THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20925, 15 July 1931, Page 16

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

SENIOR GRADE COMPETITION. c; \ | Y.M.C.A.'S COMMANDING LEAD. CELTIC SHOWS, IMPROVEMENT. Willi the second round of (ho Auckland Football Association's senior grade competition well under way Y.M.O.A. still continues to hold a commanding lefid on the championship-table, having scored 16 points for nine matches played, while tho next team, Thistle, has secured 13 points for 10 matches. With tho exception of Thistle, Tramurewa fippears to bo the. only remaining team which stands a chance of diolodging Y.M.O.A. from its position, although on form the last-named should go through For premiership honours. Celtic gave Y.3\I.C.A. a hard contest at Walker Park on Saturday, running the championship leaders to a close finish. Tramurewa and Thistle were troubled in the early stages of their matches at Blandford Park with Now Accord and Onehunga respectively, while North Shore had to fight hard to take the full points from Ponsonby at Devonport. The principal contest at Blandford Park between Thistle and Onehunga was lively throughout and proved well worth watching, superior team work and condition giving Thistle tho decision after Onehunga had worn itself out in the, first half with its shock tactics. Both teams shewed good foot-work, in spito of adverse ground conditions and tho manner in which tlio ball was swung about provided good, open football. The Thistle,vanguard wus not us deadly as usual, but the defence w;is a trifle safer than on former occasions. Gerrard ' operated effectively in .tho Thistle citadel, while of the two backs, Chapman was the better, both in kicking and clearing. McLean, Wright and Watson formed a solid half-line, which was the main barrier against Onehunga's aggressiveness. Wright displayed a penchant for hard work. Zuill's Fine Exhibition. Tho front line did not give its customary good display of combination, although individual effort made up for tho deficiency. McLeay's ability at scoring goals was again in evidence, while Gill, Cummings and Hislop promoted many of Thistle's offensives. Proof that Zuill's reputation has been well earned was supplied by tho splendid exhibition he gave in the Onehunga goal. His saves bordered on the brilliant throughout while he showed great daring in going down in front of the Thistle forward rushes. Alexander and Stevenson defended solidly, although their clearing kicks wero weak at times. This fault cost Onehunga a couple of goals. The half-line started off well, but slumped considerably in tho second spell, its main deficiency being tho failure to support the forward line. IXck worked hard, ,but his transfers to the frontrankers often went well astray. Of the forwards Marlow impressed with sparkling runs along the left flank, his foot-worlc and dribbling often putting him in a position to cross neatly to Griffiths at centre-forward. F. Zuill proved himself a. bustling typo of forward,-al-though he failed to finish several good efforts owing to weak' shooting. New Accord made a surprisingly good showing against tho strong Tramurewa team, and at one stage looked as if it might scrape through with the points. As in the Thistle-Onehunga contest a hotter knowledge of tactics and combination took the more experienced team through to victory. Played at a fast pace throughout this contest was, if anything, better than the principal contest at Blandford Park. Christie Reappears. The Tramurewa back division gave a fine exhibition, outstanding being Christie, who signalised his reappearance after a spell of a couple" of weeks by giving a fine display of defensive and constructive football. Simpson kicked with judgment at left-back while other good supports were Fyfie and Balloch. * Tho Tramurewa forward line is probably tho best in Auckland at present, combining thrust with a particularly fine understanding. Much of the team's success is due to Mill, the fine left wing. I!o improves with every match under careful feeding from McMillan, and his accurate centres pave the way for the majority of Tramurevva's goals. Bell is also a force on attack as well as defence, proving an admirable support for Spencer. Spong has not been playing very well lately, but may return to form for Saturday's cup fixture with Ponsonby. The Tramurewa forward division will, probably bo Ponsonby's most difficult task in the cup-tic match. New Accord was ably served by Morris in goal, who saved well repeatedly until tho Tramurewa forwards began working properly and pierced his keep several times. The shots which registered gave the goalkeeper little chance, however. Ilcid played well but was forced to do too much defending, while Munro impressed with his play in the halves. Tho science and bustle in tho forward lino was supplied by Dunsmore and Low respectively, the former especially doing particularly well considering tho littlo support ho received. Galloway showed up as an opportunist on occasions. Scientific Match. A scientific game with the decision liable to go in either direction was the impression gained while watching tho North Shore-Ponsonby contest played at Devon-' port. The fact that it was playing on its home ground probably gave North Shore a slight advantage, the team finishing with a one-goal'lead. Ponsonby displayed better cohesion, but had a difficult proposition in contending with the homo side's youth and bustler' The Ponsonby vanguard, which was also enterprising, was opposed by a very solid North Shore defence. New handled in an efficient manner in goal for North Shore, this being one of his best exhibitions this season. In some games lie has caused anxiety by faulty handling, but this failing was absent on Saturday. Hunt and Colebourne wero a trusty pair of backs. The halves played mediocre games. Some bright play was given by tho forivards, Jay proving a good right wing, with Black in, a sound support, while Luke gave evidence of his versatility by playing a fine, open game' at centre-forward; Wilson and Crowley wero well watched by the opposing half. McCosh and Innes proved the best of the Ponsonby backs, tho latter providing a first-class display in the role of righthalf. Bentley and Lithgow were always ready for hard work. Diamond and Forrester wero tho best of the forwards. Celtic was a trifle unlucky not to at least halve tho points with Y.M.O.A. at Walker Park, tho former making a fine recovery in the second spell to run its opponents to a very closo finish. Celtic supporters claimed that a shot from one of the forwards in the closing stages entered the net, but the referee disallowed a goal," thus giving Y.M.O.A. a victory by one goal. Russell, Hunter and Ansteed were the leading lights in tho Celtic combination' while Riddolls gave a. very impressive showing in tlio forwards for Y.M.C.A., securing all tho side's goals. Mowat, Malcolm and Chalmers were tho best of the others.