ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1931, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

JULIAN CUP COMPETITION HAWERA AND ALBION LEADING. . TEAMS TO MEET NEXT SATURDAY With only two more playing Saturdays left in the second and final round of the senior competition for the Julian Cup in Taranaki, the contest maintains its interesting position. Hawera and Albion are level at the head of the points table. Stratford are next, but neither this nor any other club is within striking distance of the championship. Next Saturday Hawera and Albion will play at New Plymouth and the following week Hawera will meet Caledonians at Hawera, and Albion will play Stratford at Stratford. Hawera had a bye last Saturday.. Owing to Moturoa failing' to travel to’ Hawera to play Celtic, the only competition matches were played in New Plymouth. The grounds were wet and the ball greasy. Rain threatened. The results were: — Albion 3 v. Caledonians 2. Stratford 7 v. Pirates 2. Celtic won by default fiom Moturoa. The points table for the teams occupying the first three positions is:—

Though marred at the conclusion by incidents resulting in two players being ordered off, the match at Western Park in which Albion defeated Caledonians by three goals to two was a keen, hardfought contest that never lacked interest. Caledonians started well and early opened the scoring account. Albion took some time to settle down to their usual game. The. teams were: — Albion: Neighbour; Howie, Ashton; Ibbotson, Walbrau, Berry; Upshall, Murdoch, Randcll, Smith, Bannister. Caledonians: J. Rae; Crowe, Crawford; Fawcett, Quay, McKay; Jackson, Bremer, Gardner, R. Rae, Hill. ; Albion kicked off. Presently McKay sent the ball to Quay, R. Rae, and Hill, and Albion were put upon the defensive. Hill sent in to Gardner. Jackson ran in, received, and from a handy position swung a shot against the cross-bar. The rebound was fielded by Gardner, who made no mistake when he obtained Caledonians’ first . goal. Down to the other end went Albion, Upshall and Murdoch dribbling along till the former centred. For a minute or so Caledonians were defending and J. Rae was tested, but Crowe cleared and the game returned to mid-field. Howie relieved the pressure when Jackson was forcing matters. A brief rally into J. Rae’s area was easily stemmed and soon Caledonians were again looking for goals. Miskicking and lack of combination was making Albions’ play a little ragged; Caledonians were/having the better of it.. At this stage Randell was carried off as a result of a collision, but he returned some minutes later. J. .Rae and Crowe together just stopped a shot by Smith, who had received from Murdoch, and not long afterwards Albion returned to the attack. There was a spectacular move when Upshall made a splendid run down the side and cross-kicked to Bannister, who, in front of the goal, sent a good shot into the corner to equalise. A corner kicked by Hill *vas cleared by Berry and away went Albion again. Rushing towards J. Rae, Upshall tried for the net, with Crawford, coming up .to meet him. There was a scurry, Upshall shot—outside the goal. Gardner, about halfway, passed to Hill, who carried on down the side, tricking Howie, and sent in towards the goal, where Ashton stopped the ball and cleared almost immediately. Gardner stepped in to send a short dropping shot just behind the bar. Albion were displaying more of their usual form. A corner to Caledonians was resultless. Gardner sent across to Jackson, who was tackled by Howie and the ball went behind. At the other end. Smith and Murdoch got together and J. Rae was tested. From a throw-in Walbran sent well up and Bannister dropped, a fine cross-shot into the goal mouth. McKay was handy, however, and hpaded out. Albion crowded round. Caledonians were hardpressed. The ball passed out, but Upshall returned for Crawford to clear. Play was very keen and exciting. Upshall centred aud Randell took the ball on his head, turning it into the goalie’s hands —a clever piece of play. Murdoch was responsible for a pretty piece of play and Albions’ second goal when, just inside half-way, he received from Randell and sent a long, straight shot to beat J. Rae. It was a beautiful effort. With Albion leading by two goals to one the second spell began with every prospect of keen play. And anticipations were justified. But a few seconds bad passed when Hill beat Ashton and s'wung a strong shot against the junction of the upright and cross-bar —a narrow miss. Away went Albion to the other end, but Caledonians were soon back and Quay and Gardner combined to test Neighbour. Berry sent Bannister away to trick R. Rae and pass back to Smith. ■Smith kicked across to Murdoch, who tested J. Rae; the goalie threw out, and quickly Upshall attempted to penetrate with another shot. He was, however, tackled by McKay and had to concede a corner. On the attack, Caledonians reached their oppoents’ goal area and obtained an abortive corner. Again Caledonians rallied; Fawcett passed to Quay and to Hill, whose shot from the side was intercepted by Ashton. At this stage McKay retired temporarily with an injury to his right foot. Play continued in Albions’ territory. R. Rae tested. Neighbour with a lob; Albion were kept on a .loose defensive. At last the venue changed and Albion were conceded two corners. Crowe, Crawford and J. Rae were allowed no. rest. Later Randell received and ran on towards the goal: Crowe kicked behind to save and gave away a corner. Shortly afterwards, Albion maintaining the pressure, Upshall ran in and sent a good shot past J. Rae for the third goal. At the other end Bremer sent to Gardner and McKay received to kick a good long shot into Neighbour's hands. McKay again set off with the ball, tricked Howie, and shot behind the post. Hill came along and swung in, and Ashton cleaied; then fieldimr Ashton’s kick he repeated the manoeuvre, Neighbour saving to ■ From a throw-in the ball reached McKay, who tested the goalie with a «tirmer. Some seconds later he again essayed a shot, the ball bouncing off the head of an Albion back into the net for Caledonians’ second goal- Play was exceedingly fast and furious and ranged up and down. The climax came when Bannister kicked into the goal and J. Rae to save fell on the ball. As the goalie did not release the ball quickly enough and it was considered still to be in play the Albion plavers crowded round and endeavoured to kick it free. Tempers became fraved and J. Hill (the Caledonian outside left) was ordered off for retorting to the referee. By this time the whistle had been blown. The ball was bounced into play again, but no sooner had the players begun to move than there was another interruption and J. Ashton (left back for Albion) was ordered off for hanginc on to a-n opponent.

