SOCCER CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 189, 12 August 1935, Page 14

SOCCER CODE.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. BOTTOM TEAMS' HARD STRUGGLE. BONSONBY'S POSITION UNASSAILABLE. By their victory over Metro, on Saturday, Ponsonby practically become champions of 1935. With three matches still in hand they are at the top of the table and one more point from their remaining three matches will place the title beyond doubt. It is many, many years since Ponsonby occupied the premier position in the local championship, though they have been twice national champions, and the present team officials are to be congratulated on their success. Attention now turns to the struggle at the bottom of _ the_table between Metro. College, .M.C.A. and Eastern Suburbs, to keep their place m the first six teams for next season. Metro, have concluded their programme of 14 matches and have 9 points. Y.M.L.A. have one game yet to play and have at present S points, so that to get away from the second bottom place on the table they must win their next game. Eastern Suburbs have 7 points and two games to play. They could get out of the relegation zone by winning both, but their task is a hard one^ On Saturday the defeat of Thistle by Comrades was hardly :expected,. and Eastern Suburbs took full points .from Mount Albert Grammar, which also was hardly in accordance -with papular expectation. Ponsonby defeated Metro, somewhat comfortably. while at Devonport Shore United took full points from Y.M.C.A. The table now stands thus: — Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Ponsonby 11 8 12 34 17 18 Mount Albert . 14 8 5 1 41 o4 17 North Shore ..14 7 4 3 00 -8 17 Comrades .... 13 6 o - 3S 44 14 Thistle ...... 11- 5 4 ~ 34 *-6 1— Metro. College .14 3 8 8 28 50. 9 YV C A 13 2 7 4 26 28 k East. Suburbs 12 1 6 5 31 42 7

PONSONBY'S VICTORY.

Although Ponsonby beat "Metro-College by 3 goals to 1 at Blandford Park on Saturday they added nothing to their imputation, for it was their opponents' bad play rather than their own good play that gave them the victory. By the stubborn defence that thev maintained behind a beaten and disheartened team, Gavan. Metro-College goalie, and Speed and Holman, their fullbacks, earned more credit than any other players on the field. For more than half the time the Ponsonby forwards were skirmishing around within range of the MetroCollege goal and sending in shots from all angles. Many of their attempts went wide but had it not been for Gavan's excellent goal-keeping their score would have been trebled. Some of his saves were masterpieces of quick thought and simultaneous action, but he was very often too hemmed in to clear effectively. When he got the chance, however, he sent the ball well upfield with good judgment. Between Holman and Speed there was little to choose. Both worked hard throughout the game, hut though they broke up the Ponsonby attack time and a gait., they could not set their own halves and forwards in motion. This was caused partly by faulty passing, which was at times erratic and ill-judged, but it was more the fault of the halves. Tinkler, Cronan and J. Dallimore, whose occasional flashes of inspiration only showed up the more noticeably their frequent blunders and their reluctance to tackle vigorously. A partiality for standing off instead of tackling was even more noticeable amongst the forwards, among whom another common fault was that hesitancy. They usually took so long to steady themselves for a shot that they were robbed of the ball before the shot eventuated. McDougall and H. Dallimore were the best of them and showed more keenness and enterprise than did the others when the game began to go against them, Dallimore making a couple of dashing lone-hand raids into Ponsonby's territory in the last stages ° f Possibly because they had too easy a time breaking through the Metro-College forwards and halves, the Ponsonby front 'rank never settled down to really good "football and the way Metro-College last line of defence held them, though without being able to drive theni back made them look far from clever. They looked as if they could have staged some pretty' combined movements had they been forced to do so in midfield, but in the near neighbourhood of Metro-College goal where • most of the game was played, they wasted opportunities by taking difficult shots that went astray. They were well served by _he halves Wiseman, Jones and Masters, wtnie they had good full-backs in Sim and Hagget. Fraser, in Ponsonby's goal, had much less work to do than had the man at the other end of the field and was rarely so hard pressed, but when it was required he showed a shrewd sense of anticipation and clearing kicks were powerful and well placed.

