SOCCER TITLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1932, Page 13

SOCCER TITLE.

j Y.M.C.A. TAKE LEAD. I DEFEAT OF THISTLE. SATURDAY'S GAMES REVIEWED. It will take a good deal to put Y.M.C.A. from the top of the senior championship after their victory on Saturday over Thistle. Unless the very unexpected happens they •\yill be able to get through their* three remaining fixtures unscathed, which would give them the championship title. It has been proved several times this I aeasOD, however, that Soccer has that glorious uncertainty of gome other games, and Y.M. cannot take any liberties. The games on Saturday gave victories to Y.M., Glen Innes, Onohunga and Tramurewa, the defeated teams being, respectively, Thistle, Ponsonby, Now Lynn and North Shore, and as a result of these games the position of th« clubs on the championship ladder now is as follows:— P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Y.M.C.A 11 7 1 8 3!) 20 17 Thistle 12 7 3 2 38 27 1C Glen Innes ... 1U G (i — 28 i! 2 12 Oneluinga .... 3 2 5 5 2 27 3"> 3 2 North Shore . . 12 4 5 3 80 27 11 Ponsonby .... 11 4 S 2 20 27 10 New Lynn ... 12 .2 7 3 10 32 7 Trnmurcwa .. 10 3 0 1 21 20 7 THISTLE DOGGED-BY MISFORTUNE. In addition to defeat, misfortune certdinl.v was the portion of Thistle in their game with Y.M. Not only were they unfortunate in regard to the injuries sustained by several of the players—it was due to a, casualty that Y.M. got ono of their goals — but it was misfortune that caused Williams to send a perfectly-timed pass to Kay in Ins own goalmouth, which gave the Y.M. winger tho simplest task to score. On the run of the play it. was only in the closing stages, and by that time Gerrard had retired, (hat there was much difference between the teams, for throughout the game the exchanges were remarkably even. There were weaknesses in tho Thistle side not usually seen. -Among these was the vital ineffectiveness of Kennedy at centre-half. It was unfortunate for Thistle that McCogh was indisposed, for lie certainly would have made a difference. Then Balloch was not us safe as usual, and the same could be said of Williams. In the forwards, Cummlng was most disappointing. He seemed right off his game. Tho only forward to stand out was Williamson, a player who, after an unpromising start, has shown great improvement since joining the ranks o£ the Scots. McLeay was very uninspiring and seemingly short of energy. Hlslop, too, did not show up to the same advantage as of recent games, but Wood, with Williamson, was one of the redeeming features in the Thistle vanguard. The team was far from its usual standard. Y.M. tried some strange shuffling with, tho team. Apart from the gross indiscretion of experimenting with a team that has been winning steadily all the season, it appeared to be a whimsical decision to take a back to inside forward, a position lie had never before played in; to put an inside forward half-back and place a halfback In a back position. More by luck than good guidance, such freak changes cariie off—that is so far as the score was concerned—but it cannot be said that the Y.M. by any stretch of Imagination had justification for the alterations made. However, they got the points and no doubt that is what counts. So far as the play of tho team wen£" there was no end of strenuous e.'ort and spoiling tactics, and a disposition on the part of some of the forwards to make the most of the mistakes of their opponents. Cowio brought off some good saves and at times had all the luck going, as also had his vis-a-vis, Gerrard. Bcntley and Ross found the Thistle attack at its worst. It is useless speculation to say what might have happened had it been otherwise. It cannot be said that the Y.M. have a better pair than Mowat and Otter. Christie was as usual the kingpin of the team and his generalship was very noticeable. Chalmers was quite reliable during the game and Thornes was shaping promisingly till a knock sent him limping. In the forwards Kay was most prominent. He had the measure of Balloch all the game, but Wright proved a different proposition for the Y.M. winger. Hamilton gave him useful support and Bell paid more attention to his wings than usual, making the most of the ■weakness of the opposition. Mowat, though a "stranger in a strange land," so to speak, never forgot his partner and also tried to make openings for his club mates, but it was obviouß that a fullback cannot become a forward overnight. Tho match was always interesting and there were many exciting moments. One worthy feature was the spirit in which the match was played. GLEN INNES SUPERIOR. It was a good match between Glen Innes and Ponsonby at St. Helier'a on Saturday. The tactics