THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21521, 19 June 1933, Page 13

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

SENIOR GRADE CONTESTS t PONSONBY DEFEATS THISTLE " ( SPECTACULAR GAME WITNESSED Splendid conditions prevailed for senior championship games played under the control of tho Auckland Football Association on Saturday. In a fine struggle in the prin- , cipal game at Blandford Park Ponsonby gained a well-merited decision over Thistle, there scarcely being a dull moment in a contest characterised by open and spectacular play. Comrades created a mild surprise by defeating North Shore in the early game at Blandford Park, but an unexpected result was that in the match between Y.M.C.A. and Abels at Western Springs, tho latter taking the points. Tramways defeated Onehunga at Onehunga. •while Glen Innes gained the decision .against 2\'ew Lynn. Following were the results:— Tramways, 2; Onehunga. 1. Glen Innes. 3; New Lynn. 1 Comrades," 5; North Shore, 2. Ponsonby, 4; Thistle. 2. Abels, 4; Y.M.C.A., 3. The following table shows the positions «f the teams:— ,

A SPLENDID CONTEST

/ PONSONBY AND THISTLE A splendid contest was witnessed at Blandford Park by a large attendance of spectators between Ponsonby and Thistle, the former gaining a well-deserved victory. Both adopted open tactics from the start, Ponj #onby having a slightly better combination • pnd consequently making more progress. Thistle settled down quickly and drove back in determinedly, Woods and Wiseman both making progress, only to be held up by a sturdy defence. Ponsonby, with Ahern *nd Jepson working well, almost forced a *vay through, but McCosh got back quickly to cover up. Each goal had narrow escapes from powerful first-time shots and then an exploiting lob from half-way. by Stewart almost registered, the ball just clearing the ' bar. After so much concerted play the first goal came in somewhat simple fashion, Wateon, at half for Thistle, returning a clearing kick by a Ponsonby back, and the ball 6ailed across the goalmouth to Woods, who headed it" into the Ponsonby net. The defences held for some time after this and play, as a consequence, settled in midfield. Wiseman ajmost sent Woods through to score, but quick covering up by Diamond paved. Just before half-time Innes swung in a ; centre and a mis-kick by a defender let Jepson .pet. The half-time score was:— Thistle, 1; Ponsonby, 1. The Ponsonby half-line became a more important factor on resuming, a very close ■watch being kept on the opposing forwards. On repulsing a Thistle onslaught Ponsonby took the lead a few minutes after the commencement, Fonnan giving a nice pass to Jepson, who flashed the ball into the net .with a brilliant first-time shot. Ponsonby maintained the pressure and the Thistle defence was sorely harassed. A corner kick against Thistle saw the ball drop in among ft melee in the goal-mouth. After a few minutes of frantic kicking by defenders and attackers Forman saw an opening and Idrove the ball through a narrow passage to score. A few minutes later Jepson secured another fine goal with a first-time Jeft-foot shot which hit the crossbar and cannoned down into the goal. Thistle invaded Ponsonby territory and the defenders had a hard time repulsing a number of determined onslaughts. Several times clever handling by Watson saved the Ponsonby goal and other shots just flashed wide of post or crossbar. In a thrilling finish Wiseman got through to score'on the run. The filial score was:—Ponsonby, 4; Thistle, 2.