SOCCER ON SOAKING GROUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 10

SOCCER ON SOAKING GROUNDS

THISTLE AND SHORE REMAIN UNDEFEATED

SHORE’S SENSATIONAL VICTORY

|N common with other field sports the Soccer code suffered I on Saturday from rain-soaked surfaces which made footwork and ball control hazardous. Fortunately the weather lifted before the big games started and a fair crowd at Blandford Park were rewarded with one of the most stirring games seen there, when Shore snatched a win from Tramways just on time after a fast and gruelling game. Thistle also retained their unbeaten record with an easy win over Y.M.C.A. Navy notched their first victory by defeating Northcote with a big margin, while Ponsonby won comfortably at Onehunga. A surprising feature was the large crop of goals with surface conditions so bad.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Each team has now played four games and there have been no drawn games. The position after Saturday’s play is as follows: Goals

Thistle v. Y.M.C.A. The curtain-raiser at Blandford Park was played in a continuous downpour. While the Scots were at full strength the Young Alen had difficulty in filling three eleventh-hour vacancies and played short-handed for a portion of the first spell. The game was onesided throughout and degenerated into pure farce at times, as the depth of surface water increased. Ten minutes from the start Dickson scored with a long pot and the referee led the teams for shelter. After a brief consultation with the authorities the comedy was resumed and Y.M. secured another heroic recruit. Thistle scored a second goal and Y.AT. woke up to test Zoull with a couple of raids. In the second half Stewart showed a penchant for the watery way and reeled off three goals in quick succession and good style. Kay also showed surprising pace and cleverness in the going, working desperately but unsuccessfully to find the net on his own account. Thistle ran in easy winners by six goals to nil. North Shore v. Tramways Luckily the rain ceased just at the start of the big game and the playing area improved as the surface water gradually lessened, but there were still too many wet patches to permit of close passing or finesse. The Trammies held the benefit of weight over their young opponents and used it to advantage, but the Shore forwards showed splendid dash and their solid defence stood them in good stead. Considering the conditions the game was played at an astonishing pace, the ball travelling rapidly from goal to goal, and hard play kept the stand on tip-toe with excitement right to the final whistle. Both sides played with a grim determination and strenuous tactics caused some minor casualties, Simpson, Bradshaw, Jones and Alowat being sufferers. Tramways were without Batty in goal, but Tucker was a capable substitute. The changing of McElligott to centre-half made a marked improvement in the middle line both in defence and attack. The “Taffies” on the left wing (Lewis and Davis) were in good form and Sim broke through on the right with some speedy runs, but all the wing men found difficulty in getting their centres to the goal mouth. Spencer and Dodds struggled hard to break through but were well marked by Baxter. For the winners Lipscombe in goal defended splendidly and with plenty of confidence. Gerrard was easily the best back on the ground, with strong tackling and clever placing to his forwards, while Colebourne frequently drove

back the Trams’ van with powerful kicking. Baxter stood out in the half line, spoiling the opposition and sending his forwards away on profitable raids, while his head work with a sodden ball was a revelation. Jones did not appreciate the semi-aquatic surface, but young Alowat played pluckily with a nasty gash in his knee from broken glass. In the forward line the youngsters played with a vim and dash which led to victory. In Whitley Shore have the best centre they have found for many years, while Jay and Woolley worried the backs without ceasing. Cleal showed promising form on the right wing and Bradshaw stuck gamely to his task on the left. There was an element of doubt about Shore’s first goal and Tramways’ first score was flukey' in a hot shot glancing off Colebourne and passing Lipscombe unsighted. It was a great struggle and Shore deserved their thrilling win. Navy v. Northcote The Navy ground at Calliope Dock was more in the nature of a dock than a ground when the service team were at home to Northcote. Naturally the sailors were more at home than the strawberry growers in the watery going and they landed a popular win in decisive style. Neither team had scored a winning point till then and Northcote were handicapped by being a man short. The servicemen were strongly supported by the assembled ships’ companies on the line, and many heavy splashes called for much witty comment and advice from the barrackers. Northcote gave the “Whites” a shock in the opening stages when a shot bounded off Hall into his own goal and gave the “Blues” the lead. But Honton came out of his shell and scored a hat trick before half-time sounded. In the second spell Honton added two more to his bag and Navy won by 8 to 2, Northcote scoring again from a penalty. Navy dominated the game until Aleynell retired hurt, when pla3 r was more even. Ponsonby v. Onehunga After an unpleasant journey to the outer suburb the Ponies were rewarded with a comfortable win over the home team and maintained their improved form. The Recreation Ground was in much better condition than elsewhere, and the local spectators enjoyed an interesting game in which the superior combination of the Ponsonby forwards proved too good for the defence. The Ponies tried a re-shuffle of their front rank, Innes going to outside-left, with Mooney at inside, while Ahern and Hunter formed the right wing. Innes proved equally at home in his new possie and stood out in the attack, while Ahern proved very successful on the right outer. Pickett and Wright defended well for Ponsonby and the latter gave his forwards some good openings for breakaways. AlcPhee played splendidly in goal for the home team, in spite of an injury to his shoulder through crashing into the post for a desperate save. Whowell was prominent in the home defence and battled hard to keep the opposing forwards out, but the local half line is still on the weak side in both defence and attack.

W. L. For. Agst. Pts. Shore 4 — 13 3 8 Thistle 4 — 15 5 8 Ponsonby .... 3 1 13 7 6 Y.M.C.A 2 2 6 13 4 Navy 1 3 13 13 Tramways .... 1 3 8 8 2 Onehunga .... 1 3 8 14 2 Northcote .... — 4 9 22 —