ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 25 May 1925, Page 9

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

■ ■ NORTHCOTE STRIKE COLOURS TO NAVY. SHORE AND PONSONBY DRAW. THISTLE TOO GOOD FOR V.M.C.A. HELLABY'S BEAT TRAMS. Once again the .weather conditions were against scientific displays of the code, though throughout the games there were good individual performances. At Blandford Park the Navy beat Northcote .'!— l, while Ponsonby and Shore had a drawn game, 3—3. Thistle proved much too good for V.M.C.A., and ran up five goals to one. Hellaby's bent Tramways by 2 to 1.

NORTHCOTE V. ROYAL NAVY,

Obtaining the .hall from the _lekoff Navy attacked, but Kernic- s shot sailed past, as did a moment Inter a lint- shot, from MeCrae AttacUln. in tui-, Burford was away, but the ball trickled over the lino, and a throw-in resulted. A throw-in saw Navy nearly through, but Hibbert made a fine clearance, and Burford raced down with the ban at his toe. A scrummage in the Navy I goal ensued. Tucker, after lying on the ball, managed to throw clear. Thornley, nt centre-half, here got injured, and had to leave the ground ton minutes from the start, and Northcote reverted to the onehack game. A fine run saw Merritt make a* right foot drive. Cliesney made a magnificent save, but failed to clear, and Welch, following up, hit the post, and on the rebound MeCrae put in. but being offside the -oal was disallowed. A literal bombardment of the Northcote goal set up. but Thompson and the goalie gave no chances, and with the errntle- shooting, owing to the terrible state of the ground, the Northcote goal escaped. Merritt set the ball rolling in the second spoil, but McDonald got possession, an.l passing out to Knott the inside man had bard lines in getting stuck—Tucker having time to clear. Again through Burford the seasiders attacked, but Hcaton took the ball us it came across, and set MeCrae away. Thompson and McDonald, however, kept them out until Welch getting the ball from a ruck at the corner, moved inwards, nnd sent In a hot one. Chesney only just being able to divert the ball. but not to save the score. Navy 1. Northcote 0. Flushed by their success, the sailors returned apain to tbe attack, and McCrne got past Chesney's defence. Navy 2, Northcote. n. A free against the sailors saw relief afforded, and Bell nnd Tremain niiulc trucks to the bridge-. However, the heavy going stopped further progress until a ki.-k against the sailors for an Infringement saw Thompson pot for goal, the ball sailing over the bar. Knott then made „ weak effort from the comer. the shot -oing behind. Tremain and Bell then hud a good piece of work, and getting within shooting distance the former bout Tucker with a fast shot. The last quartet 1 of tin hour saw both teams run practically to a standstill—and a scries of throw-ins resulted. Though exciting, the play was not too good, an.l many bravo efforts wore blotted out with mud. Northcote strove desperately to turn the tide and 'locker set out on a lone quest only to find Mealing a stumbling block. Passing the ball to the other winer. Buyord struck a bad patch and emerging from a mud hath, saw Bradley swing the ball up to Merritt. who lot go a hefty drive which Chesney turned round the corner. No further score ensued, the final whistle showing: Navy 3 Northcote 1 Referee, Mr. G. Lee.

PONSONBY V. NORTH SHORE. Tunes set the hall rolling, and Yeoman moved down the left win-, to soe Jones tackle, hut his clearance was weak, anil the hall crossed the goal-mo-tlc .The (attacking forwards. however, were not up, aud Ilanlon made a clearance to Woolley. Attacking in turn the black and yellows wore away, heating O'Brien. B. Woolley put across a high centre, but Pickett got well under the hall, aud play continued in midfield. Forcing two corners, twenty-live minutes from the start Ponsonby'pressed, hut witli no finality. However, from the second, which was kicked behind, Christie met the ball as.it was kiekeel ofT, aud passing across to Kennedy the latter, from eight yards out, luaile no mistake. Ponsonby 1, Shore 0. Retaliating, Shore raceil to the blue niirl blacks' goal, ami In quick succession Craxton was called on to defend, a hard shot from Ilanlon inst missing the net liy iiii-lios. Bra.lshavv. on the left wins, spurted down tho line, getting In n good shooting position. The trencheron-. ground, however, failed him, and a goo.l opportunity was missed. Quickly re-e-ovoring. the Ponsonby front line, through Neeshnm, attacked. Kcnneily got 'possession, and moved inward, giving limes a short pass. The centre put in n diflicult shot from just on the line. Mi-Murray being henton by its unexpectedness! Ponsonby _, Shore 0. Shore, from the kick-off pressed, but half-time enme with no further s _. Play improved on recommencing, Shore making groat efforts to reduce tho d.'tlciency. eight minutes from lhe kick-off a beautiful centre from Palmer being 'hearted woll in by Woolley (J.). Ponsonby 2. Shore 1. This reverse sot Ponsonby off but Gerrard blocked tho movement, and the play retnrneel to the black and blue goal. However, tho town team altered their play and swinging the ball about Shore had a hard time rop.-l.ing Keunedy and Innes. A good clearance saw It. Woolley make a solo run down the lino. O'Brien falling in his tackle, and from lhe centre Palmer slammed the ball in. Shore 2. Ponsonby 2. Attacking again iv gn>at stylo the black and yellows forced a corner, and Palmer taking' tho ball on the full gave Craxton no chance. Shore 3, Ponsonby 2. The plnv brightened considerably, Neeshnm making a lino effort from 110 yards out. Returning the compliment Dacre speculated with a high dropping shot which struck the cross bar, and fell dead Craxton's feet, and with a hard kick the goalie put his front line away, a kick into touch saving a dangerous situation. Not to be denied, Ponsonby oanio at it again, Christie and Yeomans combining well, hilt Doroe tackled tho latter, nnd by a hefty kick Hot the Shore supporters at rest. Recovering from Ibis attack. Shore put more vim into their efforts, but with no avail, and taking full advantage of a fnoro determined defence the Ponies set out. Innes when iv a good position just inside the danger area was brought down. Taking the spot kick Innes drove a hard ground shot, beating Me.Murray and equalising the scores. Punsouby 3, Shore 3, Keeping nt It, Ponsonby endeavoured to got the lead, but (ierrard proved a tower of strength. A fairly fast game liiiished with Shore attacking: Shore 3 Ponsonby 3 Referee : Mr. K.iightloy. V.M.C.A. V. THISTLE.

