ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 12

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

? CHATHAM CUP CONTEST. TRAMUREWA BEATS PONSONBY. LOSERS' POOR EXHIBITION. Displaying an all-round superiority Tramurewa fully deserved its wide, margin of goals when it defeated Ponsonby at Victoria Park on Saturday in the local final of the Chatham Cup competition. The ground was in fair condition, but a stiff breeze proved troublesome to the players throughout. A disappointing feature was Ponsonby's poor display, and at no stage did it look like winning. Tramurewa will meet Huntly next Saturday in a further eliminating round of the competition. Three championship games were played, Thistle getting the better of New Accord in the match at New Lynn, while the contest at Walker Park between North Shore and Celtic saw tlio latter gain a good victory. Onehunga proved again that it is a difficult proposition on its own ground by running Y.M.C.A., the championship leaders, to a draw, neither team ecoring. Following were the results:— Chatham Cup.—Tramurewa, 4, Poiieonby, 1. Championship Games.—Celtic, 3, North Shore, 0. Thistle, 5, New Accord, 1. Y.M.C.A., 0, Onehunga, 0. The following championship table shows the positions of the teams: — Goals, Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. pt«. Y.M.C.A. ..10 8 1 1 27 -33 17 Thistle .. U 7 3 1 43 19 15 Tramurewa 9 6 3 North Shore 11 5 6 Ponsonby ;. 10 3 4 3 17 20 9 Onehunga .10 L 5 8 12 20 7 New Accord 10 2 6 2 19 . 40 G Celtic .. 11 2 7 2 17 38 6

SUPERIOR COMBINATION. TRAMUREWA'S GOOD WIN. Tramurewa'a fine combination gave Ponsonby' little chance in the Chatham Cup match at Victoria Park, although the latter team's showing was very disappointing. Aided by a strong bteeze Tramurewa came away from the whistle and good footwork between Silencer and McMillan eaw the former bring Surtees to hie Jaiees with a low drive. Ponsonby's defence was seriously tested for a time and Spencer had Surtees in trouble again with a "header," the custodian being fortunate to handle a ball which bounced awkwardly. The Ponsonby forwards had not shown up aa yet, play being solely confined to the latter's goalmouth, where the backs were hard put to it to keep their goal intact. A pass from Bentley to Innes saw Ponsonby in its first offensive, Whaley racing down the left flank, but a good centre went astray. The method behind Tramurewa's attack soon had result. Surtees was drawn from his keep by a long" shot, which Crashed against the crossbar and left the way open for Spencer to rush in and finish off the movement. Diamond evened the score during a lightning raid by the Ponsonby quintet, a deceptive ground shot having Batty beaten all the way. Although heartened by this success Ponsonby could not hold Tramurewa's forwards in the closing stages of the first half, McMillan and Spencer adding further goals. .The former appeared to be offside when he scored. The score at half-time was: Tramurewa, 3; Ponsonby, 1. A brief Ponsonby raid on resuming was countered.swiftly by Tramurewa, Mill showing a turn of speed on the left flank. His nicely-judged croSB paved the way for Spong but the latter shot weakly at an open goal. Ponsonby now settled down to take full advantage of the following breeze, and the Tramurewa Tearguard was severely harassed for a. time. Swales struck the Tramurewa upright after a sparkling side-line run, but Whaley, who received the rebound, went hopelessly astray with his parting effort. McMillan and Mill led a counter- ; raid, Surtees having to come out of his keep>to relieve the pressure. After a period of midfield play Tramurewa burst through brilliantly and a mistako in clearing by Lithgow let Spencer in to score a good goal. Tramurewa's defence was well tested in a subsequent Ponsonby offensive, but the goal j escaped, the game ending with tho score: Tramurewa, 4; Ponsonby, 1. Mr. E. F. Miller was referee.

THISTLE'S EASY VICTORY.

NEW ACCORD DEFEATED. The championship contest between Thistle and New Accord played at New Lynn resulted in an easy win for the former. Ihe match was held as a benefit for the uneinployed. Thistle figured prominently in the opening exchanges, and the New Accord defence did well to withstand the pressure. Law and Dunsmore moved in retaliation, the former sending over the top when in a handv position. Maintaining the pressure the New Accord forwards gave Gerrard a lively time in the Thistle goal, but' the defence triumphed and Thistle was once more seen in a progressive move. Clever passing between Cuminings, Hislop and McLeay saw the last-named open his side's account with a fast drive which had the New Accord goalkeeper well beaten. Although Tlnslle held the advantage territorially, occasional bursts by the New Accord front line were proving dangerous, and from one of these Dunsmore had Gerrard in difficulties with a ground shot. Prior to the epell, McLeay secured another goal, making the score at the interval: Thistle, 2; New Accord. 0. Thistle held the upper hand on resuming and only good defensive work by Reid averted further goals. The siege was raised and the New Accord attackers were seen to advantage in a. bright movement, which should have produced result. Alcl/eay secured another fine goal after some clever passing from halves to forwards, and ehortly afterwards Wood added toMhe tally. A penalty kick in New Accord's favour gave Munro a chance to reduce the deficit, but Gill added another -goal for Thistle shortly before the end. the final score being: Thistle, 6; New Accord, 1. Mr. A. Kyle was referee. CELTIC IN WINNING MOOD. NORTH . SHORE SUFFERS DEFEAT. Considerably weakened by the absence o'r leading players, North Shore put up a game fight against Celtic, at Walker Park, but was defeated by n three-goals margin. The con)est was barely under way when Celtic took the lead as a result of,a "speculator" by Hunter, New partially saving, hut strong following up by Harper gave the latter the opportunity to beat the goalkeeper ftom close range. Celtic kept hammering away at North Shore's goal. . but found further success hard to flecuro in spite of a penalty which New' saved in fine fashion. However, the pressure was 100 severe for the North Shore defence, and Ansteed put his team further in the lead with a, nicelyjudged shot. The same player further increased the lead after a pretty run through the. defence. The North Shore forwards had not shown up much so far, mainly owing to a strong, adverse wind, which nullified efforts at combination. The spell ended with the score: Celtic, 3 ; North Shore 0 North Shore made determined efforts to reduce the deficit on resuming, the wind now assisting the forwards who, however, lacked the necessary finish to make their moves effective. Celtic defended staunchly and was soon seen again in several aggressive movements, Hunter, Dawson and Ansteed proving thrustful. Blackie and Wilson made a determined effort to break through the opposition, but were blocked rcpealfedly. Wilson and Crowley both tested Russell with good shots, the goalkeeper handling well In spite of renewed vigour by North Shore Celtic held oH the atlackers to the end. when the score was: Celtic, 3; North Shore. 0. • Mr. R. H. Parfitt was referee.

