1945 Chatham Cup

1945 Chatham Cup

Tournament details
Venue(s)	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Dates	1 September 1945
Final positions
Champions	Western (2nd title)
Runner-up	Wellington Marist
←  1940 1946  →

The 1945 Chatham Cup was the 18th nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand, and the first such competition after a four-year gap caused by World War II.

The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds. Teams taking part in the final rounds are known to have included Wellington Marist, St. Andrews (Manawatu), Western (Christchurch), and Mosgiel.

The 1945 final

In the final, Jack Smith scored a hat-trick, including one goal from the penalty spot. Merv Gordon's own goal is the first to be definitively recorded as such in a Chatham Cup final, though some goals in earlier finals are regarded as own goals in some publications. The game is noted as an exciting one, especially the second half. The only goal of the first half came after 17 minutes from Marist's G. Irvine. The lead became 2-0 twenty minutes into the second half through Ray Price, only for Western to score twice, the second goal coming only one minute before the whistle. In extra time Gordon's own goal was nullified by an equaliser from Ray Dowker before Smith hit the winner from the penalty spot. ^[1]

Results

Quarter-finals

28 July 1945

South Auckland (Waikato) Final

Glen Massey	1 - 6	Rotowaro Tigers
	Report

Seddon Park, Hamilton

11 August 1945

Wellington Final

Wellington Marist	5 - 0	Stop Out

Basin Reserve, Wellington

11 August 1945

Canterbury Final

Western	4 - 3	Christchurch Thistle

Hagley Park , Christchurch

11 August 1945

Otago Final

Roslyn-Wakari	2 - 4	Mosgiel

Kensington Oval , Dunedin

Semi-finals

South Island Final

18 August 1945

Mosgiel	3 - 7	Western

Caledonian Park, Dunedin

North Island Final

18 August 1945

Rotowaro Tigers	2 - 2 replayed	Wellington Marist

Blandford Park, Auckland

North Island Final (replay)

21 August 1945

Rotowaro Tigers	0 - 2	Wellington Marist

Blandford Park , Auckland

Referee: Mr. F. O. Green

Final

1945 Chatham Cup Final

1 September 1945

Western	4 – 3 (aet)	Wellington Marist
J. Smith 3 (1 pen), Dowker		Irvine, Price, Gordon (og)

Basin Reserve , Wellington

Referee: Mr. V. Wheeler

References

1. Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN   0-473-01291-X . p.70

• Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation New Zealand 1945 page