SOCCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 184, 5 August 1936, Page 21

SOCCER.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION.

SATURDAY'S ENGAGEMENTS. PONSONBY TACKLES LEADER. Matches to be played under the control of the Auckland Football Association next Saturday:— First Division.—Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys v. Ponsonby, Blaudlord Park, 3 p.m., Mr. .T. Calvert: Thistle v. Comrades, Blandt'ord Park, 1.30 p.m., Mr. W. A. Austin; Metro-College v. North Shore, Devonport, No. 1, o p.m., Mr. It. C. Brighton. First Division Reserves. —Thistle v. Comrades. Victoria Park, Xo. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. G. Mallard: Metro-College v. North Shore, Western Springs, 1) p.m., Mr. R. Webster: Ponsonby v. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, Fowlds Park, Mount Albert, 3 p.m., Mr. F. Wilkins.

Second Division. —Onehunga v. Y.M.C.A, Domain, No. 1, 3 p.m.. Mr. G. C. Edwards New Lynn defaults to Eastern Suburbs.

Second Division Reserves. —Thistle v. Ponsonby, Domain, No. 2, 3 p.m.. mutual

arrangement; Eastern Suburbs v. Y.M.C.A.. St. Helier's Bay, 3 p.m., mutual arrangement ; Onehunga v. Abels, Onehunga, S p.m., mutual arrangement.

Third Grade Internieuiatfc. — MetroCollege v. Oiiehunga, Outer Domain, No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. W. Thompson ; North Shore v. Y.M.C.A., Devonport, No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. J. Hamilton. Championship and knockout combined : Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys v. Training College, Outer Domain, No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. N. I'. Nicholson.

Fourth Grade.—Y.M.C.A. v. New Lynn, Domain, No. 1, 2 p.m., Mr. G. C. Edwards ; North Shore v. Comrades, Victoria Park, No. 1, 2 p.m., Mr. G. Mallard. Championship and knock-out combined : Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys v. Ponsonby. Victoria Park, No. 2, 3 p.m., mutual arrangement.

Fifth Grade Knock-outs. —Metro-College v. North Shore, Domain, No. 2, 1.30 p.m., Mr. G. Ross; Onehunga. v. W.Y.M.1., Outer Domain, No. 2, 1.30 p.m., Mr. J. Hilliard; Y.M.C.A. Rivals v. Abels, Outer Domain, No. 1, 1.30 p.m., Mr. S. Rollins; Comrades A v. Comrades B, Victoria Park, No. 1, 1.30 p.m., Mr. Church ; Y.M.C.A. Rovers, a bye.

Sixth Grade Knock-outs. — Y.M.C.A. Rovers v. Y.M.C.A. Swifts, Outer Domain, No. 2, 12.30 p.m., mutual arrangement: Comrades B v. Thistle, Victoria Park, No. 2, 12.30 p.m., Mr. Hatch; Metro-College v. W.Y.M.1., Domain, No. 1, 12.30 p.m., Mr. G. Sims; Y.M.C.A. Rivals v. Eastern Suburbs, Victoria Park, No. 1, 12.30 p.m., Mr. Church ; Onehunga v. Nortlicote, Domain No. 2, 12.30 p.m., Mr. K. Murane; Comrades C v. Comrades A, Victoria Park, No. 3, 12.30 p.m., Mr. Church: Y.M.C.A. Spurs v. Abels, Outer Domain, No. 1, 12.30 p.m., mutual arrangement.

Seventh Grade Knockouts.—Y.M.C.A. Spurs v. Eastern Suburbs, Victoria Park, No. 1, 11.30 a.m., Mr. Church : Comrades C v. Comrades A, Victoria Park, No. 3,

11.30 a.m., mutual arrangement; Y.M.C.A. Rovers v. Comrades B. Victoria Park, Xo. •2. 11.30 a.m., Mr. Nicholson: Y.M.C.A. Rivals v. Y.M.C.A. Swifts, Outer Domain, No. 2, 11.30 a.m., mutual arrangement; W.Y.M.1., a bye. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Senior. —Knock-out semi-tinals : Takapuna Grammar v. Auckland Grammar, Domain, No. 1, 10.30 a.m., Mr. Ilorroeks; Technical College v. Mount Albert Grammar A, Domain, No. 2, 10.30 a.m., Mr. Amos. Intermediate. — Knock-out semi-linals : Technical College v. Auckland Grammar, Outer Domain, Xo. 1, 10.30 a.m., Mr. Chappell : Mount Albert Grammar A v. Mount Albert Grammar B, mutual arrangement.

Junior. —Knock-out semi-finals: Takapuna Grammar v. Mount Albert Grammar A. Domain, No. 1, 9.30 a.m., Mr. Mead ; Technical College v. Auckland Grammar, Domain, No. 2, 9.30 a.m., Mr. Dallimore. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Primary schools' games to be played next Monday :— Western Springs Group.—Seniors: Richmond Road v. Grey Lynn, Western Springs, 3.15 p.m., Mr. Church. Senior knock-out llnal : Westmere v. Newton West, Western Springs, 3,50 p.m., Mr. Selby. Gladstone will play a representative trial -game. Juniors: Westmere B v. Grey Lynn, Western Springs, 3.50 p.m., Mr. Church.

