SOCCER TITLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 196, 21 August 1933, Page 14

SOCCER TITLES.

SENIOR COMPETITION. PONSONBY STILL UNBEATEN. ABELS DEFEAT SHORE UNITED. The results in the senior championship competition on Saturday did not all go as was anticipated. Glen Innes and Comrades were considered evenly matched, and the division of the points -was in keeping -with general expectations. Ponsonby justified their favouritism in their match with Onehunga, while Thistle had much more trouble than was thought likely to get the points from New Lynn. Y.M.C.A. surprised most people by defeating Tramways by the odd goal in three, and Abels were not expected to leave Devonport with full points to their credit. Most of the games ■were keenly contested, and the weather was all in favour of fast play. The results were as follows: —■ Comrades 4, drew with Glen: Innes 4. Y.M.C.A. 2, beat Tramways L Abels 3, beat Shore United 1. Thistle 2, beat New Lynn 1. Ponsonby 6, beat Onehunga 2. The results of Saturday's games leave the positions of the teams on the championship table as follows:— Goals. Ch. P. W. li. D. P. A. Pts. Thistle „„; 13 9 3 1 45 21 19 Ponsonby ~ 11 7 — 4 36 10 18 Tramways ..32 7 2 3 28 19 17 Glen Innes . 13 6 3 4 34 26 .16 Abels ... 13 5 6 2 34 43 3.2 Y.M.C.A. ... 32 5 5 2 30 30 12 North Shore. 12 5 6 1 31 30 11 Comrades... 12 2 6 4 26 35 8 Onehunga .. 13 1 8 4 21 41 7 New Lynn. _ 13 2 10 1 13 34 6

COMRADES-GLEN INNES' LIVELY BOUT.

With eight goals scored during.the game, and with neither team ever more than one ahead of the other, the Comrades v. Glen Tunes game was quite an interesting and lively duel. Both* teams played with vigour and willingness, and a draw was a fitting result, the Innes finishing much more strongly than Comrades, who, however, could claim a slight advantage for a period in each half that offset their spell of defensive play towards the close. Page did much clever work to keep the Glen Innea score down. His saving was always confident and his agility and long reach were put to the best use. He did not hesitate to dash out when occasion warranted, • but he never displayed recklessness. Altogether his display was distinctly creditable. The Comrades' defence was none too sure, and was lacking in positional play and placing. All showed determination and never let up, but there were too many occasions when two or three of them were chasing the ball at the same time. In the attack Skinner was much in the picture and his clubmates seemed to expect a great deal of him, for they plied him with the ball in a manner that was not altogether la the best tion. Skinner, being the most dangerous of the Comrades attack, was also the most closely watched. Unfortunately Comrades did not possess the fieldcraft to know just how to use him in the circumstances. The forwards had some clever touches, never-, theless, and are an improving combination. There was more understanding between the Glen Innes defenders than between the forwards, the latter resorting to the kick and rush game to excess. Warren was not so secure as he generally is in goal, but K. arid H. Stone were on the whole a safe pair of backs. In the middle line, Spry, at centre-half, was most prominent, and Flashman seldom failed. Gay was inclined to be reckless with his clearances. The best part of the forward line . was. the right wing, where Glaister sent over, many very dangerous crosses and also repeatedly lobbed the ball into the goalmouth, which, with the brilliant sun, was rather effective tactics. R. Welch :Was very active and always dangerous in the' centre, but his thrust was more apparent than. , his ideas of giving the wings the ball at the most opportune moment. L. Welch also was a worker, but lacking in finish and the liner points of the game. Darwin did some constructive work and showed understanding while Adams often missed easy openings, yet brought off many clever movements. The game throughout was one of the liveliest 1.30 contests seen for some time.

THISTLE BETTERS NEW; LYNN.

