SOCCER GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 14

SOCCER GAME

SENIOR COMPETITION SECOND SERIES OF MATCHES OLD BOYS DEFEAT SUBURBS Excellent conditions prevailed on Saturday for the second series of y.iiiics in the senior championship of tho Auckland Football Association. The grounds were in a fairly firm state, permitting tho players to exploit fast and attractive methods. In a kcenlj'-contested game at Blandford Park, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys proved just a little too good for Eastern Suburbs. This game produced an exciting second half, the exchanges being fast and open. In tho curtainraiser Abels took the points from Comrades after a close-fought struggle. Metro-College was responsible for a surpriso in lowering Ponsonby's colours at Western Springs, while Thistle triumphed by a narrow margin against Y.M.C.A. at Victoria Park. For the geeond time in succession Onehunga submitted to an overwhelming defeat on its own ground, North Shore having a double-figure advantage. The results were as follows: Mount Albert Old Boys, 4; Eastern Suburbs, 2. Mtitfo-College, 7; Ponsonby, 5. Abels. 3; Comrades, 0. Thistle, 1; .Y.M.C.A. 0. North Shore, 11; Onehunga, 1. EXCITING FINISH

MOUNT ALBERT SUPERIOR Greater accuracy in passing and more finished work in front of goal gave Mount Albert Grammar Old BOy* a slight advantage over Eastern Suburbs in the principal game at Blandford Park, and the two-goal margin in Mount Albert's favour at the final whistle was a fairly true reflex of its superio?ity. Tho first half produced ragged football, with neither team able to settle down for any length of time. Indiscriminate kicking by the halves and fullbacks gave the attacking players little chance to function. The second half saw a welcome change, and, while the standard of football was not particularly high, tho players entered into tbo play with greater zest and swung the ball about in an attractive manger. Eastern Suburbs staged a revival and seemed likely to wipe off Mount Albert's lead, but the latter asserted itself over the closing stages and won convincingly. The sustained speed of the second spell was a tribute to the fitness of the players. Revealing excellent anticipation and clean handling, Gavan was responsible for a fine display in Mount Alberts goal. Time and again he flung himself full length in sucfessful attempts to stop powerful drives. Ward and Speed formed a resolute back line and they had good support from the halves, Woodhall, Cherry and Sims. Woodhall and Cherry, in addition to tackling aggressively, kept excellent position and frequently tried to set their forwards moving. Less individual work and more attention to combination resulted in the forward line giving a greatlyimproved showing. All the forwards were dangerous when within shooting range. Wood, Jepson and Fyfie were the most impressive A sound display was thriven by Cowie in Eastern Suburbs' goal, in spite of the fact that he received a head injury shortly after the start. His long clearing kicks relieved his team on many occasions. The half-line was solid and aggressive, but the players showed little discrimination when parting with the ball. Diamond was playing a useful frame until he received an injury 10 his hip. In the forwards, Cummings and Hitchen were prominent for the manner in which they crossed the ball from the wings, the former especially being very accurate. Darwin was the best of the inside men. Jenson C2). Fyfie and Needhum scored for the winners, while H. Turner netted for Eastern Suburbs. The losers' second goal was scored when the ball rebounded oil! a Mount Albert defender into his own net. Mr. R. C. Brighton was referee. , COMRADES DEFEATED COMFORTABLE WIN TO ABELS Comrades, usually a team which revels in tho fast and open type of play, failed to get going at any stage of its game with Abels at Blandford Park, and the latter kept a firm grip on the exchanges to win comfortably. The contest did not provide brisrht play, although there were occasional fast movements anions both sets of forwards. Too. little care was taken by the backs of both sides when partinir with, the_ ball, and the game resolved itself into a kicking duel between the respective halfbacks, the ball being ballooned haphazardly. Covering up cleverly and kicking cleanly, Ross carried most of Abels' defensive work. He moved anickly in support of his halves and frequently broke np raida just as they were becoming dancrerous. .... -Tone* and D. Waters defended well, but were of little use to their forwards, while Archer lessened his usefulness by poor footwork. The most dangerous forwards were Robinson and Wiseman, in spite of the fact that they had to contend with somewhat unorthodox tackling and charging. McKenna and Pa are played impressively for Comrades, defending staunchly and clearing effectively. Tne forwards were all clever, but they lacked their usual combination. Bright initiative was shown by Evans, Marvin and A. Francis. Goals were scored for the winners by Haycock (2) and Robinson. Mr. Olney was referee. AN EVEN CONTEST ' ONLY ONE GOAL SCORED T.M.C.A. and Thistle provided a stirring game at Victoria Park, in which the former had most of the play and was unlucky to lose by the only goal scored. Thistle had tho wind at its hack in the first half and, although ground and weather conditions were ; Rood, it had to adopt defensive measures against a youthful attack. Warren dealt with many hard shots effec- : lively and his clearances were generally well pluced to his backs, of whom Stone was | more sure with his tackling and kicking than Williams. Morris in the pivot position direci ted the Thistle attack and showed some ! clevet touches in stemming many raids. Watson and Constable completed a strong middle line. Angus led the forwards, but he was well marked. There was little to chooso between the other forwards, although Caisley showed out in several clever passing movements. one of which brought success. ] Hilliard played a brilliant game in Y.M.C.A.'s goal, saving almost impossible shots, particularly in the second spell, when he had the sun in his eyes. Swift was more accurate than Moore in his clearing kicks. Outstanding was the performance of Sims at centre-half. With strong support from Dowding and Arnold, a strong middle lino distributed the pla.y nicely along the front line, but I attempts to walk the ball'into the net spoilt I many sound movements. Lamond at insidel right and Glaister at insideleft made many openings. . /, Angus scored for Thistle. Mr. A. Haycock was referee. ONE-SIDED MATCH ONEHUNGA OVERWHELMED North Shore travelled to Onehunga, where in a very one-sided game the local team was overwhelmed to the tune of 11 to 1Lack of training and understanding among the team mado the Onehunga side appear very mediocre. , Stevenson (G), Haydcn (3) and C. Blackie (2) scored for North. Shore, while Forrester netted for Onehunga. Mr. A. Firth was reforee. COMFORTABLE VICTORY METRO-COLLEGE IMPROVES There was a good attendance at Western Springs to see Metro-College and Ponsonbv play Although it scored first Ponsonby was mostly on the defensive and at ono stage Metro-College had ft 7—'2 lead. It wps only in the closing stages, when Metro-College appeared to slacken its defence, that Ponsonby showed any combinatoin.