Two minutes later the final whistle sounded with the scores unchanged. ' Albion ' 3 Caledonians 2 Mr. G.' Lawrence was the referee. STRATFORD BEAT PIRATES. SEVEN GOALS SCORED TO TWO. A rain-soaked ground and a greasy ball largely accounted for poorness in the quality of play at Fitzroy, where Stratford defeated Pirates by seven goals to two. The visiting team combined well at times, but the inside players for Pirates were weak and time after time allowed Stratford to turn defence into an offensive movement. The teams were:— Stratford: Grearson; Jones, Thompson; Alsop, Lobban, Elgar; Millar, Elian; Potter, Sullivan, Henderson. Pirates; Jones; Anderson, Herdson; Wilmshurst, Wingrove, Darwell; Hamilton, Whittle, Southon; Henry, McKegney. . , . Pirates kicked off against the wind and the first piece of bright work was. a jsolo effort by Whittle, who took the ball 'from half-way, but his shot rose just over the bar. Stratford assumed- the offensive, but several poorly directed shots enabled Pirates to clear. However, Stratford were not to be denied, and from a melee in front of the goal Henderson shot a hot one past the home custodian. Stung by this reverse, Pirates ( attacked strongly and Hamilton and Southpn were given a great chance with only the goalie to beat. A misunderstanding, however, nullified the effort and Southon’s weak Shot was easily fended oft'. Stratford then attacked and from a thrown-in Millar secured and scored a neat goal. Pirates were unlucky not t<J be given a penalty in front of the goal for handling and Stratford came back with a hot attack. Potter beating the goalie with a very easy shot. Almost from the kick-off Stratford attacked again and Millar goaled, Stratford leading by four to nil. Tn the second spell Pirates made the first move and a good concerted effort enabled Henry to shoot a hot one home. Warmed by this first success Pirates attacked again but the Stratford custodian did great work in keeping his citadel intact. Relief came when Henderson made a good opening for. Elgar to score an easy goal. Stratford returned in full force and from a scramble in front of the goal Henderson scored. Pirates ten took a turn on the attack and a penalty for handling gave Anderson a chance to score from an easy position. For the remainder of the game Stratford had the upper hand and just on the call of time Elgar goaled again,' the final scores being: Stratford .7 Pirates 2 Mr. G. Jones was referee. JUNIOR MATCHES. In junior grade matches in New Plymouth on Saturday Thistle defeated West End by three goals to one and Fitzroy won from Central by default.

P AV D L> TI. J-Tn vvoi’fL ..»• .... 10 8 1 1 17 Albion .... .... io 8 1 1 17 Stratford .. .... 9 5 2 2 12