ASSOCIATION GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 181, 3 August 1925, Page 11

ASSOCIATION GAME.

CHATHAM CUP LOCAL FINAL.

PONSONBY WIN OVER THISTLE. Tlie expectations for a close and exciting encounter which were held out for the meeting ot" ror.sonl.y and Thistle in the local linal of the Chatham Cup competition were more than realised on Saturday, when tlie match took place on Blandford Park in the presence of close on 7000 spectators. The weather was ideal, and the ground in good playing order. Throughout tlie game the pace teas extremely fast, with flashes of football ot' a high standard. Thistle had the best of the exchanges in the opening term, 'but in the second matters wore more even. The winning goal to Ponsi.nliy was a brilliant, effort by Ahem. who, after a splendid solo run, scored with a long high drive. Ponsonby now pass on to meet Pukemiro at the mining township, tlie winner being down to meet Wellington V.M.C.A. at home to rind tlie North Island champions. In the competition games North Shore beat Royal Navy by the narrow margin of 3-2, while on the Domain TramWays beat Watersiders by one to nil. PONSONBY V. THISTLE. It was some minutes ere any ground was m-:de and Thistle pressed. Dodds was getting through when Ncesham intervened, and let Kennedy away. In diving for the ball, Ritchie cam" down on his face on the ground, and retired for a few minutes. While lie was out of action, Ponsonby pressed and Ahem sent in a lovely centre. Innes found himself in possession in front of the goal, but the ball bounced out of control and Hell cleared. Twice in rapid succession Thistle were on the point of scoring, but their finishing was at fault. Play continued fast nnd interesting with Ponsonby doing a little more of tlie attacking. A foul throw by Dickson relieved Ponsonby, but only for a short time, Williams carrying the ball well down. Pickett, however, relieved with a big kick. In close play on the Ponsonby left. Dodds was winded but soon recovered. A free kick against Ferguson was well ',daeed by O'Brien nnd Thistle's defence mulled the clearance. Kennedy doggedly followed up nnd in the middle of a bunch of opponents got his boot to the ball nnd opened the scoring amid great excitement. Ponsonby 1, Thistle v.

With only 15 minutes gone, Ponsonbv were hardly worthy of their lead, anil Thistle returned to the attack. Williams, for .Thistle, wns showing improved form, and came near scoring, but on a second occasion finished weakly. Thistle again raided Ponsonby territory through Williams. He heat Tickett on the run and passed forward to Humphries, who all but scored, but was given off-side. Some pretty footwork wns seen between Dunsmore nnd Humphries, hut Kennedy nnd Innes retaliated with neat passing, which, however, got them no distance, for Bell cleared. Humphries was being played! to very consistently, but wis never allowed to get far, though he lustled Ponsonby's defence. Neeshara was the only defender for the ' carters who was playing to f«rm, and at this point he was working like a Trojan. Thistle continued to be the aggressors, and Tonsonby's visits to Jack were a rarity. After 25 minutes' play the leaders hnd a look in, but their stay was only temporary. Humphries broke away after a long pass. Craxton was seen to leave his goal. There was an exciting race ( for the ball, which Humphries got to first. Craxton just tipped it and Humphries stumbled, which allowed the speedy l*onsonby defenders to pack the goal and save a dangerous situation. Keeping up their go-ahead tactics, Stewart was responsible for taking play into the corner of the field. He lobbed the ball across and Kennedy, for deliberately shouldering Dunsmore, conceded a penalty kick. Ritchie took the kick, and made no mistake. There was no further incident of note till the interval whistle sounded with the ncores: Ponsonby 1, Thistle 1.

