ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20431, 11 June 1928, Page 12

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

FIRST ROUND COMPLETED. LEADING TEAM’S SECOND DEFEAT. The seventh round of the season -was played on Saturday in fine weather, the most notable result being the win by Northern over the Technical team, which is now deposed from the leading position which it had held for several weeks. The following table shows the relative positions of the various teams engaged in the first division: Goals Cup

NORTHERN v. TECHNICAL. The Gardens Ground was on the soft side when Northern and Technical met for the first time this Season. Both teams were at full strength and the honours of the game went to Northern, who played better all round football. A feature of the play was the fine exhibition of goal-keeping by Holden, of the Technical team, whose efforts were responsible for the low score' of 2 goals to Technical kicked off facing uphill, and the home side soon had them on the defence. Two corners were resultless and Dryden repulsed another attack, sending Jones away on the left. Hector taking a pass back sent into, goal, where Sutherland headed out, and Witchell shot over. Armishaw made a bad miss, allowing M'Tavish to come through, and a pass to M'Dowall was returned to goal, where Holden cleared.. M'Cormack and M'Lean were combining well, a shot by the latter went outside, but Baird secured from the goal kick and sent in a “ trimmer/ which Holden smartly tipped over the bar for a resultless corner. Both Proctor and Lindsay were defending solidly, but their forwards’ attacks were disjointed, and the opposing defence kept play mostly in Technical’s area. A clearance by Scouler enabled M'Cormack to slip the ball to M'Lean’, whose promising centre was well stopped by Holden, who shortly afterwards brought off another great save with M'Tavish in close attendance. Northern was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, and a fine Shot by Scouler was smartly hold by Holden. Technical came through on the right, and Middlemass, beating both Baird and Scouler finished with a poor shot. The opposing halves were unable to keep the Northern vanguard in check and a good pass from Baird found M’Dowall with an open goal, but Dryden recovered and blocked the shot. Northern continued to make the play. A high shot from Perry found Holden sure, and two further shots were also effectively dealt with. A free kick against M'Tavish brought belief, and Jones, carrying play down the left, shot over, and Armishaw with a good pass, sent Witchell and Middlemass away on the right. With the defence beaten, Middlemass sent in a flying shot which landed outside. Jones and Warnock were prominent, but Scouler repulsed the attack, and the Black and Whites had Technical again on defence. A shot by M'Cormack was well stopped by Holden, who also cleared a shot from a free kick and a corner. Technical livened up. Middlemass, with a good cross, gave Warnock a chance, but the latter headed over. M'Dowall and M'Hugh both missed with shots, and Holden punched dear another attack, Witchell and Middlemass carrying play to the other end, where a nice header by Witohell was well stopped by M'Quarrie. Lindsay and Holden were prominent in frustrating further advances by Northern, and from one of these Patton came down the centre, his parting shot being cleared by M'Quarrie. Just before half time a misplaced pass by Dryden went to M'Hugh, who slipped the ball to M'Dowall. M'Cormack received in the centre, and his shot was partially stopped by Holden, and the ball going to M'Tavish, the latter tapped through the open goal. Northern 1, Technical nil. At the commencement of the second half, Technical rushed play to Northern’s goal, where a high kick was headed over by Jones. A further attack was repulsed by Scouler, and M'Hugh and M'Dowall were prominent, but Armishaw stopped the advance. Northern again held the upper hand, M'Lean got clean away from a pass by M'Cormack, only to have his shot punched out by Holden, who also saved another groat shot by the same player, and a header by M'Tavish. The Technical backs were putting up a stout defence and the position of play changed rapidly. Perry headed clear a dangerous attack by Jones, and from Scouler’s clearance M'Tavish made a break, Holden by coming out saved an almost certain goal. A corner to Northern was repulsed, and Technical forwards carried play to the other end. where M'Quarrie saved a shot by Patton. Northern was still showing better football than Technical, whose kicking was poorly directed. Dryden, at left-half, was the exception, but Thompson, the opposing centre-half, was repeatedly breaking up the forwards’ advances. From a goal kick, M'Dowall sent well across field, allowing M'Lean, who had come in, to beat Holden in front of the goal. Northern 2, Technical nil. Holden again saved from M'Lean, and Witchell transferred play, forcing a corner, from which Armishaw made a good attempt to score. Another corner to Technical proved abortive, but Jones received and slipped to Hector, whose shot went over. Perry stopped another attack, sending M'Hugh and M'Tavish away, when Holden again proved safe. Patton came through the centre on his own, but before he could got into position for a shot, Scouler retrieved the position, a resullless corner eventuating. A free kick to Technical was placed into goal by Dryden, where Thompson kicked clear, and Baird sent M'Lean and M'Coimack away, a fine shot by the latter being stopped by Holden, and also the corner kick which resulted. In the final stages Hector tested M'Quarrie without Success, and a free kick to Northern sent play to the other end, where M'Cormack shot high over. Mr J. Moorwood was the referee. Result:— Northern 2 goals Technical Nil MAORI HILL v. MORNINGTON. Maori Hill met Mornington at Prospect Park, where there was a large number of spectators. A fast, hard game resulted, the home .team winning by the narrow margin of 1 goal to nil. The Hill team was without the services of Proctor, Turner filling his place. Mornington won the toss, and Maori Hill kicked off against a strong head wind, and attacked right from the start. Rankins was penalised for steps, but after a scramble in front of the goal Braithwaite cleared to L. Johnston, who sent his forwards away in fine style, but great defensive work by Dougall kept the Blue and Blacks back. Callaghan saved a shot from Fraser. Balk fastened on to the clearance and made for goal, but his parting shot hit the top corner of the goal post and bounded over. From the kick off Mornington set up a determined attack, but the forwards were passing too much in front of goal instead of snooting. However, they forced a resultless corner Dougall clearing strongly, and the ball going out to Oliver who passed neatly to Carse, who sent in a fine shot, and Fraser fouled in the penalty box. Brown took the kick, and sent the ball straight to Rankine, who saved well. Up and down play followed and L. Johnston received and passed to Connolly, who beat Bayne and raced for goal, Callaghan rushing out to clear in fine style. Again Mornington set up a solid attack, but Dougall and Bayne were sound in defence, Dougall showing up well. A shot from Munro had Callaghan in difficulties, and in trying to evade a Mornington forward he lost the ball. Donaldson shot for the open goal. Brown saved smartly. Mornington was having the better of the exchanges and forced another corner, but Brown cleared well. Half time was called with no score on either side. The second spell was productive of good football, the Hill team settling down to neat passing, which time and again deceived the Mornington defence. Kankino, in goal, however, was playing a great game, and he saved his side reEeatcdly. Brown intercepted a pass from Johnston and sent the ball across to Balk, this player sending in a hot shot which was only partially saved by Rankine, and Oliver, following up fast, opened the score for the Hill team. This reverse made Mornington play more determinedly, and L. Johnston and co. set up a scries of attacks, only to be repulsed with even more determination by Dougall, who was

