SOCCER SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 127, 1 June 1931, Page 11

SOCCER SURPRISES.

ONEHUNGA COME TO LIGHT. I ; CELTIC TEST TRAMTTREWA. PONSONBY-Y.M. DISAPPOINT. Once sgain Saturday told one or two surprising tales in senior Soccer., and most outstanding of these was the first victory of Onehunga at the expense of the strong-going Shore. The ManuIkau team excelled themselves, though much of the credit of the win redounds to ZuiU, whose display at times bordered on the miraculous. Tramnrewa were very severely tested by Celtic, who, with an outstanding exhibition of goalkeeping ox Eilman of the Navy, and of defensive 'play by Bradley, also of the Navy, came with a rush at the end that just failed to bear fruit. At Biandford Park one of the most brilliant exhibitions of team work carried Thistle through the New Lynn defence no less than eight times, but what was anticipated would be a stirring contest between Y.M.CA and Ponsonby. proved the first real disappointment of the season. Neither team gave the slightest indication of combination or team work, and the game was really far below senior standard. The championship takes on an even more interesting aspect now, as the following table shows: — Goals Ch. P. tv. L. D. F. A. Pis. Y.JLC.A 5 4 1 — la S S Thistle 5 rj i I 22 S 7 North Shore t. 3 2 — 17 6 6 Tramnrewa . •" 3 2 — 14 12 6 1 Ponsonby . . 5 2 2 1 9 12 5 New .iceord. 5 I 3 121 23 3 Onehunga ..5 1 3 1 ti 10 3 Celtic 5 1 4 — 6 21 2

PONSONBY OUTCLASSED. After the '"glorious victory" gained by I Ponsonby against Thistle a week buck and their habit of getting the better of Y.H.C.A. something lite a thrilling encounter was looked for when these old rivals met as the chief attraction on Biandford Park, but the game from the jump was a sorry show. After the clean-cut. clever and finished play of Thistle both Y.M. and Ponsonby appeared teams from another grade. Neither side gave the least glimpse of cohesive play or team work and the contest developed into rushes and connter rushes with a. good deal of miskieking and an overabundance of individual attempts _ that nearly always proved futile. In thh? respect Ponsonby were the greatest sinners.. Forwards and calfbacks time and time

again commenced gyrations and zig2.ggjg with the kill while the remainder of the team looked on and tbe spectators bo-wl«l advice to part with the ball. Only Morrison and Lithgow in tbe Poasonby eleven played up to anything like form «nd of the three Lithgow was the most outstanding. None of tbe others appeared to be aile to do anything right. McCosh. who savedthe side the previous

week witb a briliiatr display, was useless, i Never before has Bob Innes appeared to be so hopelessly off form and seemed ualafuily conscious of it, Bentley was passable, sometimes, but the forwards were at sixes and sevens all the way. X.SL had no corotruetive play and they got their four goals as the result of characteristic dashes which carried long clearances to their opponents* citadel by the most direct means. Billiard got through his work satisfactorily and Mowat was the better oi the backs. In the second spell he showed sound anticipation in meeting Poasonby onslaughts- P. Kay. however, did not let his" side down. Chapman was again outstanding with his spoiling tactics, but. like the other half-backs, he was far from accurate in initiating tactical movements: in fact he kicked more rashly than he usually does. Humphreys was more in the picture than was Kay who has not been conspicuous this season so far. But Morrison shadowed tie winjrer ail the jara*. HamUton overdid the dribbling and Chalmers also was inclined to go solo too frequently. With the opposing pivot at his worst Eiddolls was more prominent than he has been at Blandfcrd Park this season and he broke through several times in dancerocs rushes. One of his goals wps verv cleverly taken but his feeding of the wines still" requires greater discretion. Altogether the came was far below the "T<=atiy improved" standard that has been shown of late but Y.M. thoroughly deserved . '"" — —

