SOCCER GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23720, 29 July 1940, Page 3

SOCCER GAME

COMRADES' SUCCESS CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES OLD BOYS WIN EASILY By defeating Glen Massey at Hamilton in a fast and exciting contest, Comrades won the Auckland provincial final of the Chatham Cup contest. In the main club championship attraction at Blandford Park, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys easily defeated Ponsonby, while in the curtain-raiser Abels proved too strong for Papakura Camp.

Y.M.C.A. won by the odd goal in nine at St. Heliers and at the Domain Thistle took the full points from Onehunga. North Shore prevailed over the Air Force team at Devonport. Following were tho scores:— "Comrades, 2; Glen Massey, 1. Old Boys, '1; Ponsonby, 1. Y.M.C.A., 5; Suburbs, -1. North Shore, 3; Air Force, 1. Thistle, 4; Onehunga, 2. Tho points gained to date by the teams are as follows: —Old Boys, IS; Comrades, 1U; Ponsonby, 14; Abels, 13; North Shore, 11; Thistle, 10; Y.M.C.A., Suburbs, 7; Onehunga, 0; Air Force, 4. CHATHAM CUP FINAL EXTRA TIME NECESSARY [from oun OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday Before the largest crowd seen at Seddon Park for many years. Comrades (Auckland) defeated Glen' Massey (South Auckland) by two goals to one in' the provincial Chatham Cup final. Extra time had to be played. The score of one-all at full time was a fair indication of the merits of both teams, but in the extra time, JO minutes each way, Comrades was definitely superior and deserved its success. The crowd was kept in constant excitement by "kick-and-rush" methods, rather than by good football. Little effort at concerted movement was made by either side. However, in the last 20 minutes Comrades played fine football, taking advantage of the condition of its opponents, who tired more quickly. Yearbury was not impressive in Auckland's goal and on the day was overshadowed by Montford, who made many fine saves in Glen Massey's citadel. One player who stood out because of his skill was the Glen Massey fullback, Griffiths, who was undoubtedly the best player on the field. He gave one of the smartest displays in the fullback position seen at Seddon Park for many' years. His most able assistants in the defence were MacFarlane and Lees. In the Glen Massey forwards Griffiths failed to produce his best form and the only ones in the front rank to appear dangerous were Gorman and Connew. The latter worked particularly hard and nearly saved the extra time when a leftfooted snap shot flashed outside the post. Like Glen Massey, Comrades was best served in the fullback position, where Riggans' strong defence and powerful kicking broke down the Glen Massey attacks. Healcy, who was opposite Gorman, played very well and was Riggans' ablest assistant on defence. As a line, the Comrade* forwards never appeared to be working smoothly. Masters was responsible for some very fine headwork and was probably the winner's best forward. Masters and M. Francis netted for Comrades and Gorman scored for the losers. Mr. T. Chalklin was referee. CLEAR-CUT DECISION PONSONBY ON THE DEFENSIVE The Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys' side maintained its unbeaten record on Saturday in the main attraction at Blandford Park by defeating Ponsonby by three clear goals. The winners held a firm grip on the game throughout, Ponsonby being forced into a defensive role for the greater part of the contest. Old Boys led by the odd goal in three at halftime and in the second spell had Ponsonby penned up. The latter was seen in offensive movements on a few occasions only. Yeomans gave his customary service in Old Boys' goal, earning applause for several smart saves. Of the fullbacks, Speed overshadowed Sims, the former saving his side repeatedly. Ward, until injured, ably led the middle division and received good support from_ Woodhall and Hutchinson, the latter keeping his forwards moving with judicious passes. Hopkinson proved a good centre and, with Fyfie and Cherry as supports, consistently fed Needham and Irvine. Gavan had a busy time in Ponsonby's goal, but gave a good display. The halves failed to link up with the forwards, being content to stand off and showing a marked lack of initiative. McKay, Grice and Chapman were the most impressive forwards, whose opportunities were few. McKay worked desperately throughout and could be relied on for a fast and accurate drive. Goals for Old Boys weft scored by ward, Irvine, Hopkinson and Needham. while Grice netted for Ponsonby. Mr. C. Edwards was referee. i AN EVEN ENCOUNTER Fast and exciting play marked the meeting of Y.M.C.A. and Eastern Suburbs at St. Heliers. Just before the final whistle Y.M.C.A. scored the winning goal, but division of the points would have been a better criterion of the play. Bird gave a fairly sound exhibition in the Y.M.C.A. goal, although one mistake resulted in his throwing the ball into his own net. Brown and Veart broke up many Suburbs attacks with solid tackling, and good placing to the forwards enabled Y.M.C.A. to counterattack. The intermediate lino worked well as a unit, but a lot of the play was made by Rollins and Burton, who combined well and dropped over some nice centres. McDougall and Bennett were always aggressive in the vanguard. Twinnme showed coolness in defending the Suburbs goal and cleared with judgment. A. Welch and Dickey, although often caught out of position, cleared well, but it was the middle line, comprising Cowie, Smith and Ivrause, which broke up most of the x.M.C.A. attacks. McKellar and Norris were forceful and swung the ball about, while Gilbert and Collings also combined well. R. Welch distributed the play as well as being to the fore with direct Sh Bennett (3), Burton and McDougall scored for Y.M.C.A.. while R. Welch (2) and Gilbert netted for Eastern Suburbs. Mr. ±C. L. Brighton was referee. AIR FORCE DEFEATED Roval Air Force travelled, to Devonport. where the local side had a victory, tor pan" of the second spell Air Force played with onlv 10 men. Pratt gave a sound exhibition. in the North Shore goal, and, with Booth and Dauby, provided a stern defence I>oits led the Intermediate line, and, with Chambers and James tackling well and pushing the ball through to the forwards, it proved an aggressive unit. Clayworth distributed the play nicely as well as using direct methods, but more combined methods could have been used b,v the other forwards. Gallop had a hard time in the Air I'orce goal, hut earned applause for some clever and daring saves at close uuarters. tins showed out with sound tackling and clever placements and. with Williams and \\oods, swung the ball about to make ground. Woods was carried off with a painful kneo iiiiviry during the second spell. „ ~ Ciajworth 0J) and Cooper scored for Sli ire, while Williams netted for Royal Air Force. Mr. F. Marino was referee. EXCITING EXCHANGES In spite of muddy conditions at the Domain, the game between Onehunga and Thistle produced many exciting exchanges and Onenunga was full value for its ha Irtime lead of the only goal scored In the second spell it had a two-goal lead, but steady play by Thistle brought Its reward. Cocker was seldom hustled in the Thistle goal but had to deal with some difficult angle drives in the first spell. Allsop and Da vies were inclined to be out of position, but generally cleared to advantage. Morris dominated the Thistle attacks with judicious passing, and from his position of centrehalf was seldom far from the mark with direct shots-at goal. Orr and Constable worked hard in support, and, with Caisley and Wiseman, combined In several dangeron- movements. On the right Wood showed out with nice passing, and in the centre Kennedy was seldom out of position and was n Mionsible for tho four goals scored. K. Morris gave a masterly exhibition in tiie Onehunga citadel and could not bo bianietl for the shots which beat him. Blocklev and Owens stemmed many raids and cleared judiciously. In the first spell the halfl.acl line of Kerr. Lindsay and Wallace worked in unison, but in the second half was inclined to individual play. Brass and Torntiuist were the best of the front line. Kennedy ( !) scored for Thistle, while Brass and Mcflilliveray netted for Onehunga. Mr. J C. Sibbiti was referee. MILITARY TEAM'S DEBUT In a scrappy and uninteresting curtainraiser at Blandford Park, Abels easily defeated an eleven from Papakura Camp. Honours were even at half-time, but Abels eventually run-out winners by three clear goals. Cameron. C. Ekmnn and Blake were prominent in the Abels defence, while in tho forwards Fraser kept his position and scored three good goals. J. Walker, in goal for Papakura. had a busy afternoon and performed creditably. Sims was the best of the middle line, while in tho forwards Berry, Mock and Stevens were tho most prominent. Fraser netted Abels' four goals, while Stevens scored for Papakura. Mr. F. Green was rereree. RESULTS IN LOWER GRADES Second Division.—Thistle, 3, Training College, 3; Metro-College, 3, Onehunga, 0. Fourth Grade.—Y.M.CJL Elvals, 3, .Onei hunga, 2r iforth Shore, 4, Grey-Lynn,-3.

