ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 14

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. TRAMWAYS CLAIMS HONOURS. HARD GAME IN FINAL. The deciding championship Ramos in the senior and second grade competitions under Ihe auspices of the Auckland l'ootball Association were decided oil Saturday. After a hard and strenuous gamo Tram■ways defeated Ponsonby for tlio premier honour. Tho gaino lacked many of the finer points of tho code, but a stilling contest was witnessed, and play was always full of incident. Ponsonby was unfortunate to bo two goals down at the interval, but Tramways asserted a decided advantage in tho closing stages of the gamo and fully merited its win. Tho curtain-raiser game for the second grade championship saw Manurewa prove too clever for Glen Eden and run out easy winners by four clear goals. On the Domain Y.M.C.A. claimed full points from Belmont after a quiet championship game. The candidates for the Queen Carnival contest were present at Blandford Park, and in tho principal match Miss Takle (Tramways) and Miss Armstrong (I'on.sonby) kicked off in the first and second half respectively. Following air- the results of tho principal matches played: Tramways, 3; Ponsonby, 1. Y.M.C.A.. 2: Belmont, 0. Second Grade Championship I'inal. Manurewa, 4; Glen Eden, 0. TRAMWAYS V. PONSONBY. Tho gamo between Tramways and Ponsonby had a sensational opening. Christie put Tramways on attack when he sent on to Tinklor. The inside man forced the came on Vho right and swung an accurate cross infield to Reid, who gathered the ball nicely and gave Watts no chance to sau l » hard low drive. Innes and Balloch, in tho Ponsonby attack, attempted too much closo work and Simpson, cleared. A promising movement on tho Tramways light ■was spoilt when Tinkler fouled Miles and » combined run by Williams and Wilson carried play to tho Tramways goal. Innes made a fine opening for Hunter, nut tho outside man sent weakly past. Ponsonby maintained tho pressure and the Tramways defence went through a gruelling time. Jnnoa headed narrowly past from an accurate cross by Balloch, the latter player sending just over from closo range. Iramways mode a raid and only a brilliant sayo by Williams prevented a scoro when .Reid shot hard for goal. For the most pari Ponsonby held the advantage, hut Christie, Fyffio and Simpson were giving nothing ftway, and Batty was equal all calt3 made. Hopkins got tho better of Morrison and after a strong run he sent accurately across tho Ponsonby goal. In a ineteo which followed Watts threw clear with little to spare. Ponsonby set up a determined attack and Williams ran through tho defence cleverly, but his parting drive struck tho under side of the bar, and rebounded into play. Tramways retaliated with a brisk attack. Hopkins sent, over a perfect cross and Miles was penalised for charging Spencer. Watts brought off a brilliant save from Spencer's spot kick. Tramways wan not to be denied, however, and attacked with great determination. Watta mado a fine save from a clever header by Spencex, but a moment later ho misjudged a well-placed free-kick by Hopkins and Spencer's shot glanced off McOosh into an empty goal. Tramways pressed hard until ha If time, when the scores were: —Tramways, 2; Ponsonby. 0. Ponsonby was first to become dangerous when tho second spell opened and tho Tramways defence underwent; sovero pressure until a good effort by Innes travelled over. A strong run by Spong transferred play to the Ponsonby goal, but a daring clearance by Williams nullified tbo effort, and fine play by McCosh put Ponsonby on the attack. Thero was a lack of finishing power in the Ponsonby front rank, howover, many good chances being thrown away. At tho other end Watts was fortunate tc recover in time, to effect a clearance when Spencer iitruck the upright and a minute later Spencer just failed to add tho finish to an accurate cross from Spong. A fine combined effort by tho Ponsonby forwards saw Innes go within an aco of scoring, Batfy bringing off a fine save from a clever shot. Ponsonby opened up tho game with » strong attack. Innes cleverly rounded Christie and Porteous, but Williams lost a golden opportunity. A corner was forced, however, and from a well-placed kick Innes got possession and gavo Batty no chance to save a hard drive from closo in. Play became hard and fast with Ponsonby making a great effort to obtain the equaliser. Stretton just managed to clear in a desperate rally in tho Tramways goal. Batty cleared twice under pressure and Christio drovo play back. Tramways became aggresnivo and Spencer struck tho outside of the net with a brilliant ainapshot from a cross by Hopkins. Tinkler led the way in another raid on the Ponsonby goal and Spencer mado no mistake when a perfect cross gave him a fino opening. He broke through the defence in fine stylo and beat Watts with a great drive, which found the corner of the net. Ponsonby inadn a valiant effort to save tho game, but the Tramways defence defied all efforts, and the final whistlo Mounded with tho scores:—Tramways, 3: Ponsonby, J. Y.M.C.A. V. BELMONT.' • Although playing against the sun arid ■wind, Y.M.C.A. claimed a decided advanover Belmont, in the opening minutes of tho gamo at tho Domain. Neither side showed much enthusiasm, however, and play was for the mo3t part dull and quiet. Toward the interval both sides showed a marked improvement and each goal ran ft series of narrow escapes, but there was no scoring when halfTimo was called. Tho second spell opened Quietly and pomo T"H>r football was witnessed. Y.M.C.A. eventually took tho lead when Humphries headed into tho net. Belmont attacked strongly for some time after 'this reverse, but failed to gain the equaliser. Play swung to tho other end, where McAuslan added the ncces»ry finish to a well-placed corner kick by T'atoa. End-to-end play followed, but no further goals were registered, a poor gamo ending:—Y.M.C.A., 2; Belmont, 0. MANUREW.i V. NEW LYNN, Manurewa set out to overwhelm Glen Eden lot the second grade championship honours. The opening stagos of the gamo saw both sides below form. Manurewa was first to become aggressive, but poor finishing spoilt many efforts. Williamson rventually opened 'he scoring, beating Gerrard with a hard drive from closo in. Shortly afterwards the same player put, Manurewa further ahead when he accepted » fine opening from Palmer. Glen Eden strived hard to reduce the leeway, but halftime was called with tho scores:—Manurewa, 2; Glen Kden. 0. New Lynn pressed hard when play reopened, but Lees. Beaumont and Donaldson defended stubbornly, and Manurewa aoon returned to tho attack. A fine movement among the forwards saw tho Manurewa total raised to three when Hart gave Gerrard no chnnco to save a hard drive. Toward tho closo oli tho gamo Manurewa pressed continuously and shortly before the call of time Palmer headed a fine goal from .a well-placed corner kick. The final scored wero:—Manurewa, 4■, Glen Eden, 0. JUNIOR GRADE RESULTS. 7''ollowing are the rcHults of junior grado matches played on Saturday:— Second Grndo.—Onehungn, 5; Tamaki, 0. Fourth Grade.—Onehunga, 1; Tamnki, 0. Fifth Grado.—Onehunga. 1: Tamaki, 0. Sixth Grado.—Carlton, 2; Y.M.C.A., 2. BUSINESS HOUSE MATCH. In an effort to raise funds for tho support of Miss M. Simpson, tho business house candidate in the Queen Carnival contest, a guino has been arrangi-d to bo played at, Blandford Park on Wednesday, October 17. Ilellaby's. winners of tho business honm championship competition, will bo opposed by a team chosen from the remainder of tho teams. A strong tofim has o?en chosen to reprenent tho lest and as i tellaby s possess a fino team a good contest is anticipated. rest- 0 Po\'° W ' n n e,lm u '" represent tho LradTng Cn'l Morrison (Farmers' (Auckland \rii i-™ 011, * ''ockor, McOitrry 1 CAMES IN GREAT BRITAIN. ; RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S PLAY. foSrsaVb r e° B Saturday last " *" ln (jroat Britain on Southampton 60 1*' Bristol KoUd County, l• oiahn™ e ?kc>ro\ 3, \on. 4; Heading', 2 p c 7?t 7 !rhaTri > > Bromwich Albion, a. Che Wo b Wesl 3. Nullwall. 4: Stoke ?' SV* re9tou 8S!& 3 TWRSK; pSSfct tecSr,,