THISTLE FOR FINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 13

THISTLE FOR FINAL.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. WELLINGTON CONTENDERS BEATEN. COMFORTABLE LEAD IN FAST GAME 6nc-e more Thistle and Auckland will participate in the final of the New Zealand Soccer championship as symbolised by the Chatham Cup, the victory over Wellington Watersiders on Saturday paving the way for the North Island champions to meet the title-holders from the South Island to be found on Saturday next. The game was fast and willing all the way 011 Blandford Park last Saturday, but there was 110 dubiety about the result, which gave Thistle a four-goal lead at the close. Their team work was much more pronounced than that of their opponents and, generally, they showed a superiority which was represented by the additional . goals. One of the most pleasing features of the day was the condition of the ground. As one official from Wellington said, it was "'the first time he had seen Blandford Park," and that admission, after the heavy rain that had fallen as late as Saturday morning, was a striking testimony to the improvement made on the ground by successive managements. The Wcllingtonians now seem to have had removed at least one excuse for any future defeats.

In the two championship games played 011 outlying grounds 011 Saturday afternoon close finishes and hard encounters were the order. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys got back to an even keel and gained the points from Comrades, while Ponsonby just scraped through against Metro by a penalty in the last few seconds of the game.

COMBINATION TELLS ITS TALE,

Thistle won against Watersiders because they had understanding and conbinatiou, and also because their positional play directed their efforts to the weak spots in their opponents' armour. The southerners disappointed somewhat in the standard of their play, especially after having defeated a team like Hospital in the Wellington filial. They had little concerted action : they allowed big gaps to develop between their forwards and half-backs, and also they gave the extreme wingers of the home side far too much scope. On the day Kay and Wood wor • on their game, and most ot' the live goals scored by the winners had a substantial contribution at some part from those players. Openings, of course, were made for tlie flank men, and the inside players and the half-backs showed line discretion in playing to the weak portions of 1 lie opposing team. For the winners Arthur Watson, in goal, was not so sure Its lie sometimes is, especially ill clearing long shots, but Stone and Williams kept a very watchful eye on matters, and several times appeared from nowhere when least expected but most needed. W. Watson, on the day, was the best of the Thistle middle line, and it was pleasing to sec him strike form he has not shown this season yet. Wright, probably owing to recent indisposition, was not so successful or prominent as usual, while Wiseman shared honours with Watson, playing a strong bustling, and not by iMiy means unskilful, game. The forwards worked well, and Aligns was seen to better advantage at centre than in any game for the Scots since tlie season commenced. Wood also was outstanding for tlie winners, while Dunsmore and Williams were very useful as supports, the latter doing a great deal of hail-back work 'tween times. Kay made use of afl tlie chances he was given, and these were not few, and was a thorn in the side, of the visitors throughout tlie game. Watersiders played a hard, robust and fast game, but have not cultivated cohesive effort, and combined movements were comparatively few during their display. Tlie half-backs did not connect with the forwards very often, and there was little evidence of understanding between the bacl\s and lialf-baeks. Ward, Abernetliy and Toplis, tlie last line of defence were, like all the other players, hard workers and staved off many dangerous attacks, but the middle line was the outstanding weakness in tlie team. Reed, on the right, and Cocks, on file left, were strong bustling players but did not keep their places, while Hazel, pivot, had nothing of tlie generalship or tactical qualities required iu a | centre-half. It was not apparent in his display where lie had any advantage, or was even as good as Longbottoni in that position, and the latter was far from successful at inside left. The visiting forwards often tried to break through Thistle I defence but found single-handed effort useless and were evidently not able to produce anything better. James, centre, was generally overcome by force of numbers, and the other forwards worked disjointedly. Jeromson and Thompson, on the right, were no more successful than were Longbottoni and Atkinson on tlie left in playing together, while there was a decided weakness in finishing oil the part of tlie visitors which at times nullified well-intentioned raids. Only for the first half hour was Thistle really tested, but when the local eleven found their bearings there were never any doubts as to the ultimate verdict. Yet it was a keen aud interesting contest throughout.

GRAMMAR VICTORY.

That the odd goal in seven went to Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys and not to Comrades at Fo-wlds I'ark ou Saturday was largely a matter of luck, the teams being very evenly matched. Both Yearbury, in Comrades' goal, and Warren, at the opposite end goal, were kept on the alert as the play swung rapidly from one territory to tlie oilier and splendid saves were made by both. The forwards on both sides were fast and enterprising, but those of Comrades, with A. Francis at centre and his brother ably supporting him on the left, showed the better combination. Burton, at outside right, made many good openings, only to waste them by shoooting wildly. By his solid tackling, Ward, Grammar centre half, broke lip many dangerous attacks, but his clearances, though powerful, were not always as judiciously placed as they might have been. Turley, on his right, was always busy, though Horrocks, on the left, showed the better judgment in his distribution of the ball. The full-backs, Holdsworth and Robisoii, were often hard pressed, but put up a stout defence, the latter being particularly solid. In Grammar forwards, Jepson played a strenuous game, though he occasionally got-out of position and so missed passes that were sent to where he should have boon. Comrades' full-backs, Bentloy and McKinnon, had plenty to do to hold the Grammar attack, and worked ably. Much of Comrades' strength was in the halves, where Irwin, Hooton and A. Hayward distributed the ball to advantage.

PONSONBY JUST WIN.

