SOCCER GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24106, 27 October 1941, Page 3

SOCCER GAME

ENDING OF SEASON CHAMPION TEAMS MEET METRO DEFEATS COMRADES Maintaining the balance of attack throughout, Metro-College won the champion of champions match against Comrades for the Scott Ramsay Hose Bowl in the closing contest of the Auckland Football Association's season at Blnndford Park on Saturday under ideal conditions. The match lacked the sparkle of the previous week, when Metro defeated Comrades in the final of the Falcon Cup. Although Comrades attacked from the kickoff. the Metro defence, with Brown and Hill outstanding, repulsed it and smart combination between Boddy, McLnckie, Baldwin and Young saw Speed spread the play among his forwards with judicious passing and clever footwork. On the wings, Hanam and Cox kept their positions well and eluded the Comrades half-line to carry play into the goal area, where Hope-Rde was too well watched to be as dangerous as usual. However, in direct contrast to the Comrades vanguard, the Metro forward line realised the position and combined with better understanding to maintain attacks from either wing. McCamish, in Comrades' goal, had a bard time, but gave, a sound exhibition, while McKenna repeatedly saved likely goals. Haaiblin, a junior, who replaced Riggans, showed out with stout defence and sound tackling. The middle line of Kennedy, Fincham and Matthews was inclined to fall back on defence too much and did not have the thrust of the opposition. While Laird and Walters, on the wings, were always forceful, Francis and Evans, in the inside positions, failed to realise that Masters, at centre, was too well covered to be effective, and alter their play accordingly. As a result Cordon, in the Metro goal, was seldom troubled and many promising Comrades' attacks broke down when the ball was centred. Cox scored both Metro-College's goals. Mr. V. Olney was referee.