ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 13

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. CONCLUSION OF FIRST ROUND. Y.M.C.A. DEFEATED BY THISTLE. The final series of games in the first round of the Auckland Football Association's senior grade championship was played on Saturday afternoon. Y.M.C.A. went down to Thistle at Blandford Park, after a stirring game. The issue was in doubt to the end, but Thistle deserved its win, and the final score was a fair indication of the merits of the teams. Clever football was shown throughout by both sides, and the standard of play was high. In the curtain-raiser game Belmont and Northcote finished on terms after a very ragged display. Ponsonby inflicted a heavy defeat on North Shore at Devonport. Tho homo side was weakened by the absence of Gilmore and Renshaw, but Ponsonby gave a fine exhibition of effective football and ran out an easy winner. Tramways surprised Onehunga, and won decisively after a fairly even game. A 10-minutes' game between midget teams from Belmont and Comrades, played during tho interval of the ThistleY.M.C.A. match, proved very popular. The secondary schools competition was opened, and a full round of junior grade games was played. Following are detailed results of Saturday's senior grade games : Thistle, 3, Y.M.C.A. 2. Ponsonby, 4. North Shore, 1. Tramways, 3, Onehunga, 0. Belmont, 2, Northcote, 2. THISTLE V. Y.M.C.A. Y.M.C.A. attacked from the kick off, and a nice pass by Dick to Grant had Thistle goal in danger, but Humphries sent past. A smart run by the Thistle forwards carried play to tho other end, and a great shot by Kay just missed the upright. Dunsmore and Cummings kept Thistle on the attack, until Otter cleared. Chalmers made a brilliant solo run, and finished with a hard drive, from which Zouill effected a fine save. Hoban rushed in, but failed to gather the rebound. Play was fast and the ball was carried from end to end in a series of long passes. Y.M.C.A. held a slight advantage territorially, Chalmers and Humphries being prominent, but from a fine cross Grant sent weakly past. Thistle was soon at the other end where Kay cleverly forced a coirier. The kick was perfectly placed, but Grant, who had fallen back, cleared in fine style. Ihe game was being fought out at a thrilling pace, and Grant had the Thistle defence hard pressed, but Humphries failed to accept an easy chance to score. A pretty movement by Mooney and Kay carried play to Y.M.C.A. territory, where Kay sent in a hard, low drive which gave Paton no chance. Thistle, 1; Y.M.C.A., 2. Y M C.A. launched a hot attack and Goodman ran through in determined fashion before sending in a perfect ctobs wmch Hoban volleyed into the net. Y.M.C.A., 1; Thistle, 1. At the other end Kay sent hard across the Y.M.C.A. goal, and a great drive by Giles struck the crossbar, time was called with the score: —X.M.C.A., 1; Thistle, 1. . , Thistle held the advantage in the opening stages of the second half. Strong play tiy Mooney and Kay gave Giles a chance. The centre forward failed to gather the ball, but Cummings got _ possession anu beat Paton with a low drive. Thistle, 2; YM C A 1. Y.M.C.A. improved, Goodman and Grant carrvmg play to the Thistle goal, where Hoban forced a corner Humphries placed the kick perfectly, and Zouill fisted into his own net. Y.M.C.A;, 2: Thistle, 2. The play was full of incident. Y.M.C.A. had the Thistle defence bustled, but Christie robbed Hoban when a goal seemed certain. Thistle gradually asserted a superiority and the game was confined to Y.M.C.A. territory for some time. Giles failed from an easy position, and Paton cleared a hard drive from Dixon. A well-placed corner kick by Cummings saw Paton effect a daring save from a header by Giles. Thistle continued to press, and Christie tried a long shot. Paton misjudged the ball, which rebounded from the upright into the net. Thistle, 3: Y.M.C.A. 2. Giles broke away from midfield and forced his way through to Paton. but his parting shot struck the post. Goodman and Grant carried play to the other end, but Carter cleared strongly. Play was at midfield when the final whistle sounded with the score:— Thistle. 