PONIES IMPROVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 14

PONIES IMPROVE.

HOLD NORTH SHORE.

LEADERS IN SOCCER

COMPETITION.

MOUNT ALBERT BEAT ABELS. In Saturday's Soccer matches Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys had an easy win over Abels at Blundford Park, while Pon»onby retained its recent improvement to draw with Xorth Shore at Devonport. Metro.-Collece went down to Eastern Submliw at St. Helier's, and Comrades and V.M.C.A. drew in an even came at Viclinii Park. At Onehimca. Thistle were lih-ky to beat tlie liome team by the odd Coal in nine. Following are the results: — Old Bovs 7. Abel* 2. Comrades 2. V.M.C.A. 2. Suburbs (i. Metro.-College 2. Thistle a. Onehunca 4. Xorth Shore :{. Ponsonby 3. GRAMMAR FIVE UP.

Showerv weather causo.l n slipi>ery surface -iiii] "treacherous foothold nt Illandfor.i Park in tin- Mount Alhert tiraiiimar <ll<l llnvs and Ahels match, and it was not until the rlosinc spell that Old I'.oys jjet moving. ami hy some rntcrprisinc free passing with a creasy heavy I,nil livened up play mid put on half a do/en Coals in quick time acninst their weakened opponents. Neither te.-nii was at full strength, and Ahels were unfortunate in .Jones spraining a tendon early in the first half and having; no enter•_'ciiey to replace him. As it was they (lid well to keep Urn in mar's score down to a sin:.'].' Kiml on tin- chance round, and would have evened mutters hut lor missinc a penalty. After this dull spell piny hrlirlit '• lup a lot. with .lepson feeding his forwards in c 1 style, niul l-'yvie conspicuous ill uiakinc openings. Wooil was in line form on I lie ricdt win;.', and tlew ihrottch the mud in free style to notch n C"'"l triplet of coals. Clark was also a deft opportimisi in hnccinc a hraee. ,- n.l the other two were netted hy .lepson. while Mr I.ear and I>. Waters scored from occasional raids hv Ahels-. I'.irehall. Sim and Speed wire sound in the Ohl Itoys' defence, and Morroeks in the lmlf Hue. Kimher and Mcl.eav defend.■,! well for Ahels in the opening spell, and Uohiiison was conspicuous in the offensive lliovenielils. All I'n-ll-lial illterlnde WHS the coliiipse of the referee. Mr. S. C. Jones, in the elosinv' slaves. Alter continuously for nearly three hours in the heavy the referee was seized with severe cramp ill hoth leys and liad to he assisted from the Ili-lil, hut sp. .-.lily recovered after first aid.

HONOURS EVEN. The encounter hetween North Shore, the lenders, and I'onsonhy nt the llevonpor' ground proved a spirited contest. The Shore forwards opine.l up the jinine with dash, and some «, oil . omhiii.il plai in the first half, hut failed to keep up their form in the second, when individual efforts decani.' lite iii'iiiis of progression towards their opponents' coal. The hacks, however, were sound all tl'.i-iuißli, eoliiliinliiK solid defence with yooil sii|iport for tlnir front line. The lilnekie hrothers and Sinn- were prominent in tin- forward line, with tierrard ami Walters the hest of the hacks. I'onsonhy showed -noil foot ha II nil round. allhouj_'h ml lor slow to settle down to tlnir usual nippy' attacks. They improved as the came progressed, ami practically dominated ilu- piny in the final stnjree. onlv the resourcefulness of Cameron in «on"l niul stuhhorn defence hy the Shore hacks keeping the game, to u three-coal draw. Harold Hnyw 1 and Chapman showed l'ooil form in the I'onsonhy rearguard, witli the front rankers limes, Iluhert Hayw.xid aid Mnllane showing up well in the I'onics' attacks.

ONEHUNGA SHOULD HAVE DRAWN A draw would have been fairer on the play in the match between Oncluiiigu and Thistle at Waikaraka Park, when thistle won by ."i goals tn 4. Warren was sound in the Thistle goal and I'olwin and Stone played we-11. Morris, in the middle line, despite being unlit, put up a ireditablshowing. At right half MacFai-line showed out in clever combination with Angus, who wan on the right wing. Caisley, Angus and Hunter were prominent, and at inside left Wood was the. most danger.,us forward. Dean combined well with W >od. Partes, in Onehungu goal, had a hard time defending the net and could not lie blamed fer the shots that heat him. Though Owens and Hurlick were sound on lefonce their clearances were not as good as they hiigh,' have been. Bentley was not always in position in the pivot and the result was that Simpson and Wiseman had extra work to do. The. forwards were all good. Brass .on the right wing played his usual dashing game. Forrester made m.mv openings for both Brass and R. Undsa v, "and on the left M. Lindsay and Wallace impressed Wood (.1) and I»ean (2( scored for Thistle while Forrester <2», K. Lindsay and Wal laco netted for Onehunga.

