ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

By Corner Kick. NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S TOUR June 24. —v, Australia (third test), at Sydney. June 28. —To be arranged. June 30. —Leave Sydney for Wellington. OTAGO FIXTURE June 24. —Canterbury v. Otago, at Dunedin (F.A. Trophy match). F.A. TROPHY The second challenge match for the F.A. Trophy will be against Canterbury on Saturday next. The fast, exciting football witnessed in the recent game against Wellington is fresh in the minds of Soccer enthusiasts, and a very largo attendance can confidently be expected at the Caledonian Ground when Otago line up to face Canterbury's challenge. Our visitors can always be depended upon to provide a good display of football, and the local eleven will do well if they are able to defeat the strong Canterbury side selected.

. The Canterbury team will contain a number of new men who have not been seen previously playing ggainst Otago. Mitchell, the goal-keeper, makes his first appearance here. He is described as young, keen, and probably the fastest man in the team. G. Sutherland, leftback, is one of the three brothers in the Canterbury team. His inclusion is not surprising, as his club form suggests that he has been long overlooked. 11. Henderson (Western Club) is .another newcomer. He is a good, steady half and a solid defender. H. Goddard (Hangers Club) is making his first visit to Dunedin. He will occupy the 'important io!e of centre-forward, and much of the success of the Canterbury team will depend on his ability' to knit the forward lino together. A. Trotter will appear at inside-left. Trotter is always a pretty player to watch, and can shoot with the best. When in form Trotter is a very dangerous man in front of goal, and is likely to be amongst the goal scorers. S. Cawtheray (right-back), A. Sutherland (centre-half), D. Sutherland (inside-right), A. Walker (lefthalf, (captain), D. G. Walker (outsideleft),, and J- Clements (outeide-right) are all well-known performers in Dunedin, having previously represented Canterbury on many occasions. The Canterbury team is the strongest possible selection that can be got together, and is certain to show up well in this important game. The Otago team differs in several respects from the side that defeated Wellington, but the changes are for the bettqy, and the team looks a much stronger all-round combination. Cppe displaces Taylor at full-back. J. Baillie (Seacliff! has been called upon to fill the left-half position in place of A. Sutherland. Ferry replaces Porter at centre-half. Witchall is shifted to inside-right, his proper position, to make way for Gorrie at outside-right. M'Cormaek will , partner Skinner on the left wing, and this should ensure that the outside left will be plentifully supplied with the balls Skinner was palpably starved against Wellington owing to the inability of M'Lean to get properly going. Cope on his form this season is somewhat of a surprise selection, but that he possesses the big match temperament was proved against Wellington in 1931, when he was one of the outstanding successes of the winning team. A. Perry has been playing well in club football, and his inclusion seems justified. J. Baillie is the man for the left-half position. A strong defensive player, he is equally good in attack. He can go through with the ball, and is likely to combine well with Hooper, M'Cormaek, and Skinner. Gorrie at outside-right is somewhat erratic, but has played some good games this season for Mosgiel. If he is properly supported he should do well. Witchall should do better at inside-right, * and altogether Otago appear to have an excellent winning chance if the team combine and play up to form. Messrs Patton, Rigby, and Keach appear to have got . together a good junior representative side, and the match with the Southland representatives, which will be played as a curtain-raiser to the main event, should prove of interest. It is some years since a junior rep. team has been seen in action in Dunedin, and the opportunity now afforded the second division players to represent their province will be greatly appreciated by them.

FLETCHER CUP COMPETITION Judged by the number of spectators present at the “ Cale ” on Saturday, the local Fletcher Cup Competition continues to hold the interest of spectators. In this competition there now remains only one team, Maori Hill, with an undefeated record, it having out of eight matches played to date lost only one point, when it drew with Northern. The latter team, to the surprise of most, went down to High School Old Boys on Saturday, and with Mosgiel’s defeat Maori Hill take top position, two points ahead of Mosgiel. and five points ahead of Northern and Technical. The improvement in the High School Old Boys’ team was very noticeable in its game with Roslyn-Wakari a couple of weeks back, and with the return of Chapman and Groves from Australia early in July it should trouble the leading teams when they meet in the second round. There still remains one more match to complete the first round, which, in view’ of the F.A. Trophy match with Canterbury on Saturday, will most likely be played the following week, unless the Match Committee decide to get off the first round of the Chatham Cup matches.

MAORI HILL v. MOSGIEL Spectators at the Maori Hill-Mosgiel game expected a much better exhibition from these teams than was on view. Neither side displayed anything like their true form, Mosgiel especially playing much below standard. Maori Hill were the better team, and fully deserved the honours by two goals to nil. They were the more enterprising, but the principal feature of the match was the skill and judgment shown by Brown at centre-half. He led the Hill team in brilliant style, was always a factor in defence, and the workmanlike manner in which he slipped the ball through to the forwmrds lifted the team’s play above the mediocre. The Hill’s half line conceded little scope to the opposing vanguard, as both Baird and Dougal supported Brown with solid play, the former especially making nice openings for Dalziel and Balk. Taylor and Bayne were a good pair of backs, whilst Wills in goal, apart from a few shots, was not seriously troubled. He made a fine save when Skinner sent in a beautiful low’ drive very similar to the one by which he scored in the trophy game against Wellington the previous week. The forward line was the weakest link in the side; Gordon, who filled the centre-forward position, was too slow in connecting up with his colleagues, and nullified good scoring opportunities. M'Cormack played well, and he and Oliver were seen in some neat passing movements. Oliver w'ould do better to cut in tow’ards goal more often, os he is not strong in crossing the ball to the centre. Dalziel played hard throughout/ bustling the Mosgiel defence, and beeping in touch with Balk on the .wing. The winger gave a sound display, his crossing and shooting being much ahead of the vest of the vanguard.

