Soccer Championship

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 443, 27 August 1928, Page 6

Soccer Championship

Exciting Race for Leadership

Wins for Trams and Ponies

AFTER a spell of cup-tie bouts the senior championship series resumed on Saturday, when some hard tussles ended with two goal margin results in each of the three matches. Ponsonby maintained its narrow lead by a victory over Onehunga, 3—l, and Trams downed Shore by the same score. At Northcote the home side heat Belmont 2—o. The results leave Ponsonby still one point ahead of Trams, with the other clubs now out of the running.

HPHERE was only a fair attendance at J- Blandford Park for so attractive a programme, and play also was disappointing with the absence of team work and lack of the finer points of the game. Still, what the matches missed in science was fully balanced by hard play, and both games were very willing goes. PONIES’ EARLY LEAD Neither Ponsonby nor Onehunga appeared at full strength, but the juniors brought in as reinforcements all showed good form, though handicapped by playing with new partners, and positional tactics suffered in consequence. The Ponies were the first to get moving, and before the Manukau defence had properly settled down McCosh opened up an attacking movemet, with Innes sending in to goal for Waterson to complete the raid and score. 1 The play which followed was somewhat straggling, the backs on both sides showing a tendency to overkicking instead of finding their own forwards. Both goalies proved very safe when called on, but several attacking movements became abortive through erratic shooting, and at halftime Ponsonby led by the only goal scored. In the second spell Onehunga set out to make up {he leeway, and strong pressure on the defence forced two corner kicks, which were planted perfectly by Whimster, but lacked a connecting link in the goal area. Ponsonby relieved with a counter-attack, and were crowding into the Manukau danger zone when a breach brought a penalty against the defenders, and Innes made no mistake with the'spot kick, putting his side in the healthy position of two up. ONEHUNGA’S HARD BATTLE The Onehunga lads battled hard to recover, and a neat run by Whimster was topped off with a splendid centre to the goal, where the forwards crowded in and rushed the ball past Watts. Onehunga kept the pressure on but failed to equalise, some clever saving by Watts and strong defensive work by Morry Williams relieving matters in some hot attacks. A spasmodic breakaway by Ponsonby saw Innes dash for goal, and complete a solo sprint \vith a hard drive to the goalmouth, which an Onehunga back deflected past Cummings. The Ponies were content with this piece of good fortune and the two-goal lead, being satisfied to stave off some strong attacks from Onehunga for the balance of the game. POOR COMBINATION SHOWN The long spells of rest, appeared to have freshened up the players individually in this and the game following, and most of them were full of zest and ginger, tjut there. was a distinct falling off in combined work, and both games resembled more the preliminary rounds of a knock-out competition than the concluding stages of a senior championship series. Watts and Williams were outstanding in the Ponsonby defence, and Innes was as conspicuous as ever in the front line. Young Waterson at centre forward is a bustling colt who led his brother, playing opposite him, a lively dance. Cumming was safe in the Onehunga goal, and had no chance of clearing the goals against him. The backs were none too certain in their clearances, but Bentley played a very solid game in the half line, and got through a tremendous amount of spoiling work. The Onehunga forwards were keen.

I but disappointing in any attempt at a. j get-together movement. SHORE’S WEAK DISPLAY ' vftej* a notable victory over the championship leaders at Devonport, u,-' . upporcers were hopeful of a final spurt for championship honours which would recover some of the club’s old-time prestige, but the display of the colts was very depressing, and they failed to produce the lively long-passing and bustling play which is usually associated with their game. Christie was a powerful factor in breaking up the advance movements of thonshore van, and countering by opening the way for swift reprisals. Play was quiet and lifeless in the opening stages. Both sides seemed satisfied with stand-off tactics until Christie gave Tinkler a good opening at inside right for a pass through the centre, where the watchful Spencer snapped it up, unmarked, and drove smartly past Staples. PLAY LIVENS UP This opening shot woke both sides up, and from now on there were some solid bumping exchanges in which the corporation men profited over their lighter opponents. Stretton became over-zealous in dealing with 'Woolley just as he was connecting with a perfect centre from Bradshaw, but the Shore supporters were mortified to see Bush push the penalty kick wide of the target, and an easv •* equalising was fired away. The Shore attack was failing in the centiv the adhesive attention of Christie to the inside men, and Woolley was at a disadvantage in nursing an injured knee which had kept him out of the game for some weeks. Bradshaw was shining out with some sparkling dashes down the line, and Moore showed occasional flashes of brilliance, but both }vings found a lot of good centres going West. “TRAM MIES” TWO UP The Shore attack faded and Christie again came into- the limelight with a long punt up the centre to the waiting Spencer, who headed cleverly over his Shoulder at a difficult angle and put ujs team two up. Bradshaw responded i*y again carrying play to the Trams end, where Jay secured and sent a hard snap-shot to Batty. Bush trapped on the rebound and drove to the net; half-time sounding with Trams leadmg by the odd goal after even play. ANOTHER “HAT-TRICK” TO SPENCER Both teams went right at It In the second spell, and the Zambuks were SL b t Sy after some sultry bumping bouts from which the sufferers soon un°fi,Tievf d a c? lay was very fagged and unfinished, Simpson and Gerrard beconspicuous in clearing desultory laids from either end. Another crash between Stretton and Woolley gave Shore a free on the edge of the penalty zone, but Batty cleared cleverly trom a scrimmage near goal. Jones and Tinkler had a head-on collision which gave the Shore skipper a boxer’s eye and put him off his game. Then tinkler got away on the “blind” side ot his opponent, and sent in for Spencer to collect In his usual finished style and add another hat trick to his bag of this season. The game finished vigorously, with Tramways the winners by three goals to one. A POOR EXHIBITION For two teams of such finished players the game was a poor exliibitoin of the Soccer code and disappointing to the spectators. Simpson was in fine form at fullback for Trams, but Stret- &

