Representative Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 6

Representative Soccer

A WIN FOR AUCKLAND Brown Shield Holders Beaten TO celebrate -winning the senior Soccer championship tlie Y.M.C.A. co-operated with the local association in staging a “Y.M.C.A. Day” at Blandford Park on Saturday, tlie feature game being a match between the Auckland and South Auckland representatives in which Auckland proved too good for the visitors, and a bright game ended in Auckland’s favour by four goals to nil. An attractive curtainraiser was a close game between the rival Y.M.C.A. clubs of Hamilton and Auckland, the local champions just gettinghome by the odd goal in three.

Thanks to the strong - boosting in the sale of tickets by Y.M.C.A. workers and the attraction of a perfect day for outdoor sport, there was a welcome large attendance of spectators and they were rewarded with two matches full of life and bursts of exciting play. The heavy rain had left patches of soft going which hampered free play at times and appeared to upset the visiting teams more than the home side, who were more inured to such vagaries in the run of the ball. SOME PROMISING COLTS A bright opener for the early birds was the final for the fourth grade championship between Metro-College and Y.M.C.A,, the Metropolitan lads being too solid for the lighter youths of the “Y.” and running out winners of a hard-fought contest by three goals to nil. For an under 18 side the MetroCollege team was a hefty side, which included some of the secondary school reps., and gave a most promising display, showing plenty of speed and good ball control, with a good knowledge of team w'ork and positional play. LOCAL CHAMPIONS IN ACTION The introduction to the big game \vas the friendly clash between the Y.M. clubs of Auckland and Hamilton, in which the local champions had to go all out to secure the narrowest of victories. Each side sacrificed two star players to the rep. match which followed and were very evenly matched. The first half was mostly in favour of the visiting Young Men. and handling by a local defender under pressure provided a penalty which gave Hamilton the single goal lead at half time. The alterations in the local’s front line appeared to throw its team Play out of gear and Hamilton played better together, being unlucky not to score in some nice atts.cking movements.

Tn the second half the local forwards produced better form and Otter evened matters by following in fast from a hot »hot by Clanachan. The Hamilton Y.M. rallied strongly, but finished weakly near goal, and at the other end Humphreys worked a good opening to let Jay through for the winning goal. Near the end Hamilton wen: through with a strong attack and netted, but Phillips was over-eager and faulted in getting into an offside position, the goal being properly disallowed by Mr. H. Alp, who gave an admirable display of refereeing on his first appearance at headquarters. THE REPRESENTATIVE GAME It was quite like old times to see the once familiar red and white of South Auckland take the field in marked contrast to ttu blue and white of the home side and six of the local eleven appeared in Auckland’s representative colours for the first time. The local newcomers all showed promising form and indicated that the selector has good spare material to hand for team building when replacements are needed by Mr. Neesham. Although, perhaps, not four goals better on the day’s play, the home side showed superior play in all departments and combined better than the visitors. AUCKLAND’S LIVELY FORWARDS The Auckland front line was smart in settling ’down, McMillan working in well with Kay, while Williamson fitted w oil with Innes, and McLeay was clever and anticipatory in the pivotal position. An early burst on Auckland’s left ended with Kay driving hard and high for the net, but Hunter fisted well clear with a perfectly-timed punch and it was not long before Gerrard, in Auckland’s goal, had to step lively and bounced his way cleverly out of a hot attack. The first goal came when Innes jfiaced from the corner flag to the centre and McLeay made a perfect opening for Williamson to slam to the net. Soon after Chapman put a good pass to McMillan, which the Pony colt sent nicely on to Kay. He cleared down the line to hit a centre ori the run and McLeay judged it splendidly to bead to the net. The goal was loudly applauded as one of the neatest bits of team work seen for some time and Auckland was two up at the bsfteithing spell. A LIVELY SECOND SPELL The Waikato men made it willing when play resumed and their persistent pressure* soon had the Auckland backs in difficulties. There was a loud cheer when a loose rush swept the ball into Auckland’s net, but the Reds’ luck was right out in being recalled to take a free kick on the margin of the penalty area for a foul by an Auckland back. The advantage rule would" have allowed a well-won point to the visitors. The home side relieved and raced through to Hunter, with Williamson and Innes leading the pack. A lobbing centre came in to McLeay, who brought down the house by scoring with a tricky overhead hook to the net behind him. With a three-goal deficit the visitors appeared to lose heart somewhat, and settled down to dogged defensive tactics as Auckland assumed the upper hand for the closing stages, Hunter, in goal, keeping the local marksmen out by some smart saving. A sequence of corner kicks by Innes and Kay were profitless, but another combined flank movement by Williamson and Innes ended in a strong centre to McLeay, who tricked the defence by cleverly dummying a back-heeler to Kay and the ball flew* through the open goal. SOME PROMISING PLAYERS There was a general opinion that at fullest strength Auckland would have won by a much larger margin, but the players making their debut also made good and justified their selection. McLeay stood out as a clever centre-for-ward and brainy tactician. He made no attempt to mix it under pressure, but gave a first-class display of good Soccer. He got great support from his inside men, McMillan and Williamson, who worked untiringly as feeders. Chapman, at centre-half, was in the thick of both defence and attack, showing out well in both, although up against a solid proposition in Robertson. Johnston, at fullback, defended well, but was shaky at times under pressure where ground conditions were bothersome. Jack Gerrard gave his usual finished display in goal, with sound anticipation and quick clearances. Hunter gave a great display in goal for the visitors, and English was solid in defence. Robertson and Latimer