The match between Metro.-College and Ponsonby at Western Springs was a liardfouglit contest and with a few minutes to go a draw looked certain, but two penalties in succession to Ponsonby provided a remarkable finish. The first was missed, and the Metro, supporters breathed again, but their hopes of gaining a point so vital to them were dashed when Chapman made no mistake with the second. A very even and lively first spell saw no .score, and this just about represented the run of the play, but . Ponsonby hold the balance of attack in the second, though most of the shooting was well over the target and Gavan successfully dealt with the straight ones. Several Metro, raids in the second spell were also spoilt by poor finishing, most of the shots going past tlie post. Gavan was right up to form in Metro, "oal, getting in some clever clearances. Sneo'd and S. Holman were a solid pair of full-backs, the former being outstanding, with his partner rendering solid support. Cronan played his usual clever game at centre-lialf, but seemed 'to tire towards the finish. Jones has played much better "•ames at right half, but C. Flyger was in "ood form on the left, doing some solid defensive work. The forward line made a "ood showing, McCallum standing out for some clever constructive play. Cleal was eloselv watched in the centre and got few opportunities. Burton played with dash on the right wing, but P. Holman was onlv moderately successful on the left. C Fly"er was a hard worker at inside left initiating some good movements, but played too deep to be an effective attack--lll,Smith' was a solid last line of defence in Ponsonby goal, and the opposing first rankers found it a hard proposition to get anvtliing past him. Ilaggett played his usual solid game and Riggans continues to impress in the full-back position, playing a really good game on defence, and sending up finme long passes to put his forwards on t.Ue attack. Sims and Masters were a good duo in the half-back line, both 1 on attack aud' defence. Chapman was playing quite a good game at centre-half in the first spell, but when lie moved up to centre-forward in the second lie found the opposing defence a stiff proposition as thev did not give hini any latitude. Hindmarsh, a promoted junior, although of slight physique, played an outstanding

game on the right wing, showing speed and dash and centring with, accuracy. Innes. Caisley, Mullaue and Sachell all played well without any oue being outstanding. Innes had a period at full-back in .the second spell, and he acquitted himself (juite well in this unaccustomed position. TWO EEP. MATCHES. AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. Two rep. matches between.. Auckland and Wellington for the Frank Campbell Rose Bowl were arranged tentatively during the week-end, to take place in September. Auckland will travel to Wellington on September 12 in quest of the trophy at present held by Wellington, and the southerners will come two weeks later, on September 126, to play a return match. ' ; FLYGER ROSE BOWL AUCKLAND COLTS BEAT WELLINGTON. ( (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Playing more polished Soccer than their Wellington opponents, Auckland Colts regained the Flyger Rose Bowl in a fast and open game at the Basin Reserve this afternoon, revenging themselves with a 6—win for the loss of the trophy to Welling- * The visitors were leading by only on® goal at half-time, and iu the second half they increased their advantage tj> 0. Wellington made a desperate last-minute spurt, but were unable to come closer than 3 2. Rain half-way through the game made playing conditions difficult. In the first half the combination and footwork were bright, but play became scrappy after the rain. 'Wellington were more robust, but Auckland had superior . skill and thoroughly deserved their win. . Mead, the Auckland back, was outstanding in the second- spell-when the visitors were hard pressed, playing a brilliant ,utfensive. game. • GRADE GAMES. — ' FIRST RESERVH. Thistle 6, beat Shore 2. SECOND DIVISIOII. Abels 7, beat Onehunga 0. Y.M.C.A. beat New Lynn by default. SECOND RESERVH. Abels 4, beat Y.M.C.A. 1. Thistle 7, beat Eastern Suburbs 2. Ponsonby 4, beat Onehunga 3. FOURTH GRADE. Shore won by default from New Lynn. Mouut Albert 0.8. 3, beat Y.M.C.A. 2. FIFTH GRADE. Shore 2, beat Metro-College 0. Oneliuuga 4, beat W.Y.M.L 3. SIXTH GRADE. Thistle 3, beat Y.M.C.A. Swifts 0. Metro-College 2, beat Y.M.C.A. Rovers 0. Comrades B 4, beat Comrades A 2. Y.M.C.A. S, beat Onehunga 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. Rovers 6, beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 0. Comrades 4, beat W.Y.M.I. 0. Eastern Suburbs 9, beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. JUNIORS. Mount Albert Grammar 2, beat Technical 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WELLINGTON. Hospital 7. beat Swifts 2. Petone 4, beat Institute 2. Marist 3, beat Diamont 1. First I! Division.—Technical Old Boys 3. beat Lower Hutt 2 ; Scott Wanderers 5, beat Nada 1; Island Bay 5. beat Ouslow 2. Flyger Rose Bowl (under 21 re-ps.).— Auckland 3, beat Wellington 2. DUNEDIN. Seaeliff 4, beat Roslyn-Wakari 0. Iligli School Old Boys 4, beat Technical 3. Maori Hill 5, beat Mornington 0. Mosgicl 6, beat Northern 1. NELSON. Y.M.C.A. S, beat Athletic 1. THE SCOTTISH LEAGUE. LONDON, August 16. , Results of Association football matches played in Scotland on Saturday :— First Division. —Aberdeen 4,' v. Arbroath 0; Albion 4, v.-Hibernians O; Clyde 1, v Celtic 1; Hamilton 4, v. Dunfermline 2; Hearts of Midlothian 3, v. Motherwell 4; Kilmarnock 1, v. Dundee 1 ; Queen of the South 1, v. Fafkirk 4; Queen's Park 2, v. Partick 2: Rangers 3, v. Third Lanark 1; St. Johnstone 4, v. St. Mirren 2. Second Division.—Cowdenbeath 4, v. Airdrie 0; Dundee United 3, v. Brechin 3 ; East Fife 6, v : St. Bernard's 1; East Stirling 0, v. Raith 3; Edinburgh 0, v. Morton 1; Forfar 4, v. Alloa 3; Leitli 2, v. Dumbarton 1; Montrose 2, v. Ayr 3; Stenhousemuir 0, v. King's Park 1.