SHORE ON TOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 16

SHORE ON TOP.

SOCCER HONOURS. THISTLE DOWN AGAIN. FIRST WIN FOR Y.M.C.A. The eixth series in the senior Soccer championship games on Saturday pro- * iluced several close finishes, and by defeating Tliistle3 —1 in a fine struggle North j Shore displaced the leaders in the competition. Abels by beating Suburbs by the same margin, and with three games more to complete the opening round the championship bears a very open aspect. Mount Albert Old Boys were extended to down Poneonby by the odd ] goal in three and, thanks to a "hat trick" in the first spell by J. S. Jones, Y.M.C.A. gained its first points in an exciting finish by the odd goal in five. Comrades overwhelmed Onehunga with the score B—l.8 —1. Positions of tea me:— Goals Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. N. Shore . 6 4 1 1 27 12 9 Thistle ...(» 4 2 - 17 17 8 Abels C 4 2 - 22 7 8 Old Boys . « 4 2 - 19 10 8 Suburbs . . 0 3 2 1 19 13 7 Comrades . 0 3 3 - 19 14 6 Metro-Col. « 2 3 1 20 24 5. I'onsonhy . (> 1 4 1 20 23 3 Y.M.C.A. . (> 1 5 4 13 2 Onehungu . 0 - 4 2 11 43 2 IMPROVED FORM. ' Y.M.C.A. played a vastly improved and inspired game against Metro-College nt Western Springs. It was the brilliant play of Jones (centre forward) and Hilllnrd (goalkeeper) wliieh saved the day for Y.M.C.A. In the second half Metro showed improved combination and hotter positional play anil Y.M.C.A. bad an anxious time during the final 20 minutes of play. Assault after assault was made on Y.M.C.A,*B jfonMiy sweeping movements and it was only the brilliant work of Hilliard that saved liis side. .Shot after shot was cleverly diverted or bandied by Hilliard nnd time and again he alone was responsible for Retting his side out of difficulties. Jones was outstanding as centre forward for Y.M.C.A. and his three goals came as the result of clever positional play. Sims (centre half for Y.M.C.A.) played a good steady game and all the forwards were In good form. Cleal (centre half) was always sound for Metro and Dallimore (right wing) was in the thick of everything. McMeehan also played a sound same in Metro's back line and Breekenridge and Flygor were solid in the forwards. ABELS' POLISHED PLAY. Abels proved too good at initiating tactical raids and finishing off in their match against Eastern Suburbs at St. Helier'*. The game was full of thrills and in the last half was exceptionally willing. The teams were evenly matched in most departments, but Suburbs' defence was not up to standard in the second spell. Cowie was always solid in Suburbs' goal. Kay Welsh, who scored Suburbs' only goal, impressed with consistently good play. Howison. Cu mm ings and Darwin were also prominent. For Abels. Birchall, in goal, saved on many occasions from threatening attacks. Kkman, who put on the first two goals for Abels, played brilliant football. Hamilton, who was responsible for the third goal, was sound anfl clever, while Archer. Kobinson and Waters were prominent. WELL-EARNED VICTORY. For the second week in succession Thistle went down, the lively young Shore side gaining a well-earned victory by 3 goals to 1. It was the best display of club Soccer seen for some time, with Shore superior in all departments. The game showed a definite advance in the standard of play this season, and gives hopes of much better and brighter Soccer in future. The coaching of Mr. Reg. Baxter, the exXavy captain, has made a clever young team of the Shore players, and there was not a weak link or selfish player in the side. F. Cameron was as olerer as ever in goal, with Gerrard and West an ideal blend of sage wisdom and youthful dash in front of him. The wing halves Walters and Sale were equally good in defence and attack, and had the opposing wings well blocked. James was solid at centre and fed his front line well. Sinie shone out with his flying dashes down the line and deadly centring and shooting, while the clever teamwork of Stevenson and Haydon often baffled the opposing defence. Apart from Morris at centre-half, who gave an ideal display, the Thistle backs were outpaced by the Shore attack, and the feeding of the Scot's van not so well directed as usual. Angus was dangerous in the first spell, when allowed too much room, but got few opportunities for sharp-shooting, and was carefully watched in the second half. Thistle's loss of form is difficult to account for. but Shore, with successive and clear-cut wins over Abels and Thistle must now have a great chance of finishing at the top of the ladder and reversing last year's disaster. GOAL-KEEPER'S FINE DISPLAY. The game between Mount Albert Grammar and Ponsonby at Fowlds Park was a ding-dong struggle. Grammar had all the best of the first spell, the Ponsonby reorganised defence, with Riggons absent, not settling down until well on in the game. It was quite a- different picture in the second stanza, Pousonhy being the aggressors until the last ten minutes, when Grammar took control again. Saunders gave a sterling display in-goal for Grammar and was a big factor in their victory. The backs played soundly. Speed and Sims shining on defence. The halves. Woodhall, Ward and Cherry, defended solidly and supported their forwards nicely with wellplaced passes. The forwards combined nicely, giving a very good display. N'eedham and Berriman were very fast on the wings, centring I nicely, but the former was inclined to go too far before crossing the ball. The inside men. Wood and Fyfie, played with judgment. Wood especially getting in some nice constructive play. Jepson played his usual solid game in the centre. Riggans was absent from Ponsonby's back line and Kkman and Masters filled the full-back positions, Hagget being centre-half. Masters played a good game, but Ekman was erratic and is best suited in the centre-half position. Haggett did a lot or hard work both on attack and defence, but only had moderate support from his colleagues, Har. Haywood and Rouse. Chapman played a good game in the centre, but Mount Albert's three-back game found him too well marked to be dangerous. Farnan played his usual clever constructive same, giving Mullane some nice passes, which he made the most of, but Hub Havwood and Hilton (who replaced McCallum) were only fair. ONEHUNGA OVERWHELMED. Onehunga was without the services of two of its usual players in the game against Comrades and two fifth grade boys filled the vacancies. The game proved one-sided, Conrades winning by eight goals to one. A. Francis (5), M. Francis (2) and Carter scored for Comrades, while L. Phillips netted for Onehunga. AUCKLAND REPS. NAVY CHALLENGE. REAR-ADMIRAL DRUMMOXD TROPHY. The Auckland sole-selector, Mr. A. P. Neesham, has chosen the following team to represent Auckland against the Navy on Monday next, Kiiig's Birthday, at Blandford Park:—Cowie (Suburbe), Stone (Thistle), McKenna (Comrades), Sale (Shore), Cleal (Metro-College), Walters (Shore), Robinson (Abels), McCallum " (Ponsonby), Angus (Thistle), Farnan and ' Mullane (Ponsonby). The game will be the second in the series '■ of three to be played this season for the , trophy donated by Rear-Admiral, the Hon. ; E. R. Druinmond, between the Service ■ side and the Auckland reps. Navy won the first game, three weeks ago, but the i Auckland side on this occasion is a much : I stronger combination, and a stirring game J should result. ■I PRIMARY SCHOOLS' FIXTURES VICTORIA PARK TO-MORROW. The following primary schools' Sowj matches will ke held at Victoria Park to , morrow :— Victoria Park Group.—Senior: Napier 1; I Street v. Beresford Street, No 4, 3.15 p m • Newmarket v. Bayfield, No. 3. 3.15 pin • Wellesley Street v. Napier Street A, No. 5, 3.15 y.ia.; Graf ton, a bye.

