STILL LEADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 167, 18 July 1938, Page 13

STILL LEADERS.

NORTH SHORE WIN.

COMRADES-PONSONBY DRAW.

THISTLE'S BIG MARGIN.

Soccer followers saw good football on Saturday, the main match of the day beiiijf" between the two leaders on the senior championship ladder—North Shore oi Moun t Alberi Grammar Old Boys, hliore, who had a lead of two points over their opponent?, retained their lead with a further improvement in points. At \ lctoria Park Comrades and Ponsonby drew; in a fast and exciting game, while at Onehunga the local team went down to Eastern Suburbs. At the Domain Abels were too good for Y.M.C.A. in a game that improved in the second spell. and Thistle had a clear-cut victory against Metro-College at Western Springs.

The senior championship round matches resulted:—

North Shore 3. beat Old Boys 2. Comrades 2. drew with Ponson'by 2. Eastern Suburbs 3. beat Onehunga 1 Abels 5. beat Y.M.C.A. 2.

Thistle 8, beat Metro-College 3. The positions of the teams on the championship ladder are: —

TWO MEN SHORT.

The contest for Soccer suprpinacy has been anil swaying this spsiscm and Saturday's game at headquarters between North Shon- and Mount Albert Grammnr Olil Hoys had a critical bearing on tin- race for senior championship laim-ls. as only two points divided the opposing trams. Botli sides were at full strength. Ward returning to captain Grammar after a two-Saturday rest on the line.

The gaum was disappointing ns a display of finished play. !>ut the law crowd enjnved a thrilling so for the top runs; of 1 lio senior ladder. Shore won on their merits, as Frank Black ie. ex-All Black with the Xew Zealand Soccer team in Australia, was ordered off in the first half for apparently arguing with the referee over an opponent's oftVnee, and then Hlme broke down and was carried off for Shore to earry on with nine players and win by 3 goals to 2in an exciting finish. It was not a commendable game of the round ball, but more of a cup tie battle in which honours deservedly went to Shore under difficult conditions. >.

EVEN CONTEST. A dry ground and fiery ball at I'nrk fur the I'onsonby v. Comrades match were conditions that have been absent for some weeks, and the players found ball control somewhat difficult in consequence, lu spite of this handicap there were some clever movements by both sides and with the fast pace, set there was excitement in plenty for the largest attendance seen at the park this season. Ponsonby were without the services of Chapman, and Innee proved his versatility by taking Haggett's place at full-back and playing a sound game, Haggett coming up to centre half in Chapman's place.

Ponsonby were a bit ahead of their opponents In constructive play, Farnan and McCallum, in the I'onsonby front line, being outstanding in this respect. The backs defended solidly and supported their forwards well, Bkman and Masters being rock-like on the defence. The solid tackling of the Ponies' backs did not give the Comrades' front line much latitude, but Marvin and M. Francis played clever games and endeavoured to open up the play for their colleagues.

The backs were not as strong as jisunl. their defence being open to suspicion at times, Hooton and McKennn exeepted. The game throughout was played at a fast pace, the second spell seeing the play ranging from . goal to goal with great rapidity, the several spectacular and exciting incidents 'in the goalmouth raising great excitement amongst the spectators, which was intensified, wlien Comrades scored the goal that made the score two all a few minutes before the whistle.

THISTLE'S EAST WIN. Thistle gave a polished exhibition of tbe code in their game against Metro-College at Western Springs. The winners had the game -well within their grasp from the kick-off to the final whistle. It was an exhibition of finished team work and accurate pacing. Thistle's team work was far superior to that ehowti by Metro. A three-goal difference would be the respective merit of the teams in the first spell. Thistle's Inside forwards played - a close: passing game, '.while Metro -were inclined' to swing the ball and the wingers showed an Inclination to shoot instead of centring. _. Metro, while showing an improvement on their play at St. HMler's two weeks ago, played more as Individuate than as a team. Woods was the outstanding player on the ground, He gar* a fine exhibition as inside left for Thistle. Morris (centre-half for Thistle) played a splendid defensive game and sent his forwards away with well Judged passes. Watson played a sound game as right half and Calsley (Inside left) also played well. Warren, In the custodian position, was very safe, and Hunter (outside right) was always prominent. For Metro Goodeall was very sound In defence In the back line, while deal, up to the time he was injured, played his usual sound game at centre-half. Brackenrldge was always reliable in the forward line and Qulgg (rglht half) was sound In defence. Flyger (outside left) was In good form, but his play would have been more profitable if he had centred instead of shooting so often. Metro's goalkeeper (Tremonlni) was very weak. It was quite apparent that Metro were decidedly weak in finishing off their movements.

ABELS ON FORM. ■ For the greater part of the game between Abel* and Y.M.C.A. at the Domain, Abels were to the fore territorially. Y.M.C.A., though willing, were not quite np to their usual standard of play, and were weak in finishing when opportunities offered. Abels' defence nroved strong, but had Y.M. played with greater combination they would have found the net oitener. On the run of play Y.M. was unlucky with the score at 5 to 2 agafaifct them. Abels had difficulty in fielding a team, and had to field three second grade men, Matthews, Hale and Owen. They played excellent football, though it was expected that they would not show true form on their first appearance. Particularly impressive was Fitzgerald at centre half. He was tireless and epeedy, and was ' a tower of strength. Ekman at inside left and Ross at left full-back were impressive. Jones, for Abels, who is Just recovering from a strained einew in the leg. wae not up to form, but could not be blamed for that. For Y.M.C.A. Jone* impressed but did not see much of his good work effectively used. McMurchie and Lamond were also outstanding in consistent play, and Shaw wae a. / sound man. Hilliard. as ever, was a tower of strength, and could not be blamed for the shots that beat him.

