THE GAME IN WELLINGTON

NZ Truth, Issue 873, 19 August 1922, Page 7

THE GAME IN WELLINGTON

. The cup semi-finals, played at Association Park last Saturday, were a little disappointing to those who expected to see football as it ; should be played. No dqub.t the wind caused the' plia^r.erslij great amount of trouble whpn, .they endeavoured to make headway by -means of tlie, long -passing game. " But m both games . "Tyne.cas.tle" .has not been,-; treated !to such exhibitions of high kicking for many yekrs, and- trusts he ■will not have the sanie experience for some time to come. iWhaft. is the use of the W.F.A. expending good money to have such a smooth playing surface if the players will insist on having a high -kicking competition? Still, one redeeming feature was the great pace set from the word "go," so that both games swung from end to end and gave the' club supporters something to vent their enthusiasm on. "Tynecastlel' was greatly amused at "the amount of advice showered on the players from the. bank. Apparently cup footb.aH is still as popular as ever, and will always be so. The winners of both matches were having a hard struggle until they opened their score account, but onoe having got there, it was a siniple matter to put '"paid" to their opponents' Reliance of' the cup for another year, by adding further goals, and so m 'both cases "Tynecastle's"i prediction re> the team to score first m the cup ties came pretty right. So now we find Thistle and Watersiders left to flight out what, without a doubt, will be one of . , ■ .THE HARDEST GUP FINALS" ever played m Wellington, with the "Wharfles" slightly favourites. Can . they pull.it off? It has been said the favourites usually* come ''the proverbial'Mn the Anal. .Will they? ; ;v The. Diamonds had the ' "Wharfles" guessing during the first spell. But for the great defence put up by Jackson and Batten they should have had a lead at half-time. But' their shooting was not on the mark, although Porteous, m goal, had to be oil his best behaviour when Hawkins, the black's cehtre-fprward, let go that terrific drive from well out. It deserved a better fa,te. However, it seemed to put new life into the Watersiders' play, as they soon transferred play to Tarrant's "fowl ; run," where Bell delivered the goods by scoring • A VERY CLEVER GOAL, although 'both he and the . goalie got hurt m the rush, Fr6m then to halftime play was very -.even, both sides -showing some very pretty football. Palmer, the star performer of the "Wharfles," was the player -who -put "paid... . to Diamonds's . chances, . and that m 45 seconds froih* the start of the second spell. Receiving the' : >ball at midfield, he."diddled" his way through, .gaveA'lßell' a splendid pass-; in fronts of an open goal, '' which was accepted with thanksifwithrthe-result th^t..-Dia-monds's hopes wenV right down " A to zero,- jthrough what- was probably -the finest goal that has been scored m Wellington this season. The game was fougfat out on even lines during the second spell, with the "Wharfies" showing the better football and running out winners by 3-0. For the winners Jackson, at back, was full .of confidence, and played a tip-top. game; Irvine, at half, caught the eye, arid played a sound game; lie is a good little 'un. The forwards. all showed good? form.S with ' >Palmer a shade in^frotit'df Bell. Probably Bell t has found his proper position now; he ought to be retained m the inside position, as he seemed to fit m with the new man; Paterson, who has football m him of a pretty high standard. For Diamonds Hearne improved his '•■ reputation. He saved his side from ;a heavier defeat. . Hawkins, at centreforward, was always m the picture, :and to many it will be a surprise if he does not show play. of a 'high class. He has all the" qualifications that go to make a centre-forward. Thistle and Hospital had a dingdong go until half-way through the second half, when the "porridge-eat-ers" took it into .their heads, to get goals. Campbell showed how simple the trick is when least expected. The first half was fairly even, with both sets of - half-backs keeping a firm grip on the opposing "forwards, with •the result that both goal-keepers were never really tested. '■ The: second, half was- a- repetition of the! first, until Campbell r opened the* • scoring after 20 minutes' play. This

was repeated by that player a few minutes later. Hospital then put up a big effort, and Hughes and Windley caused Ewing, m goal for Thistle, to prove that his reputation is of the first-class order, by giving him a few PILE-DRIVERS TO- STOP. But the Hospital soon had to put Sn a bit of overtime at the other end to keep Halley from adding to the Thistle tally. The final .whistle left Thistle winners by 2-0, which was a fair indication of the run of the play. Brownlee, Campbell, Halley and Smith were the most prominent of a, fairly even side, who appeared at no part to be m any . difficulty. Auld and Thomson were the mainstay of the Hospital team. The forwards were very ordinary, and did not produce their usual clever football. No doubt the ground had a lot to do with upsetting both teams. It is a bit over the fence asking any team to play "football" on that No. 2 ground; .It is just the thing for those that, confine their ability to kick-and-rush. stunts, but for a team to attempt scientific football-^weli, the laws *of nature won't allow it. . •;.• .