SOCCER.

Grey River Argus, 20 July 1926, Page 6

SOCCER.

BULLER’S VICTORY. OVER CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 19. The Buller rep. team made the stay of the South Island inter-provincial trophy, the Peter Dawson Cup, shortlived in Canterbury. Last year the Red and Blacks wrested the trophy from the first holders, Otago, and early in the season Canterbury successfully defended it against South Canterbury. At English Park, on Saturday, under excellent playing conditions, and before a large crowd of spectators, Buller won the Cup in good style. The visiting team’s forwards were lighter than those of Canterbury, but the intermediate line and full backs were of equal weight, The teams lined out as follows:—

Buller (Blue). Goal: Smith. Full backs: Ritchie and Nairn. Half-backs: Rennie, Steel (captain), and Banks. Forwards: Methven, Orman, AV. White, G. White, and Brodie. Canterbury (Red and Black). Goal: Hirst. Full-backs: 11. Thompson and .1) Taylor. Half-backs: J. Wales, N. Brosnan, and T. Howarth. Forwards: F. Bridgens, D. Sutherland, A. Trotter (captain), C. McDougall, and T. Berry. Steel won the toss for Buller, and Canterbury kicked off against the sun. The initial exchanges favoured Buller, and from play on the right the ball came out to G. White. Brodie accepted a transfer, and, beating Wales, he sent in a low shot which Hirst gathered, Howarth and Brosnan worked play to midfield, where Bridgens put Canterbury attacking. Trotter snapped up from the winger and sent in a hot lifting shot, which Smith brilliantly diverted for a corner. The flag kick was cleared and Steel sent play down the Buller right flank. Orman placed to Met liven and the winger crossed to the centre, where Taylor just beat V/. White to tjie kick. Canterbury wer? slow to settle down to their usual combined game, and the bustling tactics of the visiting half-backs were upset ting the play of the forwards,. A good tackle and smart transfer by Wales put Canterbury attacking. McDougall placed to Berry and the winger drove to the centre. Sutherland snapped up, but with only Smith in goal interven ing, he shot weakly into the custod ian’s arms. It was a let-off for Buller. Smart combined play by the visitors, with Meth ven, Orman and W. Whit? prominent,carried play to the other end. From well out, G. White sent in a long shot, which Hirst, in goal, gathered. A moment later good work by Wales put Canterbury attacking on the right. Bridgens beat Banks and raced down the line. Assisted by Brosnan, the movement extended to Berry on the other wing. From a centre, Bridgens lobbed to goal, but from two yards’ range, Trotter booted over the bar. Canterbury were throwing away many excellent goal-scoring openings. Ritchie and Nairn were prominent in defence for Buller, and then Rennie put the Blues attacking. Methven. with Orman in support, went through, and from well out W. White sent in a low shot. Hirst got down to the ball, but he allowed it to roll through his legs into the net —an easy goal. Buller 1. Canterbury 0.

From the centre-kick, Canterbury at tacked desperately For a few tense moments, play hovered round the Buller goal. Sutherland and Trotter tested Smith with successive shots, but the visiting keeper fended brilliantly. A good kick by Ritchie brought relief for Buller, and Methven made a break on the right. Howarth smartly intercepted a pass to Orman and Berry raced away. Ritchie challenged, but the winger got in his centre. Bridgens was handy and placed to goal for Trotter, unmarked, to miss an easy opening. The shooting of the Canterbury marskmen was painfully weak. From halfway. Steel initiated a Buller attack. Challenged by Thompson, W. White drove for goal from well out. The shot was wide of the net, but Hirst attempted to gather the ball. Ho fumbled badly and Orman, closing in fast, tapped the ball into the net unopposed. Buller 2. Canterbury 0.

