ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 184, 7 May 1928, Page 11

ASSOCIATION

DIAMONDS HEAD TABLE

MARIST DEFEAT Y.M.C.A.

REVIVAL OF INSTITUTE

The Basin Reserve came into Use for Association football for the first time this season on Saturday, when the two games there drew quite a fair gate. Marist And Y.M.C.A. had their first meeting, which resulted in victory for Marist, while on the second ground Seatoun and Thistle were engaged. Thistle winning by the odd goal in three. Petone engaged Institute, the latter springing a surprise in making the game a draw, and Diamonds made the journey to Hospital, where they Just won on the call of time.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE SENIOR A. Diamonds, 3; Hospital, 2. Thistle, 2; Seatouu, 1. Petone, 2; Institute, 2. Marist, 3; Y.M.C.A., 2. SENIOR B. Waterside, 6: Thistle, 1. Swifts, 3; Johnsonville, 2. Hutt, 7; Marist, 3. ■ South Wellington, 2; Brooklyn, 1. A CLOSE CALL HOSPITAL’S HALF-TIME LEAD. A good crowd of Diamonds supporters accompanied the team to Porirua on Saturday afternoon to follow the fortunes of the Blacks. Hospital fielded a stronger team, and Diamonds soon realised that there was no walk-over awaiting them. The ground is a shade on the small side, and not suited to the short passing game which Diamonds opened with, and the Hospital men, swinging the ball about, soon had Diamonds well on the defence. For three-parts of the first half Hospital had matters much their own way. Marshall scoring the first goal after Ewing had saved once. McLeod put tn some good shots, but Ell, in good form, saved anything which came straight at him. fast or slow. Anton had a couple of shots which Ell threw himself out to save finely. The Hospital right-winger scored a second goal before the interval, when Hospital led by 2 goals to nil. Diamonds then changed their tactics, and began to piny a more open game with better results. In a melee Smith rushed through to beat Ell for the first time, and a few minutes later McCormack, with a drive from the left, enable Diamonds to draw level. This inspired them to greater efforts, and for a good while they shaded the Hospital team. The home side broke away once or twice, but Diamonds’ defence withstood the test, and in a vigorous sortie on Hospital goal Smith did the necessary work and gave Diamonds the lead from a free-kick by Guest. McLeod and Daniells kept things lively on the right wing, but Ell was not eaught again, and at the other end Ewing came to light, saving two great shots from Hospital in a last rallying effort. IVothcrspoon also made a brilliant save, hooking the ball back over his head almost on the goal-line. Jeffreys played over vigorously, and was warned by the referee. He was playing centreforward, Thompson being at half and Gibb at back. Diamonds were perhaps a shade lucky to win by the odd goal in five.

Y.M.C.A. SUFFER DEFEAT

MARIST ATTACK IRRESISTIBLE.

