MOSGIEL HELD TO DRAW

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

MOSGIEL HELD TO DRAW

FLETCHER GUP TABLE

Caversham Rout School MAORI HILL AGAIN PROMINENT I Surprises were rampant in the series of Association football games played to-day, Mosgiel narrowly averting a reverse in the second spell at the hands of Roslyn-Wakari, who have improved out of recognition, while Mosgiel have been steadily on the down grade. The game was a draw. A skeleton High School Old Boys eleven went down by a big margin to Caversham, while Technical disposed of Momington in similar fashion. One of the most pleasing results of the day was the 4-3 win by Maori Hill over Seacliff, the team showing signs of a return to old form to register its first win for some time.

Following are the relative positions of the teams contesting the Fletcher

HILL STAGE COMEBACK

DISPOSE OF SEACLIFF IMPROVED, BUT STILL SLUGGISH Evenly-matched teams provided an interesting display at Logan Park, Maori Hill running out winners against Seacliff. Though midfield play was at times really pretty, sides lacked thrust near goal, while there was some lamentably poor shooting, even taking into consideration the greasy state of the area. It is a sweeping statement, but it seems that there is hot an- enerprising forward in Otago w<ho has sufficient ball conttrol to shoot for goal without an element of doubt attacking to the direction nine times out of 10. This was particularly illustrated in this game. Maori Hill, though very sluggish in the first spell, dominated play in the second, while Seacliff fell off. The teams were : Seacliff. —Shaw ; Anderson, Ruddiman; H. Ives, Scott, Rodgers; I. Henderson, Dudman, Fyfe, Montgomery, Thompson. Maori Hill. —Wills; Cuthbert, Bayne ; M'Quarrie, Mills, Little; Wadsworth, Haldane, Romeril, Henderson, Balk.

Several promising Maori Hill movements dominated the opening exchanges, but determined shootists were lacking. A greasy surface militated against accuracy, but the Hill control was the more sure, and prettier combination pased the way for more effectice tactics. Seacliff’s breakaways lacked early thrust, but as the game progressed there was an improvement in their combination, and finally Ives sent up to Montgomery near goal, and he beat Wills with an easy shot. Hill’s backs were losing understanding. Seacliff 1, Maori Hill 0. Play evened up again, but Fyfe threw' away a royal chance by shooting to Wills when a defender tried to clear across his goalmouth. Danger threattened when four Seacliff forwards went away with only two defenders in position, but Mills saved a certain goal after dropping back. Hill pressed to the whistle.

Immediately after the resumption Seacliff gave Wills some thought,_ but he cleared safely. Then Hill hoisted three quick goals. Little, who had been doing praiseworthy work throughout, placed to Haldane, who netted easily. Then Balk scored direct from the corner. Next effort was from Romeril’s head, after Wadsworth sent over a strong cross. Maori Hill 3. Seacliff I. Seacliff were awarded a penalty, and Ruddimen made no mistake. Maori Hill 3, Seacliff 2.

Anderson made an opening for J. Henderson, to Dudfnan, who goaled with a curling shot. Maori Hill 3, Seacliff 3.

After Litle, Balk, Romeril, and Haldone had had control in natural sequence, Wadsworth shot beautifully, hte ball rebounding from the crossbar into the net, the game concluding:— Maori Hill 4 Seacliff 3 Mr F. G. Smith controlled the game. CONVINCING SCORE HARD-FOUGHT, BUT ERRATIC GAME Play was erratic in the Morn-ington-Technical Old Boys match at the Oval. Last-minute replacements in the Mornington team did not help their game, and it was noticeable that one or two other players were not up to the usual standard. Even after Technical obtained four goals in a row the outcome of the game could not be forecast. The teams: — Technical. —Fleming, Duerdon, Henderson, Groves. Patton. Breese, Moir, Roberts, C. Smith, Witchall, Watt. Mornington.—Martin, Schofield, Harrison, Webster, Agnew, Murphy. Sainsbury, Schofield,-Cope, Awton, Webster.

