A Soccer Fiasco

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1023, 14 July 1930, Page 6

A Soccer Fiasco

THREE MEN SENT OFF Easy Win For Ponsonby THE enjoyment of Soccer supporters was completely spoiled on Saturday when the game between Ponsonby and Trams was held up while three tramwaymen were sent to the bank in quick succession. The removals started by Spencer questioning an off-side ruling by the referee, and further expostulations saw McElligott and Fvvie follow him. The incident happened in the first half when Ponies were leading by two to nil, and a farcical finish saw Trams deefated by seven goals to one. A lively scramble between Celts and Manurewa ended in a win for Celtic, 5—J. Thistle won comfortably by s—l against Corinthians, and Y.M. heat Onehunga pointless, 3—-0.

Both Celts and ’Rcwa Avere at full ’ strength for the curtain-raiser, and \ tho state of the ground was disap- i pointing after a fairly fine AA-eek. An • examination of the drainage system might keej) the Stadium in the good condition it has shown so far through the wet spells. Celtic was the first to show out with some spirited attacks on the ’Rewa goal, and Grant passed through the centre where Gavun cut between the - backs and scored cleverly. Manurejwa replied A'igorously, but found P. Kay and Locke very solid, and a return | nush v by the Celts saw A. Hunter put one past Parkes. Anderson broke aAvay on the ’ReAva right and ended a smart run with a brilliant shot to the far corner of the net which J baffled Hall. The Blacks’ defence was . too' slow for the lively Celtic forwards, j and good play between the brothers Hunfer ended in G. Hunter scoring, Celts turning round Avith a two-goal lead at half-time. CELTS WIN COMFORTABLY Just after the interval a sharp j shower made the surface very treacherous, and ’Rewa reduced the lead when Palmer headed smartly to the net from. ! a good corner kick by Anderson. The game vv r as hard and lively, but tho i team work Avas Aveak on both sides. , A breakaway by A. Hunter Avas fin- t ished with a nice low cross AA’hicli Me- ! In tyre headed smartly to the net in i brilliant style. Manurewa went down i fighting hard, Avhen H. Donaldson con- 1 nected Avith another fine centre by j Anderson, leaving Celts tAA'o to the j good when time sounded. The Celtic defence was very solid. Peter Kay and Grant being the most ! conspicuous, and the front line was a ] lively quintet which was too good for j tho ’Rewa back division. Anderson ' was the best of the suburban forwards and Avas always dangerous. Palmer i was oA*er-inclined to try fancy touches j with the greasy ball, and Grant generally got the better of it when the tAA*o met. PONIES’ PROMISING START ’j Both Ponies and Trams were keen ; on Avinning the big game, as the win- , nor would be about the* only one in the running with Y.M.C.A. for the • senior championship. Ponies played | Bentley at fullback with Morison go- j ing to the centre-half position, and ; Lornie came in at right-half. Trams i lost a tOAA'er of strength with the departure of Jim Christie for Welling- j ton early last week, and McEUigott filled the pivotal position, with “Polly” ; Hopkins brought from the reserves to fullback, while Evan Williams had re- j covered from his injury to take his place again in the firing line. The Ponies showed more speed in the stodgy going than the transporters, and were soon bustling the Trams defenders with good effect. Innes was again showing his prowess as a mudlark, and an early cross gave McMillan an opening which was declined. Ho made amends at once by giving Simm a clear run, and a partial clearance by Batty was scrambled through tho goal. Ponies kept the pressure up. and a clinking run by Innes ended with a- shot which was too hot for Batty to hold, and Forrestei; fastened on to the ball to net from close up. A DRAMATIC INTERRUPTION i The double re\*erse roused the transj porters and tlie defence began to consolidate. Kyvie was checking the ! mercurial Innes with persistent shadowing, and Simm on the other wing was far from appreciating the watchful attentions of Tinkler. Da\is on the left Avas bustling the Ponies’ defenders, and i?pong was warming up on the right A\ing when a sensational hold-up occurred. Spong hud cut down the line to cross to Spencer. The referee was in tho centre circle, and Spencer seemed to have Bentley between himself and Surtees, but was pulled up for offside to a chorus of disapproA’al from tho crowd in line with the play. Apparently Spencer was not content to ask the reason for the halt, but wanted to discuss the matter further. There was a mixed volley of cheers and hoots when the official (Mr. H. W. Mardle) pointed Spencer to the bank, and the Trammies grouped round the referee with emphatic protests. A TALKY INTERLUDE For a few minutes there was a gesticulating fono proceeding in front of tho stand, which was barelA' audible from the press gallery, but McElligott Avas seen to be pointed from the circle to the run down, and Fyvie was the next to be sorted out and sent off

