ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22179, 5 August 1935, Page 14

ASSOCIATION GAME

SENIOR COMPETITION TWO SURPRISE VICTORIES NORTH SHORE BEATS PONSONBY The most surprising feature of the series of championship Soccer games decided 011 Saturday was the first defeat of the season inflicted on Ponsonby by North Shore in the principal match at Blandford Park. In a fast and attractive contest the North Shore team fully deserved the honours. Another surprise ivas witnessed in the meeting of MetroCollege and Thistle in the curtain-raiser game, the former outplaying its opponents to secure a comfortable win. Y.M.C.A. and Eastern Suburbs divided the points at St. Heliers, while Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys accounted for Comrades at Mount Albert. Following were the scores: — North Shore, •'}; Ponsonby, 2. Mount Albert Old Boys, 5; Comrades, 2. Y.M.C.A., 1; Eastern Suburbs, 1. JUctro-College, 3, Thistle, 1. FIRST DEFEAT PONSONBY'S COLOURS LOWERED In spite of the fact that there were a number of weak links in the side, North Shore managed to get the better of Ponsonby in the match at Blandford Park. The win was well deserved, as North Shore saw a great deal more of the play than the championship leaders, while the winners movements were always forceful. There were occasions when superior halfback piny on the part of Ponsonby dominated the exchanges. but North Shore, by shr-er force of methods and determination, invariably managed to bnlance the play and at times carry a marked advantage. The midfield play J of the Ponsonby forwards was excellent, but ! their usual thrust when at close quarters was missing. Both defences were shaken occasionally, kicking being a bad feature of their play. Nevertheless, the contest was one of the best seen for some time at Blandford Park, being characterised by vigorous tackling, clever footwork nnd speedy methods. A splendid exhibition was provided by Cowie in the North Shore goal. He used his weight and height to good effect in saving in the face of many concerted raids, while liis handling was almost perfect. Strangely enough, Gerrard was not the usual power on defence. He misjudged his kicks badly in the first epell, but Le gave a greatly-improved display towai-i the finish. C. Ekman was in exceptional 'orm. Revealing fine stamina, he covered a great amount of ground during the afternoon, his kicking and tackling being features. Bj" quick covering-up he often rectified the error of a fellow-back. With the exception of Blackie, the halves were somewhat indiscriminate in their passing. Blackie played a solid game, sound defensive work being matched with bright initiative play. Archer tackled well and toward the finish eet the North Shore forwards moving with long passes to the wings. The forwards were spasmodic in their play. Scott failed to get going at any stage, while it was not until the last 20 minutes that the opposite wingman. Hitchen. found his feet. For the few opportunities he received. McCluskey gave a creditable showing. The footwork and the shot which produced his first goal merited the applause of the spectators, Stevensor and E. Ekman were useful only occasionally, being too inclined to stand off and allow their opponents to secure possession. Little fault could be found with the exhibition of Fraser, a promoted junior, in Ponsonby's goal. Haggett and Sims provided a staunch defence, although they could have secured more effect had they curtailed the length of their clearing kicks and concentrated on placing the ball to their forwards. Good combination characterised the play of the halves, with Jones and Wiseman outstanding. Jones was obviously in an unsettled frame of mind, however, whenever McCluskey managed to get under way. Mullane was outstanding in the forwards for clever and speedy work on the wing and manful attacking at close quarters. Farnan was responsible for a great deal of Ponsonby's offensive moves, his changes of direction having the defence non-plussed. Innes and Riggans also lent decided force to the. attack. McCluskey (2) and "Walters scored for North Shore, while Rigguns and Mullane. the last-named from a corner-kick, netted for Ponsonby. Mr. K. C. Brighton was referee. WIN FOR OLD BOYS COMRADES* WEAK ATTACK The Mount Albert Grammar School ground wag in good condition for the meeting of Comrades and Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys. Grammar had the first advantage of a strong wind, but play was of a fairly even nature, very little good football being revealed. The wind caused both sides to miss several easy chances. Mount Albert had a two-goal lead at half-time, and in the second epell scored three goals to Comrades' two. Warren had t-ome anxious moments in Mount Albert's goal, but the Comrades' forwards failed to shoot accurately. Those shots which were straight lacked force. Holdsworth and Shaw proved sound on defence, but their long clearances could have been better placed. Ward, at centre-half, distributed the play, fcut had he tried long shots in the first half they might have been more productive. Turley and Horrocks provided sound opposition and kept the forwards well supplied with the bull. Jepeon led the attack well and received sound support from Spencer and Fyfie. TEe lastnamed combined well with Wood. On the right, Noble used clever tactics to draw the defence and then swung the play across to the opposite wing. Against a fast-moving forward line. Year-, bury had a difficult time in Comrades' goal. Under the circumstances he performed creditably. Saunders provided a sterner defence than McKenrie, although both backs did well under trying conditions. Hooten st centre-ialf excelled on defence and provided the main thrust in Comrades' attacks. Playing with sound judgment, he swung the play from wing to wing by means of accurate passes. Jones and Twinn gßve good support, but were inclined to fall back when attack would have been more successful. Francis was the only forward who made headway. Although Carter and Fletcher made ground, they were inclined to dally too long. Evans, on the right wing, crossed with accuracy, but Hay-ward, the centre-forward, was allowed little scope. More direct action from the front line would have reduced the deficit. Jepson (3), Wood and Fyfie scored for Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys. Carter and Hooten scored for Comrades. Mr. A. Firth was referee. Y.M.C.A. AND SUBURBS DRAWN GAME AT ST. HELIERS The game between Y.M.C.A. and Eastern Suburbs at St. Heliers provided a large number of spectators with a fast and thrilling contest, in which the better positional play of Y.M.C.A. was offset by the bustling tactics of the local team. Playing against the sun in the first half, Y.M.C.A. found the conditions disconcerting, and several good movements broke down in Suburbs' goal area. On the run of the play Y.M.C A. fully deserved its lead at halftime of the only goal scored. The second half saw the pace still maintained, with Y.M.C.A. playing better football than its opponent*. Suburbs made smart raids on Y.M.C.A.'s goal, however, during one of which the scores were evened. The constructive play of the Y.M.C.A. team merited another goal, but the division of the points was a fair reflex of the territorial advantage enjoyed by the teams. Hoyte, in Suburbs' goals, had to deal with many well-directed shots, and couid not be blamed for the one that beat him. The Stone brothers were a solid pair of backs, placing their clearances with judgment, and receiving material assistance from Diamond in the halves. Gay and Flashman broke up many attacks, but did not vary their methods sufficiently. Gilbert on the left and R. Welch in the centre proved the moat dangerous of the front line, the former's centres causing the Y.M.C.A. defence many anxious moments, R. Welch «u klwsjb aggressive.

