Otago Outclassed By Aucklanders

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 7

Otago Outclassed By Aucklanders

FA. TROPHY FAIRLY SAFE (Special to THE SUN.) DUNEDIN, Saturday. DY winning in such clear-cut style against Otago this LJ afternoon, Auckland wiped out its most seriems contender for the Football Association Trophy, held by the northern province. After the Wellington match, in which the Otago team showed form equal to that of the Canadians, Otago supporters held high hopes of winning the trophy this season; but Auckland dashed those to the ground.

:, 2 striking feature of the game was L ihe small final score. On its merits, !.:;U;f.nd won easily by a four-goal k> in. Otago was hard-pressed from iio kick-off, and save for patchy

Strategy won the match for Auckland. A definite line of attack was developed. The Aucklanders realised that Kay, the flying Thistle wing, would be well marked by Cooper (half) and Anderson (fullback), Otago’s All Blacks, and the team resolved to play to Otago’s left wing.

Throughout the first spell ' the ball was kept over on that line. Otago’s left forwards and backs were harassed, and with the openings made the ball was swung across to Kay, who gained ground every time. Both of Auckland’s goals were solely due to his stirring line-dashes and super centring, the ball landing with deadly accuracy every time near the goalmouth.

McLean and McCormack, on Otago’s left, had far too much work to do, and the tactics of the Aucklanders completely upset the whole forward lino. The Blue forwards’ combination and usual dash were smothered. Their task was made all the harder by the failure of the half-backs.

The only weakness in the Auckland team was the fullback line. Miles being an injured man, his place was the grandstand and not the field. He did little right, and Ferguson had to bear the brunt of the defence. Batty was

excellent between the sticks. Only one shot went past him, and no goalie could have stopped it. He had a few difficult shots to fend off, but all round his was an easy job.

The half-backs. Carter, Christie and Jones, were a sound line. They out-

shone the home halves. Although Car ter was the most prominent, Christi did a tremendous amount of solid worl Otago prided itself on its forwards, bo

the Auckland vanguard gaye them fe chances to get moving in concert.

The Aucklanders played with cohesion and skill. Kay was the shining star of the whole field, his style of play pleasing the spectators. Humphreys also gave his men plenty of openings. Spencer was not working his best, and he did not play up to the crosses from the outside men.

Chalmers was an excellent partner for Kay, and gave his support in every advance. Dunsmore was the least, prominent of the forwards.

Whenever the Otago forwards broke through, they were dangerous for the time being, but the individual players had too much to do on their own.

McLean, Otago’s left wing, played dashingly, and gave the opposing backs some anxious moments, but the inside left, McCormack, who played in the New Zealand team, was below form. Hooper at centre requires feeding with long kicks, and to-day he was starved. Simmonds and McHugh, on the right, were outclassed by Kay and Chalmers. Otago’s goalie, Wills, who was playing his first representative game, was reasonably safe.

Auckland’s first goal came when Anderson stopped a rush and conceded a corner. Kay’s kick was, like all his other crosses, a beauty, and Carter

banged it into the corner of the net. Spencer’s goal also came from Kay’s corner kick.

Humphreys stood out as a trapping exponent, giving the best exhibition of control seen this season in Dunedin.

Auckland should beat Canterbury on the form it showed to-day.