COMRADES DOWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 124, 29 May 1939, Page 12

COMRADES DOWN

SOCCER SURPRISE. ABELS' ODD-GOAL VICTORY. Y.M.C.A. WINS AT LAST. Saturday's Soccer surprise was the defeat of Comrades, the championship leadens, by A bob at Blandford Park in a match tliat supplied plenty of excitement. At the Domain Ponconhy proved too good for Onehiinjra. by 3 goals to nil. and Kasterii Siihin-iM turne-l the tables on I'liistle in a ojie-froal victory at Victoria I'ark. (irey fyvnn nuffeied another defeat :\)u;i they went down to V.M.C.A. at Western Springs, and Xovth Shore, taking the odd goal ill five, beat Mount Albert Grammar Old Bovs at Kowlds Park. The scores wore:— Abels 3, beat Comrades 2. I'onson'by 3. beat Onehunjra 0. KiiMtern Suburbe I, 'beat Thintle 0. V.M.C.A. 3 beat Grey Lynn 0. Xortll Shore 3. beat Mount Albert Oirnnimar Old Bovs 2. (.'•i»nipetition ladder: — r.onirt rii.

LEADER LOSES. After four victories over their opponents in previous games Comrades met their tirst reverse ihis season on Saturday, when they were defeated, nt lil.-indt'ord I'ark. by Abels, with the advantage of the odd goal'in live. There was nothing lucky about the victory ~r •!.<; Newntark,--. team, as [hey were

deserwtlh three up at the iaier\al and one of Comia'iies' goals was in Ibe nature of a gill. lli.oten at centre half was on the injured INi and unable to b-ad Comrades, and Ihn.iiali this the team work w hii-h had made Comrades so irre-i-i i.ile this season was lacking on Saturday. Abels, on the other hand, played well togi-iher. with a gooil understanding ti;:li! I'loin |ln> hacks to the forwards. Fitzgerald led the \an in tine style, il ist ribut in g I lie ball with snap and judgment and sioring a brace of goals with smart anticipation, lie was well supported bv Koliin<on and I'.. F.knian on Hie wings ami a promising colt in Frasi-r at inside right. The veteran Chalmers appeared in .\i,,.]s' middle line and was in the thick of everylliing as the line held its men and kept the young Comrades at bay. Wales ami C. F.kman were a sound pair of backs and Cameron, in goal, was as i le\ter and prompt a-- ever «iih his clearances. For Comrades the line mm Inji work of Yeiirbiir.v. in goal, kept the score down, while McKcnna at full-back was steadier than Mealy under pressure. The Comrades' hall' line was below loriu. both in defence and attack, anil found Abils" forwards too much oi a handful in the lirst spell. In the tiring line the brothers Francis and Avery combined well in the inside positions. bill lacked support from their wiugs. who were too well niarKcd Io Ul; dangerous. SHORE JUST ON TIME. In a spectacular and thrilling lastminute effort. North Shore Fnited secured aa well-deserved victory over Mount Albert Grammar old Bo.vs by three goals to one nl Fo wlds Park. The -encral run of the gain.- was in favour of Mount Albert both incombinatioii anil positional play, although Mount Albert pressed continuously without actually appearing dangerous in the first spell. North Shores spasmodic attacks look.ml promising, but wen- fruitless for the greater part of the ga The side however, rose to areafer heights hall' way hroiigh the secomi half, when the combination showed a decided improvement ~,„) there was better understanding between llni players. Although Stevenson made one or two wild shots at goal at certain slaves he played an outstanding game and scored the three goals for Ihe visitors /«m ,h "'." "*«'Ptlon or the goalkeeper (Mills), who suffered an injury the previous w<-ek. the Shore team was at full strength. Chambers was injured early in Saturdays j;ame an(l Wils ro| ,i a( . o< i in the buck division after the interval by P Gerrard. Both sides played good football, although there were many lost opportunities through weak and wil.l drives. Shore Played with renewed visour towards the finish and the equalising and winning goals came as the result of well-judged centres by several forwards ami splendid driving by Stevenson. It was Mount Albert's second defeat this season and Shore's second victory. For Shore, the goalkeeper ,Sime), who replaced Mills, was safe and saved a number or hard shots. Stevenson. Hn.vden, Walters and Lund were always prominent, and the team as a whole played a sound game. Tin- outstanding players for Mount Albert were Needham and Fyvie who proved a wonderful combination on the left wing. Clark, on the right wing, saw little of the hall, but Woods. .Tcpsen. Hutchin- *""• S P I '"'"I s '"'s were in good form and played a sound game. COMBINATION TOO GOOD. Superior combination in attack bv their forwards and l>etter all-round teamwork were potent factors in V.M.C.A.'s :{—(l victory over Grey Lynn at Western Springs This was the club's first win, after three draws, this season. Milliard was sound as a bell in the Y.M. goal and Sims was the best of the other backs. Not a particularly spectacular player, he was nevertheless 'always in the right place at the right time, and was a constant thorn in Grey Lynns side, both in attack and defence. McMechan was responsible for some tricky and heady ballcontrol, and gave a fine display. The fullbacks. Swift and Moore, were both sound. The forwanl line functioned as smoothly

