SOCCER TITLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 13

SOCCER TITLE.

FLYGER ROSE BOWL.

HUNDRED GOALS.

KEEN STRUGGLE.

PONSONBY JOINT LEADERS

DEFEAT OF JIT. ALBERT GRAMMAR,

Tlie first game in the third round , the senior competition, played oil Satu day, brought about something like anothi reshuffle, especially amongst the leadii clubs, and the issue becomes still moi interesting and obscure. Ponsonby scorc a surprise, and overwhelming victory ov< Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, wh but a few weeks ago appeared to 'be i an unassailable position. But two une: pected reverse have given the compet tion an entirely different complexion. Poi sonby have now drawn level on the tor Shore comes third, only a point in fron of Thistle, who have two matches in hani while Metro-College rises one point ahea of Comrades at the bottom with the sam number of games played. The remaindc of the round promises to provide a strenv ous struggle for points, as the accompany ing table will show. Competition ladder: — „ Goals. Cli P. W. L. D. F. A. Ptt Mount Albert . 10 6 3 1 31 33 13 I'onsonby 10 fi 3 1 30 i>2 13 North Shore ..11 4 4 3 30 35 11 Thistle 9 5 4 — 32 27 10 .Metro-College . 11 3 0 2 30 35 S .Comrades .... 11 2 li 3 33 40 1 PONSONBY'S CLEAR-CUT VICTORY Grammar never at any stage appearei to be a champion team on Saturday, am altogether the.ir display was little short o baffling to their supporters and spectator; generally. Their clash and cohesion, wliicl have been features of recent games, wen neve.r sighted, and failure of the defence was the main trouble and cause of tliei; defeat. While Warren might have pre vented at least one of the goals—fault: fielding being his weakness—on two otlir.l occasions Holdswortli completely mis kicked nil easy ball allowing Ponsonby tin simplest of chances to score. McFarlane the other back, was also very much oft" his game and there was no understanding be. tween the last line, which gave tlieii opponents every chance. Ward at centre half played a strong aggressive game, bul Horrocks. 011 the left, was far from hi' usual standard, while Woodall, though a trier, was often out of position. The result was that the forwards were indifferently supported and through having to chase the ball lacked penetration as an attacking force. There was also too much individual effort, Fyvio being especially at fault in this direction. Ponsonby have to thank Harold Chapman for their seven goals, for 110 went nan on the day and all Ave were well taken and an example of how simple mistakes may become fatal to Mioso who make them. Riggans played another promising game at back along with Ilaggett, while Masters was prominent in the half-backs for sturdy and deadly tackling and fast following up. Sims 011 the right, and ,Tones in the centre were also useful members, both in defence and on' attack. The goal secured bv the pivot was a smart effort,, and showed laulty positional play by Grammar defence Ponsonby forwards had much more combination than their opponents. Innes and Kacliell on the right shaping well, feeding Chapman with useful passes, while Caisley and Mullane, if not so prominent 011 the left, did their share. Grammar have certainly struck an expensive lapse of form which should spur them to greater effort. TAME CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiser at Blandford Park last Saturday was a very tame and uninteresting display, neither Thistle nor Comrades producing the team work and positional play of which they are capable. The latter failed to maintain the improved form they have been showing the last few games, while Thistle had an off day. The defence of both sides was sound, but the front rankers gave a very weak displav, the goal scoring attempts being deplorable. Yearbury in goal, and Bentley and McKenna w f?f a .£ olid line of defence for Comrades. . "iwiile Twinn, Hooton nnd A. i\hr.re a good trio of halves. The for>vardsliad an off day, Bunting being the- only player of the line to show anvthing like torm. ; Watson was safe in goal for Thistle. Wiseman partnered Williams at full-back, ■ "'id made a creditable showing, wliilc the latter proved a dour defendr.r. Stone was out Of position , at centre-half, but Polwiu and Constable were only- moderately successful on the flanks. The forward line J was only a shadow of its former self, only Woods and Kay showing any enterprise. SHORE DROP A POINT. Both Shore and Metro.-College fielded weakened sides at Devonport on Saturday, the home team be.ing without Gerrard, West and Sale, while Metro, missed P. Holman, P. Flyger and Burton. The introduction of juniors upset the team work a bit, but what it lacked in cohesion was more than made up for by the fast and willing manner in which both sides battled for tho winning goaL. that never came. The Collegians were lucky in sharing the points, but after their gallant stand and repeated counterattacks when two short, no one would grudge them the. division. In spite of the defence being weakened on both sides, the substitutes proved themselves efficient deputies, and it was the. firing lines which failed entirely to complete the frequent and fierce attacks in the pointless second spell. In the .first half Sinie put Shore one.lip with. a>;porfect finishing touch to a neat combined effort by Corbett and Stevenson, and Cronan equalised" with a terrific" shot from well out, which even the net failed to stop, but in the second spell Shore's frequent barrage of Metro.'s goal from all angles and "ranges made' it miraculous that 110 score came. Ga van's red sweater seemed to draw the ball like a magnet, and ho came through a hectic ordeal in fine style. Speed in front of him was a vigorous back, and had a lively pair to watch in C. Blackie and Stevenson. Cronan was outstanding in Metro.'s middle line, while Cleal shone out in making good openings for his wing men besides getting up quickly for their returns, but his parting shots lacked pace and direction.

