Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 15

Soccer

HUNTLY South Auckland successfully repelled an attack on the Brown Shield last Saturday, but the invaders (North Auckland) were by no means disgraced. The men from the Winterless North had bad luck at the outset, their best forward (Ackers) receiving a nasty kick on the ankle ten minutes after the start, and having to retire. This factor upset the visitors’ combination. Liddle, who played centre forward for the winners, and in a strange position, fully justified the selectors’ opinions, and scored the three goals for the defenders of the bauble. This was North Auckland’s fifth attempt to take the shield home, and its manager. Mr. D. C. Young, stated at the dinner after the match that he was hopeful the sixth attempt would be successful. The South Auckland officials headed by Messrs. James Baillie, J. McKinley, and G. Cox, were in attendance, despite the wretched day. Reviewing the work of the visitors. Platt, in goal, was sound, and had plenty to do, while T. Caldwell (fullback) was on his own. He saved his side time after time with his defensive work and powerful kicking. He was the outstanding player on the day. Hazell suffered by comparison with Caldwell, and was playing out of position. The halves, Malcolm, Rodgers, and Pickering, had plenty to do, with the centre man easily the pick. In front, Jennings (outside right) was the best. He is a player above the average calibre. Wilson, Marshall (centre), and Stewart, in that order, were the best of the others. In the course of a brief cha.t after the match, Mr. D. C. Young, who managed the North Aucklanders, frankly admitted the superiority of the opposing forward line. He also said that the game was making progress in the North. For the winners. Hunter, in goal, was sound, and was tested with three very hot shots. A noticeable feature was that this player was minus gloves, with a very greasy ball to handle. T. Dodds outshone English by a very wide margin, and played bis usual consistent game, while Beaumont and White were the pick of the halves, the former had a lot to do, and did it well. McKinstry was hurt, and played on, but he was palpably suffering, and eventually had to go off —it was feared with a fractured rib. In the forwards, Hunter was the weak spot, and was not in condition, weakening perceptibly at the close. The balance were all on their game, Black, Liddle, Deakon, and Dodds making for a source of annoyance to the opposition all the afternoon.