ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

THE TOP TEAMS DRAW FAST AND EXCITING GAME On a heavy and greasy surface at Logan Park the two leading teams in the Fletcher Cup competition thrilled a large crowd with fast and exciting play for the full period Old Boys were two goals down in the second spell but played strongly in the final stages to make a three goal draw Mosgiel, on its showing, however, would have been unlucky to lose. Northern and Maori Hill continue in winning vein, the former defeating Technical 6—l, and the latter accounting for Mornington by 7—l Last year's championship winners, Seacliff. dropped a further two points by losing to Roslyn-Wakari by four goals to two. Old Boys and Mosgiel still occupy the leading positions, the former having a lead of one point. ' POSITIPNS OF TEAMS The following table gives the positions of teams in the Fletcher Cup

MOSGIEL v. OLD BOYS The teams were:— Mosgiel.—Hall; Kitto, R. Steven; Stenhouse, C. Skinner, Paul; Nicholson, Rogers, J. Skinner. Davidson, W. Steven. Old Boys. Smith; Roberts, Sutherland; Beal, Chapman, M'Narey; Duncan, Ryan, Romeril, Groves, Sharpe.

Mosgiel kicked off from the town end, and Old Boys, displaying brilliant passing play from the start, quickly had Mosgiel on the defensive. An excellent save by Hall from Romeril, who shot from close quarters, relieved the pressure Smith cleared a fine attempt by Paul, and sent his forwards away, but Romeril, after cutting in past Steven, placed outside. Davidson and J. Skinner, who were well backed by their halves, were often dangerous and after the centre had missed with a low drive, Stenhouse returned play to J. Skinner, who cleverly worked into position and drove low to goal. Smith, after stopping the shot, allowed the greasy ball to slip through over the line. Mosgiel 1, Old Boys nil. Play was hard and even, the attacking efforts of Groves, Romeril and Ryan meeting with sound defensive play from the Mosgiel halves, Stenhouse and Paul, and Steven at back. Chapman and Sutherland were doing good work for Old Boys, and the former, after beating Davidson, came through with the ball. Ryan carried on and slipped it across to Duncan, who placed nicely between the backs, Groves cutting in to give Hall no chance and make the scores 1 all. Old Boys were still making the play, and C. Skinner was prominent in clearing the attacks. Chapman made a timely save, and Smith was forced to concede a corner when stopping a shot by Nicholson. The corner was renulsed, and when half time sounded Old Boys were about to take a corner kick.

In the second half Mosgiel kept play moving at a fast pace, and four minutes after ,the start J. Skinner, from a throw-in, sent play to W. Steven. The winger beat Roberts on the run and crossing to the. far post, Nicholson beat Smith for the ball and registered a good goal. Mosgiel 2, Old Boys 1. A free kick followed for Mosgiel. Davidson securing possession, and by placing nicely to goal, Rogers was given an open shot to beat Smith close in. Mosgiel 3, Old Boys 1. Mosgiel. playing with more dash, upset Old Boys' combination for a period. Eventually Chapman steadied his team and, sending the forwards away, Hall punched out a shot from the right, C. Skinner placing up to his namesake. The latter passed on to Rogers, but Smith made a fine save. Old' Boys advanced again, Hall relieving by brilliant work in goal. From a throw-in in midfield Duncan, who had not shown his best form up to this state, crossed a long ball to Sharce The winger headed to goal, and RomeFll, also meeting the ball with his head, beat Hall. Mosgiel 3. Old Boys 2. Play was now hard and exciting. Mosgiel's effective tackling and rapid passing were more suited to the conditions than the close play of Old Boys. Chapman on one occasion gave his forwards a great chance, but both Romeril and Groves failed to connect. Old Boys played strongly, and a slackening on the part of the Mosgiel backs resulted in a corner. Sharps placed nicely to goal and Ryan headed through, Hall being out of position. This brought the scores to three all. The remaining 10 minutes of play were willing, both Smith and Hall in the respective goaL doing excellent work. Time was called with the scores: H.S. Old Boys .. 3 goals Mosgiel .. 3 goals Mr A. Riach was referee. ROSLYN-WAKARI v. SEACLIFF

Roslyn-Wakari and Seacliff met on Ellis Park, the opening play being even, with both goalies saving several shots. From a long clearance by Ramage, Ramsay, Smythe and Rutherford combined, the latter finishing the movement by heading oast Jordan. Roslyn 1. Seacliff nil. Bennett saved a shot from Fyfe, but Roslyn still held the upper hand, Rutherford centred the ball, which Smythe turned into goal from close quarters. Roslyn 2, Seacliff rill. Seacliffs front line was not combining well at this stage. Ramage repelled an attack and Roslyn tested Jordan with several hard shots. Welham eventually sent play to Chisholm and Ramsay, Stanton striking the upright from Ramsay's cross, but Campbell scored from the rebound. Roslyn 3, Seacliff nil. Seacliff rallied, and after Thompson had gone near with a shot, Milne opened out play to White, who gave to Fvfe. the latter scoring off the upright. Roslyn 3. Seacliff I Just prior to half time. Ttamaee repelled a further advance from Seacliff and sent play to Smythe Stanton secured and beat Jordan, making the scores Roslyn 4. Seacliff 1. In the second half Munsie replaced Chisholm. the Roslyn player, who twisted an ankle. In the Seacliff side Jordan took up the inside right noshion. White acting as coal-keeper Anderson cleared a Roslyn movement, and Jordan made good play to force a resultless corner. Roslyn broke through again. Rutherford sending in some «ood crosses, from one of which White made a fine save. Anderson's fine kicking kept

Roslyn on defence. Fyfe secured the bal] and transferred to Montgomery, who beat Bennett with a fn-eat shot. Roslyn 4, Seacliff 2. Play was interesting at this stage, the home side displaying better judgment than their opponents. A strong drive from Rutherford was well saved by White A corner to Seacliff was cleared by Welham, Scott returning the ball to goal, but Bennett saved In the final stages play was fairly even, both goalkeepers saving several shots The final scores were:— Roslyn-Wakari 4 goals. Seacliff -2 goals. Mr F. Stanley was referee. OTHER RESULTS SECOND GRADE Caversham 4, Northern 2. THIRD GRADE Caversham 8. High School Old Boys 3. Northern 5, Roslyn-Wakari 1. FIFTH GRADE Technical A 3, Northern 2. Caversham 7, High School 2. SIXTH GRADE Technical C 3. Y.M.C.A. 2.