Fast and even exchanges marked following play. Buller were specialising in long shots, for Thompson and Taylor, the Canterbury defenders, were hard to circumvent. Hirst was safe to a speculator by Steel, and a moment later \ brilliant run by Brosnan put Canterbury attacking. With the Buller fullbacks spreadeagled, Brosnan let Trotter through the centre with a clear ruu in, but again the shot was put right into Smith’s hands. Flay was in midfield when the interval was called. SECOND SPELL. From the resuming kick Canterbury attacked, but a free for hands brought the visitors relief. Rennie then put the Blues attacking on the right, and Methven crossed to the centre. W White shot for goal, but Hirst hurled' himself at the ball, and cleared—a good save. Combining nicely, Buller kept play in Canterbury territory, and the /defence was kept on the move. Fine play by Howarth made an opening for McDougall, who made ground, and centred. Trotter was on the spot and he connected with a header, but the ball went over the crossbar. Steel and Banks were prominent for Buller, and from Brodie, Tompson conceded a corner. Methven placed well, and there followed a hectic struggle in the Canterbury goal. Hirst thrust the ball out and finally Thompsin drove clear. At halfway faulty play by Berry and McDougall let Rennie in. and Methven made ground only to be checked by ' Taylor. Play returned to the other end, but good tackling by Ritchie ami Nairn checked every Canterbury advance. From halfway, Howarth initiated a Canterbury offensive, and Berry placed to goal at an acute angle. Smith rushed out and punched clear. Bridgens trapped nicely and shot hard, but the ball struck the crossbar and went out. Canterbury were now making great efforts to reduce the lead, and Wales, who had changed places with Brosnan at centre-half, was engineering soirm good openings. From one of these Trotter and Sutherland dashed for goal, with the ball at toe. Nairn fouled Trotter in the penalty area and Canterbury were awarded a spot kick. M<

Dougall took the shot, and gave Smith no chance with a drive to the top corner of the net. Buller 2. Canterbury 1. With full-time drawing near, Canterbury attacked in a desperate effort to draw level. Buller concentrated in defence, and, from a pass by McDougall, Trotter headed for goal. Smith jumped for the ball and cleared for Steel to boot to midfield. Canterbury came again in a desperate finale, and playing for time, Ritchie twice booted the ball out of the ground. Canterbury continued to press, but the Buller defence played safe to the final whistle. Scores:— Buller 2 Canterbury 1 Referee, Mr J. Stout. Linesmen, Messrs Jennings and Smyth. Never before has a trophy been wrested from Canterbury by two such soft goals as won the day for the visitors. It was unfortunate for Canterbury that the New Zealand Chatham Cup between Western and Nomads had to be played on the day. Several star players were thus deprived of a game in the representative game. Nevertheless, Canterbury had •presented to them enough gilt-edged scoring chances to have landed them an easy winner. On six occasions the Canterbury marksmen had only the goalkeeper to beat, but they failed ignominously. Trotter was right off,. He had every opportunity to give Canterbury a substantial lead. His partner and clubmate, Sutherland, should have scored more than once. The youngster Bridgens gave a good display on the right. He is worthy of a further trial. Brosnan did not take the eye as a heady centre-half. On the right Wales \fcd his forwards well, but was often out of position. Steel, at centre-half, had Trotter’s measure. He distributed the ball well. Rennie was in the picture more than Banks, but each exercised fine judgment in attack and defence. Ritchie was better than Nairn at full-back. He is a finished exponent of defensive play. Nairn is inclined to mix it. Smith, in goal, had a big hand in winning the Cup for Buller. He has a safe pair of hands, and in anticipation of shots was seldom in error. After a mediocre first half, Howarth was the best half-back in view after the interval. Thompson and Taylor were good de- ; fenders. Hirst, in goal, must have been affected by nerves. His form was aid wrong on his club performances. 1 hey know how to play combined football at Millerton,. Short, snappy passing, with a big slice of luck, won Buller the match. Methven, on the right wing, was the star performer, with G. White and Orman running him close. W. White has a future as a centreforward. He is a good marksman. BULLER v. SUNNYSIDE. VISITORS~DEFEATED. CHRISTCHURCH, July 19. The Sunnyside Soccer Club met the Buller reps to-day. The Sunnyside :-team won by four to one.