EASTERN SUBURBS WIN. The came between Mount Albert Grammar and Eastern Suburbs last Saturday proved a close one, Suburbs downing Mount Albert by two goals to one, to score their first win of the season. The conditions clearly baffled the players, the dry ground makine the ball hard to control, and there was a good deal of miskicking in consequence. Suburbs owe their win to their solid defence and their quickness on the ball '■ never giving their opponents time to settie down R. and H. Stone proved a solid last line of defence, the former showing a return to the form that gamed him rep. honours last season. Wynne was sound in goal and got in some p" I™*1™* The half-back line proved sound. Diamond Playing well, and he received useful support from Gay and McDonald. R. Welch and L. Welch gave a good display in the forward line, the former getting two good goals. Cummings and Gilbert on the wings lot in some clever play, and Darwin was a solid worker at inside right. Warren in goal for Mount Albert was not in his usual form, being slow in clearing but nevertheless he brought off some good saves. Holdsworth and Shaw had a strenuous task as full-backs, but emerged with honours. Turley, Ward and Horrocks proved a solid half-back line, their defensive work being first-class. The forwards strove manfully to pull the Same out of the fire in the second spell, but the solid tackling of the opposing backs proved too much for them; in fact, they were never allowed to settle down to their usual clever combined play throughout the game. Spencer and Fyvie. brought off some clever play, and Jepson worked hard in the centre, but he was too well marked to cet far. The same applies to the wings, Noble and Woods, who found the opposing halves did not give them any freedom.

THISTLE'S WEAK SHOOTING. One of the fastest displays seen at Western Springs for some time was witnessed between Comrades and Thistle before a large attendance of spectators. Securing an odd goal victory Comrades fully deserved their win, though Thistle lost numerous opportunities, even from close range as a result of very weak shooting, especially by Angus However, an otherwise first-class exhibition was marred by the adoption by some plavers, of anything but legal tactics in securing either the ball or their object. At one stage all caution was thrown to the winds and it was surprising that nobody suffered serious injury. Thistle played a solid game, but appeared disorganised when up against such pace and cohesive play as the greens produced on Saturday. Though the Thistle vanguard received a fair share of the ball, they did not turn anv opportunity so gained to the fullest advantage. But a certain amount of the credit must go to the trio Yearbur.v, Saunders and McKenzie, who were instrumental in repelling many strong attacks. The goalkeeper, Yearbur.v, fully justifies his inclusion in place of Batty, his present form beinjr the best he has produced. Of the middle line Hooton and Twinn were outstanding. Considering they had difficult men to work both acquitted themsolves well and distributed the ball with judgment to their forwards. The outside left, Carter, was responsible for an outstanding exhibition, his third goal resulting after some very pretty play. The balance of the forward line showed very few weaknesses. Francis, playing his usual half-back game, showed much initative in his distribution of the ball, and presented his forwards with some good openings. Showing the capabilities of a good shot, he made no mistake, when the opportunity presented itself, of giving Ge.rrard no chance with a perfectly placed goal. ,? , splerhead of attack. Hayward, was reliable, but Williams left him verv little latitude. s £ al f< 2 r Th istle, Gerrard had a difhnli »=£ n etching the flight of the acro K « J» swu , ng back and forth right k. Epeedy %L! OJSiI0JSi ln Vs uth at thc of a

effectively dealt with, and those that did get past him were all sure scorers. In the> absence of Reid, McCosli returned to his old role as one of the backs, and played a reasonably sound game, but the pace eventually provod too much for him and he was hopelessly beaten at times. Williams was the mainstay of the defence, but his positional play was faulty. The halfbacks showed little cohesive work of a sustained nature and their tackling was not sound. Wright had a off day, as he is capable of better work than that displayed on Saturday. Concentrating too much on the man, instead of the ball, Watson spoilt what was otherwise a sound exhibition of a wing half's responsibilities in both defence and attack. Thistle's vanguard was all at sixes and seven. Lacking combination and understanding between each other they faded out sadly in front of goal, Kay and Angus being particularly off colour. The result was that Dunsmore bore most of the burden of attack, but could not get far without the necessary support. The best of a medicore front line was Woods, who infused plenty of dash into his play, but should keep himself in check when up against such robust tackling as he experienced 011 Saturday. He also lost many opportunities through useless "retaliation. It was a most spirited gamo with a lot of give and take, and Comrades the deserving winners.

GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Suburbs 2, drew with Metro-College 2. Abels A 2, beat New Lynn 1. Thistle A 5, beat Onelinnga 2. Onehunga A 5, beat Abels B 2. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. O g on 3 rades bcat M °uit Albert Grammar FOURTH GRADE. Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. 5. beat Metro-College 1. FIFTH GRADE. New Lynn beat Abels bv default. Metro-College 1, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. SIXTH GRADE. Comrades A 2. beat Metro-College A 0. Ponsonby A 3, beat Thistle 0. Abels 0, beat Ponsonby 1. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIOR KNOCK-ODT. Auckland Grammar 1, beat Mount Albert Grammar 0. Takapuna Grammar 2, beat Auckland Grammar 1. INTERMEDIATE. Seddon Technical College 1, beat Mount Albert Grammar 0.

I JUNIOR. Mount Albert Grammar B 3, beat ! Kowhai 2. i Seddon Technical College 6, beat Auckland Grammar 1. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Hamilton Wanderers 5, beat Claudeland Rovers 2. Intermediate.—Glen Massey 5, heat Claudeland Rivers B 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WANGANUI. Wanganui 4, beat Taranaki 1. WELLINGTON. Semi-final Auld Memorial Cup.—Marist 5, beat Waterside 2. Petone 8, beat Lower Hutt 2. _ First B Division.—lsland Bay 3. beat Nada 0: Seatoun 3, beat Scottish' Wanderers 1; Miramar Rangers 3, beat Technical Old Boys 2. CHRISTCIIURCH. South Island Chatham Cup final. — Millerton (Westportj 0, drew with Western A 0. Extra time was played, and the match must be replayed. Nomads 2, beat Western B 1. DUNEDIN. Seacliff 1, beat Mosgiel 0. Maori Hill 1, drew with Roslyn Wakari Northern 2, drew with Mornington 2. Otago Juniors 3, beat Southland 2. To-day's results mean that Maori Hill and Mosgiel have to contest the final. AUCKLAND REP. TEAMS. TWO MATCHES NEXT WEEK.

The curtain-raiser to the North Island final of the Chatham Cup next Saturday will be a representative match between teams of players under 21 years of age representing Wellington and Auckland. This wijl be the first meeting of the junior provincial reps., who will play for the Flyger Rose Bowl, a trophy presented lay a local supporter for competition by younger players. The local eleven has been chosen by Mr. J. C. Sibbin, and is as follows:—

Nolan, McKenna (Comrades), Macfarlane (Mount Albert Grammar), Munro (Eastern Suburbs), Mackie (Mount Albert), Everson (Onehunga), McGowan (North Shore), Woods (Mount Albert), Deoki (Y.M.C.A.;, Ripley (Metro), Edwards (Ponsonby).

Reserves: West (North Shore), Lamond, Dean (Metro).

Players of both teams will attend Blandford Park on Tuesday evening at 7.30 p.m. For the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield on Aiickland eleven, chosen by Mr. W. Zuill, will travel to Hamilton to meet the Waikato reps, next Saturday. The team selected is as follows:—Gavan (Metro College), Holdsworth (Mount Albert Grammarh Dobeon (Y.M.C.A.), C. Ekman (Shore), Owens (Abels), Hooton (Comrades), Flashman (Suburbs), Scott (North Shore), Churchill (Y.M.C.A.), Cleal (Metro College), Fyvie and Wood (Mount Albert).

REFEREE APPOINTED. CHATHAM CUP SEMI-FINAL. For the North Island final in the Chatham Cup competition next Saturday between Hospital (Wellington) and Ponsonby (Auckland), Mr. George Shand, Auckland, has been appointed referee. Messrs. J. Low and A. Firth will officiate as linesmen. SCOTTISH LEAGUE. LONDON, August 11. Results of Soccer matches played on Saturday In the Scottish League : — First Division.—Aberdeen 3, v. Celtic 1; Albion 1, v. Dunfermline 3; Clyde 1, v. Airdrie 1; Hamilton 2, v. Dundee 2 ; Hearts of Midlothian 2, v. Partick 0: Kilmarnock 2, v. Motherwell 3; Queen's Park 1, v. Ayr 2; Queen of the South 1, v. Hibernian 1; Rangers 6. v. Arbroath 0; St. Johnstone 3, v. Third Lanark 1.

Second Division.—Cowdenbeath 1, v. Alloa 2; Dundee United 2, St. Bernard's 2; East Fife 1, v. St. Mirren 6; East Stirling 1, v. Dumbarton 1; Edinburgh 1, v. Falkirk 3; Forfar 3, v. Raith 2; Leith 0, v. King's Park 1; Montrose 1, v. Morton 3; Stenhousemuir 2, v. Brechin 1.