EASTERN SUBURBS IN FORM. Eastern Suburbs played a great garni' against Metro-College on the St. Heller s Bav ground, beating the College team by a margin of four goals. It was a fast and exciting game from start to finish, with Suburbs dominating the play, especially in the first spell, when five goals were scored in very quick succession. Metro was a beaten team almost from the kickoff, and their play as a whole was dedriodl.v ragged. The side, however, showed much better form in the second spell, and as n result of the improved play two goals wenscored, both by Klyger. Suburbs played as a team, showing their best combination of the season. Their positional play was excellent, the backs combining well with the. forwards. The ground was in splendid order, the turf being exceptionally dry. and it was easily apparent that the playing area was the driest of any sports' ground. The game was played at a \ery fast pace throughout, and there were many brilliant movements which raised tl.e enthusiasm of the spectators. It was .1 polished exhibition of Soccer by Kastern Suburbs, against a poor showing by MetroCollege. Suburbs were minus the services of the goalie (J. Cowiel, who was unable to take the Held owing to an injury :<> one of his ankles. Hi- was replaced by W. Hovte. who proved a worthy substitute For Suburbs 1.. Welsh played a polished game, anil was the best back mi the field His brother (K. Welsh I was also oulsi.ind ing, his shooting and judgment being very accurate. A. Welsh was very cousin. 11 mis in breaking up the oppo«i*i.m alli'-k-. Hitchens loutside left) and IHainoiid ami Uay (full-backs 1 played a vorv sound game. For .Metro (Meal and Klyg t Weic tin most prominent in a game which showed • 'olli.ge to poor advantage.

FAST AND EVEN GAME. Comrades and V.M.C.A. provi.l-d an exhibition of fast football ill an even game lit Victoria Park. There was very little to choose between the two lea-nis and the draw that restilti.il was a :'air index to the game. In the second lalf V.M.C.A. showed a vast improvement in combination, and it was only the sound Comrades defence that kept them at bay. Uillinrd, in the Y.M. goal, played brllli.inMy and was testid time and again. Moore and Swift were not up to their .isual standard in the hack line, hut the middle Jlllo, led by (J. Sims, was strong. They were not supported to the fullest -.itellt by tin. halves. Wood and (Sinister. In the front line l.amotid was prominent. Iturton and McMurchy on the right, end sliiw and .lories on the left, were prominent, hut McMurchy showed grut individual inilia live.

For Comrades, Yearbury was sound ill tfinl, ami whs saved mii'-li work li.v Rid«hiis unit Mi Ki-nna. Pujse and Huywanl were pulled ..hi of position thni' iiidl 'iitfuili In defend from the win;.' tn wiiiK l>as»iiig i«f V M.C.A.. anil their front lint- ili.l not reieive. surHiient passes. In the inside forward position. Marvin anil M. Krimis were railed upon tn play deep Hint did not fail when wanted. A. Kranois suffered »

slight injury early m ;:i,. game and. as a result additional work was thrown on the wing men. Kvans and Fletcher, who played an impressive game.

OTHER GRADE RESULTS. SKCOXI) DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. 4. bout Abels :{. Orey J.miii 4. heat Thistle 2. Shore '.». beat Metro. <>. Mt. Albert .",, heat Training College 2. THIRD DIVISION. Oneliiiiißii S. hear Pollsoliby 1. Chelsea S. heat Y.M.C.A. 1. Comrades ti. heat 'Varsity 1. THIRD IXTKRMKDIATK.. Metro. 4. bent Shore a. tirey Lynn 1, beat Mt. Albert 0. Comrades <», heat Abels 1. KOI'RTH ORADK. Thistle .1. heat Onoliunea 0. Comrades A 2, drew with shore 2 Y.M.r.A. H bent I'otisonhy hv default. Suburbs y, beat Comradss li 2. FIFTH GRADE. Comrades A 2, drew with Shore 2. Or.\v I.ynn A ], drew with Y.M.C.A. Hovers 1. Thistle 3, beat Onehnnea 0. Comrades U ::, heat Y.M.C.A. Rivals 2. SIXTH cradk. Comrades A fi. beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 1. Shore 7, heat Thistle (». S'lbnrhs •_•. heat Y.M.C.A. Rovers 1. Comrades R 3, drew with Y.M.C.A. Rivals