SOCCER FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 26 September 1927, Page 3

SOCCER FOOTBALL

A TRIP TO WAIROA FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON HASTINGS UNITED (4) v'. WAIROA (1). The Hastings United Club visited Wairoa on Saturday to fulfil an engagement, which was unavoidably cancelled in June last, with the newly-formed Wairoa Football Association and, under ideal conditions and before a fair attendance, a good game was played and a fine exhibition of the code given. Stenson kept goal owing to Wilson being on the injured list and McAleese, of Y.M.C.A., filled the inside right position. Hastings kicked off facing a strong wind and the sun and Wairoa immediately set up a hot pace and kept the visiting defenders busy. EVEN OPENING PLAY. Both teams settled down to their game from the whistle and play proved very even in the early stages. Payne, at left-back for Wairoa. showed up early in the game and played soundly throughout. Twentythree minutes from the commencement H. Clark, taking advantage of an opening, scored first for the visitors. From the resultant kick-off Wairoa immediately got down and tested the Hastings goalie but the ball was soon at the opposite end where D. Penman shot wide. Another attack by Hastings provided fine footwork and combination between halves and forwards but was nullified by Vic Clark being in an offside position. United attacked again, forcing a corner from which Farnell received and snored a second goal for the visitors. Three minutes later D. Penman headed a third for Hastings. At this point United were attacking strongly, H. Penman heading on to the bar. From the kick Wairoa invaded the visitors’ territory only to see a long range shot go wide. The game was of a very fast nature, the play fluctuating from goal to goal. WAIROA’S BAD LUCK. Wairoa had hard luck in not notching a point when the ball struck a goal-post, the Hastings goalie just getting the leather away. Half-time saw United attacking and leading with a 3—o margin. On resuming both teams opened quickly, D. Penman testing the Wairoa goalie who proved safe. Conroy, Farnell and Gillon were playing a great game at half-back and feeding their forwards continually. Lack of condition was telling on the<Wairoa players and the Hastings team eased up. From a breakaway Wairoa forced a corner which Archibald placed nicely. A second corner followed immediately and from the resultant scramble on the goalline Archibald scored for the Greens. Hastings had the game well in hand but Wairoa continually broke away only to find the visiting defence sound. The Wairoa gi-itie was getting plenty of work to do but cleared his line clearly and cleverly.

A fine display of footwork and combination between Conroy and Farnell enabled the latter to place nicelv for H. Penman to score the fourth goal for United. Just prior to the close Waiaoa had a great chance but the Hastings goalie just got to the ball and the final whistle found Hastings winners by four goals to one.

With regular games and practice the Wairoa members are capable of giving any team in the district a hard game Mr. Webber referred and controlled a clean evenly fought game in a capable manner.