ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

END OF FOURTH ROUND. POSITIONS OF SENIOR TEAMS. > -NOTES AND COMMENTS. Saturday's games the fourth round of the Auckland Football Association's senior competition decided. The following table shows the positions of the clubs: — Goals Oh. P. \V. L. I). For Ast. lMs. Thistle .. 4 4 0 0 1Hollaby's . . 4 3 0 0 8 4 fi North Shore . . 4 '2 1 1 13 8 5 Royal Navy . . 122 0 8 ' 4 Ponsonby .. 4 1 2 I 12 l_l 3 Tramways . . 3 t 2 0 11 7 2 Northcoto . . 3 1. 2 0 10 13 2 Watersiders . . 3/1 2 0 5 8 2 .Y.M.C.A. ..3 0 3 0 r> Hi 0 • A very pleasing feature of all the senior games last Saturday was the entire absence of anything in the nature of rough play or ill-feeling between players. 'lbis, of course, is only as it should be, but tin fair tactics have been creeping in to the soccer code, and the members of the Management Committee are to be congratulated on the firm stand they have taken in the matter. Nothing is calculated to weaken public support in Auck-land-more quickly than some of the incidents which occurred during at least two of the senior matches of (he third round. Of -course, in the heat, of the moment, tempers become frayed, but a true athlete should have himself under control mentally, as well as physically, and anything in the nature of foul play should be quickly stamped out, no matter who the offender may bo. i Old Rivals Meet. Ponsonby's contest' with North Shore on Saturday was well up to the standard which has characterised the meeting of these old rivals for many years. Played tinder dry conditions it would undoubtedly have been a first-class game. As it was the supporters of/both sides had nothing to complain about,, for their teams gave a very creditable account of themselves, lasting out well in a strenuous tussle on very heavy going/ Ponsonby, perhaps, were inclined to rest on their oars a little when two up at the interval. North Shore's selectors have every reason to be pleased with the performance at centre-forward of J. Woolley. Although only a lad compared with most of the other forwards he /was well up to senior form, and in the writer's Opinion gave the best display in the suburban's team front line. Palmer, at inside right., was as dashing as ever, notching two smart goals. B. Woolley played' a very useful game on the right wing. Bradshaw had the misfortune to get " most of his opportunities in the first half when his side of the field contained a particularly treacherous patch qf mud and water. Dacre and McGarry seemed to be taking turn about at playing in the forwards and half-line, an arrangement that was perhaps not the best for understancjing in combined work. Hanlon at right half was very safe, but Jones, who shifted from left to centre, did not seem to bfe at home on the slippery turf and was seldom in the picture. At no time did he show true form. Gerrard was easily the better of the fullbacks, particularly in the second half. Dacre was fairly safe, but not very enterprising. Gerrard is another young player who has been' given a chance by the North Shore Cluty and has made good. McMurray, the goalkeeper,- still appears \o lack confidence, but the job between the posts was a most unenviable one at Blandford Park on Saturday. Ponsonby's Forwards. Innes (centre) and Kennedy (inner left)- were the life and soul of the I'onsonby attack on Saturday. Although he is the Auckland and New Zealand outside right, Innes did remarkably well in the middle of the line. He and Kennedy played splendidly together and were a source of danger to the, opposing defence all through the game. Between them they were responsible for all three goals. Christie is another clever forward but appeared to be a trifle slow. Perhaps the conditions were not to his liking. Adshead and Yeomans on the wings did not get a great deal to do but were both brilliant at times. The halves, Neesham, Mitchell and O'Brien, were a solid trio. Williams made his debut as left back and fully justified his'inclusion. In the opening stages he was the only fallback on the ground who could lift tne heavy ball. /Pickett and Craxton both defended well. Iforthcote's Plucky Fight. The Northcoto team are to be congratulated on the splendid display they put up against their doughty opponents, especially as the suburban team were a man short for the greater part of the game. It was indeed bad luck to have their centre half, Thoraley, put out of action so early. He was shaping extremely well prior to the painful accident which caused his retirement. The other halfbacks, McDonald and L. Knott, got through a tremendous amount of hard work. They were opposed to very strong forwards. Hebbert, who came up to centre half from the back line, was not a great success in the position which was obviously strange to him. / Of the Northcote forwards W. Knott and Burford had an off day. The little outside left appeared to have lost his customary dash' entirely, while Knott's shooting was considerably below form and his passes often .went astray. Tocher, who played for Harbour Board last year, put in some smart runs down the wing and swung the ball well to centre. Bell was riot, up to last season's form, although he showed plenty of dash. He arid Tocher should work well together as the season advances. The veteran Tremain, at centre, was the pick of the front line. He skeins to have lost none of his energy and skill. His goal was a fitting reward for much hard work. Chesney's Great Day. Not- for many years iri club football in 'Auckland lias a goalkeeper given such a remarkably consistent display as did Chesney for Northcoto on Saturday. The luck of the dav was ywith him undoubtedly, but notwithstanding this the way he kept his charge intact for so long against almost continuous well-directed shots, was nothing short of marvellous. He was the recipient of generous applause from the supporters of both sides. Playing alone in the back line Thompson also gave a masterful display. Ho was up against it and rose to the occasion in a splendid manner.« Pioyal Navy once more demonstrated what a fine team they are, setting the pace most of the time and playing good football throughout. Mcßae, on the left, wing, canght the ,eye most m the forward line. He is a fine type of athlete and although he has a peculiar style of running gets over the ground at a great rate. 'leale, on' the opposite wiw did some good work, but got rather a'"nasty knock and appeared to lose interest in the second half. Welsh, Merritt and Kernick were well up to the mark, Baxter, at. centre half, was again in fine form. Besides stopping arid placing well he is always dangerous when within 30 yards of the goal. Bradley was the better of the wing halves, perhaps because he got, more to do than Mealing. Of the fullbacks Heaton was tlid most convincing although Anstey put in some very solid defensive work. Tucker, in'goal, was inclined to leave his charge too often but made some fine saves nevertheless. On the stand at Blandford Park on Saturday it was evident, that the Marines in the Dunedin were represented in the Royal Navy team. Barrackers in the uniform of this branch of the. service enlivened the proceedings with many of the witty remarks that characterised the British sailor and soldier on service in all parts of the world. It was perfectly Swod-natured chaff and caused many aughs among the rest of the onlookers. One was struck by the smart turn-out of tha hdts in uniiorn).