SOCCER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 10

SOCCER.

SENIOR GAMES. The qualifying round for senior Soccer teams was concluded to-day. On English Park, the unbeaten Rangers eleven met New Brighton. On city grounds, Thistle met Technical and St Albans opposed Marist. A weakened Western team travelled to Kaiapoi, and Sumner were at home to Nomads.

NEW BRIGHTON DRAW WITH RANGERS TEAM

The teams were:— Rangers—E. Barnes; W. Lorrimer, W. Barnes; F. Forsyth, F. Robb, J. Wilson; D. Fraser, A. Smythe, 11. Sloan, C. M’Dougall, L. Anstey. New Brighton—M. Mitchell; S. Cawtheray, E. Staines; A. Gordon, A. Porter, C. Whittaker; P. Allen, J. Cockle, A. Cope, P. Knight, T. Walls. The opening exchanges were dull. Mitchell was safe from loose Rangers’ attacks and Whittaker placed well down. A miss by W. Barnes let Cope through, but he'failed to steady and lost a certain goal. Rangers held the balance in lifeless exchanges, until a cross from Sloan allowed Anstey to score with a close-in header. Rangers 1, New Brighton 0. Cope had a chance at the other end, but E. Barnes came out and punched clear. Play was straggling badly. Smythe made ground smartly and sent across, but Sloan failed to connect. At the other end, Porter, in possession from Walls, had Barnes on the move with a long lob. A disappointing first half ended with the score: Rangers 1, New Brighton 0. The second half opened more briskly. Rangers had a chance when Mitchell was penalised for “ carrying ”, but a goal-kick resulted. Up-and-down play followed. A goal-kick gave Smythe the possession, and he sent on to Sloan, who shot wide. In a loose Brighton effort, a cross from Cockle found Knight on the spot, and he levelled the scores. Rangers 1, New Brighton 1. Both teams attacked determinedly now. Walls slipped Forsyth and Lorrimer and finished with a screwing shot, inches high. A combined Brighton movement ended in Cockle striking the upright with a strong cross-shot. A free kick against Sloan ended a promiring Rangers movement. Allen outpaced the Rangers defence, but his centre was cleared. At the other end Mitchell fumbled and conceded a corner, which was cleared. Anstey finished another fast run with a strong drive that Barnes held and cleared. Then Knight went solo from the halfway line, but Barnes gathered his shot. Final score: RANGERS 1 NEW BRIGHTON 1 Referee: Mr A. Harris.

TECHNICAL ON TOP.

Ex-Thistle players now in the Technical Old Boys’ team met their late team mates at Spreydon Domain, which probably had something to do with the very keen and fast game that resulted. Thistle attacked brightly from the kick-off, G. Clements and A. Trotter heading from successive corners on opposite sides of the field, but L. Martin was safe in goal. First blood went to Technical, H. O’Loughlin heading through at the end of an open movement after A. Sutherland had given him the ball. A minute later a Technical back failed to clear, and G. "Walker gave Thistle a goal from the left wing. After a period of Technical ascendancy, Thistle won their way to a corner by a series of attacks but were penalised when Trotter used his hands in goal-mouth to put the ball through. Fine work along the Technical right produced two sweeping movements that were cleared. A penalty against the Thistle outside right gave Technical a chance and F. Tentori sent over a swerving centre, from which O Loughlin just failed to score. Halftime came with Thistle attacking and the score Technical Old Boys 1, Thistle

Both sides attacked strongly on resuming, Thistle having a couple of shots ™ ell back - Technical closed on Thistle s goal and G. Wilson snapped the ball in. Technical 2, Thistle 1. Following fast exchanges in mid-field, Trotter shot hard but a little wide. Then TV. Jolly, Technical’s centre, made a ./ rno solo effort, losing the ball only half the len Sth of the field. Jhistle were dangerous when R. Purdy had Martin all out to clear. Jackson began a Thistle attack, Trotter shooting high after J. Spoil's had centred to him. Technical were hemmed in for all but a few minutes of the last quarter of an hour; but Thistle were unable to penetrate a sterling defence, time coming with the score:—-

TECHNICAL thistle \;; Referee: Mr 11. "Weatherhead,

ST ALBANS V. MARIST.

Marist met St Albans at Richmond Park. The game opened sensationally, the Marist centre forward, M’Kendry, scoring a great goal from about twentyfive yards out, about one minute after the commencement. Stirred by the sudden reverse, St Albans rallied, and a golden opportunity was lost when "W. Cook mis-kicked near the Marist goalmouth. Following a period of even play, M’Kendry scored his second goal when he beat .Andrews with a hot shot at close range. Marist 2, St Albans 0. Good work by the St Albans forwards brought play down to Marist territory, where Broughton sent across a high shot which Cullen snapped up and netted. Marist 2, St Albans 1. Both teams were putting plenty of vim into their play, but their efforts lacked finish. St Albans were attacking when half-time came with the score, Marist 2, St Albans 1.

A long period of even play marked the opening of the second spell. Marist were attacking strongly but could gain nothing from the many corners awarded them. St Albans now took a turn in attacking. Good ’keeping by M’Rae prevented any score. Later, Cullen and W. Cook were prominent in attacking movements, but were handicapped by lack of support. Marist were attacking when time came with the final score: MARIST 2 ST ALBANS 1 Referee: Mr J. Boyd.

SUMNER V. NOMADS. Nomads heat Sumner by three goals to nil in the match played at Sumner to-day. Smith scored two goals for Nomads, and Goods one. while for Sumner, Stoneman shot both goals. WESTERN V. KAIAPOI. Kaiapoi met Western at the Kaiapoi Domain, and a fast, even game ended in a draw, the score being two goals each. Kaiapoi kicked off and a smart movement by Noble and Isles ended in Isles missing a “ sitter.” Western attacked and a shot by Thompson struck the bar. Western sustained the attack and a hard shot by Falloon found the net. They kept tip the pressure and forced a corner, which was relieved by Noble. The Western forwards were working well, and a hard shot by Henderson went over the bar. The Kaiapoi Whittington gathered the ball and passed to Thompson, who made no mistake. Western 2, Kaiapoi 0. Kaiapoi now took a hand, but several promising movements lacked finish. Western attacked and a shot by Henderson was punched out by Whyte, and Stoddart relieved with a good klqk. Kaiapoi followed tip, and a shot by Hamilton was punched out by Colville. There was no change in the score at half-time.

On resuming, Kaiapoi attacked and vo shots in quick succession by Godirt went missing. Western returned

and a solo effort by .Henderson failed. AVestern brought down Bruce in the penalty area, and lsles’s kick found the net. Western 2, Kaiapoi 1. AVestern now livened up and a hard shot bv Henderson was stopped by Whyte, and lie was temporarily knocked out. Kaiapoi returned smartly and forced a cori le , r » . and Noble kicked through. The full-time sounded soon after with play in midfield. Scores:— KAIAPOI 2 AVESTERN 2 Referee: Mr J. Crew.

PETER DAWSON CUP HELD BY WESTLAND

(Special to the “Star”) , , CSREYMOUTH, June 20. resulted'-— 1 11 f ° r t,ie i eter Dawson Cup WESTLAND (holders) .... 3 DULLER ,