employed in the first half of the game by Glen Innes gave them a 4 to 1 margin, wliich Ponßonby could only lower by one at the call of time. The Glen Innes men were conspicuously opportunists and bustlers, whereas their opponents were content to wait for their opportunities. The Glen Innes |. : , :: . :i ,,,., : ,, i side set the pace from the commencement and maintained it throughout the first spell. In the latter half Ponsonby reasserted themselves and were considerably more in the picture, ; and netted the only goal scored In that term. Practically every man in tne Glen Innes team gave a creditable display, but there were several that were outstanding. R. Welch was the most enterprising forward on the -field, and of the four goals scored by Glen Innee three were from his foot. All were difficult goals, both to net and to save. The other goal came from the foot of Corringham, who also netted a good long, angular drive that surprised and beat Watson. The other shining light was Hltchen, who, although a non-scorer, played with his head and also energetically. Adams did some good work at outside left, and at the goalmouth was always dangerous. A. Welch , maintained . an . enterprising and sound defence, and was ably assisted by Darwin and Plashman. R. Stone played a sterling game at right back, and by long and well-placed clearance drives continually transferred play from the Glen Innes area to that of their opponents. 11. Stone was also sound. Innes gave hia usual enterprising exhibition and was responsible for one of the Ponsonby goals. His' was a particularly good one, being headed backwards from a yard's range. The other score came from Diamond in the second half, a nice long range drive that completely beat Warren, who had, nevertheless, made some good saves. There was, understanding bntween Diamond, Innes and Whimster, who, though playing -well, CQuld have made more of his opportunities. His centres were generally well placed, but his shots for the goal lacked power and were easily cleared. Forrester, though playing well spasmodically, was ineffectual. The three halves did their best, Grant being slightly more enterprising than the others. Potts was a good back, and was ably assisted by Stewart. Warren kept a good goal. 'STORY OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. Had all the chances —and there were many extremely simple—which were presented to North Shore and Tramurewa in their game on Saturday been availed of, the score must have reached double figures. But they were not, and the result was that Tramurewa gained a brace of valuable points by the only goal scored. Never has there been a game in wliich there was such feeble finishing, and never a time when the throwing away of opportunities so markedly changed interest to curiosity. It was not a question of who would win, but, so far as the crowd was concerned, who would miss the next goal and from how close in. There were snatches of bright play by both teams and the game was played in quite a friendly spirit, but neither side can again hope to have such an opportunity to help their goal average. What went wrong with the shooting of the forwards is a mystery. There were, those intervals of quietness and tameness in the game that are only associated with a 1.30 match, but they were more prolonged and more frequent than is usual On the run of the play ther* was very little between the teams. Outfield play was at times attractive, but there was no vim or penetration in cither front line, and whpn progress was made it was generally by forwards following up long clearances from the defence. Tramurowa were without several of their usual team, and the entire middle line of the senior reserves had to be commandeered to till the vacancies created by Fyvic, Ross and Spong. The youths from the second string showed very iittle conception of position play and their

bucking up was not too thoughtful, but all three were triers, and they repeatedly broke up the opposition attacks and certainly spoiled many attempts to combiue. Spencer was missed at centre, and Jay, who substituted, had the honour of being the only goal scorer in the game. On Shore side Corbett was probably the only player that showed up to form. The defence was not over confident or combined, and the forwards did almost everything fairly wrll till it came to scoring, when tlioy generally made a hash of things. Taken all over it was a thoroughly disappointing game. ONEHUNGA'S FINE DEFENCE. Maintaining the improved form they have shown in recent matches, Onehunga inflicted defeat on.Now Lynn by the decisive margin of four goals to one. The issue Was never in doubt, for the visitors to Waikaraka Park were greatly