THISTLE ON TOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 113, 16 May 1938, Page 14

THISTLE ON TOP.

SATURDAY'S SOCCER.

NAVY BEATS AUCKLAND.

COMRADES GO DOWN.

The double biH-of-fnvc between Navy ar.cl Auckland, and tlie unbeaten senior clubs Thistle and Abel*, drew a larjro ;in<l enthusiastic crowd to Blandford Park <>n Saturday. and it was well rewarded with two fast and even gnim-K in both of which only ii jronl separated (lie tennis ;it the finish. Vavy beat Auckland 4 3 in a keen duel, while Thistle retained the top nine of the championship after a dour Ktrunule by 3—2. At St. Holier"* Bay the lionic sido drew with Shore 3 r>. and at Onehiinpa there was ;ilso n division of points between the homesters and Pniisonby with the store .T 5. Metro-Ooliejre Kiirprisfd by defentinu Comrades 3—l. while Mount Albert (trainniar Old Boys beat Y.M.C.A. pointless 2—o. Championship ladder: — <:<ials Ch, I". \V. 1,, j> !•' \ im« TH 1 , ~0 ' » - - *r. in sAbels 4 .-{ 1 _ is I! i; '>l'j R".v« 4 :: 1 _ n 7 , ; Suburbs 4 L' 1 1 14 <, - North Shore ... 4 L' 1 1 -'i ii» <"oMirntl.'s 4 % _ ;, 1O .t ..4 2 2 - Ir, is t Pnnnrinby 4 - :j 1 jn 21 , Onchiinca 4 — :: i 7 •>•> 1 V.M.C.A 4 - 4 - 1 {)

ONE UP TO NAVY

T!ir fiilloKl slr.Mijrth of Auckland wn« not fipld«-fl Hju'iiinsl Niivy. but the solo sol.-Hnr nrnji'i Nr '' S,,!U "- '"«> "Ut thr pick of the -V°" np . l,lil - ven; - wi,h :l onerous Wending of cxpcnoncrd onr.s, and rijrlit w«>ll did tho flrvon a.quit tlionisrlvps, as two t.-ams kept thn spectators on tip-toes in a dinb'-don>: tussle, with the issue in the baJanco uutil the last few minutes, when Kavy regained the lead and

fiiiin ii.-u n wfii-won vicrory, to score nrst point iu the rubber of three games scheduled for this season. Jcpson was missing from the Auckland side, and Angus proved himself a glutton for hard Soccer by turning out again and playing a solid game, after ■a gruelling fto minutes in the curtain-raiser against Abels. The naval officers and ratings were present iu full strength, and the latter gave tongue to full-throated barracking, individually and in massed vhorus. and Auckland's supporters countered with rival cheers. This spurred both sides into giving their best, and there was no slacking in the pace or loafing on the job. Navy looked very smart and fit in the apple-green shirts and stockings of the Achilles Club, lx>ndon, which were a gift to the flagship, and while Auckland took tho lead twice in the first half, superior condition and combination brought, victory to Navy in th,- end. It was unfortunate thai late blurting resulted in the game finishing in semi-darkness, which even the floodlights failed to relieve. For the victors, Wakefield at full-back was a line captain and gallant defender, while Derbyshire and Robinson shone in the middle line. At centre-forward the lofty Cotterall, with remarkable bursts of speed, was au ideal spearhead, and was well supported by the Auckland hid Brown, win. played cleverly at inside right, backed up by C'lintteii at inside left. In the Auckland team Mills defended splendidly in goal under heavy bombard men t. while McKenna shone out i\t. full-back. Sale stood out in the half line with nippy tackling and constructive (ceding to his forwards. The. strength of ■Auckland's thrust lay in the inside trio, the wing men being disappointing, but McCalluui ami Fa man were always proninent, with Angus as a dangerous connecting link. Mr. (irievson was au ideal referee in a hard, clean game.

