ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19845, 19 July 1926, Page 11

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

ENGLISH CUP MATCH. WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. NARROW VICTORY FOR HOME TEAM. Tho interprovincial Association football match between Wellington and Utago proved a big attraction at the Oalodonian Ground on Saturday. The match was tho first to bo played hero for the new cup presented by the English Football Association. Auckland and Wellington have met previously this season in a match for this trophy, and Wellington was defeated by 4to nil. Though many attempts have been made in past years to arrange matches between Wellington and Otago it so happens that it 'is now 18 years inoe these two provinces Last met. The importance of tho occasion and the general improvement in the standard of play during recent years led spectators to expect a sparkling and high class exhibition of the game. Each team included several New Zealand representatives. '1 he bright mild weather was everything that could be desired and the ground was in good condition if a trifle heavy. There were some 3000 spectators present, and if he play was not always brilliant it was at least consistently fast, open, and interesting. On the whole most will probably agree that Otago was somewhat fortunate in securing a victory. The Wellington halves made a very strong and clever combination, and held the home forwards fairly easy. Burke was considered bv some experts to be the best he on tho ground. The Wellington full-backs were also very sound, and Ewing, in goal, came through a long afternoon with credit. Caskie, the Otago goal-keeper, put up a splendid performance, though it must be admitted that on at least two occasions he was a trifle lucky in getting out of danger as ho did. Proctor was the most outstanding of the home forwards, and proved himself a very dangerous mon when within striking distance of tho goal. Wallace and M'Cormack showed considerably improved form after they had changed places in the second spell, and Latimer and Duncan were also responsible for some nice combined work, particularly in the early part of 4 the game. _ Anderson and Cooper were invaluable in defence The visitors had the upper hand more than half the time, and it is probably to the poor sh>sating of their forwards more than anythin,, else that they owe the loss of th© match. Particularly in the second spell shot after shot went wide. The issue of the game was really in doubt to the last minute. THE TEAMS. Tho teams look tho field as follows: WELLINGTON (Yellow and Black). Goal J. Ewing. Full-hacks, L. M'Girr, R. E. Fitzgerald. Half-backs —J. Burke. L. Reylings, C. Trott. Forwards —W. Cudby, J. Logan, J. Lothian (captain), M. M‘Elligott, R, M'Leod. OTAGO (Royal Blue). Goal, J. J. Caskie. Full-backs, G. Anderson (captain), R M'Auley. Half-backs—J. Dryden, W. R. Cooper, J. A. Scoullor. Forwards —C. A. Lattimer, S. Duncan, W. C. Proctor, M. Wallace, B, M'Cormack. THE PLAT. Wellington kicked off, and immediately attacked, G. Anderson clearing. Play swung swiftly to the other end of the field, where Duncan put in a shot which Ewing cleared. A moment later he bad to clear another from M'Cormack. Wellington forwards came through on the left M'Leod over-ran a pass, and allowed Otago to clear A spell of even play followed, till Ander son sent his forwards away with a power ful kick. Only a goal kick resulted Combiped play by the Otago forwards Proctor, Wallace, and M'Cormack —took place in front of the goal, and M'Cormack skimmed the bar with a shot across the mouth. Otago returned to tho attack, and Ewing saved a hot shot from Duncan. The home team kept up the pressure, but suddenly Wellington broke away on the left. Anderson failed to intercept, and M'Leod receiving from Cudby. was left with a clear shot at close range, which Caskie had no chance of intercepting. Wellington 1 goal Otago Nil Wellington returned to the goal area, and Lothian had a couple of shots, the ball eventually going over for a corner. The corner sliot was vigorously repulsed by the Otago defence. Combined play i n midfield followed till Latimer sent to Duncan, who passed on to Proctor. Proctor tricked his man, and obtaining a clear chance, sent in a beautiful shot that skimmed just beneath the bar. Wellington ... 1 goal Otago 1 goal Beautiful play by Wallace, Duncan, and Proctor enabled the latter to get in another pretty shot from an awkward angle. Wellington 1 goal Otago 2 goals Duncan and Proctor were combining nicely in attacking work. The Wellington left wing again broke away and sent in a cross snot that looked dangerous for Otago, but Cooper saved at the expense of a corner. The kick was cleared by M'Auley. A spell of midfield play followed, from which Wellington emerged with tho advantage, but the left wing went over. They came again) and after good play by the visitors’ inside men. Cudby shpt right across the mouth of the goal. Again he sent in a shot which Caskie fumbled, and was somewhat lucky in saving. A free kick was given against Cooper in front of the Otago goal, but the shot went wide. M'Girr made a good opening for the right wing (M'Leod), who transferred in to M'Elligott. who scored with a high shot that found Caskie too far out. Wellington 2 goals Otago 2 goals Tho game continued fast and exciting and four goals had now been scored in 25 minutes. Wellington, showing improved form, dominated the play, and Caskie had to clear on several occasions. Cooper and Anderson were doing most valuable defence work, and broke up tho visitors’ rushes time and again. Lothian put in a long distance shot along the grass, but it went just outside. A shot by M'Leod was somewhat luckily saved by Caskie, who later deflected another shot over the bar. The visiting half-backs were the dominating feature of the play, and the Otago forwards seemed to have lost their initial combination. Ewing stopped a shot from Proctor, and M'Cormack put in another that lacked direction. There were a few more exciting moments in front of Otago’s goal, and M'Auley was prominent i clearing to half-way. Duncan sent on to Latimer, who crossed, but Ewing cleaned. The ball travelled swiftly from end end of Hie field. Combined play between Duncan and Latimer allowed Latimer to centre neatly to tho goal mouth, where Ewing and M'Cormack collided heavily, with tho result that Ewing was temporarily laid out. One of the visiting backs cleared to the side line. Otago again attacked from the right, and Duncan shot across from the goal .mouth. "cod | lay by Wellington halves and forwards followed, and Cooper handled outside the penalty area. The free kick proved of no advantage, and Otago broke awav till Proctor was pulled up for off-side play when in a good position. He returned to the attack, but the shot went outside Reylings once more opened up play for his forwards. Lothian placing out nicely to M'Leod. who shot high from far put. The visitors gave Otago a strenuous time defending, and M'Auley and Cooper were prominent in keeping them out. Play quietened down somewhat, and M'Cormack had a shot from wide out. The last incident of the spell was a free kick to Otago, which Dryden placed nicely in front of the goal, but the advantage could not bo pressed home. During the latter half of tho spell Wellington had been doing tho greater part of the attacking. On resuming after tho interval Wallace and M'Cormack changed places on the left wing. Otago wem the first to attack. Duncan started a movement in which the ball went on to Proctor a-d M'Cormack. anil finally to Wallace, who dropped in a beautiful sharp angle shot from the outline. The snn behind the ball made tho position difficult for Ewing. Wellington ... 2 goals. Otago 3 goals. Proctor shot, from well out, but Ewing saved, and the ball went over the line. Wellington endeavoured to break away on the left, hut Anderson blocked the way. Play swung across to tho right, and a shot, bv -M'Leod went over. M'Leod centred from the corner of tho Geld, and Lothian, in tho goal mouth, evened tho score by cleverly heading it into the net. Wellington 3 goals. Otago ~ ». S goals.

