BROWN SHIELD RETAINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18814, 15 September 1924, Page 9

BROWN SHIELD RETAINED.

FINAL CTAXLENGE MATCH.

GOOD WIN FOR AUCKLAND.

CANTERBURY'S GREAT FIGHT.

SCORE, THREE GOALS TO TWO

Auckland's Association football representatives are still the proud holders of the Brown. Shield. On Saturday Canterbury, the last challengers of the season, were defeated by 3 goals to 2 at the Domain, after a game that will live long in the memory of "Soccer" enthusiasts. Fine weather brought ideal oonditions for football, but a disappointing attendance of spectators. There were uot more than. 3000 present, and it was rather a pity, as the game proved to be one of the moat exciting and cleverly-contested expositions of the code seen in Auckland for years. The home team pretty well dominated play in the opening stagos, and with thoir back division finding it hard to settle down, Canterbury looked an easy proposition. -A remarkable display of clever goalkeeping by James McDougall tided the visitors over a critical period, and although the nippy local forwards were right on the target, only one goal was registered for Auckland in half an hour of play. During the last 10 minutes before the interval Canterbury began to show true form with a vengeance. Persistent efforts were rewarded by a particularly well-deserved goal to Ives, making the scores equal at half-time. Fast Play in Second Spell. All through the second spell play continued at a bright pace, and incident followed incident with the spectators on tho tip-toe of e.xcitemont. Auckland took the load, and Canterbury drew level again amid rousing applause. With every inch of the way stubbornly contested to tho end, the home team just managed, to emerge victors by the odd goal in five. Facing the bright sun Corvine set the ball rolling for Canterbury. An initial attack was well broken up by Meagher, at Jeft half for Auckland. He passed to Baxter, who sent Henshaw away on the left wing. A good centre gave Palmer a shot, which James McDougall cleared in fine style. Auckland continued to press. In the Canterbury backs Chappie and John McDougall were finding it hard to get going, and the opposing forwards got in some crisp shots that tho visiting goalkeeper saved in brilliant fashion. A smart wing run by Howarth, on Canterbury's left, eased the pressure for a time, but Auckland were soon back. At mid-field Dacre placed nicely to Tocher. The outside right swerved in past John McDougall and Chappie before tapping across to centre. Palmer shot quickly, and James McDougall cleared. Dacre trapped the return and slammed it into the back of the net from close range to put Auckland one. up. Setback for the Visitors. A bright onslaught by Canterbury from the kick-off looked promising, but Thompson tried a long shot with no direction. "Hands" against Baxter gave the visitors a free kick which helped them on, but Bell, in the Auckland half line, worked clear of the opposition and sent his own forwards to the other end. Dane's .shot was a good one, but McDougall was again the saving factor. Disaster came to the visitors within the next few.minutes. During an attack on Auckland's goal .Nome, their outside right, collided with Colville, tho centre forward. A rather severe scalp wound sustained by the latter forced him to retire for about 15 minutes for firstaid. With their attack disorganised. Canterbury seemed to lose ground. Auckland had considerably the better of matters for a time, and Humphreys looked like adding a certain goal, but the goalkeeper, McDougall, got in tho way once more. Colville's plucky return to the field about 10 minutes before half-time was tho signal for renewed efforts by the visitors. He was quickly associated with Chapman in a passing bout that ended in the. ball going just, outside. After another Canterbury attack, in which Kano beat Colville for the ball just in tho nick of time, Lusk came through to immediatejv return tho ball to the visiting forwards. Colville drew the defence ir; great style and slipped tho ball across to Ives on tho run. The inside'left scored with a clinking grounder. At the interval the scores were:— Auckland . . .. . . 1 Canterbury . . --• . . 1 Fast and even play became the order in. the final spell immediately the ball was set in motion. Well supported by W'hittington, Norrie began to show up on Canterbury's right wing, and Kane and Meager had their work cut out for a time staving off clever attacks. Canterbury's Greatest Effort. Then Baxter, Auckland's centre-half, made a nice opening for Tocher. The outside right carried the ball smaitly down the wing a. centred,, Henshaw came across to shoot well, but James McDougall again proved the stumbling block. A few minutes later the Canterbury goalkeeper was bustled for the only time of the match. He left his charge to save a shot from Humphreys and lost possession of the ball. Tho energetic Dacre was handy to shoot successfully and give Auckland the lead by two goals to one., The ensuing play was perhaps the best, of the match, for Canterbury then made •their greatest efforts. Sweeping attacks carried the ball from end to end at a great rate, and both goalkeepers brought off spectacular saves in quick succession. For Auckland, Kane, at left-back, did some clever defensive work .that got his side out of tight corners on numerous occasions. Corner kicks, which brought exciting moments of play at each goal mouth, wore frequent, but neither vanguard could penetrate the defence. In a sharp offensive by Canterbury Whittington got a chance and tried a long one. Batty stopped the ball, but before he could get rid of it Colville,. was on top of him, to sco/e at close range, amid tumultuous applause. The tally was now two allKeen Struggle to the End. From tfne kick off there followed a bout of hot play at midfleld. until Bell, of Auckland, in support of his clubmate, Tocher, forced the scene of operations to the visitors' end. The ball went to centre, and Palmer, Dacro and Humphreys seemed to rush tho goal all together. Palmer drew the dofenco, allowing Dacre to receive a short pass and nip in to score hia third goal of the day for Auckland. The concluding stages were strenuously contested. The pace did not slacken off one bit. Auckland were by no means in a position to rest on their laurels, and Canterbury were hammering away at every chance that offered. Batty punched clear twice when an equalising goal looked certain, and then, a moment later, from a dangerous move by Humphreys, Lusk cleared for Canterbury only just in time. Norrie, tho visitors' speedy right wing, then camo away with a rush that ho finished off with a great centre. Ivea took the ball on the full for a first-time shot that wont just outside. Time wals called without any further score, and both teams finished fresh and keen when the final whistle blow, with, play in Canterbury's half. Auckland had emerged victors from a grand game, in which the coveted Brown Shield often looked like changing its place of residence. Auckland .. . . . . 3 Canterbury . . . . . . 2 Mr. J. M. Downie, of Auckland, was referee.