were hard workers in the half line. Adams and Deakin were a dangerous left flank which worried Auckland’s defenders a lot and with a little more punch in their parting shots the Southerners would have made the issue much closer. ONEHUNGA V. TAMAKI Onehunga could not have chosen a better day for its carnival day than Saturday. Weather conditions were perfect. The Soccer ground was in excellent trim when Tamaki faced Onehunga in the match for the Jordan Cup. Onehunga again was unfortunate. Gill, Scandle, Moon and Petersen were on the sick list, while Lowry has returned to Wellington, having played his last match a week ago. In the end the vacant places had to be filled with five juniors. Tamaki appeared hopeful of a victory, and a large number of supporters had come to cheer it on. The visiting team kicked off with the sun and the wind in its face. The first score was registered soon after the start, when G. Diamond scored for Tamaki. Onehunga made determined efforts to equalise. Ten minutes hot pressing round the visitors’ goal bore fruit when Dick beat Hoyt with a close-range shot. Events moved quickly after the kick-off. The ball was passed to R. Diamond, who took it up the field and centred for G. Diamond to score again, much to Zuill’s surprise. During the remainder of the spell the fast pace at. which the game was being played was kept up. and the match was interesting to watch. At first, Onehunga, with Whimster and Dick to the fore, was the attacker, but ultimately the Tamaki forwards secured the upper-hand, their combina - tion and dash effectively bottling up their opponents in their own half for most of the remaining time. • PACE SLACKENS The second half opened well enough, but the pace soon faded away, while the game became a mere aimless kicking of the ball, little science at all being shown. Excepting for the last quarter of an hour, Tamaki had most of its own way, and in the person of G. Diamond (1), and R. Diamond (2). added three more goals to its bag, finally carrying off the cup with a s—l victory. Of the two teams, Tamaki exhibited greater combination and team-work, although Onehunga admittedly had a scratch team, but Tamaki also showed more dash and eagerness and certainly deserved its victory. It would be hard to pick out any special player among the forwards. The whole lot played well together and showed plenty of enterprise. The defence was in most cases well up to scratch, as results show. Among the losers, Zuill and Dick worked as hard as anyone. Woodhall was bright at times. Whimster, alone, among the forwards was of any real use. If he had had a partner as good as himself, the score might have read differently, but as it was there was no on© good enough to back him up. Onehunga is sadly in need of n leader, someone who will be capable of producing some combination among the rest. Perhaps next season that “someone” will turn up, and all will be merry and bright with the Manuka u team once more.