Y.M.C.A. FORTUNATE. ONEHUNGA HOLDS CHAMPIONS. In a, fast and exciting game at the Recreation Reserve, in which at times the standard of play was as good as that seen in Auckland club football for a long time, Onohunga divided points with Y.M.C.A. The result was a fair indication of the play, although Y.M.C.A. was lucky, at least twice, when Billiard fumbled a clearance Play was very even in the early stages, both aides inking turns in attacking. Onehunga was unlucky not 1,0 ecore when Woodhall sent to Dick, who passed to Marlow. Hilliard camo out and missed the ball, the backs just scraping it, off the line. Ouelmnga, helped by the wind, could do everything but score. Litidsey tested Hill.ia.rd with a long shot. The fatter cleared, but Huston then tried, the goalkeeper managing to throw round the post in the face of a strong attack. Half-time arrived with no score. With the wind behind it Y.M.C.A. attacked strongly, Zuill having to cave twice ■ in quick succession. A misunderstanding between tho two backs'brought Zuill out to take the ball at too .well up the field, and Nicol brought Hilliard to his knees. A nice run by Hobari saw Chalmers centre across tho goalmouth, but Riddolls shot bobind. Onohunga livened up, and soma hard foot-

ball was eeen. M. Kay met his match in Woodhall, who repeatedly beat him for possession. Mowat was proving a tower of strength to Y.M.C.A., clearing in the fuce of strong attacks. A run by M. Kay which looked dangerous was spoiled by a poor shot. Whimster, gained possession and made a solo run. but the ball was too far ahead of him, and Hilliard was able to come out n clear A few minutes later the whistle sounded, with Onehunga attacking, there being' no score by oither side. Mr. A. E. P&rkinson waß referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade—Y.M.C.A., 3, Onehunga, 2; Celtic, 6, Shore, 5. Second Gradle.—Glen Innes. 10, ,Ponfionby, 1; Burnley, 1, Belmont, 2; North Shore. 3,' Y.M.C.A,, 1; Tamaki, 4. Northcote, 1. Third Grade.—Henderson, 2. Abel's, 1; Swanson, 2. Now Lynn, 1; Tramurewa. 7, Glen Innes, 1; Belmont, 7 W.Y.M.I. 1. Fourth Grade.—Mount Albert Old Boys, 3, Comrades, i; Metro. College, 3, Onehunga,, 1; Glen Innes, 4, Y.M.C.A. B, 0. Fifth Gradet—-'Technical Old Boys, 5, Comrades JB, 3; Tamaki, 3, W.Y.M.L, 2. _ Sixth Grade.—Metro. College. 4, Tamaki, 1; Thistle, 4, Y.M.C.A. C, 0; Technical Old Boys, f>, Comrades C, 0. Seventh Grade.—Belmont B, 4. Comrades C, 3; Y.M.C.A. C, 2, Comrades B, 1. Secondary Schools. —Intermediate grade: ,Technical A, 1, Mount Albert A. 0. Junior grade: Techniwil College A, 4, Mount Albert B. 0; Kowhai, 4, Technical College B, 0; Mount Albert A, 7. Sacred Heart, 0. SHORT TIME PLAYED. CHATHAM CUP INCIDENT. At the conclusion of the Chatham Cup contest between Tramurewa and Ponsonby on Saturday, officials who had checked the time of the second spell stated that only 33 minutes had been played instead of 45. The Ponsonby Club has n6t_ye_t declared its attitude in the matter, but it is stated that its decision regarding a protest will bo made at a special meeting of the club this evening. WINS FOR HUNTLY. [FROM ouk own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. The South Auckland Football Association's competitions were continued yesterday, when Huntly Thistle defeated Hamilton Wanderers by 4 goal* to 3. In the junior section, Huntly lhistlo defeated Hamilton Wanderers by 4 goals to 0.

PLAY IN OTHER CENTRES. [by telegraph.—press association.] Wellington.—Waterside, 6, Mariet, 5; W.Y.M.L, 2. Diamonds, 0; Petone, 5, Seatoun, 3; Hospital, 2, Thistle, 1. Chrlstchurcli.—Chatham Cup, final: Nomads, 2, Technical, 1.