ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23255, 19 July 1937, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

THISTLE BEAT MATAURA HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY On Saturday afternoon, when the Mataura and Thistle teams met on the Mataura grounds, followers of the Association football code saw a display of football, the standard of which has seldom been surpassed on the Mataura grounds. Although the game ended in a win for Thistle by three goals.to two, a draw would have given a more satisfactory ending to the game. A feature of the play was the absence of any scrambling. It would be unfair to pick out any player as outstanding, with the possible exception of McCormack (Mataura) whose ball control and placing, especially in the second half, were brilliant. The teams were: Thistle (Tartan).— Ferguson; L. ORorke, M. O’Rorke; Smith, McMurdo and Taylor; Stubbs, Sherriffs, McLean, Sutherland, J. Morrison. Mataura (White).—Giles; W. Gilchrist, G. Gilchrist; Ramsay, Russell, James Morrison; Hardie, Billington, H. McKinnon, McCormack, W. McKinnon. Play was in midfield for a time, until a free kick to Thistle allowed McLean to get away to beat W. Gilchrist, but G. Gilchrist covered up. Taylor had a long shot which was deflected. Stubbs followed up, but Giles pushed the ball past. Soon after Morrison and McLean forced a comer off G. Gilchrist. The kick in was cleared to Russell. L. O’Rorke cleared to Stubbs who made a run to take a long shot which was returned. A free kick was awarded to Mataura close in. M. O’Rorke returned and Hardie gained possession and had a shot which was cleared to Sutherland, who passed to McLean who over-ran the ball, allowing Giles to clear. Sutherland gained possession and passed to McLean, whose shot was high. .McLean gained possession again and, in company with Sherriffs, looked dangerous, but Giles cleared nicely. John Morrison took a pass from Sherriffs, and made ground to centre but the movement was not supported. Sherriffs had a shot, but Giles was safe. Hardie went away on the wing until stopped by O’Rorke. H. McKinnon had a shot, but Ferguson cleared. W. Gilchrist passed back to the goalie, but hit too hard and put the ball into the net. The goal was disallowed, however, as the whistle had gone for offside play. Play now swung to Thistle’s end of the field, where L. O’Rorke cleared to Morrison. Stubbs broke away and looked dangerous, but McCormack cleared to Hardie, who forced a corner, the ball going into touch. McLean and Sutherland were again seen in a good movement, but offside play by Stubbs spoilt the effort. McMurdo gained possession and passed to McLean who ran up field, passed out to Morrison who centred to McLean, but Giles cleared. G. Gilchrist kicked to McKinnon, to McCormack back to McKinnon’ whose shot at goal was high. Russell collected and passed to H. McKinnon who had a shot. The ball struck the bar and rebounded into play. Sutherland and Ramsay fought for possession. Ramsay being supported by H. McKinnon and McCormack. O’Rorke finally cleared to Stubbs, who had a shot but Giles cleared nicely. Half time sounded with no score.