* Mr. A. E. Parkinson was referee. SURPRISE BY ABEL'S Y.M.C.A. TEAM DEFEATED _The "Abel's team registered a surprise yictorv when it accounted for Y.M.C.A. in the match at Western The match was very closely contested throughout and it was only in the closing stages that Abel's secured the deciding goal. The early exchanges were all in favour of Y.M.C.A., and Hill, after pretty manoeuvring, sent in to Riddolls, who scored. The Abels' goalkeeper continued to be troubled by a number of attacks, but. fighting back. Abels soon invaded its opponents' territory and McLeay and Hunter moved very nicely under Ansteed's direction, but the defence held. A period of midfield exchanges ensued, with neither side, making much progress. The score at half-time was: —Y.M.C.A., 1: Abels, 0. The game had.hardly been restarted when Ansteed evened the score with a good shot ■which the goalkeeper failed to sight. Y.M.C.A. retaliated strongly and a series jof attacks on Abels' citadel culminated ■when Thornes added another goal. Abels equalised again when McLeay received to net. Play was swinging up and down at this stage, but Abels soon gained an advantage and kept Y.M.C.A. penned up for eome time. Humphreys got through the defence to put Y.M.C.A. in the lead after a smart counter-attack. McLeay and then Jaf- » frey secured goals and placed Abels in a ■winning position. The final score wa3: — Abels, 4; Y.M.C.A.. 3. Mr. Hf H. Paitftt was referee. POINTS TO GLEN INNES DEFEAT OF NEW LYNN Glen Innes journeyed to New Lynn to play the local eleven, and secured victory ny two clear goals. New Lynn started two men short, and, taking advantage of this. Glen.lnnes swept into the former's territory and kept the-goal under pressure. Jsew Lynn made a retaliatory raid, and J. Carr received and netted. The Glen Innes forwards charged back to shooting distance, and Morris, in the New Lynn goal, ha.d «■ very lively lime for some minutes. Morris effected several fine saves, but was eventually bumped into the net with the ball in his possession. R. Welch in a splendid eolo effort put his side in' the lead, the *core at the interval being:—Glen Innes, 2; New Lynn. 1. Morris had to be alert to keep the ]\ew Lynn goal intact on resuming, the Glen Innes forwards attacking with method and directness.'The standard of the exchanges dropped considerably, and indiscriminate kicking in midfield lasted for some time. Each goal was visited spasmodically, but the attacks lacked sufficient force to be dangerous. Lack of cohesion was very noticeable and the work of the backs was made easier by this failing. R. Welch secured another goal from a corner-kick taken by Adams. The final score* was*i (jrlen Innes. 3; New Lynn, 1., Mr. W. Mitchell was referee. MARGIN OF ONE GOAL SUCCESS OF TRAMWAYS iThe Tramways team accounted for Oneunga at Onehunga in a closely-fought match y a margin of one goal. Tramways won the toss, Bnd Onehunga kicked off againat the sun and immediately pressed, only to eee Davis shoot behind. Tramways attacked and 'Ross pushed the ball ahead to • Cummings, who sent in a curling shot which Zuill fisted clear. Play went from end to end and both defences were tested. From a corner-kick against Onehunga the ball landed in a melee of players and went out to H. Donaldson, who centred, and Williams / gave the goalkeeper no chance from closo rango. The wind was baffling both goalkeepers. and Zuill misjudged a long shot from Cumtnings, which hit the bar and Tolled across an open goal. H. Donaldson made a great effort to beat Blockley, but the last-named cleared safely. One of the few flashes of combined play was seen when Alexander passed to Dick, who, in turn, eent Davis away. The ball went to Wilson, but, with a certain goal in view, J. Donald■l ®pn over-ran the pass and Tramways cleared. Tramways was pressing when the ball was handled twenty yards out. Jones took the . , Kick, and. due to a misunderstanding be- ' ' 'tween Alexander and Zuill, the ball ! • dropped into the net. The score at halftin'e was:—Tramways, 2; Onehunga, 0. 1 / Play was scrappy after the interval and both goals were visited. 'Onehunga opened ' its account when Wilson received the ball 1 •from Forrester and was evading Simpson / he wns evidently tackled illegally. ' Dick gave Batty no chance with the re- : eulant penalty kiok. Traniways attacked 1 ftrongly, but Blockley was safe in break- 1 ing up the usual studied play of H. Donald- / son and McMillan. Jones wns lucky to get 1 the ball away when Batty mishandled. One- 1 hunga was making the pace -now, and the Tramways defence wavered. Tramways was * penned in its own half for the last ten * minutes, but Onehunga could not score. The final score was:—Tramways, 2; One- 5 Jmnga, 1, 4 Mr. A. Kyle was referee.