The second half opened with Ponsonby Lttacking.. .Adshead and Kennedy carried play almost--to the post, where Kennedy back-heeled to Innes, who just shaved the cross-bar. Keeping up the pressure, Jack was again tried with a hard drive from the Ponsonby centre, but he saved with a fulllength dive, and offside immediately afterwards brought relief to Thistle. The black and whites then replied with a raid from the centre, but the danger was averted through Williams finding touch. Back again came Thistle by the left, but once more their efforts were frustrated. With lightning speed the play was carried to Thistle territory and back, aud Craxton was brought to his knees to clear a shot from Dickson. By swinging passes the black and blue forwards made ground, till Adshead .shot past. After the first quiet spell of th" game. Thistle applied severe pressure. The ball bounced about from player to player just in front of Craxton, who had to save twice when hard pressed. From this point Ponsonby more than held their own for n time, and efforts by Innes, Ahem, and Kennedy came near fruition, hut at the other end Craxton got down to a low drive from Hislop. Christie had a clever individual dribble which, however, did not make ground, and in the end Dodds finished with a drive which just skimmed the cross-bar. The most spectacular piece of "play followed this. Innes took a pass from Christie, and, after smart solo dribbling, he let Ahem away. The outside right, after running half the field chased by Ritchie. Bell, and Dickson, sent in a lovely shot which raised a thunderous shout as if passed out of Jack's reach into the net. Ponsonbv 2, Thistle 1.

The pace continued to be fast and furious after this score, but neither side could claim an advantage. With the excitement of the game the players were inclined to leave oft the combined football they were playing for real cup-tie methods of kick and rush. Thistle forced two corners, which gained them nothing, nnd as the time advanced and the end came in sight both sides strove determinedly to improve their position. Neither succeeded, however, nnd n stirring and splendidly-contested game ended in Ponsonby passing onto tile district final against Pukemirn, the scores being : Ponsonby 2 Thistle 1 Mr. F. Marsh was referee. NAVY V. NORTH SHOEE. A bis crowd attended at Devonport on Saturday afternoon to watch these old local rivals meet under perfect weather and playing conditions. The Naval Brigade were strengthened by four reinforcements from the Dunedin in Wellington. Shore played their junior custodian, Lipscomhc, in place of MrMurrny, who was tin.iv.iilnble. Shore kicked off. and Dacre broke through, s. tiding out to B. Woolley, but i.iily a goal kick resulted. Navy broke ii way, but Jones intercepted, and sent Dacre off again. The bull went out to "B. Woolley. but his shot went wide. Hands against Corbett put the boys in blue on the offensive, but Baxter skied his final effort. From Ihe kick-off Bradshaw made a flue d.-ish down the left wing, a good finishing etntr Riding Dacre on the spot, and he gi.ve - • ker no chance at close quarters. ThN ;>jt the sailors on their mettle, and .in aggressive attnek went right through the Shore defence, and Mcrritt equalised from close up. From the centre kick Shore set off again, Bradshaw sending in to .1. Woolley, who drew tlie defence and passed a perfect one to Dnere. who netted it with a hot first-tinier, a pretty piece of clever combination. With thre/j goals scored in ten ininutcs, the game was fast, and there was clever work on both sides. Linscomhe was hot pressed, but saved cleverly from Campbell anil Merritt in quick succession. Play was quickly transferred to the other end. where Tucker fisted a warm one from J. Woolley over the bar for a fruitless corner. Navy had another attack, but Gerrnrd sent Tenle and Campbell back twice. Welsh broke nway on the left, nnd a hot centre seemed to strike Gerrard on the arm. The incident was just Inside the i.ir "edge of the penalty area, and the referee awarded a spot kick, which Merritt made no mistake with, and tie score was even again. Give and take play followed, the spectators being treated to some sparkling soccer, with the defence gradually assuming superiority over th? attack ns it slackened off. A determone.l attack by the Navy saw Tenle cross a hot centre with no one to (rap it, nnd Shore returned quickly, for Palmer to send over the bar. JI ii If lime was called with the Navy pressing bard. Dacre changed places with Palmer on resuming, and sent Woolley away for a long run, but Heaton cleared well. Shore. came back, and 3. Woolley shaved the poat with a warm, drive. Baxter, with" clxver , work, made a fine opening for a Naval offensive, but Lipscombo saved well from Kenrick, and cleared to touch. A well placed kick by Gerrard set the S|«ore forwards going "again, and Dacre I'ollowlng through" fast charged down Heaton's kick, and rushed the ball into the net. Shore 8, Navy 2. Play was fa6t and furloas

