CANADIAN SOCCER TEAM’S WIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 8

CANADIAN SOCCER TEAM’S WIN

WAIKATO REPS. OVERWHELMED A PRELIMINARY GALLOP BEFORE FINAL TEST THE Canadian Soccer team played the 18th match of its New Zealand tour at Hamilton yesterday before a record crowd. In view of the fourth test at Auckland on Saturday, great interest was taken in the match. The home side was beaten by eight goals to one. (From Our Special Representative.)

HAMILTON, Wednesday. The Canadian Soccer touring team were given a great reception here today, and the match against the South Auckland representatives at Rugby Park was favoured with ideal weather and flattered with a record attendance for the ground of over 5,000 spectators. Prior to the game the visitors were welcomed at a well-attended civic reception given by the Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, Borough Councillors, and representatives of kindred sports. The Rugby Union and Rugby League joined in a cordial welcome, after which the overseas players were guests at the Hamilton Rotary Club luncheon. CANADA ALL THE WAY Although overhead conditions were ideal the ground was sodden and still suffering from the effects of the heavy rains, and numerous soft patches hampered the visitors in giving a more perfect display. As it was they overwhelmed and outclassed the local team, and, without straining themselves, they took charge of the game after the first ten minutes, and won comfortably by scoring four goals in each half to the solitary one registered against them. The Canadians fielded the same team that represented them in the last test match, except that R. Williams relieved Monaghan at left half, and it was realised that Wailkato’s hopes of holding them in check was very remote. The teams were: Canada. —S. Tait, Crawley, Edmunds, M. Moon, Brolly, R. Williams, Gibson, Davidson, Archibald, Turner, Milligan (captain). South Auckland.—Hunter (Wanderers), Whitelaw (Huntly Thistle), Dodds (Rotowaro), Robertson (Pukekohe), Buchanan (Railways, captain), J. Tait (Huntly Thistle), Marsh (Railways), E. Williams (Wanderers), A. Moon (Railways), Latimer (Pukekohe), Chalmers (Railways). Referee: Mr. Jas. Baillie. Disaster came early to the local team, as soon after the start Gibson drew Whitelaw to the wing and sent across a centre, which Robertson ran back to clear, but had the mortification of sending into his own goal, and from the restart Brolly set his line in motion. The ball swung across from Milligan for Davidson to run in and net with a hot ground shot. Then Buchanan got possession and sent out to Chalmers, who flashed down the line and in-passed to Latimer, who sent across a high one with the sun behind it, right under the bar, where S. Tait was unsighted by the light and just pulled the ball down for A. Moon

to nip in and score the South Aucklanders’ only goal. The local team missed a chance of equalising when E. Williams wasted a penalty against Canada for “hands,” and from then out the Maple Leaf brigade took charge of things and dominated the game. TAIT KEEPS WELL The treacherous going at the northern end made some of the fullbacks’ volleying very flukey, but the tall Canadian custodian, Tait, was never seriously troubled, while the Waikato defence was kept under high pressure in holding the Blues back. Both the Canadian wing men were fast and centred with splendid accuracy. Turner notching a goal with a clever bit of evasive work, while Archibald potted a first-time “sitter” from Gibson, and the teams turned round with the score:— Canada 4 South Auckland 1 THE SECOND HALF In the second spell the visitors went off at a great pace and there were no “beg pardons” about their robust thrust as they swept down on the South Auckland goal with some splendid combined rushes. They were very hard to rob of the ball, and they did not hesitate to .use their weight in dispossessing their opponents. On the South Auckland side, Chalmers, at outside-left, was conspicuous with some fine sprints down the line, and frequently beat the opposing half, but Crawley was a tower of strength and coolness personified at fullback. From a series of corners placed well out Brolly scored with a long drive, and then Crawley dropped a long lob on to Turner’s head, which was netted cleverly. Hunter was defending gallantly in the Red’s goal, but after he had cleared twice in rapid succession the ball came out to Brollv, who banged it back with a daisy - trimmer. In the final stages the Canadians eased up the pressure a bit, and the local forwards had an occasional turn at attack, but lacked penetrative force, while the visitors entertained the crowd with some tricky triangular work and short passing movements, from one of which Archibald slammed in a lightt ’ which made the final Canada 8 South Auckland 1 NOTES AND COMMENTS For the winners, the whole team played well, and it was difficult to

single out any player for individual comment, unless it was the impressive display of Crawley and Brolly among the backs and the speedy wings with their perfect finishes among the forwards. The homo team were disappointing and did not play up to club form. They lacked confidence and were disinclined to get into the game with any gusto. Too often they stood off, and let the visitors take charge of the game, when a bit of bustling work might have upset them. Chalmers stood out in the front line with some determined dashes down the line, but he lacked support. E. Williams worked hard at inside-right, but he, too, was neglected, and did not show the same excellence as when seen in the Northcote line in Auckland games. Buchanan played a sound game at centre-half, but had a lively trio to look after in Archibald, Turner and Davidson, and the strain on the heavy ground told its tale toward the end. J. Tait stuck well to his tasks, but is not a wing half, and the fullbacks were always worried by the opposing van when the ball came their way. It was unfortunate that the Cant - dians were not faced with a stronger opposition which would have put them on their mettle and given the spectators an impression of what a hardfought game with the round ball is really like, but their tricky footwork, clean kicking and clever head-work gave a taste of their quality, and they are confident of winning the deciding test in Auckland on Saturday. To-morrow they will visit the Waitomo Caves, and then catch the Rotorua express for town. They speak in glowing terms of the hospitality extended to them in their tour, and were deeply impressed with the wonders 0. the thermal district on their way through from Gisborne.