ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22608, 27 June 1935, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

By Cobneb Kick,

FIXTURES Otago Juniors v. Southland, July 6. F.A. Trophy.—v. Auckland, June 29. FLETCHER CUP. The results of the first series of games in the eecond round occasioned more than one surprise. Mosgiel and Seacliff were expected to gain full points in their respective games, but both was defeated, the former by Northern for the second time this season, and the latter by High School Old Boys, which avenged an earlier defeat, and thus improved its position on the league table. Consequently Maori Hill, which scored heavily against Mornington, has re-established a lead of three points, but notwithstanding, the competition is still open, with Northern and High School Old Boys likely to spring further surprises. Next Saturday's senior ; matches have been postponed in view of the absence of players on tour with the Otago team. NORTHERN v. MOSGIEL In the game between Northern and Mosgiel, played at Logan Park, the final result, 3 goals to 2, favoured Northern slightly, as Mosgiel was unlucky not to make a drawn game in the last stages of the play. Moegiel's two goals, scored late in the game, followed as the result of pretty football which Fyfe finished off in fine style. Although Northerns defence was hard pressed towards the close, Ruddiman, Smith, and Hall managed to hold out till the end. , Mosgiel's front line is not big physically, and the greasy ground took a good deal out of them. Northern, which had the advantage of height and weight, kept the play moving with long, swinging passes, which suited the ground conditions better. This, together with the robust tackling and clearing of the backs, unsettled the Mosgiel shooting. The Mosgiel forwards, whilst not displaying the form of_ the Erevious week, combined nicely at times, ut being on the light side, were easily brushed aside off the ball. The half-line, however, did not give them the best of support, the high passing affording the opposition an advantage in checking the opening up movements. Fyfe, Rogers, and M'Lean were the best of the wing men. but they made poor work of their crosses. Stenhouse played a solid game in the halves, whilst Steven was the better of the backs, Skinner's kicking being very faulty. It is not often that M'Dougall is caught with a straight drive as he was when Peart shot and followed up to score from the rebound. During the play he had more difficult shots to contend with, and these he disposed of in his usual sound manner. , Northern, whilst not displaying the same class of football, played solidly throughout. The players took the shortest route to goal, which enabled Peart to make good use of his speed. He is developing his play much on the lines of Hooper. His two goals were the result of quickly sizing up the play. Anderson and Buchanan, on the left, worked together better than the right wing. Smith is another speedy player who is quite unorthodox in much of his play, but he never knows when ne is beaten, and is always a trouble to the opposition. Henderson parts with the ball too soon at times and does not give his winger the . best of opportunities. He, however, paid his way by scoring the third goal. Of the halves, Sutherland and M'Hugh played well. The veterans, M'Lean and M'Hugh, engaged in many a tussle for the ball, tho honours being about even. Hall, in goal, backed up the splendid play of Smith and Ruddiman, the full-backs, giving a good, clean exhibition, which was something like the form he displayed earlier in his career when playing for School Old Boys. MAORI HILL v. MORNINGTON Mornington was soundly beaten _by seven goals to two in the game against Maori. Hill, played at Prospect Park. In the first spell the play was very even, and at half time it looked to be anyone's game.. In the second half the wind troubled Mornington, which failed to settle down, and Hill forged ahead to win comfortably, though there was not the difference between the teams which the score would indicate. The Hill defence was very safe, but Holden, in goal, was inclined to fumble at times. The forwards made good use of the scoring opportunities, with the leftwing playing a much brighter game than the right. Balk played one of his best games, and most of the Hill's goals came from crosses or shots from the winger. For the' losers, M'Quarrie, in goal, played a good game, bringing off some fine saves, but he should have a better understanding with his backs. Donaldson gave his best exhibition this season and was the mainstay of the backs. MTKay is not playing up to past seasons' form, being uncertain in clearing and tackling. The half-line still continues to lift the ball, and in the second spell its passes were carried astray by the wind. Mornington's young forwards are shaping better with every game. Henderson's two goals on Saturday were worthy of a seasoned player.

SEACLIFF v. H.S. OLD BOYS. Seacliff were at home to Old Boys, and the many spectators were treated to a very fine game, Old Boys displaying football of a high order, credit for which must go to Duncan, who filled the centre-half position. He was easily the best player on the field, and although the writer has seen Duncan play some sterling games for his club and for Otago at outeide-right, his best games have been as a half-back. Saturday's game was one of them. His speed on recovery is a great asset in the intermediate line. Old Boys' short, crisp passing on the small ground had the Seacliff defence on the move during the whole 90 minutes. The whole forward line 1 appeared to have their scoring boots on, as the goals were all good. Jordan, in goal for Seacliff, had a busy day, although his attempts to save some of the goaling shots were slow. Anderson was sound on defence, Groves and Latimer giving him a busy time. Warnock, Hector, and Thompson were a good half line, the former working hard to force the game, but was caught out of position at times. Of the forwards Hooper and Baillie went close to scoring with 6ome nice play, but were well watched by Duncan, Sutherland, and Hamilton. Conder and Evans did not impress. Montgomery was inclined to play too much to Baillie, Hamilton intercepting most of his passes. Smith, in goal for Old Boys, played well, but should have punched clear Baillie's corner kick. M'Millan, who played in Pickerill's place, shaped well, and Sutherland played a fine game. The halves also played well, with Beale inclined 1 to kick too strongly at times. His placing to his forwards was good. Of the forwards Latimer seems to have found the right position, on the wing, as he played a fine game, scoring two good goals by cutting in and shooting low. Groves, Chapman, and Ryan wore responsible for some nice combined movements. Romerill also scored a fine goal by cutting in. Summed up, if Old Boys can hold the form displayed on Saturday, they will take some stopping in the second round. F.A. TROPHY Commenting on the result of the Auck-land-Wellington challenge match played on June 15, a writer in the Dominion states: — Auckland's decisive defeat of Wellington at Blandford Park raises the questions of whether Wellington has done right in its policy of " giving youth its chance" and whether the standard of football in Wellington is a strong one. Six goals to one seems to indicate that the Wellington eleven was completely overwhelmed, but a closer survey of the position reveals that Wellington's defeat, though deserved, was by no means a disgrace. Those who saw the game agree that it was Auckland's, but consider that a score of 3 goals to 1 would more fairly represent the merits of the teams. Before the match started it was recognised that the sticky nature of Blandford Park was worth two goals to Auckland, and thus it proved to be. Three weeks of rain and a curtain-raiser before the game made the surface of the park a quagmire, the like of which there is not

in Wellington, whose grounds may be bumpy but are not eticky. " The home players could make more of the heavy going that their opponents," said the Auckland Star. When Wellington drew level, with the score at I—l,1 —1, the northerners were hard pressed for 15 minutes of strenuous Wellington attack, but sheer bad luck and the marvellous anticipation of Watson in the Auckland goal kept the citadel intact. .« Auckland's sole selector, Mr W. Zuill, confessed to his Wellington confrere, Mr G. F. Aers,' that those 15 minutes were very uncomfortable ones for him, and the Star's football writer stated that the game was far from being one-sided, as Wellington were definitely on top dnring several portions of the game. " I was quite satisfied with my team, and I would have no hesitation at all in picking them again," Mr Aers told " Vanguard." " Not one of them disgraced himself. They played their best, but conditions were strancre to them and against them, and Auckland was the better team."