Auckland Defeats Navy at Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 680, 4 June 1929, Page 13

Auckland Defeats Navy at Soccer

BRILLIANT PLAY FOUR GOALS IN 15 MINUTES IT ivas pleasing to see the stand and terraces at Blandford Park well filled yesterday with the largest crowd of the season, to watch the serious tryout of the Auckland representatives against the cream of the Navy. It was a thrilling game throughout, but particularly when Auckland cut loose with a quarter of an hour’s' perfect combination, which scored four goals. Navy fought hard, but were defeated 4—2 through weak finishing after having all the best of territorial play. Spencer and Tinkler were unlucky to be held to duty by transport requirements, hut Chalmers and Morrison proved highly efficient substitutes, though Navy missed Clarke, of Diomede, as the pivot of the firing line, Dunford failing to shine in the centre as he did at outside left in the cruiser game. The bluejackets and their friends were strongly represented in the impressive crowd, and kept up a continuous salvo of encouragement. The Navv responded gallantly and stormed the Auckland citadel with constant assaults, but an unusual weakness in the gunnery department failed to add the scoring touch essential to victory, and the representatives of the fleet had to acknowledge defeat, after a fast and furious game, in which they did of the attacking. FAST OPENING

The Navy was loudly cheered on filing out, and the physique of the players with their obvious fitness for a hard bout was very impressive as thev loosened up for tile test, and Auckland looked very business-like in its smart uniform of the familiar blue and white. Fast exchanges were all in favour of the All Whites, but there was no score for 20 minutes, when a clever forward run between Dunford, Tite and Scott saw Navy one up. It was then that Auckland woke up and delighted the fans with a dazzling display of team work, which made the naval defence appear impotent for about 15 minutes. The ball flew from backs to halves and on to the forwards, who passed and repassed with

the precision of a well-oiled machine, with finishing efforts which gave the unguarded goalie no chance of clearmLuko, the clever centre-half of the Diomede, was out of his element at wing-lialf, and made the fatal error of allowing Kay too much liberty, and when the Auckland combination got to work the play to the left wing resulted in a quartet of goals, which temporarily paralysed the opposition, Kay scoring a solo one after cutting between the backs to show them a clean pair of heels, -while Innes and Chalmers each got their heads cleverly to accurate centres from the Thistle express, and Christie pounced on a lialf-hearted clearance to drive back a hot-grass-hopper which flew to the net. After that Navy took a hand, and dominated the game in the second spell, but the Auckland defence was very sound with the forwards breaking away for some lively reprisals, and it was not until near the final whistle that Dunford rushed the ball past Batty after a regular melee in the Auckland goal-mouth. Individually, the Navy side was composed of strong and finished players, but will need to acquire combination to secure the naval championship for the New Zealand Squadron during its visit to Australia. The Auckland team was thoroughly sound in every department, and gives every hope of maintaining its undefeated hold on the Football Association trophy since its arrival. There was not a weak connecting link in the team, and its cohesion throughout was a tribute to the acumen of the sole selector, Mr. Phil Xeesliam. who was warmly congratulated on the success of his proteges against such doughty and clever opponents. CANTERBURY’S WIN Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Canterbury defeated South Canterbury at Soccer today by 2 g-oals to 1.