Auckland Downed

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 11

Auckland Downed

CANADA’S SUPERIOR SOCCER

Hard Game on Soft Surface

THE Canadian Soccer team brought its triumphant tour to a brilliant conclusion on Saturday when it defeated the Auckland representatives in a convincing style by six goals to two; a score which did not fairly represent the actual run of the play, but the visitors were much more determined and accurate in their finishing efforts, while their backs smothered up cleverly when Auckland threatened danger. The weather held fine until nearing half-time, when a heavy downpour made an atrocious surface a literal sea of mud. The game attracted a new record gate for Soccer headquarters, some 7,000 being present to follow a hard game with lively interest.

THE waiting period was beguiled by a “community sing” led by the Rev. Jasper Calder, assisted by the Port of Auckland Band, and over £SO was gathered for the City Mission, but our football crowds have not yet acquired the habit of singing with the same gusto as reported in the big games in the Old Country. A pleasing episode at the conclusion of a hard-fought game was the joining of hands by the rival teams for a verse of “Auld Lang Syne,” led by Mr. Calder and his band, in which the crowd heartily joined and farewelled our visitors with a rousing round of cheers. The Canadian lads have created a splendid impression here, both on the field and off, by their modest demeanour and exemplary behaviour. They have made a host of friends who will wish them bon voyage on their journey home by the Niagara to-morrow. SUCCESSFUL BUT STICKY TOUR Saturday’s attendance was easily a record for Bland ford Park, and the great gates attracted to the two Auckland games will relieve the Dominion authorities of much anxiety about the financial aspect of a costly tour. The Canadians are distinctly unlucky to have struck so bad a winter, and will carry away a false and muddy impression of our season’s sport. Rarely have they had a dry stretch of__good turf on which they could develop their typical short ground-passing game and display its finer points. Those who crowded Blandford Park on Saturday in the hope of seeing the Auckland representatives make amends for the defeat of the All Blacks the previous Saturday, were doomed to bitter disappointment, as the score mounted up until, with Canada a clear five goals ahead as soon as the second spell started, the position became hopeless for the home side, who could only struggle on to reduce the deficit. AUCKLAND’S LUCK OUT Auckland flattered the local crowd at the outset, as they set off with plenty of dash, and with a bit of luck might easily have opened the scoring. The Canadians were kept busy defending desperately, and Auckland was unfor-

tunate when Miles was injured in the first five minutes of the game. The popular marine was a “lame duck” from then out, but struggled through to the bitter end with admirable gameness. This loss of thrust on the left wing was a big handicap, and the presence of Kay in his best form might have meant all the difference to Auckland’s attack. HOME TEAM HAS OPENINGS A tally of the territorial play in the first spell showed that Auckland had actually held a distinct advantage. They had secured seven corner-kicks, none of which had borne fruit; while Canada had only three, one of which was netted. Canada had taken 12 goal kicks to Auckland’s seven, and Tait had handled the ball more often than Batty. Yet with all this in their favour the Hlue-and-Whites were four goals down. The reason was not hard to seek. When Canada penetrated the danger zone they mostly finished off their raid with a bull’s eye, where Auckland would be unable to reach the net. Added to this was Miles’s disastrous crash with Tait which compelled Auckland to rely almost solely on the right wing for its offensives. REFEREE UPSETS PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS The first goal was distinctly unfortunate for the home team, and very upsetting to both players and spectators in its effect. A good opening from the Canadian captain, Monaghan, sent Gibson away for a quick spurt, and that prince of opportunists, Archibald, cut between the backs in anticipation of the centre. From the angle of the Press box he appeared to be offside, and it was no surprise when the referee whistled him up, but Archibald ran on and netted where he might have been shecked. When Mr. Dawsor* got to the spot he changed his decision and awarded a goal, amid protests from the Auckland players and Partisans. It was a regrettable incident which spoilt the temper of the crowd and led to some demonstrations of hostility at later stages of the game. Another occurrence which also upset the tans was the awarding of a penalty kick which gave the Canadians their final goal. Gibson and Reid had been baying a bustling bout with each other which was initiated by the Canadian, and Reid in his retaliatory tactics was judged the offender. a decision to which the crowd in the neighbourhood took loud and pointed exception. GOOD AND HARD GAME The game was a hard and willing one, but it was largely a clean and healthy robustness which hurt no one much, neither side having many legitimate causes for complaint. The laws of the game permit charging, and the official instructions to referees lay down that “charging must not be penalised unless it is violent or danger°us, ’ and it is also pointed out, officially, that “this is a law that referees construe too strictly, whereas i-hey are expressly required not -to ao so,” and pi ayers are enjoined to “let Charging be of the good honest type.” A third goal to Canada came from Aurner. who lay unopposed to trap a Perfectly placed corner from Gibson and crash it past Battv before anyone * na d an opportunity of repairing the oversight. Another bit of luck for

