NO DECISION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 143, 20 June 1938, Page 14

NO DECISION.

STRENUOUS SOCCER. PONSONBY-THISTLE DRAW. GOALKEEPER’S DAY OUT. The large crowd of patrons at Blandford Park on Saturday were rewarded with two hours of strenuous Soccer, which was packed with thrills and suspense from start to finish. Even half-an-hour's extra time failed to separate the old rivals, Ponsonby and Thistle, and they shared 10 goals between them in a futile endeavour to decide the local winner of the Chatham Cup knockout.

Ponsonby, after trying out several recruits, had lallen back on some of its veterans, and McCallum returned after a spell for injuries, while Thistle relied on its solid side which had done well except for a tempoiaiy falling off. The ground had recovered well from the heavy rains, but was still a bit holding, and the prolonged struggle told its tale on some of the previously injured Ponies. and Thistle s great recovery, after being three goals down, was a tribute to their superior staying power. In the first hull ami early in the second spell tehie was some good and ’sparkling Soccer, with Ponsonby showing mole finishing thrust and better head work in even and exciting exchanges. A Regrettable Incident. A regt citable incident early in the game was a ( lash between Angus, the Scots forward. and A. Watson, the Ponsonby goalkeeper. \\ hat happened was not clear from the stand, but Angus went down while Watson tell a limp heap in the goal-mouth. All was confusion for a while, with the St. John's foursome rendering first aid amid a roar of mixed hoots and advice to the referee. Eventually the goalie had the unique and unenviable distinction of being ordered off and carried ofl in a state of collapse.

Angus soon revived and was as lively as ever, while the veteran Bob Innes donned Watson’s gaudy sweater and gave quite a good display as deputy. Besoming one goal up in the second spell Ponsonby surprised by going for the attack when a man short, and quickly added two more goals. Then the Scots set out to make up leeway with grim and dour determination and wore their opponents down until they had evened matters at 4-all. when time sounded. With a brief breather the game went on with extra time, ami Ponsonby scored again in the first quarter, but Thistle rallied again tor a fighting finish and equalled for a final thrill in a great finale. I here were no weak links in either side, but most of the large crop of goals came from allowing the wing-fot wards too much room to work in. ami all four were light on top of their iorm. It was a memorable struggle, and the replay next Saturday should provide another stirring tussle. 1 he ordinary senior championship round matches resulted: - dhistle 4, Ponsonby 4. North Shore 1. Comrades 1. Old Boys 8. Metro-College 3. Abels (i. Qnehiinga 3. Suburbs 2. Y.M.C.A. 1. Ihe position ot the various teams on the championship table is: -

SPIRITED CONTEST

The game between Comrades and North Shore at Victoria Park last Saturday was one ot the fastest and exciting contests seen at the park for some time. The first spell was evenly contested, but Comrades had mill li the better of the play territorially in the second half, but could not push the advantage home. The splendid defence of Gerraru and West, and some great saves by Cameron k<*eping them out until Hooton hended in from a melee a minute before time, to make a draw, one goal each The Shore forwards played with cohesion and ihisli. the Blaekie brothers being a clever right wing. Stevenson a tlirustful centre, and Haydon and Walters playing good games on tin* left. ’Die lialf-b.iek line was uniformly good. Cronin being an effective centre, with good support from James and Chambers. Gerrard and West played lip top games, and tlielr strong defence was a feature of their play, especially near the end of the game, when the pressure was on. Cameron was in great form in goal, and brought off some smart saves, the final stages seeing him under a heavy bombardment. Comrades did not seem to settle down in the first half, the positional play of the wing halves giving the Shore wings n lot of latitude, and there was a suspicion of weakness In the whole defence. Yearburi exeepted. They made amends in the second half, anil dominated the play to a great extent, but met with a strong defenis*. Yearbury acquitted himself well In goal, and Riggins and McKenna were sound and re-

