A DAY OF DRAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 112, 15 May 1933, Page 14

A DAY OF DRAWS.

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS. SHORE UNITED ONLY WINNERS. POINTS DIVIDED IN FOUR GAMES. It" is a long time since there was such a iiood_ of draws in the senior championship competition as occurred on Saturday when four of the iive games played ended in a division of the points. Shore United registered their second win in their second match and were the only side to return a decisive resuit. The games ended as follow:-— Onehunga 4, drew with Y.M.C.A. 4. Thistle 3, drew with Glen limes 3. Tramways 2, drew with Ponsonby 2. Comrades 2, drew with Abels 2. Shore United 5, beat New Lynn 2. The standard of play during the day showed an improvement on that of the first day a fortnight ago, and there was also an obvious evenness of ability among the teams, which, if it is maintained, will augur well for the remainder of the championship struggle.

THISTLE SHOW IMPROVEMENT. Thistle wore much more Impressive on Saturday against Glen Innes than they were against Tramways in their first match, and -when the team settles down to something like team work should he hard to beat. The -weakness is still in the forward line and especially in finishing. The half-backs have not yet dropped into a very cohesive game and Wright still shows a tendencv to roam somewhat, but the Treated fault of the rear guard is bad placing, which can be said of most teams, not only of Thistle. Woods was again the most reliable player in Thistle side, and he was much surer with his shooting than the others. Galloway on the extreme right wing made his first appearance for the Scots, and, playing with his former New Lvnn clubmate, Dunsmore, looked like providing a forceful wing. Hislop made many of the openings for Woods by his characteristic discretion and skill, but sometimes was not in position. Haycock, who is deputising for Williams in the centre berth, is playing out of place, but is a youth who appears to have a good deal of promise as a half-back or back. It is understood that Thistle have signed a new goalkeeper, Hunter, of South Auckland, who is expected to figure in the team in the near future. There were several clever movements by the Scots during the game on Saturday, but the slippery nature of the ground and ball made control very difficult Glen Innes played their usual. vigorous and forceful game, but have yet much room to improve their team work and combination. The rearguard is fairly sound, and on Saturday H. Stono stood out as a defender of great reliability and coolness, r—————— i He was never flustered and showed unerring judgment as well as anticipation. Warren kept a very safe goal. The halfbacks were erratic in their placing. ' Gay, in the pivotal position, is a likely look-, ing stamp of youth, lanky, fast and willing, but his constructive tactics were not always so well I thought out as they , might have been. In the forwards Hitchin was conspicuous on the left. His manoeuvring for position was usually very clever and neat and his shooting very accurate. Glaister on the right played well, and with Smith is developing an attractive combination. Position play should be studied by Glen Innes and the half-backs must take more care when parting with the ball.

PONSONBY SHOW DECIDED IMPROVEMENT, Ponsonby looked a totally different side from that of the first game, and in the match with Tramways there were flashes of bright play by both sides. Territorially Ponsonby had the better of the exchanges, but towards the close Tramways played with great determination and notched the necessary two goals through Spencer, to give them one point. Ponsonby defence played with admirable pluck and determination. Haggitt and Stewart formed a solid, bulwark in front of Watson who, when required, saved with confidence. Pearson was prominent in the middle line at centre-half, but failed in his placing, and often indulged too much in dribbling. Also he would find it of benefit to his side to pay greater attention to tactics in his distribution of the. play. Diamond was in a new berth at right half and was one of the outstanding successes of the day, while Masters also played a great deal better than he has done on Blandford Park. The forwards were clever on the ball, but sometimes erred in playing too close together and trying short passing when it would have paid to swing the ball. Jepson was very clever in his distribution of the play, and he several times had the opposition guessing by his elusive methods. He showed sound judg- ■ i ment in placing to. his wings, frequently swinging the leather; ■where least expected, but to the best advantage. Innes and Ahern formed the right wing, and kept the opposing defence busy, while A. Morrison and Forman on the left were sometimes very clever, especially the former, and dangerous, yet they somewhat disappointed at a critical moment. Nevertheless, the for--wards showed better understanding than previously. ..;«._,'*. a Ross took up the position of Christie in the centre-half berth of Tramways, and played a hard, plodding game. The long swinging passes to the wings that do so much to open out the game and give the flanks a clear run, that are the strong point of the New Zealand skipper, were missing, but Ross was far from being a failure. Batty, Tinkler and Simpson held the fort for Tramways with efficiency, -While Fyvie and Spong as wing half-backs, got through quite a deal of work. The forwards seemed to make little headway against the robust defence of Ponsonby, and their efforts at combination and studied play were often nullified by the spoiling tactics of the opposition. Spencer came to the rescue with two well-judged goals that saved the day, but otherwise the front rank was only moderately successful.

yjyr. do well with nine men. Playing throughout the game, with nine men, Y.M.C.A. did well to return from Onehnnga with one of the points in a game that was somewhat patchy. It must be said that the visitors had a hard time defending, as might have been expected, and this brought out some sound play by the rearguard. Cowie in goal was often called upon to save, and lie rose to the occasion with much credit. Mowat also -was particularly outstanding during the afternoon, with Chapman getting through a tremendous amount of work in the middle line. Murane and Humphreys led some dangerous attacks on the Onehunga citadel, but the nine to a man gave a praiseworthy display of pluck and determination. Onehunga were well served by Clarke, at centre-forward, the Navy era ok having the honour of registering the hat-trick. The local defence was sound, M. Zuill deputising for his brother with much success. Of the half-backs Davis was most outstanding, playing a very clever game throughout in all departments. Alexander was tried in the forwards, but could not be termed an outstanding success. Wilson was again prominent with fast and solo runs and clever crosses. Blockly was prominent at back, A draw was a fitting xesult, i SHORE UNITED'S VICTORY. The Shore United v. New Lynn match at ■Devoapbrt proved a lively game, a he play was patoliv at times, flashes of good constructive play by ' New Lynn alternating with sparkling rims and dashing play by the shore, front line. New Lynn hart the assistance of six Navy player.-', anil the .constructive uluy and cohesion was very .commendable under the circumstances. Weakness in front-oftgoai was-yeiy iiarfced.

