ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

By Corner Kick. FLETCHER CUP COMPETITION There now remain only three matches to complete the sepond round in the Fletcher Cup competition, and the positions of the three top teams stand the same as last week. Maori Hill leads Mosgiel bv one point, with Mornington next on the H st . three points behind Mosgiel. Tie m-emiership appears likely to lie between Maori Hill and Mdsgiel, and the meeting of these two teams will take

place on August 3., Next Saturday Maori Hill will pjay Technical at Prospect Park, whilst Mosgiel will meet Mornington at Mosciel. In view of Mornington's better showing in recent games, the contender for the premiership will need to be at its best to win. The game between Northern and High School Old Boys will provide' the attraction at Logan Park, and, although the result of this game will not have a bearing on the premiership, close play should be witnessed. Both teams have an equal number of points on the championship table.

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS » MOSGIEL ..

The return game between High School Old Boys and Mosgiel was played at Logan Park under ideal conditions, the spectators being treated to a fast, open game which resulted in favour of Mosciel by five goals to two. Mosgiel, by clever combined play, was on top throughout, mainly due to the fine game played by the half-backs. Old Boys were certainly weakened by the absence of Dun-

can and Pickerill, a re-shuffle of the team making for poor team work. Mosgiel's young team was ably led by Fyfe at centre, who ia improving with every game and is a very deceptive player. He varies his game well and knows where the goal lies. The right-wing, in Stenhouse. Rogers, and Nicholson, showed in Saturday's game that it is one of the best combinations that have been seen in action this season. Stenhouse gave a finished display of half-back play. Rogers was the brains of the forward line, making some excellent openings. M'Lean and W. Steven also showed up in some nice play, M'Lean roving to advantage. All of Fyfe's goals were the result of clever combined movements. Steven and Skinner played soundly at full-back, but are inclined to play too square. M'Dougall, who follows every movement in front of him, has a wonderfully encouraging influence —even when pressed—over his youthful team-mates. Old Boys found, after 10 minutes play, that the rearranged team was not a success, and Chapman wisely made two alterations, which immediately had the desired effect of stopping the fast-moving Mosgiel van. Romeril signalled the change-over by scoring a good goal. Smith, in goal, misjudged or was unsighted with the two first goals, but otherwise gave a sound display. M'Millan, who played m Pickerill's place, should have been played at right-buck, as Sutherland is left-footed and M'Millan was relying on his right, to clear.. Hamilton had a busy day watching Mosgiel's right-wing. Rogers's style of play, however, had him in difficulties. Chapman was'a tower of strength, but, in trying to force the game with his forwards, was caught out of position occasionally. Beale played strongly, but was inclined to balloon the ball too. much. Latimer could do nothing right. He should remember to get his body behind the ball when it is travelling oyer the touch line, as on numerous occasions he missed chances by trying to stop the* ball with hie foot. Groves has been seen to better advantage. Romeril, at centre, bustled hard, but was not getting many openings. Ryan had a day off. Grunt, who appeared for the first time this reason, was responsible for a good goal, but otherwise did not see much of the ball. Mosgiel hae only to hold their present form and the final encounter with the Hill eleven should be the match of the season. MAORI HILL v. SEACLIFF The match between Maori Hill and Seacliff provided, clean, fast, and exciting play. Seacliff was a little unlucky not to win, but on the other hand, if Maori Hill had lost it would, too, have been unlucky. The result practically hinged on the penalty awarded against Warnock, and doubt has been expressed whether he intentionally handled the ball. On thw point, however, the referee's decision is final, and the result must therefore stand. The spectators, who included a number of visitors, from town, were treated to the best game seen at Seacliff for sx>me time, exciting play keeping them fully interested until the final whistle. What appeared to be a weakened Seacliff team with Jordan (goal).and Thompson (half) on the sick list, gave a surprisingly good display. Newcomers in Jordan (right-half) and M'Dougall (the ex-New Zealand representative) filled the vacancies. Milne, in goal, played a good game, making no mistakes, and was well supported in front by the sound play of Anderson and M'Lay, the former being the best defender afield. Jordan created a surprise by his dashing play at righthalf, and it would appear that Seacliff 9 selectors have erred in not playing him throughout the season. Warnock played a hard, bustling game and will be hard to replace next season. Baillie, at lefthalf, although not brilliant; played soundly, concentrating on giving Balk little scope. M'Dougall played an ex cellent game in the first half for a playei of his years. He frequently had the opposition in trouble, but his kicking was not strong. Hector, at inside-right, although suffering from an . .injured shoulder, was prominent, but was inclined to crowd his centre man, and on two occasions scoring chances were lost as a result. Hooper played , his best game this season, being practically responsible for his team'.s three goals. His bustling tactics worried Taylor, who, in trying to clear a lightning shot, deflected it through his own goal from 20 yards out. With the scores three all, Hooper was unlucky on one occasion after going through the defence to strike the upright with a fast shot, which was eventually cleared. . Conder and Montgomery paired confidently in, the left-wing positions, playing their best game of the season so far. In goal for Hill, Holden played well, having no chance with the goals scored against him. He should, however, keep his eye more on the ball than on the approactiing forward. The backs were none too sure in their kicking, but showed improvement as the game went on, Bayne being the better of the two. Gordon, Brown, and Haldane were a good half line, Brown being the most outstanding, although tiring at the finish. His goal from a corner kick, which gave his team the lead, was a great shot. Of the forwards, Balk was too closely watched tobe dangerous. Davidson played a good game at inside right, and combined well with his team mates, but his shooting was erratic. Cuthbert displayed great dash in the centre position, but, like Davidson, finished poorly when in front. Dalziel was the outstanding player of the line, playing a heady game, and giving his wing man many opportunities. Little, however, failed to make the best uses of the chances that came his way, and, like his colleagues, his shooting showed poor direction. , „ , _ .... In the last kick of the game, Baillie had the misfortune to twist an ankle, but it is expected he will be able to turn out next Saturday. In the farst game of the season these teams played a drawn game, the scores being 2 each.

