SOCCER

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1939, Page 4

SOCCER

DAWSON CUP MATCH. COAST DEFEAT BULLER. Tlie West Coast Soccer representatives on Saturday retained the Peter Dawson Cui), defeating Buller at Victoria Park, Greymouth, by lour goals to two. The challengers were beaten by superior positional play and a more compact eleven. Parts of :he game were ragged, the ball being booted around nonchalantly, without any paiticular determination. However, the biggest percentage of the game provided some scintillating football and brilliant passing. The most noticeable feature of the game was the magnificent goalkeeping by Archibald, the Buller goalkeeper. Had it not been for his display the West Coasters would have doubled their score. The West Coast had the advantage of more experienced players, as Buller were experimenting with young players who gave a creditable display and the West Coast will have to look to their laurels when these young players gain a little more experience. The Buller forward line had great penetrative powers, when they played as a combination, but fell away when individualism was introduced. On the other hand, the West Coast team combined excellently and had a decided advantage in head work, as Buller seemed to have lost the art of heading the ball. Blythe; the Buller captain, worked tenaciously throughout and was instrumental in the scoring of, the two goals as well as stemming the rushes of the Coast forwards. The game was exceptionally clean. The tackling of the halves and backs of both sides was fast arid keen, although the Buller defence were tired players towards the end of the game. The West Coast halves impressed by the understanding they had with their forwards, and their quick and sure tackling on defence. If beaten once,, they' were quickly badk to tackle again. Two penalties were awarded, one to either side, for handling. Cameron and Bowman were instrumental in opening attack after attack, and Taylor, Armstrong and Watson backed up well. Closs saw little of the ball in the first half, .which spoke well for the defensive power of Marshall and Lee. Tennent gave his best display of the season, and Coutts had the Buller defence fully . extended with his speed. Cullen made the most of his opportunities.

Trotter and Ryan were always a source of danger to the Coast defence, and Trotter was well guarded throughout the second half. Buller were handicapped in the second half through the non-appearance of Ryan, who sustained an injury. It is an understood fact that when a centrehalf leaves the field it means the reorganisation the whole team, and it was most unfortunate that Ryan was unable to commence the second half. The following were the teams: — West Coast: Closs, Lee, Marshall, Armstrong, Taylor, Watson, Tennent, Cameron, Cullen, Bowman, Coutts. Buller: Archibald, Briggs, Millar, Blythe, Ryan, Tyler, Crackett, Fitzsimmons, Tiplady? Trotter, Meek.

THE play. Conditions were perfect for football when Cullen kicked off for West Coast. Cameron . and Armstrong were forcing the pace down the right, when Blythe interevened to send Meek away. Lee, coming out quickly, intercepted the outside left and cleared well down field. Taylor was conspicuous jyith some strong heading. Cameron opened up the attack to cross quickly, and Cullen, rushing in failed to connect with his head, Archibald clearing. The Busier halves worked the ball cleverly to Tiplady, but Taylor, anticipating the movement, smothered the centre forwards’ at- ' tempt. Ryan tried a spectacular which just went wide. Trotter sent out to Meek, who missed the goal by yards. Ryan manoeuvred the ball high into the Coast goal-mouth, and Trotter connected with his head, to put over. Trotter was causing West Coast much concern. Cullen and Bowman began some clever combination when Coutts was caught off-side. Lee endeavoured to cover the ball till it went out of play, and was surprised to see Tiplady race in, to whip the ball dangerously close, Closs clearing quickly. Cameron drew the defence out, before passing to Tennent, who raced away to the corner flag before sending a good cross, and Cullen put his head to it, but Briggs defeated the ball, to concede a corner. The kick was splendidly placed by Tennent, overthe heads of the bunched players, and Coutts received but missed, when in a great scoring position. An attempt by Coutts was punched over the bar by Archibald. From the corner kick by Tennent, Bowman headed a nice one, which nearly deceived the goalie, the ball ■ hitting the crossbar, but Archibald quickly had it' under control. • Ryan was limping badly and was finding it hard to keep up the pace. Fitzsimmons tried a solo run, but was easily outpaced by Marshall, who was playing a great defensive game. Buller