There was too much hesitation and the players were prone to pass when a good drive at goal would probably have brought results. The play of the backs was patchy, a weakness In defence when pressed being noticeable at times. Morris played a sound game in goal for New Lynn. Kay was off his game, his play being ou)y fair. Carter (a Navy recruit), who partnered him, was good iu xmtches, being weak under pressure. The half-line, Jones, Hill and Woodrift, the two latter being Navy men, played sound games, Hill, in centre, being outstanding for clever, constructive play. The forward line did not impress. Tne players were too slow on the ball, while their shooting left much to be desired. Clark was about the best, Hamilton and Marlow getting iu some clever work on the left wnig, but spoiling their effectiveness with poor finishing. Swan and MeNalty showed some clever touches, but had the same fault in front of goal. Through some misunderstanding Shore started with nine men and Kew Lynn had a two-goal lead before the absentees took the held. To the forwards must go the honours oil the game, their dash and nippiness on the ball, good ball control aud their cohesion being main factors in the 5-2 victory gained by their side. The backs were solid on defence, but the positional play was bad at times. A. Smith was good in goal, being at the top of his form. Hart and H. Smith were sound at fullback. Chubb, GolUsworthy and V. Smith were a good trio of half-oacks, getting in some useful work. While the forward line did such good work it is hard to individualise. MeClusky was outstanding, but Walters and Moore were not far benind, while Jerrini and T. Smith also did good work.

COMRADES A KEEN SIDE. The score—2 all—in the match between Abels and Comrades at Western Springs on Saturday afternoon was hardly a fair indication of the strength of the two sides.. Let it be said, nrst of all, that the iuatch was a good one, and that, uespite a greasy ban and a treacherous ground, there was continual evidence of good ball control. But their exhibitions, of scientific football were not on a par nor equal in merit. Comrades were the more scientific combination. For a team yet inexperienced in the finer points of the game their cohesive play was worthy of praise. Their passing was well timed aud tne shots geuerany well directed. Keenness was possibly tueir chief merit. This kept their forwards on the bail and made them quick to loilow and back up at big momenta in oftonee or critical moments in derence. Belore goal they were generally accurate and time and time again Comrades' forwards sent iu hard, straight shots at Abels' net, and, had it not been that Cameron played brilliantly in goal lor Abels, the result of the game must have beeu a win for Comrades by a fair margin. Possibly Comrades' brightest piayer was Francis, who was continually on tne ball. Evaiis was efficient and boui Wright and Skiuuer scored, iilnnaird and Wfiite put up a solid defence and the halves were reliable.

Abels, with the addition of Gill and McLcay, did better against Comrades than against uleu lunes a lortnigut ago. For tne first part of tne game taey were leading and at half-time were one ahead. But there did not appear to be the same enthusiasm, the same zest in their ranks. The forwards were slow to back up at critical moments and the defence offered by their halves was poor. The burden of the game appeared to tall on the shouiuers of Cameron, who gave a great display. Howlett offered a stout defence and his clearing suots were generally well placed. He was ably assisteu by Meilor, who, however, was not always consistent. In the latter part of tho game there was aimless kicking by the halves. As against this there were occasional bright flashes. Ansteed or Gill would get possession and set the forwards in motion and some good passing would result. Abels revived wonderfully near the close of the game and were quite a match for Comrades. It was touch and go who would win, and both sides suffered misfortunes.

GRADE GAMES.

SECOND GRADE. Ponsonby A 3, beat Tamaki 1. Y.M.C.A. 8, beat Ponsonby 0. Mt. Albert Grammar 0.8. S, beat Onehunga 0. _ ~ „ North Shore United 10, beat Tamaki 1. Comrades 6, beat Abels 0. . THIRD OPEN. Papatoctoe 5, beat New Lynn 3. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Metro. College 11, beat Thistle 0. North Shore United 13, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Comrades 4, beat Glen Innes 2. FOURTH GRADE. Tramways 7, beat Y.M.C.A. B 0. Y.M.C.A. A 3, beat Mt. Albert Grammar 0.8. 0. Metro. College 5, beat Henderson 1. North Shore United 5, beat Papatoetoe 0. FIFTH GRADE. Y M.C.A. A 3, beat Y.M.C.A. B 0. Metro. College beat Abels by default. Comrades A 9, beat Comrades C 3, SIXTH GRADE. North Shore United 4, beat Onehunga 2. Grey Lynn Y.M.C.A. 12, beat Tamaki 1. Comrades C 2, beat Glen Innes 0. Y.M.C.A. C beat North Shore United C by default. Shore United B 4, beat Comrades 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Tamaki 5. beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. North Shore United 1, drew with Y.M.C.A. C 1. Metro College beat Y.M.C.A. B by default. Shore United A 2, drew with Comrades 2. MIDGET GAMES. Comrades 6, beat Tamaki 0. North Shore United 3, beat Y.M.C.A. 1. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Thistle 2, beat Western 0. DUNEDIN. Seacliff 2, beat High School Old Boys 2. Technical Old Boys 5, beat Port Chalmers 1. Roslyn-Wakari 4, beat Kaitangata 0. Northern 4, drew with Maori Hill, 3. Mosgiel 8, beat Mornington 1. WELLINGTON. First Division. Petone 1, beat Waterside 0. Diamond 3, beat Marist 2. Lower Hutt 4, drew with Technical 4.