Y.M. STILL LEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 14

Y.M. STILL LEAD.

SOCCER COMPETITION.

ONEHUNGA JUST SHADED.

PONSONBY BEAT NORTH SHORE

On heavy ground* in the city nil>l suburbs tivr games in the senior championship of the A \i< kla ml Football Association were played on Saturday. At Ulandford I'.n k N M.t'.A. just. shaded Onehunga in a m i! Ii tlilt leeiMilod only one goal, and Mil ls defeated (!rrv Lynn by 3 goals to '2 on tlu- same grounds in the eiirtain-

nn-er. < oinrades had a comfortable win «.v.'i Thistle at. Victoria I'ark. and I'oncunliv proved superior to North Shore at I >.\ niipnii . Eastern Suburbs went down lo Mi.unt Albert Grammar Old Bovs at l'",,wlds I'ark. Scores were:—Y.M.t' A. 1, On. Ining.i H; ()| 1 lln\s i). Suburbs 3: l'onsonbv .'!. North Shore 0: Comrades 7, Tin't le :i ; Abe In 3. (i rev Lynn 2. How they stand: — C.onls Ch. r. w. L. n. K. A ris. V M r.V ... 1.-, 0 2 4 -IS 20 22 M \ .1. «» It. . 11 !) I 1 (12 2S 111 Comrades . . I t 7 -t 3 |."> 32 17 Ahe If* 11 0 3 5 32 20 17 f'iillso ull v ... 12 7 3 2 23 10 1« North Shore 14 7 0 1 4". 42 1". Thistle in n h 2 jo ::2 12 Onehuncn ... 1"» 3 0 3 :*.!> ."»2 0 East. Subs. . l."> 3 0 III! <>~i 0 Grey Lynn . 14 2 10 2 30 til <> ONEHUNGA'S GOOD SHOWING.

Onehunga has often unset form this sea son and their debut at Itlandford I'ark was awaited with Interest. This was Increased by Ihe fact that the M.iniikau men will also meet Y.M.C.A. again In the Falcon Clip linn I. Conditions could tot have been worse fur Oiichtitiga's llrst appearance, with a sloppy surface nod a greasy bull, hut the game was played at a.i astonishing pace by two of the fittest teams of the season. In fact, much duller games have been seen on a hard surface with a dry ball. There was an Inevitable element of mlsklcklng and erratic shotting. I tit most players showed surprising hall control, and tho defence on both sides was superior to the attack. The only goal came early in the game, when clever combined head work from a corner saw Bennett nod to the net. Both goals had narrow escapes afterwards, nnil Onehnnga were unlucky not to score, but Y.M. held its advantage to rli* finish. Milliard gave his usual Mulshed and snappy display In Y.M.'s goal, and at hack the Wellington Institute player McLean promises well In Moore's vacancy. Sims at Filvot led his side solidly and was sound n both defence nnd attack. The forwards combined well In mlilfleld. but found the sodden ball treacherous for tnrget work. For Onehunga Burrows showed the Navy dash in the Mnnilkau citadel anil brought off some great saves, and he was solidly supported by Ills shipmate Rutherford at full hack. It. I.indsay was outstanding both 111 defence and attack In the pivotal position, and never let tip. lie got good support from the veteran Blockley, nnd Wiseman. The Onehunga vanguard were also bothered bv the greasy ball and treacherous footing, but. Wallace shone out with good hall control and clever dribbling. Brass did some useful line work, hut finished weakly near goal. I'hllllps. with a reputation as a goal getter, disappointed, with conditions not suiting him.

1938 CHAMPIONS BEATEN. Ponsonhy'si superior piny proved _ the deciding factor In the frame ngninst North Shore (past yenr's champions), nt Devonport, though there whs little territorial advantage throughout the game. North Shore's combination was weak, and their work around the goal-mouth lacked I ncl si ven ess. Ponsotihy was strong hotli bnck and forward, the halves co-operating neatly with the forwards, and using good Judgment In placing the ball to the best advantage. The North Shore defence was frequently out of position. SIX GOALS TO CLARK. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys (showed tlielr superiority when they defeated lOastern Suburbs by nine goals to three. In the tlrst half Suburbs held their opponents, hut In the second seemed to lose heart, especially as Mount Albert rattled on five goals In nbout ns many minutes. There was ii great deal of difference between Cowle and Rosenberg, gonl-keepers for Suburbs and Mount Albert respectively. Although he made some good saves in the earlier stages, Cowle later disappointed badly. Rosenberg, however, brought off really brilliant oaves right through the piece. Taylor nnd Sims, Mount Albert's fnll-bneks. were the better, nnd Suburbs could not romlmt their bustling tactics. Dickie ami Howlson tried hard for the losers, but the opposing forwards were far too clever. Among the halves. Ward and Hutchinson (Mount Alherli "Mowed out. and some of their moves were clever. Archer was perhaps the best of Suburbs' halves, but he was frequently iv'iailsed. Clark, centre-forward for Mount Albert, was the best front liner on the held. His piny has Improved greatly, ami he was responsible for si* of his team's goals. Fyvie ii nil Needhnm an usual combined snlendldly. Welsh, centre forward, nnd Collings, left Wing, were the best Suburbs' forwards, Kerr on the right win?, nnd Bishop, Inside lilrn, had a good understanding, ami their line combination was rewarded when Kerr secured his side's first goal. The other scorers for Mount Albert were Bcrrlman, Fyvlo nnd Needhnm. Kerr nnd Collings netted for Suburbs. Sims, Mount Albert full-baak, unfortunately gave bis opponents the third goal when he deflected the ball while attempting to clear. COMRADES FARE WELL. The more experienced Comrades players defeated Thistle comfortably at Victoria Park, having the better of the play throughout. Thistle has had an unlucky year with replacements, and the promoted juniors lacked finish. Thistle attempted tho close-passing game, while Comrades threw the ball about and kept the play open. Ycarbury had little trouble In Comrades' goal, while Rlggans and McKenna offered a stout back line defence. At centre-half Hooten distributed the piny well, Moseley nnd McAllster being sound on the wings. A. Francis was strong on attack, but the most prominent front-liners were M. Francis nnd Matthews. Evans, on the right, and Masters, on the left, were always dwngerous. Appleyard waa kept busy In Thistle's citadel, as Allsop and Goodsnll were forced back Into the goal area by the strength of the attacks. Outstanding for Thistle were Wright and Constable, who worked hard to hold the attack, but were unable to maintain combination with their front line. Angus, at centre-forward, was always dangerous, while the two Juniors, Price nnd Bell, showed n good knowledge of combined play, despite their lack <VC experience. ABELS SCRAPE HOME. Like Onehungn, the Grey Lynn players made their first appearance as seniors nt headquarters, hut were not so Impressive, either an a combination or Individual. But Abels'were not nt their liveliest for the ctirfnln-rnlaer. and a protracted hailstorm had a chilling effect on the players. The result was' a very aimless nnd scratchy trnine, with players skidding and sliding nut of control at times, nnd the run of rhe ball hard to Judge or direct. The more experienced Newmarket men carried ■no many guns for the Grey -Lynnltes, hut •ho youngsters battled gamely lind ran the "•■ds to n 3—2 decision, with the aid of a • nniilty goal and a gift one from a mis•''"k. Robinson had a hand In Abels trio goals and enjoyed the softlsh going, •bile Dowler netted the double for Grey f.vnn nnd is a smart opportunist. But It vould not he fair to Judge the latest recruits 'n senior Soccer under such dismal conditions.