ABELS FIRST DEFEAT

Jn the senior club contest between ihr undefeated leaders Abels colours wore lowered for the first time by Thistle alter a desperate tussle, and the champions had to go all out to win. Thistle were weakened in defence by the absence of Morris :md Stone, but Abels lacked Birchall and Jones to even matters. In the early stages plav was of the studied style, with last exchanges and nrany neat touches of teamwork, and here Abels more than held their own • but as players warmed up play became more individual and boisterous, anil there were some hard exchanges with arnica and iodine in demand at the interval with the score one all, Caisley having scored the first goal registered against Abels this season In the second spell exchanges were harder than ever, and luck favoured Thistle in gaining a two-goal lead. Abels f.u.ght back hard, but just failed to equalise in a gruelling huish. For Thistle, Williums. Ivan and Constable were conspicuous in the defence, with (.aisley, Angus and Macfarlane leading the attack in determined style though Angus was fortunate in getting awiy with some offside strategy. Kiuiher and Ross were again a solid pair in Abels last line of defence, and Archer sunk well to the thirrt back tusk of shadowing Angus, with \\iseman and l>. Waters as clneient wing aI ,V% Kobinson excelled in Abels attack, X i ii Kk,,,a " in,(l Hamilton shining in the inside positions.

MOUNT ALBERT SUPERIOR

With .lepson. who ti:i(T l>eeii sclntcd lo play in Hie Auckland ri>|irrm>ntiitlvo t.-aiu against the Navy, playing f..r Ihein Mi.iint All>ert. lira miliar (ild Uuvs defoiterl i..M.( .A. easily. Sun* a,,,] Spocd were sound on defence for OH l!o. s whiln Wucl at tcntre-lialf, was |.ron,inrnt on -Icfrn. c and at ark. WdoUli.ill ; in.l (U.-rry ably assisted \Vnril in l>rrakins up th«- Y.JI.<- \ attacks and fed their forwards with a ••imp rate passes, l.e.idin- the front line .1..p 5 ,,n as was .-xpe.-t.MI or : , player of his calibre. distributed the play to aclvantas.-. For V.M.C.A. Uilliard was at tlie to.. ~f his form, and the pressure of i.lhv dix' to a weak .Ipfpine. foil on him. lie wis ne.vor failins: in savo* fro.:, ;) i| an.'l.s Nwift was Hie iuo«t outstanding playor for the defence, and Lamond and UlaislcV "ere tbo most prominent forwards. On the run of pl a y Mount Albert was definitely superior. They showed l>eltrr control of Ihe hall and their atta.ki-is movements were well plaunrd. Mam of their raids, nowever. failed at the last moment. Y.M.C.A. seamed to lack cohesion as though they did not have sufScieiit practice.

METRO'S STUDIED PLAY. J The game between Metro-College end Comrades at Western Springs last Saturday was very evenly contested, but the better positional play and more studied methods of Metro enabled thorn to come out on the winning end 'if :i three-prals to our tally. Their nnc-kn defended solidly, and backed up the forward line with nice placements. Meal lining good :il rent re ha If. He- was well supported by and MrMorhtn, while l'rit chard and Meads did all that was 1 required nf thrni in Hip full-back linr. Williams Ravi' a. sound display in Metro's goal. Tin- friint linr functioned wrll. Llalliinore and Klyger inking full advantage of Ilir latitude allowed ilkiii i>ll (lie wings. McDougaU and Kllux played cleverly In the inside 1 ositlons. and with Brarkenridge an effective spea rheail. thr whole line staged Mine very good ioikl rucl ivr play. Yearbiiry had .1 stTrillions time in Comrades" goal, but] ;ll(|llitteil Ililllself well. j The Comrade defence was not a.< good as| usual. I'aifc played his usual good same as full -hack. Iml his colleague. Locke, had some very weak moments. Hootiiii was not up to his usual form in tin- early slaves, hut. ini proved as the cane progressed. He did not ;:•■! iiineli support from the wins halves. Maywanl and Fletcher, (heir roaming tend-; encies jrlvi nj? thr Metro's wins-fonv-irds far t ■•<> inn.-li latitude. Tin- furwar.ls workcrl will, bin the indifferent showing of the: half-back line did not give them any suppurt, and as they had to act in a defensive rule mi many occasions, their usual nippy attack suffered. Kvans and Carter did not get many chances en the wings, but played solid games. The inside men, M. Francis, A. Francis and Marvin, all played well, but had to make most of their own openings. With more support for the forward line the result might easily have been reversed.