MORNINGTON v. TECHNICAL Mornington played good football to beat Technical for the second time this season. It displayed Rood combination and was on top for the greater part of the game. Technical was disappointing as a team, lacking thrust and cohesion in the attacking movements. The Hill defence was sound, Morris being outstanding at centre half. He has struck his old form, and his opemng-up of the play was a feature of Mornington's attacking movements. He was well supported by M'Quarrie and .Murphy. Ihe young forward line all played well, with Fleming always keeping them on the move, but over-eagerness at times in front of goal spoilt scoring chances. For Technical, Tointon, in goal, was the mainstay of the defence. He saved his side from a much heavier defeat. The principal weakness of the team lay in the half line. The Hill team's movements frequently caught the halves out of position." In attack they also failed to support their forwards, of whom Skinner, although closely watched, was the most dangeroiis. ROSLYN-WAKARI v. NORTHERN In the remaining game of the series Roslyn-Wakari created a surprise by defeating Northern by two goals to nil. This is Roslyn's second win of the_ season, its previous win also being against Northern. CHATHAM CUP Extra time was necessary to decide the Auckland final of the Chatham Cup Competit'on at Blandford Park last Saturday, when Ponsonby eliminated Thistle, the previous holders of the trophy, by 4 goals to 3. While lacking in spectacular play, the game provided an interesting exhibition of rugged football. Although both teams had energetic and clever forward lines (said the New Zealand Herald) the strength of the respective defences prevented open tactics from being adopted. However, the closeness of the struggle fully piaintained the interest of a fairly good attendance of spectators. The closing stages saw both forward lines at their best, play fluctuating at a fast pace as the teams fought for the advantage. There were times when Thistle appeared to have victory within _ its grasp, but Ponsonby on each occasion managed to fight back to even terms. Ponsonby was definitely more impressive over the closing stages. In Christchurch _ Western A played splendid football in defeating Nomads by 6 goals to nil in the Christchurch section final of the Chatham Cup Competition, played at English Park last Saturday. Its passing bouts repeatedly swept it through its opponent's defence, and it was ouly smart, and at times brilliant, keeping by M'Rae, that saved Nomads from a much heavier defeat (said th* Christchurch Star-Sun). On the last occasion—five years ago-;—on which Western won the local section of this competition, it was unlucky to be beaten in the deciding match for the trophy against ; Petone. A repetition of Saturday's form, allowing for the fact that the opposition

was not strong, will take it a long way in this vear's contest. The strong Hospital team, the leader in the championship competition, scored a thoroughly deserved victory over Waterside in the Wellington final of the Chatham Cup on Saturday, the score of 2 goals to nil in no way flattering it. The game was played at a fast clip, and was watched by a crowd of about 2500 at the Basin Reserve.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT A correspondent sends the following question, and asks if it is a goal:—"A player takes a penalty kick. The other players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, are outside the penalty area, and at least 10 yards away from where the kick is taken. If the kicker kicks the ball about a foot or eo along the ground and an attacking forward dashes up and places it into the net, is it a goal? " The answer is "Yes," provided the ball completes a full circumference and the player scoring wa« not in an offside position when the ball was kicked torward.