Most of the transporters were inclined to follow suit, voluntarily, but were wisely restrained by the captain, E. Simpson, and -Mr. Frank Baker, the acting-chairman of the Control Board, with some club otlicials, entered the' arena to smooth matters over There was a satirical cheer when the korero ended, but 1 hero being no right of recall the game proceeded with Trams two goals down and three players shy. ON WITH THE GAME From this out the result was of course, a foregone conclusion, and’ the crowd was more concerned in discussing the episode than following the lop-sided play which followed. Inne* scored again with a half-hearted shot and a similar attempt to stop it and faimm raised a hearty laugh by firin away a penalty kick which was of n ; particular value to the Ponies The usual adjournment for a much-needed wash-oil was not taken at the interval and the teams remained on the field chatting in a friendly spirit over 'h ■ unfortunate incident which had marred a promising match. SOME SHOOTING PRACTICE The second speU could not be regarded as in any way serious Soccer. Trams playing one back, two halves four forwards, and Batty—and it was mostly Batty. The disappointed spectators were entertained with some

f spectacular shooting practice bv the Ponies* firing-line. Batty entered j into the spirit of the occasion, awl kept himself warm keeping out of tht ! barrage. He missed three, and Davis raised the cheer of the day bv bullocking his way through and surprising Surtees with Trams’ soli Ur v goal out of eighL CORINTHIANS SUBDUED The opening stages of Saturday's i match promised a close contest with i a highly uncertain result. Firs; Thistle would*attack, and Cochtfhtm 1 would be right up to the mark in retaliating. But after opening ths score in the first few minutes. Corinthians lapsed into oblivion and itz flash-in-the-pan methods were swamped by the tactics of a fitter . team. j Heavy showers prior to the commencement of play made the surfacf i very tricky. After feeble attempts at combined play both teams soon gave it up and a poor game resulted. Cummings on the right Asing was getting , some good runs in up the line, but he was not putting the ball across as oi | yore. However, from a corner lock ! early in the second spell he did give ! of his best and Kean met the ball hard and true to give Lyon not an earthly ! of saving. Hislop was not exactly in his ete- * ment on Saturday. In fact the bad 1 conditions made scientific play imposI sible and for a game which depend] i absolutely on science for its success ! the result was disastrous. | It was some consolation, however, to see Thistle occasionally emerge vri*!j ; a semblance of co-ordination. Or these rare occasions it ineA*itably swep* through Corinthians’ defence, A»her • Taylor was not as prominent as ii j customary. Lyon was evidently not comfortabh in his slippery surroundings. In pas matches this stalwart has borne th< j brunt of many dangerous attacks act! on Saturday, when conditions wen ! against his meeting the occasion, i was quite clear to what a great exten , I Corinthians have depended on him. ! Wright was a hard worker ii Thistle’s pivotal position, while in thi J forwards, McLeav was the most successful marksman. Bearing out prej vious remarks, his success was due t< surprise shots Avhich gave goalie am . backs alike no chance to reach in Ur slippery goal area. ONEHUNGA OUTPLAYED { Underfoot conditions were not coc ducive to football on Saturday, which j possibly, w as partly responsible for tk< poor display of Soccer given at Onei hunga. 1 Both teams were missing two regula: j players. Y.M.C.A. was without J»: and Kay and Onehunga was playinj j without Rutherford and Griffiths, i Y.M. kicked off and commenced lagame bv pressing, and for nearly th I whole of the first spell it was hangiti i round Onehunga's goal. The I side forwards and halA'es AAere outplayed by the Young Men, who sho*w superior footwork and combinatJgß. In spite of this Y.M.’s first goal w* 1 j a long time in coming. The OnebungJ ! backs stood up well to the preawat while Zuill brought off many wonder ■ ful saves. The slippery ground 1 played havoc with the shooting. Aii most halfway through the spell Rns scored the first goal, and five minute after a second one came, but tner were no more that half. Onetaungj managed to essay £ few :orw*fi rushes, but these seldom went past tDopposing back line. The second half was much # J ; equal. After ten minutes mianeji I 1 play. Onehunga clapped on the PM and for a while it was having tee ' of the game. It was unable to ecort ; however. Gradually Y.M- a>sumeu au j initiative again. Play at this stag 1 I was unexciting. No knowledge of ■ 1 I art of the game was shown by eitnp » team and lor a long time there not even the sign of any scorwa Toward tho end monotony was " lie A-ed when Whaley scored for TJJand soon lifter the match finished. had had the best of the game w deserved its win. Among the Young Men there not many outstanding play era. uu men played a good game. substituted for Kay. although * ac ~~* ‘ tho finish of a senior playtfV i hard worker and well worth ms , j tion. McGladdery, who substttun l for Jay, played an extremely game. ‘ His hard kicking and sw ’ I defence was an asset to the m For the home side. Zuill _ i brightest game and the two . r * defended well. Whimster was i I the best forward. ’

SPORT OVERSEAS U.S.A. GOLF TITLE WIN FOR BOBBY JONES NEW YORK. SaturdayThe open golf championship ot & United States was won today by Be _ Jones, with a score of -8* * or holes. His rounds were 71, 7*. ** 75. His round of 68 is a the Interlachen Country Club* co®** at Hopkins, Minnesota- 31 MacDonald Smith was second. « J a score of 2SS. He did lU for holes yesterday and 144 todaj. At the end of the second r? a < Horton Smith was leading. | score of 142. Jones, witn *.. rto! ! for second place. He an i*, _^ s p«c i Smith had taken 71 and . tfcfl ’ lively for the fir>t IS holes. „ had another duel in the att f r KrAt tfc which the young professional par figures for the course of 70, to Jones’s 73. tb | At the end of the second r< next best score was 14* -g && Hagen. J. H. Kirkwood took ‘ j 80. and was then 17th. The r*eopl' i terrific. A crowd of IO.OOd j followed the players. of** Bobby Jones lias now ,sf]d<>D national titles on occasionsbefore has he had such * array of professionals chal ! at every stroke. He was a litu j in the early rounds, but he ia : h . w ithin striking distance . , >ne M and as the challengers crac*« H ono beneath the terrific > **lfmoved forward with that . \ a tW possession which stamps greatest of golfers.