The English Trophy

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 11

The English Trophy

Auckland’s Unexpected Set-Back Northerners Below Form AFTER having defeated both Wellington and Otago, Auckland tripped over the last hurdle for the English Trophy on Saturday, the best that the Akarana men could do at Christchurch on Saturday being to run Canterbury to a draw—one goal each way. The position now is that only one ga,me remains to be played for the Trophy, Canterbury v Otago, and a win for Canterbury would mean possession of the trophy being determined on goal averages.

CANTERBURY’S “COME-BACK” AT SOCCER DRAW WITH AUCKLAND (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Canterbury are now making a Soccer come-back, and after defeating Wellington last Saturday In the English trophy series drew with Auckland on Saturday in a fast and willing game. Auckland were superior in the first ha.lf, but in the second Canterbury took charge, and for a time had the visitors defending. Both teams were unlucky in not scoring on several ral occasions. Canterbury had more scoring chances than the Aucklanders. The combination of the visitors was not allowed to dominate play. The bustling tactics of the Canterbury halves soon spoilt the positional play of Auckland, and there was subsesuently little to choose between the teams. The Canterbury forwards played a dashing game, and ran the legs off the opposition at times. Owing mainly to the great display of the Auckland halves, the score was not higher in Canterbury’s favour. The return of George Roberts at centre-half greatly strengthened Canterbury. His accurate distribution, dominating the movements of his forwards, and a displeasing feature of the play was the numerous occasions on which some Auckland players were penalised for foul tactics, and in the last 20 minutes the game seemed to get beyond control. The visitors showed a tendency to get rattled, and make things a little too willing at times. McDougall, the Canterbury goalie, was twice rather badly injured when making clearances, in circumstances of a rather suggestive character. BATTY IN FORM Batty, the Auckland goalkeeper, played a splendid game. His hands were safe as houses, and some shots he stopped extended him to the uttermost. The backs, Ferguson and Simpson, were also towers of strength to Auckland. With their powerful kicking and resolute tackling, they played a great part in breaking up the finishing efforts of the Canterbury vanguard, and ma,king shooting opportunities hard, to obtain. Carter, at right half, appeared the best man in the Auckland team, and iri the first spell he was practically impassable, and fed his forwards with extreme precision.

THE HOCKEY GAME REVIEW OF MATCHES TWO SENIOR CONTESTS Three senior hockey marches were set down for decision at Remuera last Saturday, but Areta defaulted to Varsity Colts, so that the SomervilleWesley match, which the former won by 4—2, and the encounter wherein Varsity seniors defeated St. Luke’s to the tune of 3—l. were the only games played in the Devonport Shield competition. As has been the case week after week through the, season, bad weather played havoc with the grounds and only fair hockey was witnessed. Interest was at a low ebb and the four teams engaged each contained a sprinkling of juniors to make up the personnel. The Somerville - Wesley fixture proved a. tame exhibition and neither side was up to form. Varsity got another shock when it met St. Luke’s. Playing with great dash, the reds severely tested the students’ defence and in the first half looked like winning. POSITION OF TEAMS The following table shows the stand-

SOMERVILLE* DEFEATS WESLEY Somerville’s forwards were considerably strengthened by the return of Clive Watts and Alf. Seccombe, who had been away with the Dominion tourists, and during the match with Wesley both registered goals. Taken as a whole the game was a poor, exhibition, but good play was out of the question on the sodden playing field. Now and then throughout the match Somerville’s van was seen in some brilliant passing movements, but the left wing was a weak unit. A great deal of erratic shooting was in evidence, but the sluggish state of the turf had a good deal to do with the trouble. Somerville’s halves were by no means in form and bunching and out of position tactics spoiled their work. Munro and Garcliner toiled hard at fullback and were kept busy in countering Wesley’s persistent attackers. Wesley did well in recording two goals an! the van deserved more. Though deficient in combination the forwards executed some attractive work as individuals. A. B. Burton was the outstanding man. while Hailwood and Fitt appeared to be next in order of merit. Oldham, on the left wing, was fast and frequently over-ran the ball. The halves were keen bustlers and gave Somerville’s forwards a lot of trouble. They were always on the ball wlhen necessary and got rid of it judiciously to the forwards, who were kept well supplied. Frater and Burton wielded safe sticks in the rearguard and relied on clearing to the side lines rather than attempting to drive forwards, which as *! ,e on^r thing to be done in view ! of the dead condition of the field. I Given a dry ground the Somerville i eleven would probably have over-run their oppements, who seemed fully extended. Nevertheless Wesley put up a creditable performance and gave the older and more experienced side a good run for its win. VARSITY’S TOUGH BATTLE \ arsity met a stronger opposition in St. Luke’s than was evidently expected j

