ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21361, 15 June 1931, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

CHATHAM CUP MATCHES SEACUFF AND NORTHERN IN FINAL No Fletcher Cup matches were played on Saturday, the only Senior games being ' those of the second round of the local | Chatham Cup. Northern sprang ' a surprise by defeating Maori Hill, the ' win marking the first occasion that the I Hill team has suffered a defeat this ' season. At the Oval Seacliff wag hard put j to it to win from Port Chalmers, the i winning goal being scored in the last few minutes of the play. Both games were watched by a good attendance of spectators. NORTHERN v. MAORI HILL I A surprisingly meritorious win was I secured by Northern in its match against ; Maori Hill, leaders in the Fletcher Cup Competition. The Logan Park ground was in perfect order and the big crowd of spectators was treated to an exciting game. Halfway through the first spell Northern commenced to upset Maori Hill with snappy passing and combination, and from then on Northern were ahyays superior. Northern led at half-time by 2 goals to 1, and finished easy winners by ! 7 goals to 2. ; The teams were;— Northern. —Hall, Coats, Wallace. Baird, | Perry, Sutherland. Smith,/ MTlugh, i Thompson, Young, Faithful. Maori Hill.—Wills, Taylor, Bayne, Sut- I cliff, Brown, Thompson, Carse, Oliver, i Vial, Sixton Balk. | Maori Hill kicked off and immediately the ball went out to Balk, who tripped when in position. The winger shot across the goalmouth, but Oliver’s head missed it by inches. After the initial rush, the ! teams took a few minutes to settle down. Danger was spelled for Northern when Brown sent to Vial, who transferred j neatly to Carse, who shot wildly. Again, ; the ball came from Hill’s left wing, but i Wallace cleared. ‘ A long pass saw Balk j dangerous, but he was trickily beaten for the ball by Coats. However,_ Balk made amends with a snap shot with his, next pass, a heavy effort missing by two yards. Hill were definitely superior in attack to Northern, and, in saving, Coats conceded a corner. Balk’s kick was excellent in range and direction, and Coats again gave a 1 corner, from which Northern obtained brief respite. Vial, Sixton, arid Balk were associated in a pretty passing movement which beat the defenders, but Balk’s cross was too fast for Vial to j gather in. Thompson and Smith were | prominent in close play in Hill’s terri- | tory, yet the Maroons were quick in breaking away. Passing took Hill into Northern’s area, and. the ball was sent out to Carse, whose shot was poorly judged. Hall was bombarded with shots and he cleared twice by coming out to use his hands and head. Then Brown sent out to Balk, who, from 25 yards out, sent in a carpet drive. _ Hall went down on his knees to stop it, but the ball bounced up and dropped behind the goal-line. Maori Hill 1, Northern nil. Northern’s placing was not good, and Bayne had no difficulty in keeping the ball from his goalie. Once on the move, Maori Hill showed better cohesion, yet Carse was not successful in turning the ball to his inside men, and Coats made an easy clearance from a shot which went wide of the mark. From a throw in the ball went down Northern’s left wing, Faithful ending the movement by shooting wide. From the kick off. Balk secured in a handy position, only to lift the ball a foot over the crossbar. The Maori Hill defence was caught out of position and the ball was transferred right across to Smith, who put in a heavy shot for Taylor to clear, Maori Hill took play down to Northern’s end, where the forwards combined, finally passing back to Sutcliff, who shot wide. Northern were hard pressed following two corner kicks, yet when they broke away M'Hugh mulled a pass at a critical moment. For tripping. Hill were penalised, and a further infringement by Bayne placed the defenders in a dangerous position. Another breach, carrying the ball over the line by Bayne, gave Coats a penalty kick. He sent in a powerful drive. Wills bringing off a great save. Northern kept Hill on defence; the Maroons had lost a little of their dash, and when Faithful secured he sent in a high shot. Wills failed to reach' the ball, Northern evening the scores. Maori Hill 1, Northern 1. In, tight play, Thompson, Smith, Young, and M'Hugh were beating Maori Hill’s defence, and a neat bout of passing saw Thompson shoot'. Wills jumped to save, and in a hot sortie at the goal mouth Young headed in. Northern 2. Maori Hill 1. The spell ended half a minute later with play in midfield. Thompson and Young carried' play ini-, mediately on resuming down to Hill’s goal, where the latter attempted to goal, Wills clearing from a dangerous attack. A 1 doubtful corner was given again Wills from a long attempt, but it did not bring results, Balk’s centre finding the side of the net. Maori Hill pressed, Wallace, clearing from a corner. Then Brown sent in a dashing shot, which troubled Hall, who, sorely pressed, conceded a corner. Mftori Hill were unlucky that Vial was a fraction of a second late in arriving on the scene. Again Hill attacked, Carse attempting with a creditable shot, Hal! diving across the goal mouth to turn the ball out. Maori Hill were now settling down again, and from Brown the ball went to Carse in to Vial, who headed over the bar. Smith was penalised for tripping Thompson (left half), yet play, which was of a fairly even order, was kept in midfield. Brown and Carse were opening up play for Hill, but Northern's defence was solid. Faithful ran away on his own and shot. Bayne partially cleared and Smith rushed in to beat the goalie pointlessly. Northern 3, Maori Hill 1. Right from the kick off M'Hugh transferred to Young, who again beat Wills. Northern 4, Maori Hill 1. The second spell had been in progress only 20 minutes. Vial broke away on his own and ran through the Northern defence, Hall turning the ball out for a corner, from which thd Black and Whites obtained relief. From the next corner Thompson turned the ball in his his head through the press about the goal mouth. Northern 4, Maori. Hill 2. Excitement was now high, and a forceful Northern forward rush was stopped by clever work near the goal By Wills. Again Northern attacked, and M'Hugh made an opening for Young to charge up to finisji off the movement, the goalie being gi,ven no chance of stopping the ball. Northern 5, Maori Hill 2. It was now Hill’s turn at attack. A well-directed corner kick by Balk was headed for goal by Oliver, Hall jumping for a brilliant save. When Northern cleared M'Hugh dashed away on his own, beat Bayne, and had an easy shot for an open goal. Northern 6, Maori Hill 2. The Hill defence was in bother when Thompson secured from a pass from Faithful. Maori Hill were unable to make a breakaway. From inside the halfway line Perry completely outclassed his opponents in a tricky display, and dribbled the ball across to Smith, who took his time and found the corner of the net. Northern 7, Maori Hill 2. Northern were now on top all the way, ] and only desperate play by Wills, when Faithful crossed, stopped additional scoring for the Magpies. A brilliant, run by M'Hugh for 50 yards placed Northern, in a promising position once again, but Thompson was caught offside, and a free kick put Maori Hill on attack. Carse crossed nicely, but Coats and Hall combined for a temporary clearance. Balk was unsuccessful in placing a corner kick. In the last two minutes of the game Northern were definitely superior, Maori j Hill failing to make any serious response, i The game ended: 1 I Northern .. .... .. 7 goals. I Maori Hill 2 goals. Mr W, P. Smith was the referee. |