sourceful In the full-back positions. Hooton was the best of the halves, giving a guou display in the centre. The roving tendencies of Page and Havward detracted from their play In the first half, but they settled down in the second si>ell, and kept a good RV*P on the Shore wings. The forwards worked hard against a stern defence, M. Francis and Marvin endeavouring to ojien up the game with constructive play, with fair results. A. Francis played soundly in the centre, with Evans and Fletcher keeping the opposing halves active on the wings. y.m.c.a. unlucky. Y.M.C.A. was unlucky to suffer defeat by the odd goal in three in the match w’ith Eastern Suburbs at Western Springs in what was a rather mediocre display. Cowie had a busy time in Suburbs' goal, and In the back division Swift and Moore of Y.M.C.A. placed better than Gay and Diamond. G. Sims in the pivot position for Y.M.C.A. was <lever and was well matched by A. Welch for Suburbs. Shoebridge on tile right wing for Suburbs was prominent ill several good runs, mid R. Welch was always in place to receive his crosses. Jones, with strong runs and good centres from the left to I.amond and McMurchy, played an impressive game. Shaw was unlucky with several long shots that missed. EXCELLENT FORWARD PLAY. Team work anti perfect understanding 1111)1 positional play by the Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys were the outstanding features of the game against Metro-College at Fowlds Park. In the second half the Mount Albert forwards dominated the play until near the end. 'l'heir team work was brilliant, frequently finding their opponents out of position. The .Mount Albert men scored several goals in quick succession, but the Grammar win of eight goaln to three does not indicate that the game was onesided. Metro-College made a good showing in tin* first spell, when they nullified several fast attacks by their op;cuts. MetroCollege, in fact, had an »*qnal si*.ire of the game all through the first half. It was n hard ami fast game, with an exhibition of elev(*r football shown by Isdh sides. In the second half, however. Met f'i('ollege linked that polish to head off the remarkable team work of Mount Albert s speedy forwards. For Mount Albert. Speed, at full-back, was very safe and Ward was outstanding at half-hack. As stated, the forwards plnyeil wifh great combination. Jepson nnd Fyvie being nlways prominent. For Metro-Coll *ge, Clenl, nt < entre-half. was very sound in defence, and initiated many bright attacking nioM'tnents. McMechnn played a hard game at left half, nnd Brackenridge was outstanding in the forwards. ABELS’ OPEN PLAY. A tendenev for the front line to overdo passing in front of the goal was a fault that marred Onehiinga's play in the match against Abel- - nt the Domain. Abels adopted a more open type of piny, and the game was willing right from the start. Though Binball was safe enough in Abels' goal, ho could have cleared with greater strength. Fitz Gerald at cent re-hnlf was strong, as were Archer and Jones, who impressed with long *ross passes. Hamilton. Eckman and Robinson were prominent and consistent. In Onehiinga's goal. Parks was kept busy anil was hampered to some extent by his own defence. Bunting and Forrester on the left wing showed excellent coinbination and threatened several times. As willing and speedy as ever. Brass impresseil with several brilliant runs, but most of his centres were smothered. Though the game was generally rather ragged, there was blight football in patches, ami Onehunga was Just a bit 1111I1K ky not to score from one or two golden opportunities. Abels’ win by 6 goals to 3 was a fair indication of the play.

OTHER COMPETITIONS. SECOND DIVISION. Thistle 2. drew with Onehunga 2. Grey Lynn 5. beat Abels o. Shore 5. i.rew with Y.M.C.A. 5. Mt. Albert 6, beat Chelsea 2. THIRD DIVISION. Onehunga 2. heat ’Varsity 1. Y.M.C.A. 3, beat Ponsonby 2. THIRD INTER M ED I ATE. Y.M.C.A. .3. drew with Grey Lynn 3. Shoie it. beat Metro.-College o. Mt. Albert 4, beat W.Y.M.I. 1. FOURTH GRADE. Comrades 2, beat Ponsonby 0. FIFTH GRADE. Thistle 5. beat Grey Lynn B 1. Grey Lynn A 1. beat CoinraiF'S 0. W.Y.M.I. 1. drew with Y.M I'.A. Rovers 1. Y.M.C.A. Rivals 2. beat Onehunga 0. SIXTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. Rovers 3. heat Thistle 0. Eastern Suburbs 4. beat North Shore 1. SEVENTH GRADE. Onehunga 0, drew with Y.M.C.A. 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIOR. Mt. Albert Grammar A 3. drew with Tnkapumi 3. k. Technical 3. beat Mt. Albert B 1. INTERMEDIATE. Mt. Albert Grammar A 5, beat Mt. Albert Grammar B o. Auckland Grammar 6. beat Technical 3. Takapuna Grammar beat Otahuhu Technical 1. JUNIOR. Mt. Albert Grammar A 2, beat Kowhai l. Auckland Grammar 9, beat Mt. Albert Grammar B 0. Technical A 2, beat Mt. Albert Grammar C 6.

W. L. I>. Goals F. A Ch. Pts North Shore . . . 1 ♦ » 1 ”{3 1.3 1 4 Old Bovs • 7 3 3 15 Tliistlo I 5 3 1 24 ] 1 Comrades I 5 3 1 17 u Abels 1 5 3 1 31 19 Suburbs > 4 1 < i Poiisonby • 3 4 .31 •»<> Met ro-Collexe . . 1 2 . > •» .3S G Onohungn 1 _ 7 1G Y.M.C A 1 8 — (i 22