CELTICS PLUCKY SHOW. The Tramnrewa v. Celtic match "was a fast "and interesting same. Tramnrewa ev'entuallv winning by the odd goal in live. he" winners gave a better display of team work and positional play than their opponents, the forward Use combining with »ood effect. Their -work in front of goal ws* iiiflni'ielv superior to the opposing front 'its* The backs were always in position. showing som« nice constructive play on a-tuck and hacking up well on defence Batty played his usual sate same in goal for Tramnrewa. but was inclined to take thins:* too easily. Tinkler and Simpson partnered each other in the ftill-baek line. r.nd gave a sound display, the former shaping well considering that he is a halfback. BaUoch, Christie and FvSe were a rood half-back line, their positional play being exceptionally good, while they defended well. The forward line played with understanding and combination. McMillan and Mill bringing off some pretty moves on the left. Bell and Spong also played well together on the right, while Spencer was always on rurnd to finalise the movements. Celtic pnt op a good showing, and with a bit more combination and better positional play, -would prove a hard proposition for any team Is the grade. Elimais played 2. briiliant game in goal for Celtic, bringing off some wonderful saves, the two penalties he. saved from Spencer beinir wonderfully well timed. His all ronnd display stamps him as a goal-keeper of exceptional merit. Bradley at centre-half was ontstanding. his work in all departments being of a high standard, bnt he was badly hampered by the crowding of the win? halves. Milton and Cotton, "although playing well individually. showed bad positional play by crowding into the centre, with the result that the opposing wings were given far too much latitude. Rimmer and Taylor were sonnd at back, their clearing being very good, bnt a weakness when bnstled was evident at times. The forwards got in some qtiite effective field work, bur showed a decided weakness in front of goal, shooting being very poor. Ansteed was an absentee, snd Green, who took his place some time after th» zsme had started, was obviotisly unfit. bnt pltickily carrii=d on. A. Hunter* plaved a fair game on the right win::, bnt was "ery weak in centring the ball. Scott. Jones and Mclntjre all played with plentv of dash and vi-ronr. and 'showed Sashes of combined play, bnt they were not sustained lons enongh to be effective as scoring movements.

THISTLE'S DAZZLING COMBINATION I Ir cannot be disputed that in the last two or three weeks the form shown by Thistle stamps The Team as the most c<">Tnbii!ed and clfver in The senior srrade at the r»r»s»nt rime. On Satrirday thev had wi;-»r was certainly a "walk over** when they rezistered nn ei;rhT-::o;-il win over Xew Lynn. Th* fsnharhan eleven was ranch too yotjthfT.l and inevrierir-nced To be 5 match for th<» Scots who. by their knotr-'o-jpo a-.il skilful Team work, rather acrer;tnated the New Lynn side's weaknesses, a ernshin? defeat such as Thistle inSicted is often a severe tesi for a team b~t tfce conntry oltib must certainly be giv»;3 credit for harini sot Together a band of willing players, some of whom only last season were in the third irad°. Victories cannot be looked for is the first senior, bat mtsch improvement should be effected by coaching and training. Moms has played many a better game la goal and Beid was certainly very far below his tisxal form. The half-backs require instrnetion as to their proper places in attack and defence and also as to the necessity of looking where th p y ar" pissin? the sphere. Dnssm.-re played hatd in the fror.t line bnt esdeavonred to do too mnch. and Galloway was not so effective as he t!s«aily is. XfT Lynn, however, have marerial Tiv't lias d : st;net promise. XoT'nin? Lite the combined play of Gill land M'-Leay has been seen in Auckland, j Four times in the second spell they wended ] their way right through the suburban I

cefesce by combined passing to score on eacii occasion, and the opposition defenders could sot even get a tkk at the ball. On the slippery and with a wet sphere it was a masterly displfiy of ball control. ±>st 7he Thistle to a man played exceedingly welL Albeit the opposition maxhave bees weak but the balance maintained by the Scots ami their cc-nstractive XOOX9meats augured well ior tbe fcrare. Two changes were tried in the team and it was a surprise to find that Curnming nsd been dropped from tie outside right berth. While it is true that the Thistle extreme right has no variety in his tactic? and is sometimes inclined to cross cver-strondy. he hsstlways bean a profitable factor lor the Thistle in the vanguard and his omission can be said to hare beea justified. Gavan. formerly of Celtic, toot up the position and while he was by no means a failure his style is hardly so profitable as is that of Camming. A youth from the reserve eleven took up the* berth of ontside left where Woods has certainly shown poor form of late. Hntchins. the newcomer, showed in the early stages of the game that he is by no meaas a novice and it was very disappointing that aiterwanis he became practically a pas»«!.ger, being seldom given a chance to show his pacesAll the attacking work of Thistle was done by the inside forwards and the wingers simply looked en. Hatehins. however. showed Kay-like tendencies and could connect with the long crosses from Camming as the YJM. winger was wont to do. Thistle defence was more than sound, it was clever and cohesive and the display of the entire side was distinctly pleasing.

