STANDARD EVEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 85, 11 April 1929, Page 15

STANDARD EVEN.

Senior Team* of Uniform Ability.

Surveying the talent available among the teams in the A grade it is Impossible to avoid the conclusion that this season should be characterised by unusually strenuous Soccer. There Is a very even divide among the chosen eight and while some teams will be characterised by age and experience others will have vim and vigour as their chief recommendation. Among the old brigade are Tramways and Thletle, who will have the eream of flogwr aMlttg fhat haa

stood the test of time. Celtic will also have many seasoned players. Imt tiie other teams will be comprised mostly <>f exponents who have yet their reputations to make.

I ram ways will be strong, steady and stalwart in defence with Batty. Simpson, McElligott, Stretton, 'WaUtwi, Christie, Fyifie and Tinkler to pick from, but the position forward is not quite *o happy. Here Spong, .spencer. Bell and Williams from IVuiisonby, .larraiin, a promoted junior, Hopkins ami Lewis, and in all probability Tinkler will supply the choice. Such familiar figures as Davis and Porteous, who have tor years been stalwart exponents of the game and have done much for its encouragement in the city, may be said to have kicked their last ball.

Thistle have made several peregrinations to the country —not The (Jountrv— for players this season, and have on their books some promising Glen Elen youths. The lines of communication with the Land o' Cakes, however, are still open and some new blood may at any time be infused. Garrard in jjnal will prove a worthy suln-titute for Zuill, and in the defence —, McCosh, of Ponsonby, who has wide experience, with Voting Rowatt and Jones, are worth

persevering v. itli. The forwards will be iniK-h on the lilies of last season with (.'mnniings, Hi.-lop and Kay, while Hamilton, of Belmont, will partner the latter. There is a doubt as to the

doings of Allan Reid and Dunemore. They had signed on for Bon Accord, but since that team has been placed in the B grade it is not all improbable that those players will return to their old love. Altogether the black and whites will have a formidable side.

Ponsonby are busily endeavouring to mould what material they have into shape. Lyons, of Northcote, Locke. Sampson, Morrison, Martin l)ick. of Y.M.C.A., and probably Young, a South African, may figure prominently in the defence, while in the forward? Bob Innes, Balloch, A. Morrison and Wilson are likely to be wearing the black and blue.

Newcomers to the fold are Celtic, and President Curran has got together a side that will give a good account ot' itself and is likely to play a prominent part in the competitions. Hall, of Ponsonby, Rimmer and Whowell, Mooney, Wright and Grant, recently out from Home, will be factors in the defence, and forward, Scantle, Grant and Goodwin (Y.M.C.A.), Cotton and probably Chalmers will make a handy attack.

Onehunga, who finished strongly la>t sason, have their team much on the lines of the pact year. The Maitukau side, rising ae it has dene from the bottom rung, has quite a creditable history so far and the officials and players are looking confidently to adding laurels to their name. Zuill, of Thistle, has started in business in the town and his agreement to take up position between the sticke has relieved the team builders of isome anxiety. Dane, a Canadian who is well-known in Ontario Soccer, will be

wearing the blue and gold this season, while other prominent defenders will be Peterson, Jackson, Bentley and Woodhall. Whimster, Jeffreys, Moon (the South Auckland rep.), Griffiths, Gill and Jones arc also available and the side will j.rovide stiff opposition to any team in the A grade.

Belmont, after their first season in the senior division, look forward confidently to retaining their position in the A grade at the close of 1929. Their side will be substantially tlie same as last season with Cheeney, Murphy, Follas, .Bach brothers, Lithgow, Cleal, Adams, Allan all to the fore again and all Belmont bred boys.

Their near neighbours, North Shore, were thought at one time to be doubtful starters in the senior division, but, in their application for entry into the highest grade, named many familiar players, Gerrard, Colebourn, Tipton, Jones, Woolley, Jay, Bradshaw, Bush, were named as mainstays. No club has a more plentiful 6upply of capable juniors than Shore, and any blanks should easily be filled up. It is stated that Life Dacre may attempt a comeback, but that is doubtful.

Y.M.C.A. will again be strenuous opposition for any club. The team will be built on youthful lines and there will be an infusion of junior players that should have good results. Paton, Mowat, Otter, Malcolm; Chapman (2), from W.Y.M.1., and Wallace, a newcomer from Home, will all be behind Percy Humphreys, who will lead the attack. The front line has not yet been definitely formed, but with McAuslin and Whaley again together there is eve to be thraat la the TongaawL