Smith gave a good exhibition in Y.M.C.A.'s goal. He had very few direct shot# to contend with, but had plenty of work to do in clearing dangeroiiß crosses in the facts of two or three forwards. He had no chance with the shot that beat him. Mowatt and Dobson hud a fine understanding and both placed to advantage, the latter pleasing with long clearances. Chapman, in the pivot position, swung the play from wing t« wing, while Ross broke up many attacks. The lutter initiated many sound movements. Sims, with deceptive footwork, provided thrust on the left, making many opportunities for the front line, where Humphries, with deft touches, distributed the ball to advantage. Deoki. a promoted junior, gave n good display on the right wing. His centres were always accurate, while his goal wus » particularly neat effort. He received sound support from Macfarlane. Donaldson made ground on the left and was unlucky not to score with more than one powerful shot. He showed a tendency to hold the boll too long. Churchill made many openings and essayed long-range shots, which were unlucky not to find the net. Deoki scored for Y.M.C.A., while Gilbert netted foY Eastern Suburbs. Mr G. Shand was referee. METRO-COLLEGE SUCCESSFUL THISTLE TEAM DEFEATED An interesting game was witnessed in meeting of Thistle and Metro-College in the curtain-raiser at Blandford i'srk, the lutter securing a surprise victory. The exchanges were very well contested throughout with Metro-College having just a shade the better of the play. The first half saw Mttro-College dominating the ploy, but Thistle staged n strong revival in the second spell and had its opponents defending strenuously. Both teams missed good opportunities owing to a comparatively weak standard of shooting. Givan w,n sound in the Metro-College goal, but his work was made easy owing to the splendid defensive play of _ Speed r.nd Holmnn, who broke up the Thistle attacks by means of sturdy tackling and powerful kicking. In the halves. Cronan was responsible for a fine display, sound play on defence being combined with equally effective work on attack. He received ample support from his wing-hnlves. C. Flyger and J. Dallimore. In a fast forward line, which revealed glimpses of fine combination. Cleal, Williams and McDougall were outstanding. The Thistle team was without the services of three prominent players, the absence of Wright in the centre-half position being most noticeable. Williams and Rodger provided a fairly safe defence for Thistle, while Watson dominated the halves' play. The lending forward was Angus who. had he been supported better, would have given Thistle a good chance of victory. He made many openings for both Kay and Williameon. but little advantage was taken of them. Cleal (2t and Speed scored for Metro-Col-lege. while Williamson netted for Thistle. Mr. J. Luke was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade.— Thistle. 5. Y.M.C.A.. 4; Abels C. 7, Henderson. 0; Eastern Suburbs. 6. Ponsonby B, 1; Mount Albert Grammar 0.8., 5. Abels B. 1: Y.M.C.A., 3. Thistle A. 3; Onehunga A, 2. Comrades, 0. Third Intermediate Grade.—Comrades. 4. North Shore, 3. Fourth Grnde.—Mount Albert 0.8., 10. Ponsonby, 0 Fifth Grade.—Metro-College, 7, Abels, 1: New Lynn. 3. Marist, 0. Sixth Grade.—Thistle won from ponsonby by default. Secondary Schools. Senior Grade.—Mount Albert A won from Takapuna by default. Junior Grade.—KoWhai. 3. Otahuhu B. 1: Otahuhu A, 3, Mount Albprt C, 1: Technical College, 3. Mount Albert A. 1; Auckland Grammar, 4, Mount Albert B. 1. MATCHES IN HAMILTON [ftiom OUR OWN correspondent] I HAMILTON, Sunday Matches played under the auspices of the South Auckland Football Association at Hamilton yestrrday resulted as follows: Senior grade: Huntly Starr. 4, Claudelands Covers, 1. Intermediate grade: Glen Mas. sey. 9. Hamilton Wanderers, 2. Schoolboys: Hamilton East, 2. Forest Lake 1. Frankton won by default from Fairfield. SOUTHERN CONTESTS [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington.—Hospital, 2. Marist, 2; Petpne, S. Hutt, 0; Waterside, 4, Institute, 3. Christchurch.—Western A, 7. "Western B. 0; Nomads. 8, Technical, 2: Bangers, 2. St. Albsns, 1. Dunedin.—Mosgiel, 1; Maori Hill, 0: High School Old Boys, 5, Roslyn-Wakari, 3; Northern. S. Technical Old Boys, 1; Mornington, 4, Seaclitt, 2.