Soccer Starts

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 6

Soccer Starts

TRAMS TRIUMPHANT

Shore Surprises Celtic

SOCCER started in grim earnest on Saturday when ideal weather and ground conditions produced some good football and keen tussles for the first points on the championship ladders. The big crowd at Blaudford Bark indicated a revival in the popularity of the round-ball code, and an exciting struggle saw Tramways triumph over Thistle. 2—o. Shore, with a firing line of promoted juniors, surprised Celtic with a 4—l win, and Ponsonby defeated Belmont, 3—l. Oneliunga was lueky to draw with Y.M.C.A.. I — l.

rpufi attendance at Blandford Park | 1 for the opening of the season was * the largest seen at club matches for < many a. long day. and must have glad- * dened the hearts of the new” Board of j Control, which now manages the re- ( united clubs under the Auckland Foot- ] ball Association banner. The good l work of Groundsman Sowerby and the j Auckland Football Association com- i mitteo has resulted, in a perfect '< sward, which not only looks a picture, i but plays as true as a billiard table. I Had the draw been “seeded” there ' could have been no better drawing j game fixed for tho opening day than the clasli between last year’s champion ■ Tramways team, and Thistle, which captured tho honour the season pre- 1 vious, and the fans who crowded the ' bunks of the stadium were rewarded ’ with a great duel between the old rivals. A STRENUOUS FIRST HALF Seven of tho Trams eleven were former Auckland representatives, and four others figured with Thistle, so it was only natural that clever footwork, good ball control and brainy strategy marked the progress of a fast and willing game. Trams fielded a very : solid defence, but Thistle had an “all star” front line possessing a dangerous thrust if allowed any latitude. That, the Thistle stars never got. Watson played right on top of Kay throughout the first half, haunting the , Scottish flyer wherever he moved, and rarely did the left winger get much opening for his electric dashes down tho line or paralysing cross-shots. In the second spell Kay changed to centre forward with Chalmers in the outer berth, but there Kay found still less freedom, being carefully nursed by his old club-mate Christie. Fyffie attended on tlie elusive Cummins on the opposite wing, with similar adhesiveness to the \Vatson-Kay strategy, and with both wings held in check the Thistle thrust was robbed of its penetrative power and failed to pierce i tho Trammies defence for a single 1 goal. Half-time found the score sheet i ! blank. SOND DEFENDERS ! Tho Trams’ wing men, Spong and J Simra, were conspicuous throughout, the dangerous inside men. Tinkler, Spencer and Williams, were well shadowed by McCosh, and rarely were they allowed a shot in the danger zone. Tramways had somewhat the better of the first half, but Thistle has found a solid custodian in young Gerrard, of last year’s Glen Eden team, who had much more shooting to face than Batty, and kept liis goal intact for three parts of the game with the coolness and anticipation of a veteran, and made several brilliant saves under high presure. Opposite him Baty had some stirring moments, but Wiis as calm and clever as ever. McElligott was steadiness personified, with an ideal partner in tlie more volatile Simpson. Christie played a solid and subdued game, and took a big hand in repeatedly breaking up the team work of the formidable line opposing him, while feeding his own forwards with admirable judgment. THE GOAL SCORERS | Spong and Simm were the Tramway i heroes who notched the winning hits. ; Spong being speedy and centreing strongly, while Simm, after a long ab- ! sence from the game, showed that he . i.. as deadly asever if given any liberty m tlie enemy’s 18. his goal from the i iij-.e being a typical effort which has | luund the net many a score of times in iiis long career. Tinkler, Spencer and Evan Williams completed a tram line which is going to take a power of stopping this season, and Trams should bo early favourites for championship honours again. THISTLE’S WEAK POINTS The failure of Thistle to score was due largely to the spoiling work previously noted, and the front line failed to reproduce the dazzling team work it has previously shown. lt is certain to regain its thrust as the season progresses, and will be a prickly quintette for opposing defenders to handle. McCosh, of last year’s Ponies*, was the outstanding figure on tlie Thistle side, and gave a finished display in the vital pivotal position at centre-half, showing 100 per cent, better form than he had previously given us, but his wing halves paid too much atention to the inside men instead of bottling the opposing wing forwards. Rowatt is a promising colt wliu should improve rapidly in good company, and was smart at times in dropping back to repel attacks. Ferguson was a staunch defender throughout a solid afternoon’s work, and but lor Gerrard’s good display in goal the margin against Thistle might have been much larger. Mr. James Low made a welcome reappearance with the whistle, and without intervening unduly, kept the game under strict control. It was a clean hard and silent contest played at high speed from start to finish. CELTIC GETS A SURPRISE Celtic made its debut at Devonport where the cricket ground was in perfect order, and a large number journeyed from town to swell the crowd of local enthusiasts present. A welcome boon was the wiring off of the western boundary along the trees which prevented spectators from encroaching on the field of play. Of last Silore Seniors only Gerrard, S^rt b^-on e Vi iwCl^ haw und Bradshaw were available; Dan Jones being away on holidays, while Woolley and Jav were resting with knee troubles The hf°™H Cd Juniors Proved a. lively lot ot colts and upset all Celtic's calculations by tho manner in which they ran ound and through the defence. The Slde , P ,oved superior to Celtic thJ Very Phase of tile same, and the sAsfnnfi ma rgin in Shore's favour |ho~ After lon « searching Shore appears to have found a genuine centre-forward in Dow Tfast hSd |l U f StUn f Player who can wiUle^feertin2" PaCe and Precision Webb i? 8 J? 1 ® w >nes judiciously. . V\ eob and Diackie formed a lively rictft ; ", ln S- the midget being clever Std ' mS- -5 trading the defence and ' Um k oulsi Idea 1 de al wh Pen n nSS £or Jackie on uie outside, who showed a lot of nai'P I accurary. ret * ™ th 6 run wlth Renshctw, at centre-half plaved a i same, spoiling theljpSttacks wuh r ■ a ? d inuiiUin K counter ! d aT«a^

