CANTERBURY OVERWHELMED

NZ Truth, Issue 1080, 12 August 1926, Page 15

CANTERBURY OVERWHELMED

Auckland's Sensational Victory (From "Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.V /CANTERBURY made their advent m the Football Association competition on Saturday last, when they made the long journey to Auckland and 'played the local reps. ■■ on Blandford Park. The game was of a fast and open nature throughout.

AUCKLAND SOCCER

THE heavy defeat of the red and blacks represented m Auckland's 9 — 2 victory, is a of team work- over kick and rash tactics. As on the Basin Reserve m July, the Auckland side proved, past masters m, the art ;of combination. There was never any doubt as to the ultimate victors on the day's play.The only difference m the display of, the winners last Saturday and that at Wellington was that the team did not change its tactics from offence to defence m the second spell. In the first'halL though' Canterbury kept within reach of their opponents, there was no denying \the superiority of the home side m tbeir general play. The team workj.of the winning fide was crisp', consistent and of a high I order. . „ / There were times when the halfbacks passed the ball amongst themselves when the forwards were marked and the inevitable result of drawing .the visiting defence from their positions was. thus achieved. Then the forwards were let away with a clear field. The . forwards adopted passing tactics which were the outcome of previous understanding and this was a marked weakness m the play of the visitors. [ One of the brightest incidents of a fast game was a sparkling solo

effort by Kay, the Auckland out-side-left. . Getting the ball about midfield he set out on his own and ran thro"ugh the opposing defence to score a brilliant goal. It could not be said, however, that there was an outstanding player on the Auckland side. "The whole team played as one man. There was not the shadow of selfishness. . Canterbury has a very hard working side and no doubt by Saturday next when they come to . meet Wellington they will be a different proposition. McDougall is one of the finest goalkeepers m the. country and though he had- a big tally against him on Saturday he had little chance with most of the shots which got past him. The Canterbury backs, Ritchie and Chappell, did not .do. too well on the sloppy ground, but given j ordinary footing/will be a difficult pair to negotiate. The attack could hardly be judged on Saturday's conditions. They,, .lacked cohesion and were up against a sterling and clever defence,' being outmanoeuvred at every turn. With two wins m two games, only Otago to meet and "that at Auckland and with a goal average of 13 the prospects of th,e northern association being the first to have possession of the coveted trophy, given by the English Football Association seem very bright. '■' " ,'• • ' |