as a machine and all members played well. lr would be hard to pick any nut ahead of the others, although Mi-Murcliy and Bennett constantly caught the eye. Cirimnwr had a hard flay in goal for Grey r.ynn and came through lulte creditably, although lie would be well advised to try and speed up his clearing kicks. Hrown nrid Hadnip tried as hard as usual, and Kowmer also got through a lot of work. G. Grice was the shining light in the Grey Lynn attack and always strove manfully against bigger opponents. THISTLE FAILS TO FINISH. Although on the run of play Thistle shoul'l have beaten Kastern Suburbs at Victoria I'ark. their lack of finish In front of the goal put them on the wrong side of il one-goal victory. Play generally was" inclined to he wild and the St. lielier's team scored the only goal of the match in the first spell. Cowie defending the citadel for Suburbs. was always safe, clearing elonnly and far iipHVld time after time. Howison and Piniihukl were safe on defence and the wing halves. Turner and Rishop. played strongly. Gay distributing the work well. Of flic forward lini' ('illuming. A. Welch and K Welch were always prominent, anil Phipps. who was having his first try-out, gave a fine exhibition. More should he heard of this- player. For Thistle Swift did not have the same amount of work as Cowie but was always there when called upon and was ably supported by Allsop and Goodsall. Morris, at centre half, was particularly sound and was never bustled. His work was solid and he never wasted a pass. The forward line. Dean. Woods. Zicbell. Peebles and Angus, were hammering at the Suburbs goal, but opportunities were missed through wild passes. PONSONBY SUPERIOR. In flie gam." ;ii the Domain TVnsonliy wns far superior In its less experienced opponents (Oneliiinga I and won by three goals to nil. t'leal. the representative skipner. played a great game ar centre half tor I'linsuiiliy. bis positional play find Reuse nf direction being responsible for all Pnnsotih.v's goals. Inues. the v teran New /.calami international, was always a danger on the right wing, us was llackett as his half. Market played finely at full-hack and was a stumbling block fur the Onehnnga forwards. Warren's sound defence in goal was well up to standard while lis opposite .Morris, until injured in ihe second' half also gave a great exhibition. Hrass. right wing, was the shining light for Oneliiinga. Mis runs down the sideline were the highlights of the clay His forwards, however, were unable to make the most of their opportunities, as the stiff freeze tended to lilt their drives over or Until elevens at times were seen in prettv passng rushes, one of which bore fruit jvlicii. affer receiving the hall from cje«| Innes ran down the sideline before l.i centre forward Blaiklc who netted The second goal came when Morris, custodian tor Oneliiinga, was injured, and while all eyes were on him the hall rolled through the goal. ( le.il made it three after a corwars ''•>■ '"»<'*. The half time score

GRADE GAMES.

