THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21817, 4 June 1934, Page 14

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

SENIOR GRADE CONTESTS HARD STRUGGLE FOR THISTLE NORTH SHORE'S FINE EFFORT Clever football under heavy conditions was witnessed on Saturday, when the final series of matches in tho first round of the Auckland Football Association's senior championship was tceided. i Tho championship leaders, Thistle, had to light to withstand a strong challenge from North Shore in the main attraction at Blandford 1 ark, the former finally gaining a close decision. Mount Albert Grammar Old Bovs caused a surprise by defeating Eastern Suburbs under conditions which should have been more suitable to the latter, while Comrades also showed great improvement in disposing of the strong I.M.C.A. side. Ponsonby, Hi a high-scoring game at Onehunga, took tho full points from tho local team. Following were the results: — Thistle, 4; North Shore United, 2. Mount Albert Old Boys, 4; Eastern Suburbs, 2. Comrades, 4; Y.M.C.A., 2. Ponsonby, 5; Onehunga, 4. GOOD COMBINATION FINE DISPLAY BY COWIE Heavy conditions and a greasy hnll failed to mar tho principal game at Blandford Park between Thistle and North Shore, spectators being rewarded with a sterling struggle, in which the fine combination of tho Thistle team was greatly ofTset by the sustained aggressiveness of its opponents. Tho play was fast throughout. Players of both sides, showed good control of the ball under the wet conditions and some splendid tactical play and clever passing wero witnessed. Although Thistle finished with a clear margin of two goals, the result could have been closer on the run of the play. Hie Thistle team, by its positional play and first-class combination, was tho superior side, but North Shore surprised in the manner in which it held its opponents and, judging by the opportunities received, might have easily secured a division of the points. As was to be expected the slippery ball made accurate shooting difficult and, as a result, several good chances were lost by both teams. There were few weaknesses in the play of the Thistle team, the outstanding feature in its favour being the splendid co-operation of the various divisions. This fine understanding also got tho Thistle defence out of trouble. McCosh gave a splendid display at fullback, covering up judiciously and, by ciuick anticipation, breaking up dangerous raids before they had timo to gain force. Wright, in the halves, was always well to the fore on defence and attack, and proved again that he is one of the most consistent club players in Auckland. In the first half of the game. Wiseman was outstanding in the halves for defensive and constructive ability, but faded out toward the end. when the heavy ground began to tell on him. , . Although not Quite as accurate as usual in its finishing, the Thistle vanguard was outstanding in midfiteld. Under the direction of tho clever inside forwards, Hislop and I>unsmore. the vanguard proved a dangerous unit. Woods and Kay were in fine form on the respective wings, while the heavy condition of the ground appeared to suit Williamson. , ~ The North Shore team all. '.ilayed well, but the display of Cowie, in goal, was outstanding. He fielded splendidly and cleared with powerful kicks, while two or three saves he made -were only possible through good anticipation. In the backs Gerrard also gave a splendid exhibition. H. Smith found difficulty in keeping his feet and was therefore not the force he might have been. The most noticeable failing in the North Shore team was nt centre-half, where Bach was far from impressive and consequently made extra work for the rest of the defence. Walters and Ekman played well In spite of the fact that Tite received an early injury, the forward line was always dangerous, with Moore. Blackie and McCluskey showing the most initiative Kay (2), Williamson and Hislop scored ! for Thistle, while Blackie and McCluskey netted for tho losers. Mr. A. Firth was referee. MOUNT ALBERT WINS EASTERN SUBURBS DEFEATED A fast and interesting match was witnessed in the meeting of Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys and Eastern Suburbs in tho curtain-raiser at Blandford Park. The teams were evenly