THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21541, 12 July 1933, Page 16

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

FIRST ROUND COMPLETED TWO TEAMS UNBEATEN ABELS SHOWS IMPROVEMENT With the first round of the Auckland Football Association's senior championship completed, two teams remain unbeaten and the competition is still very interesting. Tramways, with an unbeaten record to date, heads the, championship table with 16 points, having forfeited two points, however, owing to two drawn games. Ponsonby, although undefeated, lias played four drawn matches and is consequently two points behind Tramways. Providing their present positions arc maintained tho second meeting of these two teams should provide tho best club contest of the season. Thistle and Glen Innes are also well in the running for championship honours and, as both are showing greatly improved form at present, may possibly upset tho leaders.

Abels was responsible for an unexpectedly good display in tho main match at Blandford Park on Saturday, when it ran Ponsonby to a drawn result. Both teams played dour and, at times, attractive football and the division of tho points after such an even and strenuous game was a fair indication of their merits. Abels had, if anything, a superiority in attack, but this was offset by a staunch Ponsonby back division. Grant was in excellent form at centre-half for Ponsonby and stemmed many raids in characteristic fashion. The best of the remaining backs was Diamond, whose tackling and placing of tbe ball showed great improvement. In the forwards Ahcrn shone for his initiative and ho received good support from Innes and Jepson. Cameron in Good Form Cameron was a lively and efficient custodian for Abels and if he maintains tho standard he revealed on Saturday" looks a likely representative. Mooncy and Chalmers wero impressive in tho halves, and tho play of McLeay and Gill in the front line was very finished. Both wero direct in making for goal. Mitchens, too, was to bo commended for many tricky moves on tho left flank.

Without tho services of Skinner, Comrades failed to give its usual finished display against Thistle in the curtainraiser game, tho latter securing a comfortable victory. Over the closing stages Comrades fought bacU strongly and had Thistle worried, but tho winners, by superior team-work, managed to hold their advantage. Tho Thistle forward line, supported by an able middle division, gave a fine exhibition of combined play. Onehunga and Glen I fines provided a bright game at St. Heliers, the forwards of tho latter team showing outstanding combination and positional play. Tho short length of the ground at St. Heliers gave both goalkeepers plenty to do. Although Zuill, the Onehunga goalkeeper, had five goals scored against him, he could not be blamed for any of them, as all shots were from about 10 yards, giving him little chance to save. Blocklev, who was playing in the forwards, considerably weakened the backs by his absence, Lindsay was the pick of the halves, •placing well and tackling hard. Dick was forceful, but the ground seemed to cramp his usual stylo. In the forwards Forrester stood out for clever work, whilo Scott and Wilson combined well and somo of thoir shots deserved a better fate. R. Stone's Fine Defence

A fine defensive game was played for the winners by It. Stone, who withstood all attacks with ease. The forward line as a whole was far superior to that of Onehunga. Each uijit worked well and the positional play was particularly good. Glaister was in rare form on the right llanlc, while R. Welch displayed his usual opportunism. Now Lynn gave its best display of the season against the championship leaders, Tramways, at New Lynn,* and, although the homo side had to admit defeat by three clear goals, the margin could bo considered very flattering to Tramways. New Lynn missed a number of good scoring opportunities and owes its defeat to these mistakes. Against a fast-moving Tramways van the New Lynn backs offered a staunch resistance and kicked cleanly and to great advantage. Reid and Munro were the safest backs, while Hamilton, Carr and Kent were the most dangerous in the forwa nls.

Tramways' defence was solid throughout and Ratty -must take full credit for a particularly safe exhibition of handling. Simpson was the safer back, and tho work of Christie in the halves was a great factor. The forwards were all good and lost very few opportunities, Spencer, Cuinmings and Williams being the best.

North Shore had a runaway win at the expense of Y.M.G.A. at Devouport, tlio victory of the home side coming as a surprise after the easy manner in which Thistle accounted for it the previous week. Tho inclusion of the two New Zealand representatives, Gerrard and Rlackie, made a difference to the side, tho first-named being tho more useful by reason of his lino back play. Rlackie was in and out, and, while opening up play for his fellow forwards, was weak when it came to pushing home an attack. The whole North Shore team played with much more dash than that of tho previous week. If.'Smith created a surprise by bis line showing on (lie left Jlank bis usual place being left. back. Ho scored three line goals with brilliant shots. Y.M.C.A. Off Torm

The Y.M.C.A. team, which has boon responsible for somo spasmodic showings this season, was off form on Saturday. Tlio leant never settled down at. any st:ino and confined its offensive tactics to "kiek-and-rush" lpothods of the it tost harmless kind. This was no fault of Chapman, who gave a splendid exhibition at cent re-half. Ilis displays this season fully merit representative consideration. Cowie had an .unenviable time in the Y.M.C.A. goal.

Two of the Auckland members of the New Zealand touring ceain which recently returned from Australia are of the opinion that one of the main reasons for the team's mediocre showing was the inability of the tourists to get to the ball as quickly as their opponents. Being used to soft grounds where the ball conies through at a fairly low consistent height, the New Zealanders were lost on the harder Australian surfaces. "When waiting for a ball to land so as to breast it or take it on the run, tho Dominion players were left standing by the high and erratic bounce. Tho Australians did not wait for the ball to land but pounced on it as soon as possible. The New Zealanders gradually adapted themselves to these tactics and their play improved correspondingly. Tho defeat of tho touring side in the last match against a metropolitan Sydney team by seven goals to two is attributed to the fact that tho Dominion players were exhausted after their strenuous tour. Many of tho players were not in a fit state to tako tho field.