SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18742, 23 June 1924, Page 4

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP.

NORTH COTE BEAT N. SHORE.

HARBOUR BOARD WIN AGAIN.

LONDONERS DEFEAT TRAMWAYS

. Association football . enthusiasts witnessed some interesting games : on Saturday when the club competitions were continued at the various grounds. , The senior matches resulted as follows:.— ■ :. _ . Northcote 4 goals, beat North Shore 2. Harbour Board 5 goals,. beat Watersiders 0 v ■ .■■■■• ■ ■ ;.■ '..'•■■•'■>. ■■><■:■ ■'. ■• Thistle '5 goals, beat Ponsonby ?. Hollaby's 4 goals, beat Metropolitan 0. M.C.A. 4 o-oals, beat Philomel 2. Londoners 2 goals, beat Tramways 0. Harbour Board and Northcote row lead in th© A section of the senior division with 14 championship points each. There is only one more round to- complete the season's competition, and, oddly enough, the leading teams are drawn against each other. The match will be a league final in every sense. Ponsonby and Thistle tie for second place with only 9 points each, which makes them well out of the running. _ By their win against Philomel, and Londoners' surprise victory over Tramways. Y M C.A head the list in the B section with 14 points. Hellaby's and Tramways are next with 12 points. Y.M.C.A. and Tramways meet in th© final according to th© draw. _' : • •'■:.: .' " :.'',

NORTH SHORE GO DOWN. There was a good attendance of spectators •at th© Devonport Domain, where the North Shore eleven, with a growing reputation, as a "hard nut to crack," were pitted against Northcote, one of th© leading teams on the championship list. . , ~ • , . From the start play was brisk . ana keen but there was little concerted action. North. Shore, with C. Dacre and Alison outstanding, frequently penetrated the opposing defence, while Northcote made only periodical spurts that brought them near . the home team's goal. After about 15 minutes ■'■_ A. Woolley secured from a throw-in in Northcote's half and transferred to Dacre. The latter drew the defence before passing to Haycock.' who had only the goalkeeper to beat. Craxton. stopped the shot but in punching clear his fist slipped on th© greasy ball, sending it into th© net to' put North Shore one up. .... , After a spell of ■ play in which the home team held the upper hand, Northcote began to shape- better, but Gerrard. MoGarry and Russell,' of the North Shore defence, checked the onslaught. Craxton was again busy in Northcoto's goal saving from Dacr© and McGarry, and then -a hefty . clearing kick by Thompson changed the scene of action once more to the home team's gos.l. Crowding by the Northcote forwards spoiled chances, but Buchanan, Pearson and Catlow kept them supplied with the ball until Bell scored from close range. At half-time th© score was one all. ' In the second spell the first move of note saw Dacr©, Haycock and J. Woolley sweep down on the visitors' goal, to be held up by Gallagher. Then Northcote got under way and a centre from Howarth ended in Burford running in , from th© opposite wing to receive a pass from Knott and score Northcote's second goal. ' : : '?■:■ \ Thomas, the, homo team's goalkeeper, was injured in trying to save and had-to retire for a time.- Hollows, took his place and North Shore attacked smartly, notwithstanding that they -were a man short. .' A bombardment of the Northcote goal was without effect until Dacre burst through in charac* terontio style to boat the. defence and centre. Russell, who had chanced position to centre forward, connected -with a, first-cla3s shot that beat Craxton from close range. Onco more th© score was eaual. . Renewed efforts by North Shore gave th© visiting defence five minutes from th© kick-off. but eventually Thompson gave relief, Straight to th© other end th© ball was rushed and North Shore conceded a corner. Burford, from th© flag, piloted the leather to the goal whftre it beat Thomas, who had returned, and Norlhcot© led by 3 to 2. From then on Northcote were masters of the situation although North Phor« mad© heroic efforts to reduce the lead. Bell was awarded another goal ■ before the gam© ended with tho scores: Northcote, 4; North Shore,,-. 2.:: - : : ;■;"■ '■*'

HARBOUR BOARD'S EASY WIN. The ground on .which this match was played at tho Domain was ankle-deep in slush, making . accurate football impossible. ; "Harbour Board went quickly, to the attack, led by, Bel'/,' who had been shifted up to centre forward. The Watersiders.' defence put up a good showing, but the soft turf and greasy ball did not help their returns, and the clever Harbour Board forwards, ' well supported by Corbett and Jones in the half line, were able to sustain the attack. ■■:>. .'■''''. Chesney, in goal for Watersiders, came in for well-merited applause when he brilliantly saved hot ehotfi 7 from Palmer and Henshaw. Harbour Board persisted in a smart offensive and before- half-time,was called Bell had fscored three good goals. - : ; Although their task was a gigantic one Watersiders delighted their supporters by making determined attacks on. the B.'arbour Board goal when. play was resumed. Heatley, Clark and Feeney sent in excellent shots and only superb defence by Batty, Mitchell and Brittairi kept them out. >; Harbour "Board's superior combined play prevailed in. the long run. Bell secured his fourth goal and Margison got another. The final scores —Harbour Board, 5; Watersiders, 0. . •

