HISTORY REPEATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 186, 9 August 1927, Page 13

HISTORY REPEATED.

CHATHAM CUP CONTEST.

STRONGEST TEAM AGAIN BEATEN.

PO.YSO.VBY WILL Do At < KLANT) CRKMT. History in the Chatham in;. ci.ntrst ao far as Auckland is concerned has been repeated this season in that the team that will go on to represent the 'Association in the final rounds and interprovinciil game# will hot be that considered the strongest in the city. Last season Tramways, the championship holders, went down in sensational style before Y~M., leaving Shore to fight for the trophy, and last Saturday, by the defeat of Thistle, the undisputed champions of the season, Ponsonby will be left to carry the Auckland colours in the last laps of the national club premiership contest.

The most rabid Ponsonbyite would ■Ot dispute last Saturday that Thistle, even with their handicap of a player short, did not deserve a better fate. Though the winners went off at a great pace and had their opponents playing second fiddle for quite half the first spell, before the match was over the tables were turned and Thistle in every department had their opponents surpassed. Superior defence had a great deal to do with the heavy bombardment of the Ponsonby goal by the black and white forwards for the greater bulk of the game, and weak shooting and indifferent finishing were responsible for the team failing to carry off the honours, even to the extent of a penalty awarded before Ponsonby had opened their acoount. There was no denying the determination of the "Ponies" to bustle the Scots off their game and thereby upset their studied play, and from start to finish they maintained this practice, though it must be stated that they were pot entirely successful.

Thistle half-backs, working In conjunction with Ferguson and Reid, by superior tactics had tho Ponsonby vanguard so well marked as a rule that they were enabled to take a jig share of the attack on their shoulders. Ponsonby inside men were watched by Carter, Ferguson and Reid and ( hristie and Dickson were mostly up with the forwards. The ground conditions, however, and the want of accurate direction which was no doubt excusable, accounted for Thistle's failure to score. The breaking up of the Ponsonby half-back line fell mostly to Wright, who rose to the occasion, though Morrison also got through a great afternoon's work. Ponsonby were not so methodical or finished in their team work as were Thistle, and it vu in their defence that the weakness lay, for the forwards, when they got the ball, which, by the way, was seldom ?;iven them accurately, showed clever ootwork and no end of dash.

Watt in goal for the winners had not really a great deal to do, and the shots which came his way were within easy reach. Pickett and Williams worked hard ior the win and were most prominent with spoiling play, though they were frequently outmanoeuvred. With a full forward line Thistle would have made the lot of the backs and the halfbacks much harder than it was, and that wa« hard enough. Wright and Morrison, as already stated, were more successful than was O'Brien, who on the day was rather eclipsed by Cummings and Dunsmore. The forwards would show to much better advantage on firmer ground, and will make a formidable attacking force under those conditions. They have clever footwork, smart combination and thrusting force, but are entitled to get tho bail more advantageously than was their luck on Saturday. The half-backs were very slack in their placing. Innes, in the second spell went into the centre berth, but the All Black was allowed little scope on Saturday and was too closely and too successfully shadowed to be allowed to become too dangerous. Nevertheless, he was a trier all the time. Tomilty and Mooney made openings cleverly for their clubmates, but their fault frequently lay in a hesitation and doubt as to what to do with the ball when nearing goaL Several times they erred badly in placing in an obvious direction, and at others flashed the ball to » clubmate when they ought to have tried a shot at goal. Bell was more useful at centre-forward than on the Extreme flank, but he does not co-ordinatc the wing, play too skilfully. It would have been to the advantage of the side had he fed the wings on many occasions when he sent the ball ahead and dashed •Iter it. Adshead had a dangerous left foot when he got the chance, but Indulged in methods which were quite unnecessary when tackling some opponents. With better conditions, when improvement can be expected in placing »nd ball control, the "Ponies" are likely to bring credit to Auckland in the remaining matches in the contest and with care should find their way into the final.

THISTLE UNFORTUNATE.

Though the first defeat of the competition champions wa* received with •vident delight by certain section* of the crowd, the predominant feeling in the matter was one of sympathy with the losers in the misfortunes which befel them, and in a one goal defeat which was certainly against the run of th< play. D. Stewart's accident early in the ■t»t spell meant his absence from the field for the remainder of the game, and will no doubt keep him out of the team for the rest of the season. Several times this season Thistle have been left to fight through important matches with depleted forces, and have hitherto pulled through, but the fates were against them on Saturday. There was, however, not a weakling on the side.

