CHAMPION BEATEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 118, 21 May 1945, Page 7

CHAMPION BEATEN

PHILOMEL'S GOOD WIN

SOCCER ELIMINATION ROUND Second defeat of the season was suffered by Metro. College, last year's Soccer champion, when it met Philomel in the main match at Blandford Park on Saturday in the fourth series in the elimination round. . Philomel took the honours by three clear goals In a ninegoal game. Last season the championship was fought out between Mfetro. and Naval Depot, and the meeting of the champion team and the Navy side on Saturday attracted a good attendance. Play was fast and the scoring high despite the fact that the ground was heavy after the torrential rain overnight, and the ball was greasy. Even during the' second match the ground was in remarkably good condition. One of the features of the match was the performance of the Philomel vanguard, four of which were drawn from visiting personnel. Four of the five forwards registered goals, two netting the double each. Metro, made strong endeavours to pull the game out of the fire, and on two occasions was successful in equalising. Philomel, however, rattled on three goals in succession to put the issue beyond doubt. 'Scorers for Philomel were Williams (2), Wigg (2), Crossland and Baye,' while Woods, Cleal and Webber netted for Metro. College. Better combination by Ponsonby accounted for its win over Watersiders by three goals to two. Watersiders had the services of 10 men for most of the match, one player being ordered off early in the first period. Thompson (2) and McCallum scored for Ponsonby, while Disley and Callaghan goaled for Watersiders. Other games resulted: — R.N.Z.A.F. (Whenuapai) 5 (Hope-Ede 3, Wilkinson 2), R.N.Z.A.F. (Ardmore) 3 (Angus 3); North Shore 4 (Richards 3, Robinson 1), Mt. Albert Grammar Old Boys 2 (Jepson 2); Eastern Suburbs 5 (King 4, Collins 1), Thistle 1 (Orr). Although the ground on which the Ard-more-Whenuapai game was played was heavy and under water in many places, the game provided many spectacular incidents. Angus drew first blood for Ardmore with a good drive. Shortly after Wilkinson equalised for Whenuapai after a grand solo effort. Whenuapai kept hammering at the Ardmore goal, Wilkinson again finding the goal with a drive to the corner. After half-time play went straight to the Ardmore goal with Hope-Ede giving no chance at all. Again, from the kickoff, Hope-Ede went straight through in a great solo run, giving Whenuapai a 3goal lead. From a well placed cross from the right wing Hope-Ede once more found the net, putting Whenuapai further ahead. Play swept back to the other goal mouth and Angus pushed the ball through from the melee, giving Ardmore its second goal. Ardmore was still attacking when Angus again found the net with A high shot in the corner. Whenuapai won 5—3. *