SOCCER RICHARDS SCORES SIX GOALS FOR NORTH SHORE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 17

SOCCER RICHARDS SCORES SIX GOALS FOR NORTH SHORE

Alan Richards, the North Shore centre-forward, started off the season in fine style by notching all six goals for his side against Thistle at Devonport. The score of 6 goals to 1 in favour of the home side was somewhat flattering on the run of the play, which shows what an asset an opportunist like Richards is in any forward line. Richards has represented the Army and Aucklanu in representative games at Soccer and was twelfth man in the cricket representatives. This last season he topped the batting averages for North Shore and scored a century against Parnell (1) at Devonport, the first to be scored on that ground for seven seasons.

A. Wallace made a successful debut in senior Soccer at inside-left for Metro-College against Mt. Albert Grammar Old Boys in the main game at Blandford Park by scoring the first two goals for his side. Wallace is a brother of T. Wallace, Metro s consistent left-half. Last season he played fourth .grade for Eastern Suburbs, but on his showing last Saturday he appears to be a certainty for Metro-College seniors.

Another promoted junior to show up was Hayes, who led the Mt. Albert forward line. Hayes, who distributed the ball in good style and showed plenty of pace, is a good shot and scored Mt. Albert's first point with a snap-shot. Hayes is also a very promising fast bowler and played for Parnell senior B this season.

After 12 years' absence from regular matches, George Surtees, who turned out for the Watersiders' team in its first match of the season, showed that he had not forgotten the finer points about goal-keeping in the intervening years. A big. wellbuilt man, Surtees showed lightness on his feet and he effected some splendid saves when hard pressed time and again by the Philomel vanguard in the first period. Three shots of the many essayed at goal got past the goalie, but one of these was a penalty, which in any case would have been almost impossible to stop. Leading the Watersiders eleven was another ex-Ponsonby player, M. Callaghan, who showed up to advantage when he went on to play toward the end of.last season as inside left.

Back in goal for Metro-College, last season's championship winner, was Rov Gordon, who has been with the team since 1937, with the exception of periods when he was away from the city on Army service. The ex-Auckland representative was in good form and he gave a polished display of keeping against Mt. Albert Grammar Old Boys, though Hayes and Needham each got a shot past him. While stationed in the south last season Gordon came to Auckland for several games, but he was sporting enough not to attempt to displace the youthful A. Putt, who was giving a good account of himself as Metro custodian.

There were many defections in the way of last season's Naval Depot players from the Philomel eleven which took, the field against Watersiders. Though the Navy team has reserved the right to play any men from the shore establishments and ships which may happen to be in port, it did not give the same promise on first appearance as did the Naval Depot side last season. Leading the team temporarily pending the selection of a captain was Burroughs, at centre forward, who staged a comeback after some years. Like Rutherford, stalwart of the defence, he played for Onehunga when that team carried off the Falcon Cup. Last week he was again to the fore in both attack and defence. Assisting the naval side again and teamed alongside of Rutherford was Parrish, the Shore cricketer. Yeamans was another new addition to the Navy eleven, though he needs no introduction to Auckland Soccer followers in view of his past performances in goal.