ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20259, 20 May 1929, Page 15

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

KEEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. TRAMWAYS DEFEATS PONSONBY. CELTIC AND NORTH SHORE WIN. There was a large attendance at Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon, when Tramways and Ponsonby, tlio two unbeaten clubs in the senior A section of the championship competition, provided the chief attraction. The game provided a fine exhibition of the code, but Tramway;, through better finishing, quickly established a commanding lead, and the game, although always full of bright football, was robbed of much interest in the closing stages. In the curtain-raiser match y.M.C.A. gained a victory over Belmont in .. lifeless game. Celtic continued to show improved form, and scored a decisive win over Onehunga at Onehunga. North Shore, on its own ground, proved too strong for a weakened Thistle side. Following, are the results of t! ; senior grade games: Tramways, 6, Ponsonby, 1. Y.M.C.A., 3, Belmont, 0. North Shore, 3. Thistle, 1. Celtic. Z. Onehunga, 1. Section B.—Tamaki, 3. Metropolitan, 2; Philomel. 2, Norlhcotc, 0; Manurewa, 3. Newmarket, 0. PONSONBY WELL BEATEN. Tramways h?ld a decided advantage over I'onsonby m a thrilling opening. 'J lie t onson by oefence was bard pressed ioUowing some clever work by Tinkler, Bell and bpong. The first goal came rather easily, ijyon fisted clear, but Stretton gained possession to score with a, hard drive from close in. Tramways continued to force ttie game, and within two minutes went further atiead. A characteristic burst and shot by Spencer had Lyon well beaten. Hell and Spencer were in brilliant form m the Tramways attack, and bustled the I'onsonby delence continuously. 1* or hands against a defender Tramways was awarded a penalty, and Spencer made no mistake with the spot kick, tor the first time in the game the I'onsonby attack showed out in a tine concerted movement, Innes and Stewart were associated in a series of bright passes which carried play to the Tramways goal. Morrison capped the eßori with a hard low drive which deceived Batty and found the corner of the net. Spurred on by this success I'onsonby set up a determined attack. Tramways' goal ran a narrow escape when Wilson sent a strong drive against the crossbar. The best scoring chance of the game was missed when Wilson and Ward failed to add the finishing touch to a perfect cross by Innes. I'onsonby was attacking when half-time was called with the scores: Tramways, 3: Ponsonby, 1

