ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 4038, 4 August 1931, Page 47

ASSOCIATION.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. DUNEDIN. OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND. At Logan Park, before a fair attendance, a second Otago team met and defeated a Southland representative side on Saturday by six goals to nil. The young Otago players were too fast and clever for their opponents, and showing fine Combined play throughout treated the spectators to an interesting game. C. Drysdale, the Southland goalkeeper, had a trying time, and gave a good exhibition in the position. The teams were:— Southland. —R. Drysdale, Adamson, Maxwell, Anderson. 11. Campbell, M’Murdo, Dymock, W. Campbell, Devon (captain), C. Drysdale, Morrison. Otago. —Wills, Sutherland, Coatee, Moon," Gordon, Sutherland, Gorrie, Latimer, Groves, Moore, Woods. Referee, Mr A. Riach. THE PLAY.

Southland kicked off facing the town end. Midfield play marked the opening stages, until Latimer, with a cood header, put Otago forwards in position, Moore, accepting a pass from Gorrie, testing Drysdale, who cleared up-field. Otago again pressed. Groves forcing Drysdale to concede a corner, from which the goalie again made a good save. M’Murdo opened up and let Southland’s left-wing, Morrison, away, but the cross to goal was headed clear by Coates. Following good defence by the Southland backs, the visiting forwards broke away. Sutherland repulsed the attack, and Groves netted with a cross shot. Otago 1, Southland nil. Twice Drysdale, Southland's goalie, distinguished himself by saving further shots from Moore and Woods. The Otago teamwork and combination had the visitors penned in their own half, Drysdale, Adamson, and Maxwell being prominent in defence. Following a corner-kick, however, Woods crossed nicely for the ball to curl into the net. Otago 2, Southland nil. , The attacking movements of the Southland forwards lacked cohesion, but smart work by C. Drysdale in the centre, who slipped the ball to Morrison, looked dangerous until Coatee cleared Gorrie and Latimer on Otago’s right, well backed up by the play of Moon, frequently had the visitors’ defence in trouble, but most of the attempts at goal went high. Morrison neatly slipped past Sutherland, the Otago right back, when Coates conceded a corner to save. The defence cleared, but Drysdale and Campbell headed a further attack, which was repulsed, and the local forwards took play downfield, a corner resulting. Woods placed nicely to goal, and Gorrie tapped the ball into the net. Otago 3, Southland nil. The Southland halves were overkicking their forwards, allowing the Otago detenders easy clearances, and combined play by Latimer and Gorrie saw the latter hit the top of the crossbar with a good attempt. Just before half-time a free kick to Southland was well placed into goal by C. Drysdale, Wills fielding and clearing. The spell ended with Otago having had the better of the play. Southland opened the second half with more dash, but the solid defence of Otago prevailed, and good combination by the latter’s forwards saw Latimer’s shot well cleared by’ Drysdale. Another fine combined movement amongst the Otago forwards ended in Latimer again netting. Otago 4, Southland nil. Maxwell stopped Otago on the right, and came through with the ball, H. Campbell initiating play to Morrison on the left, and a hard shot forced Wills to give away a resultless corner. Maxwell again cleared strongly with Moore and Woods on attack, and from hard kicking by the Southland rearguard C. Drysdale secured the ball, the shot going by. Coates and Sutherland were holding up the spasmodic attacks of the visitors, and Groves opened out play to Woods. The winger crossed to the centre. Latimer, receiving a pass from Groves, gave Drysdale no chance. Otago 5, Southland nil. The Otago players were much superior to the visitors, who kicked wildly and displayed a lack of combination. Maxwell, at left back, and R. Drysdale, in goal, were always prominent, and C. Drysdale, who had changed to left half, initiated an attack, H. Campbell carrying on play to Morrison, who shot outside. Southland was battling hard with the odds against it, and both Dymock and Devon missed chances. Sutherland, Otago’s right back, was very safe on defence. Kicking w’ell down, Latimer got possession to drive home the final goal. Although Southland forced a resultless corner. Otago continued to hold the upper hand till the end, and the game resulted:

Otago .. .. 6 goals. Southland .. .. .. Nil. tn a curtain-raiser, Mosgiel beat Normal School in a Fifth Grade match by six goals to nil, Rogers (2), Gilchrist (2), Carr (1), and Johnson (1) being the scorers for the winners.