COMRADES TAKE LEADING POSITION IN CHAMPIONSHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

COMRADES TAKE LEADING POSITION IN CHAMPIONSHIP

SOCCER

Winner of 1940 senior Soccer honours, Comrades went into leading position on the championship ladder as the result of to-day's games, and Ponsonby took second place ahead of Thistle.

..In the main match at Blandford Park, Comrades beat Air Force by 4 goals to 2, and North Shore was victorious over Thistle by a similar margin. Ponsonby emerged the winner against Abels by 1 goal in an 11goal game. Eastern Suburbs and Metro - College drew, each' scoring 2 goals. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys beat One-* hunga to the tune of 8 goals to 2.

COMRADES WIN The Air Force nut Comrades in the main attraction at headquarters, and the teams lined up as follow: —• Air Force: Johnson, Moore, Evcrson, Glenn, Latimer, Alderman, Baker, Caisley, Bell. Ellis and Waters. Comrades: McCamisli, Riggans, McKenna, llealy. Finchain, Matthews, Curley, Evans, Walters, -A® Francis, Masters. Comrades won the tons. From the kick off Air Force was ihe first to prms, hut a nice clearance iby MeKenna sent t'lie Comrades vanguard away to see Moore ! effect a good save. After 15 minutes'" play Walter converted a good erotics fiom Curley. Comrades 1, Air Force 0. Midtiekl play followed, and then a raid led >by Waters on Air Force's left wing j was effectively cleared Ivy Riggans. Comrades then attacked and Evans was prominent, but the defence proved superior. Fmcham was playing a very solid game at centre half for Comrades, and upset the airmen's forwards on numerous ocea- \ sions. Following a corner kick by Curley for Comrades. Matt'hews. the left half, had a great shot, which Johnson did well to save. Although Comrades was showing better combination, several raids by the Air Forte, in whi.-h Caisley, Bell and Ellis showed up. looked dangerous. _ but tlio final touches were lacking. Air Force was now having the better of exchanges, 'but* the interval arrived with the-score: —

Comrades 1 Air Forte 0 From the kick-off Baker led an Air Force attack, but McKeiina cleared in pood style to send Masters away for Comrades. Waiters met Masters' cross but Johnson saved well. Waters broke away on the Air Force left wing and put oyer a groat shot to test McCamish, but the sialic proved equal to the occasion. Play was very last and a breakaway h>" Coiiibrades saw Johnson run out to have, but Masters beat liim for the ball and scored Comrades' second point. Comrades 2 Air Force It. A few moments later Curley notched the third goal for Comrades, but he appeared to be offside when he received the ball. A corner kick by Cuvley resulted in a scramble in front of the goal in which Johnson distinguished himself with two brilliant saves. Caisley was working hard for Air Force, and started sever il *ood forward iiKHunrnts, hut the line lacked the combination of its opponents. For the next live minutes Comrades bombarded the Air 1-one coal, but Johnson was solid. Waters relieved the situation for the flyers with a pood run on the left win},', while Bell was only inches wide of the mark with a pood shot a little later. Aubrey Francis headed the fourth goal for Comrades after a nice movement Tn which all the forwards took part Bell then reduced the lead when be broke through the defence to beat McCamish. Comrades 4, Air force 1. Caisley then scored the second goal tor the Airmen with a first time shot, and the game became most exciting. Ihe nnal whistle then sounded with the score: Comrades _ Air Force * Referee, Mr. A. Firth.

PONSONBY'S FINE WIN '-AX is? S-rSs"SfSvSs c fl entr e b ßrL\en y bridge. £ r to be outdone. Brackenbridge. with a SSS SWSSk £ IB well out. The score at half time *as. Abels 4 Ponsonby * *. "'<• , POnS °" b lAh\ C p"luy n by h Chrpman ha "nd dr rn i n fine V t)iece of work by Dowler ended in Callaghan r b "man U ?n UC the "ront'llnfhis opponent. The final score, was:— Ponsonby 5 Abels

SHORE SURPRISE THISTLE Shore attacked strongly in the °pening stages Thistle sorties looked dangerous, but tne btiore de A n fa S t W p S acf U wa d s maintained and exciting play round both goals kept the spectators on 'heir toes. Thistle eventually got through when Woods coaled from close in. Almost immediately Shore reta.lated with a smart forward raid that was finalised by Price, the spell ending a minute later. The pace was again on when the second spell opened, and several lively forward raids by Shore had the Thistle defence extended for some time, but the defenders eventually cleared. Shore came again, and Richards gave his side the lead when ho goaled from a lew yards out. Thistle rallied from this reverse to storm the Shore goal, but the finishing touch was lacking at the critical moment. Shore again attacked strongly to force a corncr. from which Nettleton goaled. The final stages saw Woods goal from a solo efTort, but Shore returned to the attack for Richards to again increase their lead and they were holding a decided advantage in play when the game ended. North Shore * Thistle a

SUBURBS-METRO DRAW With the wind in their favour the Eastern Suburbs rfien attacked early and pushed to MetroCollege's area, but Gordon cleared. Play hung about Metro territory, and McKellar's shot beat the goalie. Suburbs 1. Metro 0. Metro now took a hand, but Cowie repelled the invaders. A further raid by Metro saw McKellar effect a good save when Cowie was caught out from his aroa. Rallying, Subyrbs came into the attack and the position looked dangerous for Metro when Gordon was challenged by Welch. Though following play was fast and open, neither side was able to turn advantages to account. With Metro pressing, Collings reversed the situation, and after repeated knocks Welch goaled as halftime was sounded. Suburbs 2, Metro 0. The second period opened with Metro, attacking early, but Cowie was not to be caught napping. A third successive raid saw Hannam take a shot which went just above the cross-bar. Not to be denied so easily, Metro, came again and Hope-Ede was rewarded. Metro 1, Suburbs 0. Play was now more lively, and Hannam' tried hard to open up. Outside Suburbs' citadel Baldwin headed the ball, but it struck the cross-bar. The pressure was not relaxed, with the result that Hope-Ede was again able to make full use of an opportunity. Metro 2, Suburbs 2. With Metro, forcing the pace. Suburbs' defence was strained to the utmost. A splendid save was effected by Gilbert when Cowie was caught on the far side of the net. Toward the end Metro, continued to have the better of the play but the shooting was poor. The game ended:— Metro. College 2 Eastern Suburbs 2 | Referee: Mr. R. Brighton.

SECOND GRADE FINAL \ The final of the second grade championship between Metro. College and North Shore provided the curtain raiser at Blandford Park. In the early stages Metro, pressed and Marvin put his side in the lead when he converted a good pass Irom Parkinson. Stone soon equalised for North Shore, whilst a little later Corbctt put his side in the lead with a nice shot. Metro came again and Wallace scored to again equalise the scores. Waters scored the third and winning point for Metro, with a great shot. The final whistle blew with the score:— Metro. College 3 North Shore 2 Mr. A. Kyle was referee.