SOCCER AUSTRALIANS WIN THIRD TEST 4-0

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1948, Page 5

SOCCER AUSTRALIANS WIN THIRD TEST 4-0

P.A. WELLINGTON, September 5. The New Zealand soccer team, which had been heavily beaten in the first two Tebts against Australia, pave its best exhibition to date in the third Test at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, holding the visitors’ winning margin down to four.. ml. A light drizzle fell occasionally. The crowd was about 3,000. Though New Zealand did better on a goals basis, at no time did it have the ascendancy held by the Wellington provincial team for the major portion of the game last Wednesday. The New Zealand team however, put everything it had into the match, and individually, at least, denied the ball to their opponents whenever possible. The home side was not so fit as the Australians, who turned on soccer at a pace which made New Zealand representative football appear slow motion play. Stimulating though the exhibition was, the Australians rose only at intervals to heights they have reached on perfectly dry grounds. It is a feather in the cap of the New Zealand defence that it faced the Australian forward line as effectively as it did, especially in the first spell. Laing played an excellent game in goal for New Zealand; Hodgson, right back, was outstanding, though he made a serious mistake early in the»hatch. Hall, left back, was sound. In the New Zealand half line, V. Smith was below form. Boyes was better than the other two. He kept a close eye on Nunn, who was unable to swing in goals as he did three days before. The New Zealand forwards turned on an honest effort, but lacked combination in approach, and that snap and drive in front of the goal which several times might have diminished the score margin. Methven appeared the best of a straggling line. Hough had ittle to do in the Australian goal, but two of his saves were top liners. Marston was the best full-back on the ground. Lawrie, right half, scored a splendid goal. The teams were:— Australia: K. Hough, J. Marston, C. Drummond, R. Lawrie, A. Duncan, A. Drennan, J. Hodge, J. Cunningham, G. Nunn, R. Hughes and A. Johns. New Zealand: A. Laing, R. Hodgson, P. Hall, D. McKissock, R. Boyes, V. Smith, L. Smith, T. Methven, D. Worman, R. Wilson and D. Ottley. Gliding through a scattered defence, Cunningham gave the ball to Hodge, who sent across to the other wing, Johns, and he scored the only goal in the 'first half. In the second spell, Lawrie banged a beauty in from one corner kick, and Hughes did the same from another. The best goal of the day was just on full time. when. Johns registered unerringly from a difficult angle.