ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. TALL SCORING. CRITICAL ANALYSIS. (By "LIGHT BLUE.") A plentiful crop of goals wAs the chief feature of Saturday's play, Northcote and V.M.C.A. helping themselves to the round half dozen, whilst ileiiaby'a and Philomel each found the net oh four occasions. Up to nml including Saturday thj senior division championship tables now read as

Two points for a win, one for a draw. The ground arrangements at the Domain and Victoria Park .came in for severe condemnation from cluh oflcers, players ami spectators alike, and it is evident that certain definite action will require to be Immediately taken by the responsible authority. The Kortheotc-Tliletle match should have commenced at three o'clock, but it was a considerable time after thin that the referee was able to set the. ball in motion, m the playing- area had to be nnrked out in a haphazard kind of may. These clubs were more fortunate than, the 1 v.M.c.A. and Londoners, who were also engaged in a senior division championship game on the ground adjoining. No lines whatever were available, and to play football under these conditions savours of the ridiculous. The lons grass also proved a decided handicap to the players. At Victoria Park excitement ran high among the 400 spectators, and there was no obstacle to their encroaching on the field of play. As mentioned in these columns last week, an additional burden 18 placed on the .referee, .and this Was clearly Illustrated on Saturday when Poneonby were awarded a; goal, the legitimacy of . which ie a keen topic of discussion among "Socceritcs." Although Ponsonby had the best of .the game, and emerged victors after * hard struggle, still a draw would have been a fair index, ns Harbour Board were dan-1 gerous on many occasions. They were : unlucky to lose the services of Cox during the second half, and only a miraculous save by Clark in. the closing minutes! prevented them -from annexing a point. Both "goalleß" performed well, Batty '■ being, if anything, more confident in hie clearances. Mitchell and Braithwaitc were the beet of the back- division, the former using his weight to advantage, while the latter gave a good " exhibition of clean kicking. He should remedy his fault of straying to mldlield, as he is sure to be badly left when ■ opposed to a real fast outside right. " ..-. . ■. • ,! An excellent display was-given by the respective .'half-bock. divisions,. . .whoi appeared to dominate "-"tlie situation throughout the ninety minutes. Neesham carried off the honours of the day, and was the best player on the field. He was closely followed l>y the rival left halves.' Meager and Jones. The former proved a; rare sticker and got through a power. of; '.york, hi* tackling being especially fine. Jouee did not come into the picture till well on in the game, but then gave' a highly finished display. Judicious placing to hie forwards being hie forte. Corbctt played a headj game, but hie stamina gave out towards ' the end, when he received little or no support from the forward division. A decided superiority was noticeable among the Ponsonby forwards,. though the Board were unfortunate to lose . the services of their centre forward Cox. Innes and Ahem were the" bright stars, and they proved-a clever combination, the former's Kpeed standing him 'in good stead. Dickeon distributed the play well, while Slmm. ably, supported by Young mid Hunter,, showed excellent command of the ball; and sent across.many accurate centres. Heatley and Jlenshaw were Harbour Board's best forwards, ■ but as a whole their Hue lacked cohesion, and they .lave" the opposing backs too much scope to"' Indulge Iα open kicking. ..-; ••■-: .... • ~ As regard* the winning' goal, it is difficult to Imagine how the whole of the ball could have. crossed! the goal line. «s it rebounded from the goal post into play. With the spectators standing oh the goal line the referee was unable, to get a side view, and was placed. about the 18 yards line. Although some time elapsed before he awarded a goal,-: yet,. evidently, luihls own mind, lie was of opinion'that a goal had been scored, and ruled accordingly. : His decision is final,' and the result must stand. ■■ -f >w ■ After their clever win against Philomel. Tramways, were expected to put np a much better fight against Hcllaby's. but the latter proved too'strong and had a.<decisive win, ' Whowcll. Kane. lUmmer and Byrne were best 'for Hellaby's, who have a -wellbalanced side, and should show a decided improvement, ere the' season ' ends. The Tramway forwards .were weak, showing little or ■no combination.* Hopkins, Herberts and Simpson were .prominent'in. the beck division. , }.. ..■•••".' .Thistle made a .verjr'.-poor showing against Xorthcote, who 'with anything but a. strong side; showed decided superiority. The fimt Northcotc forwards found the Thistle defence easy, to beat, and Anderson had little chance-to nave any of the halfdozen, goals scored: against Aim. * Williams nnd' IJodds* were.the onljr players to show decent form, bat they/ lacked support. Pearson, Bell, Tremnin and Knott.were best for Nbrthcote,' the latter helping himself to three goals. However,- -a' decided improvement will'have, to be'made In their play, especially in the back division, if they wish to hold their own against Ponsonby next -■■■ ■' ■.:—''?■•';' Waterslders played np. surprisingly well in the second' half of their match against North Shore at Pevonnort. and fully deserved to' divide the spoils. Hamtll at centre-half, was the'mainstay of the team, arid was ably* supported,, by: Chesney, Martin and Feeney. The'young North Shore players acquitted--themselves right well, find arc worthy, of being persevered with further. Craig,- Malone,:.W;ooHey • and Dacre ■were prominent, for Shore, the latter's goal being a brilliant effort: ;. ■- ■ - ' ■ The absence of lines spoiled the T.M.C.A.Londoners:' game, and at times the referee and lln.e»men-had a thankless, task. The nippy Y.lt, forward* were much too good for the Londoners' defence,, and Marshall distinguished- himself .by. again performing the "hat trick.". The claims of thfo centreforward will have to'be considered when representative teams are -being selected. Bhenkln, Wilson and Hart also played -well. Woods and- Wills, on. the' London, side, were best., but. lacked support.. .'■-, Metropolitan put ■up a . valiant - fight against Philomel. - and should show a big improvement when several "of their best players are avaiable. G'ebbie and Holmes stood out in the Metjo. team, -while the sailors proved a well-balanced lot, showing good combination at times, and their shooting left little to be'desired. Tucker, Heal and .Snell wetu. outstanding, the centre having several' good run?' to h|s credit. , . The following extracts 7 from the:V'"Laws of the Game" * should prove: oflriterest: : (1) The whole ef the biill must-have passed over the goal-line er touch-line,. before it is out of; pay. :• (i!) A referee must under no clrcumstancea allow a .goal, unleis he is absolutely satiifled that the 1 whole.; .of the ball has passed out of-play. ..„■.-. : "*

A SECTION. • Matches. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. P. Poneonby • 2 2 0 O 6 2 4 Northcote 2 2 0 0 9 5 4 Harbour Board ..2110322 Watersidcrs 2 0 1 1 4 5 1 North Shore 2 0 1 1 4 7 1 Thistle .. 2 0 2 O 4 l> 0 B SECTIOX. Matches. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. P. Hellaby'B 2 2 -0 0 7 It 4 Y.M.C.A. ' 22 0 0 10 2 4 Philomel : 2 1' 1 0 5 4 2 Tramways 2 II 0' 3 5 3 Metropolitan 2-0 2 0 3 8 t> Londoncre 20 2 0 1 i>0