An injury to Herbert ITeywood, which kept him off the field for most of the first half, unbalanced the Ponsonby side. Bodnian did not inspire confidence as custodian. Biggans was aprain out of the side and Haggeft had a lot of work to do, there being little understanding between him and C. Ekman. The middle line was not impressive, too much hard and erratic kicking spoiling attacking chances. Farnan and Mullane worked up a little combination, but "they did not receive enough of the ball t6 bo dangerous, while Harold Haywood in the centre was well marked.

Williams, in the Metro-College goal, cleared well, but in the closing stages was soma what crowded by his backs. Cleal, playing the third-back game, proved b tower of strength, and with his powerful, well-placed kicks kept his front line on attack. McMechan and Quigg, the wing halves, broke up many

promising movemenls and combined well with the front line, whej-e Dallimore and Burton on the right and Flyger and Horner on the left swung the play to the centre. Horner (3), Braclfcenridge «), Hyger and DftHimori' scored flor Metro-College, vv|i Ile Harold Heywood (Q), Messer and Farnan netted for Ponsonby. Mr. G. Gricveson was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Division.— Grey Lynn. 2, North Shore, 0; Training College, 3, Ponwnby, 1; Comrades, 0, Y.M*C.A.. 0; Onehunga, 4, Abels, 2; Eastern Suburbs, 8, Cbclsea, o : Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 10, Metro College. 0. Third Division.—University, 3, Onehunga, 3; Chelsea. 4. Y.jiUC A., 0. Fourth Grade.—Onehunga <l, Ponsonby, 0: Eastern Suburbs won by default from Abels; Comrades A, 0. Metro College, 0; North Shore, 2, Y.M.C.A., 0. Fifth Grade.—Onehunga 2, WY.M.1.,1. Sixth Grade.—Eastern buburtis. o. North Shore, 0; Y.M.C.A. Rovers. 13, Onehunga, 0. Eighth Grade A. —Eastern Suburbs, 3, Y.M.C.A. Rovers, 2. Eighth Grade B.—Eastern Suburbs, 1, Y.M.C.A. Spurs, 1 GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES [by TELEGRAPH —PRKSS association] Dunedln. —Mosftiel, 11, Cavcrsham. 2; Technical, fi. Seacliff, 4; Maori Hill, 3, Mornington, 1; High School Old Boys, 1. RoslynWBkari, 0: University A, G, Albany. 2; Dunedin, 1, Momona, 0. Wellington.—Waterside, 6, Scottish Wanderers, 0; Petone, 5, Diamond, 4; Seatoun. 1, Marist, 0; Hospital, 6, Technical Old Boys, 0.