Play was fast from the beginning of the second half. Morrison and Sutherland combined well, but Morrison’s shot went past. Hardie now gained possession, made ground and centred to H. McKinnon. McCormack gained possession and passed out to Hardie to H. McKinnon, who beat M. O’Rorke and looked certain to goal, but his shot was weak. McCormack, again in possession, passed to W. McKinnon who beat the backs, but Ferguson came out to save. The backs kicked up to Sutherland, to Morrison who put in a low shot which beat Giles. Thistle 1, Mataura 0. Thistle forced the play but the Mataura defence held. Hard'e and the McKinnon brothers were seen in a good attacking movement. L. O’Rorke was solid, but the McKinnon brothers and McCormack kept up the pressure till Ferguson cleared. McLean, Sutherland and Sherriffs combined well in an attacking movement, McLean putting in a hard shot which was cleared. J. Morrison had a shot, Giles mishandled and Sherriffs, following up fast, found the net. Thistle 2, Mataura 0. It was now Mataura’s tun. to attack. McCormack had a shot which went wide, Russell collected and passed to Hardie who was beaten for possession by O’Rorke. McCormack made a solo run and passed out to Hardie, who forced a corner. Sutherland made a run, but was beaten by Morrison who passed to W. McKinnon. L. O’Rorke cleared. W. McKinnon collected from Russell, but kicked too far ahead. L. O’Rorke missed, but M. O’Rorke covered up to clear to Sutherland who made ground to put in a shot which hit the post. Stubbs followed up fast and found the net with a good kick. Thistle 3, Mataura 0. Mataura now made a determined attack. McCormack had a shot, the ball glancing off M. O’Rorke to Hardie, who punted to W. McKinnon. The lastnamed passed to McCormack who put in a hard shot, but Ferguson cleared. McCormack beat several players to pass to Billington whose shot went high. Again McCormack secured possession and passed to W. McKinnon, who beat L. O’Rorke to force a corner off M O’Rorke. The kick in was not productive. Hardie collected and kicked to H. McKinnon who dribbled in. Ferguson came out, and the ball was deflected off him to W. McKinnon who beat L. O’Rorke and found the net. Thistle 3, Mataura 1. G. Gilchrist cleared to Hardie, who made ground to pass to W. McKinnon who in turn passed to H. McKinnon. The last-named sent the ball well up to Hardie. L. O’Rorke crossed over to cover, but handled the ball in the penalty area. McCormack took the kick. Ferguson made a valiant effort to save, but the greasy ball beat him. Thistle 3, Mataura 2. The game ended soon afterwards. Mr T. McMurdo was the referee. JUNIOR GAME In the junior match, Thistle beat Mataura by six goals to nil. FRIENDLY GAME AT BLUFF INVERCARGILL TEAM BEATS RANGITIKI An Association football match between a team from the motor-liner Rangitiki and a combined Central and Southern team was played at Bluff on Saturday afternoon. The Invercargill team won by three goals to one. The ship’s team and its supporters.

with the Rangitiki band, met the Invercargill players at the railway station and afterwards marched in a colourful procession to the playing area The outing was treated as a gala occasion, many of the big vessel’s personnel being in fancy costume, while red and white rosettes, streamers and placards were plentiful. There was a big crowd at the game and although the ground was wet and slippery in many places the spectators saw a fast and clever exposition of the code. From first to last the teams never let up and a great deal of enthusiasm was shown as play swung rapidly from end to end of the ground. The teams were:—

Rangitiki (red!.—Lanbird; Rogers, Ford; Welham. Wicks, Youngson; forwards. Breeze, Meddle, Casserly, Smith. Cowper. Invercargill (ereen). —Pay: Adamson, McDonald: McPherson, Hobbs, Shirley, forwards. Gorrie. Herricks. D. T orrison, Officer. Dvmock. . Invercargill had a light breeze behind it in the first half. From the outset play was fast and both goal-keepei's were called on frequently to save. The town team drew first blood. Morrison netting. Before half-time Casserly equalized Invercargill 1, Rangitiki 1 On the resumption both sides attacked in turn. Morrison again goaled for Invercareill and before the end of the game McPherson added another. In the final stage Rangitiki made repeated assaults on the town goal. Pay saving t'me after time. Luck was not with the visitors, as on other occasions the ball hit the crossbar and uprights. The final whistle went with the scores: Invercargill 3. Rangitiki 1.. Both teams played with good combination and plenty of dash and lasted the game out well. The respective goallrpeners gave excellent performances Of the others, Welham. Cowper Smith and Rogers played fine games for the shin’s side and Hobbs. Morrison and McPherson for Invercargill.

ENGLAND BEATS AUSTRALIA BY 4 GOALS TO NIL (Received July 18. 6.30 p.m.) Brisbane, July 17. England defeated Australia by 4 goals to nil today. Twenty-five thousand people witnessed the match and the gate receipts amounted to £l7OO. England was clearly superior, scoring two goals in the first 11 minutes The play of the English backs was too much for the Australian attack and the forwards were unable to make any impression. England played grand football and won very easily. Showery weather restricted the attendance The ground was dead and

slippery, but this was not responsible for Australia’s eclipse. For England goals were scored by Mathews (2), Eastham and Finch.