SOCCER CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 103, 3 May 1937, Page 16

SOCCER CODE.

SECOND SERIES. THISTLE SPRING SURPRISE. THREE-GOAL WIN OVER ABELS Thistle sprang a surprise on Saturday when they defeated Abels in the second series of the first round of the senior championship, and the margin of three goals left nothing to doubt. Comrades put up a fine showitfg against Ponsonby to lose the points by a single goal, 4 —3, while Shore United and Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys played a strenuous game to divide the points with two goals each. There was a more promising showing of cohesive play in all the games and more sign of constructive tactics also. COMRADES' FAILING. Luck and their own poor shooting beat Comrades when they met Ponsonbv at Blandford Park on Saturday. Although the final score wae 4—3 in Ponsonby'-s favour, Comrades had three chances of scoring for every one to Ponsonby, but wasted their opportunities in wild shots. Some of the inisees were due to bati luck, certainly, but others arose from the forwards' haste to get rid of the ball before there was any urgent need to do so. Thus they attempted long-range shots with which Smith was eaeily able to deal. Although Yearbury did not seem to be quite at his best in Comrades' goal, the shots that beat him would have got past mo3t men, coming as they did from close range. The full-back«, Saunders and McKenna, playeti a sound defensive game, while Fletcher. Hooton and Hayward formed a very strong half line, barking up their forwards well. It was amongst the latter that Comrades weakness lay. Fast and enterprising, they broke through Ponsonby's defence thinic after time, but they couhl not finish. Bunting scored once and came near to doing so on several other occasions, eoine of his shot being the best that the eide produced, while M. Francis also worried Smith on more than one occasion. Smith did not have as busy a time as -did the full-backs Haggett and C. Ekman, who, for long periods, were hard put to it to stem Comrades attack. The former several times started, with long clearing kicks, movements that turned the tables. At centre-half. Chapman distributed the ball; well, his- clearances being almost invariably placed to the best advantage. Ponsonby's forwards made ground by long, well-placed paeses, often catching Comrades by surprise. Playing only just on side, Williams wae ready to shoot at close range whenever.the ball came his way, and he was well served by Farnan and Dean on his left. SHORE - GRAMMAR DRAW. j Though H took both teame some time to settle down to anything like combination, the game was always fairly lively, and towards the close particularly so. But it was a story of lost chances. Both sides had many opportunities to score and at close range, but there was not a deadly shot in the firing line of either side. Grammar were just elightly ahead in constructive work than their opponents, who were saved on several occasions by the sound defence of Gerrard antl West, with Cameron always ready and watchful. Corbett was the general of the Shore side, with young Sale coming along nicely. Shore forwards were patchy, with Archer of little use in the centre through wandering. Woolley showed fair promise while Slme ami Carrick Blackie on the extreme flanks were often dangerous. Grammar forwards seemed to be working for combination, but Flyger and Fyvle often got eut of pobitin. Needham was the best forward on the ground, ami gave a fine display. Flaehman is placing better, and Ward keeping to his position with better effect. Speed was easily the better back, and Gavan was safe in goal. It waa a good game to watch. THISTLE VICTORY. Thistle did the unexpected against Abels at Western Springs by coming out on the winning end of a seven to four goal tally. Abels defence could not cope with the fast moving and elusive Thistle front line, who gave an impressive display and promise to mould into a first-clase attacking unit. Woods and Caisley combined perfectly on the right. Angus was , a force to be reckoned with in the centre. While Welch, late Eastern Suburbs, proved an acquisition at Inside left. The half-back line- pleased' with eound defence and good constructive play, McXny in the centre being uniformly good, while he wae well supported by Watson ami Constable. Stone and Wiseman were an efficient pair of full-backs, and Warren was in good form in goal. Abels forward line got in some clever play, but found the opposing defence too fast. MacLeay and McCallum were very effective for constructive play, but Hamilton kept too far back. Robinson and Kay were too well watched, to be dangerous on the wings, nolid taeklir. tr by the defence keeping them well in check. Meek and Chalmers were the best of the defence, the former showing some nice constructive play. Murray did some good work in goal, but a tendency to leave his charge will have to be overcome, ae it resulted in disaster on two occasion during the game. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SECOND DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. 2. beat Eastern Suburbs 1. Metro College 4, beat Onehunga 2. ■ Thistle 3, beat Abels 2. I Mount Albert 0.8. 3. beat Shore 1. i Philomel 7, beat Comrades 1. THIRD DIVISION. Training College A 9. beat Onehungn 0. Metro College 7. beat Train. College B 0. Ponsonby 7, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. North Shore ,5, beat Comrades 0. Grey Lynn United 5. beat Mt. Albert 3. FOURTH GRADE. Metro College 5. beat Abels A 0. W.Y.M.I. beat Thistle by default. Y.M.C.A. 5, beat Abele B 0. Shore 7, beat Ponsonby 0. FIFTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. Rovers 5, beat Metro College 2. Y.M.C.A. Rivals 5, beat W.Y.M.I 2 Comrades D 1, beat Northcote 0. Y.M.C.A. Spurs 1, drew with Comrades SIXTH GRADE. Thistle e. beat Comrades l B 1. Metro College 12, beat Onehunga 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. Rivals 3, beat W.Y.M I 1 Y.M.C.A. Spurs 2. beat Comrades B 0 I.M.C.A. Rovers 7, beat Comrades C 0. EIGHTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. Rovers 5, beat Comrades B 0. Y.M.C.A. Rivals 1, beat Comrades C 0.