matched and. while tho wet conditions were not conducive to a high standard of play, the exchanges were fast and exciting, for the most part. Belter tactical play gave Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys an advantage in the early stages and the team took the lead .soon after the Eastern Suburbs finished the first half strongly, and. after equalising, was unfortunate not to bo leading at the interval. The second spell saw some fast, even plat, with both goals undergoing hard attacks. Poor finishing cost Eastern bupurbs two goals and then Mount Albert retaliated and finished with a two-goals mare'o"f the two defences. Mount Albert's was the stronger. The Mount. Albert ha ves combined well with their fullbacks, but were more impressive on defence than attack. Lawrence and the Holdswortli brothers were in good form, kicking fairly, well considering the conditions, while their tackling was firm and in most cases successful. A feature of the forwards' play was their ability to take advantage of an opportunity. Angus did good work at insideright and moved prettily when combining with Woods and Jepson. whilo Healey and Spencer formed a dangerous right flank. Healey showed himself an opportunist m scoring two nice goals. H and H. Stone were well below form at fullback for Eastern Suburbs, the conditions finding them too slow in their movements. Gay. Ward and Darwin worked hard, but did not receive _ miich support. Glaister was hndly missed in the forwards. Welch and Mullane wero tho most aggressive of the vanguard. Healey (2) and Angus (2) scored for Mount Albert, while Flashman and \\ard netted for the losers. Mr. W. Guest was referee. POINTS TO COMRADES DEFEAT OF Y.M.C.A. The meeting of Comrades and Y.M.C.A. at Western Springs, owing to the slippery nature of tho ground, was devoid of good football. Both teams were forced to use "kick-and-rush" methods to gain ground, and, although Y.M.C.A. is more farmhnr with this stylo of play, the Comrades playera kept their positions better, and were able to indulge in short combined movements. These paved the way to victory. In spite of the conditions, tho gamo was played at a fast pace. Jones, as usual, was responsible for many of Comrades' attacks, and his splendid control of tho greasy ball, combined with us coolness and judicious placing, extricated his side, from many difficult situations Page, in goal, had long-rango shots to deal with mostly, and could not bo blamed for the two that passed him. Both backs were sound and clojired with method. Epan broke up many attacks before they could gain force nnd fed his front lino judiciously. It was a, dangerous front line, with both wings working in uni*on. tho right being the more aggressive. Cole, in tho centre, was always handy to take advantage of the passes that came his way. Mowat and Ilieldols provided a stubborn defence, hilt their long, clearing kicks were not always placed to advantage. Chapman was a tower of strength in defence and attack, vdiilo Cqllman worked hard to set tho forwards moving. Tho vanguard was seldom in position to support the halfbacks' movements, and Comrades' two-goals advantage at half-time, in spile of a rcood showing by Biggins. Hill and MacFarlane. was maintained. Scorers for Comrades were: Cole (2). (Tancis and Fletcher, while Higgins and McFarlane netted for Y.M.C.A. Mr. J. Calvert was referee. SENSATIONAL OPENING ONEHUNGA JUST FAILS Ponsonby was at full strength when it journeyed to Onehunga and met the local team. Ground conditions were treacherous, and light showers made play difficult. There was a sensational opening, Ponsonby running through the Onehunga defence to score twice in less than five minutes. For some time it seemed as if it was going to be a one-sided contest, but Onehunga fought back, and the remainder of the first half was a hard gani« Ponsonby held a three-goals' advantage at the interval. A faster pace was set in the fcecond spell, end tho spectators witnessed one of tho Finest contests staged at, Waikaraka Pnrk. Playing brilliantly. Onehunga. with good combination, made up the leeway, and excitement was intense. Five minutes from lime a heavy shower made conditions very creasy and from a mis-kick, Ponsonby snatched victory in the last minute.

