FAST GAME AT SHORE.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 13

FAST GAME AT SHORE.

The game between Thistle and North Shore United provided the spectators with a fast and thrilling game, but the superior condition of Thistie told its tale in the final stages, when they put on four goals in the closing stages. They fully deserved their win, as they were well ahead of their opponents in team work, but the solid defence, and nippiness on the ball in attack of Shore United counter-balanced the team work of Thistle to a great extent and made the game most interesting. Shore had several opportunities in front of goal but could not just get there, some bad positional play being partly responsible for the laek of goals. The pace was a cracker and there were some thrilling moments in front of both goals. Cowie gave his best display of the season to date and brought off some wonderful saves, but marred his efforts somewhat with a display of temper in the last few minutes ot the game. Gerrard plaved a sound game at full-back, being at 'his best in defence and getting in a great afternoon's work. Smith, who made a reappearance to help his club out, played a solid game and was splendid in defensive, ■work. The half line functioned fnirl.v well. Walters played a good game in the centre, while Kkman was sound on the right. Chubb played well but gave his onposin" wing too much scope at times. The forward line have given better displays, combination being somewhat lacking. MeClusky played his usual hard game in the centre, but lacked support. Cheater was outstanding on the left wing, but Stevenson was not successful at inside left, a hard knock early in the game seeming to affect his play. Moore got in some good work on the' right wing, but Blackie was not at his best.

Gerrard did not have as much to do as his vis-a-vis in goal. but performed creditably McCosli and Williams were a splendid pair of full-backs for Thistle and repeatedly broke up the opposing forward nttacksfi while their niacins was first class. Wrieht at centre half, was the outstanding nlaver on the field, his defensive work and placing of the ball being of a very i.iirli standard. ITis colleagues, Watson (right) ami Wiseman (left) played soundly and supported the forwards well. .The front rank was all that could be desired, cohesion and ball control being first class. Kay was amongst the goals as usual, but Woods, Dunsmore, Williamson and Hislop all plaved well and it is hardly fair to individualise. It is a nity that the final stages of the game were marred by a disnlnv of temper, as the game, although wy hard, had been played. In the best of spirit throughout. SUBURBS' WEAK SHOOTING. Had Eastern Suburbs had one good shot among tlieir forwards theirs would have the victory at St. Heller's on Saturday Opportunities they bad in. plenty, for their heavier weight and aggressive style broke through Grammar's defence time, and ir.in Crowded into their own territory for the most part of the g.imo. the Grammar hacks stood up well to the constant strain. t it was their forwards, particularly Angus and Woods, that turned the tables. I During the first half the Jatter was con-

siderably hampered by the long grass and rough footing on his side of the field, but when he had a chance to work the ball into the open before centring his passing was well placed, and his shooting accurate. Less opportunity was given to Spencer and Henly 011 the other flank, though they showed themselves very dangerous when they got the ball.

On the Suburbs side K. Stone, at full-baclc, was tlie rock on wlilcli tlie Grammar attack broke time and again, and he repeatedly sent his forwards away with long, wellplaced i>asses. Both sides began to wilt somewhat early in the second half, when frequent cold rain squalls swept across the lield, and as the ground became more and more slushy Suburbs' shooting, for which they had plenty of opportunity, grew wilder and wilder. During the earlier stages of the game Grammar's full-backs, Lawrence and (J. lloldsworth, had made a good effort to check the rush of their heavier opponents, but as the footing became more dillicult they had little hope. Luck, however, stood to them to the last. Y.M.C.A.'S GOOD MARGIN. In Y.JI.C.A.'s game against Comrades on Saturday Kiggans, the young centre forward, scored live, of Y.M.'s six goals. The only score for Comrades was put on by Cole with a beautifully neat shot into the corner oL' the goal. The conditions underfoot wore partly responsible for Comrades' downfall, and the. victors had a superior combination in the forwards. A considerable reshuiilc of the front rank of the Young Men's team turned out to be a successful experiment. Hamilton played inside to the promising McFarlanc on the left, and Murane and Pearson were outside and inside right respectively. Both sides fed tlie centre consistently, a wise plan with the sloppy conditions as they were, for practically every cross shot by either side was spoilt by the greasy ball or strong up-field wind. A tendency which lost the Comrades possibilities frequently was to send up through mid-iield instead of using the liauking movement, l'age found it practically impossible to move in the goal-mouth for the losers, and the quick, straight shots off Kiggans' boot left him no time to pull his feet out of the bog. He was helped a lot by a couple of reliable backs, however, who packed well on dcfence, although the crowding of the halves was sometimes an embarrassment. The forwards generally were individual players, and several times Cole was forced to scout round for the jail instead of being given chancy Both wings worked hard, but fruitlessly, being too keen to have a try at the net from angles which under the circumstances were too difficult. Then again there was a hard goalie to beat in Smith, who stopped some really good shots. The Y.M. backs were not as conspicuous as those of Comrades, and let the opposing forwards into shooting position rather more often. Allowances throughout must be made for tlie condition of the ground. Thornes and Chapman played reliably in the halves, and Coltman was a solid stopper. The pivot left the field lialf-wav through the second spell with a ie" injury. Tlie forwards held together well, and the left wing was particularly sound. Kiggans made a welter of scoring, usually from sudden openings from tlie iusides. The game was played for the most part at a speedy clip, but accurate footwork was almost aii impossibility. Comrades really deserved another couple of goals. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. 3, drew with I'onsonby A3. , Thistle 3, beat North Shore 1. Metro College 14, beat I'onsonby B 0. Abels B 4, beat Oneliunga 2. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys 8, beat '.Eastern Suburbs 13, beat Thistle A 2. North Shore United 14, beat Xhlstle B 1. Mount Albert O.l>. 8, beat Y.M.C.A. 2* j FOURTH GRADE. Metro-College 4, beat North Shore United 1. FIFTH GRADE. Comrades A 2, beat Oneliunga 0. Y.M.C.A. A 3, beat Abels 2. All lower grades postponed. ONEHUNGA GROUP. Monte Cecilia 8, beat Oneliunga B L Convent 2, beat Oneliunga A 1.