WILL WELLINGTON?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 453, 7 September 1928, Page 11

WILL WELLINGTON?

Soccer Trophy At Stake GREAT GAME EXPECTED TO-MORROW THE Soccer game of the season will be staged at Blandford Park to-morrow, when Auckland meets Wellington’s challenge for the F.A. Trophy, and the provincial championship of the Dominion. Last Saturday the Auckland team recaptured the plate after the'most entertaining display of lively and scientific Soccer seen there for years, and the Southerners have arrived with a dour determination to regain the national supremacy. There are four changes in the visitors’ team, but Auckland is relying on last Saturday’s winning combination. There is never any certainty about a Soccer knock-out, and a thrilling struggle is predicted. The preliminary games between the Auckland and Waikato primary school representatives, and the final of the secondary school championship, between the Auckland and Mount Albert Grammar Schools, are of more than usual interest.

The teams for to-morrow are as follow: — WELLINGTON Lucas McGirr Haines Farquhar Campbell McCormack McLeod Leslie, Longbottom, Smith Stark AUCKLAND Batty Gerrard Simpson Jones Christie Tinkler Chalmers Davis Spencer Innes, Humphries Referee: Mr. R. H. Parfitt., THE VISITING TEAM The Wellington sole selector, Mr. Hicks, has made four changes in the team which lost the trophy to Auckland on the Basin Reserve last Saturday, and the visiting eleven which

breezed in by the express this morning is confident of carting the emblem of supremacy back to the windy capital by Sunday’s train. Lucas .replaces Fletcher in goal for the challengers, and the ex-Aucklander is too well known to Soccer fans here to need any mention of his ability between the sticks. He is one of the most' difficult custodians in the Dominion to beat, and the Auckland marksmen will r/eed be at their best to register any hits tomorrow.

“Snowy” McGirr at fullback has represented the province and the Dominion for several seasons, and is a dashing defender who tears into the opposing attack from start to finish. His partner, Haines, replaces Steel at leftback, and the Petone player was seen in action here when his team put Y.M. out of the Chatham Cup. He impressed then as a stout defender who is more solid than brilliant.

In the half line Wellington relies on the trio that donned the black shirt last week, and they are a solid line in both defence and attack. Campbell and Farquhar both appeared for Petone in the semi-final of the Chatham Cup at Blandford Park, and it is in this division that* Auckland showed a marked superiority last Saturday. In the forward line Stark and Smith were a splendid left-wing against Auckland, .and it was from them that Wellington’s dangerous thrusts came. Longbottom in the centre has been a prolific goal scorer for Swifts, and in the new right wing the visitors expect to exhibit a more evenly balanced front line. Leslie at inside right showed himself a dangerous opportunist when playing here at centre for Petone, and it remains to be seen if he can adapt himself to his changed position. AUCKLAND’S HOPES M.r. Phil Neesham, the Auckland sole selector, has wisely elected to pin his faith to the victorious team of Saturday last, and is quietly confident that they will reproduce the same brilliant display of clever Soccer and combined team work that da.zzled the big crowd in Wellington. The papers of the capital were unanimous in praising Batty’s, marvellous saving capacity in goal, and the cool, calculated play of Gerrard and Simpson at fullback was also a big factor in keeping the Auckland gaol intact. A GREAT HALF LINE The solid hinge of the Auckland combination rests on the half-back line, and if the superiority in this rank is maintained the trophy should be safe here for another season. Both Jones and Tinker represented New Zealand last season against Canada, and there are no better wing-halves in the Dominion to-day. Tinker will renew ac-* quaintance with a lively opposing wing, but can be relied on not to give it too much rope. Christie at centrehalf is a solid king-pin in the pivotal position, and a T typ'j of player who dominates thq game in both aggressive and defensive play. He is a fitting successor to the famous Kissock, and a tower of strength which is in no danger of failing. SOME LIVELY STORMERS The Auckland forwards were described by the Wellington critics as the combination yet seen in Wellington. The pei'fect understanding and cohesion between them delighted the spectators and completely baffled the opposition’s defence. The Auckland halves fed them with unfailing accuracy, scarcely a pass being wasted, and once in possession the Auckland van swept over the defenders with speedy bursts of clever passing movements, and a series of perfect centres which had Wellington’s goal in constant danger. There was no outstanding individual, but all five combined unselfishly with but one object in view, and that was the goalnet. It is this type of play that gives glamour and charm to Soccer which accounts for its appeal to players and public alike, who appreciate brainy tactics when cleverly executed. Blandford Park is in perfect order for the contest to-morrow, and the visitors will find a marvellous transformation from the inuddy area of last season’s trophy match. Mr. Parfitt has been appointed referee by the New Zealand Council, and it is hoped that a promising game will not be marred by undue intervention for trivial breaches. Mr. B. Martin, who had control of the hard game last