Cameron in Shore's goal was never as busy as Gavan, but had some lively raids to repel and cleared cleverly under pressure. Ekman gave a virile display at fullback in the first half, and Cliff Waters was solid on replacing him. Moorcroft used his weight effectively, but was slow iu recovering. Corbett held the half and front lines together with his usual finish, and Frank Biackie was in the thick of it. throughout. In the Shore van the two wingers, Sime and Carrick Biackie, gave a great display of speedy line dribbling and accurate centring. Biackie often . tricking the defenders with the sang froid of a veteran. Stevenson mixed it a lot and made some nice openings, but Archer pla3'ed too far back to connect with some good centres which went begging, and neither he nor his inside, men could find the net, although openings were as plentiful as daisies on the ground. The long grass on the Devonport Domain is now un to the tops of the players! boots, which makes good Soccer difficult, and it is a pity the ground with so high a reputation should have become, so neglected. It •is no fault of the club, which. Is at the mercy of the local authority, and the control board might take the matter up.

The following team has been selected by Mr. J. C. Sibbin to play Wellington at Wellington next Saturday for the Fiyger Rose Bowl (for players under 21 years): — Warren (Y.M.C.A.), Mead (Training College), I'ritchard (Metro.-College); . Hofrocks (Training Coll.ge), G. Sims (Y.M.C.A.), McMeaclnn (Metro.-College), C, Blackie (North fi'jpre), Brackenridge (Metro.-Col-lege), Lamond (Oneliungn), Ripley (Metro.College), Tornquist (Oneliunga) The team will meet at the Y.M.C.A. on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m.

Something of a record in Soccer football has be-sn created by Y.M.C.A. Rovers, n the seventh grade competition, who on Saturday in a 10—0 victory carried tlieir goals total for the season to 104. only one goal, from a penalty kick, lias been scored against the team throughout Up. c. mnetition. The team has playod 1matches and has a lead of 10 points ill tlie competition in which there are five teams, (lie platers being under 12 years of age on January 1. Several doubles-figure:, f cores have been registered, including 12,; 13 and even 14-goal wins. Most prominent among the goal scorers are J. Neeaham and M. Bell, but the team plays a cleve-r combined game, with no sign of outstanding individual players. Mr. G. * Adair* has acted" as coach most of the season.

GRADE GAMES. FIRST RESERVE. Thistle 4, beat Comrades 1. Shore 6, beat Metro-College a. •SECOND DIVISION. I;M.C.A. G, beat Onehunga 2. SECOND RESERVE. Ponsonby 3, beat Thistle 1. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. PI-C.A; 4, beat Shore 1. Metro.-College 0, beat Onehunga 2. Grammar 0.8. 2, beat Training Col. 1 FOURTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. -1, beat New Lynn 1. FIFTH GRADE. Onehunga 3, drew with W.Y.M I 3 Abels 12, beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals 0." SIXTH GRADE. Comrades 0. beat Thistle 2. 4 ' beat Northeote 1. Metio-College 0, beat W.Y.M.I. 2. 0 Eastern Suburbs 7, beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals sSY' Rovers u ' Y-M-c-A-SEVENTH GRADE. " 1 -°- D( -' ut Comrades B 0': Lastein Suburbs o, beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs sS ,c i A ' liiva,s 2 ' beat Comrades A 5, beat Comrades C 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIORS. GrammaTl* Graw,Ui,r >*at Auck^d INTERMEDIATE. m.u- e 0 hUiCal C ° llc = e 1 - beat Auckland GrjmJUNIORS. Puna^Srammar''0 GraUlll " U ' S ' bGilfc Takil " Grammafl. C ° llog ° 7 ' beat Auckland GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WELLINGTON. First A Division. Hospital 1 beat Institute 0. Potnn^ l^ 0 i ' ? r^ v with Diamond 3. ± etc no 3, beat Marist 1 kentoun 3, boat Swifts"2. First B Division (Victory Cup) Technical -1, beat Nada " , "\ vei ; Hutt 3, l>eat Mirnmar Rangers - Island Bay 7, Onslow 2 s S - default' 811 Wa " dcrers b ™t Kovcrs by DUNE DIN. JfojWlcl 5, beat Maori Hill 1. Old Boyts '2, beat Mornington 1. N°ithorn J, beat Roslyn-Wakari " Seacliffe !>, beat Technical 3. CHRISTCHURCII. Western 5, beat Nomads 2 Technical 4, beat Western 15 2.