handicapped in attack, and the home defence was splendidly sound—a combination of circumstances which yielded its obvious outcome. Webb, the New Lynn centre forward, was unexpectantly absent owing to an injury, and witli no regular reserve available it looked as though the visitors would have to take the field one man short. Cheshire filled a vacancy on the left wing, but the veteran was little more than a stop-gap, and the bulk of the work devolved upon Dunsmore, and Galloway on the right Hank. They did weU, too, but the weakened attack cotild make but little impression on the home Vlefence, which was in splendid form. Mays was cool and resourceful at back. Dick a potent force in both attack and defence sit centre half, and Davis got through a tremendous lot of work on the left A tenacious tackier and a naturally accurate kicker, this, young man should develop into a first-class half back when he has acquired the necessary polish. Alexander, playing at I ( inside right instead <•*- of full back, did not dfflfsSte** appear entirely silted rJMfBj to his new position, R ■«"■ ikj^ despite the fact that , J IS he scored three of his W side's four goals, but - W* he was always use- . s** ful in attack. Gill had nn off clay for ». * £* once in a way, and «m«3k Jfai partner, suffered in '- \»Mmßr * consequence. Huston ' , WKF* was speedy and enter » t prising at outside !"•■ ~r 'I right, and Woodhall worked hard in tho Alexander. centre, but it was the defence that carried Onehunga to victory more than the attack. On the losing side Reid got through a lot of hard work in the back division and Munro was a useful half back. As already indicated, Dunsmore was the best: of the forwards, nnd Galloway made him n dashing partner. Bowater nnd Mclntyre did their utmost against heavy odds, but Onehunga on Saturday were too tough a proposition lor any weakened attack. AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES. TEAM TO MEET THE NORTH. The sole selector to tho Auckland Football Association, Mr. A. E. Backhouse, has chosen the following team to play North Auckland at Hikurangi next Saturday:— Morris (New Accord), It. Stone (Glen Innes), Stewart (Ponsonby), Gill (North Shore), Dick, Davis (Onehunga), Blackie (North Shore), Dunsmore (New Accord), R. Welch (Glen Innes), Hislop, Wood (Thistle). Reserve: Masters (Ponsonby). K. Innes (Ponsonby), who was originally selected, was not available. All players, together with those taking part In the English trophy challenge match against Otago, are requested to attend at Blandford Park for training purposes on Wednesday evening at 7.30 o'clock. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR B GRADE. North Shore 8, beat Tramurewa 0. Ponsouby 7 beat Glen Innes 0. Thistle 7, beat Y.M.C.A. 4. SECOND GRADE. Tamaki 3, beat Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. 1. Ponsonby 3, beat Papatoetoe 0. Comrades B 5, beat Metro-College ?. Seamen's United 2, beat Henderson 1. North Shore 3, beat Belmont 0. THIRD OPEN. Mount Albert. Grammar 0.8. 0, bent Y.M.C.A. 2. FOURTH GRADE. Papatoetoe 1, drew with Metro-College B 1. Y.M.C.A. A 0, drew with Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. 0. Burnley 7, beat Y.M.C.A. B 1. Belmont 1, drew with Comrades 1. FIFTH GRADE). St. John's 3, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Metro-College 4, beat Technical College 0.8. 2. Tamaki B 1, beat Comrades C 0. Comrades B 2, drew with Belmont 2. Y.M.C.A. A 2, beat Comrades A 0. SIXTH GRADE. Belmont 0, drew with Onehunga 0. Y M.C.A. A 4, beat Thistle 0. Metro-College 5, beat Onehunga B 0. Tamaki 3, beat Comrades B 1. North Shore A 6, beat Comrades AO. ■ North Shore B 3, beat Y.M.C.A. C 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Belmont B 3, beat Comrades CI. Tamaki A 3, beat Y.M.C.A. B 2 Belmont A 7, beat North Shore 0. Comrades A 1, beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Senior Grade.—Technical College 1, drew with Mount Albert Grammar A 1: Takapuna Grammar 4, beat Mount Albert Gramm Intermediate Grade. — Kowhai Junior High School 2, beat Mount Albert Grammar A 1; Auckland Grammar 2, beat Mount Junior High School 1, beat Sacred Heart College 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. PALMERSTON NORTH. Athletic 4, beat City 1. WELLINGTON. Chatham Cup.—North Island semi-final: Marist Wellington 0. beat St. Andrews 0 heat Swifts 5 ; Lower Hutt 2, drew with Waterside 2. CHRISTCHURCH. Thistle 3, beat Western 1. Rangers 4, beat Nomads 2. Marist 4, beat Technical 1. Thistle win the Hurley Shield. DUNEDIN. Local Final of Chatham Cup.—Maori Hill 7, beat Port Chalmers 0. H S. Old Boys 3, beat Morington 1. Technical Old Boys 3, beat Northern 2. Mosgiel 6, beat Seacliff 2.