ONEHUNGA UNLUCKY. Onehunga were defeated on their home ground by Eastern Suburbs by three goals' to one, but the ecore was no indication of the play, which was evenly divided. Onehunga were without Owens at left back, and Caples substituted. The game was fast, but Suburbs displayed better finishing tactics, Onehnnga still requiring thrust in the forward line. Parks defended the Onehunga net well, and was only at fault once. Harllck at right back was the outstanding player on tlie field, getting through a great amount of work and covering up well on eome of his partner's mistakes. Caples at left back was not quite np to form. The centre half, Bentley, played his usual • steady game, breaking up numerous attacks and passing judiciously to his. forwards; ' Simpson at right half was- good in the first spell, but obviously tired in the second r- half. . Wiseman was Inclined to etand-dff his man, allowing Shoebrldge too much scope. Forwarjl,;'Forrester and Brass went well on the right. Brass playing his *usuai clever- game and crossing well, but should have' tried a first time shot when occasion "offered. R. Lindsay played a useful same at centre forward, l<. Wallace at 'inside left was much below form, and this did not give his partner, M. Lindsay, many opportunities, though Lindsay made good use of what came his way. Onehunga waa again up against brilliant goalkeeping. Cowie, in goal for Suburbs, did a great afternoon's- work, saving in masterly fashion on numerous occasions, his anticipation getting his sWe out of trouble many i times. Gay and Diamond at full were In-

dined to -wild kicking, but were good defenders. Williame, Welch and Bishop were solid at half with little to choose between them. Shoebrldge and IK Welch were the outstanding forwards, both playing particularly well, although Shoebndge had plenty of room in which to move. Ritchie, Darwin and Hitchln were all useful. R. Welch (2) end Hltchin (1) "scored for Suburbs and R. Lindsay netted for Onehunga. ~~~~ I SCHOOLBOYS' TOTTK. SUGGESTED DATES APPROVED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The New Zealand Football Association has received a cablegram from the Australian Soccer Football 'Association accepting the date August 23 to September 12 as being suitable for a visit to Australia of a New Zealand secondary schools' representative Soccer team. Sixteen boys and two managers will be sent, the tonr to embrace New South Wales and Queensland.

CHATHAM CUP CONTEST.

REARRANGEMENT OF DATES. Advice has been received by the Auckland Football Association from the New Zealand Council that, owing to the r<*j)lay of the Hamilton Wanderers-Huntly Starr match, the date of the North Island final of the Chatham Cup competition has been changed to Auguftt 6. The provincial final at Hamilton will be played on Saturday week.

WIN FOR HUNTLY STARR.

flTiom Oβ Correspondent.) HTJNTLY, Sunday. Playing at Huntly in the Chatham Cup fixture yesterday Hui\tly Starr beat Hamilton Wandiwrs by 3 goals to 0.

OTHER GRADE RESULTS. " SECOND DIVISION. Shore 2, beat T.M.O.A. 1. Suburb* 2, beat Onehunga 1. Grey Lynn 4, beat Mount Albert 1 THIRD DIVISION. Comrades 2, beat Chelsea 1. Onebunga 7. beat 'Varsity X. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Comrades 3, beat Grey Lvnn 1. Y.M.C.A. 1, beat W.Y.M'.I. 0. Metro-College 2, Mat Shore 1. Mount Albert 3, beat Abels 0. FOURTH eiJADB. Comrades A 4, beat Metro-College 2. Comrades B 3, beat Ponsonby 1. Chelsea 2, beat Y.M.C.A. B 0. FIFTH GRADE. Comrades A 1, arew with Metro-College 1. Onehunga 1, beat Comrades Bo.' Shore 1, beat Y.M.C.A. Rovers O. Grey Lynn A 8, beat W.Y.M.I. O. SIXTH GRADE). Suburbs 6, beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 0. Comrades A 3, beat Y.M.C.A. Rovers 0 ConfiVades B 2, beat Thistle 1. Shore 5, beat Y.M.C.A. Rivals**. SEVENTH GRADE. Comrades A 4, beat Comrades B 0. Shore 4, beat Onehunga 4. EIGHTH GRADE. Suburbs 2, beat Shore 1. Y.M.C.A. Rovers 12. bpat Suburbs 0. Comrades A 7, 'beat Y.M.C.A. Spurs 0. i'.M.C.A. Rivals 2, beat Comrades 1. SECONDARY GRADE. SENIOR. Mount Albert A 5, beat Takapuna 2. x Technical 2, beat Mount Albert B 0, INTERMEDIATE. Technical 3, beat Mount Albert A 1. Otahuhu 2, beat Mount Albert B 0. Grammar 5, beat Takapnna 3. JUNIOR. Technical A 2, beat Mount Albert A 0. technical B 2, beat Mount Albert B 0 Gramme r 3, beat Kowhai 2,

Goals <-h. r. w. T,. t>. v. a. Vi». Xortli Shore 13 K 1 4 r>11 •'."> ->0 ThiHtii' ... VI K 3 1-111 .'!.•{ 17 <>M Ilii.ru . 13 s ." — 4.-> -Jli ]i; I'iniirailcs . l. , : <i .-{ 4 jjr, a." Hi Kiiliurbg .. ].'! 7 '5 l :{4 us 1." Abels .... i:{ « r> u> 42 :is 14 PoiiMOIiby 12 4 4 4 «!» ;if! VI Mctrn-Col. 13 3 8 '1 38 (in S Y.M.C.A. .18 3 fl 1 14 -A-1 7 Unchunga 13 — 10 3 23 70 3