ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 14

ASSOCIATION GAME

SENIOR GRADE CONTESTS CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION PONSONBY AND THISTLE DRAW Matches in the third round of the Auckland Football Association's first division championship wero continued on Saturday under fairly good conditions. In an exciting contestant Blandford Park Thistle and Poiisonbv drew, while a drawn ' result was also witnessed in the curtain-raiser match between Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys and Metro-College. An unusual incident was witnessed at Devon port, where Comrades was defeated by North Shore. Taking exception to one of the i-eferoe - rulings, the Comrades team left the lield just before time was duo to be called. The results were as follows: Ponsonby, 3; Thistle, 3. Mount Albert, 4; Metro-College, 4., North Shore, 3; Comrades, 0. thrilling game PONSONBY AND THISTLE The meeting of Thistle and Ponsonby in the main attraction at Blandford Park providecT a thrilling contest, in which the use Of three balls kept the game fart and in turesting. Thistle had a somewhat different team from its Chatham Cup side, but the introduction of a couple of juniors improw-d the speed of the team. Short passing movements carried Thistle into Ponsonby territory but a solid defence broke up tile SS.mc.nt. and th« ssvErvwrsra was a Rood indication of the merits of tho teams. The second half saw Poneonby show better combination, and the final rcsul three goals each was a good reflex of the Pli ßmith^played 1 ' a fine game in Ponsonbj's coal and earned applause for some clei er saves. He could not be blamed for the sho s that passed him. Haggett saved his sue many times and his quick recoveries were a feature of the game. Riggans again showed improvement and bis strong clearances, lacking direction, got the side out of several tight corners. The halves were. never onlliant, but all played soundly. Jones, in tho centre, found the pace too fast but he showed generalship by slipping tho ball out to Master, or Sims, who sent some nice passes to irieir front line. Chapman was again *he spearhead of the Ponsonby attack and, although well marked, he managed to distribute the play to advantage: The return of Farnan materially assisted Mullane to show some of his old form and the pair were alwajs dangerous. Cuisley worked hard, but seldom passed in the right direction. Watson has played better games in goal and he gave his team some anxious moments with weak clearances. Stone and Williams i played nicely, the former pleasing with good placements. W. Watson led the halfback lino and his distribution of the ball was good. Constable combined well with Kay and Wi.suman. On the right, Kennedy was a hard worker and he cleverly turned defence into attack. Wood made several nice runs down the line and his shooting was always dangerous. Dnnsmore proved clever in making openings, but Angus was too well watched by Jones to take advantage of ninny of them. Wiseman worked hard at inside-left and his distribution of the play was sound. Chapman, Farnan and Mullane scored for Ponsonby, while Wiseman, Kay and Kennedy netted for Thistle. Mr. B. G. Brighton was referee. DRAWN CONTEST 1 MEDIOCRE EXHIBITION « Blandford Park was in good condition for the early game between Metro-College and Mount Albert Grammar Old Bojs. The 01 Boys team included several juniors. A ragged display was given by the teams, there bein« very few good movements. The half-time score of two-all was a true indication of the merits of the teams. The second spell saw some belter play, but the Metro-Collego half-line did not function properly and fine chances, wero missed. Higgison,. the third grade goalkeeper, gave a soan I exhibition for Mount Albert ana he had little chance with the shots that beat. him. McFarland and Ward filled the back positions and thoy were a dour pair of defenders. Ward was particularly conspicuous for his long clearances which got the side out of trouble many times. Turley was a worker at right-half and he initiated many attacks. G. Holdsworth distributed the play well from the centre-half position and broke up many attacks, while he also staged some excellent counter attacks. Mansfield, a schoolboy, provided a solid defence at lefthalf and the left-wing received much assistance from him. Berriman and Needltam were on the right wing.. The latter's tendency to roam spoiled his play. Jepson, in the centre, was always on the alert and tried several shots, while Fyvie was inclined to hold the ball too long and he did not give Woods many chances. <= Gavan had to give a brilliant exhibition in the Metro-College goal in order to avert a larger score. Speed and Holman provided a sound defence, but the half-line was unbalanced. Jones appeared to play too far back, while C. Flyger was too far up. (.'fonan, in the centre, broke up many attacks, but ho had to cover a lot of ground and many or his passes ware wasted. The front line showed tip in individual movements and, had Clral distributed the play better, more goals would have been scored. A. Flyger was a hard worker, being unlucky with several long range shots. , ' Jepson (2), Fyvie and Needham scored for Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, while Clral (2), McCallum and A. Flyger netted for Metro-College. Mr. A. Kyle was referee. NORTH SHORE WINS COMRADES TEAM LEAVES FIELD North Shore triumphed by three goals to nil against Comrades at Devonport, the match providing a ragged display. In tho last few minutes of the game tho Comrades players took exception to one of the referee's decisions and walked off the field. Tho referee had previously awarded a goal to North Shore, although it appeared that one of the attacking players was offsido. Tliore were several cases of rough play dnring the game, the referee having occasion to caution sonio of the players. Early in tho second half a Comrades player was sent off the field. Comrades, in spite of tho margin of three 1 goals against it, forced the play for the greater part of the time. It had a marked territorial advantage and tho reason tho visiting team did -not realise on its superiority was because' of its poor finishing methods. Neither team revealed its best form, the play being mostly of a haphazard nature. Sound judgment in anticipating shots was shown by Cameron in the North Shore goal, while Gerrard and West also shone on defence, The fullbacks performed a great amount of work in a finished manner. F. Blackie was the outstanding halfback, opening up the play nicely both for tho wings and the inside men. Walters and Waters were prominent on defence. Faulty passing spoiled tho efforts of the forwards, among whom Sinie and C. Blackio were most prominent. Archer gave a forceful exhibition at centre-forward. Yearbury was responsible for a capable exhibition in Comrades' goal and he received excellent support from tho fullbacks, Bontlo.y and McKenna. W. Hooton, at centre-half, w:is a dominant figure both on defence and attack. Bright midficld work was a feature of the forwards' play, but they were not impres Rive nt close range. Tho Francis brothers and C. Ilayward combined nicely on a number of occasions. Goals were scored for the winners by Archer (2) and Stevenson. Mr. W. H. Guest was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS . First Grade Reserve. —North Shoro won from Comrados by default; Ponsonby, (i, Thistle, 3. Second Division.—Abels, 3, Y.M.C.A., 0, Eastern Suburbs, (5, Onehunga, 2. Second Grade Reserve.—Eastern Suburbs, 4, Onehunga, 3; Y.M.C.A., 5, Thistle, 4. Third Grade, Intermediate.—Training Co! lege, 4, Onehuuga, 1; Metro-College, (>. Y.M.C.A., 2. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM Needham, of tho Mount Albert Old Boys Club, has been chosen to replace Wood, of Thistle, in the representative team to meet Wellington at the Basin Reserve next Saturday. T. Chalmors, Abels, will be twelfth inan. MID-WEEK COMPETITION Following are tho fixtures for tho Auckland Football Association's mid-week competition to commence on Wednesday at Blandford Park:—Hospital v. Maritime, 3.30 p.m. (Wednesday), Mr. J. Hamilton-, Philomel v. Srfrgood's, 4.30 p.m. (Wednesday), Mr. W. Thompson. Farmers', a bye.