SECOND DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. 7. heat Abels I. North Shore -'. beat Thistle 1. Onehunga ,", boat Training College ° Mount Albert .-,. bent IVnsonbv O " aly UuUm,m la tb,! THIRD DIVISION. Onehunga ■",. bp.it W.Y.M I 3 Comrades. 4. licit I'onsotil.y I.' INTKRMKUIATK. Mount Albert J. lii Nit Comrades B •> North Shun- S. 1,-,, t. W. V.M.I. ~. MptPl. -r..11,. 5 ,. l>. h..,|( (•„„„•;,,1« 0 Grey Lynn (i. drew wi ,|, y \j c A 0 FOrilTH CItADK. Hn'Ki'H .I. be.it Eastern Suburbs 1 North Sin.re -j, drew with y ,\| c \ o Mctro.-C.dleg,. ii. ,i,-,.u- with Onehunga' 0. riITH CItADK V.M.I .A. Rivals L\ lH.ii t Thistle 0. \.M.< A. Spin-.-, 11, divw with Comrades IJ SIXTH CHAD!-]. default"" B ' , WOU fr ° m WYMI - by J'-.M.-'VV ".' , " % ' ,t N " r,n Shore a. N.1.M.1. :.', bent Onehiiriga 1. Si:\ KNTII CHADK. Y.M.C.A. Hovers 5, beat Eastern Suburbs, Oiiehiinga 0. bet i'.M.C'.A. Rivals 2 Onehunga -i. Lout Y.M.C.Y (j. F.II.HTII (iIIAIiK. Y.M.f'.A. KiiviT.. i bc.it Suburbs B 0 '■ML'.A. lii vula beat Comrades B by SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SKXIOR (JKADE. Taknptinn Grammar 3, beat Mount Albert <lra miliar 1. Auckland Grammar 4, beat Technical 1. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Mount Albert Grammar A 6, beat Technical B 0. Technical 6. beat Mount Albert Grammar B 0. Auckland Grammar 2, beat Takapuna Grammar 0. Utahuhu Technical 2. beat Kowhai 0. JUNIOR GRADE. Technical 4, beat Mount Albert Grain mar 1! (I. Auckland Grammar 0, beat Kowhai 1. GAMES IN SOUTH. WELLINGTON. (First A Division). Hospital fi. beat Diamond 4. Waterside l>. beat Technical 1. I'etone r.. bent Scatoiin i. Swifts 4, bent Marist (I. (First B Division.l Minimar Hangers -, beat Scottish Wanderers 1. Nada :'., beat Training College 1. Stop Out l>. beat Oiwslow 1. Institute Old Bo.vs !>, beat Lower Hutt 1. CHKISTCHIIKH. Western fi, beat Technical 4. Rangers L , , beat St. Albans J. Thistle 3, drew with Nomads 3. DUNEDIN. Maori Hill ?,, drew with SeaclifTe 3. Mornington 5, beat Technical Old Boys 2. High School Old Boys 4, beat Caversham ~ Mosgiel 10, beat Roslyn-Wakari 3.

P. W". I,. T>. V. V. Pts. fiuiir/iilfs r. 4 i - lit s s .Mr. Allwrf Cm in r> ,1 •' - 17 s (J I'linsuiibv r> :: :: _ 12 7 <; AIh-Is r. 2 1 2 1211 <; KnstiTii Suburbs . ."i 2 1 1 11 i:j i! V.m.c.a r> 1 1 :s 10 :i r, Nnrili Short' 5 2 2 1 11 J, , ! T, Tliisllc 5 1 2 2 4 S 4 • ii-.y I.ynn r> 1 .'{ 1 ;t Hi :', OlK'liiuiKll •"> - 4 1 R 31 1