Chatham Cup Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 437, 20 August 1928, Page 6

Chatham Cup Soccer

STIRRING KNOCK-OUT GAME Petone Too Good for Y.M.C.A. AUCKLAND’S hopes of retaining: the national club trophy were dashed on Saturday at Blandford Park, when Petone proved too good for the local champions, Y.M.C.A., by the odd goal in three. The cup tie was one of the most stirring knock-outs seen here, being full of incident and excitement from start to finish, when the Wellington Club established its right to meet Northern (Otago) in the final.

Tho playing area at Blandford Park was in excellent order for lively football, and the largest crowd of the season was rewarded with a thrilling display of real cup-tie Soccer, and even the showers which fell soon after play started did not affect the pace of the game, or the lively manner in which the players kept the ball on the move for a strenuous 90 minutes of intense struggling. The first half was about an even break, fortune favouring the oYung Men with the lead through the only goal scored, and Auckland’s hopes ran high when play resumed. For the greater part of the second spell Petone held the advantage in territorial play, but the Y.M. defence stood up gallantly to some hot attacks. Twice, however, the burly Petone forwards rushed the ball through to gain the lead, and Y.M. disappointed the fans by firing away two or three glorious opportunities of snatching a victory. SWIFT OFF THE MARK When the teams lined up it was seen that Petone had the advantage of age, weight and experience over the youthful Young Men, but neither side wasted any time in setting to work for the first score, and the ball travelled from goal to goal at a swift pace, which brought bursts of cheers from the crowd. Petone was showing better ball control, keeping it closer than Y.M., but the local lads were slinging it across and recrossing at a speed which kept the Blue’s defence busy. McVean was twice called on to clear from the Y.M. van, but Petone tore down on the goalie, who came out and cleared confidently. YOUNG MEN SCORE FIRST Another swift raid by Y.M. saw Grant send a sizzling long drive high up in the corner of the goal, which McVean’s long reach enabled him to collect and clear. Some hot exchanges saw James out of action for a few minutes after clashing with Dick, and play continued at high pressure. From loose play the ball came through the centre to Humphreys, and the Y.M. captain set sail for the Petone goal with a characteristic dash. When near his objective he was pushed off the ball from behind, but Whaley was handy in close attendance, and tore in to complete the movement and slam into the net amid a hurricane of cheers. PETONE’S DESPERATE RALLY Stung by the reverse, Petone m£tde a desperate attempt to even matters, and cracked on the pace hotter than ever. Some bumping bouts and frictional contests generated a little heat, the referee wisely halting play for a word of advice, but Mr. E. Parkinson officiated throughout with admirable i\i -K ri’g H: lit -X.

judgment and a wise policy of non-in-tervention where a more rigid official might have marred a thrilling encounter with an overdose of whistle. The Y.M. front line was not showing out so prominently as usual against Petone’s rock-like defence, while at the other end Mowat and Otter were clearing cleanly, and Paton was saving in splendid style when tested. A lively half ended 'with Y.M. still in the lead, but the ultimate issue very open. PETONE ASSUMES COMMAND On the restart it became apparent that during the interval the visitors had planned a change of tactics. Instead of feeding the outside wings the Petone halves played more to Leslie in the centre and his inside men. Thompson and Dick had held the wingers well in cheek during the opening spell, but Riddolls now found the inner men more than he could cope with. Grant put in some useful defensive work by falling back repeatedly, but the “Pets” centre wedge finally broke through. Paton was “caught with tlie goods,” and the ball bumped out of his hands by Leslie as the goalie turned to throw clear for a corner. Leslie was simultaneously brought

to earth and was carried out of the melee for first aid. He was loudly cheered on recovering after his great equalising effort. Y.M.’S LOST CHANCES The Petone onset, which had lasted nearly half an hour, began to slacken somewhat, and Y.M. set out on some lively raids to regain the lost lead. Whaley put a fine centre across, but Grant’s first-time slam was charged down, and then the ball came up the centre to find Humphreys! with a wide open goal, only for that usually safe marksman to send past the post. Grant secured from well back and drew the defence to send Chalmers for a fly down the line. A perfect pass came over to Me Auslan’s toe, but with only McVean to beat he put a feeble pop over the bar, and Y.M.’s chances wilted speedily. Petone’s centre-for-ward worked past Riddolls, struggled between the backs to send ahead for McKenzie to pounce on the ball and net, the wining goal fror point-blank range. A LIVELY FINISH The closing stages become hectic with excitement, as Humphreys, Grant and Chalmers each had a desperate try to pass McVean’s vigilance ?n goal, while Petone retaliated with some hot drives at Paton, which the Y.M. goal dealt with effectively, and the final whistle went with Petone the survivors of a glorious tussle. Although it is Petone’s first season in senior Soccer, the club has shown itself a worthy contender for the Dominion title, and should have a great chance of annexing the national trophy when it meets the South Island winners—the Northern Club from Otago—at Wellington on Saturday next. Northern eliminated Thistle (Canterbury) at Dunedin on Saturday by the only goal scored, and again qualifies for the final bout in which it was beaten by Ponsonby last year. PETONE’S GOOD FORM Petone possessed a clever team of players of the type admirably suited for cup-tie football, and the manner in which it lasted out a frenzied 90 minutes on Saturday tells the tale of solid training and hard condition. McVean, the captain and goalie, is a cool and clever custodian, who never faltered once on Saturday. Steel, at fullback, was full of resource and was well supported by Haines. Campbell, in the pivotal position at centre-half, held the team together in a splendid fashion, spoiling the opposing attack and feeding his own forwards with great judgment. Farquhar and Stobbs stuck grimly to the lively wings opposite them. Leslie is a solid type of centre forward, with finished ball control, and exploits the modern method of waiting right up field for the scoring chance to arrive. The other forwards were good without being brilliant, McKenzie shining in his smart anticipation which brought the winning goal. Y.M.’S GOOD DISPLAY