OJfEHUxiGA'S FIRST WIS. _ It is, of course, too late to alter the side chcisen to represent Auckland in the match against the Xavy on Wednesday, bat it is reasonably safe to assert that if thae had permitted and if the selector had seen the match at Cmehnnga on Saturday Znill would have been chosen as goalkeeper for the City next Wed-

nesday. For several seasons ZniD has j keen "knocking at i the door.** showing I consistently fine form. I and he played the game of his life on j Saturday, when he j was mainly instrumental in gi-ring his side the victory against North Shore. It was Onehunga "s first win of the season, and was well deserved, for Zuiil was supported by a plucky and resourceful defence, and the

forwards were ever ready to . take advantage of their openings. It was quite a good game, despite the strong cross wind that occasionally npset the best-laid schemes of both atta"ck and

defeats. Shore deserved to win on the i balance of piay, but tier* is nothing; wrong j with a team that keeps the enemy out. j and also pops in the score when oj>por- ] trinities offer. This is exactly -what One- I icnga did, and it is to their credit that, I even when they were fighting hard to re- ! fain the lead during the greater part of j the second half They did not resort to I "safety first" tactics. la goal Ztiili -was j a tower of strength, his anticipation being j almost Tincanny at times, and the best i use was made of his clearances, the wins I halves picking up cleverly ana sending I their forwards away on speedy raids. Wood- j hall, who is now captain of The. Kanakas side, set a splendid example of plucky ac-i | untiring wort, and the forwards, though j greatly ontweighted—they "were stones i lighter than the opposing quintet—were i fast and clean. Frank Zuill, yotmger j brother <K the goalkeeper, did well at inside left, and his equalising goal ia the ! first half did much to hearten the side. On the balance of play. Shore were pos- j sibly unlucky to lose, bat after all. a \ goalkeeper is there to rreTent seals. The I I>evonport side showed the same character-• istics that hare been prominent in thdr I play all the season, namely, plenty of da±h and clever individual play, bet lack of j combiaatioa in the forward rank. Th? \ defence was as sound as ever but until j there is a better understanding between j the wing halves and the attack, and al*o i among the vanguard itself, they will not j touch championship form. GRADE GAMES.

1 SENIOB EESERVE. Tramurewa 5, drew with Celtic 5. Y.M.C.A 2. beat Ponsonby 1. Thistle 9. beat New Lynn S. North Shore 5, beat Onehunga 2, SECOND GRADE. Metro College 4, baat Ponsonby L Glen lanes 4. beat Tatnaki X. North i-hore S. beat Northeote L THIRD OPEN. Abel's S, beat New Lynn 0. Burnley 6. beat Tramnrewa 1. Glen limes 3. beat Celtic 2. THIED INTERMEDIATE. Mount Albert 0.8. 4. beat Tamaki L JCortheote beat Onehunga by default. FOUETH GRADE. Belmont 2, beat W.Y.M.I. 0. Onehnnra 2, beat Comrades 1. Metro College S, beat Y.M.CA. A 1. Bnmley 4, beat Y.M.CA. B 3, FIFTH GRADE. Comrades A 2. beat T.M.C.A A 1. Metro College 4. beat Belmout 0. Y.M.C-i, 4. beat St. John's 0. Technical 0.8. 2. beat Comrades B L W.Y.M.L 3, beat Tamaki 2. SIXTH GRADE. Belmont A 2. beat Comrades A 0. T.M.C..i. B 1, beat Belmont B 0. Comrades B S. beat Technical GoL 0.8. 0. Thistle 5, beat Comrades C D.

SEVENTH GKADE. Comrades A 3. beat T.M.C.A. B 1. YALC-1. C 1, drew with Tamati 3. Belmont B 5, beat Y.M.C.A. D ©. SECOJfDARY SCHOOLS, IXTERMEDIATETechnical A i, drew with Grarrnrir A L Mount Albert B 2. best Technical B 0. Monnt Albert A 2. beat Taiapsna L Technical C 1, beat Monnt Albert C 0. SEXIOE. Grammar I. drew ■with Technical 1. GAMES Df THE SOUTH. CHEISTCHTECH. ■Western 5, bast Technical 0. Bangers 5, beat Nomads 3. Tnistle 4, beat St Albans 6. Sumner 3, beat Brighton 2. WgT.T.TNGTOX. Hospital 1. drew with Pet one 1. Waterside 2. beat Thistle 1. Diamond 6, beat Seatctm 2.