«wjll came to light, with several very •■ft save*. Thistle's custodian was Onlucky to hie off for so many Saturday* •t the beginning of the season with gashed ribs, for, latterly, he has shown ■ Biee style and sound judgment between Sticks. Ferguson, too, Ins t'lo-vr Wprorcment at righ♦. back to -.u.-b .m

extent that he has caught the eye of the [selector for rep. honours. His game of late has been characterised by more dash and fearlessness than has been his wont for a season or two, while his understanding with Reid has been outstanding. Rrid on Saturday was his cool, steady self, and his defence was always sound, and his recovery smart and sure. The half back line kept a strong grip of the Kunie and their movements were always cohesive and well thought out. Carter, ( hristie and Dickson, as a club combinaii"n are not equalled in the city this season, and last week they again played \ery clever football. The forwards were disorganised after the departure of D. Stewart, but all four tried hard to gain the day. It would be invidious to particularise, but the failing with all was weak finishing.

The game from the start was characteristic of cup-tie Soccer, with many thrills and exciting passages. There were occasions when individual players allowed the keenness of the encounter to get the better of saner conduct, and Referee Jennings handled a critical situation wisely when he called a muster of the players and "read the riot act," so to speak. There was a good deal of criticism regarding the penalty granted Thistle, which it is stated officially was for handling. The offence was obviously not visible to many of the spectators and players.

SIX GOALS FOR NAVY

On tho balancc of play at the Dockyard Domain on Saturday the Navy thoroughly deserved their win against Northcote, but a final score of six goals to two somewhat exaggerated their superiority. The visitors were weakened by the absence of McDonald and Hall, and although Hart, a junior grade player, did quite well at inside right, the reorganised forward line was not strong enough to cause sei loim trouble to the strong and resolute Navy defence. A dry ground and a lively ball helped to make the game fast and interesting, but it would have been still more attractive from the onlookers' point of view if both sides had been content to abide by the decisions of the referee, even when they had reason to believe those decisions were incorrect. No referee is infallible, but a game is not improved by penalty kicks being deliberately sent wide. a.-> happened twice during the first half on Saturday. Mr. Tugby was probably wrong in at least one of these instances, but it must have been galling for him to see his rulings contemptuously disregarded, and it cannot be said that such behaviour by players is in the best interests of the code.

There was no mistaking Navy's superiority when close to goal, Black and Walker being a continuous source of danger, with Scott an enterprising and clever winger. The first goal came from the last-named, at the end of a well planned advance in which Reid and Gilmore lent useful assistance from the half-back line. Walker added to the scoro just before half-time, which arrived with the tally 2—o, in Navy's favour. For some time after the resumption Northcote made a better show, and Thompson's goal, from a forward pass by Tremaine, was thoroughly well earned. The centre-forward had bad luek with a tcrrillc shot from an oblique angle, the ball striking the angle of the posts with Stables unsighted. Gilmore and Black put the marines further ahead, but Tremain reduced the lend with a penalty fjoal, and tho visitors were by no means out of the picture. They were much more impressive in midfield than tbey had been during the first half, but Navy always had the pull when close to goal, and the final issue was never in doubt. Milne added a fifth with a long range shot, and a few minutes from the close a partial clearance by Taylor rebounded into his own goal. Reid, Woodruffe •mhl fMinion' were wtn'wart workers on the Navy side, and Stables kept goal admirably.

TRAMWAYS OUT-MANNED.

Misfortune dogged Tramways on Saturday in their match with N. rth Shore at Devonport, otherwise the ending might iiave been very different. They started one man short, and then to add to their burden Tinkler had to leave the field 15 minutes after halftime, and he was almost immediately 'followed to the pavilion by McElligott. The latter had a recurrance of his old knee trouble, whereas Tinkler, it is understood, complained of a ligament in an arm being strained or torn. McEJligott returned after being off twenty minutes, but Tinkler never returned, so that for twenty minutes in the second half the team fielded only eight men, and for almost half the only nine. McElligott returned too late to save the game, for in his absence the Shore, despite the plucky efforts of'the Trams, managed to score what proved to be the winning goal, the score previously being I—l.1 —1.

One cannot but sympathise with the defeated team, for against a fairly strong wind and with only ten men they had managed to hold thd Shore to a one goal lead, and consequently had reason to believe that victory would come their way in the second half. Whether it would have must, remain questionable, but assuredly they restarted in such stylo that the odds on their winning were all in their favour. For fully fifteen minutes they penned the Shore in their own quarters, and Sims equalised. The latter's goal was a real beauty. Shot from the touch line when travelling at speed, it travelled into the near corner of the goal, just under the bar. So was Jay's winning shot. Shore undoubtedly shaped the better in the first half, and, of course, when the Trams had only eight men. In fact, they were so penetrating during the first 45 minutes that had their forwards controlled the ball better when near goal and so been able to shoot effectively. they might, on merit, have turned three goals up, if not four. The forwards, however, failed to allow for the strength of the wind and the liveliness of the ball. This last factor had them doing a lot of extra work in efTorts to steady it for shooting, and tho wind carrying the ball at a great pace had them often lamenting as it beat them over the goal line for a goal-kick. Bad shooting let the Shore down badly in this opening hitf, for time after time players missed the Tramways' goal by yards from short ran £ e - - , j In general the Shore forwards played good football, the right wing being a shade better in penetrating power, though the left wing pair made some neat centres. Renshaw played a clever half-back game, and Gerrard was seldom in real difficulties. He was very niia'uli'. *i• tackling being well judgrd. hut lie <!i<l !i"t always kick to the best i mii.ipscombe waa not alto-,