Excellent conditions favoured the opening games at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. It was fitting, too, that last year's champions and runners-up, Y.M.C.A. aud Marist, should provide the fare for the large attendance assembled there. The game scintillated with the dexterous touches of players who had set out to do their best and were doing it. Pronounced superiority in the understanding of the .Marist forwards in tile latter part of the. first half and the excellent support given by the halves, of whom Kelly stood out conspicuously, gave Marist the verdict bv the odd goal in five, all scored before lialf time. Friekleton was missing from the Y.M.C.A. team, and Ballard made his first appearance this season, taking Frlckielon's place instead of going up to strengthen the forwards. One change was made in the Marist team. Marchant replacing Condon. The teams lined up as follow:— Y.M.C.A.—Lucas; Ballard, McGirr; Pearson, lieyling, Trott; Worth, Harrop, Rigby. Lack, Stocks. Marist — G. Fitzgerald; Rudolph, E. Fitzgerald; Kelly. Thomas, Burke; Barton, McElligott, Durning. Marchment, Cudby. Referee: Mr. A. E. Caisley. Marist kicked off and twice in the early minutes carried the ball to Y.M.C.A.'s goal, where Ballard on both occasions sent them back. The Marist forwards were conspicuous in some tine footwork, and McElligott lifted the ball over the bar. At length Y.M.C.A. took play to the other end. Durning, for Marist, then sped through the Y.M.C.A. backs, keeping excellent control of the ball. He had only Lucas ’to beat, but the Y.M.C.A. ’keeper jumped out. grasped the ball, aud punted clear. Time and again Y.M.C.A. played hard on to Marist’s defence, but Rigby and Lack, the chief Y.M.C.A. sharpshooters, were much too weak in delivery, whether bv head or foot. In fifteen minutes Marist went ahead. The play which led to the goal was a fine bit of work. Durning received from Cudby, aud finding no opening back-heeled to Barton to score. Marist 1. Y.M.C.A. U. In two minutes flic teams were level again. Burke, in an endeavour to clear, headed the ball into his own goal. Marist 1, Y.M.C.A. 1. Plav became very fast. Marist forwards. however, displayed capital combination, and a beautifully taken ball by Barton sailed into the net with Lucas scarcely seeing from whence it came. Marist 2, Y.M.C.A. 1. Stronger became the Marist thrusts, and gradually the Y.M.C.A. weak points became weaker, until Durning found the net from a header, following an unsuccessful attempt by Cudby. Lucas tipped the first shot on to the crossbar, but failed to recover quick enough to hold out Durnlngs return. .Marist 3, Y.M.C.A. 1. Y.M.C.A. steadied up for a bit, but weakness in front of goal kept them from reducing Marist’s lead. Fitzgerald, the Marist goalie, was once on the ground, and Worth failed to place the ball into an empty goal. Towards the close of the first half, Harrop scored for Y.M.C.A., making amends for some rather bad mistakes just before. Marist 3, Y.M.C.A. 2. The whistle went without any alteration In the score. The second half opened with. Y.M.C.A. attacking, but it was short-lived, and next minute Barton delivered a shot, which brought Lucas to his knees. There was not the brilliance aud elasticity of play in the second half as seen earlier in the game. In turn, Rigby and Keyling raised the hopes of Y.M.C.A. supporters but they found the Marist defence sound. Marist were unfortunate to lose Burke, who was oil part of the first half also. Nevertheless, the Marist team presented a stiff front, although several easy openings were given Y.M.C.A. ~s once had an untenanted goal, but failed. The game ended with victory to Marist by 3 goals to 2.

THISTLE BEAT SEATOUN

Thistle and Seatoun met on No. 2 ground at the Basin Reserve. The former won by the odd goal in three. The first minutes saw Thistle attacking --tron o lj, but a solid Seatoun defence held them at bay. Seatoun were the first to score, Kershaw findings the net from a penalty kick. Wyatt, the Seatoun keeper, was in sore straits for a while, but line goalkeeping kept his citadel intact. lhe Thistle forwards lacked real punch when in front of goal, and half-time found Seatoun still holding the lead. the second half Montgomery equalised tor Thistle. Seatoun found it impossible to pierce the armour of their opponents. Before the close Lothian got one Wyatt, which gave victory and the points to Thistle by 2 goals to 1. Mr. Sanders was referee. PETONE V. INSTITUTE ' A DRAWN GAME. Only a small number of spectators found* their way to I’uione <K'iu, wn ere Itatoue were scheduled to meet instltniA.

The game was a complete reversal of form, Petone just managing to draw with Institute, who had such a large score registered against them the previous Saturday. Petone won the toss, and institute kicked oft against the wind. Play had been in progress only a few minutes before Coronno, at centre-half, beat McVain with a fine shot. It was a good movement, all the forwards lending a hand. Institute, 1; Petone, I). After the kick, Petone Initiated an attack on the Yellow defence, and nearly scored from a corner. A freekick to Petone prevented Byng from getting away on his own. Petone were given two excellent chances of evening the scores shortly after this incident, but they lacked the necessary finesse. Another attack by them resulted in an Institute back sending the ball into his own net. Institute, 1; Petone, 1. Both Campbell and Dickinson had chances of adding further to their laurels, the former shooting wildly at an open goal, whereas Dickinson missed his objective by inches with a header. The spell ended with the scores unchanged. Petone, 1; Institute, 1. At the recommencement, Institute became aggressive, and Pctone's defence had to move smartly. A centre to -Maddox saw that player place Institute again in the lead with a well-timed shot. Institute, 2; Petone, 1. Play livened up conisderably at this reverse, and roughness became common. Byng (Institute) received a knock which necessitated his leaving the field for a while. There was very little leeway between the two teams In. this half, and play was transferred from one end to the other at short intervals. A determined effort by Petone brought them their second goal, when from a scramble in the goal-mouth the goalie carried the ball into his net in attempting to throw out. The final whistle sounded with no improvement iu either score. Institute, 2; Petone, 2. Mr. 11. W. Smith was referee.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