Although knocked out by the narrowest of margins and disappointed in their hopes, the Young Men are to be congratulated on their meritorious display against a more experienced and better balanced team. Baton in goal put up as brilliant a display as has been seen at headquarters this season, and but for some of his marvellous saves the margin of loss would have been much wider. Mowat was in good form on Saturday, and cleared erieetively in some desperate situations, but Otter did not shine out as ns did against Pukemiro the Saturday previous. Thompson, the secondary schools team captain, came into the half line at the eleventh hour, and proved himself well worthy of the confidence placed in him. In a hard and willing struggle his strong tackling and heady placements to his forward made him easily the best of a weak half line. Chalmers, Grant and Whaley shone out in the forward line, and Humphreys would have shown out to better advantage had he been able to emulate Leslie and play on top of the opposing backs. As it was he felt the responsibility of leadership, and frequently had to fall back to aid his centre half undefending, and forage for the ball to give his front line mates some scoring chances. The unaccepted chances were hard luck for Y.M.. but none of the forwards can be blamed for overanxiety and occasional wild shooting in so intense a struggle.

SCHOOLBOYS AT PLAY

SOME CLEVER FOOTBALL Tlie two curtain-raisers preceding the Chatham cup-tie on Saturday were primary school representatives for the coming Webster Shield tournament were tried out againt the secondary school junior eleven, which iourneys to

Wellington this week-end. After a lively game and some clever football the primary boys proved too good for the seendary by the odd goal in three. Yarnton and Miles scored for the winners, and MacDougall notched the loser’s goal. In the following game the secondary schools’ senior team played a trial match with a fourth grade representative team. The game provided another delightful display of sicentific Soccer, which must have impressed the many senior grade players present. Sloane scored the solitary goal which gave the secondary school team the victory. Both Auckland secondary school teams should give a good account of themselves in Wellington next Saturday, and so should the primary representatives in the North Island tournament at Huntly.

DELIBERATE DEFAULT

TROUBLE OVER BARRACKING SOCCER DISPUTE (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The deliberate default of Nomads to Technical yesterday is regarded very seriously in Soccer circles here, and will probably result in a breach similar to that with Sunny side. The game was to have been played at English Park, but none of the Nomads turned up. The default is the result of recent trouble between the Nomads Club and the Canterbury Football Association over barracking, and the Nomads having threatened to defaiilt if they were made to play at English Bark. For some weeks this team had not appeared on the oval, but this week a game was arranged for them there. However, they carried out their threat and did not appear.

F.A. TROPHY

PROSPECTS OF A MATCH WITH WELLINGTON Mr. W. Duncan, chairman of the Wellington Football Association, arrived in Auckland on Saturday morning to witness the Wellington Club, Petone, win its Chatham Cup knockout against the local Y.M.C.A. club. As a result of Mr. Duncan’s visit there are now good prospects of a ■representative match here with Wellington, the present holders of the F.A. trophy. Otago is ahead of Auckland with a challenge to play the holders in Wellington, after which a trip to Auckland by the Wellington eleven is now more than probable.

NEW LYNN GUN CLUB

MURRELL CUP COMPETITION The New Lynn Gun Club held a clay bird shoot at New Lynn on Saturday, a seven bird match being held in competition for the Murrell Cup. A. Maereidie (19yds), L. Stent (16yds) and A. Thompson (14yds) tied with six each. A 10-bird match was also held for the Whitney trophy, and was won by Knight (14yds), who secured the possible. F. McGeehan (14yds) W Turner (14yds), L. Stent (16yds), a! Maereidie (19yds) and B. Hanigan (17yds) all tied for second place with each - Maereidie won the shootolf for second place. The attendance was large, and shooting conditions were ideal. The next shoot will be held on September