OPENING OF SOCCER YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1931, Page 8

OPENING OF SOCCER YEAR

CALEDONIANS DEFEATED MATCH AGAINST HAWERA CELTIC GAME AT PUKEKURA PARK In a particularly fast and clever game for the opening match of the season, Hawera Celtic defeated Caledonians by three goals to one in a Soccer match played at Puke'kura Park yesterday. The teams lined out as follows:— CALEDONIANS. Shepherd Crowe Rydes Wilmhurst Reid Quay (capt.) Crawford Cardiff Clarke McDowall Robertson HAWERA CELTIC. Hartles Reece Newman Williamson Co'ekerill 'Smith Pettet 'Starling Maloney {capt.) McGluskie James The Hawera Celtic team forced the pace in the first half. McGluskie came up fast on the left wing and shot hard but Shepherd just saved. The Hawera forwards had energy and compactness and broke through the Caledonian defence. Starling's weight and determination told at last and he put a hot shot into the corner. Hawera Celtic 1, Caledonians 0. The Caledonian team began in a smart move down the field and Cardiff sihot but Hartles cleared comfortably. The Caledonians were finding it hard to pass Williamson, Cockerill and Smith and, when they did, they found even stouter defence from Reece and Newman.

For Caledonians Cardiff was playing a swift, neat-footed game. There was a warm tussle round the Caledonian goal and Shepherd, with coolness and ripe judgment, cleared in the teeth of a rush. Then Caledonians swept down the field again with short, sharp passing in the centre until Reece robbed McDowall and cleared. Once again Caledonians pressed in Hawera’s quarter until Celtic made a rapid rally upfield. Williamson, playing a rugged game, booted powerfully and Starling cut fast in to the centre, trapped the ball and shot his second goal. Hawera Celtic 2, Caledonians 0. On the visitors’ right wing Pettet flashed along the line at a great pace and Hawera Celtic crowded at the mouth of the Caledonian goal. All the time Shepherd kept his head and cleared well into the open. Caledonians tested Hartles once before the spell ended but he saved easily and halftime came with the score: Hawera Celtic 2, Caledonians 0. Caledonians began freshly in the second spell. Quay fed his centre men cleverly. McDowall, who began to play a much better game, swung in a hard shot from the wing but Hartles cleared well. Again McDowall came speeding in from the right wing and centred. Darting through the press Cardiff swept a hot shot past the goalie’s outstretched hands into the corner of the net and the score was; Hawera Celtic 2, Caledonians 1. There was a lively sting now in the play of the Caledonians. Crawford and Clarke nearly tricked through the defence. Hard shots were coming in from McDowall on the wing. The Caledonian backs were kept very busy. When it seemed that Hawera Celtic had tired the team suddenly rallied. A long kick came to the forwards from Smith, and James and Maloney shot in rapid succession. The visitors began to find gaps in the defence. Pettet flew down the wing and centred. Maloney snapped the pass, steadied and sent a neat shot high into the corner of the net. The game ended soon afterwards with the score; Hawera Celtic 3, Caledonians 1. Mr. Lawrence was referee.