ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20875, 18 May 1931, Page 12

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. THRILLS AT BLANDFORD PARK. THISTLE DEFEATS TRAMUREWA. r The standard of piny witnessed in the ; Auckland Football Association's senior cora- . petition has been improving since the ber ginning of the season and Saturday was no exception, two particularly fine matches re- . suiting between New Accord and Ponaonby I and Thistle and Trainurowa. The latter I game was the principal one, Thistle gain- , ing the decision by two clear goals after a , brilliant and exciting exhibition of the code. An equally exciting contest was provided by the curtnin-raiser nt Blandford Park between New Accord and Ponsonby, a three-goals draw being a fair reflex of the play. Onehurga onco moro proved that it is a dangerous proposition on its own ground when Y.M.C.A. was forced to fight very hard to finish with n single goal lead. Celtic, exerting all its resources, held North Shore until half-time in the match at Devonport, after which the latter ran up a largo 6coro. Following were the scores:—• Thistle, 5, Tramurewa 3. New Accord, 3, Ponsonby, 3. North Shore, 0, Celtic, 0. Y.M.C.A., 2, Onehunga, 1. The following table shows the positions of the teani6:—-

SUCCESS OF THISTLE. TRAMUREWA DEFEATED. After a thrilling contest at Blandford Park, Thistle held a slight superiority and took the full points from the erstwhile undefeated Tramurewa team. Tho players were content to loosen up for the first couple ol minutes, until Thistle came nway in a lightning rush which caught the Tramurewa defence before it could steady against tho pressure. Tho Thistle inside forwards took tho ba'l to the area. Woods lobbing n nice pass to Gill who wasted 110 time in whipping tho ball into the net. The ball had hardly rolled into play again when iUcLeuy burst through tho backs a/id found a tlaw in Batty'e defence. Thistle further increased its lead from a misunderstanding between Stretton and .Batty. Hislop put across an accurate centre which Gill attempted to convert. Stretton did not know whether to head out or leave for iiis goalkeeper, and in' the end the ball crossed the goal-lino into flic net. Christie lobbed prettily to Spencer in the area, tho latter pivoting to take tho ball on tho volley, and deflect it past the Thistle goalkeeper. A series of Thistle attacks followed in which Batty was tested severely, especially from a well-judged shot from Wright which almost scraped underneath the liar. TramurnWa reduced the deficit before the spell when the Thictlo goalkeeper, in trying to stop, unnecessarily, a free kick for dangerous play, touched the ball, which rolled into the goal. The score at half-time was: Thistle, 3; Tramurewa, '2. There wai little between the teams 011 the resumption, although Tramurewa's movements held more promise. Two corners ; were forced in quick succession by I'ramu- 1 rewa, and off tho second, which was beau-

tifully piloted by Mill, Spencer headed a great goal to make the scores level. An intricate move between Wright, Gill, ITislop and McLeay, during which time the ball was in the air throughout, ended when McLeay smashed home one of tho finest shots ever seen on the ground. The exchanges now became vigorous. The Tramurewa forwards hammered away at Thistle's goal, but the defence replied strongly with Wright doing a tremendous amount of work. Just before the final whistle Strelton handled in the Tramurewa area. Gill took the kick, which Batty saved splendidly, but a Tramurewa player was in front of the line, and when tho kick was retaken Gill scored. The final score was: Thistle, 5, Tramway, 3. Mr. It. H. Parfitt was referee. NEW ACCORD'S GOOD FORM. PONSONBY HARD-PKESSED. A surprisingly good exhibition was given by New Accord in the match with Ponsonby at Blandford Park and, but for the jailer's fine recuperative powers, would have gained the points. However, New Accord fully deserved to lake a half-share of 1 lie points. The teams swung into order quickly, fast raids being exchanged without creating any impression on tho respective defences. Method seemed to bo Ponsonby's aim and to attain this the ball was swung about in long ground passes, which had New Accord's defenco labouring. Morris, in the New Accord goal, was tested repeatedly, while an occasional kick-and-rush incursion by the New Accord forwards found Surteea alert in the opposite goal. As a result of a melee in the New Accord goalmouth, Ponsonby went ahead. Diamond adding the touch which 6ent the ball into the back of the net. Play became moro willing, New Accord showing much better combination. Galloway, Dnnsmore and Low allowed up repeated!". Low piercing tho Ponsonby defence to send in a shot which had Stirtees beaten, the ball curving into the net from a difficult angle. Play was even to

(lie spell, when tlio score was: Ponsonby, 1; New Accord, I A mistake by Tonsonby's backs let Dunsniore in shortly after the resumption, and he made no mistake with the parting shot. New Accord figured prominently in a frontal move, McCosh erring badly in his clearance, and Low, receiving, put New Accord further in the lead. Diamond was responsible for giving Ponsonby a chance when things looked hopeless, a solo run ending when he transferred to Cole, who snapped a neat shot clear of Morris' hands. Soon afterwards Diamond found his objective with a fine ground drive and the teams were level. The game was excitingly contested to thv- finish, when the score read: Ponsonby, 3 : New Accord, Air. W. H. Mardle was tho r<;fereo. CELTIC'S THIRD DEFEAT. SECOND SPELL EFFORT. Celtic found difficulty in holding North Shore in the match at Devonport, the latter gaining an easy victory in the second spell. Celtic opened with its characteristic shock tactics, and almost caught North Shore napping. A strong North Shore countermovement on the right flank threatened danger. Leonard got through to score, but was ruled offside, following which NoYth Shore hovered around Celtic's goal and Mallet was tested several times. The spell came, however, without any score being registered.

