SOCCER PROSPECTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 67, 10 June 1927, Page 7

SOCCER PROSPECTS

Seventh Championship Games Interesting Programme To-Morrow THE final games of the first round draw for the senior 1 championship are set down for to-morrow and an attractive programme has been arranged at headquarters, Blandford Park, where the unbeaten Thistle meet their last seasons conquerors, Northcote, and North Shore play their first game with Ponsonby. Navy and Y.M.C.A. will try conclusions at the Devonport Domain and Tramways journey to Onehunga to meet the home team on their own ground.

THISTLE v. NORTHCOTE pOR the opening game at Blandford Park the Northcote eleven will ti'y to lower the colours of the undefeated Scots, and if they can repeat their surprise victories of last year it will again upset calculations. It was noticeable last season that every time the Thistle faced the All Blues the prospects for them were very blue, and although individually the black-and-whites were far the superior team on paper, the strawberry growers seem to have cast a spell or a “hoodoo” on their opponents and got away with the points. Thistle will be without Zoull, who has played so well for them in goal, the custodian not having recovered from the crash in last week’s game, and Dickson is still under doctoi'’s oi'ders. But they have a reliable substitute in Cumming, a brother of the outside-right. Northcote have strengthened their half line, and with the little “Flying Scotchman,” Burford, on the wing, Thistle cannot afford to take a win for granted. NORTH SHORE v. PONSONBY The casualty list will also mean a weakened fi'ont line for the Shore team, both Bradshaw and Whitley beI ing under treatment for poisoned legs

as a result of injuries sustained. £u&h was also hurt last week and Tom Smith, of the second team, will be at outside-left, while Ken Haycock fills the vacancy in the centre. Both are promising colts with plenty of confidence and dash. Ponsonbv are taking a long while to settle down as a team, and the constant changes in position and personnel have all been against team-building, but they are always dangerous opponents and arc generally seen at their best against their old rivals from over the water. An even struggle should result, but on form the Shore team should secure the full points. Y.M.C.A. v. ROYAL NAVY These clubs will meet on the Devonport Domain, where the good turf should be all in favour of first-class play. The Navy have fully justified their appearance in the senior contests. but have found it very difficult to keep the team together. The uncertain movements of the warships call for frequent changes, but there has always been an eleven available to uphold the naval standard. The Young Men have not been favoured with the best of luck this season, but are very hopeful of adding two points i to their tally to-morrow.