LONDONERS SURPRISE TRAMWAYS. Tramways wore quick to get going and in the opening stages repeatedly carried play to their opponents' goal. The sloppy ground did much to spoil the forwards' shooting, hut ;as the gume progressed a wealth of opportunities i wore missed, and it appeared to be not all the fault of the wet conditions. - Showing groat dash. Londoners started a smart attack on tho Tramways' goal as the end of the spell drew nfiar. Hopkins handled the ball in- the.penalty area, giving Londoners a chance of which Calvert took full advantage, and ,at tho interval Tramways were one down. '{• ■it In hh& second half i' play . improved all round! From end" to end the ball was rushed at a comparatively fast pace. Many times Tramways came within an ace of scoring, but it was not to be. Still taking advantage of every opportunity, the Londoners made a great spurt and a miss by Hawkea let them through for' Harper to score with a brilliant grounder. The game ended with the iscores:Londoners, 2; Tramways, 0.

Y.M.C.A.'S GOOD WIN. Philomel rushed matters from the outset, and not long after the: start Merritt operaed their scoring account with a good sho';. ...The reverse stung Y.M.C.A. to greater efforts, and, helped by a free kick, A. ; Lucas was enabled to equalise. * -The game continued fast and even, although play was of the "kick, and rush" order ! : with , team-work only conspicuous by its absence. Marshall put.Y.M.C.A. in the lead after a good run and then Merritt got hi» second goal for Philomel to once more equalise. Before half-time Woods scored ap.ain for Y.M.C.A.'. from a centre by Carey and when the interval was called the scores were: i Y.M.C.A., 3; Philomel, 2. In the final spoil the visitors seemed to get the measure , of . the Navy men early, and dominated play almost throughout. Philomel fought hard but could not prevent Woods obtaining another , goal, which enabled Y.M.C.A. to run out victors with the ucores: Y.M.C.A., 4; Philomel, 2. SECOND DIVISION. ' North Shore 1. drew with Ponsonby 1. ■■'. \- THIRD DIVISION. ' -Bolmont 3, buat Onehunga 2.' North Shore 2, boat Grey Lynn 1. Metropolitan 3, beat Ponsonby. 1. . Otahuhu 3, beat Kiwi 0. ; FOURTH DIVISION. Mount Albert Grammar School. 1, beat Belmont 0: North Shore 3. beat. Pon-; sonby 0. , ',' ; .:'.-' , '"■■'

FIFTH DIVISION. ■• Ponsonby B 2, beat Mount Albert Grammar School 0. . ,;-;■:".' _■ . ,» Harbour Board 3, beat Belmont 80. '{ North Shore B i, beat Comrades 2. - . SIXTH DIVISION. Comradesi 3, beat Mount Albert' Grammar 2.' • North Shore 3. beat Brotherhood 1. Belmont 9, beat Northcote 0 SIXTH DIVISION B.; '■' Comrades drew with W.Y.M.1.. one all.: . .SEVENTH DIVISION. Belmont 1, drew with Comrades. ' ■ W.Y.JO. G. beat Belmont B 0. ■'■ " North Shore B 6, beat Belmont CO. 1 PRIMARY SCHOOLS. r, ■ Vauxhall I, drew with Napier Street 1. ■ St. Heliera 2, beat Parnoll 0. ?;,; ■*,. " IN OTHER CENTRES. ■ [BY TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION.] ". '- • WELLINGTON, Sunday. , .The following are the- results of : Saturday's Association football matches:— 2; Waterside; 0; Diamonds, 1, Institute, 1Y.M.C.A-. 2, i Hospital, .2. Senior B:—Scottish Wanderers, 8, Brooklyn, 2; ■'■ Johnsonvine, 4, Wellington Gas Co., 2; Strath. Wellington, •4, Petone,, 1, , . • . ,- CHRIST-CHURCH, Saturday. ; The Assooiatiou football matches on Saturday /resulted:— Western 3. St. Albans It Rangers 6, Y.M.C.A. 2j Thistle 4, Kaiapoi