SOCCER REVIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 14

SOCCER REVIEW.

SATURDAY'S GAMES. PQNSONBY'S NARROW ESCAPE SHORE FADE OUT AGAIXST THISTLE. The positions of the senior teams after Saturday's games remain the same, with the top iive each going two points further ahead than the other five. A penalty kick saved a point for Ponsonby against Xew Lynn, and kept them relatively two points ahead of Thistle, who are on the top of the tabic with a lead of two points but with two more matches played. It is interesting to note that of their 17 matches Thistle have Avon 12. "whereas Ponsonby in 15 have earned the full points on nine occasions, having registered live draws. '1 ho results of Saturday's games were as follows:— Thistle 4, beat Shore United 1. Tramways 2, beat Comrades 0. Ponsonby 4, .beat New Lynn 3. Glen Innes 3, beat Y.M.C.A. 1. Abels 2, beat Onehunga.O. This makes the championship position as follows:— Goals. Ch. Team. p. w. 1,. IX F. A. Pts. 'Hustle . 17 12 4 1 OS 2S 25 Ponsonby ..... 15 9 t 5 44 '.3 Tramways .... It. !) 3 4 3S 30 22 Glen limes .... 1G S 3 5 42 30 21 Abels 17 S G 3 44 4S 10 VMX.A. 17 7 8 2 30 30 10 North Shore ... 17 0 S 3 40 44 15 Comrades 17 4 0 4 35 40 12 Uneliunga 17 211 4 20 53 S Now Lynn 17 214 1 10 40 5 THISTLE OUTPLAY SHORE. The Thistle v. Shore United match, which took the form of a double event, a championship game and a Falcon Cuj) tie, was an easy victory for the Scots, shore were completely eclipsed on the day and rather disappointed their supporters and the public, lor something in the way of lireworks was expected from the vigorous, dashing youths l'roin Uevonport. But right from the start it seemed as though botli teams were sparring for an opening and that sense of ten- £!, u " " evor lelt the play or the players. -Hustle settled down to their cleverest game, their team work and combination being «il\\U3s their strongest «idvantage and never lading to carry them through the opposing defence, whereas the restraint that hung around Shore gave the winners all the chances they required to complete their constructive methods. Shore tackling was not nearly so deadly as it usually is; the players seemed to hold off as if on an unusually important occasion, and this proved their downfall. The game was tame nearly all the way, lively interludes being few and very far between. The Thistle defence, that is, the backs and goalie, had an ensy task, due to the fact that the deadly tackling and nippy interception of the halfbacks completely broke the back of the Shore forward line. Wiseman was the pick of the Thistle defence and played one of his best games. Wright was always in evidence and kept a close watch on MeClusky, while Watson also succeeded in subduing the men opposed to him. The Scots forwards were definitely on top and played a nicelybalanced and cohesive game, in which the brain work of Dunsmore was the outstanding feature. His clever openings and elusive tactics were easily the best part of the match. Nicholls, who took the place of Hislop, acquitted himself well, as also did Woods and Williamson, and "while very close attention was paid ro Kay he nevertheless was always a force to be reckoned with.

For Shore A. Smith, in goal, often cami to the rescue, as also did Gerrard. Hari was not nearly so dei>endable. In the middh line, Blaekie, as right half, was evidently expected to hang oil to Kay, but he oftei wandered, out of position and allowed hi: fellow All Black too much room to operate Corbett battled hard all the way and hac a strenuous afternoon, while Chubb had £ little more than he could handle in tin 'I histle right wing. Shore forwards weri individualists all the way and there was hardly ii combined movement during tin afternoon. McClusky was under close sur veillance all day, though he tried hard t< shake off his guardians, but he never hat room to work and was always held up bj smothering tactics. 'Webb was obviously onl of condition, while Williamson, on the left, never had a look in. Bush and Moore, on Shore rig-lit, found Wiseman too much for 'hem and were seldom in the picture. Though Shore have a very promising team, they were outplayed altogether on Saturday. PONSONBY HARD PRESSED. The game between Ponsonb-r and New Lynn was one of the fastest and most exciting games seen on the local ground lor some time, and Ponsonby were decidedly lucky in winning by a penalty in the" last few minutes of the game, when the score stood at three all. Ponsonby had the advantage in the first spell, and their general all-round work was first-class, but the bustling tactics of New Lynn in the second half put Ponsonby off their game, with the result that New Lynn did most of the attacking in the later stages, and only strenuous defence by Ponsonby backs averted defeat. The game became very hard at times and tempers got frayed somewhat. This is probably the best showing New Lynn has made this seasojj, and they had I'onsonby fully extended. Morris played his usual safe game in goal, while Keid and Munro gave their best display at lull-backs. .Tones and Watson, in the halves, were also impressive, the former getting in some nice constructive play. Twin was sound in defence, but his positional play was weak. Broun, at centre forward, played a hard, hustling game, and was quite a handful for the defence, but was weak in front of goal. Hamilton and McGrory were always prominent, but the latter should remember that one man cannot beat a team. Carr and McDiarmid were effective on the wings, the latter getting two good goals. Watson had a strenuous afternoon in goal for Ponsonby, but acquitted himself well. Haggctt and Stewart bore the brunt of the defensive work, especially in the second spell, and they stood up to their task in great style. Masters was the best of the halves, Grant and J. Morrison not being up to their usual standard. Ahern and I lines were the best of the forward line, but Cole gave a good display. Jepson was well marked on the day, but got in some effective work. A. Morrison had a day off on the left wing.