SECOND DIVISION DOINGS,

ABELS GO . AHEAD AGAIN".

Interest in the senior second division competition was stimulated on Saturday by staging the meeting of the two leading clubs—Abels and Suburbs—ns a curtainraiser to the first division game at Blandforcl Park. ; But the contest was not so close anticipated, and Abels showed a clear superiority by winning 7 —2. At Devonport Y.M.C.A. were expected to give Philomel a hard battle, after the "Y" youths had defeated Abels the previous Saturday, but the Naval men carried too many guns, and won 4—l after a hard tussle, in which Y.M., with a bit of luck, might have reduced the margin. Onehunga was scheduled to meet New Lynn on the hitter's home ground, but owing to casualties and sickness the Manukau-siders arrived short-handed, and found the home club also handicapped by similar ill-luck, and, no official referee having arrived, the scratch teams present

agreed to a friendly practice with no recorded result.

Abels Cano Suburbs. Abels, with a game in hand, met Eastern Suburbs at Blandford Park in the early match, with both clubs running level in points for the top rung of the second division ladder. The state of the pitch put both teams off their game, but Abels showed out a much better side, and put their position as top team beyond argument by an emphatic victory, in which they proved superior in every depai'tment. Suburbs put up a good showing in the first spell, equalising twice after being the odd goal in arrears, but were again the odd goal down when the sides changed round. In the sccond half Suburbs made a gallant effort to pull up at the restart, but superior team work and better adaptation to ground conditions gave the reds a chance of showing themselves the better side, and a hattrick to Wright at centre forward soon put the issue well beyond dispute. For Abels Birchall was sound in goal, with Jones and Alexander hard to pass in the last line of defence. Chalmers at centre half again showed his versatility in both defence'-and attack, while Wright in front of him at centre forward gave an admirable display of opportunism, and also the new idea of waiting for the ball, to score five goals as a reward of only standing and waiting—a lesson which some of [ the first division centres might well take to heart, instead of going and seeking for the ball when it usually is not there. Donaldson and Robinson were both bright on the wings, while McLeay and Hamilton were a clever pair of inside men, and it was this thrustful line of Abels which proved the downfall of the whites. Hoyte, in Suburbs goal, put up a stubborn defence, and could not be blamed for the shots that passed him. The Suburbs backs were shaded by the opposing front-rankers, but Caldwell in the pivot position did a lot of spoiling work, and tried hard to start retaliatory raids. | Cumniings showed out in the Suburbs van. i and lobbed them across with his usual accuracy, but most of his good centres went begging, Welch's efforts in tlie centre being neutralised mostly by his playing too far back.

Naval Victory. After Y.M.'s - defeat of the unbeaten Abels side the previous Saturday it was expected they would not have much difficulty in disposing of Philomel on the Devonport Damain, but Y.M. showed a distinct falling off in form, while the Naval side were full of pressure and energy until the final whistle. The long grass on the Shore cricket ground, combined with a wet ball, acted as a deterrent to fast play, and slowed up exchanges at times, but from the outset the matclots were too good for Y.M., although the three-goal victory was more than the run of the play warranted, and on two or three occasions the Y.M. van misled open chances of reducing the margin.

In the first spell both goalies were busy I 'clearing hot attacks before Kim be r sent i through to Luke, who reversed quickly and baffled Billiard • with a ground shot to the corner of the net. Deoki and Jones I "were'"lotl unlucky iA not equalising, and

then Luke slipped through again to give Colley an opening to goal just as. the whistle went for a foul on Colley, but the goal was allowed to stand. Y.M. tried hard to pull up, Jones hitting the upright with a good attempt, and then crossed for Churchill to come in on the run and net a fine first-timer. The Phillies retaliated hotly, and C'olley sent in for Luke to place a well-judged shot, which Hilliard just failed to save in a full-length dive. In the second spell play was very even, but Luke was astonishing in his staying capacity, and after getting through tiie defence on several occasions drove hard for Hilliard to dive and save, but Green came in quickly to collect and make the score 4—l at the finish. Both Hilliard and Lavers gave firstclans displays in goal. One dive of Hilliurd's saved a score, but gained him a sore head when he was kicked unconscious for a few minutes as a result of his during. Mowat and Sims were staunch defenders for Y.M., and Jones and Churchill were dangerous in the front line, but Deoki played too far back in the centre to give him a chance of passing Kimber and Owens, who were a solid pair in the Naval background.

The Philomel middle line was not impressive, but Luke and Colley on the left (lank of the Naval vanguard were too clever for the opposition, and Green again showed himself an opportunist who would easily shine in higher circles when All Black honours are so open to achievement. It was a hard and willing go, played in the best of spirit right through, with the Naval men fully entitled to the points, but lucky in their large margin. Positions of teams:—

Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. P. A. Pts. Abels 10 S 1 1 00 21 17 E. Suburbs .. . 11 73 1 04 27 13 Philomel 10 (i 4 - 27 23 12 Y.M.C.A 10 4 a 1 2S 26 9 Oueliuuga 10 2 0 2 19 42 ti New Lynn ...0-81 V> DO 1