CANTERBURY'S F.A. TROPHY CHALLENGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1939, Page 23

CANTERBURY'S F.A. TROPHY CHALLENGE

AUCKLAND WILL BE HARD TO DEFEAT

Auckland, who took the trophy from Otago early in the season and have since successfully defended it against Wellington, will probably retain it against Canterbury. Comment by northern writers on Auckland's play against Wellington shows the undoubted skill of the holders.

The neat and effective play of the Auckland forwards in midfield and the solid* display given by the defence were an encouraging sign, and less apprehension will be felt regarding the forthcoming Canterbury challenge, which is likely to be the strongest experienced this season. The vanguard owed much of its brilliance to the initiative of the inside forwards, McCallum and Fyfie. They frequently had the opposing defence nonplussed with their clever footwork and lightning changes of direction, and on several occasions their own supports found difficulty in getting into position to take advantage of the unexpected passes that came their way, says the Auckland "Herald."

A contrast was provided in the play of the two centre-forwards, Stevenson (Auckland) and Leslie (Wellington), but they both rendered valuable service. In the knowledge that he had two fine inside men and two sprightly wings -to assist him, Stevenson played the right game, wedging himself between the backs and cutting down their clearing room to the minimum. He rose high off the ground

August 19 seems at present to be the date on which Canterbury will meet Auckland in the third F.A. Trophy match of the season. The board of control of the Auckland Football Association suggested this date at a recent meeting, but so far nothing has been heard as to whether it will suit Canterbury. Wellington have another challenge in, but there is little possibility of its being decided this season. *•

to lofty centres and his headwork brought him two goals. The first came when he deflected a clever centre from the left past Turkington, while he gained the* second by nodding the ball neatly past a Wellington back and running round to net comfortably from close range.

Leslie had less cause for satisfaction with regard to the support he was receiving, and he adopted the role of playing deep and attempting to mould his line into an effective unit. He occasionally came to close quarters with the backs, showing all his old speed and aggressiveness, but for the most part he endeavoured to make the inside and wing players the scoring men, feeding them with nicely-timed passes after running the defence out of position.

Cleal again played a captain's game for Auckland, assisting the full-backs as -well as co-operating with his halves in pushing home attacks. He and Speed carried the burden of the attack, the latter halting some of Wellington's best movements by quick interception. His exhibition was on a plane with that of Haines, who was the btxlwark of the visiting defence.