SOCCER CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 14

SOCCER CODE.

SATURDAY'S GAMES.

THISTLE DEFEATS ABELS. THREE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. The Chatham Cup replayed first round tie between Thistle and Abels on Saturday proved a rather one-sided affair, Thistle again winning, but by a more substantial margin than on the first occasion. The Scots were in deadly form and showed team work and constructive, play far in advance of that of their opponents, gaining the verdict by 8 goals to 2. His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, wae" an interested spectator and personally met the players of both teams before the kick-off. Thistle now meet Ponsonby in the local final of the national cup competition, wlum a rousing game should ue the outcome. Three championship games were also played in the senior grade, on Saturday, when Ponsonby took full points from Mount Albert Grammar Old Bojs, 3-2- Metro College and Shore United drew at Western Springs and Comrades got the better of Eastern Suburbs at St. Helier's Bay. 4-3 These results make the competition table read as follows.— Goals. Ch. P W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Ponsonby 8' 7 -j 1 29 13.15 Metro College . 9 2 5 2 19 29 6 Eastern Suburbs 9 — 6 3 24 86 A Y.M.C.A S — 6 2 12 -i-J 2

THISTLE FOR NEXT ROUND,

The Chatham Cup J™ J l ?** 1 * score a comfortable win by 8 goals tc... Never at any ctage did Abel s look Hue a wlnn"g team, the superior team work andl positional play of their opponents allowing them to pretty the came There were several hot rallies by AbeVs, but they generally broke down in front of goal, too much finessing and dill} - dallying enabling the defence to cover up easiiy It was rather surprising to see tSeee tactics persisted in through.the game, as it was obvious that hard dm Co It goal were the better tactics on the day. The Thistle' forwards took every opportunity to shoot hard for goal, and but for the many good saves by Lucas, the game would have been a rout. The positional play of some of Abel's backs was very weak, and on at least three occasions.the attackers were presented with an open goal through this fault. Lucas gave a very sound display in goal for Abels bringing off some good saves. He couiu not be blamed for a good many of the goals scored against him, as the defence was woefully weak, and left him as the last solitary line of defence Jones and Molley did not impress as lull-backs, their kicking lacking length and direction, their returns being mostly collected by the opposition. The half-baclr line had a strenuous time holding the opposing forwards. Christie showed some of his old-time cleverness a't centre-half, but the pace of the opposition was a bit too much for him. Spring showed up in some .solid defensive work, and played a good game under the circumstances. Owens was a good hard grauer, but was decidedly weak in positional play, allowing the opposing wing far too niucn latitude. The forward line was not ;as successful as they might have been, mainly owing to endeavouring to play a -shou--nassing game, which was unsuited to tue conditions.' Weakness in front of goal also made most ,of their efforts non-effective from a scoring point of view. Cheater and Kobinson, on the wing, showed initiative, but the opposing halves did not allow them much latitude. Hamilton, McLeay ana Ansteed were disappointing on the day, ana have all played much better games. Gerrard did - not have much to do in goal for Thistle, but dealt effectively with anything that came his way. Reid anu Williams were ..solid at, full-back, their kicking and clearing'being, first-class.. The half-back' line were all good, Watson *iid Constable being right up to form, while the same could "be said of Wright in the centre. The -front* line pl&yed -with' dash and cohesion, bringing off some clever combined work. Williamson had a Bold day, getting five goals, and was always in position when a scoring opportunity offered. Dunsmore was as clever as evt-r with some nice constructive play, while Angus also showed cleverness in making openings for his colleagues. Woods and Kay were in their best form, the latter getting. two good goals.

PONSONBY DISAPPOINTING.

i The four weeks' enforced rest tnat Eonsonby have had in the middle of the season, seems to have had serious consequences for the championship leaders if their display against Mount ,Albert Grammar Old Boys is any criterion. The team was at sixes and sevens most of the game; their-team-work-Was conspicuous by Its absence, and it was more by luck than good guidance that their unbeaten- record stands to-day. Haggett and Stewart at back, Jones at centre-half antT Mullane and Innes at times showed something like form, but otherwise the team gave its worst display this season. Watson in goal was., right off form except for his saving, of a-penalty kick. Glaister and Masters seemed .raw and- "rusty," while the forwards were a most disjointed quintet. There -was little combination and dash hi the work of the attack, and the players never seemed to settle 3own. The Grammar eleven certainly deserved a better fate, but : t'hey could' not finish effectively, and, their, extreme wlngersr were very weak at critical moments. Warren saved with confidence throughout, while Holdsworth an.|-Shaw were forceful- and vigorous at back. Turley played.a-.splendid game at right half, and proved a stumbling block to Farnan" jind.' Mullane' time' and, again. Ward in the 'pivotal position' got through a heavy afternoon's .work ami', supplied the forwards with • generally well directed passes. Horrocks was most, successful in breaking up, 'ami held . close to Innes all the afternoon.'ln-the forwards, the inside trio, Fyvie jun., .Jepson and Spencer gave the opposing defence .no, rest, playing a harassing game . throughout. Spencer was particularly outstanding and ' displayed a class of football 'that stood out. Had the school bad dependable extreme wingers the story should have been different, .but unfortunately Moloney and Woods were having their off day. .The game though- lack-, ing. the finer touches of Soccer, i was strenuously contested, but the result certainly was "misleading.

