THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 13

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

CHAMPIONSHIP COMMENCES j FAST AND OPEN CONTESTS GOOD STANDARD DISPLAYED Wintry conditions marked the opening of the Auckland Football Association's season on Saturday. Blandford Park and the outside grounds were in good order, but rain made the turf slippery. In spite of the handicap and a greasy ball, all the games were particularly fast and attractive. A large number of young players took part and all acquitted themselves well, play being of a good standard in all games. There was a large attendance at Blandford Park.

Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, which was promoted to the senior grade | this season, played a fast, open game, and gained a decisive victory over Y.M.C.A. The main game, in which Thistle took the full points from Ponsonby, provided hard football. Ponsonby's lack of training told in the second half. The Onchunga team, wearing black arm bands out of respect to the memory of its late player, Mr. Alfred Davis, played North Shore United at Onchunga. A stirring match resulted. North Shore being lucky_ to collect the full points. At St. Heliers the new combination, Eastern Suburbs, met Comrades, and in a fast game the home team was successful. Following were the scores: — I Thistle, 6; Ponsonby, 3. • Mount Albert G. 0.8., 4; Y.M.C.A., 1. i North Shore, 4; Onchunga, 3. j Eastern Suburbs, 5; Comrades, 3.

THISTLE'S DECISIVE WIN

PONSONBY TEAM TIRES As was expected, the main game at Blandford Park was a hard struggle, m which the training and combination of Thistle prevailed over Ponsonby .The latter started with great dash and caught McCosh unawares, Inncs scoring:. The greasy conditions suited Innes, who troubled the Thistle defence and in the latter 3tages of . game he was seen alternating from right to left, in an endeavour to rally tho team. Ellis, on the right wing, proved effective, but lacked support from the hnlves, play being mostly sent to the left, where Scott and Farnan were too closely watched by G. Wright and McCosh to be dangerous. The robust play of Grant broke up many attacks. Masters had a good deal of work and did well, but 'Woodhall was disappointing. The latter could not hold Kay, and Thistle made the play on this weakness. Several times Haggett and Stewart stemmed the raids, and Wat6on was too inclined to come out of his charge, but he made several good saves, particularly from Kay at point blank range. Although Kr.y was playing one of his best games for some seasons, the pick of the Thistle forward line was undoubtedly Dunsmore. He nlade many openings for Williamson, but the latter seemed to have little idea of turning them to advantage. Wright was thrustful. and his placing, combined with the play of Hislop. was a great, factor in the! good combination of the team. The sound defence of McCosh and Williams turned the tables many times, and saved Gerrard a lot of work. The fitness and good positional play of Thistle enabled it t<? finish strongly over a very tired Ponsonby side, and tho score was a good indication of the game. Thistle, which led at halftime by 3—2. won by 6 goals to 3. Dunne the second half G. Wright Thistle, and Farnan, Ponsonby, were ordered oft the fi< For Thistle. Kay f3K Dunsmore (2). and Watson scored goals. Tnne3, Fills and McCosh netted a goal each for Ponsonby. Mr. A. Kyle was referee.

FAST DISPLAY NEW TEAM'S SUCCESS A prompt start was made with the early come between Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys and Y.M.C.A. Play was fast and open and held the interest of the spectators from start to finish. The score was not a true indication of the play. Both teams fielded young players. Mount Albert showing signs of nervousness lit the start Although Coltman and Chapman initiated many attacks, the Y.M.C.A. forward line could not press home the advantage Hamilton and Hill both missing splendid opportunities. Coltman and Mowat were the best of the Y.M.C.A. players. The former sent in a beautiful high dropping shot, which found the net. but overeagerness by his forwards caused the score to be disallowed. When Mount Albert settled down it harassed the defence, and Hunter made some good saves from close range. Spry broke up Y.M.C.A.'s attacks several times, but his placing was not of the best, and Angus had to come back several times to collec,. the pass. When in possession Angus and Jepson were a dangerous combination. they received good support from the rest of the front line. When, for a time in the second spell. Y.M.C.A. pressed with determination Lawrence and O. Holdsworth had a hard time, but they cleared with judgment and coolness. Tnrley kept goal fearlessly and emerged with the honours of the game. Mount Albert, which led at half-time by o_i ( ' won by 4 goals to 1. The scorers for Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys were Jepson (2). Read and Wood*. Hamilton netted for Y.M.C.A. Mr. E. Parkinson was referee.

A CLOSE CONTEST DEFEAT OF ONEHUNGA North Shore visited Onchunga. and the match provided a stirring contest. Promoted juniors were prominent in the Onehunga team, while North Shore fielded a younK nnd well-trained side. Onehunga was nearly through at tlio start, hut Cowie saved. The Xorth Shore goalkeeper was kept otl the move throughout the canw, and only the stubborn defence of Gerrard and H. Smith, v.ho bore the brunt of the attacks, kept the score down. Chubb was responsible for many of North Shore's attacks, and he received good support from Tile and Williamson. McClusky and Blackic were alwayß dangerous. J. Gavun kept the Onehunga coal intact, for a lone time, and earned the applause of the spectators for some daring saves. Webster's only mistake was in diverting a shot into his own goal. He and L. .Tackson. who played a sterling game, although out of position, repulsed many attacks. The half line appeared strangers to one another, but brought off bright individual efforts. Willis seemed to be the weak link in the forward line, and F. Zuill did not get enough passes. Play went to the left, to H. Donaldson and Forrester, and Gerrard gave this pair every attention. A. Gavan, in the centre, took advantage of constructive play, and harassed Cowie. A draw would have been a more fitting, indication of a hard, fast game, Onehunga, which led 3—l at halftime, was beaten by i goals to 'i The scorers for Xorth Shore were Mcdusky (2). Williamson and Webster. For Onehunga. A. Gavnn (2) and H. Donaldson scored. Mr. A. Firth was referee.

EASTERN SUBURBS WINS COMRADES TEAM BEATEN \ food attendance at St. Helicrs was treated to a fast exhibition in the meeting of Eastern Suburbs and Comrades. Ino latter infused dash into its play from the kick-off. and with the defence out of position should have been a goal up _in the first five minutes. Marvin au<] Francis made the play, and the rest of the fLont lino showed a good knowledge of aggressne combination. Time and again they swept through the Suburbs' first line of defence, only to meet the stubborn opposition of the Stono brothers, and Warren, who was extremely lucky in some of the shots lie saved. The Suburbs front line was crowding, and the combination of East, R. Welch and Mullane was being spoiled by the closeness of the half line. Umloubtedly the smallncss of the ground had a lot to do with the crowding. Both defences were weak in the first spell, but in the second half the home team opened up the play, and While and Kinraird were harried on all sides. Mullane passed nicely and K. Welch and East took the ball through several times. Youngs, a promoted junior, was an opportunist, and gave Page little chance with his snap shots. The win was thoroughly deserved, but it is doubtful, considering the contrast in the two spells, if there was a margin of two goals between the teams. The score was 2all at half-time. Eastern Suburbs winning by S goals to 3. The scorers for Eastern Suburbs were:— E. Welch (2), Youngs (2) and East. Marvin (2) and Francis netted for Comrades. Mr. E. F. Miller was referee.

MATCHES IN THE SOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington.—Marist, 7. v. Lower Hutt. 2; Hospital. 6. v. Nada, 0: "Waterside, 6. v. Swifts, 2; Petone, 4, v. Diamonds, 1. Christchurch.—Thistle, 3, Technical, 0: Western, 3, St. Albans, 1; Rangers, 4, Lin wood, 3.