, Technical set up a continuous attack on the Maori Hill goal, with Wills and Taylor outstanding in defence. Taylor eventually cleared with a strong kick, and Carse and Oliver were seen in a nice passing movement. The ball was sent in to Haldane, whose first shot Holden saved well. Play was quickly changed to the Other end by a fine run down the wing by Witehell, who drew the defence and passed to Addison, but the centre missed badly. Another shot saw the ball bounce over Wills’s head and hit the upright. Maori Hill was still hard pressed, and Taylor alone shone out in defence. This player, eventually cleared, and play' took a complete change, Maori Hill attacking strongly with Carse and Oliver. Holden had to get down to ono from Oliver, and then Carso sent in a great shot, which Armishaw deflected into his own goal. Maori Hill 2, Technical 2. Maori Hill was now a different team, and Balk sent over a fine cross, but Cope cleared to tho centre, when halftime was called, with no change in the score. Brown was again too slow at the start of the second spell, and allowed Addison and Batchelor to hreaft right through, but Bayne cleared. Technical was still aggressive, Wilkinson placing the ball well to his forwards. Taylor cleared nicely, and Wilson sent Balk away down the left. The winger gave Morris a royal chance to score, but the latter shot high over the bar. Following three successive unsuccessful corners. Maori Hill treated the spectators to some good football. Holden ran out to clear from Morris, and the empty goal had a lucky escape. The Technical defence was sorely pressed, and Balk sent in a terrific drive, out Hector charged the shot down. Holden brought off many fine saves, and from ' one strong clearance let Paton and Bartlett away. An unsuccessful corner resulted, however, and the Hill forwards came back, with Brown forcing the play. Haldane sent in a fine shot, but Holden made another good save. Holden cleared a further shot, only to have tho ball returned to Brown. Maori Hill was now fighting hard to get the lead, and Cope had a strenuous time keeping the ball out. Holden saved one shot, but held on too long, and like a Hash Oliver, Haldane, and Carse were on top of him. After a tussle he managed to turn the ball round the post for a corner. Carse took the kick, and placed it right in the goal-mouth, where Haldane bustled the ball through. The kick-off saw Witehell make a fine run down the wing, but his cross was intercepted by Brown, who cleared to Balk. The ball wont to Haldane, and out to Carse. whose cross was badly missed by Morris. Thompson tested Holden with a good shot, and play moved down to the centre, where Batchelor and Addison tried to force through, but Bayne was handy, and sent to Wilson. Witched, however, snapped up a pass, and beat Raync, but his cross wont wide. Maori Hill forced matters again, and Morris and Balk advanced deep into the Technical area. A great shot by Balk shook the timbers around Holden, and Oliver, who was handy, finished off the movement. Balk was shooting with deadly precision, and another drive from this player went past Holden into the not. Technical played strongly, Witehell lending a forward movement, which ended in Wills making a brilliant

save from the winger’s cross shot. The game finished soon afterwards with tho scores: Maori Hill 5 Technical 2 Mr W. P. Smith was the referee.

SECOND GRADE

Port Chalmers 4 goals, Northern A 2.

CHRISTCHURCH GAMES

The opening matches of the Association competition resulted: — Thistle 1, Rangers 0. Western 2, Technical 0. Nomads 6, Marist 1.