playing a solid game, sending the ball well up to the forwards. Carse and Oliver were seen in a nice movement, Carse sending in a good shot from the wing, but Rankine saved with two or three till 1 men on top of him, a corner resulting. Braithwaite cleared and sent Kay away, but Brown cleared when things looked bad for the Hill. With a quarter of an hour to go, Mornington forced the game, but the defence was always equal to the attacks. Thompson and Balk showed up well in a passing bout. Balk sending in a hot shot which Rankine had difficulty in clearing. Shortly after Brown sent in a shot that drew Rankine out of his goal, the ball going out to Balk, who kicked hard, but Kay saved when a goal seemed certain. Mornington took another turn at, attack, but the forwards appeared to get in each other’s way, spoiling a number of likely chances. Donaldson was sending in some fine centres, but Donnelly was always too slow in seizing upon the opening. Mornington tried hard to even the scores, Munro and Fraser in particular showing up in the latter stages. Time was called with the scored unaltered, and a good clean game controlled by Mr W. Smith ended: — Maori Hill 1 goal. Mornington Nil, SEACLIFF v. MO SGI EL. Mosgiel met Seacliff on the latter’s ground, and suffered defeat, the scores being;—Seacliff, 5 goals; Mosgiel 2. OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL v. Y.M.C.A. High School and Y.M.C.A. met on the Oval, and the play, which was devoid of interest, ended in favour of the former. Dun Can and Buchan scored for the winners and Welsh for the losers. The result was; —-Otago High School, 3 goals; Y.M.C.A. 1. SECOND GRADE. Northern 4, Maori Hill 1. Technical Old Boys 3, High School 2. THIRD GRADE. Northern 4, Port B 2. Port A 6. H.S. Old Boys nil. H.S. Old Boys A 9, Northern B 9. Te Taumata A 5, Technical 0.8. 1. FOURTH GRADE. High School I 8, High School II 2. Te Taumata A 3, Technical 0.8. 1. Northern 3, Te Taumata B nil. FIFTH GRADE. Northern A 5. Y.M.C.A. B 2. High School V 10, High School VII Normal 3, High School 111 nil. Technical College B 3, High School VI Mornington 3. Technical College A 1. Port 3, High School 111 nil. Y.M.C.A. A 14, Northern B 10. IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND MATCHES. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 9. Ponsonby 2, Onehunga nil. Tramways 3, North Shore nil. Y.M.C.A. 3, Northcote 2. Belmont 3, Thistle 1. The weather was dull, but fine. GAMES IN WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 10. Chatham Cup. * Y.M.C.A. 3, Diamonds 2. Petone 3, Thistle nil. Marists 3, Hutt 1. Hospital 6, Swifts 2. CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 9. Nomads 4, Villa 1. Thistle 8, Technical 2. Western 6, St. Albans 4.

P.W. L T>. F. A. Pts Seacliff .. .. 7 4 1 2 27 15 10 Northern 7 5 2 17 14 10 Technical 7 4 2 1 17 12 9 Otago H.S. .. 7 3 2 2 24 15 8 Maori Hill .. 7 3 2 2 19 14 8 Mornington .. 7 2 4 1 5 12 5 Mosgiel .. .. 7 2 5 — 13 25 4 Y.M.C.A. .. 7 I 6 12 27 2