ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19963, 4 June 1928, Page 14

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUED. THISTLE'S DECISIVE WIN. NORTH SHORE DEFEATS Y.M.C.A. The second round of the Auckland Football Association's senior grade championship was opened on Saturday. After a strenuous and clever first half display, Ponsonby failed to hold Thistle, and was completely eclipsed in the closing stages. Kay was brilliant in the Thistle attack, and scored four of the club's five goals. North Shore surprised Y.M.C.A. in a game that lacked incident. The win registered by North Shore was the result of a grave weakness in the Y.M.C.A. defence. Tramways continued its run of victories by defeating Northcote, at Northcote. Belmont put up a good fight against Onehunga, but was four goals behind at the end of a, hard game. Following are ttie results of Saturday's senior grade games:— Thistle, 6; Ponsonby, 2. North Shore, 2; Y.M.C.A., 0. Tramways, 3; Northcote, 1. Onehunga, 5; Belmont, 1. THISTLE V. PONSONBY. Thistle pressed from the start and Alooney had the Ponsonby defence badly busted, Forceful play by Gummings and Dunsmore kept play m the Ponsonby goal area, where Stewart got possession and drew the defence nicely before sending on to Kay, who gave Watts no chance with, a hot drive. Ponsonby made the pace fast and was soon swarming thfe Thistle goal. A series of corners was forced, but although the kicks were accurately placed, the defence held. Zouill effected a fine save from a hard drive by Bell, and repeated the effort a moment later to clear a fine effort by Wright. Not to be denied, Ponsonby continued to press and was rewarded when Wilson sent over a perfect centre, aoid Thomas sent the ball into the net Ponsonby continued to be the more aggressive side, but the Thistle defence was sound, and strong clearing by Christie and Dixon carried play to the other end. Cummings sent over a fine cross and Kay took advantage of hesitation on the part of the defence, and scored cleverly. Thistle held a decided advantage for some time, and pretty combined movements by the halves and forwards had the defence nonplussed. At half-time the scores were: Thistle, 2; Ponsonby, 1. Thistle opened the second half with a strong attack, and the Ponsonby goal was under pressure for a loaig period. The footwork of the Thistle forwards was delightful and the defence could do little to cope with the clever combination of the opposition. A free kick against Wright was well placed by_ Carter. Ivay got possession and scored a brilliant goal from well out. A fine, determined run by the Ponsonby forwards raised the siege and Thomas worked through nicely until brought down by Christie. A penalty was awarded uaid Innes made no mistake with the kick. Spurred on by this success, Ponsonby maintained the attack, and Thistle was kept busily defending. Zonill saved well from a hard drive by Williams, and Reid was fortunate to block' a great effort by Stewart. Dixon sent Kay off in a fine solo run which carried play to the Ponsonby goal. An infringement by Aforrison saw Dixon put Thistle further ahead from the free kick. Just before the final whistle Kay again eluded the defence and gave Watts no chance with a great shot. The game ended with tho scores: Thistle, 5; Ponsonby, 2. s NORTH SHORE V. Y.M.C.A. North Shore opened with nine men in the curtain-raiser game against Y.M.C.A. Play was quiet in the opening stages, with North Shore holding the advantage territorially. A nice pass by Bush gave Jay a chance, but Paton effected a fine save. North Shore continued to hold the advantage. Jay sent over a hard cross and tho ball rebounded off Otter into the net. A strong run by Chalmers and Goodmain carried play to the other end, but Renshaw intervened and North Shore was soon back. Bush received from Woolley, but his shot, was too high. Chalmers and Humphries put Y.Af.C.A. on the attack, a fine drive by the lattc-r missing by inches. A free kick against Dick put North Shore again on the attack, but Woolley missed an open goal from an accurate cross by Jay, and" Patoin cleared. Moore was prominent in a clever run. His parting shot struck the crossbar, and Jav failed to accent an easy chance from tho rebound. Half-time was called with the scores: North Shore, 1; Y.AI.C.A., °. . , Y.M.C.A. held a decided advantage m the opening stages of the second half, but the forwards failed to penetrate the defence. Gerrard. Renshaw and Jcxrtes were particularly effective, and reoeatedlv broke up the opnosing attack. A long spell of Y.AT.C.A. pressure was raised when Jones sent Afoore away. outside 'man cleverly rounded Otter and Hoban, and finished with a hard low drive, which rebounded off the upright into the net. Jav missed the easiest of chances from a fine cross by Aloore. At the other end Chalmers had a great drive which struck the crossbar. The game quietened down toward the end, and