CHATHAM CUP SOCCER AT HUNTLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 136, 30 August 1927, Page 12

CHATHAM CUP SOCCER AT HUNTLY

Saturday made up for some of the previous week-ends recently, and we were favoured with a glorious afternoon with little wind, an ideal football day. Chief interest was centred in the Chatham Cup provincial final between Rotowaro and Ponsonby, j played on the local recreation ground, i and which drew a large attendance, : for the round ball game predominates ;in these parts. The game itself was a I good one, but physical fitness played an | important part in the match, which ! resulted in Ponsonby securing a comI fortable win, and a further trip to Wellington to meet the champion eleven of that province. At half-time honours were easy with no score, neither team showing to advantage over the other, a keen second half was expected, but the visitors rose to the occasion and soon put the issue beyond doubt. Among the visitors were noticed Mr. Geo. Cox, secretary of the South Auckland executive, and Mr. L. C. H. Dawson, of the Auckland executive, who acted as linesman for the visitors. Through the spectators standing too close to the side line while play was in progress, a lady supporter of the code here (Mrs. Teare) received a nasty blow on the face from the ball when kicked out, but happily without serious results.

Mr. James Wallace, who was appointed by the New Zealand Council to referee the match gave a capital interpretation of the duties, and clearly demonstrated his abilities, the visitors being highly pleased with his handling of the whistle. Mr. James Douglas represented the South Auckland Association and had the details working without any hitches. A good clean game, played in the best of spirits, in which the better team won, was the popular verdict. As a curtainraiser to the big match the schools reps, played the rest and the former were on top at the close with two goals to nothing. For the winners Watts in goal was not overburdened but did his portion soundly with Pickett the better of the fullbacks. The half-line was good with Wright outstanding. In front Innes was good and his generalship solid. He gave the opposition no peace and was a thorn in their side all day. His two goals were the result of good team work, and the right man to finish the job off in front of the net. Adshead and Tomilty pair well together, the former being a dangerous player in the enemy’s territory, and requires careful watching, but Hunter and Bell were weak. For the vanquished, Caldwell was safe and saved well especially in the first half and Dodds and Hall both played their consistent good games, comparing more than favourably with their opponents’ fullbacks. The halfline was especially good in the first half, but the veteran, Garrick, tired perceptibly in the second half, Beaumont and Crooks doing the better work, the former being a very solid grafter. Phil Hunter and R. Dodds were a hard-working pair, the former getting in some smart work. Pie is very smart and fast on his feet and some of his efforts deserved at least one goal. Bullough played a hard game, but does not appeal in the centre of he vanguard, where Cargill was a weak spot.

SCHOOL MATCHES

Iluntly South School League team : (16) put it over Taupiri (nil) in their | game at Taupiri. Geo. Whittaker, Allan Silich, Ronald | Shaw, and Jack O’Brien, were the goI getters for Pluntly, and the latter lifted two over the cross-bar. In addition to the scorers who all played well, Cliff Bryant and Roy Singer were prominent throughout and Cochrane, Geo. Moore and Jack Plugge played best for the losers. The latter’s father was a great Rugby player in his clay and a well-known Auckland rep. some years ago. and one of the most unselfish players that ever played the code. Young Jack promises to follow in his dad’s footsteps as a footballer. Huntly North beat Ngaruawahia on Bailey’s ground here after a splendid game by 6 to 5. Dave McNee, who played a hard game throughout, pulled the match out of the fire by scoring both tries, and Tittleton scored and converted his own try for the losers. The latter is one of the best, lads playing League in this competition, and is a tower of strength to his club. SCHOOL SOCCER Our boys leave for Auckland to-day (Tuesday) to compete in the Webster Shield competition. Messrs. A. Stewart, secretary of the local Schools’ Association, and James Wallace, will accompany the team which is not up to the standard of former years principally due to a considerable number of the youngsters favouring the League code, and the added handicap of a widely spread area to pick the boys from, and in consequence no practice nor combination together. However, they may acquit themselves better than is expected, for some of them play fairly good Soccer. Their first match will be against the chosen of Wellington tomorrow.