CHATHAM CUP SOCCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 11

CHATHAM CUP SOCCER.

DEFEAT FOR Y.M.C.A. TRAMUREWA FOR NEXT ROUND. NEW LYNN "SPRING SURPRISE. The first of the two games that will bo required in Auckland to find the local team to contest the national club championship, the Chatham Cup, for which Tramurewa, Y.M.C.A., and Ponsonby have e'ntered, produced an extremely keen encounter on Saturday, when Y.M. fell to Tramurewa by the odd goal in three. Some seasons ago Y.M. pipped Trams, who were then the acknowledged cliarapio'ns of the city in this same competition) but the boot was on the other foot on Saturday, and there was quite a goal difference between the winners and the losers throughout the game. Three championship games were also played on Saturday, and the surprise of the day was the victory for New Lynn over North Shore, at the northern suburb, by two clear goals. Thistle went down before Ponsonby on the North Shore ground, and Onehunga accounted for Celtic at Point Chevalier.

CUP TIE TUSSLE. ■ Though the conditions at Blandford Park have been much worse than they were on Saturday, and it must be stated that great Improvements have been effected on the playing pitch, it -was hardly a day on which very accurate football could, he expected. It was a day when adaptability played an important part in the success or failure of any team. Tramurewa won because they were able to make more of the conditions than their opponents, also because they played a much better combined game. There was more than a semblance of cohesion between the defence and the attack, and this was a quality that was foreign to the Y.M.C.A. The catch , phrase that some people, not excepting ' some of their own players, apply to them, "lucky Trams," was certainly not appropriate on Saturday, for the victory was well deserved. The feature of the winning team was without doubt the operations of the left wing, where the display of McMillan and Mill was most outstanding. On Saturday's performances Auckland i certainly is in a position it has not been ! in for many a tlay, and that is, it has a choice of more than one player for the outside left position in the rep. team. Mill played most consistently, and easily outshone the Y.M. winger on the day. "With McMillan they carried out several very pretty movements, their understanding being distinctly clever and their manipulation of the ball in the circumstances little short of wonderful. There was a striking contrast between the play of the winners and their , opponents, and the defence of Trams showed much finer discretion in placing and constructive play than did Y.M. Batty, in goal for Tramurewa, did all that was required of him with fine judgment, while Tinkler was the best back on the field. Along with Balloch, who was as good as any of the middle line, he succeeded in keeping the Y.M. left wing unnsually ineffective. Simpson, while not so enter p rising and dashing as he has been, played the waiting game with much Fuccess, and the spoiling efforts of Watson, who is deputising for Christie, broke up several Y.M. attacks when they SerouT* Fvffif found Hamilton and Humphreys a difficult pair to hold but the diminutive left half stuck to his task, and must be "iven credit for placing with moio SSgnSt"SS care than any Salf-back on the field Spencer, as usual, was a clo&eiy marked man'from the start, but he certainly made the most of the opportunities,he got and fed his wings with credit. Bell got through a tremendous amount of y" orK > and wlille positional play was probably his last consideration lie was a thrustful force in attack and sometimes a stumbling block in defence. Rpong was not .much in the picture, and held off more than he US Y$f adopted their characteristic game of shock tactics, but they were not played to the best advantage, and met a deten too solid and experienced. HiUiard was not very confident in goal with some of bis saves, but must bo given credit for others" , . Mowat and Kay at back were solid in their tackling and fast « recovery .1 The former was seen to part with the ban | with judgment at times, but tins was a haWt not general in the Y.M. rear division. The middle line was again dominated oy the spoiling tactics of Chapman, who stopped attack after attack, but hie dealing was often far too strong, and unf™ innately not so careful as to be profitable. Thompson, a junior, at right halfS was_a trier all the way, while McGlndder.v applied the stopper to the right flank very effectively. The Y.M. attack indulged In many whole-hearted rushes, but also in too much individual play. Humphreys and Hamilton were more -combined than Chalmers and Kay, but the attack got indifferent support from the half-backs, whose clearances were much too strong. The left wing against Tinkler and Balloch got no sscope, and Riddolls in centre could not make headway against the more experienced defenders of Tramurewa. NEW LYNN VICTORY. The match between North Shore and New' Lynn at New Lynn last Saturday, wbUe not a finished exhibition of the code, provided a hard and willing contest,, from which New Lynn emerged worthy winners by two goals to nil. The winners gave their best display of the reason to date the forward lino playing with dash and resource, while the backs.defended ably-and assisted the forwards with Jndiraous Placing. The half-back line was particularly strong, keeping a tight hold on the opposing front line, and showing some nice, constructive play at times. Where Shore failed was ?n the forward line and Leonard was sadly missed as a scoring unit - s ome of the attempts at soal scoruig were in the extreme, most of the snots goin 0 quicker on the ball than their opponents, and their solid tackling seemed to worry Lynn, gave a fl n!K "display, with his way. Held was in his best form and his partner, Blockley, also performed well, both doing splendid defensive work when hard pressed. Darby, Munro and Ball were an effective half-back line, their all-round work reaching a high standard. The forward line was nippy and fast, and got in some good combined work at times. Galloway and Dunsnnore were a good pair on « the right, Low showing much improved form in the ' centre, nrMle McDermott and McDonald formed an effective left-wing. Dtinsmore played an outstanding game, but was well supported by the rest of his colleagues. New, in goal for Shore, played well and could not be blamed for the goals scored against his side. Hunt started off weakly, but improved considerably as the game progressed. Gerrard played his usual good game, being very strong on defence. Marnie showed improved form at right-half, placing the ball nicely. Luke was solid at centre-half and played well, and on changing with Renshaw at centre-forward, played a. hard, bustling game. Jones played his usual clever game at. right-half, but did not seem to worry in the final stages the game. The forward line was very weak in combination and goal scoring, but of bustling individual play there was plenty, but it did not bring goals. Walters, on the right-wing, did not get many opportunities, being well marked by the opposing defence, but played a good game. Blackie was not good at inside-right, a tendency to hang 1 too far back not helping the line much as an attacking force. Renahaw, at centre, was out of position, being a back, and performed much better .when shifted to the centre-half position. Jay has played much better games. Wilson (left-wing) did not get much support from the inside men, mit got in some effective "work, although hiff parting shots, -we: y:*.^-ateMmes.