gether at home with two ground shots, but otherwise his clearances were good. Batty played his usual gamo in goal, but was caught in possession once, and had the ball kicked out of his hands. Tramways' backs and halves were keen and plucky, and seldom made a mistake, which, considering the pressure put upon them through playing shorthanded, was in itself an achievement of much merit. The forwards had an unusually difficult task, particularly when the line came down to three, but they acquitted themselves exceedingly well. Sims was perhaps the most dangerous of the line.

Y.M.C.A. v. ONEHuItGA

The game between Y.M.C.A. and Onehunga last Saturday, though fast and willing at times, did not impress. Oneliunga were without the services of Knott, Terry, and C'lieeseman, and had difficulty in fielding a full team, starting with nine men. The two substitutes, who came on later, were not up to senior standard, and did not seem to take the game seriously. Th home team were also unfortunate in losing the services of Whowell half way through the second spell, and taking all things into consideration, it was Onehunga's unlucky day. During the course of the game one or two players indulged in illegal tac tics, which seemed to escape the notice of the referee. This created bad feeling and eventually led up to the incident when Humphreys and Cotton were ordered off. A firm hand when these tactics started would no doubt have saved this trouble.

Through Pat on being on the injured list Y.M.C.A. had to call on Miller to defend the goal. Though he has not played for a coupl© of seasons lie gave a good display and was very safe. Bach was sound at fullback and tackled well. Lewis, who originally played lialfback. partnered him, and gave a first class display, hi 3 clearing and placing being exceptionally good. Riddolls, at centrchalf, wag also good, and it is evident that this position suits him better than wing-half. Dawson and alcolm, who filled the other half-back positions, were originally in th«- forward line. Both gave a good display. Their defence being very sound. Humphreys was at the top of his form, and got three goal* before being ordered off, when he was in rampant form. Dick ably supported Humphreys. The change from centrehalf to inside right was a good move, as he played a first class game in this position. Wurr was good on the right wing, and deserved his goal. Hoban has given better displays. Goodman was inclined to be weak. Ho wants to learn to take the ball on the run if he is going to be a successful winger.

Onehunga were a disorganised team in the first spell, but they improved considerably in the second. Hallett, in goal, was obviously suffering from old injuries, but put up a good display considering his condition. Reid was" solid as susal, but put a lot of unnecessary force into some of his tackles. Whoweil played his usual sound game until he retired injured. He was distinctly unlucky in l>oing hurt, the greasy state of the turf being a factor in his injury. Bentley, at centre-half, gave a good display, and when he took Whowell's place was just as good in his new position. Thomas, at left half, was exceptionally good, his stopping and clearing being first class. Forsyth, who came on towards the end of the first spell at right half worked hard, but towards the close of the game did not take things seriously. Of the forward line Nimmo was easily the best, and with good support woull probably have got a couple- of goals. Cotton played a hard game at inside right, but his bump and bustle tactics are no good if any work is to be achieved. Smith was deplorably weak at inside left, and this handicapped Mel lor on the left wing. He came in several time to get the ball, and some chances were lost when it did go out to his wing through bim being out of position. Scandle was fair at outside right, but he was too well held by the opposing half to do much. _ Senior Tjil>]r>. Teams P W L I > V A Pts Thistle ...... ;» 9 o <> ;n u ie North Shore .. 11 7 2 " jr, Ponsonby :> 5 8 1 Do X 1 a .MX. A. ••••«• 11 4 5 2 141 £ av y " 4 r> 2 .3.-, 11, 10 Tramways .... 11 3 5 8 l<» <, Onehunsra .... 10 1 « ; { j., Northcote .... 12 1 9 n I*o 4 Up to and Including Saturday hist.

BUSINESS HOUSES.

It is hoped to commence the bu-nx.-s hnuHes competition next week. Kutnef, which close on Monday nest with tli<> Kerretary, when the draw be mnde, are assured from at least ten teams, an increase of four teams over last year. 80 far the competitors who have "Dtered include:—Auckland City Council, Milne and Choyce, Auckland Power Board. G"o Court H.M. Customs, Farmers' Tradinc Co.. Abels. Ltd.. Wlnstone, Ltd.. Auckl.nd Training College, and Auckland Tramways. The Grounds and Emergency Committee was elected at the annual meetinjr as follows Messrs. A. P. Neesham. D. .McLaren Yi' H . t0 act wlth Mr - H. Baker, of toe a.i? .a.