OTAGO WILL FIND PETONE A HARD TEAM TO BEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 5

OTAGO WILL FIND PETONE A HARD TEAM TO BEAT.

WELLINGTON SIDE HAVE YOUTH AND VIGOUR.

(Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, August 21. With the Chatham Cup, the symbol of club premiership, lost to the city and the English Football Association Trophy spirited away, Auckland is temporarily without a Soccer prize, but there are hopes. The match in the final of the Chatham Cup, North Island section, last Saturday, between YJM.C.A. and Petone took the club championship south for another year and all that now remains for Auckland is to concentrate on the English Trophy, for which a match has been arranged with Wellington on Blandford Park on September 8, when a stirring contest is assured. Beaten but not disgraced was the verdict after the Chatham Cup Tie on Saturday. In the opinion of most of the supporters of the club, the players without exception gave of their best and ran their more experienced and more weighty opponents much harder than was ever anticipated. Without a doubt Petone gave the more finished and methodical exposition of the code as far as the bustling tactics of Y.M.C-A. would allow them and, on this score they deserved a win, but on the other hand they ought never to have liad the goals they scored, and Y.M.C.A. threw away three or four golden chances. Such, of course, is all in the game, but Petone had a good deal to be thankful for.

The game was of the real rugged Cup Tie order. It was a case of experience and skill against youth and vigour, and the latter succeeded to a surprising degree. The balance and cohesion of the Petone side were apparent, but were robbed of their efficacy by the hustle and bustle of the Y.M.C.A tactics, so that the game was vastly more thrilling than scientific. The young men, however, were triers, though they failed at the critical moments. Whaley’s goal was a creditable effort and a great shot. On the Petone side, Campbell, at centre half, was the outstanding player. He was the headpiece of the visiting side and in all departments gave a masterly display. He did the work of two men. Like several of his clubmates he was showing unmistakable signs of distress some time before the final whistle blew. M’Nean was safe in goal and Steele and Haines stuck grimly to their task. Stubbs was more in the picture than Farquhar, who certainly kept a very close eye on Chalmers and Grant. Leslie tried many clever moves and showed undoubted ability in footwork, but always his efforts seemed to be baulked. He nevertheless supplied the necessary dash to keep the home defenders always on the qui vive, and had a dangerous shot. M’Kenzie, outside right, was most prominent in the forwards and had a dangerous way of cutting in when on the run, while his crosses were airways well-timed. Irvine supported him well and Cameron and James swung the ball about to some purpose in carrying out attacking movements.

Petone are certainly a •well-balanced team, without being in any way phenomenal, but they will take a power of beating on the Basin Reserve in the final against Otago’s champions.