3: Y.M.C.A.. 2. BELMONT V. NORTHCOTE. Belmont opened the game with nine men, but Northcote failed to take advantage of the weakness, although holding the initiative throughout the opening stages. Belmont was soon at full but could make little impression on the Northcote defence. Both sides failed to show any team work and play was very drab. Northcote had more punch on attack and Chesney was called on to save on many occasions. An attack by the Northcote right wine ended in Horton scoring. Northcote. 1; Belmont. 0. Belmont showed improvement and Allen and Adams worked in close to Northcote goal where Allen scored. Belmont. 1: Northcote. 1. Northcote held the advantage to the interval but there was no further scoring. Play was fast, but the football was still of a very poor standard during the second spell, and neither side looked like scoring until a melee in front of Chesney gave Northcote the lead. Gidley being scorer. Toward the end Belmont was awarded a penalty kick. and Lithgow netted, the game ending:—Belmont, 2; Northcote, 2. PONSONBY V. NORTH SHORE. Ponsonby was at full strength against a weakened North Shore side at Devonport, and soon asserted a marked superiority. A slip by Eacock saw Stewart snap up the chance and put Ponsonby early in the lead. North Shore immediately retaliated, but Watts saved well from a free kick by Jones. Ponsonby showed superior teamwork, but failed to increase its lead and half-time arrived with the score: Ponsonby, 1; North Shore, 0. The second half was a repetition of the first, Ponsonby being more effective throughout. The North Shore forwards were disappointing and failed to show anj penetrative power. Williams scored foi Ponsonby, and shortly afterward Stewart added a third goal. Ponsonby, 3; North Shore, 0. North Shore improved and n fine run nnd shot by Moore reduced the leeway. The effort was not sustained, however, and Ponsonby was soon back, Stewart adding a further goal. The game ended- Ponsonby, 4; North Shore, 1. TRAMWAYS V. ONEHUNGA. Although holding a decided pull in the first half of the game against Tramways at Oiwhunga, the home team failed badly ir front of the goal, and had to cross ovei at the interval one goal down, this tor a penaltv against Whowell for hands The second half was contested in a livelj manner, with Tramways holding stubbornlj to its iead. There was more danger ir the Tramways attack, and Spong, Davif and Spencer gave the Onehunga defence plenty to do. A fine effort by Reid fron: almost half-way put Tramways furthei ahead, and the croal gave the leaders con; fidence. When Spencer secured and scorer a fine goal the gnme deteriorated, nnc Tramways attacked to the end, when the score was: Tramways. 3; Onehunga, 0. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Following are the Tesults of the junioi grade games plnyed on Saturday:— Second Grade.—Onehunga, 2, Ponsonby 2; North Shoro. 1, Newmarket. 1: Metro politan. 3. Kiwi, 0. Third Grade, Open.—Belmont, 2, Poo sonby, 0; W.Y.M.1., 3, New Lynn. 2. Third Grade, Intermediate.—Comrades 4, Mount Albert. 2: Eden Povers, 13, Al Saints, 0. Fourth Grade.—Belmont, I, Glen Eden 0; Onehunga, 0, New Lynn, 0. Fifth Grade.—North Shoro. 3, Carlton 0; Belmont, 3. Tamaki, 1. Sisth Grade.—Belmont.. 3, North Shore 1: Carlton. 3. Tamaki. 2: W.Y.M.1., 3 Y.M.C.A. B. 0: Comrades B. 5. All Saiar,s 0. Secondary Schools.—Senior grade: Auck land Grammar School. 1. Mount Alber Grammar School A, 1 ; Mount Albert B 5. Technical B. 2; Technical, A, 7, St Stephen's, 0. Junior grade: Mount Alber Grammar School A, 7, Technical B. n Technical A. 1. Mount Albert Grammar B 1: Auckland Grammar School, 4, Kowhai, 1 HUNTLY DEFEATS FRANKTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. HUNTLY, Sunday.' A soccer match played yesterday resulted —Huntly, 5, v. Frankton Railway, 2. GAME AT PUKEMIRO. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.' PUKEMIRO. Sunday. The Pukemiro Junction Soccer tear played Claudelands Rovers yesterday a Pukemiro. The game opened in a sensa tionel manner. Latimer scoring inside seconds. The high wind upset all attempt at good combination. The second half sa\ the Junction team gain the upper hand Latimer adding two more goals and 1 Dodds one. Kennedy scored for Claude lands. The final result was:—Pukeruir Junction, 4; Claudelands Rovers, 1.