week, was hailed as a perfect knight of the whistle, and it is hoped tomorrow’s display will be an improvement on the Dacre Cup tie between Manurewa and Shore last week, when the extreme penalty was enforced several times against both sides for venial and unintentional faults in a hard tussle. SCHOOL CONTESTS The curtain-raiser between the Auckland and Mount Albert Grammar Schools to decide the secondary schools championship should provide a fast display of scientific Soccer. The second game, between the Auckland and Waikato primary school representatives, should be another close struggle. Auckland won the North Island championship at Huntly last week, but only after a drawn game with the Waikato

lads, and a renewal of the rivalry should be full of interest to-morrow. DACRE CUP Glen Eden.—Gerrard, B. Alp, A. Alp, Allen, U. Alp, Calvert, Ahern, Jerrim, Jones, Anstead, Wood, Hitchins, Mellor. Second Grade Rangers.—Surtees, McKain, Paxton, Still, Rae, Dean, Kennedy, Johns, Polwin, Coyle, Cumming-, Deason. Fourth Grade Tamaki.—A. De Silva, H. Stone, R. Stone, J. Barry, G. Diamond, H. Darwin, H. Claridge, Henry, N. Turner, R. Baskett, R. Adams; reserve, T. Barry. Fifth Grade North Shore.—Cleal, Ormiston, Smith, Gibbs, Cowie, Lilly crap, E. P. Smith, Ekman, Ferguson, McClusky, Farquharson, McGill. Y.M.C.A. A.—C. Parks. A. Lockie, O. Flyger, L. Delaney, R. Riddolls, K. Bell. E. Moxsom, F. Strange, W. Young, P. Coltman, A. FbYger; reserves, L. Absolum, D. Thomas. Y.M.C.A. B.—W. Coburn, B. TTart, TT. Laing, R. Hughes, H. Horrocks, IT. Brownrigg, J. Robinson, J. Woods, .T. Woodhall, J. Pearson, G. Hill; reserve, B. Bowen. Comrades. —Page, Tyler, Swangbcrg, Pearman, Lawrence, Strange, Ryan, Marvin, Evans, Little, Armstrong, Pennycook. BUSINESS HOUSES COMPETITION Following are the results of sanies played in the Business Houses’ Association football competition: Auckland Milk Company, 2. heat Abels, Ltd., 1; Hellabys, Ltd., 4, beat Kent and Sons, 0; Auckland Power Board, 4, beat Farmers’ Trading Company, 1. SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION Senior Grade Thistle. —Zuill, Ferguson, Ritchie, Carter, Rowat, Lawson, McDonald, Nicholson. Stewart, Tuooney, Kay. Celtic.—Morris, Kay, Curran, Bennett, Grant, Jenkins, O. Hagan, Tocher, Davidson, Barrie, Scandle, Cotton, Wylie. Bon Accord. —Oxford, Mays, Reid, Murray, Brown, Liddle, Cummings, Dunsmore, Webb, Hislop, Feeney. Richmond.—Brown, Brittan, Allen, Paitherford, Nimmo, Nisbett, Kane, Urquhart, Buchanan, Ruill, Cuthbert, Cornwall.