Christie, at centre-half, played a bullocking type of game, which did not altogether meet with the approval of the crowd. The fine axhibition of 'canny” play given by Jones at lefthalf regulated attacks from Canterbury's right wing.. Among the Auckland forwards, Dunsmore showed up best with rapid transfers, and accurate shooting. Humphreys, on the right wing, was also prominent, centring with fine accuracy. Spencer was a clever opportunist, but too well marked by the home halves to be effective. Chalmers and Kay worked hard on the left wing, but without much result. A magnificent display was given in the first spell of the match by McDougall, who at times picked the ball almost from the feet of the Auckland forwards. CANTERBURY STARS After Canterbury had got the measure of the opposition, McDougall had a much easier time, and gave a finished exhibition. At left back J. Muscroft was outstanding for his strong kicking and judicious use of the head in tight corners. Graham, at right back, who captained the home team, was rather bustled at times by the swift attacks of the visitors. Nevertheless he played sound football. The backbone of the Canterbury team was the halfback line, with A. Walker at right-half, Roberts at centre, and Howarth on the left. Once the three settled down to the game there was very little got past them, Walker in particular using bustling tactics with great effect, while Roberts dominated midfield play, and used his instinct for placing the ball to unmarked forwards to the full effect. Archie Trotter led the home vanguard, and again lived up to his reputation as the finest centre-forward in New Zealand, and a pastmaster at ball control and distribution. Trotter had Batty sorely troubled with his powerful shooting. Jim Frickleton, at outside left, displayed notable tenacity and wonderful accuracy with his centring. He drew Batty twice, and on both occasions Canterbury nearly scored. Nelson, at inside right, played at top speed, and ran rings round the opposition in the last half-hour. He is a young player, with abundant dash and initiative. R. Spiers, at outside right, justified his inclusion by his good centring, while on the run. The weakeet link in the Canterbury line was Isles, at inside left. In the early stages of the game he kept his position and played spund football, but later reverted to his old tendency to stray. The match was controlled capably by Mr. Thornley.

and emerged with the laurels after a hotly disputed battle in driving rain and slushy mud. The students’ forward line failed to strike form antil well into the second half of the game and Luke’s stubborn defence by the fullbacks, ably supported by a half line which gave a telling account of itself, had the blues greatly puzzled Bay and Tom Giles were prominent in Luke’s van, which showed enterprise and dash, particularly in the first session. The sea of mud round the goals was detrimental to stickwork in the circles, so that some promising shots went astray. This handicap was common to both teams and the students also mulled several chances which would probably have been turned to useful account on a dry field. Varsity’s halves were distinctly off colour and were obviously troubled by the mud. Radcliffe’s usual pretty stick gymnastics often failed to come off, while Dr. Leonard’s crisp, short passes were not practicable. Hume and Brown, playing fullback, had an anxious time and were called upon to exhibit all they knew to keep Luke’s attackers out of the danger territory. Linton, who wore the pads, was in good form and earned applause by fearlessly coming out of his cave to meet hostile onslaughts. His kicking was vigorous and he used a sensible stick in emergency. Philpotts, left-winger, was the prominent forward and his goal was one of the finest angle shots seen this season. Seelen was next in order of merit, while Hamilton and Miller were hard workers, though not in best form. Hay, temporarily promoted from the Colts, was worth his play for his up-and-down field play, but his circle work was poor. WAIPA REPS. (From Our Oun Correspondent.) TE AWAMDTU, Sunday. The following team has been chosen to represent Waipa against Waikato at Hamilton on Wednesday:—Goal. H. Daniells: fullbacks, L. Karl and IC. Perrin; halves, O. Finch, L. Spiers and 1,. Coombs; forwards, C. J. Spiers G. Finch, O. Civil. H. Andrew and T. Finch. Emergencies: F. Macklow and J. Linehan. The two teams have met twice this season and each has a victory to its credit. LADY CARROLL SHIELD Press Association. DAXNEVIRKE, Saturday. The Ruahine (Dannevirke) ladies’ hockey team maintained Its unbeaten record for the season when it defeated Poverty Bay in a challenge match for the Lady Carroll Shield by 2 goals to 0. GIRLS’ HOCKEY FAIR INDIVIDUAL PLAY COMBINATION WEAK On slippery grounds and in pouring rain, good hockey was not to be expected in the girl’s contests at Remuera on Saturday. Yet, despite the fact that wild and erratic hitting predominated, fair individual play was seen at times. EDEN v. CT. CUTHBERTS Eden, in its contest with St. Cuthbert’s, had play practically its own

mg of the teams in the competition: — Goals P W. Ti. D. F. A. Pts. ft 0 0 29 4 10 b 0 0 2b 5 10 7 b 0 lb 7 10 7 3 1 16 17 7 Somerville Colts. 3 1 1 8 6 7 Wesley V 2 b 0 8 26 4 University Colts. 6 4 0 6 lb 4 Epiphany. 6 1 5 0 7 21 Training College 4 1 0 4 Mount Eden . . . 4 0 4 0 3 18