FAST GAME AT ST. HELIER'S.

What proved to be, particularly In the final stages, a very interesting struggle, was witnessed at St. Heller's Bay between the home team, Eastern Suburbs, and Comrades. . Though play was somewhat ragged in the first half, the second spell gave glimpses of tirst-olass football, as the suburbanites strove valiantly for the equalising goal,.but could not quite make the grade. But for • a sound exhibition of goal-keeping by Batty, Eastern Suburbs would have .probably been rewarded with the equaliser In the closing ten minutes. Yet, on the other hand, Comrades fully deserved their one-goal margin, as they produced the combination in which the ' home team ' were lacking. Whereas Eastern Suburbs included some brilliant individualists,. cohesion between the forwards and ha}ves was sadly missing and individualism counted for naught. Batty proved the stumbling block. Though Loundes was hellable, McKenzie was frequently caught out of position, with the result that much additional work was thrust on to Comrades' goalie, but , he made very few mistakes. Nobody could have saved the three goals scored. Twinn showed much improvement In the'halves, while Hooton made some beautiful openings for his forwards. The boat forward on the .field was undoubtedly Francis, who was a very diflicult man to murk. Though playing a halfback game, at times he could, by a Surprising turn of speed, be in a handy position to trouble Hoyte with some unexpected snapslmfs. Carter was never consistent, throwing away gome golden opportunities, arid when least expected, producing some good centres. The pivot, Hayward, played a more robust same than usual and Was always (dangerous. Ho.vte, in goal for Eastern Suburbs, had a busy day. Through the half-backs frequently crowding K. Stone and Gay, Hoyle found difficulty in. sighting the ball. This overcrowding in the. goal area was unnecessary, as both tho backs could be relied on, despite R. Stone's let; injury.* H. Stone, in his new role as centre-half, was only a partial success. Also handicapped with a leg injury, he found difficulty in beeping up with the play, though a solid toiler from start ro finish. McDonald and Gilbert provetf *.h.p danger point of the'home team's attack. 'The outside right showed much promise, and-if McDonald had parted to Gilbert "'more often instead of experimenting with the sphere, the result might have been altogether different. Cummings had an off day 'and its capable of a better display than that shown on Saturday.

SHORE AND METRO. DRAW.

The meeting of Shore United and Metro.College at Western Springs saw a somewhat erratic display by the Devonport eleven anil till almost the final whistle they were struprglins hiird to get even with Metro., who at one point were two goals ahead. Shore forwards and half-backs never seemed to strike up an understanding, the absence of Walters haying an obvious effect on the general play of the team. Added to this the rear division of tilt; Metro, side gave a sound display, their spoiling tactics being most effective, and Oiolr fast recovery work and rush tactics did not allow the Devonport men an opportunity to settle down. Gavun was safe in goal and Holman was also a tower of strength in repelling attacks. Flyger nnd McDougall wore prominent in the attacking line, though the whole team played with credit. A good deal of the work In Shore defence fell upon Gerrard and Archer, while C:iwie also had to come to the,rescue on many occasions. lilackie worked hardest of the forwards, but many of his openings were allowed to go abegging. The game was stubbornly contested and was fast from start to finish.

GRADE GAMES,

SECOND GRADE. Onohunjsn A 10. boat Ponsonby B 0. Mount Albert G. 0.8. 5, beat Thistle 2. THIRD GRADE. North Shore 10. beat Y.M.C.A. 0. FOURTH GRADE. Mt. Albert Grammar 3, heat Comrades 1. Y.M.C.A. A 1, drew with Abels 1. North Shore G, beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. Comrades 2. v.' ThistleO.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

JUNIOR. Kowhai 4, beat Otahuhu O. "Xeehnica , College beat Northcoto by default.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

WELLINGTON. Chatham Cup.—Semi-finals : Watorsldo 1, beat Marlst 0; Hospital 3, beat Petonc 1. First A Division.—lnstitute Old Boys 5, beat Swifts 4; Diamond 8, beat Lower Hutt 3. DUNEDIN. Old Boys 4. drew with Mornlngton 4. Maori Hill 2, drew with Northern 2. Mosgiel 5, beat Roslyn-Wakarf 2. Technical Old Boys 5, beat Seacliff 4. PALMBRSTON NORTH. Athletic 3, bent Rovers 2. Te Aweawe 6, beat St. Paul's o.'

ARDENT SUPPORTER PASSES

SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. A. SPEED.

The Soccer code suffered the loss of an ardent supporter and former player at the end of' last week in the person of Mr. Arthur Speed, jof Birkehhead, who died with tragic euddenees. Mr. Speed was a member of the eld Tabernacle team, which afterwards became the Metropolitan, and from, which tiie present Metro-College is an. .off.-shoot. Mr. Speed, father of R. Speed, Auckland's rep. left back, and a player for Metro-College, figured prominently in the code in pre-war days, and since giving up playing has continued to take a keen and practical interest in the game. He held office in the Metro Club for many seasons, and wae particularly helpful, to young players. At the funeral -yesterday, wiilch. was largely attended, the A.F.A." was ■. represented by Messrs. F. H. Baker and F. G. Fullbrook, while there' was a very strong gathering of Metro players and officials