THE ENGLISH TEAM

EASY VICTORY OVER WELLINGTON VISITORS' CLEVER DISPLAY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 30. In the second match of its New Zealand tour, the English Amateur Association football team defeated Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon' by seven goals to nil. Displaying excellent understanding, the visitors were never in danger' of being beaten, and the crowd of 10,000 was delighted with an exhibition of fast, clever football.

Though they led by only 3 goals to nil \t half time, the Englishmen had had much the better of the game, effectively smothering any Wellington attacks before they became really dangerous. The, visitors, played the stopped back game, Joy, the centre-half, being outstanding as the third defender. Collins was the most aggressive of the English forwards, his speed and footwork enabling hir~ constantly to nenetrate the Wellington defence. His centres were well picked up by Mathews and Thornton.

• The Wellington players showed themselves quite as fit as their opponents. Todd, the right-half, and the full-backs, Miles and Haines, being outstanding on defence. Peppered with shots from all angles, Wyatt, in goal, saved many more goals than he let past. Thornton scored after nine minutes' play, and two goals by Mathews gave England a lead of three goals to nil at half-time. Mathews (2), Thornton and Finch scored in the second spell. Leslie, the Wellington and New Zealand centre-forward, was so well marked by Joy, the English centre-half, that comparatively little was seen of him during the afternoon. Recognised as the finest amateur in England, Joy played an outstanding game, and so effective was his defence that all the full-backs, Strasser and Robbins, had to do was mark the opposing wing men. This they did to such good effect that Huddle, the tall English goal-keeper, was not often troubled. EXHIBITION PLAY . The English amateur Association •football players now on a tour of the Dominion will arrive in Dunedin on Thursday morning and will play their first test match of the tour at Carisbrook on 1 Saturday. Through the courtesy of the manager (Mr C. Wreford Brown), members of the team have agreed to give demonstrations on the various points of the game for the benefit of schoolboys and the general public. The exhibition will take place at Logan Park on Thursday afternoon at 3.15. and will' include kicking, shooting, goalkeeping, passing and ball control, etc. The visitors comprise the cream of England's amateur footballers, 15 of the 18 being of international fame. The demonstrations, besides providing interesting entertainment, should prove of great educational value to the youths of the city. As next Saturday's test match will be the only game in which the Englishmen will play here, Thursday's proceedings will give the public a further .opportunity of seeing the players in action. There will be no charge for admission, but a collection will be taken up in aid of the King George V Memorial Fund. According to information received from Mr Frank Campbell, vicechairman of the council of the New Zealand Football Association, the visitors are all fit and looking forward to their first test. Mr Campbell says the players will be popular with the sporting public of New Zealand. This mOrning the team will be entertained at morning tea by the Acting Prime Minister. (Mr P. Fraser) at Parliament House, and on their wav will stop at the Citizens' War Memorial, where Mr C. Wreford Brown, one of the ioint managers, will leave a wreath The party will pass through Dunedin to-morrow en route for Invercargill, where they meet a combined Otago and Southland team on Wednesday.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM The northern members of the New Zealand team to play England in the first test next Saturday will arrive in Dunedin to-night. They will be accompanied by the sole selector, Mr A. P. Neesham, of Auckland and the trainer, Mr Taff Davis The players will have almost a week's preparation for the match, and the public is assured that every effort is being made to see that the New Zealanders. if they cannot win, will at least play a creditable game and offer strong opposition. IN OTHER CENTRES <Pi:n United Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 29. The following were the results of Saturday's games:—Comrades 5, Shore 4: Thistle 4. Mount Albert 2 CHRISTCHURCrI May 29 Saturday's matches resulted: — Nomads 4, Rangers 1: Technical 5, Y.M.C.A I: Western 1 Thistle 1. CANTERBURY-WESTLAND-BULLER TEAM CHRISTCHURCH, May 30. The following is the Canterbury-Westland-Buller Association football team to meet England in Christchurch on June 9:—

Goal-keeper—D. N M'Rae: fullbacks, S Cawtheray, G. Roberts; half-backs, A. M'Millan, M. A. Gordon, A. K. F. Gordon; forwards —

A. Almond, R. Smith, G. Smith. D. Souter. and M. Bumand W. Sutherland has been chosen as twelfth man. ______________

competition:— CiOi JllS ('.ill P. W. h. r>. P. A. Pts U.S. Old Boys ..6 5 — 1 30 13 11 Mosglcl .. 6 4 — 2 21 10 HI N'orlhiTii .. .. 6 4 2 - 23 l(j S Maori Hill ..0 3 2 1 10 1! 7 Koslyn-Wakarl ..6 3 3 — 13 21 fi Searl'tr ..6 1 5 — 16 22 '• ! Technical .. .. .. 6' 1 5 — 10 21 - Morning! on .. 6 1 5 — 13 34