ton was very careless in his methods of mixing it. Christie was outstanding in both defence and attack, being easily the best half in the game. A few noisy ones displayed a senseless hostility to the ex-Thistle player, whose tackling was keen, but clean and unexceptional. Hopkins and Tinkler were a dangerous right wing and Spencer a finished artist at his best in pouncing on scoring opportunities. Gerrard was the mainstay of the Shore defence, neither Gilmore nor Renshaw being at their best. Bradshaw played a great game at left-wing-forward, but his fine work suffered through the close attention paid to the inside men. The championship honours now rest on one point between “Trammies” and “Ponies,” and the deciding game should prove a hard struggle. NORTHCOTE SURPRISES BELMONT The Belmont team was restored to full strength for its journey to North - cote, except that Chesney was absent and Wyllie deputised for him in goal. Northcote drew freely on its reserve list, but surprised its eastern neighbours by preventing them from scoring, while misjudgments by the Belmont junior goalie allowed the strawberry growers to net two goals—and two championship points, before time was called; Tremain netting both goals by being the man on the spot when wanted. Lyons in goal for Northcote gave a brilliant display in keeping his charge intact, and although no one grudged the Blues a hard-earned win, the score of two goals to nil somewhat flattered them on the run of the play. BROWN SHIELD MATCH

HOLDERS RETAIN TROPHY HARD GAME AT HAMILTON (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, To-day. North Auckland travelled to the Waikato to play a Brown Shield challenge match with the holders, South Auckland, to-day, the home team retaining the trophy, after a hard and fast game, by three goals to one. There was a good attendance at Steele Bark when North Auckland won the toss and opened with a strong attack. A corner kick was wasted and McKinstry cleared for Kennedy to send Deacon away on a counter-at-tack. From a corner Moon secured and rushed the ball into the net. In the second spell play was swift and exciting, but there was not a great deal of combined play by either side. The holders broke through the visitors’ defence, Moon heading into goal, where Black scored. —South Auckland 2, North Auckland 0. Northland rallied strongly and swarmed down to the home goal, a hot attack ending in Stewart scoring for the challengers. In the closing stages Moon secured in midfield and ran through the visitors’ defence with a spectacular solo effort to score the holders' third goal, and an enjoyable game ended: South Auckland 3 North Auckland 1 Mr. A. McGarry, Auckland, was a very efficient referee F.A. TROPHY AUCKLAND REPS. TO PLAY WELLINGTON MATCH NEXT SATURDAY As a result of negotiations for a challenge match for the F.A. Trophy with the holders, Wellington, the Auckland Football Association has now agreed to send a representative team to Wellington next Saturday, and hurried arrangements are being made to mobilise the strongest eleven available. In return, Wellington has agreed to play Auckland here on September 8, and in the event of Auckland winning on Saturday next the game here will be a trophy match. The following players Were previously selected by Mr. Phil Neesham as possible for the first representative team: Batty, Whowell, Gerrard, Simpson, Christie, Tinkler, Jones, Innes, Hamilton, Spencer, Davis, Chalmers, Humphreys, Grant, Dick. Any player unable to make the trip to Wellington for Saturday’s game is requested to advise the selector, Mr. Neesham, as early as possible. PETONE’S WIN

CHATHAM CUP FINAL FARQUHAR’S WINNING GOAL Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sunday. In the final Association football match yesterday for the Chatham Cup, Petone (Wellington) defeated Northern (Otago) by 1 goal to 0. It was perfect football weather. The Northern team was in the Chatham Cup final last year. The only score was goaled by Farquhar, who sent in a long shot which struck Scoular and glanced into the net. After the game the Prime Minister, Mr. J. G. Coates, presented the Chatham Cup to McVean, captain of the Petone team. SECONDARY SCHOOLS DRAW Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sunday. An Association football match played at Wellington yesterday between representatives of the Auckland secondary schools and the Wellington secondary schools resulted in a draw, each side scoring two goals. 50-MILE ROAD RACE Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The provincial championship cycle road race, over 50 miles, resulted: —-C. Flett (2hr 14min 7sec), 1; Gane, 2. The second man was a length behind the leader.