DISAPPOINTING THISTLE, The meeting of Thistle and Pousonby in the senior grade competition proved a popular attraction at Devouport Domain, but those who expected to witness a scientific exhibition of the code were doomed to disappointment. There was no reason why the football should not have been of a ' high standard, for Thistle have established a reputation for clever individualism ind Ponsonby have accomplished several excellent performances this season, showing admirable dash and a sound idea of combination. As matters turned out. however, the exchanges were lacking in the very qualities that might have been espec'ted, and Thistle, who lost by 3 goals to 1, gave a most uninspiring display. Possibly the size or the ground was a handicap to the Scotsmen, who certainly show at their best on a compact enclosure such as Blandford Park, but, even so, their passing on Saturday was inexcusably poor, the ball going astray In surprising l'ushion for a team that is noted for its footwork. A heavy shower about half-time made the leather slippery and difficult to control, but the proportion of inaccurate and missed passes was deplorably large. Cummings was the only Thistle forward to show bis normal form, McLeay, Hislop and Gill showing no trace of their customary clever footwork and understanding. A big factor in Ponsoaby's win was Jim McCosh, who showed great generalship at right back, and soon had the measure of McLeay. The tussle between, the two Macs bade fair to be interesting at one stage, but the centre forward vras below his best form and both his inside colleagues failed to ply him with those short, accurate passes that mean so much to a player d£ his type. Ponsonby were splendidly served by McCosh, and good work was also lone by Stewart and Morrison, Surtees being very safe in goal. Outstanding in the forward line were Diamond and Whaley, the inside right being ever ready to snap up i chance, whilst Whaley was always a source of danger on the left, whipping in his centres with consistent accuracy. The winners showed little in the way of scientific football, but they were always thrustful and opportunistic, and they thoroughly deserved their win. The spectacular nature of the goals afforded some slight compensatioa for the poor standard of play as a Avhole. Ponsonby's first was the result of an almost acrobatic hook by Cole which followed a glorious shot from Whaley. The second was a curious affair, the ball rebounding from Diamond at close range when Gerrard was kicking clear, and rolling into an open goal. The third, the best of the day, was the reward of a thrilling left-foot shot by Whaley which came in from a difficult angle.

CELTIC UNFORTUNATE. The bitter cold, intermittent showers, and i Blinnery field militated against a good exhibition of Soccer in the match between Onehunsa and Celtic at Walker Park, Point was Shooting and getting rid of Jll, hill -ir the right time was another or shattered many a likely movement. _ Nevertheless, there were several plajoi* whole performances on the day wore decicedly good. Jones, Celtie's right-back. nlaveJl hard and earnestly, doing at time* the work of two men. He appeared equiill, sound on defence and attack WWmjter, Onehunga's left-winger, played dasninglj. ; Hβ gave the better account of himselt in the second half, when opportunities came more Mβ way. An excellent, enterprising display in goal was given by Celticb keeper, Hallett He had much to do and did it to the satisfaction ot his team. Once he spreadeagled himself in the mud, swept the sphere from the centre .of the goal mouth to a position of safety just on the outside of one of the .-, and thus averted a perilous situation. Harper, of Celtic, also performed well, and in the position of right back did much to \iard off tho attacks of Onehunga when they appeared in scoring mood. At mside-nght Woodhall played an . enterprising game, being responsible for two scores. His move up from the half-back line seems justified. v Zuill plays an energetic game, but is inclined at times to be too eager, which causes him to lose control of the ball and thus spoil his initial efforts. Celtic was very unlucky to have had to play one man short in the first spell, and two short for the greater portion of the other McElligott was unable to play at all and Rinimer sustained what was thought to be a broken nose. In view of this misfortune Celtic's efforts ou the day. are commendable. For the last seven or eight minutes they were prosecuting a strenuous attack in Onehunga's penalty area, but the defence of the visitors' halves and backs was stubborn, and Zuill, when he got the opportunity, was always sure to clear. Stephens and Alexander, right and left-back respectively, played soundly, but without brilliance.