ONEHUNGA'S MISFORTUNE. ** By two goals to one Abels defeated Oneluinga on the suburban ground on Saturday. (The game was open tlirougliout, and for the greater part -was played at a lively pace. Both teams combined well, and were evenly matched. . Onehunga was unfortunate to lost tlieir promising young goalie, Birchall, in the second half. After effecting a short clearance from several, yards out, he was following up when "his sliin swung hard against tlie opposing forward's thigh, and Birchall was removed with a broken leg. Since lie was called upon to substitute for Zuill, Birchall has shown outstanding merit, arid his team will miss him. J. Donaldson was transferred from the front line to goal, anil when he got into his stride he did well. Webster was a hard man to get past in the backs, and Blockle.v, on the right, was kept busy with Ansteed and Kitchens opposing him. Clarke, Dick and Davis all had a good share of work, with the former playing particularly hard. Their understanding of the game was evident in. practically every retaliatory move. The forward line was a dangerous combination all the way, their lack of success being due more to over-keenness than to absence of ability. Several of the home team's attacks were frustrated by close packing of the Abels backs and halves. The outside men sometimes over-ran the passes from behind, losing the advantage of the odd second or two in which they wcra unmarked. Credit must be given to Cameron for some swife work now and then in Abels goal. His kicking was hefty, too. There was little to choose between Howlett and Alexander. The ieft back-had more to do. as Clarke's rushes came through, but both put in half-way kicks with good judgment! The Abels half-backs made a fairly strong line. They were more reliable in open play. Both wings of the forwards received their share of the ball, and the whole line was safely combined. Ansteed and Kitchens promised more than the right side, but Birchall and his backs made tilings pretty difficult. .McLeay made the most of his chances, taking passes well, and having a small average of erratic shots. Hunter and Gill had a lot of the hard luck, which was often in evidence during the game, especially owing to their being stopped by Davis and "Webster, with Dick doing the rest. ' Dick played, an even better game after Donaldson's move had weakened the forwards. With this handicap, Onehunga went down gamely after playing hard all through the piece. i

TRAMWAYS WIN OVER COMRADES. There were some bright flashes of piny in the Tramways-Comrades game, but while both teams showed cleverness and constructive method in the outfield, neither had a finishing force that could, drive home their advantages. Trams revealed a discovery in Gavan, their second grade goalie, who repeatedly saved them in tight corners. Tinkler was easily the best back, while in the middle line .there was not the usual accurate and effective placing to tiie torwards. Bell got out ol' position 011 the right and .Tones was ol'ten hard pressed by the bustling of the opposition. Fy vie played a useful spoiling .game. In the forward's, McMillan and Evan 'Williams were best. Spencer was not so active as usual and Donaldson and Cummings on the flanks only occasionally showed up.

Comrades twice refused to take tlie adr vantage of penalty kicks and generally Jaded y out in front of goal. I'age was their most useful player on tlie day and kept a splendid r goal. Casliin was not so reliable as White, d while in the middle line 1-looton was best, e Tlie forwards swung the ball about cleverly . and combined with understanding, hut & lacked thrust in the middle and their shootf ing was not too accurate. The inside men, 1 Francis and Marvin, made many openings s for their club mates, which were not always s taken advantage of. Comrades, however. 2 have obviously benefited by their season in senior football. GLEN INNES PULL THROUGH. Had the mower been run over No. 2 ground at Onehunga. Y.M.C.A. and Glen Innes would have been able to play football on it on Saturday, But although the players' complaint that they lost the ball 5 in the grass was a little exaggerated, as they found it again without much search, the pasture was certainly too heavy for a fast game. Dropping Spry to put Darwin • in the team did not noticeably strengthen Glen Innes. Whatever his faults, Spry is a sturdy, hard-working player, though better at spoiling the opposite man's play than at doing brilliant things himself. In Y.M.'s goal, Cowie had plenty to do, especially in the first half, when the game rarely left Y.M. territory. Shots came at him thick and fast, and the three that got past him were a very small percentage of those he stopped. 'Although Kiddolls was the only scorer for Y.M.. he was not as prominent in the play as Sims and Ilill, who on several occasions combined cleverly to get through tlie defence for a shot at Glen Innes' goal, and they certainly gave Warren more work than did any other members of their side. With wind and sun behind them in tlie first half. Glen Innes forwards looked as ' if they were walking all over the opposition, but actually Y.M.'s men stuck to them doggedly and spoiled the most promising opportunities. The. long grass was blamed for.Glen Innes' poor shooting. A low shot was certainly impossible, but !)(» per cent of the high ones went wide. R. Welch played, as usual, a hustling, aggressive game, and was responsible for one goal. Adams, oven more aggressive in tactics, had several easy shots at an open goal, and missed by yards every time. An easy goal was picked up by 11. Darwin, when Cowie went down to stop a shot, and sent it out right to his feet. Glaister showed less than his usual activity, but was unlucky to slip and fall as lie was collecting the ball for a shot w'ith only the goalie to beat. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Dacre Cup Final." Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys 4, beat North Shore United 1." THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Championship Play-off. Metro College 3, beat Comrades 2. FOURTH GRADE. Knock-out Final. Y.M.C.A. A. 2, beat Tamaki 1. FIFTH GRADE. Knock-out Final. Comrades B 2, beat Y.M.C.A. B 3. t GRADE. J Knock-out Final. I Y.M.C.A. B 1, beat Comrades A 0. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. ' Representative Match. Auckland 3, beat Huntly 2. GAMES IN THE.SOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH. •, Taranakl 5, beat Wanganui 0. WELLINGTON. \ J First A Division.—Fetone 7, beat Xeeli- I nical Old Boys 0. 'j ■Swifts 4, beat Waterside 3. CHRISTCIIURCH. Juniors. —Westland 2, drew with Can- S terbury 2. Westland retain the Dewar J trophy. f