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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 17, No. 18. September 3, 1953
Soccer. . . — Teamwork Triumphs
Soccer. . .
Teamwork Triumphs
History repeated itself in the intervarsity Soccer matches. It was the same this year as last year—Victoria needed only a draw in the final game to win the competition. The team proved the general over-all superiority of their Soccer by achieving that draw against Auckland, who stood to win the competition if they won this final game.
A Blue for Preston
Vic. had no trouble in defeating Otago on the first day, 5-1, at the Inner Domain. On the second day they decisively beat Maguey, the score bring 7-1. Then on the Wednesday came this deriding match against Auckland, who had been previously set back by a one-all draw with Otago.
Vic's team for this match was: Lea (goalie), Lawn. Aldridge. Reddy (capt.). Millward. Mandel. Brown. Preston, Jackson. Watson and Tichbon on left wing. The game was closely contested, and because of the almost equal standard of play shown by both trams, provided us with the best exhibition of Tournament Soccer we had seen.
In the first half both sides were out to score quickly and Vic. was often forced on to the defensive Here the experience of Reddy, the right-half, was valuable But after thirty minutes of play Auckland sent a fast, deceptive corner shot which took the goalie by surprise. Vic. wan down one goal to nil. Play was cautious for the rest of this half, and there was no further score.
In the second half Vic. was out to equalise This they did in the first twenty-five minutes of play but in a manner which surprised everyone Aldridge, the left full-back, who was playing a steady defensive game against determined attacks of the Aucklanders, took the ball at his feet and began to dribble it upfield with the ostensible purpose of clearing it to one of the forwards But he kept possession of the ball despite the efforts of the other side to relieve him of it and continued on his [unclear: determined] journey towards the Auckland goal-mouth. The result was inevitable—a short kick sent the ball past the Auckland goalie and Vic. had equalised. The probable reason for this success was that the Auckland halves and backs expected Aldridge at any moment of his run to pass the ball to his forwards and as a result they did not take his approach very seriously. But soon after Auckland managed to evade our defence and the goalie was beaten by a swift cross-shot, making the score 2-1, Auckland's favour. Vic. fought like demons to get that extra goal. Their determination was rewarded, and Preston scored the equalising goal, which was worth exactly 12 points. For the second Tournament in succession Victoria had won the Soccer competition.
Congratulations to A. Preston, who gained an N.Z.U. Blue. The final results were: V.U.C, 1; A.U.C, 2; O.U., 3.