ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 176, 22 April 1929, Page 10

ASSOCIATION

OPENING OF SEASON WIN FOR PROMOTED TEAM I PETONE DEFEAT Y.M.C.A. The Soccer season opened in earnest on Saturday when Senior A and B competition matches were played. Waterside signalised their return to the first grade by defeating Thistle. At Petone the local team were the victors against Y.M.C.A. Hospital defeated Institute, while the Diamonds-Marist encounter ended in defeat for Marist. RESULTS AT A GLANCE SENIOR A. Petone 3, Y.M.C.A. 1. Diamonds 3, Marist 1. Waterside 2, Thistle 1. r Hospital 4, Institute 2. Y.M.C.A. v. PETONE GOOD WIN FOR PETONE. Before a fair attendance the following teams took the field at the Petone Recreation Ground in their first league match of the season:— Petone: McVean (captain); Steele, Haines; . Farquhar, Campbell, Hanlon ; A. Stobbs, G. Stobbs, Leslie, Dunlop, Craig. Y.M.C.A.: Lueas; Trott, McGirr (captain) ; McLeod, Reyling, Ward; Worth. Don, Rigby, Lack, Stocks. Y.M.C.A. won the toss and decided to play against.the wind. After midfield play the Petone centre-forward secured the ball, only to send it over the bar. A free kick in Petone’s favour was well cleared by McGirr. Several minutes later (when in front of the goal) Leslie nearly scored with a smart back kick, Lucas saving by tipping over the bar. The Y.M.C.A. defence was now being severely tested and only excellent work by Reyling, Trott and McGirr kept the Petone forwards at bay. The Petone vanguard, still determined on getting through, eventually forced a corner. A. Stobbs placed the ball well and G. Stobbs headed, only to hit the crossbar, Trott clearing well. The visiting team then took up the attack. A foul against Lack gave Y.M.C.A. a free kick. Reyling placed the ball well, but Haines cleared. The Petone half-backs worked hard and gave their forwards an excellent opening, but a shot by G. Stobbs went over the top. McGirr sent the ball upfield, and Y.M.C.A. then returned the attack, but -Rigby was neatly robbed by Campbell when in a dangerous position. Once more Petone broke away and a fine shot by Campbell at 35 yards was cleared by Lucas in excellent fashion. Smart work by Petone forwards gave Craig a good opening, but he sent over the bar. Amidst excitement Lucas again cleared well. Later McGirr was robbed, and a pass by A. Stobbs to G. Stobbs was sent to Leslie, who sent in a low swift shot which gave Lucas no chance. Petone 1, Y.M.C.A. 0. A further attack by Petone was cleared by McGirr. Craig and A. Stobbs sent in fine shots which Lucas cleared well. Ward sent Stocks ■well away, but Steele saved in time. Worth then got away and sent in a beautiful centre to Rigby, who beat McVean all the way. Petone 1, Y.M.C.A. 1 The play was very even ana tast, when the Petone forwards gave a very pretty display of smart combination which resulted in a goal scored by (L Stobbs through Dunlop. Petone 2, Y-M.C.A. 1. Petone again broke away, a n %shots rained in at close quarters. G. Stobbs eventually finding the net by a good ns-, ing shot. Half-time then sounded with the scores; Petone 3, l. Upon resumption, after attacks on both coals. Rigby secured and sent m a switt fhot which just cleared the bar. several good chances were missed by the Y.M.C.A. forwards, who at this point of the game were slow at taking up pos-. session. Hanlon worked his way through, the field and with a neat pass to Craig sent the ball in wide. Don did some excellent work for Y.M.C.A., and after beating Farquhar brought the ball down to the line and sent across a perfect centre. but there were none of his colleagues in front of the goal to snap the ball up. Y.M.C.A. were again Pressing very hard, but good play on behalf of the backs kept down the score. Petone returned the attack. A. Stobbs just missing with an angle shot. Y.M.C.A. we renow nlavin" with more vigour, but faulty passing bv forwards spoilt many_good opportunities, and Rigby and Worth missed easv chances. Towards the end Lack and McLeod had to retire owing to injuries, the game finishing after a goalless half with the spores: Petone 3 ' Wilson refereed the came, which was cleanly contested by both sides.

