THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 15

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

MATCHES BELOW STANDARD

WEAKNESS OF CELTIC TEAM

CHATHAM CUP TIE TO-NICIIT.

J lit' Auckland l-"«»«»tli.ill Assoeiat ion'.) senior j/r;u!o cli.-i was advian.'ed another stage i'i) Saturday, when l li»fourth series of games in I lie second round was played in line weathei and on good, fii>l. grounds. The type ol football .shown throughout. the lour games was imt up In senior grade .standard and it wasonlvat intervals that dashes o! billliame were seen.

Tramway.- stiil letaius iis lead on 'lie championship table, alter delimiting Celtic in a surprisingly easy maiinet If Tramways is to he shifted from its leading position it will have to lie cheeked at once, as if Ponsonbv suffers another defeat, the leaders will have an unassailable lioid on the championship.

The contest between Tramways and Celtic was an uninspiring one. the most salient point being Celtic's weakness. A six-gold deficit in a senior game is a seven' ope, especially as 'liainways was not. such cm eptioiiallv brilliant football Matty was good without being particularly sale in ihe Tramwajs goal. His penchant foi throwing out when there is plenty of time to kick clear would get him inlo trouble with an opposing team possessed ot a strong halfback line.

Good Defensive Backs. Ihi.' kicks were pariicularlv good, and Hit; clean display of kicking shown I>y Mcl\lligott and Simpson was a feature 01 tho game. Their efforts were mainly instrumental in breaking up any dangerous Ccllic raids. The halfback line was ably led by Christie, with Pinklei and Fyfvie a watchful pair of defenders. Spencer, although showing up rarely 111 Jiiidlield play, v.as an effective finishing unit, as his goals testify lioll was easily the licst worker in the forwards, and had always an eye for a likely opening. Spong and . Strettou tias c performed belter, as also has Williams Celtic, disappointed mice again and, for a team that looked a force to be reckoned with two or three weeks ago, its showing was surprisingly pool. The re appearance of two old-timers, I'. Kane and .M. Hayes, was welcomed, ami, although they were to the fote in all Ccllic movements, they had too much work through the mistakes of others and they wore out toward the close.

Wright, at centre-halt, only needs to settle down and delete haphazard kicking to become a leading man hi itns position. Ciavan displayed a rare turn ol speed on occasions, but he did uot combine with the remaining forwards. I'inimer suffered through being badly fed by the halfbacks. Siriim might have held, the ball a little longer with profit to his side, lie did not get much to do, but seemed anxious to get rid of the bull immediately after receiving. Game ol Lost Opportunities. The initial exchanges of the I'onsonbyThistle game seemed to point to the former's predominance, but. recovering in great style, Thistle reversed a goal deficit, and won just before the final whistle. .It was a game of lost opportunities, three out of four penalty kicks being throw,l away, beside several excellent scoring chances.

(.Serial d, ilibbert and Howat proved an effective stumbling block to (be Ponsonby forwards, Ihe halves were sound, although II Cuinining was not quite as safe as if he had been paying all his attention to the, ball. The foMvards were a swift-moving, ever-dangerous quintet, and taxed the opposing defenders to the extreme.

Ponsonby was, if anything, a little unlucky to lose, as tin major part of the game was undoubtedly . in its favour. Williams served his side well on defence, displaying uncanny anticipation in intercepting passing movements. Lyon gave a plucky and brilliant exhibition in goal, his save from Kay's penalty kick being one of the finest seen this season. Tho half-line was slightly flurried under pressure and failed to play to limes enough. A. Morrison and Stewart, were the best of the forwards.

Scientific Play. Good passing and scientific play was mi evidence when Y.M.C.A. met North Shoie at lJevonport. The result was in doubt to the fitjul whistle, and. with veiy little good fortune tho local side would have reversed the lesult. For the winners liillinrd was a tower ol strength in goal, repeatedly .stemming the North Shore forwards. Mowat and Ottei were a solid pair, and allowed the opposition very little scope. The outstanding half was Malcolm, who gave a faultless display of defensive and attacking work Burt le v, Y.M.C.A.'s latest recruit, played the best game in the forwards, and his winning goal was a fine effort. Woods was also prominent in all attaching ventures.

(ierraid, the .North Shore left-back, was tin; outstanding player on the field. lie rose to the occasion in fine style, and, with (Ik able .support of Colebourne, thwarted the persistent efforts o| the opposition The middle lire all played well, will: Mel)onald the most noticeable. The huh of the attack was the IlullciBusli combination, I heir efforts to make the fr.rward line I'unelioi being a feature of (lie game f_v was a tireless worker.

Honours Even. I >->1 nit nit placed its best team ill I lie field against Onehiiiiga. at Cornwall Park, an I tin; display it gave leaves the regret that such form had not been shown earlier in the season. it i.s Belmont seems sure lo be one ol ilic team, affected bv the i llegal ion scheme. Zuiil played a splendid game in the Onrhunga <j;<til. his efforts being instrumental in

f11«»<• l<lllmost of I»oI• 11<>111"s dangerous iim.i veiiieii is. I'lie I nicks were no!, quite oil form, and consequently the oppn : ,t (ion's attacking strength viis inverse!;, strong.

i'.elniont v orked as a unit throughout, each man knowing his v.ork and attend ing ! 11 11. *• Stev, art v. as particularly not leeahl".

Since the Nov Zealand Football ,\-o elation has refused Auckland s icqiieM tor extra time to complete I lie Chatham Cui> compel ii ion, the loc.il association is trying to finalise (he competition as quickly as pos.-ible. It v. as suggested plaving two games a v eel; under Hood light, hut I la: obstacle which confronted the management commit tee was that the ground might suffer during had weather. However, a further n.atch will he played to-night between Celtic and Mauurewa. I'ioin icports rlit; latter team is quite capable of fully extending any senior grade elo\en. and the conte-l -.hould be interesting. Hon Accord has been drawn to meet the winners of this match.

HKOWN SHIELD CHALLENGE

CONTEST ON SATURDAY. Croat, interest is heing displayed in the Huntlv and Hamilton districts concerning the Brown Shield challenge match to he played at Huntly next Saturday, and, although the South Aneklanders * have held the trophy for the past four seasons against all comers, they are reported to bo not up to the same calibre as in previous years. The issue is a very open one, especially as North Auckland has a very strong side making the journoy.