There was some willing work after (ho spell, piny ranging: up and downfield in riuick succession. Leonard put North Shore in the lead and shortly afterwards Walters made the way for Haines to increase the total. An occasional Celtic raid relieved North Shore's offensive, but the visitors were seldom dangerous. Leonard added three more goals and Wilson one l/'fore the finish, tho score being: North Shore, G: Celtic, 0, Mr. K. M. Beswick was referee.

Y.M.C.A. BEATS ONEHUNGA. MARGIN OF ONE GOAL. A fine, open came, in which glimpses of brilliant play were witnessed, resulted betveen Y.M.C.A. and Onehunga, at Onehunga, the former gaining a very close decision by the odd rc.il in three. Helped materially by a breeze, Y.M.C.A. wns early prominent, Onehunga being penned in its own half for u lengthy period. A freo kick to Y.M.C.A sa\. Humphreys send in a drive which h'nv collected and shot paßt Znill to open the score. The Onehungn van worked spasmodically and its efforts, lacking cohesion, gave the Y.M.C.A. defenders very little difficulty. Riddolls almost put Y.M.C.A. further abend with n hard drive from close range, but Zuill effected a goo<> save. The play was now brightening, but there was no further score up to tho spell, the ecore being: Y.M.C.A., 1; Onehunga, 0. The Onehungu front line was seen to better advantage after the spell. Whimster leading several dangerous raids on Hililard's keep. Y.M C.A. came equally as strong and some fine football resulted, it being difficult to judge with whom the advantage lay from one minute to nnotlier. Onehunga gained the equaliser from a long shot•by Mnrlow, the goalkeeper losing possession ip the face of the Onehunga forwards and the ball was driven into the net. Y.M.C.A. gained the deciding poim by 11 penalty kick for nn infringement by nn Onehunsra back, M. Knv scoring from the spot-kick. The game ended shortly afterwards willi the score: Y.M.C.A., 2. Onehunga, I. Mr. L. J. Check was rofereo.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Tramurewa, 3, Thistle, 0; Y.M.C.A., 5, Onehunga, 1. Second Grade.—Belmont, 5, Ponsonby, 2; . North Shore, 1, Burnley. 0; Glen Innes, 4, Metro-College, 1; Northcoto, 3, Y.M.C.A. B, 1. Third Grade Open.—Abel's, 3, Henderson, 0; 13urnley, 4, Celtic, 2; Swanson, 3. New Lynn, 1; Tramurewa. 5, Glen Innes, 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Belmont, 3, Northcoto, 0. Fourth Grade.—Western United, 5. Glen Innes, 0; Metro-College B, 3. Burnley, 0: Metro-College A. 8, Y.M.C.A. B. J. Fifth Grade.—Comrades A, 5, North Shore, , 0; Belmont, 2, Onehunga, 0; Y.M.C.A. A, 4, Y.M.C.A. B, 0; Metro-College B, 4, Comrades B, 1. Sixth Grade. —Comrades A, 3, Northcote. , 0; Comrades B, 1. Y.M.C.A, A. 1. GAME AT HAMILTON. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Sunday. Playing at Hamilton yesterday, Iluntly defeated Hamilton Wanderers by 7 goals to 1. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch. —Marist, 4 Thistle, 2; New Brighton, 0, Technical Old Boys, 0; Western, 2, Nomads, 2; Kaiapoi, 2, Rangers, 2; Sumner, 3, St. Alban s, 1. Dunedin.—Maori Hill. 2, Northern. 1; Seacliff, !). High School Old Boys, 2; Technical Old Boys, 3, Port Chalmers, 0; Moagiel, 1, Morninglon. 0. Wellington.—Watersiders 3, Sealotin, 1; Thistle, 2, Marist, 2- Petone, 2, W.Y.M.1., 0; Hospital, 3. Diamonds, 2.

Goals, Ch. P. W. L. D. For. As lHs. Thistle . 3 2 — X 12 5 5 North Shore 3 o i — 12 3 4 Tnimurewa . 3 2 l — 9 7 4 Y.M.C.A :i a i — 8 C 4 1'onsonby 3 l i 1 f, (3 3 iN'e-.v Accord . ;; ] 3 1 JO 31 3 Onehunua, 3 l 2 — 4 7 o Celtic . . 3 — 3 — 2 18 0