BOTTOM TEAMS DRAW. At Unebunsra the pniutlivs liomr dub entertained Tonsoiiliy, who also still had to lireak a run of losses, and the visitors were by the inclusion of Boh Innes, Chapman and Rijigans, who made their first appparance this .season, lint Farnan and were missing in the tiring line. The Ponsonbj" van showed good form, with Chapman as volatile as ever in netting four out of the live goals, and Innes fed him well with some of his old-time centres from th<» line, but the Ponsonby defence was again uncertain, and Wallace, of Onehunga, repeated hij» previous good displays 111 largely assisting Onehunga to share the if* goals scored and the divieion of points at the end of the game.

SHORE MISS A POINT.

It was expected that North Shore would too good for Eastern Suburbs at St Heliers, but the weakness of the Shore defence with Gerrard. Sale and Frank T;V£ erOn i/-' 11 : ' Ua - V V the home team making up leeway after I>einn two goals down, nnd Hnirains a draw at the finish with tl.e score β-all. For tho home side » »w,e played a sterling game in goal and brought ~fr some daring savee. while his long clearances frequently gave his side he attack. r \\ elou was a sound centro tuiir in front of (.ay and Howjson while Harwin with :\ "hat trick ,1 n.-tted Suburbsthree goals with good judgment. f'umwas too closely marked by Walters to lie dnngernus. Iml Hit.hen w"a« ■! f-.st wing man. In froal for Shore. L. Cameron was a go,.d substitute for his namesake nnd A\c.«t stood o llt nt full -back, with James also «nind In the li.-iir line. Haydon. irith two goals, was the most penetrative *f the Shore forwards an.! was well supported bv Mine and, Stevenson

GRADE GAMES.

SKCOXIi DIVISION. Abels 4. beat Thistle J. Mount Albert 4. beat Y.M.C A 1 Shore 4. heat Onehungn 1. Grey Lynn lf>. beat Comrades 0. THIRD DIVISION. Chelsea 2. drew with Onchunjra ° l'onsoiihy in, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. •omr.ides .".. beat Metro-College •• Mount Albert 'J. beat Y.M.C A 0 VV.Y.M.I. ;!. beat Abels O Shore 8, beat Grey I.ynn 1. FOURTH GRADE. Shore 3. beat Metro College 0 Y.M.C.A. Rovers "., beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals Cfrnrades A 3. beat Onehunra 1. Suburbs 2. beat Ponsonhy 1. Comrades K 0. beat Chelsea 2. FIFTH GRADE. Thistle 7. beat Grey I.ynn B 0. Metr«i-( iilli-eo 1. l>e:j t Comrades A 0 Shore .'!, beat Y.M.C.A. Rovers 1 VM.C.A. Rivals 5. beat Onehunga 1 t.roy I.ynn 1. bent W.Y.M.I. 0. SIXTH GRADE. Comrades A 11. bent Y.M.C.A Rivals - Suburbs i::. beat Thistle n iS "' Shore ••{. beat Y.M.C.A. Rovers I) < ..inrades V, l>. beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 1. SKVKNTH GRADE. (] Ouehun»a won from Y.M.C.A. Rivals by f;) Shore won from Y.M.C.A. Spurs by <lcY.M.C.A. Rovers 2. beat Comrades B 0. EIGHTH GISADE. in Y dcV:u,iV. MVaU WOU fr,,,,, C ( '"" ,r; * A S. beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs (I. ENGLAND BEATS GERMANY. ■ ■VK.it 10(l,0ii0 SPECTATORS. UKRMN. May 15. In ;i Soi-eer mntch here yesterdav Fne l.ind <!ele;ned Germany by "(S goals" to H I here wen- lliinriti