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Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 15

SHORE FADE OUT. ' What promised to be a sterling encounter, and was, in fact, a thrilling game for 45 minutes, was the meeting of Shore and Thistle, but in the second spell, rigth from the kick-off, there was a relaxation in the Devonport men's game, and they were in in the end decisively outplayed by a vastly superior side. It is hard to explain the demoralisation of the Shore youths after the interval. Probably they had a surfeit of advice in the dressing room, but whereas they have hitherto earned s reputation for dash, pluck and lasting power, the whole side practically struggled through the last session with their tails well down. It was disappointing, for in the first spell the Shore displayed all that was necessary to ensure a rousing second half, but alas! Gilmour's loss early in this half was a severs blow, but it cannot be held responsible for Shore's rout, which had really started before the Navy player sustained his accident. The want of his steadying influence and spirited defence was certainly a contributing factor. Clever footwork, inherent team work and dash in the centre must be given due credit in Thistle's victory, and it is aafe to. say that not for a day have the Scots given such a high clus display of the game. Zuill was safe as ever. Ferguson infused no end of dash into his play, and was ably seconded by Beid, though in his quiet unostentatious way. Carter was absent from the half-back line, and again veteran <7. Stewart came to light and did the needful. Dickson, however, must be

given the palm of the middle line. His

ball control, placing and shooting when within range were outstanding. Christie

Wat always in the thick of things, and opened up tlie game with hie long pass-. ing to the winga. The forwards played masterly football, and; in Giles, a-Navy man, they have found the missing link in An excellent attack. 'He kept the opposing defence on tenterhooks all day,: and it was good to see ij goalkeeper tackled by .manly shoulder charges. Mooney showed very skilful manoeuvring to the benefit of Kay, who was in hie best, form, while Dunsinore and Cummings had Dan Jones many nes guess> ing. i It is a great pity that the Thistle outside right could not play with, his arms strapped to his side. His habitual "mercy, kamerad" style of appealing for anything and everything does not amuse the spectators now as it used to. The corner kicking off Cummings and Kay has nothing like.it in the senior code here.

One of the successes in the Shore team was Eacock in.goal. His judgment was always sound; and his saving smart and clean. ' Gerrard was the better of the backs, but Colebburne could hardly be blamed for any vital mistakes. Renshaw was! not equal to Thistle's, left wing. played hard and successfully till his retiral, and Jones also got through a tremendous afternoon's work. His style of playing the inside man, however, does not redound to > Benefit of Shore, a.id it would be easier for him to amend his tactics than to get the rest of the defence to work in with them. After the change of ends the attacK was seldom in the picture, due to lack of support and to the completely overpowering defence of Thistle. But, when the Shore vanguard were at their best, they were a go-ahead, bustling quintet, in which it would be difficult and probably unfair to particularise.