SOCCER GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 19

SOCCER GAME

OPENING OF SEASON PLAY MARRED BY RAIN THISTLE DEFEATS : PONSONBY Marred to a great extent by the inclement conditions, the offici.il opening 4* of the Auckland Football Association's |§, r geason was held on Saturday. The attendance was small at Blandford Park and the ground conditions were tricky, but the players, although handicapped by lack of form, did their best to proTide bright football. Miss P. Munro, daughter of Mr. L. Munro, chairman of the Auckland Association, officially •opened the season when she kicked oft' ■% in the principal game. Musical items were provided at intervals during the afternoon by the Ponsonby Boys' Band. m The results were as follows: V Thistle, 4; Ponsonby, 3. : Comrades, 3; North Shore, 2. j'JJf * Eastern Suburbs, 2; Y.M.C.A., 1. Mount Albert, 5; Metro-College, 0. Ifff: Abels, 9; Onehunga, 0. r - *'■ , GOOD RECOVERY 3' • PONSONBY EXTENDS THISTLE """ Superior combination and more direct methods on attack rave _ Thistle a marked advantage over Ponsonby during the first half of the main fixture at Blandford Park. However, on resuming Thistle was content • to rest on its advantage, an unwise policy that almost cost it the full points, for Pon...ion by staged a good recovery and was within one goal of its opponent at the final whistle. Features of Thistle's display in the first spell were the brilliant opportunism of Angus, the excellent 'support offered by Morris at ceatre-half. and the staunch defence of Warren, .'Williams and Stone. Weakness in control and shooting proved Ponsonby's downfall, as it received just as many chances as Thistle. McCallum, handicapped by poor support, nevertheless played »n energetic and useful game, while Haggett and Rouse were the best of the defenders. Goals were scored for Thistle by Angus (3) and Dean, while McCallum, E. Ekman and Hubert Haywood netted for Ponsonby. Mr. J. Calvert was referee. ■ ■ " ~ ' ~ ... DECISIVE VICTORY OLD BOYS SUCCESSFUL —— The curtain-raiser game between Mount Albert Old Boys and Metro-College produced a rather ordinary struggle, although it was apparent that the players, lacking in balance and ball control, were seriously handicapped by the greasy state of. the ground. The outstanding forwards for Mount Albert were . Jepoon and Wood. Ward, Speed i and Woodhall were impressive defenders. Several excci- .' Hint saves were performed by Williams in Metro-College's goal, but at other times his ? handling was uncertain. Cleal, an eager ! i'Worker, was handicapped by the heavy conj.jrditions. while Burton, Dallimore and Flyger • *. Were the best of the forwards. •'.4"; Jepson (•_'), Waters and Needham scored" • {6r the winners, while Cleal deflected the ball lllto bis own net on one occasion. ' ■ ■ Mr. G. C. Edwards was referee. FAST ENCOUNTER POINTS TO COMRADES .. Youth predominated in the Comrades-North .: chore game and a fast and thrilling e.nCOuiiter resulted in Comrades winning by the odd goal in five after playing a quarter of 4-I'the game with ten players. , Cameron husv time in North Shores £■ troal, as ilid Vearbury at the other end, but both custodians gave clever displays. Walters • directed the North Shore attack, in which ,f'.j Haydon r<jul Stevenson were the most pro* fitlnent. Comrades was without Ilooten in the centre-half losiiion hut McKenna distributed the plav nireiv. The loss of Fletcher disorganised the attack in the first half, but J'hetv Saunders replaced him the side was better balanced. M. Francis and Marvin were the most aggressive of the Comrades front line ! 'M. Francis (2) and Marvin scored for Comities, Ha.vrlon i' 4) netting for North Shore, A. F. Haycock was referee. EVEN STRUGGLE CAME AT ST. HELIERS fe Eastern Suburbs gained an earlj lead Stainst Y M.C.A- at St. lleliers and was con- & tent to plav a defensive came in the second M spell. Y.M.C.A. showed out with nice, com- - hinntlon hetween the halfbacks and forwards, 'l directing the attacks with judgment, <i| bnt the defence was inclined to crowd, and Jfi Billiard, had little chance with the shots &§! that beat him. In contrast to i.M.C.A. s

stndied play. Eastern Suburbs played a "kick and rush" gam«. The long clearances of Cowie in goal were well placed, and, with Diainond swinging the ball across to Hitehen and Darwin on the opposite wing, the attack was strong. Y.M.C.A. was unlucky not to divide the points. Turner and Darwin scored for Eastern Suburbs. Lainond netting for 1 .M.C.A. Mr. R. Webster was referee. WIN FOR ABELS LOSERS THREE MEN SHORT Onehunga met Abels at Onehunga and had little dhance from the start, being two players short. An injury to J. Hitchen early in the game further reduced the home side's defence and Abels bad an easy task in winning by nine goals to nil. The Lindsay brothers, of Onehunga, attempted to break away many times, but failed through lack of support. Forrester also showed out with some clever play. Archer, the former North Shore centre-half, provided the drive for Abels, while Haycock also showed to advantage. Hamilton (3), Haycock (2), Wiseman (2), Robinson and McLeay scored for Abels. Mr. A. Firt'C was referee. GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES [Bl* TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Christchurch. —Western, 7, Rangers. 0; Nomads, 10, Y.M.C.A., 0; Technical, 5, Thistle, 4. Dunedin. —Maori Hill, 4, High School Old Boys, 2; Northern, 4, Techßical Old Boys, 1; Mosgiel, 5, Seacliff. 0; Caversham, 1, Roidyn-Wakari, 0.