ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20887, 1 June 1931, Page 13

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE CONTESTS. PONSONBY'S POOR SHOWING. SURPRISE FOR NORTH SHORE. Greasy underfoot conditions had to be contended with on Saturday when the fifth series of matches in the Auckland Football Association's senior grade championship was decided. Taken all round, the ga>nes showed a marked decline in standard, the contests at Blandford Park, especially, being devoid of interest, except for a very fine exhibition of team-work given by Thistle in the early match. Thistle overwhelmed New Accord to gain an eight-goals win, while in the principal contest Y.M.C.A. surprised by accounting for Ponsonby in a very easy manner. The matches on outside grounds were more evenly contested, Onehunga creating a big surprise in defeating the powerful North Shore combination in the game at Onehunga, while at Walker Park Tramurewa was tested to the utmost in taking the points from Celtic. Following were the scores:— Y.M.C.A., 4; Ponsonby, 0. Thistle, 8; New Accord, 0. Onehunga, 2; North Shore, 1. Tramurewa, 3; Celtic, 2. The following table shows the positions of the teams:— Goals Ch.

PONSONBY'S POOR FORM.

OUTCLASSED BY Y.M.C.A. Tn a game noticeable for its lack of constructive play Y.M.C.A. outclassed Ponsonby at Blandford Park, finishing with a very comfortable lead. Starting with two fast passing bouts Ponsonby endangered its opponents' goal. The Y.M.C.A. defence responded stoutly, however, Mowat holding up Innes when the latter was on the way to goal. Y.M.C.A. retaliated, Riddolls and Hamilton leading a telling movement which had Surtees extended in keeping his goal intact. The play ranged from end to end in fast fashion. Y.M.C.A. took the lead when Chapman opened up the play for Riddolls, the latter going through to the penalty area, where he was stopped by Stewart. The ball rebounded clear and Chapman, coming up fast, crashed a beautiful ground shot into the left corner of the net. Ponsonby responded strongly and Whaley should have made the score level when presented with a "sitter." but his finishing effort was weak. The Y.M.C.A. front line showed the better cohesion and fully deserved to go further ahead when off a pass from liiddolls, Kay shot into the net. There was little between the teams to the spell, when the score was: —Y.M.C.A., 2; Ponsonby. 0. The Ponsonby forwards showed better form in the second half, a nice movement originated by Cole seeing the bn.ll flash out to Innes on the right. The wing centred, but Forrester was just a trifle too late in getting up. Y.M.C.A. forged further ahead as a result of a brilliant piece of work by Riddolls. McGladdery swung across a nicelyjudged centre and while Bentley was waiting for Surtees to handle Riddolls nipped in and scored. The Y.M.C.A. centre-for-ward scored again shortly afterwards under practically similar circumstances. Riddolls taking advantage of a misunderstanding between the fullback and Surtees to whip the ball into the corner of the net. The exchanges were drab to the end, when the score was:—Y.M.C.A.. 4; Ponsonby, 0. Mr. E. F. Miller was referee.

THISTLE'S BRILLIANCY. NO CHANCE FOR NEW ACCORD. Playing a thoroughly scientific, game Thistle gained a very easy win over JN6W Accord, finishing: with eight, goals to the good. In spite of the serious disadvantage offered by the greasy state of the ground Thistle tested the New Accord defence repeatedly with fine passing movements. Superior combination placed the Thistle forwards to the fore in nearly all the movements and soon New Accord was playing under a two-goals' handicap. McLeay burst through to get the first goal for Thistle and Gavan followed shortly afterwards by securing another. Dunsmore tried to lead several New Accord raids, but they had little effect on the strong Thistle backs. The spell came with Thistle holding the advantage. The score read:—Thistle, 2, ISew AcTh'istio continued to dominate the play after the interval, New Accord having Jittle chance of making progress. _ McLeay and Gill showed up particularly in the Thistle van, both players securing two goals each shortly after the start. The Thistle forwards showed astonishingly fine combination considering the greasy state of the ground and McLeay got a nice pass from Gill to score another good goal from long range. Ga%'an added another goal to make the final score:—Thistle, 8: New Accord, 0. Mr. J. Campbell was referee.

NORTH SHORE DEFEATED.

ONEHUNGA'S SURPRISE • WIN

Onehunga gained its first win this season by defeating North Shore in ft surprising manner in the match at Onehungn on. Saturday. End to end play characterised the opening, neither side showing much combination. North Shore, although handicapped by a breeze, was first to show up. Zuill being called upon to clear when Wilson made a dangerous run on the left flank. Cotton and Polwin came in reply, a determined move against the North Shore citadel calling New, the custodian, into action. North Shore was holding the bulk of the play and deserved its succesß when Leonard received from Wilson and put his side in the lpad with a crisp shot. It was at this stage that Onehunga replied with a, .strong counter-offensive and the North Shore defence, strained bn several occasions, broke at last, F. Zuill going through to get the better of New with a rising Bhot. There was little between the teams to the spell, when the score was:—North Shore, 1; Onehunga, 1. , The North Shore front line fanned out well after the interval, the ball moving nicely between the individual units. Blackie ond Walters were a dangerous pair on the right flank, their speed and skill providing many an opening. Thanks to outstanding work by Zuill. the Onehunga goalkeeper, the visitors were kept out. Several of Zuill's saves were particularly brilliant. Onehunga responded gamely and scored the deciding goal from a free kick given against New for carrying the ball beyond the prescribed limits. From now on it was a case of the North Shore forwards being pitted against the Onehunga rearguard. It speakß well for the standard of Onehunga's defending that when the final whistle sounded the score read:—Onehunga, 2; North Shore, 1. Mr. A. Kyle was the referee.