OTHER COMPETITIONS. SECOND DIVISION. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys 8, beat D onsonby 0. Y.M.C.A. 4, beat Thistle 2. Metro-College 3, beat Abels 0. Shore 9, beat Chelsea 1. Onehnnga 5, beat Grey Lynn 2. Suburbs B 2. beat Training College 0. THIRD DIVISION. Chelsea 4, beat 'Varsity 2. Onehunga 7. beat Y.M.C.A. 1. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. W.Y.M.I. 2. bent Abels 1. Metro-College 4, beat Mount Albert Gramiinr Old Boys 1. Shore 4, beat Grey Lynn 0. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby 2, beat Y.M.C.A. B 1. Suburbs 1, drew with Comrades 1. Metro-College 8, beat Onehunga 1. FIFTH GRADE. Thistle 2. beat Onehunga O. Metro-College 0, drew with Y.M.C.A. lovers 0. SIXTH GRADE. Shore 4. beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals 0. Thistle 0, drew with Comrades B 0. Suburbs 17. beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 6. SEVENTH GRADE. Onehunga 7, beat Shore 1. EIGHTH GRADE. Shore 3, beat Comrades B 1. Suburbs 1, beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIORS. Mount Albert Grammar A 5, beat Taka[Mina 1. INTERMEDIATE. Auckland Grammar 4, beat Mount Albert S. 0. Taknpunn 5, boat Mount Albert B 0. Technical i>, brat Otahuhu 0. JUNIOR. Kowhni 3, beat Auckland Grammar 1. Mount Albert 2, drew with Technical A 2. CHURCHES ASSOCIATION. Snndringhaoi 8, beat Mount Albert 3. St. Jude's 2, beat Church of Christ 1. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Sydenham Iβ. beat Kin wood 11. Hornby 11, beat Waimairi 0. NEW PLYMOUTH. Western Springs 17, beat Athletic 8. Inglewood 30, beat Eastern Suburbs 0. WELLINGTON'. St. George 34, beat Central 13. I'ptone 33. beat Newtown 19. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Senior.—Clau-lelands Rovers 3, beat Huntly Starr 1. Junior. —Wanderers 3. beat Rovers B 1; Rangers 1, beat Glen Massey 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Rangers 4, drew with Technical 4. Thistle 3, beat Nomads U. WELLINGTON. First A Division.—Seatoun 3, drew with Waterside 3; Diamond 4, beat Scottish Wauderers 3; Petone 4, beat Hospital 1 ; Marist 1, beat Technical U (game abandoned ). First B Division.—Lower Hutt 7, beat Stop Out 0; Korokoro 6, beat Swifts 1 : Miramar Rangers 6, beat Onslow 2; Institute Old Boys 7, beat Nada 1. DUNEDIN. Senior. —High School Old Bov 8 6, beat Mornington 3; Sea cliff 6, beat Koslvn Wakari 1; Maori Hill 6. beat Caversbam 0; Mosgiel 4, beat Northern 1.