TITLE FOR TRAMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 14

TITLE FOR TRAMS.

S§«;,ER CHAMPIONSHIP. tirkfi»-" •

POppifßY'S PLUCKY STRUGGLE. FALdSr'c^ fheii f port ing at {Poison by in ajjgegiHg to make the issue the championship of the senior grade for the season the meeting of the clubs-eon Saturday and the- win of the corporation side decuies the competition Trams the title for yet iit^othgt^efeatsan. *The two .Saturdays |Mvill seini-finAl and the /Eaieoii' '-(Sup, -«tid the -of the', 1925. tfhe Ndtflu the *" oi the d§gpggßj(&|p'' coirtfletitichrj *'on the g thaf ttte- players have started cricket ha%,seated something in the g&\|isJd sensation in Soccer •jffi r the oddest, in aßct of iiig cliff with yearVw^Aaition of a cup competition, is as a "most re-oil-it^.'fair name. Inquiry elicits •<t&s->faet that- there is a feeling that the qjpntr,oL, of the senior team may be in?some.degree responsible, for, in striking contrast to the action of the senioi'KJt' is *pointed£olifc- that v the lower scooped tlife pool this iffeiciitirig a most; healthy statt of affairs amongst. the younger players. Many of the followers of the code wa jo the, marine bordugh, and it is earnestly hoped that some pa,str have worked'arfel "helped to build up the name and fame of the club will be found ready and willing to again step into the breach to guide its destinies. Saturday's attendance, at Blandforc'. Park, in view of the strong counter attractions, was most gratifying, and the presence of the Queen Carnival candidates added a rthe proceedings. The the queens spent a busy and profitable afternoon way of vpte cating that interest is becoming immensely keen as to who shall wear the diadem of Soccer. Working bees are "stinging" many of their friends, and it is good to be a file to record that the responses being received are Doth spontaneous and substantial. . At the close of what has beon one oi the most unfortunate seasons the code has yet experienced there is a mcst optimistic feeling for success and prosperity in the future, fouiubd on the belief that season 1929 will see a strong and united association. So strong a hold has this belief, ( that already wellinformed circles arrf discussing changes in the personnel of some of the chief clubs. It can be taken as more than a possibility that a club that at present is not under the jurisdiction of the A.F.A. and has never been—it is a neworganisation—will have the services ot some of the best-known players oi Y.M.C.A. and Ponsoriby, and is likely tc be one of the most prominent teams in the code at this time next year. In fact'the "Star" is in a position to state that, in certain eventualities, there wil be quite a re-shuffle of some of the leading exponents of the game. Wait and see!

Championship Table. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tramways 18 12 3 3 47 25 27 Ponsonby 17 11 4 .2 52 27 24 Onehunjsa 10 8 8 3 31 37 1!) Y.W.C.A 18 8 8 2 26 36 18' Shore 18 8 9 1 35 39 17 Northcote 18 3 13 2 19 54 8 ' Belmont 17 3 13 1 22 41 7 Tramways are to be congratulated on again annexing the championship after a season that has not been without serious moments for the club. If ever there was an organisation that looked upon obstacles as things to be surmounted, ltr. is '-the management of the corporation club, and the manner in which th6y havj! laughed to scorn what at one time seemed-' _ a deadly grimace of Fortune is creditably in the extreme to the sporting instinct* of the officials and players alike. Witli the team at one time reduced to a mer6 skeleton of its regular self through injuries to players, it has struggled qa and won through by sheer determination and matchless enthusiasm.

A GRAND FINALE.

The meeting of the league leaders *in' the deciding game last Saturday pro-'-duced a game of the typical cup tie: order. That is to say, that there was nothing in the nature of classic Soccfer, but that the spectators had full value for thehir money in the way of thrilling passages. Tramways deserved to win, but not by two goals. Ponsonby played pluckily throughout, but were beatfeuby experience and team work that covered up their many and wholehearted attjfcks. Ponies' defence was sound and bussing, but passes forward were not charaetersed by unfailing accuracy. In the Iront rank Innes played like a Trojan out and was here, there and everywhere when pressing Lome aggressive moves. His colleagues, however, were not alwavs successful. Hunter and Balloch, .on. the ri ht wing, and Wilson, on the left, are yet in their first year in senior grade and the.r principal fault on Saturday was anxiety to : do well for their team All' thet 6 f ar< i f omis l n " y° uths » and though they failed on Saturday sometimes at critical junctures, it is to be hoped tlio I onsonby selectors will have an eye to give the their usefulness. But I ....... for Watts (in goal) Tramways' score sheet would %ve been much higittjfi "Watty" has one great failing, aa£ other clubs say, and". that is his uncanny knack of saving penalties. No other goalkeeper in the game at the present I time in Auckland lr -"- ' < lias a record any- Wait*. where approaching the Ponsonby man's. In the Tramways' team Simpson and Stretton, in the second spell, happily rose to the occasion and defended stoutly. Porteous and Fyffie were also stumbling blocks to the opposition, and Christie upset forwards, Keid and Tinkle* r for half-backs, remarkably well, though Spencer was J lB thrusting force. , Spong was always

many, dangerous shots. It was a really enjoyable contest from the spectators' point of view.

