SOCCER JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 14

SOCCER JOTTINGS.

GETTING THINGS DONE.

IMPORTANT MEETING HELD.

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSALS,

!:" An important meeting of officials of the A.F.A., with representatives of inter: ested bodies, including the Old,Boys:and several prominent supporters, was called by spedtel. invitation to discuss ' the present position of the code in' Auckland.', The meeting was in'camera, but it -is understood, on . the highest authority, that a- very candid ■ exchange of opinions took pkce. Several very useful suggestions were made - for the reconstruction and organisation of the association, and plans aimed at putting the game on a stable footing were gone into thoroughly.' The serious effect' on the game of the unsatisfactory state ofBlandford Park in bad weather, and .the question of the' best means of pulli'ag the association .out of its-present critical financial position loomed large in the discussion that took place. Nothing in this direction was done that at this juncture can be outlined,. but a certain course Of alleviating the financial stringency is to be thoroughly investigated. The matter of the present constitution was fully discussed, and it was the unanimous, feeling of the meeting that the present scheme of,administration must be scrapped and a return made to the system of control by unattached supporters. of the • ga,me forming a management committee'. The suggestion of reducing the number of senior teams, in order to endeavour to raise the standard of play, was also canvassed, a'nd the consensus of .opinion was- 1 in the direction of a competition of six teams, each of which must have', one or two reserve elevens. Further meetings, it is understood, will be convened in the near future. * , .

JUNIOR NOTES.

Last Saturday saw the continuation of the fourth, fifth, sixth ana seventh grade games. The Y.M.C.A. day at JJlandford Park necessitated the postponement of several fixtures in which l'.M. teaiiis were engaged. Several Saturdays will be necessary to complete the competitions, as there are the" seuil-linals aiid finals in the fourth, fifth and sixth gride knock-outs, as well as-the. championship final in tho fifth grade, still to play. Metro College annexed Hie fourth grade' championship by defeating f.M.C.A. B at Blandford Park on Saturday bj> three goals to .nil. They deserve theit success, as they have, shown consistently good form this season." • Western' United had little difficulty. In defeating a weak Comrades B team in the fourth knock-out competition, winning by live goals to nil. Western held command throughout, and 4 were never seriously troubled at any stage, of .the game, Comrades luid some difficulty in fielding a team and only played ten men, some lower grade players being pressed . into service. For Western, Browu, Budge and Frascr were outstanding, while Olsen, Loncrgan and Mayn worked hard for' Comrades. The meeting of Belmont A and Onehunga in' tho fifth grade kiioqk-out competition provided a .fast and interesting contest, Belmont just managing to scrape home by one goal to nil. Play was fast and willing throughout, and both sides brought off some clever play. The Belmont forwards played with dash and cohesion, some of their combined work being very good. The half back line gave a. splendid displdy, both on attack' and defence. The full backs miss-kicked badly at tinies. The Onehunga forwards were not bo effective as usual, a weakness- in front' of goal being very apparent, while their Usual combined play did not-materialise. The- backs played splendidly, but the forwards could not make much of their opportunities. For Belmont the most prominent players were McDevitt (goal), Blair, Yarn ton, Matthews and Pascoe," while Leng (goal), Wolfenden, Gates, Lomond and Bowers'played well for Onehunga. •

The fifth grade knock-out gi*me, Carlton v. St. Johns, saw Carlton run out winners by four goals to nil after a rather uninteresting display". Carlton had too much speed and combination for their opponents; and held the upper hand throughout. St. Johns played .up pli|cklly, but the want of combination and team work gave them no chance with their more experienced opponents. For.Carlton, Cleal, Selby and Burton were the.i best, and Lynds, LCndrum and Heath showed up well for St. Johnp. •• The fifth grade match between Metro College and Comrades A was. a ragged display,- and victory went to Metro College by two goals.to nil. The game was most keenly.contested, the players infusing plenty of dash Into their play, but combined work was mostly absent. Metro Collece had the advantage of weight, but the iuppln*6ss of Comrades counteracted this to some extent. The Metro College forwards missed many chartr.es in front of goal, being too slow in shooting. The Comrades backs put up a good defence and worked hard throughout. For Metro College,: Grant, Williams, McGregor and Dallimore were a good quartet, and. McKenna, Nolan, Watson and Ryan played splendidly for Comrades. Metro College now have to play Onehunga for the fifth grade championship. Carlton A had a runaway victory over Cohitades B in their sixth grade knock-out match,'winning by eight goals to rill. The winners had the advantage of weight and speed, and the lighter Comrades side could not keep pace with them, McOougall and Partly were a good pair for Cdrlt.\in, and Ilillman and Sugden played pluckily for Comrades. . • '■ •; . ■ The sixth grade knock-out galne between North Shore and Belmont A resulted in a win for Kortli Shore by five goals to one; The winners were superior in all depart: ments, and gave a finished display of te'iim work and positional play. Belmont .did not seem to settle down, and played a somewhat disjointed game. The forwards did not combine at all welj.and were not strong in front of goal.. For Shore, Allen. Bentley and Wall were outstanding, and Koblnson. Pain and Warren (goal) were the best for Belmont. : , • • . ■ - The seventh grade f knock-out . match between Comrades A and Belmont B sAw Comrades run out ' winners by three goals to nil. Th<; Comrades' front line gave a clever display of ball control and combined play, and It was the superiority in this direction that was the factor in Comrades' win., The BelmOnt .forwards showed 'some clever flashes of,play, but these were hot sustained for any length of time, artd their play generally was poor. The backs defended well, hut found the Comrades' front line a stiff proposition. For Comrades, Hooper, Matthews and Abbott showed promise, while White, Allnutt and Valentine were a. good trio for Belmont.