Iα a hard-fought game on Saturday afternoon the New Lynn team was unlucky to lose to Thistle by one goal. Both teams played a hard game throughout, and the pace in the last half hour -was particularly keen. Thistle finished -with' two goals against the New Lynn's one. The weakest part of the New Lynn team was the forward line, although they certainly spent some exciting moments in against the opponents' ■ goal. Hamilton took the best chances, and shot the only goal for his side. McGrory was fast until he got winded, and he Sept out of it a little for a half an hour or so, but brightened np toward the end. J. Carr, at centre, was not on his best form, and the two outsiders were not as good as the inside men. The half line was strong. Watson played a wonderful game, and had the lion's share to do. Twinn and Jones played a good game when their opportunities offered. Both the backs were pretty to watch, and Munro showed up unusually well. Morris was busy for his share of the time, and several times was drawn out of the goal mouth. For the winners there was a lot of good football played. The team seemed the superior on headwork, and their combination was better than New Lynn's. The finished footwork of the forwards was a danger to the home team on many occasions. Gerrard was safe between the sticks, and in front of him were two willing workers, McCosh and Williams. The half line was in at the bail all the time, with Wright showing more scientifically than the others. His calculating coolness stopped several determined movements by the opposing forwards. The' whole of the Thistle front line was a solid group, and none of them were found far out of place at any stage. Only the great defence of Watson, for New Lynn, stopped Kay from goaling. Woods, on the other wing, snapped in the two Thistle goals. The right side was fed more in the latter half of the match, when the scores were lifted. Dunsmore, Williamson and Hislop also made the most of their chances ,and kept the home backs mighty busy once the ball got within thirty yards of the goal. Altogether, the match was probably the hardest go seen on the New Lynn ground this season, and if New Lynn can hold their form, they should win out next Saturday.

PONSONBY SUPERIOR.

The Ponsonby v. Onelmnga match does not call for much comment, as it was evident eajrly in the game that I'onsonby were infinitely superior in team work and combination, and their score of six goals to two did not unduly flatter them. Onohunga were a disjointed team and neither in the front nor rear did they display any combination. The feature of their team was the outstanding display given by Birchall in goal, and the sound game played by-Webster at left full-back. Blockley. had a day off, playing a poor game, while he lias developed a bad habit of arguing with his opponents. Sager was the best of the halves, Dick playing a fair game, but Donaldson was too much out of position to be effective. The forwards lacked cohesion. William's "was not a success? oh the risht wing. Woodhall (centre) and Booth (right wing)'"kept their positions well and played fair games, but the Vwo inside men, Forrester and' Shepherd, were half-backs most of the game, with the result that the front line was a very weak attacking Ponsonby showed splendid team work and positional nlay, and the backing and coverin" up was first class. Watson did not have much to do jn goal, but did it well. Kargett and Stewart were sound and resourceful as full-backs, but the former bus played better games. J. Morrison, Grant and Masters, in the half-back line, all displayed good form, both on attack, and defence. The forward line got off some pretty combined work, but the weakness of the opposing half-back line gave them a lot of latitude. Ahern and Innes were an. effective right wing, Jepson playing well in the centre, and his three goals were well deserved. A. Morrison and Forman did good work on, the left -wing.

Y.M.C.A. RECOVER STRONGLY.

Though only one goal ahead after 45 minutes' play, it seemed, during the whole of .the first spell,' as though Tramways would be comfortable winners in their match against Y.M.C.A., but in the second half the tables were turned and Y.M. forwards attacked vigorously, «vhile the defence spoiled all the combined movements of the Trams forwards and half-backs. Y.M. goal certainly ran the narrowest of escapes on more than one occasion, and in this regard Cowie took too many risks in leaving his goal. On the general run of the play in the second session the teams were evenly matched. It just happened that Trams did not make the most of their superiority at the beginning, and with the great change that came over Y.M. in the second term Trams got few opportunities. Y.M. defence rose to the occasion and Chapman had a great deal to do with the holding of opposition in check. Dashing and vigorous, his influence dominated the game. Coltman ■ and Thornes were j also telling workers, ; •while Kiddolls showed ; much greater prom- I ise at back than in j the forwards. Ross, ; if at times not too sure, as also was ■ his partner, lacked nothing in energy. In j the forwards, MoFarlane,\at inside right, was a great worker \ all the match, but was most outstanding in the second spell. ; He did a power of forceful play and was

easily the most suecessful forwards. Murane ami Hill, the extreme angers have played many better games. Humphreys did his best to help his young clubmates. Pearson was also a ha i r t d S «ined r -to be the spoiling tactics and the strong, romist tackling of the Y.M. defence as well as the surprising speed of tnefr recovery after being beaten, that told against Trams. In the tirst spell they showed their usual clever, combined work, but in the second, while they showed much All Dlaved hard and cleverly, but simply met their match on the day. .Jones aid rkdTo^o!]a^ e at rU th e e S cr« h jU |S McSman and Donaldson were more effective than Williams and Cuinmings on the right and Chapman always seemeJ to be ready to pounce on Spencer when the ball came rionr The contest was a great struggle play.

