ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19129, 22 September 1925, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

FIGHT FOR CHAWPJONSHIP. NORTH SHORE STILL LEADING. COMMENTS ON THE GAR.IES. As the Auckland Football Association 8 senior championship draws to a close the\ North Shore Club continues to make its position more secure and it now looks as though the suburban team must win the honours. Of course, a defeat would upset their calculations, but they havo only one more match to play. This is against Tramways, and on form the chances aie in favour of tho leaders. The season will then be brought to a close by the annual knock-out competition among senior clubs for tho Falcon Cup. This contest is one that always produces surprises and it would be very rash indeed to speculate on who will be the holders for 1925. North Shore will bo favourites, of course, but Thistle are quite justified in considering their chances good, while Ponsonby, Royal Navy, Northcote, Tramways, Y.M.C.A. and Hellaby's will also make a bold bid. The contest should produce some excellent football. North Shore v. Northcote. The wisdom of the Management Committee in deciding to give Blandford Park a rest after a wet week and transfer tho North Shore-Northcote game to the Devonport ground on Saturday was greatly appreciated by players and spectators alike and both enoyed an exhilarating game on the splendid turf at the Shore. Both teams gave a spirited display of keen and clean football, and although combined work was not a strong feature of the match, there was plenty of dashing individual work, while the pace was a cracker from start to finish. Judged on their last two games, it would seem that the Northcote team are no; good stayers, and their defence is liable to collapse under pressure. On the previous Saturday it had' not been penetrated by the Naval brigade at half-time, but in the second spell the Navy piled up six goals. Last Saturday history repeated itself, and although the Blues' goal had been kept intact when half-time sounded, the Shore forwards notched five goals in tho next half and won comfortably by five to two at the finish. It. was a game of varying fortunes and Northcote dominated the play in the opening session, McDonald and Burford. on the wings, being a bit too speedy for the Shore halves. It was only sound defensive work by Gerrard and Corbett, with some clover saving by Lipscombe in goal, which kept tho score to one goal. This came from a clever opening by McDonald and neat passing between the brothers Knott. Northcote, without the services of their captain, Thompson, played Bell at centre half, where he did yeoman service, both in defence and attack. Bibbert, at fullback, was conspicuous with some fine kicking and was ably supported by Blackledge, while Chesnoy -cleared everything that came his way in finished style. The Shore front line was weak and ineffective in its attacks. Dacre was handicapped by a heavy fall, from which he recovered in the interval, and Palmer was inclined to dwell too long on the ball, which gave the defence time to recover and intercept North Shore's Great Attack.

On tho change-over the home team altered its tactics and fairly ruined tho. Blue defenders ofi their feet. Fed with food judgment, they swarmed round the fortbeoie citadel and gave the custodian a worrying time of it. Dacre brought the score level with a high shot from well out. which caught tho. top of the goal post and turned into the net. A few minutes later a good opening again let him through with a characteristic dribbling rush and he gave Chesney no chance of saving. Dacre seemed certain of another score, when he was fouled, but Jones failed to penetrate Chesney's defence with the penalty kick. Northcote V defence -broke up badly and thtir occasional counter-attacks lacked stjn£. Palmer seized a good opening to dash through on his own accoiint, and then Chesney failed to sight a dropping centre, which J. Woolley promptly netted, and he repeated the dose shortly after with a nippy run round the opposing Northcote made one or two desperate attempts to stave off defeat and a dashing run by Burford produced a corner. In attempting to block the attack Jones stopped tho ball with bis arm and W. Knott made no mistake in netting the penalty. But the black and gold brigade had no difficulty in countering any attacks, and only some brilliant saves by Chesney and some wild .-shooting prevented the difference in the score being greater. Tho winners' defenae was very solid, Lipscombe being in no way to blame for the penalty and the other shot which passed him, and in front of him Gerrard and Corbett made very few mistakes. The wins; halves. Hankins and McGarry, had some difficulty in holding McDonald and Burford in the first spell, but showed improved form in the socond half with more aggressive tactics. The referee had no difficulty in controlling the players, both penalties being the result of accidental infringements, ana the game was played in the best of spirit throughout. Ponsonby Go Down.

Ponsonby. who are said to be resting some of their star players for the Falcon Cup tie, fielded several juniors in their match against Tramways. Although the whole attack was disorganised, the team did extremely well, and had not the Tramways goalkeeper, Batty, been playing the game of his life, it is quite on the cards that the result would have been different. . 4 , TTor Ponsonby, Kennedy was outstanding at right half, while Neesham and O'Brien were also on form in the middle line. Williams, at fullback, was very Bolid, and CraxtOn did a lot of fine saving work in goal* Cheesrrum. who was moved to centre forward, was most prominent among the attackers, while Reid, another junior, also did well. Innes. the utility man, filled the inside left position, and with Adshead played a very useful game. As previously stated Batty performed brilliantly for Tramways. He saved dozens of shots, displaying a great sense of anticipation and remarkable agility on the slippery tairf. Among the backs McElligott • and Simpson gave a very sound and finished display. This pair are as'good as ■we havo in Auckland, and are always a tower of strength to their side. In the forwards honours on the day were with Simm, Davies and Lewis. Howden -Cup Match. A correspopdent, signing himself Fairplay, challenges the* telegraphed report of the Howden Cup match, which was published in the Herajld on September 14. lie writes as follows: — "Being a neutral spectator and also an old 'Soccer' player -nf over twenty years standing, I wish to nay that I have never witnessed such unsportsmanlike conduct as was shown bv tlie Thames team. To my idea their sole relason for leaving the field was because thpy could not stand defeat. The fact thiit Thames won the toss and had the advantage of the wind in the first half, yet npver once tested the Waihi goalkeeper—while Thames' custodian was severely tested—proves that on the day Waihi were "far superior. On changing ends, and -with the wind advantage, Waihi asserted their superiority and in twenty minutes were two goals up, Thames tlien walking off. In this match I nevef saw the Waihi goalkeeper handle the ball once. As regards Waihi scoring frqm a penaltv this is indeed misleading, an no penalty was awarded in the match. Certainly one Thames player was injured but resumed playing immediately, after attention. The game was far from rough ,and no hostility was shown. Fuvthermorp, I did not hear any obscene language and nothing but mild legitimafce barratking on the I touchline."