SEACLIFF v. PORT CHALMERS

A large number of spectators witnessed the play off between Seacliff and Port Chalmers at the Oval, the playing pitch being on the heavy side. Port lost the toss, and from the kick-off the left wing advanced. Cooper swinging the ball nicely to the goal, where Watson cleared from Holden. Fast up and down play followed,'the Seacliff vanguard made little headway against the nippy defence of the Port team. Good play by Montgomery and Cooper had Anderson beaten. Watson relieved the pressure with a strong kick and from a throw-in in Port’s area Baillie sent to Gordon, who shot over.

Cooper was again prominent with good play down the line. Watson headed out the centre to goal for an atacking forward to place past. M'Lean was opening up play for Seacliff, but the defence of M'Sloy and Evans was sound, and Camp easily cleared a weak header from Hooper. Thompson saved a good shot from Holden, and, keeping up the pressure, the Blue defence was in trouble, a corner kick bringing relief. Cooper sent across a well-placed kick, Thompson jumping to clear, and Gordon transferred play to Port’s goal, where Camp saved from Hooper, Port were having the best of the play. Seacliff being too slow in opening up, the latter players were often caught with the ball. M'Cormack and Baillie combined nicely, a score being averted by a Port defender giving away a corner and Camp clearing from the resultant kick Port relied on its speed and hard kicking, and, following a determined attack on the right, C. Ives beat Thompson with a long shot, ihe hall bouncing over the goalie into goal. Port 1, Seacliff nil. Port continued to attack, Anderson relieving from Holden, and a Seacliff attack saw Camp lucky in clearing a shot from M'Cormack. Seacliff’s forward line were showing improved combination work, and Simmonds, on the right, went through and sent across to Baillie, who shot weakly. Evans cleared a further attack, letting Latta away, the attack ending in a corner, which was put by. The defence of the Port rearguard and Ives’s close watch on Hooper completely held the Blues’ attack in check, Camp being seldom called upon to clear his goal. A Port rush saw Cooper drive in a fine shot from the line, Thompson partially saving for Holden to rush in and score. Port Chalmers 2, Seacliff nil. Half time was called with Seacliff on attack.

