ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22058, 14 September 1933, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

By CORNER-KICK. Although the completion o£ the First Division competition has been unusually prolonged this season, the interest of spectators has been maintained remarkably well, and the attendance at ■ the Caledonian Ground on Saturday was equal to the best during the height of the season. On September 23 the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions will probably complete all necessary matches, some of which require to be played to find the runnersup. The Fifth and Sixth Divisions have now been closed, and ini winning both these sections the Technical College teams have again brought honour to their club. THE NAVY MATCH The gala day on Saturday at the Caledonian Ground in aid of the Sports Fund, will make a further break in the continuity of the competitions yet to be completed. However, an interesting programme of events has . been arranged, of which the main item of .interest to Association enthusiasts will be the meeting of the Navy team from the H.M.A.S. Australia with an Otago eleven. In the latter team a new side has been chosen, a number of younger players who are deserving of recognition this season, being given an opportunity of winning their spurs. Bright, dashing football can always be relied upon when a Navy team takes the field, and from, the fact that the present ship ; s team was successful in defeating a team from the H.M.S, Diomede and also an Auckland eleven, Saturday’s match should be well up to standard. LAST WEEK’S GAMES The game between Maori Hill and Northern at the Caledonian Ground provided what was undoubtedly one of the best of this rather uneventful season. The play was fast and full of incident, and at the end of 90 minutes’ hard play the scores were level at three goals each. In a measure Northern may be considered rather unfortunate in not gaining full points, as it was leading by three goals to two, and looked to be secure until a few minutes from time, .when slackness in defence game M‘Cormack an opening which he seized to ’advantage, thus saving a point for his side. The result, however, was quite a fair indication of the run of the play. Both goalkeepers were frequently tested and were responsible for soine clever saving. , Jones was at fault with, Maori Hill’s first goal, a high dropping shot not- being effectively dealt with, enabled Oliver to score rather easily. Harold Balk, whose play throughout was of a high order and reminiscent of his best form, was responsible for Hill’s second goal. Receiving near the penalty area he worked into the centre and cleverly delivered a high shot, which left the goalkeeper helpless. M'Cormack’s goal was a smartly taken one. Seizing an opening he judiciously placed the ball into the net, when he might have been tempted to drive over the bar. Ruddiman was caught badly out of position on this occasion and was somewhere in midfield on the opposite wing when Balk secured, and from the latter’s centre the third goal resulted. Ruddiman played a good game, however, and with another season’s experience .will rank amongst Otago’s best. He is inclined to do too much with the ball when a first time clearance would be more safe. Coats and Ruddiman provide a stout. defence and take some circumventing. All three Northern halves played well with Sutherland a solid tackier throughout. Peart, at centre-forward, led the Northern attack with great dash, and not a little skill. Besides scoring two fine goals, his work was marked by good positional play and distribution. His second goal was excellent and about the best seen at the Caledonian Ground this season. M'Hugh started the movement with a nice through pass to Henderson, who transferred to Connolly, the winger’s, fast centre being snapped up. by Peart and sent into the net via the post in a: flash. • It was a fine example of : first time shooting. From his showing, Peart should do well next season. Connolly, on the right wing, was in sparkling form, and would solve Otago’s outside right problem were he more consistent. Fast on the-ball and with good ball control, be carried the ball-up the wing in the approved style, beating the full-back before getting his centre -across. Connolly’s third goal was smartly taken. On Saturday’s game Connolly is Otago’s best club outside right, and with a little coaching and encouragement would prove a .worthy successor to W. Blundell, who held the position for Northern Some few seasons back. Henderson played a quiet game, but’- got in some good passes/ Anderson and Montgomery were a fair wing, but not so successful as the right wing pair. Peart’s dash gave Taylor and Bayne some anxious moments and it was well for Maori Hill that the defence was dependable. Baird was the best of the Hill halves, though Dougal at centre got ■through a great deal of work, but he has not - the sound opening out movements of A/ Brown. Gordon was not at bis best for the Hill and centre-forward and was .too’ easily brushed aside when in His shooting, too, is not his strong ; point; M'Cormack and Balk were a fine pair of forwards, the latter being in good form and putting over some nice centres, which were always dangerous. The result leaves Maori Hill in a practically unassailable position for the premiership. The team has not tasted defeat this season, and with but two matches to go —against/Mosgiel and Port Chalmers—requires but tine point to land the Fletcher Cup at. Prospect Park. . HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS v. ROSLYN-WAKARI High School and Roslyn provided the early game at the Caledonian Ground. The latter club was playing several emergencies, and suffered a heavy defeat by 6 goals to 1. During the first spell play was of an even nature, but after changing over Old Boys had matters much their own way. The absence of Ramage, Lennon, M'Callion, and Haldane, who have throughput the season been the mainstay of Roslyn’s defence, accounted for the hill team’s 1 indifferent display. Old Boys are a much-improved team, and the half line dominated the game. The play of Duncan and M'Farlane was always in evidence, and with the sound nlay of Chapman and Pickerill at full-back Roslyn’s vanguard was well held. Old Boys’ forwards displayed nice combination during the second half, in which Groves, C. Latimer, and Beal were prominent. The previous match between the teams was also won by Old Boys, the score being 4 nil.

. In the two remaining games Mosgiel defeated the Technical Old Boys for the second time this season. The latter, how,ever, were represented by a muchweakened team. At Prospect Park Mornington, by defeating Kaitangata 5—3, reversed its defeat in the first round by the country team, when the score was 2 to 1.