up and down the field, and a stubborn > attack by Bradshaw was luckily smothered - by Bradley's arms, and then Tucker cleared cleverly from a hot shot by B. Woolley. ! Hanlon was conspicuous in stopping a ! dangerous attack, and J. Woolley and \ Dacre returned, to find Tucker safe lv goal. From a long kick by Gerrard J. Woolley rnn through and forced a corner, but the kick went behind. Shore kept the pressure up, nnd Dacre narrowly missed scoring, but Henton relieved frequently with some long kicking. Baxter and Dacre had some lively tussles for the ball, with honours easy, and the Navy captain sent a long shot high over tbe bar. B. Woolley broke through and forced another profitless corner, while another clash between the rival skippers found Dacre taking the j count for a brief spell, after which palmer ballooned a wild shot from n good opening. I Dacre woke up again and sent B. Woolley away for a line run, but with a feeble finishing snot. Both teams were feeling the strain, and a lot of alleged " windy " j defensive work ended with Shore the winners by the odd goal. North Shore 3 Royal Navy 2 SECOND DIVISION. Glen Eden 2, Northcote 0. Wntersiders 2, Hellaby's 2. THIRD DIVISION. j Newton 1, beat Metropolitan ('. I Onehunga 2, beat Kiwi 1. Swanson 3. bent Kiwi 0. Northcote 2, beat North Shore 0. j Green Bay 1, beat Ponsonby 0. ! FOURTH" DIVISION. Metro B 1, beat Green Bay 0. j Metropolitan 1, beat Green* Bay 0. j Newton 2, beat V.M.C.A. 0. I (Final for championship.) V.M.C.A. BOYS' LEAGUE. Seniors.—Rovers 4, heat Celts 0; Spurs 1, beat Rivals 0; Swifts 2, boat Rangers 1. ! Juniors.—Celts 3, bent Rovers 0 : Rivals in. bent Spurs 1; Swifts 1, drew with Hangers 1. | COUNTRY MATCHES. HAMILTON. i Frankton Railway beat Hamilton United, ' I 4 to a I ! Huntly High School beat Hamilton I | Technical, 1 to 0. This leaves the Hamilton Wanderers champions for the Hamilton district. j REPS. FOR WHANGAREI. j The following team has been selected ' to represent Auckland against Whangarei, leaving Auckland by Friday night's boat. Players unable to make the journey are required to notify the secretary of the , A.F.A. at once :— A. Jamieson (Chelsea), L. Hart (New- ' ton), P. Hilton (Chelsea), McCallum I (Grand), Wnterston (Onehunga), Guy ' (Swanson), Beutly (Onehung)i. Crocker (Londoners), Bryden (Watersidcrs), Whate : (Y.M.), Kay (Watersidcrs). Reserves: i R.itcllffe (Swanson), 11. Taylor (Chelsea), A. Taylor (Swanson). WELLINGTON V. WAIRARAPA. j (By Telegraph.—Press Association 1 j WELLINGTON, Sunday. The Wellington team to play Wairarapa at Masterton Is :—Goal, Cole ; backs, Fitzgerald and Ilearne; halves, Rudolph, Keyling and Irvine (captain) ; forwards, Wilkins, Daniel, Hope, Gill, Logan, Cudby. OTAGO V. SOUTHLAND. j (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Saturday. I In the presence of 1000 spectators and under ideal wenther conditions. Southland played Otago for the Peter Dawson Cup. The match resulted In a draw, the teams being evenly matched. Watkins, well on in the first spell, secured a goal for Otago, and shortly afterwards E. Cook equalised the scores. In the second half Cook again scored. Nenrlng the end Otago again became aggressive, and a passing rush ended ln MeTavish scoring. Otago retain the trophy. SOUTHERN MATCHES. WELLINGTON. Chatham Cup Semi-final.^—Wellington ' ' T.M.C.A. beat Manawatu Returned Soldiers 5 to 0. -There was no score in. the first spell, but V.M.C.A. had things all their own way in the second spell, and Dempster i scored three goals and Campbell two. DUNEDIN. Chatham Cup.—Seacllff 2, beat Nomads 0. Southern 2, beat Old Boys 1.