the final whistle sounded with the scores: North Shore, 2; Y.M.C.A.. 0. TRAMWAYS V. NORTHCOTE. Tramways attacked from, the kick-off, and Spencer created a surpriso by scoring cleverly in the first minute. Tramways, 1; Northcote, 0. Northcote made a short-lived raid on the Tramways goal, where Hopkins handled, but Poole struck the crossbar from the penalty kick. Tramways settled down to give a fine exhibition of effective football. Tho forwards, well supported by tho halves, gave tho Northcote defence a gruelling time. Good combination between Spencer. Fyfiie and Spang saw Davis score a. fine goal. Tramways, 2; Northcote, 0. Northcote showed improvement towards the interval, but tho forwards were weak in front of the goal and half-time was called with the score: Tramways, 2; Northcote, 0. Tramways continued to hold the upper hand in the second spell, and maintained a prolonged siege on the' Northcote goal. Many scoring opportunities were missed, but Davis eventually netted from an accurate cross by Spong. Tramways, 3; Northcote, 0. During a raid on the Tramways goal, Holmes scared. Tramways again asserted a superiority and was attacking hard when the gain', ended: Tramways, 3; Northcote, 1. ONEHUNGA V. BELMONT. Play was of an even and end to end nature in the first spell. Omehunga. showed more polish, and was the better balanced side. Early in the game Cotton received a nice pass from Gill, and put Onehunga ahead' with a good goal. Onehunga, 1; Belmont, 6. Belmont attacked strongly and a great shot by Allen was well cleared by Morris. Keeping up tho pressure, Belmont had Onehumga's defence in difficulty, and a penalty for hands against, Alays was turned to full account by Lithgow. Belmont, 1; Onehunga, 1 Onehunga monopolised play iii the second half, and the ball was seldom out of the Belmont territory. Cotton scored for Onehunga. and, before the cmd, Rivers, who was playing a most effective game at outside left, added three more goals for the winners. The final whistle sounded with the score: Onehunga. 5; Belmont. 1. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Following are the results of junior grade games played on Saturday:— Second Grade.—Thistle. 2. Newmarket,, 0; Kiwi, <t4, Philomel, 1; New Lynn, 2, Ponsonby, 1. Third Grade.—Y.M.C.A., 8. Takanini, 0; New Lynn. 2, Tamaki, 1 ; W.Y.A1.1.. 2, Ponsomby. 1; Belmont. 4. Burnley, 0; Y.M.C.A.. 7. All Saints. 0. Fourth Grade.—N or th Shore. 2, Belmont, 0: Comrades A, 6, Eden Rovers, 1; Tamaki, 3, Y.AI.C.A. A, 0; New Lynn, 5, Comrades B, 0. Fifth Grade. —Birkenhead, 7. North Shore, 0; Tamaki. 3, Y.Af.C.A. A. 1; Comrades A, 3, Belmont, 2: W.Y.A1.1., 5, Comrades B, 2; Onehunga, 2, St, Stephen's, 0; Y.Af.C.A B. 5. All Saints. 2. . Sixth Grade.—Belmont. 4, Mount Albert, 2; North Shore 2, Y.M.C.A., 1; Comrades A. 0, Tamaki, 0: Comrades B. 3, Mount Albert B. 1. *' Seventh Grade. —Tielmont A, 10. Carlton, 0- Y.AI.C.A. A. 2. North Shore. 0; Belmont B, 2, Y.AT.C.A. B. 0: Tamaki. I. Metropolitan. 0: W.Y.A1.1., 0. Comrades B, 0. Secondary Schools.—Sanior grade: Auckland Grammar School 2. Mount Albert B. 0; Mount Albert A. 3 Technical B. 1; St. Stephen's. 3. Taka.pnna. 3 Junior grade: Mount Albert A. 0. Northcote. 5; Auckland Grammar. 10, Afount Albert B 0; Technical A. 4. Takapuna, 1 REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. THE FIXTURES FOR TO-DAY. The Auckland Football Association has arranged two representative games at Blandford Park to-day.- The Royal Navy will play against' an Aucklamd B representative team, commencing at 1.415 p.m The 3 o'clock game will be between Auckland and Waikato, and will K the first representative fixture of the The Waikato team has been undefeated ir the Brown Shield matches, having held that trophy since it was passed over by the New Zealand Footbal Association for competition among the , mimor associations The game is sure to be a keen one. and a clever exhibition of the code is expected.

RESULTS AT HAMILTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.-t-OWN correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. Hamilton Association football matches yesterday resulted : —Fukemiro Junction, 1, v. Claudelands Rovera, 0: Hamilton Wanderers, 2, v. Frankton Railways, 1. SOUTHERN COMPETITIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELLINGTON. Sunday. Soccer matches played at Wellington yesterday resulted:—Y.M.C.A.. 2, v. Diamonds. ]; Thistle. 2. v Petone, 2; Marist. 5, v. Institute, 3- Hospital. 8 v. Seatoun, 3. CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. Following are the results of soccer matches played at Christchurch yesterday:—Nomads. 2, v. Western, 0: Thistle, 8, v St. Albans. 2: Technical. 3, v. Villa, 1. DUNDBIN, Sunday. Association football matches played at Dunedin yesterday resulted: —Seacliff. 3. v. High School Old Boys, 3; Mornington, 2. v. Technical Old Roys, 1; Mosgiel, 2, v. Maori Hill, 0; Northern, 3, v. Y.M.C.A., 1.