SOCCER GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23980, 2 June 1941, Page 11

SOCCER GAME

SENIOR PREMIERSHIP BRIGHT PLAY WITNESSED COMRADES DEFEATS PONSONBY Play in the Auckland Soccer championship was of a high standard, and keen and thrilling contest# were the order of the day. Comrades and Thistle maintained their lead at the top of the table, although the latter was lucky to lake the full points from Onehunga in the early game at Blamlford Park. In the main attraction between Comrades and Ponsonby, the former was flattered by a fourgoal margin at full time. A hard game til Devonport saw Eastern Suburbs with only lu players, lead the local side until a few minutes from full time, when North Shore equalised. With five goals each, Abels and Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys divided the points at Victoria Park. Metro-College and Air Force staged a sound exhibition at Western Springs, the former being unlucky to go down by the odd goal in three. Following were the results:—Thistle, 3, Onehunga, 'J; Comrades, 7, l'onsonby, 3; .Eastern Suburbs, 2, North Shore, 2; Abels, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 5; Air Force, 2, Metro-College, i. Comrades v. Ponsonby.—l'onsonby turned oul a man short, but was the first to score, and before the veteran il. Chapman completed the team it was two goals up. The exchanges were fairly even for the remainder of the spell, with Comrades full value lor its 4 —: i lead at half-time. Comrades had a firm grip of the play in the second spell and added three more goals, while the defence of Yearbury and Higgans kept its goal intact. Ponsonby was well served by Dobson and Gavan, in goal. The former, after a collision with Masters, was replaced by Gavan in the second spell. Brackenridgo, Dowler and House were the most prominent of the Ponsonby attack. The Francis brothers and Masters and Evans were always aggressive. and with sound passing from the halfline the Comrades attack was maintained. Goals were scored for Comrades by A. Francis CI), M. Francis (,'i) and Masters, while Brackenridge (•_') and Dowler netted : lor l'onsonby. Mr. F. Green was referee. Thistle v. OnehunH-i. 'Onehisnga maintained its reputation of playing well at Blandford Park by extendin ; Thistle in the early! game. With Blockley. Poland and R. Lindsay swinging the bah about, and the Onehunga | forwards working in sound combination, Thistle was on the defensive during the first spell, which ended with Onehunga leading i by the only two goals scored. M. Lindsay,! Brass and McGhie had been outstanding j Thistle settled down better in the second half, < with Kerr distributing the play well for Wise- , man to make many openings. Goals were scored for Thistly by Wiseman (2) and Orr, ; while M. Lindsav and McGhie netted for Onehunga. Mr. A. Firth was referee. Eastern Suburbs v. North Shore.—Suburbs was a man short throughout, but scored first and held ,i two-goal advantage at. half-time, mainly through sound defence by Cowie and Kranse and lively raiding by rollings. McKcllir and Welch. Dacre, at centre-half for ! Noriii Shore, distributed the ball well, hut the front line, while aggressive individually, lacked the finishing touches so necessary against a strong defence. Richards, Blackie and Corbett were the most prominent. The closing stages witnessed a dour struggle and North Shore evened the scores just on time. Welch (2) scored for Eastern Suburbs, while Corbett and Richards netted for North Shore. Mr. V. Olney was referee. Air Force v. Metro-Collepe.— Metro-College lost the services of SutclifTe early in the ir; no' and afterward played with ten men. On the general run of the play Metro-College was unlucky not to have divided the points. Air Force had a creditable defence in Lattimer and Peebles, while R. Everson, at centrehalf. stemmed many Metro-College attacks and swung his forwards into position with wellplaced passes. C. G. Ellis was the pick of the forward line and he and Waters made most of the play. Gordon, in the MetroCollege citadel, made clever and daring saves, lie and M. Speed repulsed many dangerous attacks. Hanarn was the pick of the front line. G. Caisley and C. G. Kllis scored for Air Force, while Speed netted for Metro-College. Mr. C'. G. Edwards was referee. Abels v. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, —Abels used the wind to advantage and with long idiots had a three-goal lead at halftime. Meek, T. Ekuian. Robinson and E. E'vinan were most prominent, while C. Ekman. with well-placed clearances, stemmed several Old Bo.vs raids. In the second spell. Old Boys, with Ward distributing the play judiciously and receiving strong support from Woodbill and Irvine, placed Abels on the defensive. Both sides were unlucky in having a goal deflected into the net by one of their defenders. Goals were scored for Old Boys by Speed. Rollins. Tweedale, Wood ha II and an Ab'ds' defender, while F,.. Ekman Meek. T. Ekman and an Old Boys defender netted for Abels. Mr. F Marino was referee. HOLIDAY FIXTURE For the first time for many years the annual representative game between the Auckland Football Association representatives and a Navy side, which has always been a big attraction, has had to be abandoned owing to war conditions. However, an attractive fixture between the Auckland representatives and a team selected from the Army and Air Force has been arranged for three o'clock this afternoon. In view of the English Trophy game at Wellington on June 28, Mr. F. G. Fulibrook has taken the opportunity of trying out some of the younger players, and the Auckland side appears a well-balanced one. The, Fighting Forces team also appears well balanced, containing as it does several southern and New Zealand representative players. G. Sutherland (Otago), A. F. and C. G. Ellis (Canterbury) and L.attimer (South Auckland). The curtain-raiser at 1.30 o'clock will be provided by the Mount Albert Grammar and tieddon Memorial Technical College teams. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Division. —Papakura Camp, 2, Mount Albert Grammar, 1; Whitcombe and Tombs, 2. Metro-College, 1. Third Division. —Y.M.C.A. won from Comrades by default; Metro-College won from North Shore by default. RESULTS IN THE SOUTH Wellington,—Seatonn, 1, Waterside, 0; Petone, 3, Moera Stop Out, 2; Marist, 4, Institute Old Boys, 1; Technical Old Bo.vs, 1. Air Force, 3: Mirantar Rangers, 5, Hospital, 4; Swifts, •">, Diamond, 2 Christchurch. —Western. 5, Army, 0; Technical. 1. Thistle. I; Celtic, 2. Nomads, 1; ilanirers, Air Force, 0.