FLOODLIGHT SOCCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 652, 2 May 1929, Page 11

FLOODLIGHT SOCCER

ELECTRIC AND EXCITING TRAMS DEFEAT NAVAL MEN It was fortunate that the unsettled weather cleared up after tea last evening, as it enabled nearly 2,000 enthusiasts to witness a most exciting and even game of Soccer by artificial light, when Tramways gained a hardfought victory over H.M.S. Dunedin in the dying seconds of a fast and thrilling game. The Navy can always be relied on to play a hard and scientific game, and last night’s bout was a splendid duel between two teams of experts at the game, both sides showing great combination and clever team work. There was a lively brief curtainraiser between teams from the Comrades and Y.M.C.A. fourth division, the lads showing a good knowledge of the code and going at it with a will. An even game saw Comrades win by the odd goal in five. Before the preliminary bout had finished there was a large muster of spectators, the fleet being strongly represented. The witty and original barracking of the sailors was a feature of the big game, the servicemen being at times very candid and impartial critics of their shipmates’ play. The naval men went off with a great dash and soon had Batty, an exserviceman himself, busy clearing a hot and accurate barrage, Rivers and Miln being conspicuous in the attack. Sound defence by the transporters’ backs relieved the pressure, and Christie sent Tinkler away on a lively raid which had Clark under pressure in the Dunedin's citadel, and Bell broke through to net, only to be ruled offside.

Trams returned to the attack and a dash by Spong down the line with a strong centre to the goal area found Stretton also offside when he slammed a first-timer into the net. The Dunedin backs were exploiting the offside theory cleverly when the Trams forwards became over-anxious. The ship’s forwards counter-attacked strongly, Reid being a prominent factor in setting the first line of attack in action, and only brilliant saving and clearances by Batty kept the score board blank when half-time sounded. Play had been fast in the opening spell, but the pace was furious when the second half started, and only stout defence by both sides kept the attackers out. Another quick sprint down the line by Spong found Stretton again on the spot, and Trams drew first blood amid loud cheers. Scott retaliated with an equally brilliant line run, and Rivers had the crowd on its toes with a sizzling shot which missed by the narrowest margin. Scott was rewarded by another accurate centre finding Miln dashing in to head past Batty with unerring judgment. With the score equal both sides went at it hammer-and-tongs in desperate attempts to drive home a winning goal, and the loud cheers of the crowd urged the players to top speed. Again over-anxiety by Trams and quick-thinking strategy by the naval backs found Bell offside in netting a great centre from Spong, and then Spencer crashed a thrilling drive to the upright. The ball literally flew from end to end as attack and coun-ter-attack was repulsed, and a draw seemed certain, when Tinkler and Spong made a great final spurt on the right wing and Spencer headed the winning goal cleverly just before the whistle sounded time to a great encounter, the honours going to Trams by the odd goal in three. It is hoped while the fleet is here to stage a match between the New Zealand flagship and the Imperial men from the combined sloops’ teams of the Laburnum and Veronica, but the piece de resistance will be the clash for the naval championship between the teams of the sister ships Dunedin and Diomede, the latter being «iue here a fortnight hence, and keen to gain the honours as champion of the fleet.