TRAMUREWA HARD PRESSED.

DEFEAT OF CELTIC. Tramurewa. waß fully extended in taking the points from Celtic, the latter side showing further improvement. After a brief Celtic offensive Trijmurewa took play to the other end with ft series of fine passing movements which tested the Celtic defence repeatedly. Ellman was in good form between tl\e posts and he handled shots from Spencer and Bell in an efficient manner. The Celtic van with Mclntyro to the fore almost stole a march on the Tramurewa defence, which fell bock just in time to cover up. Celtic conceded a corner and from the resultant kick Mill, with one of his well-judged lobs, set the ball handy for Spencer, who headed it into the goal. Shortly afterwards Green evened matters by scoring for Celtic. Half ; time found the score:—Tramurewa, 1; Celtic. 1. The pace increased after the spell, both tennis swinging the ball about in lively fnshion and euch goal was threatened in turn. Spencer again headed a good goal off a centre from the right flank and Christie further demonstrated his usefulness on attack by flashing the ball into the net from a rebound. Celtic came strongly at the finish and Batty had to keep an eager set of. forwards at bay. Cotton got through to reduce the deficit, but this was the final goal in a well-contested game. The final score was:—Tramurewa, 3; Celtic, 2. Mi). J. S. McMillan was referee.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Tramurewa, 6. Celtic. 5; Y.M.C.A., 2. Ponsonby, 1; Thistle, 9, New Lynn. 3; North Shore, 5, Onehunga, 2. Second Grade.— Metro-Collegl. 4, Ponsonby, 1; Glen Innes, 4, Tamaki, 1: North Shore, 3. Northcote. 1. Third Grade Open.—Abel's, 5, New Lynn, 0; Burnley, G, Tramurewa. 1; Glen Innes. 3, Celtic, 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Mount Albert Old Boys. 4. Tamaki. 1; Northcote won from Onehunga by default. ' Fourth Grade. —Belmont, 2, W.Y.M.1., 0; Onehunga. 2, Comrades, 1: Metro-College. 3. Y.M.C.A. A, 1; Burnley. 4. Y.M.C.A. B. 1. Fifth Grade—Qomrades A, 2, Y.M.C.A A, 1; Metro-College. 4, Belmont,, 0: Y.M.C.A., 4. St. Jolm'i, 0; Technical Old Boys. 2, Comrades B, 1; W.Y.M.1., 3, Tamaki, 9.

Sixth Grade.—Belmont A, 2, Comrades A, 0; Y.M.C.A. B, 1, Belmont B, 0; Comrades B, 3. Technical College Old Boys. 0; Thistle, 6, Comrades C, 0. Seventh Grade.—Comrades A, 3, Y.M.C.A. B. 1; Y.M.C.A. C. 1, Tamaki, 1; Belmont B. 5. Y.M.C.A. D. 0. , „ v Secondary Schools.—Senior grade: Grammar, 1, Technical, .1. Intermediate grade: Technical A, 1. Grammar A, 1; Mount Albert B, 2. Technical B, 0; Mount Albert A, 2. Takapuna, 1; Technical C, 1, Mount Albert C, 0. GLEN MASSEY DEFEATED. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. In the South Auckland Football Association's competitions yesterday. Wanderers defeated Glen Massey at Glen Massey by 4 goals to 1. In the junior grade Rolowaro defeated Wanderers by 6 goals to 1 at Hamilton. CONTESTS ELSEWHERE. [by telegraph.—-press association.] Christchurch.—Rangers, 5, Nomads, 3: Marist, 2, Kaiapoi. 1; Sumner, 3, New Brighton, 2; Western, 5, Technical Old Boys, 0; Thistle, 4, St. Albans, 0. Dunedin. —Maori Hill, 1, Mosgiel, 1: Port Chalmers, 4, Mornington, 2; Seacliff, 7. Technical, 1; High School Old Boys, 4, Northern 1. REPRESENTATIVE CURTAIN-RAISER FOURTH GRADE PLAYERS CHOSEN. A curtain-raiser game to the AucklandWellington English Trophy match on June 13 will be provided by representative teams from the secondary schools and the Auckland Football Association's fourth grade players. The minor division selector, Mr. It. M. Beswick, has chosen the following fourth grade players to practice at the Domain at 9.30 o'clock on Wednesday :—M. Turley, R. Speed, R. Haggett, J. Woods. W. Atkino (Metro-College). A. Haywood, J. McKensie (Comrades), J. Coltman. J. Pearson, 11. Laing (Y.M.C.A.), F. Wolfenden, ft. Capel (Onehunga). H. Horrocks, W. Angus (Mount Albert Old Boys).

P. W. L. D. P. A.Pts. Y.M.O.A. .. 5 4 1 — 15 . 8 8 Thistle 5 3 1 1 22 8 7 North Shore 5 3 0 .— 17 G G Tramnrewa . 5 3 2 — 14 12 6 Ponsonby .. 5 2 '4 1 9 12 5 New Accord 5 1 3 1 11 23 3 Onehunga .. 5 1 3 1 6 10 3 Celtic 5 1 4 — C 21 2