SOCCER

Evening Star, Issue 23368, 11 September 1939, Page 10

SOCCER

MOSGIEL AGAIN PREMIERS THIRD SUCCESSIVE YEAR Undefeated throughout the year, Mosgiel on Saturday earned the right to the Fletcher Cup premiership for the third time by beating Mornington decisively on Logan Park. This trio of victories in the competition has not been equalled by any other club for 12 years—since the cup was presented. Northern, runners-up, defeated Seacliff in a high-scoring game, while Maori Hill, third on the ladder, were winners in their meet against Roslyn-Wakari. High School Old Boys defeated Technical Old Boys by a close margin to take fourth place. FLETCHER CUP TROPHY WINNERS TO DATE The list- of’ winners of the Fletcher Cup to date is as follows; — ■ 1927. Northern (Seacliff run-ners-up) . 1928. —Maori Hill (Northern run-ners-up). 1929. —Seacliff (Technical run-ners-up). . . 1 1930. —Seacliff (Technical run-ners-up). : . 1931.—Otago High School Old Boys (Seacliff runners-up). 1932. —Seacliff (Mosgiel runners-up). 1933. —Maori Hill (Mosgiel run-ners-up) . 'l934.—Technical (Seacliff run-nero-up). 1935. Maori Hill (Mosgiel run-ners-up) . 1936. —Seacliff (Mosgiel runnprs-up). 1937'.—Mosgiel (Otago High School Old Boys runners-up). 1938. Mosgiel (Maori Hill run-ners-up). 1939. —Mosgiel (Northern run-ners-up) . 1939 COMPETITION Final positions of the teams in the 1939 Fletcher Cup competition are as follows;

HELD TILL HALF-TIME THEN MOSGIEL TROUNCE MGRNINGTON Surprisingly enough, Mosgiel did not have things all their own way against the second to bottom team at Logan Park on Saturday in the first speh, both sides failing to register, but on the resumption the defence of the hill side failed, and the side as a whole lost its earlier combination, while Mosgiel improved to net half-a-dozen goals. Thus Mosgiel earned the right to the premiership for the third successive year. It was early apparent that the country team was not going to have any runaway victory, for the bustling tactics of the Momington halves and speedy breakaways by the forwards prevented Mosgiel from settling down to their usual combined game. Mornington’s right van was particularly effective, but strong movements faded at the back line. Play was fast and fairly even, but shooting on both sides was weak, Mosgiel breaking through thus and time again to have their scoring efforts nullified by the fine ’keeping of Martin. Webster, at full-back for Mornington, tried a long shot, but Hall saved; then C. Agnew also missed a comparatively easy one. W. Steven replaced Pauli at Mosgiel’s centre, and tried a long shot, but Martin sent Momington away with a long clearance, and L. Agnew was unlucky with a drive which struck the upright. Mosgiel were spoiling the effects of positional play by running past the backs and getting effside. Though called upon to rave two strong shots immediately before time, Martin did a good job in keeping his goal intact during the spoil. Momington kept the pace on in the second spell, Cope shooting narrowly over as the hill forwards went through' from the kick-off. From a corner, Rogers fed W. Steven, and with a close shot be opened the Mosgiel account. Momington now were badly bustled. Nicholson made a short run on Mosgiel’s right and crossed beautifully, Rogers having two shots at netting and succeeding on the second. Mosgiel 2. Momington 0. Fine crosses by Nicholson, w}io was playing really well, were twice turned to advantage by W. Steven, then Nicholson secured from a goal kick and went through to beat Martin with a curling shot. Finally after Mosgiel had had all the run of the play, with Mornington trying hard to regain their lost form, Pauli made an opening for Rogers, who made no mistake with a crisp shot, making the final scores; Mosgiel fi Momington ... 0 Mr W. P. Smith controlled the game.

HILL WIN ERRATIC GAME Maori Hill showed to advantage in the opening stages of the game against .Roslyn-Wakari at Ellis Park, M'Quarrie and Balk testing Hugson, but Roslyn swung play to the other end, and Rutherford’s strong shot was cleared by Wills. Then M’Qnarrie and Haldane staged a strong offensive, and the latter’s shot placed Hill in the lead. Shortly after Hill were through again, Romerill netting neatly. Roslyn’s standard of play dropped sadly, and Balk brought off a long speculator, while Romeril added another after good play-by Dalziel, Maori Hill 4, RoslynWakari 0. Roslyn were more aggressive in the second spell, and after a partial save, Welham scored. Weak shooting spoiled other chances, and after several narrow escapes, Hill attacked, and Balk netted with a beautiful drive. Smyth rushed a rebound from a corner through at the finish, leaving the scores: Maori Hill 5 Roslyn-Wakari 2 Mr P. George was the referee. SCHOOL WIN SHORT-HANDED High School Old Boys met Technical at the Oval, neither side being at full strength. In the first spell Technical, playing nine men, could not hold Old Boys, and with Groves scoring three goals and Ramsay one, the latter led 4-0 at the interval. Strengthened by the inclusion of Middlemass and another player, Technical did better in the second half, Middlemass scoring twice and Witchall once. Watt missed a penalty for Technical, but Groves improved Old Boys’ score by adding another goal: High School Old Boys ... 5 Technical Old Boys 3 Mr W. Woodcock was referee. NORTHERN HEAD SEACLIFF In a closely-fought, high-scoring game at Seacliff, Northern defeated the hospital side by 3 goals to 5, after fortunes had fluctuated considerably throughout, IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND. Auckland Secondary Schools 2, Wellington Secondary Schools 2. —Falcon Cup Final.— Onehunga 1, Y.M.C.A. nil. —Championship.— Abels 3, North Shore 0. Comrades 6, Grey Lynn 1. Ponsonby 6, Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. 1 WELLINGTON. Petone 3, Seatoun 1. Waterside 7, Technical Old Boys 1. Petone and Waterside have finished their championship games, and are level at the top of the table, five points ahead of the third team, Seatoun.

O -P Playcc Won. Lost. 0 es cS u. o (ft 0 O Goals agains w 0. 6 Mosgiel ... 16 13 0 3 112 25 29 Northern ... 16 13 1 2 67 35 28 Maori Hill 16 7 6 3 52 44 17 High School 01d ; Boys 16 16 8 8 0 39 56 SeacliS 16 7 7 2 47 51 16 Roslyn- _ 1 48 14 Wakari ... 16 6 8 2 39 Caversham' 16 4 8 4 39 52 12 Mornington 16 4 11 1 44 73 9 Technical 16 1 14 1 36 91 3