STERN BATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27383, 8 May 1950, Page 6

STERN BATTLE

Soccer

Northern Wins Again SOUTHERN SURPRISES The Otago Football Association’s competitions on Saturday were played under ideal conditions. Maori Hill’s battle with last year's champions, Northern, and Southern’s defeat of Technical Old Boys were the highlights. Maori Hill had the measure of Northern on the small Gardens ground, and held the advantage until well on in the second spell, when I Walsh brought the score 3—all. Thereafter Northern, playing forceful football, managed to obtain full points. Southern outplayed the B Division leaders, Technical, to score a popular win. The other games were keenly and evenly contested. The results of the games were:— First Grade A Northern 5, Maori Hill 3. High School Old Boys 3, Roslyn-Wakari 3. Mornington 3, University 2. First Grade B Southern 5, Technical Old Boys 1. Caversham 8, Watersiders 4. Mosgiel 5. Green Island 1.

MAORI HILL v. NORTHERN There was a large crowd at the Gardens to see the game between Northern and Maori Hill. When the Hill team went into the lead in the second spell with Northern playing into a strong dying sun their supporters were hopeful. Maori Hill’s fast following up tactics down the middle, with E. Newall and A. Terry bustling the defense, had Northern anxious. But the equaliser and a smart goal by W. Berry gave Northern new life, and they fought back magnificently, and A. Warke’s grand, but a shade lucky goal, put Northern two up. Maori Hill were still playing sound football. H. Scott missed an open goal, the ball bouncing as Scott hit it, and it sailed harmlessly over the bar. This was a lucky break for Northern. It was a splendid game, full of bright incidents. Every player in the Hill side played well, F. Sharp being outstanding against Northern’s right-wing pair, and R. Ferguson was very safe. In R. Scott, Hill have a fine Inside forward. Turner and Stephenson, the respective “ keepers,” received plenty of the ball, and gave their backs every confidence. Northern have played better football, but they were only allowed to play as well as Maori Hill would allow. Another hard game or two will greatly assist Northern. The final score was: Northern 5, Maori Hill 3. Mr W. M. Smith was the referee. SOUTHERN V. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS After Technical’s excellent showing the previous week, it looked as if they would not be troubled against Southern, but Southern, playing clever, close football, had their opponents in trouble from the outset. Never at any stage of play did Technical gain a grip of the game, and played poorly. The absence of A. Moir on the right may have been the cause. Southern, from the goal-keeper out, played soundly, the defence covering well, with J. Martin, at centre-half, getting through a lot of work. The forwards moved as a line, and H Rutherford, at centre-forward, receiving more support than usual, was able to give a glimpse of his true form. Kilgour, Rutherford, Anderson, and • Brownlie scored for Southern, and all five goals were really smart efforts. G. Ramsay was credited with Technical’s only goal, but it appeared that a Southern defender deflected the ball into his own net. Mr N. McGregor was the referee. MOSGIEL v. GREEN ISLAND The two suburban teams, Mosgiel and Green Island, met in a very fast, hard, end-to-end encounter on Mosgiel’s ground, the Taleri men shading their opponents when it came to goal scoring, McLeod and Burt showing the visitors the way. D. Farquhar, Green Island’s young centrehalf, showed up in defence. J. McDougall, the visiting goal-keeper, was in great form, and it was easily his best and safest display to date. He had no chance with the five that beat him. The scorers were Thompson (2), Burt, Nicholson, and Pearce. The Green Island forwards were very disappointing. Mulhern scored and was responsible for some really clever movements, but at other times his play was rather difficult for his teammates to follow. For Mosgiel, McLeod and Burt were always on hand to seize any opportunity. The result, 5 goals to 1 in Mosgiel’s favour, slightly flattered the winners. Mr W. Dodds was the referee. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS V. ROSLYNWAKARI At the Oval, which, apart from the long grass, was in fine order, a strong wind -in the first spell made the ball difficult to control, and much wild kicking and misdirected passes were In evidence in the game between High School Old Boys and Roslyn-Wakari. Hard, fast, end-to-end play was the order throughout, with few close combined efforts. A feature was V. McGillivray’s grand goal-scoring equaliser in the closing stages, when, coming up in support of his forwards, he elected to drive, and, although Stewart should have covered the shot, it was a typical half-back goal. E. Jones showed out, and G. Mason and K. Jarvis were sound on defence, the latter being very cool and sure with both feet, although possessing a fatal tendency for a back to trap before clearing. I. Watt is a player on the improve, and is amongst Wakari’s goal-getters each Saturday, and he again, with two goals to his credit, and E. Burgess were Roslyn’s marksmen. E. Jones (2) and M. Galloway were the High School scorers. The referee was the Rev. L. Small. WATERSIDE V. CAVERSHAM Caversham, on Tonga Park, carried too many guns for Watersiders. W. Hooper was back, leading the attack, and he collected three goals, and Garnet (3) was also in a scoring mood. Vorley also goaled. Caversham’s outfield and finishing work were superior. L. Doyle, if given plenty of support, would be dangerous to any side and, besides obtaining a good goal, he played a heady game. McNulty scored a fine goal early, and Davidson and Anderson brought the losers’ tally to four. Caversham thoroughly deserved to win and are showing greatly improved form. Mr N. Williams was the referee. MORNINGTON V. UNIVERSITY The main game at the Caledonian Ground did not at any stage reach a high standard, and a draw would have been a fair result on the merits of the Mornington and University teams. University had to make a reshuffle of its team, and it was pleasing to notice W. Gilbert and P. Watt back in University’s defence. Both were carrying a good deal of condition, and if playing regularly should strengthen the University defence. The outstanding player in this game was W. Watson, goal-keeper for the students, who gave a brilliant display of high-class goal-keeping. Play was very ragged, with Mornington showing more thrust in the van. Kelly and J. Warner being prominent. Warner and B. Payne (University) were the pick of the forwards. Payne’s opening goal was a typical effort. With a slight feint of the body, he drew Gordon (in goal) to the left, to beat him with an easy'shot to the right. Davidson, a junior player, was at right-half for University, and shaped promisingly in his first senior game in this position. W. Webster and N. Stanley held the Mornington defence together, the latter sending excellent passes to his front line, which were invariably wasted. For Mornington, Kelly (2) and J. Warner scored; and Butterfield shared with Payne University’s goal-scoring honours. The referee was Mr F. King. LOWER GRADES Senior Grade.—Eastern 5, Tramways 1; Old Boys 3. Mosgiel 2; Southern 3. University 1; Technical Old Boys 1, Caversham 2; Maori Hill 9, Old Boys A nil: Roslyn-Wakari 3, Northern 1. Third Grade.—Northern 6. Technical Old Bovs nil. Fourth Grade.—King’s High School 4, OBHS B nil. Fifth Grade—Christian Bros. 6, Green Island 1; Caversham 3, OBHS 1. Sixth Grade. —Green Island 5, RoslynWakari 3; Northern 7, Roslyn-Wakari B nil; Technical College 7, Mornington nil; Northern 3, Watersiders 2. CHRISTCHURCH GAMES Wigram 2, Thistle 2; Technical 1, Western I; Celtic 3. Rangers 1.

POSITION OF 1 TEAMS The following is the position of the teams:— First Grade A p. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Northern 4 4 ■ — — 30 4 8 Mornington 4 3 ■ - 1 11 12 6 HS Old Boys .. 4 1 2 1 10 20 4 RoslynWakari 4 1 1 2 10 17 3 Maori Hill 4 1 • - 3 12 16 2 University 4 • 1 3 13 17 1 First Grade B Mosgiel .. 4 4 - — — 35 9 8 Tech. Old Boys 4 3 ■ — 1 21 13 6 Caversham 4 1 1 2 20 29 3 Southern 4 1 1 2 13 19 3 Green Island 4 1 1 2 12 17 3 Waterslders .. 4 — 1 3 12 26 1