Fifth Grade.—Eastern Suburbs. 3,-Thistle, 0; Y.M.C.A. Rovers, 1, Comrades A, 1; Comrades B, 7, Y.M.C.A. Rivals, 2; Onehunga, -1, Comrades C, 1. • CONTESTS IN THE SOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington. Championship . and Auld Memorial Cup: Scatoun, Waterside, 2; , Marist, 5, Institute Old Boys, 1; Swifts, 10, Technical, 1; Hospital. 3, Petone, 3. Christchurch.—Chatham Cup (local final): "Western, 3, Thistle, 1. Hurley Shield: Celtic, 3, St. Albans, 1; Rangers, 3, Technical, 2; Air Force, 4, Nomads, 3. Dunedin.—Mosgiel, 7, Technical, 0; Maori Hill. 2, Caversham, 1; Northern, 1, Roslyn--Wakari, 1; Seacliff, 1, Old Boys, 0.... . TEAM WALKS OFF .FIELD [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday Led by the captain, A. Sutherland, tho Thistle team walked off the field as a protest against the ordering-ofT of one of its playera during the second spell of the local Chatham Cup Soccer final against Western yesterday. It was only after officials had talked with the teams that the match was continued. The game was comparatively free of illfeeling up to this stage, and the trouble really started when Western was awarded a goal in the second spell which caused protests from the Thistle players. The playerordered off was W. Sutherland, the Thistlo right-half. Thistle was disappointing on an extremely slippery ground, Western holding the upper hand for most of the game to win by 3 goals to 1.