Fitzgerald drove off an Otago attack with a powerful and well-placed kick, but the home team returned again to within striking distance If only for a few moments. Wellington again asserted themselves, particularly on the left wing, and a number of Ineffective shots were sent in. Poor defence by Otago backs gave them most of their opportunities. A shot from M’Elligott went high over the bar. The home defence seemed disorganised.' M’Cormack broke away, and took the ball right down the field, but Ewing came out and saved effectively. Time and again shots by Wellington forwards went over the line. Otago broke away to near the visitors’ goal, but M'Girr saved well. From a throw-out Cooper sent on to Wallace, who had a wild shot from well out. Eatimer had an opportunity from the right, but his shot lacked direction. A minute later he received from Cooper and shot over the bar. Otago seemed to have taken a fresh lease of life, and Proctor put in a ground shot, with which Ewing had no difficulty in dealing. Scouilcr bumped Eothinn, but a free kick was awarded Otago. Following the free kick. Dryden placed to Wallace, whose shot struck the upright and rebounded to Proctor. Proctor put Otago again in the load with a hard drive into the net. Wellington 3 B oa ' R Otago 4 Souls Good play on Otago's left wing made matters dangerous for Wellington, and Proctor shot, but it was deflected over the lino by a Wellington man. Anderson won applause by breaking up an attack and kicking well down the field,,but the ■visitors retained possession and again attacked. Caskie saved a shot sent in from the right wing, and play suddenly returned to the Wellington goal area. A. nice bit of play took place on the visitors’ right. The hall was swung across Otago's goal, but Cudby just failed to head it in. Proctor was heavily charged by M’Girr, but continued playing. Eatimer brought the ball down the wing and centred to Proctor, who struck the crossbar with a stinging drive, the ball going over. Wellingtontook a corner kick, which Cfisklo punched over, and another corner kick followed. Clever individual play fry M'Cormaclc put Otago in scoring position, but Ewing proved ocjual to the demands of the occasion. Another shot by Proctor went astray. Only two or three minutes of play now remained, and Wellington made the running till Eatimer came away down the line. Ewing fisted out n nice centre from him, and a shot from Wallace struck the side of the net. Eatimer shot Into Ewing s arms, and he cleared to the sideline, this being the last incident of the game, which ended: Wellington •• 3 goals Otago 1 eonls Mr W. P. Smith was referee.