ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 15

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUED.

PONSONBY EXTENDS TRAMWAYS. THISTLE IN SCORING MOOD. The Auckland Football Association's junior grade championship was continued on Saturday, and, under tho unsuitable conditions, two out of the three games played were more in the nature of farces than anything else. In pouring rain Celtic and Onehnnga trouped out with eicht men each, and spent the majority of the time trying to stand up in the mud. Twice Celtic inadvertently scored, and the burlesque came to an end with the latter team tho winner. Really good football was seen in the Tramways-Ponsonby encounter, the players showing surprisingly fine control of the greasy ball. POll- - was slightly unfortunate to lose, as the greater part of the play was undoubtedly in its favour. Thistlo enjoyed itself at North Shore's expense and overwhelmed the Devonport team bv a score of 11 goals to 1. Hie BelmontY.M.C.A match, which was to have been played at the Domain, was postponed. Following arc the insults of senior grade games played 011 Saturday: Tramways, 5; Ponsonby, 3. ♦ Thistle, 11; North Shore, 1.

Celtic, 2; Onehunga, 0. Senior Grade B.—Taniaki, 3, Manurcwa, 1; Newmarket, 3, Rangers, 1. The following tabic show 3 the positions of the teams :

P. \V. L. D. F. A. Ft?. Tramways . 1- 10 0 2 51 10 2-2 Ponsonby .. 12 7 3 2 M I<> YMC.A. ..11 5 2 1 2:i 21 II Thistle ..12 0 (i 0 30 23 12 Celtic .. 12 1 6 3 20 3 11 lOueimncn . . 12 3 i> .1 —I 31 0 North Shore . 12 1 8 0 10 33 l> Belmont ..11 1 S 2 17 37 A TRAMWAYS TOO GOOD. Ponsonby started oft with a rush and nearly shocked its way through Ibe bewildered Tramways defence. Tlio Tramways forward line then swung nicely into movement. Spencer being blocked when well placed. Innes initiated a spirited raid into Tramways' territory, Stewart being unlucky to shoot into Batly's hands when a goal seemed imminent. Tramways swept downfield. giving Williams an opportunity lo score, and his shot, completely beat Lyon Ponsonby attacked afresh, but found difficulty in breaking through a solid defence. Batty just managed 10 save by scooping the ball off the goal-line, but the attackers came back, and, following a concerted movement in the goal-mouth, Stewart headed in to even the scores Stewart again had Batty in difficulties with a racking ground shot which the goalie tipped round the upright. Tramways was attacking instantly, and Williams shot from well out. Tll attempting to clear Lornio headed the ball into his own goal. Innes had the misfortune to Btrikc the bar with a beautiful centre that had Batty guessing from the start. Christie set the Tramways forwards functioning. Spencer extending Lyon with a first-time shot,. The scores at half-time were:—Tramways, 2; Ponsonby, 1. Ward and Rogers got in a fair amount of work on Ponsonby'a left flank and were unfortunate ill not registering goals oil two or three occasions. Lornie was rather severely penalised for what looked an accidental infringement in the penalty area, and Speiiccr gave Lyon 110 chance to save with the resultant spot-kick. A few minutes later Lornie was again pulled up for an infringement, and Spencer once 11101 c raised the score, driving the penalty kick into the top of the net Yet more was to conic, for Spong, moving quickly down the I ramways' 'right flank, crossed to Spencer, who secured his third goal. Tonsonby was tuc next to notch a soal from a fine effort by Stewart. The Ponsonby forwards combined effectively, and Rogers forged through a swarm of players to net in splendid fashion. Ponsonby was the belter team up to t.ie finish, when the Ecore sheet read. Tramways. 