Soccer Championship

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 11

Soccer Championship

PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW ' * New Phase in Premiership WITH the possibility of Thistle finally deciding' to declare themselves out of the Soccer championship the whole aspect of the senior competition would be changed. Shore and Ponsonby have been running a neck-and-neck race for second position, Shore being now a win ahead of the ‘Ponies.” This will revive interest in what seemed a certainty for Thistle and to-morrow’s games are full of possibilities. The principal attraction is the meeting of Ponsonby and Trams at Blandford Park, where Y.M.C.A. meets Northcote in the preliminary bout. Shore travels to Onehunga to meet the home team there.

NORTHCOTE V. Y.M.C.A. At the time of writing this match is set down as the curtain-raiser at headquarters, and should provide a good, even game. Neither team has so far. produced its best form at Blandford Park this season, but both have put up some sterling performances- away. Northcote has a win against Ponsonby to its credit, while Y.M.C.A. had a bit the better of a drawn match with North Shore at their last outing. Northcote is putting up a great struggle to get away from the wooden-spoon end of the championship ladder, and is determined to get the full points from the Young Men if possible. Northcote has a very solid defence, Lyon, in goal, being a “possible” for representative honours, while Hibbert and Taylor are a solid pair in the last line of defence. The half line has not settled down properly yet, but in Wellbourne, Hall, Tremain and Burford, the Blues have four scoring forwards who should keep the Y.M. defence busy. The Young Men had a holiday last Saturday, and have not been in action since their draw with Shore, but they are now an improved team, and the young players are showing improved form in each game. If the same formation is adhered to as that which shared the points at Devonport the “colours” combination should prove too good for ’Cote, but a close finish is anticipated. PONSONBY V. TRAMWAYS With the present uncertainty surrounding the championship struggle, the result of the principal game at Blandford Park may have an important bearing on the ladder. Ponsonby is now occupying the third place, two points behind Shore, and the “Ponies” will be right after the full points tomorrow. Innes is back from the test

battles, but the “All Black” is nursing a leg injury acquired in the last test, and will not be able to appear. As an offset to this the Trammies will be witJhout Spencer, who has returned to Wellington for the third test, and his absence from the centre position

means a lot to the . effectiveness of the front rank. Tinkler has returned from the tests, and

should greatly strengthen both the defence and attack of the Corporation team. Ponsonby put up a gallant struggle against the all-conquering Scots last Saturday, while Trams had to be satisfied to share the points with Navy on the deluged dock ground. The Black an« 4 Greens have one of the strongest defences in the competition. Batty, in goal, is the most difficult of custodians to get the ball past, and Simpson at fullback is a sturdy defender who usually keeps the opposing' forwards in check. The halves and van have been weakened by injuries and demands of the service, and may find the “Ponies’ ” defence too solid for them. Pickett is another absentee through injury, but Wright is playing at the top of his form just now, while Hunter. Mooney and Adshead are a thrustful trio in the front line. The chances are slightly in favour of Ponsonby winning, but they have no certainty on. NORTH SHORE V. ONEHUNGA The Shore Club, which now figures second in the running for the championship, will make its first trip to Onehunga, and meet the Manukau .men on their own Domain. It seemed at one stage as though the absence of Baxter, Jones and Bradshaw would spoil the Shore combination, but after a temporary falling off the Colts showed a recovery of form with a fourgoal victory over Northcote last week, and on the good turf at Onehunga they should provide the local enthusiasts with a bright display of the round-ball game. When Onehunga met Shore at Devonport in the first round, the team put up a great fight and was only beaten by a solitary goal, a feature of the game being the fine display by Whowell at fullback and McPhee in goal. Since then Onehunga has strengthened up the team, while Shore will lack its best halfbacks, and will not have matters all its own way. The Shore is probably a unique 11 at present playing senior football, as the trans-harbour men are all old Devonport boys who have worked through the junior grades, and the average age of the Colts led by Peter Gerrard would be about 20. They have plenty of dash and audacity, and when they start slinging the ball about to-morrow the Onehungans will find them a lively lot to keep at bay. With Thistle “in the air,” the Shore now have a great chance of finishing at the top of the ladder, and they are out to make every post a winning post.