Right from the restart Tramways set up a strong attack. Bell led the way, and. rounding Kinghorn. he sent on to Spencer who accepted an easy chance to score from under the posts. A quiet period followed, in which Tramways easily held the upper hand, but there was little danger in the attack. Ponsonby eventually raised the siege, and in a grand assault on the Tramways' goal. Fyvie was fortunate not to be penalised for bringing Innes down in the penalty area. The neH score went all against the run of play Stretton gained possession from a long clearance by Simpson, and after a strong run down the line he sent over an accurate cross for Bell to head into the net, well ou ( of the reach of Lyon'. Ponsonby retaliated with a determined attack, Stewart, Innes and Morrison being prominent. The movement ended when Batty effected a brilliant save from a hard drive by Wilson It required a free kick to enable the goalkeeper to clear from the eager Ponsonbv forwards. Ponsonby continued to press and Wilson again struck the crossbar with a fine shot. Try as they would, the Ponsonby forwards could not find a way through a sterling defence. Spnng carried play to the other end with a brilliant solo run, Williams gathered the ball nicely from an accurate cross, and gave Lyon no chance to save a hard drive from close in- Plav quietened down in the closing minutes, although Ponsonby -never ceased to fight hard for a score. The game ended: Tramways. 0: Ponsonby, 1. PLAYER ORDERED OF.". Belmont was first to be dangerous in the curtain-raiser game against Y.M.C.A. Lithgow, Cleal and Allan led the way in a determined attack on the Y.M.C.A. goal, but Cleal sent too far ahead and Hilliard came out to clear easily. Otter raised the siege with a fine clearance and at the other end Humphreys threw away an easy chance of opening Y.M.C.A.'s account. Y.M.C.A. continued to press and soon took the lead when Humphreys made no mistake and heat Wylie with a hard drive from close in. Quiet, uninteresting play followed, with Y.M.C.A. showing clever football in the outfield, but a marked weakness in front of the goal. Kemp put Belmont again on the attack with a smart clearance, and in a hot attack on the Y.M.C.A. goal Lithgow was sent to the pavilion for disputing the referee's decision. Belmont was kept strictly on the defensive until the interval, when the scores were: Y.M.C.A.. 1: Belmont. 0. Further misfortune befel Belmont in the opening minutes of the second spell. Otter and Robinson collided heavily and the latter had to leave the field with a fractured collarbone. There was little interest in the game after this, Y.M.C.A. easily holding the upper liand, with Belmont a very disjointed side. Humphreys sent over a perfect cross and Woods headed into the net. to put Y.M.C.A. two goals ahead. Following this reverse Belmont played gamely, and with only nine men held a fair share of the exchanges. The Y.M.C.A. goal had an escape when, following a brilliant solo run by Alien. C'leal sent a hard drive narrowly past. Just before the end a persistent Y.M.C.A. attack was rewarded when Humphreys added a, third coal. The final scores were: Y.M.C.A., 3: Belmont. 0. THISTLE UNDER STRENGTH. Thistle was compelled to turn out with only 10 men against North Shore, at Devonport. The home side soon made it evident that its attack carried more punch, and the Thistle goalie was kept very busy in the early exchanges. Following a strong attack, in which Bradshaw, Webb and Bush were associated, Jay obtained possession and beat Gerrard with a capital shot. North Shore continued to hold the advantage, until McCosh oneued up play to put Thistle on the attack. Cummings placed a corner kick perfectly, and Hislop headed a fine equalising goal. North Shore claimed the advantage, and before the interval Dow charged down a clearing kick from Ferguson. and the ball went into the net. North Shore held the tipper hand in the ■second spell, and. with the exception of occasional dangerous Taids by the Thistle forwards. attacked continuously. Persistence was reworded when Jav scored with a hard, low drive. The final scores were: North Shore, 3; Thistle. 1. CELTIC! IN WINNING FORM. , After rather a shaky opening Celtic settled down to play a good forceful game against Onehunga at Onehunga. The nomo side held the advantage throughout the opening spell, and was unfortunate to be a goal down at half-time. The score was the reward of opportunism and the chance was smartly snapped up bv Gavin, when Who well made the opening. The second spell was more evenly contested, and Celtic showed a vast improvement in concerted work. A well-engineered attack by Onehunga resulted in Jones obtaining the equaliser about midway through •he spell. From then to the end Celtic claimed the advantage. Gavin regained the lead with a fine individual effort, and before the close Rinimer added a third goal. The game ended: Celtic. 3: Onehunga. 1.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Following arc the results of junior grade games:— Second Grade.— Ponsonby. 5, Belmont, 2: Y.M.C.A.. 4. Thistle. 1; North Shore, 4, Celtic. 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Comrades, 2, Northcote, 0; Belmont, 3. Ponsonby, 0; North Shore. 3, Rangers, 0. Fourth Grade.—Comrades A, 2. Tamaki, 0: Y.M.C.A., 2. Belmont. 0; W.Y.M.1.. 2. Comrades B. 1; Glen Eden. 4, Y.M.C.A. B. 0: North Shore. 1. Burnley. 0. Fifth Grade.— I Tnninki, 1. College United A. 0: Onehunga. 3, Comrades A, 0; North Shore.. 4. Belmont. 2- Comrades B. 3. St. Stephen's, 1. SOUTH AUCKLAND MATCH. „ [CY TELEGRAPH.—OWN'. CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Sunday, In a Soccer match played at Hamilton ye/terday undei the South Auckland Association's auspices, a draw resulted between Wanderers rind Glen Massey. each team scoring one goal. TE AROHA V. WAITOA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE Alton A, Saturday. In an Association football match To A roll a beat -Waitoa at To A roll a by 2 coals to 1. This was a close grime, in which Wnitoa was unfortunate in not securing a draw. RESULTS iX SOUTH. Results of Association football matches in tho South on Saturday, state Press Association messages, are as follows:Wellington.—Y.M.C.A., 4. beat Thistle, 2: Institute. 3. beat Waterside. 2; Murist, 1. drew with Petone. 1. Christehureh. —Thistle, 5. bent Villa, 0: Technical Old Boys, 4. beat St. Albans, 3; Sumner, 2, beat Now Brighton. 0: Nomads. 6. In l at. R nngoi'9, 1; Western, 1, clrow with Kainpoi. 1. Dunedin,—SeaclitT. 2, drew with Maori Hill. 2: Northern, 4, beat High School Old Boys, 2; Movnington, 6, beat Y.M.C.A., 2.