A HARD GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 538, 22 August 1932, Page 11

A HARD GAME.

Millerton Reach Soccer Final. MAORI HILL BEATEN. (Special to the "Star.”) DUNEDIN, August 22. Millerton outclassed Maori Hill in the South Island final of the Chatham Cup competition, winning by three goals to one. The match was played under perfect conditions. Millerton’s hard play knocked the vim out of the local club champions and in the second spell the Duller team had matters nearly all their own way. Millerton were slow in settling down, but they quickly showed themselves to be dangerous attackers. The inside left, Newman, was early prominent as a likely goal-getter and Taylor, the outside. right, was extremely dangerous. However, play was being kept on Millerton’s left wing, which was not so penetrating or reliable. Tricky passing by the Maori Hill forwards, Proctor, the centre forward, being particularly adept, troubled Millerton’s defence and Dalziel, inside left, missed an easy goal when he shot straight at the goalie from three yards out. Maori Hill were the more dangerous, but Campbell, Millerton’s goalie, was both spectacular and safe in his saves. Newman was opening up play for Millerton two or his early shots were really dangerous. J. Blyth, however, missed one grand opportunity. lie lifted the ball over the bar when he had an open goal before him. Maori Hill's goalie was not being called on as frequently as Campbell, but when Taylor enticed Wills from the goal the local custodian was badly beaten. Taylor gave Cowan a light cross and the outside left took a gift shot, opening Millerton’s scoring account close on halftime. On the actual play Maori Hill were deserving of being one goal up, only the high class goal-keeping of Campbell stopping the Dunedin team from scoring. The spell ended Millerton 1, Maori Hill 0. Maori Ilill pressed hard at the opening of the second spell and after Balk’s shot was saved in dazzling style by Campbell, Carse gave Proctor an opportunity. Campbell tried desperately to save but Proctor found an opening and shot the equalising goal, 1-1. The hard pace was telling, particularly on Maori Hill whose forward line was reshuffled through Proctor being injured. Millerton were having most of the play and only sound defence kept them out. As the game progressed Maori Ilill became more lifeless. Nearly half the team were limping badly, but Millerton’s forwards lacked penetration. With only a quarter of an hour to go Newman, who was the cleverest forward on the field, had a shot. He failed to connect cleanly and in shooting high injured his leg. Maori Hill’s forwards were listless on attack, the absence of Proctor being felt. Millerton’s rushes were rewarded. With eight minutes to go Blyth forced a corner and headed Taylor’s cross into the goal. A minute later the centre forward and Newman burst through the centre, slipping to Graham, whose shot hit the bar and bounced into the net. Millerton 3, Maori Ilill 1. The West Coasters were definitely superior now and Blyth was unlucky in not being allowed another clear goal through an infringement during a : scramble. Blyth was playing bril > liantly, making his own openings and I shooting with deadly accuracy. In all | departments save the full-backs,^Mil-

lerton were the better team. The final score was; MILLERTON 3 MAORI HILL 1 In the North Island final Wellington Marist defeated Hamilton Wanderers. Wellington Marist and Millerton will now play off for the Chatham Cup.