SOCCER GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 13

SOCCER GAMES.

SENIOR COMPETITION.

THISTI-B «™n* WlNnjnc..

.Y.M.C.A.. SURPRISE SHORE UNITED.

Thistle continue on their ■«•;„„• in the Soccer senior com „ v 1 "8 way their tally to ihT' and three, goals for 15,. 1 «*«. ™n demonstrates an induhitaKio "t , ' 11 ? 181 ' 4— both attack and defence I'Lv P^° h ) Comrades on Saturday bvfo,.r a T hed transferring a deficit of two goals the interval to a 3—2 victory Mm t Mu Grammar Old Boys defeat of the season when tw i , to Oneinmga on BlandfoVp, 1"ffl goals to ml. Eastern Suburbs ako fell vie time to Ponsonby on Blandfird Park in a game that was fast and even most of the ■way, the winners being rather rl\twi by a two-goal victory. S in aUthe *amee the .players found the footing treaeliCTcis footwoik ™* more or Cat

Much favourable comment was made of Blandford Park for providing the ladies with afternoon tea at tho caretaker* collage, which will 11O w be utilised as a ladies' rest room. •■ The refreshment was greatly appreciated, and the hope has been expressed that some arrangement xiiiglit be made by which the innovation of Saturday could become permanent. It is suggested that the Control Board may be able to reach an agreement with the proprietor or the rights on the park to a fiord facilities for afternoon tea at a small charge, for any ladies who might desire such, and there is more than a suspicion, that such would prove decidedlypopular.

ONEHUNGA PLAY ONE SHORT.

Onehunga met misfortune in the first *A h ,, ee . m A nutes of tbeir S ame aeainst Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, in the shape of an accident to Williamson, their right half, and the Manukau side battled on pluckily lor the rest of the game with ten players Both teams the greasy ball and the treacherous ground troublesome, and the game really was not productive of much real football. Any attempt at constructive play was generally minified by in-acc-urate passing owing to the insecure footing and the great mistake on the part of I>t>th teams was the utter failure to first of all get the ball under control. There ■was more aimless kicking than . has been scon yet this season, and, though the game was fast, clean, and on the whole, even, combination was at a discount. Mistakes in front of goal were very common and costly, and while the victory slightly flatters Onehuuga, Mount Albert have shown much more promising football than they did on Saturday. As the conditions obviously had the players beaten, criticism must be tempered with a due regard to the difficulties of the playing area; probably as the season advances and wet grounds "become more common the players will be able to adapt themselves better to a wet and greasy ball. There Was no one outstanding in Old Boys' defence, in fact, the rearguard at times became badly tangled up in their movements. Understanding is required' between the players. The forwards tried to carry out cohesive movements, but not with much siiccess. Spencer came into the team at inside right, and, •while his generalship was undoubtedly yaluable, he seemed to find it hard to keep lout of Jepson's way. Angus was easily the most outstanding forward, but his efforts were mostly individualistic, yet he was thrustful and clever with the ball.

A. Gavan, Onehunga centre-forward, was the best of the visiting side, and showed clever- footwork on the ball and also distribution of the play. Forrester and Donaldsoa worked together well for the left wing, ibut Ahcrn on the right was only occasionally in evidence. Onehunga , s defence, like that of Grammar,' was. not at all with the exception of J. Gavan, .in, goal, who brought off several clever saves. Oii the run of the play, however; the Manukau. team had reason to be lnore. than .satisfied ■with getting oft with both points. ■