3: Ponsonby, 3. EIGHT MEN* A SIDE. The game between Celtic and Onehunga started in pouring rain with both sides fielding only eight men. The opening exchanges were in Celtic's favour, Rimmcr testing Ztiill soon after (he commencement. Zuill was lucky to tip another shot- from •Rinimer over the crossbar. Then Tones, for Onehunga, nearly succeeded in pushing McPhee info the goal with the ball. Celtic retaliated, ayl Gavan shot behind when confronted with an open goal. Moon next struck the post with a shot, the ball rebounding into play and Whowell cicarcd. There was 110 score at half-time. Gavan and Rinimer pelted the Onehunga goal for several minutes without any result. At last Moon carried activities to the other end. The ball proved too elusive and greasy for accurate shooting, however, and play reverted to mid-field. Watts emerged from a melee and opened 'die score for Celtic with a rising shot, which scraped under the bar. Gavan got- through lo notch another goal, the final score being:—Celtic, 2: Onehunga, 0. NORTH SHORE ECLIPSED. The Do von port ground was easily the most suitable for match-play on Saturday, the turf being fairly firm. North Shore was well under strength. ' Two fourth grade players tilled the big caps left, by HoycocK and Jones, so that the half-line was considerably weakened Right from the kickoff Thistle set. about scoring. Kay receiving to beat Wise with a low drive. Immediately on resuming Kay was back and notched another goal. The third score by the same player was only a matter of minutes, and Thistle was three up after about seven minutes' play. Kay was being given in extraordinary amount of latitude, and be romped through the defence to secure his fourth successive goal. Kay was keeping wonderfully 011 the target, and a fifth goal was added by his boot. The game was not all in North Shore territory, the exchanges being mostly midfield ones, but whenever Thistle combined it seemed to score. Hisiop relieved the monotony of l\ny notching all the goals by driving past Wise. Then Kay scored bis sixth goal just, before half-time, when the score was:— Thistle, 7: North Shore. 0. Soon after resuming N, Cummings raised Thistle's tally to eight, after receiving from Kay. The last-named weaved his way through govern! North Shore players and scored another toal. A moment later he had secured yet another one. North Shore's most promising movement, of the play ended when Bush raced through to score to the accompaniment of ironical cheers. Thistle eased off. and practised fancy footwork. This relieved the pressure forll while, but Hamilton further increased North Shore's deficit by running down the right flank and beating Wise. The final whistle v.as welcome to bo!h teams, the scores bcins: — Thistle, 11: North Shore, 1. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Following are the results of games played ill the lower grades:— Seco.wl Grade.—Ponsonby A, 11, Ponsonby B. 1. Third Grade Open. Henderson. 3. Mount Albeit. 2: Swanaou won by default from Kiwi. Third Grade Intermediate.—Burnley, S. North Shore, 2; Belmont. 2. Comrades, 0. Fourth Grade.—North Shore, i. Belmont, 0. SECONDARY SCHOOL GAMES. Senior Grade.—Mount Albert Grammar A, 7, Technical B. 0: Technical A, 4, Tnkapuna Grammar, 0: Auckland Grammar. C, Mount Albert Grammar B. 0. Intermediate Grade.—Mount Albert Grammar A, 3 Technical. 1: Kowhai Junior High School, 2, Mount Albert Grammar C, 0; Takapunn Grammar. .">, Mount Albert Grammar B. 0. . Junior Grade.—Kowhai. 1. lechuical. 0. RESULTS IN THE SOUTH. [BY TELEGRAPH.— riIESS ASSOCIATION.]

■Wellington.—Wntornidors, 5. Hospital. 1; Thistle, 2. Diamonds. 1. The Y.M.C.A.I'etono Chatham Cup mntcli was abandoned on account of (ho wet, weather. Ohrislcliurch. —AVestevn, C; of. Albans, 4. Now Brighton, _1; Hangers, I), Nomads. 0; Sumner. 5, Kaiapoi, I). Dunedin. —Technical, 3, Old Boys, 2; Maori Hill, 8, Y.M.C.A., 0; Seacliff, 1, Northern. 0.