DIAMONDS SUCCESSFUL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 11

DIAMONDS SUCCESSFUL

INSTITUTE FAIL TO SCORE INTERESTING GAME AT KELBURN. Playing with ten men for more than th roe-quarters of tho game. Diamonds held their own against Institute, and their win was most popular. This success strengthens their fjosilion on tho championship table, and so far as match points count clears the blacks from relegation to the B grade. The teams lined out as under: Diamonds. —A. Aspen; G. Hearne and Blow; Findlay. Hearne and Chown; B. McLeod, W. Ballard, Stocks, Bolt, and Goddis. Institute.—A. Tarrant; Gill and G. Bell: N. Bing. Jeffrey and Exton; J. ♦Smith, Haddocks, E. Dawo, May, and Jackson. The opening attacks saw Institute the aggressors. The blacks conceded a corner. which boro no fruit, Jimmy Smith's kick, which was a beauty. crossing the goal mouth without a soul to seize the opportunity of driving it, home. It was a good chance lost. At this stage—only a few: miflutes aftpr tfi© cammftnrAmont

—W. Bullard ricked his ankle and retired, leaving Diamonds to carry on with ten men. Play followed up and down the field for a period, when Geddis Hont across a splendid centre to McLeod, the last named forcing Tarrant to concede a corner kick, which proved scoreless. The flag kick saw Institute once more in the ascendancy, Smith, on the left, being responsible for some good play. The winger placed nicely to May, but be spoilt a good scoring chance by sending over tho cross-bar. Alec. Aspen brought off a splendid save from Jeffrey, whose shot was well timed and powerful. Gil. Hearne was a tower of strength to the blacks' defence, and May, who tried his utmost to get through, found this particular back a big stumbling block. Per McLeod Diamonds removed the venue of play to the other end, Geddis’s shot being splendidly saved by Tarrant. Not to be denied, tho blacks kept up the pressure until Stocks was given a grand opportunity, which he took full advantage of, bearing Tarrant badly. Diamonds 1, Institute 0. Institute rallied at this reverse and bombarded Aspen with shots from all angles, but the junior goalie was equal to them all, the half-time score reading 1— in favour of Diamonds. EXCITING SECOND SPELL The resumption saw May make a fine breakaway, and with a stinging shot bring Aspen to his knees to clear at the expense of a fruitless corner. It was a magnificent save. Tarrant was not idle in this spell, having his . work well cut out. A smart return from Geddis saw Bolt through, but he ran right up to Tarrant, allowing the goalie to dive at his feet and clear the ball at the expense of a corner, which proved of no avail. Diamonds kept tne : defence. concentrating on four forwards, and despite this disadvantage the team was having a good deal of the ball. GilHearne, Findlay and Hearne proved a tough trio for the Institute front line to deal with. Ron. McLeod received the leather from his owq half, aiid with & characteristic run beat the Institute defence and finished with a powerful shot that had Tarrant beaten all the way, 20. Diamonds kept up the attack, Stocks sending in a beauty that Tarraut luckily tipped over the top. Just before the call of time Tarrant brought oft another fine save from Stocks, the final score reading: Diamonds 2, Institute 0.