THE CERTAINLY “NET” ARCHIBALD Archibald was again the dynamic element which destroyed Auckland’s hopes of victory when he bagged four of the best by his intelligent anticipation and strategy, his clever control of the ball, with a quick flash through the defence and a smart snapshot, tie is certainly the most effective centreforward and prolific goal-scorer we have seen in New Zealand for many a long day—if ever. Again there was not a weak link in the Canadian machine, each man proving himself a finished player in his appointed position, and in spite of the unmentionable mud they placed the ball with splendid accuracy to each other. The wing forwards showed great pace with swift crosses, and Turner at inside-left impresses as a first-class opportunist who never lets a chance go begging, and is always dangerous near goal. The half line were a fine trio, with Brolly as a great type of king-pin. Monaghan on his right takes the eye as an ideal wing-half, but had an easier time of it When Miles became a “walking case” early in the game, and Paynter had a more strenuous time of it on the left, where he had a lively pair to mark in Innes and Dunsmore. CANADA’S “SAFETY FIRST” TACTICS Crawley and Moon were a cool and solid pair of backs who put up a very solid defence and covered Tait with great judgment when Auckland became aggressive. Even with a big lead on they did not hesitate to use the line under pressure, a style of play which is never popular and usually calls lorth allegations of a “windy” nature. There has been a persistent demand in Britain for a law providing that a deliberate kick out be replied to by a deliberate kick in from touch, but so far the reform has never received sufficient support to carry it. TWO CLEVER GOALKEEPERS Tait in goal gave another spectacular display in the Canadian citadel, and is possessed of a sang froid and agility which gets him out of a hot bout as the usual winner. Only twice on Saturday did he “tip” the ball for a corner, his clean catching of a very dirty ball being very conspicuous. Batty, too, gave a high-class exhibition in goal for Auckland and brought off some thrilling saves, He was in no way to blame for the scoring shotsS which passed him, as they came from point-blank range with plenty of pep behind them. In front .of him Reid and Gerrard were not quite so sure in the mud as their vis-a-vis on the Canadian side, but both played well and cleared cleverly. Reid was inclined to get “rattled” at times but was solid throughout. Gerrard nipped in on several occasions to smother in the nick of time and was speedy in intervening. AUCKLAND'S HALF LINE The Thistle half line was disappointing and failed to hold the Canadian raiders back from Auckland’s goal borders, and most of the heavy defensive duty fell on the fullbacks. The wing halves played far too much on the inside forwards, which were fatal tactics. The express wingers often cut down the line to draw the Auckland backs away from goal, and then centred as the tackle appeared imminent for the übiquitious Archibald to net four goals. "Wing halves for wing wing forwards should have been the motto on Saturday. On the attack the Auckland trio showed better form. Carter plied Innes and Dunsmore with the ball with good judgment and execution, and Christie worked hard in the centre position; Brolly not dominating the game as he did in the final Test match, and Christie opened up the game well for Auckland on several occasions. Dickson had a dangerous wing to stop in Gibson and Pogsoii and was bothered by the going. AUCKLAND’S FINE RIGHT WING In the forward line Innes and Dunsmore were outstanding, the injury to Miles, of course. making the left flank ineffective and giving the right most of the speed work to do. Both at outside and inside the Auckland pair were the right men in the right place, and when they changed places were just as effective. The two goals they shared between them were both brilliant bursts, and gave “One-shot” Tait two shots he could not stop. Had Fortune been a little kinder, the Auckland score might easily have been doubled by their great dashes, and they llew through the treacherous surface in great style. Humphries at centre gave a very sound display with some fine solo stunts, but his performance suffered by comparison with Archibald, and the Y.M. man had not the same happy knack of outmanoeuvring the opposing backs in positional play. The first goal was the outcome of a great run by Humphries, which drew the defence and left an opening for his right. Spencer was unlucky in having his partner lamed in the early stages, and he needs a decent surface to display his finished footwork to advantage. WHY CANADA TRIUMPHED To sum up, the Canadians gained their decisive win by superior strategy and more profitable tactics. The clever covering work of the backs and packing the goal in times of peril kept the Auckland attack at bay in the first spell, while the W formation in the forward line gave the Maple Leaves a three-tipped thrust which penetrated the Auckland defence by its pace, and the finishing shots had a sting and precision about them which made them irresistible. The referee, Mr. L. C. H. Dawson, had a strenuous afternoon of it, and found it difficult in the mud to keep up with a particularly speedy game. The initial mistake of signalling offside and then awarding a goal was a bad break, and put the official “offside” with the bankers for the balance of the game. There were several breaches in the way of holding and elbowing, the visitors getting away with obstructive stuff at times which escaped the referee, but not the crowd. Canada, and the margin of four goals in its favour was hardly a correct criterion of the difference between the teams.