bustling half whose style i s reminiscent of his elder brother’s in other days. Gerrard and Golebourne had im difficulty in holding th© Celtio attack and were an ideal pair in their contrasting methods. Wise was not #er iously tested. Celtic’s solitary » oa 'i coining unsighted to him when a fre* kick was deflected past him by an opposing forward- Grant, of last aeison’s Y.M.C.A.. was the pick of the Celtic front line, but the halves and backs were over-run by the mercurial Shore colts, and Hall could not be blamed for tlie quartette of which passed him. ZUILL SAVES ONEHUNGA After the good form Onehunga had shown at practice and in the electric trials, it was expected it would prove too hot a proposition for the weakened. Young Men on the Domain who were without MeAuslen and Whab ley and had to call on Clanachan and iShenkin as emergencies. The Y.M„ however, upset all calculations, and were unlucky to secure only one point in a draw of one goal each. The sole stumbling block in Y.M.’s path w*.Zuill, the ex-Thistle custodian, who played tlie. game of his life, and in a constant bombardment, with fortune u bit with him. only one shot missed his nimble hands. The Y.M. forwards shot hard and often only to find the goalie a magnet to the ball, and once a ground shot hit him after he had fallen in saving. The Manukausiders were lucky to equalise from a corner kick and share the points after a strenuous struggle. For Y.M, Otter and Mowat wore a safe pair of backs, but Harold Chapman, at centre-half, was the king pin of his side in both defence and attack. Woods was a strong centre-forward, but Humphrey* out of his usual position at left-wing was not so effective as usual, and Frank Chapman was unfortunate in being lamed early in the game. For Onehunga, Mellor proved his versatility by playing a dashing game at fullback, and Bentley was the best of the halves. The firing line was a formid- \ able lot on paper, but lacked cohesion. | and found 11. Chapman too übiquitouJ ; an obstacle in their raids. PONIES DOWN BELMONT Like Shore, the Ponies’ team has undergone a drastic reconstruction since last season, and tlie majority of Saturday’s eleven consisted of promoted juniors. The policy proved a wise one. as Ponsonby led by two nil at half-time, and ran out winners by three goals to one. Only the sturdy clearing work of Cliesney in goal saved Belmont from a heavier defeat Bulloch and Archie Morrison are two promising colts in the oPnies’flring line, their goals being finished shots from clever combined movements in tlm front line. Junes and Wilson werv both in good form on the wings, and Stewart was an effective centre. Th«j Ponies’ defence was very safe in all departments and it was only pierced nearing the end, when Belmont brok ( through und rushed the ball past Lyon. Belmont was without some of its regular team, and the return of P. Bach and "Woodall should strengthen the defence. CLOSE SENIOR B GAMES Everything points to a close and exciting struggle in the Senior B div> j sion to determine the two clubs for promotion to A ranking. At Blandforn Park an interesting curtain-raiser resulted in a pointless draw between Corinthians and Newmarket. The Corinthians held the upper hand throughout, but were unable to steer the sphere past the seasoned gloves of Reg. Craxton, the former All Black goalie, and Newmarket has solely him t<* thank for a share in the points. Ai St. Heliers Bay the Philomel men carried one too many guns for the hefty Tamaki team, Gilmore and Milebeing prominent in the naval one-go*i victory after the home side had put op a sturdy defence. Rangers proved too good for Metro, on the Domain, and were two goals to nil at the finish Bon Accord will have to show some iro; provement to prove its claim to fuf senior rank at the end of the seasoc us on Saturday the Northcote-Bir-kenhead Club shared the points in an even draw of two goals each. FLOODLIGHT SOCCER AUCKLAND V. H.M..S DUNEDIN ON WEDNESDAY EVENING The experiment of playing SoccW by artificial light having proved wefc a brilliant success last week, the of Control has decided to stage a time game on Wednesday evening next at popular prices; when a special attractive game will be played hetvrga team of the flagship Dunedin an the Auckland representatives. Tlie team of the cruiser greatly strengthened by the arrl T# since last season of a number clever exponents of the roun J\ uZ game, and the naval men can he r * lied upon to give the Auckland re i~Y sentatives a full test of stren*L which will be of value in view ot ear. challenges from the South e r « trophy. The sol® selector, Mr. a. ■ Xeesham, has chosen a strong former Auckland representatives meet the naval champions, an sparkling game under novel cond which display its merits to tne advantage is promised. . The Auckland players select £r am c) 1 Batty (Tams)), McEHigott Reid (Bon Accord). Tinker (T , Christie (Trams), D. Jones (SJgJ. Humphreys (Y.M.C.A.), Innes • sonby), Spencer (Tr-a-rnsJ. (Thistle), and Kay ( Thl ® tl l,LiHi€rs serves: Wright (Celtic) and (Thistle). TENNIS IN VIRGINIA | ALLISON BEATS HUNTER * (Australian and ,V.Z. Press L (United Service) NEW VOF.K. Satun^j. At White Sulphur Springs.J* Rinia to-day, Allison " 1 b—4. 7 —!i, 6—3, 4—6. of the Mason and Dixon mvlta i tenhis tournament.