ABELS WIN AT DEVONPORT.

mmm fcart, with viforoua tackling and clearing. The outstanding Dlayer on the -winning jr ') side and the king pin in both defence and attack -was Chalmers, at centre-half, who was at his best. He frequently Intercepted thrusts by the Shore forwards and fed his own van with judgment ' and accuracy. The result was that Abels' attacks were far more effective and fruitful, although less frequent than those of the home side. For Shore United, A. Smith, in goal, played quite a goodgame, and was not at lault with the goals scored against him. Gerrard was easily the best of the backs, and held McLeay in close check, but his placements to the front line were not as accurate as usual. The veteran Corbett had a strenuous time and stuck gamely to his task. "Walters was the most effective of the middle line, but most of his'efforts were nullified by the weakness of the wing in front of him. MeClusky again showed up prominently in the centre of the Shore attack, but he had to waste a lot of time and miss' several scoring, chances through, having to drop back and do his own scouting for the ball. Blackie, at inside-right, was in the thick of the Shore thrusts, but was inclined to wander out of position. The Shore left wing (T. Smith and Jay) was far from impressive. A feature of the game was the accurate corner kicking of Moore, but only one of his perfect centres was netted.

REPRESENTATIVE GAME.

Poverty Bay 2, beat Hawke's Bay 1. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Mt. Albert Grammar 0.8. 5, beat North Shore United 1. Ponsonby B 6, beat Tamaki B 3. Tamaki A beat New Lynn by default. Tramways 4, beat Comrades 1. Ponsonby A 6, beat Glen Innes 3. THIRD OPEN. Seamen United 6. beat Papatoetoe 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Mt. Albert Grammar 0.8. 4, beat Y.M.C.A. 2. _ Comrades 2, bea f '"'•'•-"-College 0.. FOURTH GRADE. Tamaki 2, drew with Metro-College 2. Shore United 1. beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. Comrades beat Henderson by default. 'KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION. Mt. Albert Grammar 0.8. A 5, beat Y.M.C.A. B 1. Tramways 1, beat Papatoetoe 0. FIFTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. B won by default from Tamaki. North Shore United 7, teat Y.M.C.A. C 1. Metro-College 3, beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. SIXTH GRADE. Onehußga won by default from Tamaki. Y.M.C.A. B 4. beat Glen Innes 0. Comrades B 6. beat Y.M.C.A. C 2. Y.M.C.A. 0; drew with Metro-College 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Knock-Out Competition. Tamaki 4, beat Grey Lynn Y.M.C.A. 0. Comrades 3, beat Onehunga 1. Y.M.C.A. A 4, beat Y.M.C.A. C 1; SECONDARY SCHOOLS. JUNIOR KNOCK-OUT FINAI/. Auckland Grammar 3, beat Kowhai Intermediate School 2. MIDGET GAMES. . North Shore United won by default from Tamaki. Comrades 3. beat Y.M.C.A. 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WELLINGTON. Semi-final Auld Memorial Cup.—Petone 4, beat Technical Old Boys 0. First A Division. —Marist 3, beat Waterside 2; Lower Hutt 5. beat Swifts 2. Second of Ist B Division.—N.A.P.A. 1, beat Rovers 0. CHRISTCHURCH. Nomads 3, boat Thistle 2. Rangers 2, beat Linwood 1. Technical 4, beat St. Albans 2. DUN'EDIX. Seacliff 3, beat Roslyn-Wakari 1. Maori Hill 2, beat Mornington 1. High School Old Boys 5, beat Technical Old Boys 2. SCOTTISH CLASHES, LONDON, August 20. Results of Association football matches played in Scotland on Saturday i — First Division. —Airdrieonians 0, v. Aberdeen 1; Ayr 4, v. Hearts of Midlothian 3; Celtic 2, v. Falkirk 2; Cowdenbeath 0, v. Queen's Park 2; Dundee 1, v. Clyde 1; Hibernian 0, v. Rangers 0; Motherwell 1, v. St. Johnstone 0; Partick 2, v. Kilmarnock 3; St. Mirren 2, v. Hamilton 3; Third Lanark 1, v. Queen of the South 2. ■ Second Division.—Alloa. 1, v. Dundee United 2 ; Dumbarton 2, v. King's Park 1; East Fife 2, v. Leith 1; East Sterling 5, v. Raith 1; Forfar 3, v. Albion 1; Montrose 2, v. Arbroath 1; Morton 4, v. Edinburgh 0; St. Bernard's 2, v.. Brcchia 1; Stenhousmuir 3, v» Dunf ermllne 1,