ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3593, 22 August 1927, Page 5

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

ST. ANDREW’S DEFEAT ATHLETIC IN FINAL. „ MATCH PLAYED ON SODDEN GROUND. St. Andrew’s and Athletic met on Saturday to decide which of them would contest the Chatham Cup honours with the leading: team in Wellington. Foi a time it appeared doubtful whether, the game would be played at all, as both grounds were in an almost unplayable condition, and the heavy rain experienced on Friday led several players to think it would be impossible to play, and consequently it was late before the match began. However, following some interesting work put in with a shovel and two bags of sawdust the two teams got down to it. Before the game had progressed very far St. Andrew’s had ! clearly demonstrated that they were the better team, a fact which became more and more clear as. the match continued.

St. Andrews kicked off. their forwards cleverly passing the opposition from the initial kick, and getting right up* to the Athletic goal, where Childs wafe called upon to save twice in succession. The blacks did not take long to recover, and both sides made the game willing, the blacks, per medium of Childs on the right wing, assuming the attack. The blues soon came back and penned Athletic up in their twenty-five, where Davis centred well for McNab to head a difficult shot to Chlldl which the latter saved. From a corner the blues could do nothing, and the Athletic forwards held sway for a while.

Recovering from this onslaught tho blue forwards headed by Bartlett and McNab took tho sphere to the Athletic goal, where Travers managed to take advantage of Bartlett’s inability to shoot owing to the prevalence of mud, and cleared the position momenarily. St. Andrew’s came back at it and following a further scrummage in front of the goal, Birch opened St,. Andrew’s account. St. Andrew’s, 1; Athletic, 0. The blacks tried hard to equalise matters, and their forwards led by Hearsey and Whitehouse caused tho blues a few anxious moments. Ransom, however, cleverly evaded his opponents and cleared the position, play settling down in mid-field for a period. Athletic again came down and Cutler (St. Andrew’s goalie) saved well,, but took risks in getting the ball away. From a free kick awarded the blues for “hands,” St. Andrews, following a tussle in their own territory, got away on the right wing where Davis centred, and Brookfield put in an easy shot, Childs ,having no chance. St.'Andrew’s, 2; Athletic, 0. , ' ■ From the kick-off, both sides took turns in attaching, the blues eventually assuming the upper hamj. Bartlett put in a beautiful lob to the Athletic goalie which the latter saved well. Soon after the blues were once more around the blacks’ goal, where a certain goal was spoilt by Bartlett getting off-side. St. Andrew’s kept up the pressure, and this tirde McNab put in a ground shot which Childs again saved. From this the blacks got away and Cutler, the blues’ custodian, was forced to throw behind. McNab' was again to the fore in a good movement beating Travers and sending in a good shot which Childs could not field. St. Andrews, 3; Athletic, 0. After the spell St. Andrew’s dominated play and for a spell had the blades thinking hard. Following even play, St. Andrew’s once more assumed the offensive, and Brookfield, Bartlett and Davis combined in putting on St. Andrew’s fourth goal. St, Andrews, 4; Athletic, 0. / Athletic, attacked strongly from the kick-off, and with a good piece of play in blue territory Whitehouse put in a beautiful shot, which Cutler could not field. Athletic, 1; St. Andrew’s, 4. Following this there was a period of even play which culminated in Davis, Ransom and Coombs combining well, the latter scoring an easy one from close in. St. Andrew’s, 5; Athletic, 1. Immediately after Coombs again put the sphere past Childs, adding St. Andrew’s sixth goal. St. Andrew’s, 6; Athletic, 1. <■. Athletic continued to battle against this almost hopeless handicap, Hearsey being prominent, but it was easy to see that St. Andrew's were unbeatable. Athletic’s second goal was put on by Whitehouse, who, in a solo effort, beat Cutler with a shot which the latter could not hold. i Athletic, 3 St. Andrew’s, 6. The latter stages of the game were evenly contested, both sides making it willing and providing an interesting match. No further score was added. Mr. H. Crouch refereed. R.S.A. AND POXTON DRAW. Playing at Foxton, R.S.A. drew with the home representatives, 3—all, PRIMARY REP. GAMES, Two teams from the Trentham Football Club came to Palmerston North on Saturday to engage in th© annual contest with tho Manawatu A and B primary school representatives. The matches were played on the High School grounds, and in both games tho sides were very evenly matched, though tho fast and snappy football usually displayed by boys was

considerably handicapped by the sodden state of the ground. The match between the B teams was won by Manawatu,, I—o, and that between the A teams by Trentham, I—o. OTAGO BEATS WELLINGTON AT SOCCER. DECIDEDLY BETTER TEAM. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Last Night. At Soccer Otago beat Wellington by 4 goals to 2. The scoring for the winners was' done by McCormack, McLean, Hooper and Simmonds, and for the losers by Marchment and Hooper. Otago played the better football, attacking prettily all through the game. They showed themselves a decidedly superior team.