OTHER MATCHES. SECOND DIVISION. Shore 0, bent Y.M.C.A. B 1. Training College fl, bent Abels 1. Enstern Suburbs <1, beat Thistle 3. Y.M.C.A. A S, bent Ponsoaby 0. Mount Albert 7. bent Onehunga 1. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Shorn 1, drew with Metro-College 1. FOURTH GRADE. Comrades 3. bent Onehnngn 2. Shore R I<>. bent Metro-College 0. FIFTH fIRADE. Thistle bent Y.M.C.A. Spurs by default. OTSteV" ho "t Comrades Hby default. v'iVV. » Rovers 2. bent Shore 0. '-■•tion i "• Churches Asso rwu SIXTH ORADIC. Shw« n /"h 4 f b^" t Thistle 1. onote 4, beat Comrades 1. Rho~ - l "l VE, ' TH GRADE. Shore won by def ß „i t from Suburb , , eighth GRADE. SHOW 1. beat YJ4.C.A. Kott. 0.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SKNIOR OKADE. KNOCK-OUT FINAL. Takapuna 1, boat Auckland l». INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Technical A 6, beat Mount Albert A 1. -Mount Albert C 5, beat Technical B 2 Otahuhu Technical 1, drew with Taka puna B 1. JUNIOR GRADE. KNOCK-OUT FINAL. Technical A 3. beat Mount Albert A 1 GAMES IN SOUTH. DUNEDIN. .\losgicl (i, bent Seacllff 0. Cawrsliam 2. drew with Mornington 2. .Northern 1. drew with Maori Hill 1. Ituslyu Wukari I, beat Technical 1. L'll KISTCH U KG" 11. Nomads A S, beat Nomads 11 3. Western 12, beat St. Albans o. Thistle A ti, beat Rangers A 1!. Technical A 7. beat Technical B 2.

AUCKLAND REPS

TEAM TO MEET WELLINGTON. Mr. A. P. Neesham, sole selector, will choose the team to meet Wellington in the K. A. Trophy challenge game next Saturday from the following: —Warren ( I'onsouby), Riggans, McKcnna (Comrades). West (North Shore), G. Sims ( Y.M.I'.A.), Hooten (Comrades). Cleat (I'onsouby I, Jones (Abels). Robinson (Abels) McCallutn (I'onsouby), Stevenson (Shore), Fyvie and Needham (Mount Albert (irammar Old Boys), and L. Woods (Thistle).

The final selection is not likely to be made until Saturday, when ground conditions will be probably the deciding influence, (.'leal, who was injured against Wellington Watersiders on Saturday is still doubtful, and R. Speed, left back, who played earlier this season, is not available owing to injury.

SCOTTISH SEASON OPENS.

LONDON. August 13. The first series of games played on Saturday under the control of Ihe Scottish Fotifhall Association resulted as follow*:— First Division. — Aberdeen 3. v. Celtic 1: Albion v. Ayr 0: Alloa v. St. .Johnstone 0; Clyde t. v. Falldrk ti: Cowdenbeath 2, v. Third Lanark 1: Hamilton 2. v. Arbroath 0 : Hearth of Midlothian 1. v. I'nrtlck 1 ; Kilmarnock 3, v. Motherwell : Queen of the South 2. v. Hibernian 1: Hangers .">. v. St. Mlrren 1. Second Division.—Brechin 0. v. St. Ber nard's O: Dundee v. Rnitli 1 : East Fife '1. v. Morton O: Enst Stirling 4. v. Montrose 1 : Edinburgh 2, v. Dundee United 3 : Forfar I!, v. King's I'ark 5; Lelfli 1. v. Dumbarton 2: Queen's Park 2. v. Alrdrie 0: Stenhousemulr 0. v. Dunfermline 0.