EASTERN SUBURBS TRY CHANGES. The Tamaki side tried changes in. • the forward line on Saturday against Ponsonby, putting R. Welch on the extreme right wing ■with Glaister as his partner, bringing Kast into the centre berth, with Young and Mullane on the left. While Welch, was the most successful forward of the 'afternoon, always being vigorous and forceful, no suitable substitute was found for him as leader of the attack, and it cannot be said that the experiment was much : of a success. Thrust was lacking in the centre, and it was obvio-us that the players'have not yet cultivated an understanding. However, the suburban side has no need to become panicky over the non-success of their .eleven so far this season. On the run of the play there was no superiority in favour of Fonsonby, but the suburban defence erred badly towards the close, when they ■practically threw discretion to the. "winds in. their desperate efforts to. get goals. R. Stone should have known ■ better >than to desert his position at back to make himself an auxiliary centre-forward without seeing that his post was suitably guarded.' It was ■what such recklessness deserved when Ponsonby broke away and scored ere Stone and the defence could get back into position The impetuosity 6f the Auckland and New, Zealand representative obviously •was a problem for his Vbrother Howard, as captain of the side. Suburbs', half-backs •worked extremely hard all afternoon but -were often out of position, yet they "had the measure of the opposing forwards. But Subnrbs* forwards were the weakness. matches Diamond, right half, was safe and enterprising, and Grant and Masters take the chances they got.

' THISTLE. BEAT COMRADES. 1 Three of w^n^^^StSVan^een merits of the two teams. i spt % eral marked, and,-was S not to take advantage. , ones Ritchie and Williams, the hacks, jas Com Tades' open tactics, sending J 0 acrose the field, make ground speed ly, and kept Thistle halHmcfcs always on the run.

VICTORY TO Y.M.CA. The Y.M.CA. team showed nO p fr s ea | o S' provement in their previous jeek s» but did well enough to defeat by 3 goals to 2, on a surface which pre eluded fine football. While Shore were making a stiff pace-all the way, nors managed at the same time offltto (luce some useful tactics » nd TOn c . om^" ce work. The home team's game was no uv? ably individual. Cowie, in goaT against .in» last season's team mates, was sl ° w ki £i times, with the slippery ground »KWS things difficult all round. ■Smith, •" * hack; was practically useless for the S re ?F k part of the match owing to a in the calf of his kicking leg. Ihc back work fell to Gerrard. The mm<£ however, played a hard defence, J&£L.%. tliei* clearances were wasted on tnci i line. McCluskey. vjas the most in attack,.but much -ft his work was by unnecessarily html play/. He is • g"^ a g lone attacker, and the goal "^".fother a line piece of work. Blackie, Shore s oui scorer, also seemed reluctant to pas' « u good chances offered. ; His a neat side-tlck_ja^t-rthe-Jiefcr^ cll^-< ' rne

were inclined to be out of place, though each had moments of good efforts, many oi winch were spoiled by speed. Smith was safe in goal for r.M., and raado some pretty saves. The back SpJS open aud fast. Mowat and Kuldolls were sound and studied the men in front. Chapman, at centre haU', aid some judicious kicking, and his left and right were energetic, feeding both wings with good judgment. , Mcb'arluue, Hamilton and Hill in the forwards were busy throughout, but a tendency to shoot without looking sometimes spoilt their promise. Pearson, at centre, became more prominent In the second spell, when his team worked better together. He scored twice. Riggans netted the odd goal a few minutes alter hall-time, and showed up more thereafter.

GRADE GAMES.

SECOND GRADE. Comrades 2, beat North Shore United 1. New Lynn A 8, beat Onehunga 1. Abel's A 12, beat New Lynn B 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Mi. Albert 0.8. 8, beat Y.M.C.A. 1. Eastern Suburbs 4, beat Thistle A 2. FOURTH GRADE. Metro. College 8, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. North Shore 1, heat Mr. Albert 0.8. 0. Comrades (fourths) 2, beat Comrades (thirds) 1. FIFTH, GRADE. Abel's 4, beat Comrades B O. i.M.C.A. A 2, boat Comrades A 1. SIXTH GRADE. Comrades A 2. bent Metro. College 0. Y.M.C.A. A 3. boat North Shore A 0. ( omrades C 7. beat Y.M.C.A. D 2. North Shore B !», beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Abel s 3, drew with Comrades 3. SEVENTH GRADE. Comrades A 9, beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. Thistle 3, drew witli North Shore B 3 Comrades B won by default from Abel's. Abel's A 1, drew with Metro. College 1. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. DUNEDIX. Seacliffe 5, beat Roslyn Wakari 2. Maori Hill 3, beat Mosgiel 0. Northern 7, beat Technical 1 Mornington 4, beat Old Boys 3.