ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19051, 23 June 1925, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSH IP. j POSITIONS OF THE CLUBS, i FIRST BROWN SHIELD GAME. With only two further series of matches to bo played before the first round of the senior championship is completed, tho following table, supplied by the Auckland Football Association, makes interesting reading:: — \ Goals Ch. I'. W. L. D. For. Apt. Pis. Thistle .. 'I ■"> 1 0 11 30 JO North Shore .. 7 -1 12 -I 0 10 Itoyn I A'avy .. 0 3 2 1 Li 8 < Hellaby's . . 0 3 3 0 IV. I I 0 Tramways .. <> ,'i 3 0 14 Li 6 Ponsonby ..7 2 It 2 18 L) 0 Y.M.C.A. ..0 2 3 1 1. o 5 Northcoto ..0 2 4 0 1L L) 4 Wutersidcrs ..0 1 5 0 5 19 2 It will bo noticed that North Shore and Ponsonby have not yet had, a bye, and North Shore, who arc at present level with Thistle, have only ono match in which to add to their points before tho round is finished. This is against r l ramways, who are always a hard team to beat, particularly on a dry ground. Thistle, on the other hand, have yet to meet Northcoto arid Watersiders, tho two teams at the bottom of the listt It is therefore pretty safe to predict that tho Scots eleven will still bo in the leading position at tho end of the first round. Ponsonby's Great Win. Last Saturday was a great day for tho Ponsonby Club at Blaudford Park, when they achieved the distinction of checking Thistle's victorious career in a most decisive manner. It was a complete victory, unmarred by any doubtful decisions or lucky goals, and Thistle took their defeat like true sportsmen, admitting candidly that tho better team won on the day. The game was cleanly contested throughout and was a treat to watch. May there bo many more like it, for expositions of this nature are all that is needed to send tho Soccer game ahead in Auckland by leaps and bounds. Whilo every man in the Pousonby team rose to the 'occasion splendidly, several are worthy of special mention, and the unselfish play of tho forward line was an object lesson of how team-work will always triumph over individual effort, no matter how brilliant the latter may be. Three of the four goals' wore scored by tho centre-forward, Innes, who was at his very best. His second point, scored early in the second half, was a masterpiece. Littlo Kennedy worked like a Trojan throughout, while Christie proved that ho is every inch a footballer. On one occasion particularly ho penetrated the defence with his foot acting like a magnet on the ball. Ahern was the better of °the two wingers on the day, but Adshoad also played a very useful game. In the half lino O'Brien and Mitchell excelled themselves, while Neesham played his usual excellent game. Pickett and Williams made a very strong back line. Williams, perhaps, made fewer mistakes in tackling, but Pickett s placing is much superior to that of his partner. Craxton made a welcome reappearance in goal, but had not sufficiently recovered from his injuries to be at his best. The Thistle Players. Thistle's forwards all worked hard every minute of the game, but tho combination which they had previously-shov. n was lacking to a degree. It may have been that the absence of Dodds made all the difference, but Kean, who filled the vacancy at inside right, was by no moans w r eak and gave a remarkably good account of himself considering it was his first gamo for two seasons and his services were enlisted at the last moment. Humphries gave a bright display, whilo Dunsmore, on the right wing, played sound football, registering a clever goal. The weakness lay more with tho left wing, where Williams was trying to go too far on his own and Dickson was having one of his off days. Bell was again tho most conspicuous halfback, although his wandering tactics frequently left Adshead unmarked and Ferguson was given the impossible task of tackling two men at once. Haimill, at centre half, was properly up against it with the opposing inside forwards playing the game of their lives. Both Innes and Christie showed him a clean pair of heels several times. Withers, playing as substitute for Stewart, did some useful work without being brilliant. In the back line Ritchie gave his best performance to date, doing the lion's share of the defensive work. Jack, in goal, saved a great number of shots, but appeared to be always nonplussed by a high ball. Shore's Missed Chances. Royal Navy, with only ten men for the greater part of the game, did remarkably well to draw with North Shore. It must be admitted, though, that had North Shore's forwards been shooting only moderately well, victory was assured for the suburban team. Palmer was tho chief offender and J. Woolley and Dacre were nearly as bad. It was all the more remarkable as these three players aro usually such great goal-getters, Palmer in particular. Certainly the pitch was inclined to be uneven where returfing had been carried out,- but this did not appear to affect Ponsonby when they came on afterwards. The Navy forwards were not nearly so good without tho services of the players from the Dunedin. Tho absonco of Mcßae, Kerniclc and Teale was sorely felt. Bradley, at right half, was tho outstanding back. Ho was always in the thick of it and did "more than his share in a most efficient manner. Batchelor, a new man at right back, also, created a very favourable impression. The Brown Shield Challenge. Next Saturday all senior games will be suspended and Blandford Park will, for the first time in its history, be the deciding ground for a Brown Shield match. Auckland's opponents aro Whangarei, who challenge for the coveted trophy through the North Auckland Association. That the visitors consider their chances to bo very bright is borno out bv correspondence received by the local executive, and the fact that the North xiuckland challenge was the first to be lodged at headquarters in Wellington. Really, their present strength is an unknown quantity. Tho game in the North has undergone a thorough reorganisation by keen officials who have received enormous encouragement from the number of adept Soccer players arriving with tho continuous stream of new settlers from the Old Country. Auckland is taking no chances and tho selectors have chosen fifteen very strong players, from whom tho eleven will be chosen. There is somo talk of leaving the final selection until the morning of the match, when the weather will be tho deciding factor. This appears to be a good move, as somo players who are in tho first flight on a dry day cannot do themselves justice in tho mud. Of course, where only eleven men are required there aro bound to be disappointments among over one hundred, but it seems rather strange that three very cood clubs like Y.M.C.A., Tramways and Royal Navy are given no consideration whatever, even in the list of probables. The selectors announce that the training at Victoria Park this evening and Thursday will commence at 4.30 p.m.