With the resumption of play, Seacliff showed much better football, M'Lean secured from a Port clearance, but ‘hit the crossbar. Hooper heading past from the rebound. Port came away with good combined play, Ives, the centre-half, beating Gordon, and sending up to Latta, who failed with his shot. Following a. goal kick, Seacliff presped, forcing a corner. The kick across was cleared, Rogers returning the ball high to goal, and Baillie scored from a melee in front, giving Camp no chance. Port 2, Seacliff 1. Seacliff attacked from the restart. Gamp saving well from M'Lean, and C. Ives made good play down the line on the right, poor finish by the inside men nullifying the chance of scoring. A free kick to Port saw 1 Anderson head the ball clear, but Cooper returned with a fine kick, when Thompson safely held a shot by Montgomery, Again the speedy play of the Port players had Sericliff defending, and Latta, with only the goalie to beat, shot high over. Gordon relieved the pressure with a strong kick. Camp being penalised for “steps.” From the, free kick M'Lean secured and drove the ball through a line of defenders and drew the scores level. Port rushed play from, the kick off to goal, Thompson partially saving a shot, and a further advance saw Watson save a certain ' goal with -a flying kick, the goalkeeper being on the ground. beaclilt were now playing better, the Port players dash having fallen away, and a forward move ended in Hooper scoring an offside goal. The Blues still held the upper hand, and only the stubborn«defence ot C. Ives, M'Sloy, and Evans kept them from scoring. Twice Port broke away, only to be repulsed by Anderson and Watson. Both sides were striving hard for the extra goal. Camp saved a nice shot from Baillie, and from a free kick Port's forwards rushed play to Seacliff’s goal, where good defence by Anderson relieved the danger. Play immediately went to the other end, Hooper heading a good goal following a corner-kick. Seacliff 3, Port 2. For the remaining, eeven or eight minutes of play Seacliff had the advantage, although Port were playing hard, but any ground it gained was lost by the poor finish of the forwards, .and apart from a shot by C. Ives, Thompson in goal was seldom troubled, and the game ended: Seacliff 3 goals. Port .Chalmers 2 goals. Mr A. Riach was referee.

v SECOND GRADE. Roslyn-Wakari 1, Tramways 1. Leith 4, Technical Old Boys nil. THIRD GRADE, Leith A 4, H. 5.0.8. nil.* FOURTH GRADE. High School II 6, Y.M.C.A. 1. , FIFTH GRADE. Mosgiel 1, Normal nil. ENGLISH TROPHY WELLINGTON DEFEATS AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 13. The weather was showery and the ground soft for Wellington’s eighth challenge agiiinst Auckland for the English Soccer trophy (Dominion championship). The opening was sensational, Spencer scoring for Auckland within a minute. Then Lines made a briliant run and centred for Spencer to add the second, goal. Wellington rallied, and after a corner Craig placed accurately, and Condon scored. Auckland 2, Wellington 1. Subsequent play was fast and even. The Wellington combination was better than in previous years. Campbell was prominent in spoiling work, and narrowly missed with a4O yards drive.- Following a clever effort by Innee, Dunsmore scored Auckland’s third goal after 26 minutes play. J. M'Leod zig-zagged through Auckland’s defence, but hie great effort was frustrated by Read. *■ / Half time: Auckland,3, Wellington 1. Wellington won, scoring five goals (four in the second spell) to Auckland’s four (only one in the second spell). ! Wellington 5 goals. Auckland 4 goals.

IN OTHER CENTRES WELLINGTON. Marist 9, Thistle 1. Waterside 1, Seatoun nil. Hospital 9, Wymi 1. CHRISTCHURCH. Rangers 7, Marist 1. Nomads 2, Technical 1. St. Albans 3, Kaiapoi 2. Western 1, Sumner nil. Thistle 3, Brighton 1. DISPUTED PENALTY PLAYER STRIKES REFEREE. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. Just before the close of the game between St. Albans and Kaiapoi, following an argument about a penalty awarded to St. Albans, a Kaiapoi player smacked the referee on the face. The offending player did not leave the field.