SOCCER FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 163, 12 July 1943, Page 5

SOCCER FOOTBALL

The final round" of the first series of matches for the A.F.A. championship was concluded on Saturday, and in spite of dismal weather some interesting Soccer was witnessed. After having far the better of play in the first half of the main attraction against Mount Albert Grammar A—Metro College A was a goal behind at half-time. ' Grammar played much improved football in the second spell and had little difficulty in taking two points off the leaders. There was special interest in the curtain-raiser between Eastern Suburbs and Garrison, as the winning team qualified to enter the first six teams, to compete in the final series for the senior championship. A very lively and clever game was seen, and although Suburbs had ta comfortable victory, the score was flattering on the run of the play. Comrades had an easy win over Metro College B, and Air Force defeated Mount Albert B by the odd goal. Ponsonby surprised Papakura to win by a four-goal margin, whilst North Shore and Training College drew at Devonport. The results were:— Mount Albert Grammar A 4, beat Metro C °Eaftern Suburbs 7, beat Garrison 2. Comrades 8, beat Metro College B 3. Air Force 3, beat Mount Albert a 6. Ponsonby 6, beat Papakura 2. North Shore 2, drew with Training College 2. Two Hat Tricks For Suburbs.— Very rarely are two hat tricks obtained by the same side on the one day. but this was the case in ine curtain-raiser on Saturday, when Suburbs oe feated Garrison by seven goals to two. « lels ™' Suburbs' inside left, who Is right at the top of his form now. secured tne , fl "t f our goals for his side, whilst Ray Welsh < cen » ... Tn'Tiobliged by netting the last three p ?' n ,l%„hnrbs dentally, Nielsen scored three of the four Suburbs goals the previous week, when the side defeated North Shore by four goals to two, but was robbed of his hat trick on this occasion, as R. Welch secured the second one. . The game vas played at a very fast pace and was full of thrills. Excellent shooting by both sets of forwards was a feature of the Ba™e. but the luck of the game was certainly against Garrison. Alf Smith turned out in pal for Garrison and played a fine game, whilst Hlggs.Beasy Morgan, Richards and Noyer were all In excellent form. For Suburbs, King, Gay, Espie, Walsham and Gilbert all played well in addition to Nielsen and R. Welch. A Fine Goal.—Phillips, Metro's centre-half, was responsible for the first goal of the match when he let loose a great drive from at least 30 yards range — the ball going just under the centre of the cross-bar into the net. Grammar s goals were scored by Clark (2) and Wilkinson (2), although the latter's first point was deflected into the net by a Metro defender in an attempt to clear. The ground was very slippery in the second half, which upset the shooting of both vanguards, but Grammar made the most of its opportunities and deserved its victory, although Metro had far the better of the game In the first half. For Grammar, R. Speed, Ward, Clark and Wilkinson were most prominent whilst Gordon, M. Speed, McGluckie. Phillips and Webber played well for Metro-College. Brothers As Rep. Full-Backs. —The Auckland representative side to meet the Combined Services XI. in the main attraction at Blandford Park next Saturday ccr.tains a rather unusual feature for Auckland — namely, that the brothers Speed are picked as the Auckland backs. Of course Ray has given yeoman service in the past to the Auckland reps., but he is now to be partnered by brother Merv., who has been playing such fine football for Metro-College recently, and the pair should put up a very solid defence. Canterbury has been noted for the Smith brothers, whilst the Wellington reps, usually contain the Yeoman brothers, but the only recent occasion of brothers playing for Auckland the writer can call to mind Li Murray and Aubrey Francis. Going back some years, of course, there was Ces. and Life Dacre. but this Is the first time that both full backs for Auckland are brothers. Rep. Match Changes. — Owing to Papakura and Garrison being level on the table for sixth place, it will be necessary for the camp team to play Metro-College B next Saturday. Papakura players, therefore, will not be available for the Combined Services in the representative match against Auckland on Saturday, and their places will be taken by Moran and Richards, of Garrison, and Caisley, of Air Force.