ONEHUNGA AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 160, 10 July 1939, Page 12

ONEHUNGA AGAIN.

SOCCER SURPRISE. ABELS-PONSONBY EQUAL. ? YOUNG MEN SHADE SUBURBS. Onehunga were once again responsible for a major Soccer surprise on Saturday intthe senior division championships when they defeated North Shore, one of the leading teams, by t)he substantial margin of 7 goals to 4, at Devonport. The main game, between Ponsouby and Abels, at Blandford Park, yielded a draw at one-all after an exciting game, und at the Domain Y.M.C.A. put down a strong Eastern Suburbs team by 6 goals to 3. Comrades ■proved too good for Thistle at Victoria Park, and at Fowlds Park Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys walked away from Grey Lynn with a score of 9 goals to 1. Scores were:— Abels 1, Ponsonby 1. 1 .M.C.A. 6, Suburbs 5. Onehunga 7, North Shore 4. Comrades 3, Thistle 1. Old Boys 9, Grey Lynn 1.

The positions of the teams are as follows :— Goals Ch. F. W. I„. D. F. A. l'ts V-M.C.A 11 r, 2 4 33 21 14 Alt. A.G.0.8. . 10 (i 3 1 42 10 13 Ponsonby 10 3 jo 7 J); la Comrades 11 5 3 3 31 -4 13 North Shore . 10 .1 4 1 33 J!) 11 Abels 10 3 3 4 2-t 25 10 Thistle 11 4 r> 2 L'O 18 10 Kastcrn Sub. .11 3 ~ 3 ,j Onehunga ... 11 3 7 1 24 45 7 Grey L,y UU .. 11 2 7 2 24 4i)

PHILLIPS' FIVE GOALS. Onehunga journeyed (o Devonport and ve 'tin* Shore sid<» th« shock <>t ! their liv<*s. After Shore liad put three quick one.s into the net the liome side eased up the pressure, and the young Manukau forwards were soon tearing through the defence and evening matter*. It. took Siiore ail their tune to have the lead of the odd goal in seven advantage at half-time. Turning round with a cool breeze in their favour, Oiiehunga went all out for goals in the second sjm'll , and by netting four times while Shore were unable to score again the visitors went home with two well-earned points with a margin of seven goals to four in their favour. Outstanding for Mauukau was Phillips, at centre forward, a promoted ihird grade colt, who found the net five times and had no difficulty in ■popping them in from all angli*. He was well supported by l.rass and Fraser in the front line, which was well fed by Lindsay and Wiseman, while Blockley was sound at full-back. The Shore halve* and backs had an off day, although at full strength, and faulty positional play let the west coast colts in repeatedly. Stevenson and Blackie nhone Ln the Shore tiring line, but got little support from the rear.

HONOURS EVEN. While tlie weather was tine conditions were very wintery at Blandford Park for tin* first match this year between Abels an.l Ponsonby. Heavy rain had made the surfa -e heavy, and spoilt many of the liner touches of the play. Ponsonby had DoUjOii deputising in goal for Warren, and l-'lvger tilled lnnes' berth at outside right. Abels were unlucky to lose their promising wing half, Davies, in the early stages of the game, bin put up a sidid defence which made Ponsonby's attack less penetrative than the previous week. Play wan brigiit and lively right through a hard tussle, and a draw of one goal each was fairly representative of the run of the play. l'.iktli .sides mii-sed scoring chances, but a greasy heavy ball made accurate shooting difficult. Abels scored first from a tine left-foot drive by K. Kkniati. which gave Dobsou no chance. Ponsonby equalised soon after, when Farnan drew Cameron out and slipped a pass for Wyllic to back-heel cleverly ami score. After that it was a grim struggle to gain the lead, but the defence at both ends was very solid. Ponsonhy's form showed a falling off. and Abels gave quite a good all-round display. For Ponies Dobson fielded and saved well, but was not so .-.trong in clearing as I'anicrnii. Masters and Haggetf were a solid brace of backs. Cleal was outstanding in the middle line, his defensive work averting one or two sure goals in the first half. In the second spell lie wars not so effective in attacking, and blazed at goal when passing |o a closer range was called for. W.vllie combined well, with Farnan and McCallum in the inside positions, anil Mullane was the best wing forward on the day. Cajneron was as nimble as ever with smart collecting and clearing, and Water* shone at full-back. .lone* played a solid game at centre half, and in A'bels tiring line Fitzgerald, with good support from Eraser and Hamilton, was always* dangerous.

THEY JUST GOT THERE. Y.M.C.A. and Eastern Suburbs clashed in a hard and fast game at the Domain. The former eventually pulled the game off by six goals to five. Suburbs can be considered unlucky, as they wvre the better combination on the day.

In Welsh, Suburbs have a very fine pivot, and he was responsible for all liis side's goals. He was ably assisted by Cummings on the right wing, who made some excellent runs. Collidge was the best of the other lorwards. his all-round game being very sound. Archer shone at times at centre-half, but lie found Bennett, the opposing pivot too hard to beat. Roth full-backs defended stoutly, while Cowie in j?oal brought off some really brilliant saves.

For Y.M.C.A.. Bennett, fne centre forward. played a brilliant game, each of his five goals being well earned. His ability to feed his wings was excellent. Sims, centre half, also showed the correct way to get his outsides going. Burton anil McMeehan, the wingers, tried hard and the former made some excellent runs. Brennan. at left inside, played patchily, but he scored a goal through' good anticipation. Among the backs Swift and McMurchie played sound defensive games, while the last line of defence, Hilliard, was often called upon to dive in order to save. He brought off several brilliant saves, and but for him, Y.M.C.A. would have been beaten.

GREY LYNN WILT. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys were on the attack for most of the tirst half of their game against Grry Lynn at Knwlris I'ark, lint it was not until the second half that their efforts bore result. After a smart goal by Ward, (irey Lynn wilted under the strain and from then on it was just a matter of liow many Old Boys would win by. In addition to their better combination and positional play. Old Boys enjoyed a great advantage in height and weight and this they made good use of. Therr goalie, Rosenberg, was sound, although he had little to do, and all the backs were efficient and enterprising throughout, with Ward, centre half, and Speed, full-back, outstanding. The forwards were not impressive in the first half, but harried the opposition throughout. Fy vie. Clarke and Needham were always in the picture.

Grimmer, the promising young Grey Lynn goalie, could not be blamed for his side's defeat, nor could the full-backs. Brown and Hadrup. Broberg, centre half, was suffering from an injury, and it was in the half line that the main weakness lay. The forwards were given few chances, although Callaghan and G. Grice tried hard right through.