COMRADES TAKES POINTS , NORTH SHORE BEATEN Playing scientific football Comrades secured a decisive win at the expense of £orth Shore at Blandford Park. North Shore started with its customary dash and, taking the Comrades' defence by surprise, went into the lead when McCluskey connected with a centre to head a Rood coal. Maintaining the pressure the North Shore torwurds swarmed around the Comrades' goal and during a fast exchange just outside the area a Comrades player was penalised. Hart took the free-kick and placed his team two in the lead. This double reverse nettled Comrades, which swept, to the attack with Skinner as the Bpearhead. Ihe versatile wing raced toward the goal and before A. Smith could set himself to stop the shot he banged the ball into the net. A penalty to Comrades a few minutes later saw Skinner even the score. Comrades was working well and a fine passing bout saw Marvin receive, to shoot into the "et The half-time score was:—Comrades. 3: North Shore United, 2. Soon after the resumption North Shore made a sharp attack on the Comrades keep. Walters set Moore running with a nice pass, the wing-man moving in close to send in a fnat ground shot, which was just deflocted clear of the post. Comrades replied strongly. Marvin nnd Francis making much ground on two occasions and but for solid back piny by H. Smith would have broken through. Skinner had A. Smith in difficulties with a ground shot which the goalkeeper failed to* gather, but H. Smith got back to save. Poor shooting by the North Shore forwards proved costly and then Marvin deceived the North Shore defence nnd dubbled in close to score. A brilliant effort by Skinner produced another goal in the closing stages, a remarkable shot right f'"om the wing catching A. Smith unawares. Iho final score was Comrades, 5: North Shore, 2. Mr. Calvprt was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade.—Tamaki, 11, New Lynn, 2; Tramways, 3, Comrades, 1; Glen Innes, 3, Ponsonby A, 1; Thistle, 7. Y.M.C.A., 1; North Shore United, 3, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 3. Third Grade Open.—Papatoetoe, 6, New Lynn, 2; Metro.-College, 3, Comrades, 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 5, Y.M.C.A., 1; Thistle, 1, Glen Innes, 1; Motro-College, 3, Comrades, 2. ' Fourth Grade.—Tamalri, 3, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 2; Metro-College. 1. Y.M.C.A. B, 1: Comrades, 4, Tramways, 0; North Shore United, 1, Y.M.C.A. A, 1; Panntoetoe, 3, Henderson, 1. Fifth Grade.—Y.M.C.A. A. 7. Abels, 0; Metro-College, 2, North Shore United, 1. Sixth Grade.—Metro.-College, 4, Y.M.C.A. A, 0; Onehunga. 9, Tamaki, 0; Y.M.C.A., 2, Glen Innes, 2. Seventh Grade.—Onehunga, 6, Y.M.C.A., 4; Metro.-College, 2, North Shore United, 0; Tamaki. 1. Grey Lynn Y.M.C.A., 0. Midget Game.—Y.M.C.A., 5, Tamaki, 0. Secondary Schools.—Senior grade: Auckland Grammar, 0. Mount Albert Grammar A. 0: Takamina,,Grammar, 6, Mount Albert Grammar B, 0. Intermediate Grade.—Mount. Albgrt Grammar A, 5, Kowhai Junior High School. 0; Auckland Grammar, 2, Takapuna Grammar, 0. Junior Grade.—Auckland Grammar, 3, Mount Albert Grammar A, 3; Kowhai Junior High School, 3, Mount Albert Grammar B, 0. / MATAMATA'S RECORD [from our own correspondent! * MATAMATA, Sunday Matamata its unbeaten record in the Thames Valley competition by defeating Te Aroha by 7 goals to 2. Matnm&ta's goals were scored by Foggo (3), Lidbury (2) and Darwin nnd Caldcr one each. J. Ritchie and J. Andrews scored for Te Aroha. MATCHES ELSEWHERE [BT TELEGRAPH —FRKSS ASSOCIATION"] Wollington.—Pet'one deservedly won the replay Chatham Cup tie against Hospital by 4 goals tb nil. Senior A results: Diamonds, 8, Swifts, 2: Marist, 6, Lower Hutt, 0; Waterside, G, Technical Old Boys, 1. Senior B results: Nada, G, Island Bay, 2; Onslqw, 6, Rovers, 0; Seatoun, 5, Stopout, 2. Christchurch.—Technical, 3. Thistle, 3: Western, 1, Ranger?, 0; Nomads, 3, St. Albans, 2. Dunedln.—Maori Hill. 2. Mosgiel. 0: Seacliff, 4, Mornington, "2: High School Old Boys, 3, Northern, 1; Technical Old Boys, 3, Roslyn-Wakari, 2.

/ P. W. Coals Ch. L. D. F. A. Pta. Tramways . G 4 — 2 15 8 10 Ponsonby . 6 3 — 3 18 12 9 JCorth Shore . . 6 3 0 1 ]G 13 7 Thistle . 6 3 2 1 18 15 7 Comrades . 6 o 1 3 20 16 7 Y.M.C.A. . B 2 3 1 17 15 5 Onehunga * . . 6 1 2 3 15 13 5 (ilen Inne9 . 6 2 3 1 15 1G 5 Abels . 6 2 3 1 14 21 5 £sew Lynn . 6 — 6 — 5 21