LOWER GRADES SECOND A DIVISION. Wadestown 5. Island Bay 4; Brooklyn 0, Y.M.C.A. 2: Seatoun 3, Petone 1; Diamonds 2, Waterside 0. SECOND B DIVISION. Swifts 12, Eastbourne 0; Diamonds 0, Institute 4; South Wellington 0, Thistle 0. THIRD A DIVISION. Petone 1, Miramar Rangers 1. THIRD B DIVISION. Hutt 1, Wadestown 1; Stop Out 11, Eastbourne 0. FOURTH A DIVISION. Waterside 3. Miramar Rangers 1: Marist 0, Petone 3; Seatoun 3, Johnsonville 1. FOURTH B DIVISION. Marist 2. Stop Out. 0; Hutt A 1, Midland 1; South Wellington 1, YVadcstown 1. FIFTH B DIVISION. Seatoun 3, Institute 0; Petone 3, Miramar Rangers A 1; Marist A 0, Swits 2; Island Bay 6, Midland 0. * SIXTH DIVISION. Seatoun 1, Institute 1; Marist N 3, Miramar Rangers 1; Marist T 7, Stop Out 0.. SEVENTH DIVISION. Seeatoun 3, Institute 0; Marist N 1, Stop Out A 1; Marist T 8. South Wellington 0; Midland 11, Stop Out B 1. EIGHTH DIVISION. Mnramar Rangers 3, Marist N 1; Institute 3, Y.M.C.A. 2; Seatoun 2, Stop Out 2. Midland defaulted to Marist T. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Senior. —Technical A 1, Wadestown 1. Junior.—Technical A G, Wadestown 2. RESULTS FROM OTHER CENTRES (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, May 6. Saturday’s Soccer results are as follow: —Y.M.C.A. 2, Onehunga 1; Ponsonby 7. Northcote 3; Thistle 6, Tramways 3; North Shore 2, Belmont 1. CHRISTCHURCH. Nomads 1. beat Technical 0: Western 1, beat Addington 0; St. Albans 2, drew with Villa 2. ENGLISH SOCCER PROMOTIONS AND RELEGATIONS

The final games in the English Soccer Leagues were played on Saturday, and .decided the fate of the teams at the top and bottom of the respective leagues. While detailed results are not to hand, the promotions and relegations have come through, and in some instances are very surprising. Sheffield Wednesday, who a month ago seemed in a hopeless position, did sufficiently well to escape relegation, and Spurs, one of the popular London clubs, will see a season or two In Division 11. The results are that Everton head Division I, with Huddersfield second. Tottenham Hotspur and Midi lesborough go down to tlie second division, Manchester City and Leeds go up from Division II to Division I. Fulham and South Shields go down from the Southern and Northern Divisions respectively of Division 111. and Millwall and Bradford leave Division 111 for Division 11. Glasgow Bangers won the championship of the Scottish League. FINAL MATCHES OF SEASON IN ENGLAND (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) (Rec. May 6, 5.5 p.m.) London. May 5. The linal matches of the Soccer season were decided to-day. Tottenham and Middlebrough have been relegated to the second .. ision and Fulham and South Shields to the third division.

SENIOR A. P. W. L. D. For. Ag. Pts Diamonds (J 3 0 0 15 3 6 JIarist .... 3 0 1 7 4 □ Y.M.C.A. .. 3 2 1 0 14 4 4 Petone 1 0 2 (! 4 4 Hospital 3 1 o 0 Ji fi 2 Thistle 3 1 2 0 3 6 2 Institute 3 0 2 1 3 20 1 Seatoun 3 0 3 0 3 8 0 SENIOR B. P. w. L. D. For. Ag. Pts. Waterside 3 0 0 12 3 6 South Wellington .. 3 o 0 1 13 4 5 Swifts . 1 0 1 11 7 5 Thistle 3 z 1 0 0 8 4 Brooklyn .. ,) 1 o 0 8 6 2 Hutt 3 1 *> 0 11 12 2 Marist 3 0 3 0 4 21 0 Johnsonville 3 0 3 0 3 10 0