SLIPPERY GROUNDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26749, 19 April 1948, Page 7

SLIPPERY GROUNDS

Soccer

MANY MISTAKES MADE NORTHERN BEATS OLD BOYS Association football in all grades was commenced on Saturday. A wet, slippery surface and an extremeliy tricky ball found the majority of players making mistakes, i.nd numerous goals were scored on account of these conditions which otherwise should have been saved. Northern outplayed H. 5.0.8. in the main game at the Caledonian Ground, giving a fine display of concerted action throughout. The Old Boys were never really dangerous, backs and forwards making a poor showing. The very young Mosgiel eleven gave the more experienced Waterside team a good game, and the result, 3 goals to 1 in favour of Watersiders, slightly flattered the winners. The Green Island and Roslyn-Wakari-result was in the nature of a surprise, as the suburban team was expected to gain full points, but on the day the Roslyn team earned their win. The other games were all interesting. E. Newall, in the Maori Hill front line, made a vast difference, scoring five of his side’s goals by fast forward play. In Edgely, Caversham has a fine player who, with more support, would keep the best defences busy. The Second Grade Chinese eleven made a very fine impression in their first outing, and a big win should be a great encouragement. Results First Grade University 4, Mornington 2. Northern 6, High School Old Boys 1. Roslyn-Wakari 4, Green Island 3. Maori Hill 7, Caversham 4. Watersiders 3. Mosgiel 1. Technical Old Boys 1, Southern 1. Second Grade Mornington 9, Roslyn-Wakari 3. Technical Old Boys 2, Southern nil. Tramways 4, University B 2. Northern 11, University A 1. Easiern 8, Caversham 1. High School Old Boys 3, Maori Hill 3. Third Grade Mornington 5, Green Island 1. Technical Old Boys 3, High School Old boys 1. Training College 2, Northern B 1. Fourth Grade Southern 10, Caversham 1. 0.8.H.5. 5, Mornington 2. King’s High School 5, Technical Old Boys nil. Fifth Grade Roslyn-Wakari 4, Mornington 2. 0.8.H.5. 4, Roslyn-Wakari 3. Southern 2, Caversham 1. Green Island 11, Mosgiel B nil. Northern 6, Y.M.C.A. nil. King's High School 3, Mosgiel A 2. NORTHERN v. H.S. OLD BOYS From the kick-off Old Boys advanced down the middle, but Meehan sent out to Jenkins, who cut in and shot weakly towards goal. Sharp and Nixon missed the ball, and it slowly trickled through to open the scoring. Fast end to end play followed, and Foote got through, but lost possession, and the ball went to Berry, who swung out to score with a fine drive. From a cross from Gough, Ryan tested Stevenson, and Ruddiman later sent his forwards away for Berry to score again. A series of corners to Old Boys proved resultless, and at the other end a corner taken by Jenkins was cleared to Walsh, who scored with a swerving shot to the far corner of the net right on half time. Foote sent out to Nauman, whose shot Stevenson partially cleared, but Ryan scored from close in. A , minute later Foote went close when he rattled the upright. Jenkins sent across for McLean to beat Nixon, and later a pass down the middle enabled Berry to gather the ball to score with a fine carpet drive. Mears was prominent when he cut off a pass and sent Jenkins away, and from an acute angle he sent the ball back for McLean, who had raced in, to score the final goal with a twisting header. Mr D. Welham was the referee.

GREEN ISLAND v. ROSLYN-WAKARI This was a particularly bright, fast and Open game, with the visitors swinging about to advantage, which had the home defence rattled on numerous occasions. Garrick scored early for Roslyn, but Uffland, by clever ball control, scored twice to give Green Island the lead, which was short-lived as the Burgess brothers scored one each to put Roslyn ahead. At this stage both teams were playing really exciting football, with the visitors having the edge on the play. Excitement ran high when, after an excellent combined effort, Carr, at inside-right, equalised. With 10 minutes from time it appeared that a draw was certain, but in being pressed a local back passed to Dougherty, who failed to clear, and Burgess pounced on the opportunity to score into an open goal. The game ended: Roslyn-Wakari 4, Green Island 3. Mr W. M. Smith was the referee. WATERSIDERS V. MOSGIEL Mosgiel atacked from the whistle, and Thomson sent across for McCloy, who railed to steady himself before making his shot. Stevenson cleared, and Little and A. Davidson took play downfield before sending to Skinner, who scored. Martin stopped a fine shot from Gamble, and earned applause when he tipped a hard drive over the bar. The young Mosgiel forwards lacked a leader, as numerous coaling opportunities went amiss. In the second half Martin, in goal, was Mosgiel’s mainstay. ~ Gamble was prominent with a long drive, and this player cleverly worked for position, his parting shot giving Martin no chance. Gamble brought the score to three, with another fine drive, and although Mosgiel were still taking turns on attack, they failed to register, and time found the score unaltered Mr A J. McAskill. was the referee. MORNINGTON V. UNIVERSITY At Mornington, University showed a marked improvement on their first, matcn showing, and moved like a team. Butteifield holding the front line together. Mornington opened on the left, but Gilbert blocked and sent out to Gordon whose cross was turned past Fray by Butterfield. Webster was prominent and was responsible for sending Cope away. A fine solo effort by the latter was rewarded with an excellent goal which evened the scores. The students immediately retaliated. Hill passing to Paine, who scored with a low drive, McCrae put University still further ahead who an excellent header for a corner kick taken by Gordon. Mornington showed up in some excellent movements in the second half, but failed to finish. Th e Mornington defence held the University forwards well, but McCrae brought the tally to four, and in the closing stages Schofield scored a good goal to make the final score University 4, Mornington 2. Mr J. Scott was the referee. CAVERSHAM v. MAORI HILL Caversham were at home to Maori Hill on Tonga Park, where the long grass was very wet and the greasy slippery ball was difficult to control. Caversham moved off down the middle, but J. Newall received, and taking the ball well down a good pass to his brother enabled the latter to open the scoring after five mintues’ play. Edgely, by clever play, went thorough, the defence to equalise. E. Newall increased the Hill s tally, but back came Caversham. a nice forward movement resulting in Edgelv again finding the net. Caversham maintained the pressure and Murphy, in attempting to clear, sliced the ball into his own goal to give Caversharh the lead. This reverse created the best movement so far, when the Hill forwards swept downfield for E. Newall to equalise before the interval. The second spell was fast and even with the Hill showing more combination and Shields was the next to find the net, and E. Newall brought the tally to six with an excellent goal. Edgely, who was Paying a fine game for Caversham, scored his third goal, which earned him applause from the line Caversham had the Hill defending for a time, but the forwards broke away in a fast run and E. Newall scored his fifth goal for Maori Hill, which proved to be the final score in a bright, open game. Mr F. King* was the referee. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS V. SOUTHERN At Logan Park a drawn game (one goal each) was a fitting result as both elevens failed dismally at the business end The Technical eleven have had some alterations, but should in the course of a week or two show more balance W. Wilson was back in his old position in Southern's defence as also was McSkimming at outside left, but Southern, too, are experimenting with players and with iudgment should field a serviceable team As the score indicates, the play was even, both sides failing to turn to account some well-executed forward movements. inside the danger zone, however, the players were either robbed when in a good position or shot wildly past. Moir was unlucky not to score for Technical as he was a real trier, as also was Owen for Southern, but Leyland for Southern and Eaton for Technical were the only players to find the net. Mr W. Dodd was the referee.