SOCCER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 August 1925, Page 3

SOCCER.

CHINESE CUP FINAL. MANAIA BEAT NEW PLYMOUTH. Under conditions which, on one half of the ground were decidedly adverse to good standard of play, the final for the Chinese Cup wa s played on Saturday, and the result was a win by a margin of two goals by Manaia, after a struggle that went to four spells. At the end of the ordinary two spells the teams were .level, one all, and two short spells of ten minutes each were necessary, Manaia scoring two more goals in the third, and maintaining their goal line uncrossed by Now Plymouth until the end of a last and interesting match. THE PLAYERS. The teams took the field as follows: — New Plymouth.—Royston, Spedding, Lewis, Shepherd, Brown (capt.), Herdson. Bree, Dixon, Murray, Shiletto, Anderson. Manaia.—Budd, Bettridge, Redding, H. Pollard (capt)., Connor, Butler, Denman, Marven, A. Pollard, B. Polhud, R. Muggeridge. - THE GAME. Manaia kicked off from the west end, and New Plymouth, securing, went downfield in fine <gyle, Brown showing very clever foot work, and a corner was awarded. Manaia cleared, Bettridge, with a- fine kick, giving the ball to his forwards, and Pollard, after a nice dribble, sent out to Muggeridge, and they got almost to the opposing goal, where Brown again showed liis defensive powers. Spedding took and went downfield with a nice rush. O’Connor cleared, hut not to he denied, Dixon (N.P.) had a shot, the hall going over the net. Brown once more- beat the defence and set liis forwards going, and manoeuvring cleverly they got right to the Manaia goal, and had a shot, but Budd was equal to the challenge. Hotly attacking, the northerners came down once more, and after some close work Dixon put in a hot shot, but Budd once more proved his ability as goalie and saved in great style. Once more New Plymouth attacked, and Muggeridge, slipping in front of his own goal, nearly let the attackers in. Then Manaia went up-field, Pollard sending the leather out to Muggeridge, who shot and sent behind. New Plymouth cleared, and once more get- up a vigorous attack. Murray had a shot, but his direction was bad. Both teams alternately attacked, and play was fast and exciting. Polard and Marvin,, by good combined play, took the leather right to New Plymouth's line, and there got their first corner, and Denman had a shot, which Royston saved. New Plymouth cleared. Brown again showing very fine footwork, and play waged fast round Manaia goal. Bettridge cleared with a magnificent kick, and once more Manaia attacked, Muggeridge having a shot, which Royston saved and sent play hack to centre. Again cacli side attacked in turn, but the defence was sound and good. Then Muggeridge took and passed oiit to Denman, who had a shot. Royston, in goal, kicked, and the hall rebounding off his own man went into the net,, giving Manaia their first goal. Manaia 1: New Plymouth 0.

New Plymouth ) Fayed up better than ever, and attacked hotly, Shiletto having a shot, which Denman saved. Faulty play just after gave Dixon (N.P.) an easy opening, hut lie missed ijacllv. New Plymouth’s, passing was good, and their loot passing rushes were hard to counter. Brown put them once ‘mope in an attacking position, li.ut the defence was too sound. Half-time saw the scores unaltered.

Manaia opened the second spoil with a vigorous attack, but once more New Plymouth repelled it. and in a good position Bree had a shot that just missed. Fine play by Brown once more gave them an opening, but Bettridge again- saved in great style. The passing of the northerners appeared too good for Manaia, and hut for line defensive pay by Bettridge and Bud id scores won hi have resulted. Browii again initiated a passiucr rush, and sent the hall to his forwards, and Murray had a shot, which Budd stopped. Manaia replied. and going upheld, S. Pollard just failed to score a goal. Back went New Plymouth in a- great attack, and, manoeuvring very cleverly for position, Sliiletto had a shot which completely boat the goalie. Manaia 1; New Plymouth 1.

From this onwards both sides strove hard t« score again, and play went up and down field in fine style. Speeding on one occasion made a fine shot, but Budd wa K equal to the call for defence, and sent play hack to the centre. Again Manaia attacked, and B. Pollard nearly goaled. Keeping up the pressure, Muggeridge shot and narrowly escaped goaling. At length New Plymouth got going, and attacked hotly. Bettridge cleared, and Manaia went upheld once more, H. Pollard showing up in a fine dribbling rush, and passing to Marvin, and he to Muggericfge. A hot attack was just developing, when a free kick was given to, the defenders, and they went right through to the Manaia line where Dixon had a fine shot, that taxed all Budd’s efforts to save. Again New Plymouth attacked, but the defence was good, and Muggeridge securing sent the ball out to Denman, who took it upheld, and a score looked certain, hut he slipped just as he was in a good position. New Plymouth cleared and attacked hotly, Bettridge making a wonderful save. Manaia returned to the attack, Muggeridge and B. Pollard being associated in a fine rush, but Brown sent them hack, and New Plymouth developed a strong attack. Connor saved finely, and play wa p exciting as Muggeridge centred to Pollard, ami lie went upheld in good style. New Plymouth rcpe’led the attack, aim tried hard on two occasions to score from a corner. Time was called without iurther score, and two further ten-minute pells were arranged. Manaia, playing with great dash, went upheld at once, and Roystou had to save from a hob shot. He was equal to the occasion, hut almost immediately after the play once more went to New Plymouth quarters, where Denman centred'. and 13. Pollard securing, shot a pretty goal.

Manaia 2; Now Plymouth 1. Keeping no the attack, Manaia went onfield once more. In a good position Denman ust fai'eti to score. Shortly afterwards, the hall being centred, and H. Pollard. taking a pass, went on to score Manaia,’s third goal. Manaia 3; New Plymouth 1. On turning for the fourth and last spell, New Plymouth made desperate efforts to score, but they were tiring, and Manaia repelled every attempt. The spoil ended without further score. Manaia, 3 ; New Plymouth 1. Mr G. Redding wa s referee. The enn was presented at the conclusion of the match to the winning team bv Mr W. Adams, president oi the association. It is inscribed: ‘‘Presented to the Taranaki Football Association by the Chinese residents of HnweTa in commemoration of the visit of

the Chinese University students’, team to Taranaki.” It is one of two similar cups, the other being presented to, the Chinese Association for competition amongst teams in China.

BROWN SHIELD MATCH. (BY' TKLF.GRAm. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 9. An Association match for the Brown Shield resulted: Wellington G, Auckland 1. WANGANUI DEFEATS MANAWATU WANGANUI, Aug 9. . On. a slippery ground Wanganui defeated Manawatu by four goals to one. There was no score in the first spell,, but the home team demonstrated their superiority in the second half. A junior match resulted: Wanganui 6, Manawatu 0. WELLINGTON B v. WAIRABAPA. MASTERTON, Aug. 9. In a, “Soccer” match the Wellington B representative team defeated Waif a - rapa by 4 goals to 3 in an evenly contested match yesterday. The visitors were generally superior in tactics, though the horn© side lost many good opportunities by not following up their ope/Miigisi or %■ inaccurate passing. Rein fell during the afternoon and the condition were not good for spectacular football. ■V MUM—MIIiMMIMn