ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

"SOCCER" GAME,

MUINGTON BEATS AUCKLAND.

FljlE DISPLAY

MATCH WON ON CALL OF TIME. ■ In brilliant weather and on a perfect ground, Wellington defeated Auckland by 3 goals to 2 on Newtown Park yesterday afternoon. From start to .finish tho game was an exciting conflict. In fact; the fow hundred spectators wore treated to what was described as the prettiest game of "soccor" which has boon seen in Wellington for'many years past. , The visitors' combination was perfect, - and 'at ■ times thoir forward rushes wero wonderful, ltight up to tho,final whistle it was, anybody's game, but Wellington notchcd the winning point just as the whistle sounded. The local team were beaten in every department of ' tho game during tho first half, but, as usual, they were seen at their best during the second. In addition to Auckland's brilliant quintet of forwards, C. Bennett, their goalkeeper, was in great fettle! The team were the same as originally published, with the exception ;that Shaw. (Wanderers) and Daley took the places of •Cross and Carruthors qn the Wellington side. : -. ' Auckland's Spell. At the outset Auckland were prominent in attack, and Hodson, their right half, shot home, but without result. Walworth staved off a Wellington attack, and a little later Boyne, the Blues' brilliant' centre-forward, gavo Hollis a hot one to stop.. Pitkin, outside right, repeated the doso a 1 Second or two later, hut Hollis .again stopped. A little later Pitkin put in d beautiful centre, which Hollis ■ just managed to tip over the cross-bar. Wellington now took a hand, and Roots, Daley, and, Gibson were prominent, but Roberts, right. back - for Auckland, blocked a dangerous;rush, and away went the Auckland . van at- -speed. M'Laren secured, and, racing up field, passed nicely, to Wolley. The latter centred to Shepherd, who sent the ball out to Pitkin on ilw rij*ht. » With the leather at toe, the outside right raced in, and passed to Boyne, centre-forward, who in turn sent the'ball on to Morton, who capped this- excellent piece of combined play by banging the leather through. Auckland, 1; Wellington, 0. Playing with superior combination, the visitors.,lcept Wellington very busy; Try, as; they "would the local men could "hot brejk lip the attack, 1 and from a concerted ipieco, of play, .in which halfbacks and forwards took part, Boyne put on Auckland's second goal. The Blacks now attacked stronglj - , and Skinner put in a shot which Bennett saved. Under the. stress -of. the attack j't, the Aucklanders packed their goal;' ' With little intermission, Wellington hammered away,, and: Gibson tested;'Bennett's'qualities' as a goalkeeper—severelybut unsuccessfully. On.one occasion, too, Hughes missed the| posts by inches. Just before halftime,both teams mado heavy Efforts to alter the tally, but the whistlo found Auckland still .leading by two goals.

The Scores Squared,

Brilliant play characterised tho Sec-ond,-spell. In a couple of minutes Wellington's' chance . came. Skinner passod well to A. Lowe, who headed into . goal. Bennett was evidently caught nappingf and. fumbled, and Hughes ran up and tapped the leather into the net. Wellington, 1; Auckland, 2. AVellington kept up the onslaught. Edwards and Hugnes shot frequently, .but found Bennett always ready. Every ounce of Auckland's defence was now called on, but relief only came when Daley, Wellington's outside right, was pulled up for offside play. From the kick-off Auckland attacked, and Pitkin had a shot which Hollis blookcd,. and then, in a\ flash, play was whirled to tho other, end, where Bennett took the ball off the foot of Gibson right in the goal-mouth; 'but Wellington's second goal 1 was,at hand. ' Edwards .put in a i'heautiful 'centre from the left, which : Bennett punched out. Hughes was handy, however, and catching the ball l,on the -rebound,'landed it in the net. Two all. ■ • ' Now or Never. , It was now or never with both teams, and the fyecame very fast. From the vicinity of Wellington's goal, Wolley .headed a pretty passing rush. Ho beat a couple of Wellington men, and sferit th& ])all out nicely to Boyne., Tho latter continued at, top - speed. ,Ho kicked a little/too hard, however, and Hollis ran. out, and got in a serviceable "speculator." There was still ten minutes to go,-and it was anybody's game. Passing rushes wore now.fthe rule, and Auckland's : combination was perfect. The ball; rapidly, saw the ends of tho field—first one end, then the othor— and Skinner and Roots saved Wellington repeatedly. Once Wolley shot hard, but Hojlis punched out. A shot by Boyne .hit the ' post. Eventually Daley .secured, and passed to Gibson, who took plav ; down the ' right wing. There was only one minute to go, and the only, probability was a drawn game, when suddenly a shout wont up. Wellington attacked iit their strongest, inch, and, right on the call of time, A. inch, and, right on the call o ftime, A. Lowe slamed home the winning goal. Wellington, 3; Auckland, 2. ; Mr. F. O'Connell was referee.

... After the Match, i Both teams were the guests of the Wellington Football Association at the New Zealander Hotel last evening. Mr. J. B. Paton occupied the chair. In proposing the toast of the visitors, Mr. Paton said that the game he had witnessed during the afternoon was one of the best he had seen in Wellington. Ho said that there was no doubt that the better team bad lost, and lie complimented tho visitors on their splendid combination. Other toasts were: "The Referee," proposed by Mr. A. F. Newbold, "The New Zealand Football Association," proposed by Mr. A. Williams, of the W.F.A., seconded by ■Mr. H. M'Kcowen ; "Wellington Team," proposed by ..Mr. Williams (Auckland), and responded to by Mr. Hughes. During the course of the ovening it was announced that B. Boyne, .Auckland's clever centre-forward, had been offered, and had accepted, an engagement to play for Aston Villa, one of the leading clubs in England. He leaves Auckland for Sydney on October 20, and joins a P. and 0. steamer at Sydney for London. His passage is being [paid and ho has signed on for Aston Villa for this season at a fee of £4 a week. Bovno is quite a young player. He learned tho game in Auckland, and has played for several clubs there. Tliis season he played centre-forward for Everton, the Auckland Cup winners.