! Watson made some fine saves, but he ever-ready to seizo opportunities T Gavail, in Onehunga a goal. had f>ome tensemoments and earned the OT» ilir» crowd for some clever sa\es lhe nunc of the defence fell on Blockley, whose sound methods served to open hp the P'a.v and net his forwards on the attack. Buss was (ho mainstay of a sound half-lnje, m which toll, C' and R. Lindsay were hard workers. Tho forward line, worked as a unit the ball beinß swung from Cumnunii to Donaldson, with the two inside men. LoireMcr and M. Lind«ay. giving tjiein support A Gravan. in tho centre position, vas always on the alert for chances, 'if oJobrilliant display in the second half. One lumen was unfortunate not to <h\ide P The scorers for Ponsonby were: Farnan (3), Wilson and Scott, while A. Oavan (J) <uni M. Lindsay, netted for Oncluingn. * Mr. A. Fletcher was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade.—New Lynn A, 10, Abels B 1: Onehunga. 4, Comrades, 2; North Shore United, 7, Papatoetoe. 1: Abels A, 5. loneonby A, 1; Thistle, 7, Ponsonby. 2. Third Grade Intermediate.— North Shore United, 3, Eastern Suburbs, 1; Thistlo is. 7, Thistle A, 0 Fourth Grade.—Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 1. Y.M.C.A., 0. Fifth Grade.—North Shore, 3, Abels. 1; Comrades A. 2, Onehunga, 0; Comrades B. 11; Metro-College, 0: y.M.C.A. A, 4, Y.M.C.A. B, 1. T , , Sixth Grade.—Metro-College. 8. Eastern Suburbs, 0; Comrades A, 3. \.M.C.A. A, 1; North Shore A, 7. Y.M.C.A. B, 1; I\orth Shore B, 2. Comrades B. 0; Thistle, 2. Comrades C. 1; Y.M.C.A. C, 2. Y.M.C.A. D. 1. Seventh Grade.—Eastern Suburbs, 14. Metro-College, 0; North Shore A A, 1; Abela B, 7. Enstern Suburbs A. 0; Comrades B, 8, Y.M.C.A. B, 0; North Shore B, 7. Y.M.C.A. C. 1. Midgets' Gann'S.— Championship match: Comrades, 1, Y.M.C.A. A, 0. Secondary Schools.—Senior grade: Mount Albert A, 5, Tokapnna Grammar. 1: Auckland Grammar, 1, Mount Albert B, 1. Intermediate Grade.—Auckland Grammar, 5, Kowhai, 0. I Junior Grade.—Northcote, fi, Kowhai B, 0: Kowhai A, 4, Mount Albert C. 1; Mount I Albert B, 1, Auckland Grammar, 0. MATCH AGAINST NAVY FAST CAME ANTICIPATED One of tho most popular and attractive fixtures on tho Auckland Football Association's programme for the season will be decided at Blandford Park this afternoon, when tho Auckland representative team will meet a combined Navy side. In the past, these contests have always been spectacular, the Navy players making an open and speedy type of play. Both teams have been training hard and can be depended upon to maintain a fast pace throughout the game. An added attraction will be a cur-tain-raiser contest between junior teams representing Auckland and the Navy. The teams for the principal contest are as follows: Navy.—Lavis (Dunedin), Preston (Dunedin), Oakley (Dunedin). Buss (Diomede), Lund, captain (Dunedin), Wilkes (Dunedin). Sevi (Dunedin). Carlill (Dunedin). Clark (Dunedin), Lawrence (Dunedin), Tite (Philomel). Auckland.—Watson (Ponsonby), K. Stone, H. Stone .(Eastern Suburbs). Watson (Thistle). Chapman, Thornes (Y.M.C.A.), Woods. Dunsmore. captain (Thistle). Angus (Mount Albert Grammar 9' cl Boys), Farman (Ponsonby), Kay (Thistle). The following teams will play in the cur-tain-raiser : Navy.—Boyes (Laburnum). Sears, captain (Diomede). Wilcox (Diomede), Armstrong (Diomede), Davison (Dunedin). Atton (Diomede). Swan (Dunedin), McFadyen (Dunedin), Buck (Diomede). Price (Diomede), Blain (Laburnum), .Reserves: Balderson (Dunedin). Thompson (Dunedin). Saddington (Diomede). Auckland.—Carter (Thistle), Hasnip (Swanson). Cleal (Metro-Collegel, Kean (Thistle), Robinson (Abels), Flyger (MetroCollege). Haggo (Henderson), Fletcher (Metro-College), Saunders (Comrades), Speed (Metro-College). Cameron (Abels). Reserves: Edwards (Ponsonby), Haycock (Thistle), Mills (Henderson). CONTESTS IN THE SOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Hamilton.—ln an evenly-contested match played under the auspices of the South Auckland Football Association at Seddon Park, Wanderers defeated Claudelands Rovers by 3 goals to 2. Clarkson (2) and C'avayo scored goals for Wanderers and Wallace and Reid contributed points for Rovers. Chrlstchurch.—Nomads, 1, Western, 1; Technical Old Boys, 3, .Rangers, 1; Thistlo won from Linwood by default. Dunedin.—High School Old Boys, 5, Technical Old Boys, 2; Maori Hill. 5, Mornington. 0; Northern, S, Rosiyn-Wakari, 0; Scacliff, 8, Mosgiel, 1.