The Belmont v. Y.M.C.A. match last Satuiday calls for little comment. Neither side took the game seriously, especially in the later stages. The game in consequence was not a first-class exhibition of the code, although fairly lively in the first spell, which finished up without any scoring. 'The Y.M.C.A. front line had more combination and thrust than the Belmont "vanguard, and put on two goals early in the second spell.; They then ; had the best of the game to the end, the weak finishing of Belmont being very pronounced after they lost Hamilton.

For Belmont, Ford (who deputised for Chesney), gave a good display in" goal, while Follas and Lithgow were the most prominent of the others. Humphreys, Chalmers and Mowatt played : sound games for Y.M.C.A.

JUNIOR JOTTINGS. The victory of Manurewa last Saturday, which carried with it the junior championship, was a fitting finish to a very successful season. The team showed.;,rare balance, and with youth and" speed, plus , further experience, should do well. , There -.are prospects that neit season there will be room, and a call for additional senior clubs— Auckland ought to have twice the number it has at present—and the junior champions must certainly command favourable consideration ..when the time for promotion comes. The .■ outstanding player on Saturday was Lees at centrehalf. It is learned that there is a probability of his leaving the country before next season and' if he is, Auckland will lose a lad of much promise. The Buriiley v r !New Lynn fourth grade ganie -was hard -and fast, and resulted in ; a dra,w r which was a fair indication of the run of the play. Kick and rush was the order, with clever individual touches,, but. both sides were lackink. In, team .work .and combination. For Burnley, King played a first class game while Blair and Young also prominent, Fof New iijfna, J. Carr (left wing), IV :Carr (right-wing), and Hogg (fulloutstanding. ;The ; ;sixth ' grade knockout final between Carlton: and- YJM.C.A. provided a keen"- anil, willing game. Y.M.C.A. started off by scoring two goals in the firaV tbree minutes, and Carlton appeared demoralised. The Y.M.C.A. team work dominated the play for the first quarter <if- an hour, but Carlton gradual!pi settled; down and scored a goal ju§t before' the' interval. In the second spell they jjijpijoved, and Y.M.C.A. began Jo illpwing Carlton to even up the fore full time. Two lots did not settle matters, aucl these""teams will have to meet again, y For > Y,M.C.A. Colt man, Crawford and Mox;sem- were outstanding, while for | Carlton, Cacmichael, Dixon, and Shanly were the best.

BUSINESS HOUSES' DAY. ape to be congratulated on the first time of asking the cup for the Business Houses' ffftftpetition, donated by the Farmers' Trading Co. Throughout the season they havd shown clever football, and though they-..have at times had to fight, and .fignfyfiard, for the points, their team work-land the solid foundation of Who•jtircn,. ; Kane and -Wright has carried jjmmfr* long way on the road to victory. Tb-niprrow afternoon the Business Houses will hav£ a day all to themselves on Blandford Park, and the effort <will' be on behalf of their Queen candi'dafe. It is hoped the -result will be many more votes. An attractive programme has been arranged, which will open with a match between, the local Chinese—no novices at the game—and Abels', Ltd., and the principal attraction will be a match between Hellabysand the Rest. cup winners will find their opponents a hard nut to crack ; and with players of the calibre of Paton, Farmers and YJM.C.A., Pickett and Morrison, Farmers' and Ponsonby; McGarry, Northcote / and Milk Co., Corbet-t and Palmer, Power Bbard, and formerly of Harbour Board, Innes and Neesham, Customs and Ponsonby, the butchers will have their work cut out f6r them to win. . The games will commence at 3 p.m. and 4.30 respectively, and Miss Si'napson, the Queen candidate, will kick-, offTramways on Thursday evening will hold another ofrtheir enjpyttble dances in St. Sepulchre's Hal£ Ehyber Pies, and judging by the favourable' reputation the club has earned for these functions,' there is sure to be a large gathering, but Soccer followers and players of other clubs are made especially welcome.