ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20249, 8 May 1929, Page 16

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

IMPROVED FORM DISPLAYED.

POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS.

There was an all-round improvement in the standard of play produced m the Association football senior graclo A fixtures on Saturday. Evidence that clubs.are settling down was not lacking and each of the four contests provided interesting and at times clover football. Goals appear to have been made easy to get in the opening games of the season, and forwards seem to have asserted a great advantage over defenders. Tho leading clubs, Tramways and Ponsonby, have each gained six points in the throo games played, and both clubs have registered 12 goals. Tho following tabic shows the positions of tho clubs:— Goals, Club. P. W. L. D. F. A.ris. Tramways .. 3 3 0 '] I,• I'onsonby -. 4 ( r , North Shoro .. A 2 1 0 9 5 4 ;; £ ii l i° ii i« » :: ! o 3 0 4 rl 0 Belmont ■ • 3 0 3 0 4 11 0 Onehunga Unfortunate.

Tho inclusion of several Navy players in the senior clubs had the effect of brightening up play considerably. Onehunga was particularly well served by Rivers and Scott, both of H.MJB. Dunedin. Although failing to scoro the Navy men were always in the picture, and the Tramways defenders found them a continual source of

worry. On the run of play Onehunga was decidedly unfortunate to lose by throe goals. Its finishing play at times loft something to be desired, but many fine efforts were dogged by ill-fortune, and Tramways goal particularly in the second spell held a charmed life. Rivers, when moved to centre-forward, made an able leader, while Gill partnered Scott on the left wing effectively. JVhimster was not well supported, and got little opportunity to shine. Woodall, Bentley and Griffiths were grand spoilers, and consistently interrupted the sparkling Tramways attack. Mcllor was a strong defender, but Peterson was inclined to hesitnto in his clearances, and occasionally got his side into difficulty. Zouill, in goal, was in brilliant form. His handling was always clean and convincing, and many of his clearances were very spectacular. Tramways fielded what again appeared to be an invincible side, although Simms, who has been playing very effectively this season, was a notable absentee. Always the better balanced team, Tramways set out to establish an early lead, and with the attack combining well soon accomplished its object. Spencer's Fine Leadership.

The score of two goals to nil at the interval did not truly represent the run of play, but was the reward of a clever concerted and thrustful attack. Spencer was in lively mood at centre-forward, and led the line brilliantly. Tramways' second goal was the result of a clever effort on his part when he had the Onehunga defence completely baffled. Spong, at outside right, continues to show vastly improved form, and has few equals in that position in Auckland. He was well supported by Williams and invariably made full use of his opportunities. Bell played forcefully at inside left, but Stretton did not combine to make a strong wing, although he played more than a useful game. Tinkler was the outstanding half on the field, and showed a return to his best form. His goal was the reward of fine opportunism and was one of the outstanding incidents in a fine game. Christie got through a lot of work, and kept a firm hold of Rivers, Gill and Jeffreys, while Fyfße, although not so strong as his partners, played soundly. Simpson and McElligoi.t were given too much scope and revelled in the free kick? ing allowed by the stand-off tactics employed bv Onehunga in the first spell. Under pressure in the closing stages of the game both were safe, but several clearances were mulled and fortune often came to their aid in clearing their lines. Battv displayed his best form in goal and was often called upon to make daring and at times almost impossible clearances.

Celtic Shdws Improvement. The early exchanges in (he ThistleCeltic game did not give promise of .111 interesting contest, but a vast improvement in the play of the Celtic team in the second spell changed the outlook. After a ragged opouing the team gave the first taste of its football ability, and throughout the second spell looked the more likely sido to score. The players have plenty of individual merit, and it should not take the side long to develop tho team work necessary to bring: success. Wright was the outstanding player in the team, while Poole, a Navy man, proved an acquisition at centre-forward. Thistle was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Heed and Giles, both oi' H.M.S. Duncdin, and set about the task of obtaining the goals necessary to secure victory early in tho game. A twogoals lead was quickly established? after which Thistle eased up, and some drab football was witnessed toward the interval. That the team always held the upper hand was evident when Celtic scored in tho second half, for vitliin a minute th.e two-goals margin was again established. Tho Thistle defence was very sound. Gerrard was safe in goal and was always well protected by Hibbcrt and Ferguson. Hunley, 3M,cCosh and Reed made a strong half line, but. the lastnamed was not happy away from the centre-half position. Curnmings, Hislop and Kay were the best of a smart and effective forward line, although had it not been for Ivay's opportunism the line might have failed to get goals. Ponsonby's Big Win. y.M.C.A. did not expect to. run up against opposition of the calibre presented by I'onsonby on Saturday. The game was regarded as good as won, but the uncertainty of. football was again demonstrated. Right from the start I'onsonby played a dashing game and took tho lead in the opening minutes. The ab-seneo of Mowat appeared to disorganise, tho Y.M.C.A. defence, which failed to hold the lively Ponsonby forwards. It was a hard game, with little clever footwork. Wilsop was tho star in tho Ponsonby attack, and claimed four of his team's seven goals. Each was scored in a convincing manner, and with the outside man back to his best form, Ponsonby should possess an attack capable of extending the strongest defence. Lyon played a sound game in goal for the winners, but Lornic and Taylor were not too convincing on defence. Tho half line was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Dick, who consistently opened up the game to his side's advantage Y.M.C.A. was unablo to got under way and never played up to its best form. The toam mado strenuous but futile efforts to strike an understanding and was never in a winning position. At Devon port North Shore again demonstrated its ability to get goals on its homo ground, always having the better of (ho exchanges against Belmont. The reintroduction of Webb at insido right and tho movement of Bush to inside left gave cohesion to tho youthful forward line. Tho defence was very sound and the Belmont attack was allowed little scope. Belmont made r. fine recovery after being two goals down in tho early stages, but never looked like winning and could make little impression on the North Shoro dcfenco in the second spell,.