Mosgiel were an unsettled team right from the start, the understanding am! crisp passing movements which were a feature of its play since the start of the season was not in evidence, and with Davidson, the youthful centre forward, bottled up by Brown and the inside forwards failing to open up play to their wings, Skinner and Gorrie, who both have proved themselves good scorers this season, were given few opportunities to get going. M'Lean’s disposition, especially in the first half, to roam all over the paddock only had the effect of playing into the hands of the opposing half ami weakened the attack. The unsettled play of the forwards reacted on the back division, of which Trucsdale (half) and Steven (full-hack) were best. M’Cloy did not tackle nor clear with his usual precision, and had it not been for the safe work of M’Dougall in goal a very much larger deficit would have resulted. The two goals scored against him by Balk and M’Cormack gave him little chance to save.

TECHNICAL OLD BOYS v. ROSLYN WAKARI This game was evenly contested on the Oval, both teams having their share of the game, and the hill team were unfortunate to lose by the odd goal in five. Both sides showed a weakness in front of goal, and in this respect Roslyn were the worst offenders. The centre forward

missed three golden opportunities of putting his team in the lead. In gaining full points, Technical were lucky, as the whites had slightly the better part of the 90 minutes. On Hoslyn’s play it was pleasing to see an improvement on their last two performances. For the winners Holden played safe, but was a trifle lucky in some of his clearances. Cope was erratic in the first spell, and miskicked: on many occasions. It was well on in the second half before he showed any form. Addison was only fair, the only feature of his play was the goal he scored which gave his team the viictory. Patton was outstanding in the halves, being ably assisted by Hector. Wilkinson at left half failed to hold the hill right wing. Whitehall was the pick of the forwards, his play to the wing man being pleasing. With Batchelor taking up his passes, the pair were the most reliable forwards afield. Trebilcock did not impress as a centre, but deserves credit for the two goals he got. Jones and Armishaw were too well watched to be dangerous. For Roslyn, in goal, Greig (late of Thistle Club, Christchurch), after a shaky beginning, played a good game, showing great anticipation and confidence as the game progressed. Hamage was the best back on the ground, his kicking and clearances being good. This young player is proving his worth to the team. Copland was too slow, being easily beaten for the ball, and failing to make any attempt at recovery. His kicking was never sure, and lacked the confidence of his partner. M'Callion was the best of the halves. It is to this players credit that Witchall was held so well. Lennon did not show the standard of defence he is capable of, and was the weakest link in the line. Douglas started poorly, but improved as the game went on. Only three of the forwards were up to standard. Haldane and L. Agnew as a pair put in some nice football at times, and better results should have accrued from their work. Rutherford was at his best, his many crosses in front of goal being pleasing to witness. A clever centre would have taken goals from these crosses. The winger had no support from his inside men, both Condor and T. Agnew failing to keep in touch with the play. The latter player, however, scored a good goal. SEACLIFF v. MORNINGTON In a game which was full of incident Seacliff were a trifle lucky to collect the full points from Mornington, as on the run of the play the Hill team deserved a draw. , , , J For Seacliff Warnock was outstanding, his play being full of dash, both on attack and defence. Anderson again proved his worth between the sticks, stopping some hot shots. Baillie was not prominent in the first spell in the left half position, but did better when he took up the left wing position in the second half. Shearer was the better of the full-backs, effectively breaking up the attacking movements of the Mornington forwards. In the front line Hooper as usual i was always on the ball, whilst Simmonds displayed some of his old-time form. His goal from well out was a trimmer, winch had M'Quai'rie beaten all the way. Gilchrist was perhaps the best of the vanguard, and he showed cleverness in making fine openings for Hooper and Simmonds. For Mornington M'Quarrie in goal had plenty to do, his saving of the penalty shot by Warnock brilliant, and he was unlucky when Warnock eventually scored from the ensuing scramble. Marshall and M'Kay played a sound game at full-back. The latter player is showing a steady improvement with every game. Moon and Murphy were outstanding in the half line, both displaying good work in playing to the forwards. Of the forwards only Donnelly and Grant played up to senior standard. Each scored a well-deserved goal. Ruffell, on the wing found it difficult to control the greasy ball, whilst Paul at inside left was too slow, and failed to keep up with the play of his team mates.

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS v. NORTHERN

High School Old Boys and Northern can always be depended upon to provide a keen game when they meet, and Saturday’s match was no exception, Old Boys winning by three goals to one. Although Northern had perhaps more of the game, it could not break down the defence, •* and did not look like a winning team. Old Boys kept the ball on the move with swinging passes which suited the greasy conditions prevailing, whereas Northern held to close passing tactics, and were unable to finish off the movements. Sutherland and Pickerill, the Old Boys’ full-backs, played fine games, and were a big factor in the team's win. There was not a great deal between the play of the respective half lines, in which Buncan (Old Boys) and Perry (Noythern) did well. The winner’s forward line was better than the Black and Whites’, and displayed a marked improvement in their passing. For Northern, M’Hugh opened up the play well, whilst Henderson also put in some good work, but the extreme wingers were weak.

PORT CHALMERS v. KAITANGATA The two bottom teams on the ladder, Port Chalmers and Kaitangata, had a keen game for supremacy at Kaitangata, the former eventually winning by four goals to two, thus breaking the long succession of defeats which has been their lot this season. Port have severely felt the loss of the services of the brothers Ives and Stark this season, but the return of C. Ives from Australia next month should give the team more heart for the second round.