diamonds-marist a POOR DISPLAY. Plaving before a fair crowd of spectators, Diamonds defeated Marist by three goals to one at Anderson Park. The snoon; J. McLeod, T. Wotherspoon, McCormack; R. McLeod, Rait, McPhail, Hickey; Thomas, Andrews; Wilson, Bird, Kelly; Barton, Condon, M. Condon, Marchment, Cudby. Losing the toss, Marist, in the first spell, had to contend with a stron ’ wind as well as a trying sun. The game resolved itself into a very scrappy display of football, neither team showing a glimpse of the qualities which earned for them favourable comment in past-seasons, 100 frequently the ball was sent out of bounds when it could, with advantage, have been kept in play. At half-time the score was 2 —o in Diamonds’ favour, Rait and Smith each being responsible for a goal. The second spell showed a slight improvement on-the first. Marist on a few occasions kept the Diamonds’ defence busily engaged, and Wyatt in goal was applauded for some spectacular saves. Barton, the Marist winger, gave his side some good openings, but poor shooting lost a couple of- likely goals. Diamonds added another goal to their tally, Rait being the contributor. Towards the end of play the Marist forwards went “all out for a score, Condon eventually netting in a handy position. The game ended with the score: Diamonds 3, Marist 1. Mr. H. W. Smith was referee. i THISTLE v. WATERSIDE FIRST BL(X»D TO NEWCOMERS. In the first round of the Senior A competition Thistle v. Watersiders met at Lyall Bay Reserve. A strong southerly prevailed, and blowing across the ground, made conditions very unpleasant. The teams were as follow: — Thistle: Kirkland : Hopper and Logie; Lang, McLellan and Whelan i Wellwood. Campbell, Lothian, Cunningham, and Houston. Waterside: Abbot; Irwin and Bolton; Gilbertson, Haines and Main; Garrad. Dunsmuir, Lbngbottom, Wilson and Cullen. Referee, Mr. ,B- D- Davis. Thistle won the toss and Waterside kicked off against the sun, but with the wind helping them slightly. . Their opening promised well, but they were soon pushed back, and for a while Thiytle held them in their own quarters. Both Cunningham and Lothian missed chances. Campbell neatly slipped round the defence and centred, but Irwin beat Lothian to it. However, Wellwood darted in and with a first-timer, nut between the

' round contests posts. A minute later Abbott ran out to kick clear, and the ball all but rebounded through goal off Lothian. Longbottom was being well watched and given little chance, and when a corner kick to Waterside was given he skied the ball over the top. It fell to Cullen to place Waterside on even terms with a shot which Kirkland failed to hold. The score was even at half-time. On resuming, it was thought Thistle, with the slight advantage-the wind gave upfield, would soon have placed the issue beyond doubt If Waterside had been below par in the first spell, they played a much better game in the second spell, and most of the play was inThistle’s half. Kirkland made two good saves off Dunsmuir and Longbottom, but the goal which enabled Waterside to secure the victory was a peculiar one. It was. a shot from Dunsmuir, which hit the inside of the post, and then to the goalie and into the field again. The referee was satisfied that it went over the line, and gave the goal, despite Thistle’s appeal for no goal. The blues tried to liven. things up, but Waterside played better football, and their defence was sound. Lothian was injured in trying to rush the goalie, and left the field for a while. The Waterside halves much. improved in the second spell, and the wings worked more smoothly. Campbell strove hard to put Thistle level again, and eame close to doing so, a good shot sailing over the bar. No further score ensued. Waterside are mostly a team of young players, and after another game or two should settle down to good football. The / conditions were not good for clever play, the wind taking the ball too much off the field. , ■ * INSTITUTE v. HOSPITAL Institute played their first game of the season at Hospital on Saturday, where a good crowd of onlookers were given a bright exhibition. Hospital seem to be a rather stronger combination than last season. Institute played gamely in spite of the odds against them, and Hospital team did not have matters all their own way, although the win was decisive. The ground is on the small side, and this favoured the Hospital, who finally won by four goals to two. LOWER GRADES Diamonds A defeated Petone B in a fourth-grade match by 4—o, and the final of the eight griyle knock-out competition resulted in a win for Marist Newtown A over Institute by 3—o. RESULTS OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 20. ’The Association football senior competition started to-day in fine weather. Results: Tramways 2, beat Thistle 0, North Shore 4, beat Celtic 1; Ponsonby 3, beat’-Belmont 1; Y.M.C.A. 1. drew with Onehunga 1. DUNEDIN. . Dunedin, April 21. Northern !, drew with Y.M.C.A. 1; Maori Hill 2. drew with Mornington 2; Old Bovs 5, drew with Mosgiel 5; Technical College Old Boys 1, drew with SeaC ’ iff 1 CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch. April 20. Thistle 6, • beat Technical 2; Western 2 beat New Brighton 0: Nomads 3, beat Kaiapoi 1; St. Albans 6. beat Rangers 3.