V.M.C.A. won the toss nnd Humphreys set the game going, lv spite of honvy rain the groui.d was lv good condition and some geiod football was expected. Obtaining the ball from a misplace puss Marshall, with Walbran, put the Thistle on the defensive, but after Lansing iv the Soots' half for a few minutes Duiismore trapped n fast pass from Hodds and at once realising his danger, swung the hull to the other vying. Williams taking the hall on the run, tricked Skipworllf and Lucas In turn. The winger worked to the centre and scored first blood for Thistle. V.M.C.A. got going with tills rebuff, .lack, in goal, getting three hot shots to hold in quick succession, but was very safe and cleared to mldlield. Dodds, by neat footwork, placed Dickson in position and Miller got no chance from the resulting shot. _Thistle 2: V.M.C.A. 0. Kepruting the effort a few minutes later, the same player increased Thistle's lead, and shortly before half-time Humphreys took a Hue centre from Williams, and, heating the back, raced through to score. Halftime scores were: Thistle 4, V.M.C.A. 0.

On the recommencement, V.M.C.A. made great efforts to reduce tho deficiency, but a line piece of combined work by Marshall and Walbran saw the former beat .lack with a Ilrst time drive. Thistle 4, V.M.C.A. 1. Repeating their efforts?, V.M.C.A., through Lewis, saw Jack in nction. tho goalie making a. tine save. Thistle now took charge of the game, Hi.mlll tackling well and making several good openings for bis side. Dunsmore on the wing took' up a long pass from the defence nnd pussed to Dodds, who deftly tricked Deck and passed outside to the winger again, travelling at a great pace. The hitter steadied himself from fifteen yards out and his drive put Thistle up lo 5. Playing on the defensive, V.M.C.A. hnd a hard time. Skipworth and Clanachan putting in some great clearances. The slippery turf militated against good shooting which at times was very poor. v On the wing. Lucas made a solo run hut the bull went over the touch line and the Scots were once again attacking, Humphreys ut centre using his head with much

The closing stages saw V.M.C.A. make a final effort, the combination of the left Wing being very good. However, it was of no avail, Ritchie proving deadly In his tackling and the final whistle saw the Scotsmen the victors. Thistle , 5 V.M.C.A 1 TRAMWAYS V. HELLABY'S. A fust K.irne was witnossod at the Pomnjn between these two clubs. In the first half the Tramways wore well served by thoir forwards. Mavis being prominent in the attack. Hellaby's found n difficulty in getting past the defence of McElligott and Hopkins. In tho second half n groat struggle ensued, Margison being prominent, and L. Brittain gave Hellaby's the lea_. A hard game resulted : Hellaby's 2 Tramways 1 SECOND DIVISION. Watorsiders 1, beat V.M.C.A. 0. Londoners 3, drew with Thistle 2. THIRD DIVISION. ' Metropolitan 4. boat Otahuhu 0. Kiwi 3, beat North Shore 2. V.M.C.A. 0, drew with Northcote 0. FOURTH DIVISION. It SECTION. Richmond Wanderers 0, beat Onehunga Athletic 0. Comrades 7, beat V.M.C.A. i. / FIFTH DIVISION.' Richmond Wanderers 2, beat 'Comrades A O. B SECTION. Carlton 2. Beat Comrades 1. North Shore 'A, bent Mt. Albert Grammar 1. Kowhai 6, beat Onehunga 0. ✓ SIXTH DIVISION. Comrades A 4, beat Comrades B 0. i SEVENTH DIVISION. Comrades A 0. drew with Carlton 0. Belmont 4, beat' Comrades 80. V.M.C.A. BOYS' LEAGUE. SENIOR GRADE. Colts 2. boat Spurs 1. Swirls 3, bout Rovers 2. Rangers .'!. boat Rivals _. -TNIORS. Pells 4. bent Spurs n. Swifts 2. boat Rovers 1. Rangers 2, drew with Rivals --.