FINE CLUSTER

NZ Truth, Issue 1174, 31 May 1928, Page 14

FINE CLUSTER

Diamonds Still In Solid Setting

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) Four good points now separate Diamonds from the rest of the field m the Wellington senior Soccer championship and their prospects of being title-holders could not be better. HRIVEN to the limit by Petone on • Saturday, the Diamond men clung to their championship lead by a sterling finish which stamped them a thoroughbred lot. Out-manoeuvred by the villagers for seven-eighths of the game, the leaders buckled down to ,it and m a hard battling final quarter, pulled the match out of the fire. It was the closest shave that Diamonds have had this season. • Unlucky m the first spell m that the only two good shots that they sent down hit the wood, the blacks were simply onlookers when it came to combined work. Flashing the ball about with delightful ease, the Petoneites ran rings round a solid-tackling set of backs and sent down some stinging shots. The chief weakness was that after pretty play, their fast wingers tried to ram the ball home themselves, having left behind their slower centres. HAND OF DIAMONDS For their play m the pinches, Soccer fans must take off their hats to Diamonds. Before the goal their defence was scs solid as a wall and it was only this that took them through. The fact that they could finish as brilliantly as they did to win a match m which they had trailed throughout, stamps them as a side with great heart. It was the nippy McLeod who made the great game-saving run down the wing after a clearance by G. Wotherspoon, and thus redeemed himself for hesitant play and poor shooting m the opening half. Apart from that the strength of the blacks was m their rear five, the two Wotherspoons. Guest and Findlay playing like heroes and tackling m deadly fashion. \ At no time did their forwards function m their old fashion. Stark was .nervous and Anton worse than useless. It was only when he was given a chance m the goalmouth that he could score. Petone led for long minutes at 2-1, and their second goal was a slice of luck, Guest being drawn out of position to return the ball from the Thistle — Marist match which had trespassed on the next field. Before he could get back, the villagers launched a brilliant attack and carved their way right through. Farquhar, Campbell, James and Hamilton play s ed great football. Things were made even- safer for the championship leaders by Thistle's draw with Marist on the next paddock. Two good t« ams met m a hard, fast game and there was nothjng between them. Once again the honors went to Fletcher. A miraculous save by him m the last minutes of the game saved the Scotsmen's lives. It was short; snappy passing, at high speed, with both sides doing their utmost and what luck there was with Marist. Hickey had much more work to do for three parts of the game and did not always clear through skill alone. In contrast with the quick decisions of Fletcher and his sudden dives at dangerous/ shots, Hickey, good as he was, seemed a class lower. What helped Marist to keep level m the second spell as much as anything was the fouling of Lothian when Hopper had put him m a position to go through. " From the green's point of view, the free-kick was cheap at the price. The Scots showed renewed vim m the forward line and were a fraction better here, but m the halves they were shaded. ' MARIST TOO MUCH ALIVE They had the chances to clinch their movements, but fluffed them at critical moments, whereas Marist gave very little away and were stopped only by the great quality of the blue goalie. There were few weaknesses m either side and the game came down to combination. Here the honors were divided, Thistle showing the real stuff m the opening spell, but being at the wrong end of the field m the exciting final stages when Marist were at them like a Dubliner at an orange coat.. Lothian and Campbell kept their end up well against good markers, while Durning and Barton deserved kudos ot their side for their showing. Hanlon (Thistle) and Kelly (Marist) showed up among the halves, Thomas being another Marist trier. There, was no better back about than Rudolph. ; The luck was with Hospital when they gave ,the surprise of the series by beating the formidable V.M.C.A. side by the odd goal m three. Y.M. had chances galore m the second spell, but did not take them. Worth, the v Young Men's outsideright, was very weak and though he had openings thrust at him, could do . nothing right, While Stocks, on the other wing, did good work, the selfishness of Ballard promptly undid it. Y.M. lacked combination amongst the forwards and paid the penalty. Hospital played a hard, fast game and bustled their opponents out of the match, but the game should have been drawn. ' . If all the Y.M. men had been so solid as Reyling and McGlrr there would have been no wailing m the camp. Lack was the only Y.M. forward to earn his keep. Gibb shone for Hospi-, tal; the 40-yard cross-kick which Jhe made to let Lambert head a goal was a beauty. Jeffries and Anderson also stood out, Anderson working his way m nicely to score with a great drive which beat Lucas by sheer force. Short of a goalie, Institute let Seatoun, get away from them m the early minutes, of the match, but thereafter trailed them like bloodhounds. Playing a bustling, passing game, they showed better combination than ever before and reaped a rich reward m goals. . The team is now developing its wing play and the two outsides, Bilby and J. Smith, sent down lots of good stuff for their capable insides to handle. Their shooting was better than it has been this year.. . Maddocks, Corona arid Brownlee were the best of a team which had its tail well up. ' Seatoun seemed m the mud as theywere m their previous game against Diamonds. Their halves held the ball too long- and Kershaw, ordinarily reliable,' was a bad offender. His dilatoriness cost- his side points. But even had they played up better the halves could not have won the game with a forward line so lacking m ginger. Good chances right before the goal went begging. Wyatt, though he had to scoop the leather. out of , the goal five times, could give points to mos.t of his team mates. Their morale was badly missing. - . . • .