SOCCER’S EARLY START

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 324, 9 April 1928, Page 7

SOCCER’S EARLY START

LIVELY OPENING GAME

DIOMEDE DEFEATS AUCKLAND B

The round-ball code made an early start at Blandford Park on Saturday, when advantage was taken of the H.M.S. Diomede's final appearance in port for many months to stage a game with an Auckland “B” team. The city eleven was gathered together hurriedly from the Ponsonby and Y.M.C.A. clubs, and the colts gave the Jack Tars a good game before an unexpectedly large attendance. In spite of trying weather conditions the game was brisk, with some lively exchanges. A close finish ended in a victory for the crew of the cruiser by the cdd goal in three. The teams were: Diomede (Navy Blue): Wilding, Prior, Killick. Somerson, Gilmore. Lamb, Craik, Black, Meynell, Rivers, Cheshire. Auckland B (Blue-and-White): Hall, Wright, Ross, Mowat, Dawson, Morrison, Innes, Bell, Stewart, Hoban and Goodman. Referee: Mr. E. Parkinson.

The surface was in splendid playing order, the healthy sward of grass being in marked contrast to the bald quagmire at the close of last season, and with anything like a normal winter a vast improvement in the contests should be witnessed this season. The players early showed their appreciation of the good going, and some fast exchanges were mostly in favour of the Navy, who settled down to team work more quickly than Auckland, who were mostly strangers to each other. NO SCORE FIRST HALF The defence on both sides was superior to the attack; Wright, for Auckland, and Gilmore, for the Diomede, being the most conspicuous of the defenders. Wilding and Hall were both safe in their goals, and each side missed some golden opportunities of netting the opening goal of the season. Lack of direction was a flaw of the naval marksmen, while the Auckland forwards displayed too much elevation, and registered several nice Rugby goals over the bar which didn’t count, and a welcome breather for half-time found the score-sheet blank. The sun was not so fierce in the second spell, and both teams lasted the full time out with surprising dash and reserve of energy. A rearrangement of the Auckland front line improved the attack, but it still lacked combination, and wild passing spoilt many forward movements. The sailors again showed better co-operation, and a nice right-wing rally carried play into Auckland’s goal area, where a mis-kick by Dawson allowed Rivers to dash in and score the first goal of the season fr©m close up. This reverse woke Auckland up, and a fast passing run by Stewart and Innes ended in the All Black driving

high at Wilding, who pulled the ball down for Hoban to hurry in and net an equalising goal. The unexpected epidemic of scoring woke both spectators and players up. The lads in blue set up a solid bombardment, which kept Hall busy clearing some heavy stuff from Gilmore, Meynell and Black. Ultimately, Gilmore initiated a thrustful movement which swept over the defence and gave Meynell a clear run in to score the winning goal. Auckland made a dying effort to even matters up, and twice Innes nearly succeeded, but time sounded, with the score: Diomede 2. Auckland 15 1.