were working the ball well down tin centre, but Taylor was defending soundly. The ball was swinging fron one end.' of the field to the other neither side having the territorial ad vantage. The ball, coming in quickly from the Buller right whig, 'caugh Armstrong on the wrong foot, bu Taylor covered up and cleared. Arm strong gained some valuable grounc with clever dribbling, and sent in t hot shot. Blythe, in endeavouring tc clear, handled, and West Coast were awarded a penalty, from which Bowman scored. West. Coast 1; Buller 0 Cameron sent Tennent away, and the outside right nearly scored, the Buller goalie bringing off a good save. Taylor tested Archibald with a hard shot, but the goalie was solid. Cullen, Cameron and Tenuent began a brilliant piece of combination, Millar shining with a timely clearance. Watson, Lee and Marshall were instrumental in checking a line movement which had its source at the Buller right wing. West Coast were award-

ed a free kick and Armstrong placed the ball beautifully. Bowman and Cullen failed to intercept, and Coutts collected to have a wild sweep at goal. At half-time the score was unchanged At the commencement of the second spell Blythe took up the centre-half position, Trotter coming into the right-half position and Orman to inside right. Marshall broke up an early attack and cleverly manoeuvred the ball to Cullen, who had crossed quickly to the left to receive and centre the ball briliantly, but Cameron mised when nicely placed. Lee brought off a timely clearance. Crackett was racing down the right when Taylor intercepted his pass to put Coast on the attack, Bowman sending out to Coutts, who tested Archibald with a low, hard drive Watson was conspuicuous with clever

dribbling, but his fine effort was wasted, there being no forwards in position to accept his centre. Taylor was penalised for handling and Blythe’s kick brought Marshall into the limelight with a great clearance. Under pressure, Closs could only push the ball opt a few yards. Lee, attempting to clear, kicked the ball hard down the centre and the ball rebounded off a Buller player to enter the goal. Although Taylor, standing on the goalline, effected a clearance, the referee ruled the ball to have crossed the line. West Coast 1; Buller 1. Shortly after, Coutts raced away I down the left and evaded the opposing half to send a short pass to Cullen. Cullen brought Archibald out of goal and then looped the ball over the goalie’s head, for Tennent to come racing in to score. West Coast 2; Buller 1. Within a few minutes Cameron deceived the Buller halves by bringing” the ball from his wing to switch it over to Coutts, who accepted •the deception quickly and paved the way for Bowman to score. West Coast 3; Buller 1. Fitzsimmons, Tiplady and Orman dribbled the ball almost on to the West Coast goal line, and it was left to Watson to avert the danger. Marshall, atempting to clear, handled the ball in the penalty area and Blythe scored from the kick. West Coast 3; Buller 2. Coutts sent in a hard drive which brought Archibald down on his knees to clear, the ball hitting the upright and Cullen rushed in to collect a goal. West Coast 4; Buller 2. Hard midfield play followed until the final whistle sounded, with the scores: West Coast 4; Buller 2.

Mr J. Mossop was referee. In the curtain-raiser Taylorville defeated Technical A by three goals to one.

IN OTHER CENTRES. WELLINGTON, July 16. Manawatu 3, Wellington Inter-House Association Representatives 2. First A Division—Hospital 2, Waterside 0; Marist 3, Diamond 3 DUNEDIN, July 16.

Mosgiel 6, High School Old Boys 0; Northern 2, Roslyn-Wakari 1; Mornington 4, Maori Hill 1; Caversham 3, Technical 3.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 17

Saturday’s Soccer results, in the Hurley Shield competition were: — Thistle 1, Western 1. St. Albans 1, Technical Old Boys 1. Nomads 3, Rangers 0.

AUCKLAND, July 15

Although the score was only 3-2 in its favour, Auckland, the holder of the English Trophy, was far superior to Wellington in their match at Blandford Park to-day. The game provided the finest exhibition of the code since the visit of the English amateurs two years ago. The first half especially produced sparkling forward play and intelligent work by the halves. The Auckland forwards, working with a brilliance which was missing in previous representative games, thrilled the crowd of 5000 in the early stages and deserved their three goals. AUSTRALIA v. PALESTINE.

I - I SYDNEY. July 10. In the second Soccer test. Australia defeated Palestine by two goals to one. The Palestine forwards frittered away an almost endless sequence . of chances in a scoreless first half. Away from the goal, Palestine’s men were artistic, polished and smooth. Although the Australians’ raids were less frequent, their methods carried more sting. The star was Sidi, Palestine goalie.