Within a minute of the commencement Scofield opened the scoring for Moruington, but the next four goals went to Old Boys in fairly quick succession. Witchall obtained two of them and Watt another, while still another bounced into the Mornington goal from one of the forwards. Before the spell Cope and Moir, for their respective teams, improved both scores. More dogged play in the second half gave goals to either side in succession, Moir for Old Boys finding the goal first. Cope and Witchall each added to the total. Technical Old Boys 7 Mornington 3 The referee was Mr J. Welsh. CAVERSHAM DOWNS SCHOOL "HAT TRICK" TO JAS. GILCHRIST Adapting themselves more easily to the greasy Tonga Park ground, Caversham scored a convincing win over H. 5.0.8. by 5 to 0, and James Gilchrist did the ‘‘ hat trick.” The teams — Caversham.—M'Dougall, Robb, W. Williams, Bennett, O’Neill, N. Williams, Todd, J. Gilchrist, Jas. Gilchrist, Meiklejohn, M'Skimming. H.S.O.B.—Nixon, Race, Nelson, H. Groves, Duncan, M'Gillivray, Gregory, Paul, Foote, L. Groves, Kidd. Caversham showed their superiority early in the first half, and although the Stripes retaliated their drives lacked finish. Meiklejohn opened Caversham’s account after finding the weak spot in his opponents’ back line, while shortly afterwards J. Gilchrist slipped one in from a goal-mouth scramble, quickly following it up with a smart header. Nelson retired injured. But for Nixon’s smart keeping, Caversham’s half-time lead would have been more than 3-0.

The game slowed up early in the second half until Gilchrist scored his “ hat trick ” with a beautiful drive Caversham forced the pace towards the close, but Duncan stood off challenges until a drive ended in M'Skimmmg scoring from the wing, bringing the final to: Caversham 5 H. 5.0.8 0 ' The referee was Mr 3?. George. GOMPETiTON LEADERS EXTENDED ROSLYN-WAKARI FORCE A DRAW The unbeaten Mosgiel team, leaders of the competition, had to be content with a draw against Roslyn-Wakari, at Ellis Park. This less-experienced eleven rose to the occasion in great style, and changed a 2-1 Mosgiel lead at halftime to a draw —4 all—by the final whistle. At one stage Mosgiel had the very useful lead of 3-1, and it was in the last minute of an eventful game that Roslyn managed to equalise. The teams: — Roslyn.—Hughson, Simpson, T. Ness, Smyth, B. Wilson, Smyth, Ramsey, Ramage, Welham, M'Callion, Rutherford. Mosgiel.—Hall, R. Steven, A. Johnstone. Pauli, C. Skinner, A. Stenhouse, Nicolson, Rogers, J. Skinner, Davidson, W. Steven, Williamson. The scoring was opened by RoslynWakari, Ramage, the inside right, netting early. Then Mosgiel took the initiative, and Stenhouse, playing at right half, was successful with a stinging shot. Then W. Steven scored for Mosgielj who led 2-1 at the finish of this session. Proceedings in the other half began briskly. One of the few occasions when the Roslyn full-back line was properly tested was when J. Skinner guided the ball past Ness (who was at the peak of his form and brought off many clever saves) to net brilliantly. When W. Steven scored his second goal and gave Mosgiel a 4-1 lead it seemed to be the beginning of the end for Roslyn. But it was not to be. A remarkable recovery was then staged. Ness made no mistake with a penalty, and then Rutherford placed a corner kick to the not. Now Mosgiel led only 4-3. Roslyn made a last-minute bid to pull the game out of the fire. The side stormed the goal, and Welham headed past Hall. Roslyn had achieved the evidently impossible against a team that has been a thorn in the side of more able combinations. Altogether, it was a splendidly-contested match, with Roslyn fully deserving to force Mosgiel to drop a competition point. Roslyn-Wakari 4 Mosgiel 4 Mr W. Woodcock was referee.

Cup:— P. w. L. D. Goals Cup F. A. Pt« Mosgiel . 11 10 0 1 80 18 21 Northern . 10 9 1 0 42 19 18 H.S.O.B. .. . 11 6 5 0 29 37 12 Seacliff _ .. . 10 5 4 1 28 25 11 Maori Hill 11 4 6 1 36 35 9 Caversharn . 11 4 6 1 31 39 9 RoslynWakari .. . 11 3 7 1 22 37 7 Moruington 10 3 8 0 29 54 6 Technical . 10 1 8 1 21 54 3