CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 81, 27 June 1927, Page 11

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER

START OF SECOND ROUND SERIES THISTLE INCREASES ITS LEAD THE first series in the second round of the senior Soccer championship opened on Saturday and resulted in some close finishes. With a two goal victory over Tramways the Thistle eleven maintained their undefeated record and increased their lead at the top of the table to five clear points. Ponsonby gained a last minute victory over Navy by the odd goal, while the Shore-Y.M.C.A. and Northcote-One-m nt.r*V) PQ wnro

POSITION OF THE TEAMS Shore missed a point by only drawing with Y.M.C.A., and are now bracketed level with Ponsonby in the second place, and Thistle hold a commanding lead. The position to date is:

THISTLE V. TRAMWAYS The surface was slippery at Blandford Park for the premier game between the Thistle and Tramways, but was not so holding as on previous occaThe play was nothing like so stirring as between the teams in the opening match of the first round, .and at times play was of a distinctly dull type. Owing to injured players and the absence of Spencer and Tinkler with the All Blacks, the Corporation club fielded a much-weakened team, especially in the attacking line, and Thistle dominated most of the play. But ball control was very difficult and the dogged defence of Batty in goal, with solid tackling by the Tram backs kept the score down to a very modest tally. It was not until just on half-time whistle that a good combined movement of the Thistle shock line ended in a swift cross from Kay glancing off Batty across to N. Cumming, who centred smartly for Dunsmore to score. Soon after the restart a Thistle attack ended in the ball coming out to Christie, who scored with a hard, skid - ding ground shot. This was all the scoring, and temporary casualties to Kay and X>. Stewart took a lot of sting out of the Scots’ assaults. The winners played their usual solid game, without a weak spot in the eleven, and could have won by a much larger margin. Kay found some difficulty in getting his usual strong centres into goal, and mostly contented himself with taps for corner kicks, which were hard to place accurately, while some of the other shooting was erratic. The defence was not tested seriously, and W. Cumming in goal had a rather dreary day of it. Batty again put up a brilliant defence and was sorely pressed at times. Simpson defended strongly in the back line, and Gatfleld showed good form after his long absence from the arena. The half-line found the Thistle quintette a lively lot to hold and did not get many chances of attending to any attacking work. The Tramways’ van was also sadly disorganised, and did not show up much until nearing the end, when there was a long lull in the Thistle thrust. Mr. Tuttle proved a very efficient referee, being well up in line with the ball, and having the game under effective control. PONSONBY AND NAVY The "Ponies” journeyed across to the Naval Depot ground to meet the service team which had undergone several changes with the departure of the Diomede. Ponsonby was also minus Innes, Williams and Jack, but was able to score a last-minute victory after a hard.-fought game. The ground was very slippery and the play was more lively than scientific. In the first spell the "Ponies” scored from a corner kick, and toward the end of the second half “hands” in the dreaded area gave a penalty to Navy, and Miles made no mistake in evening matters from the

spot kick. A draw seemed inevitable, when a dying rush by Ponsonby ended in a melee round the Naval citadel, from which Bell scored. Miles again shone out in the All Whites’ defence and was ably backed up by Lawrence in repelling the Blue and Black invaders. Gilmore played a solid game at centre half, but the front rank lacked cohesion and experience of team work. For the winners Watts was sound in goal and Pickett very steady at fullback. Wright worked hard in spoiling the Naval offensives and initiating counter-attacks, while Mooney and Adshead were the pick of the "Ponies’ ” van. SHORE V. Y.M.C.A. Whether it was the reshuffling in the back division, or the strangeness of again playing on firm turf, with a ball that bounced and ran, was not clear at Devonport on Saturday, but the Shore team put up a very disappointing display before their home supporters, and was lucky to share the points with the Young Men at the finish. The vacancies in the Shore middle line were filled by Colebourne taking the centre position; and Mowat Jones’s place on the left, but the arrangement was not very successful and both defence and attack suffered in consequence. The Y.M. also tried a fresh shuffle, Riddolls going to centre-half with Dick as inside-right, while Goodman made a promising debut at outside-left. The new placements worked well, and with a little more luck would have secured the full points. For the Shore, Lipscombe in goal was less confident than usual, but Gerrard played his usual sound game at back, and was well supported by H. Smith. The half-line found it difficult to hold Y.M. attackers, which made extra work for the backs. The Shore forwards were not fed with the same judgment as usual, but Cleal got some nice centres across, and Jay, Woolley and Whitley were responsible for the goals. In the Y.M. front line Humphries was the most conspicuous in the attack, Dick also shaped well in his new position, and Goodman should prove an acquisition on the left wing. Riddolls played a sound game at centre-half, and Otter defended well. Baton could not be blamed for the goals scored against him, the high dropping one from Woolley being blinded by the sun behind it. NORTHCOTE V. ONEHUNGA The northern and southern suburban teams met on the Domain, and a good even game resulted. Onehunga was the more aggressive in the first spell and had a two-goal at halftime thanks to some speedy dashes of Mellor, and despite Lyon’s fine saving in goal. In the second half the Northcote attack displayed more thrust, and nearing the end made the score even at two goals all. Just before the call of time Onehunga had a great opportunity of winning from a spot kick, but Lyon cleared the shot with a great effort, and a draw about represented the run of the play. McPhee again proved a capable goal, while Whowell, Bentley and Terry figured prominently in the defence. Mellor was always dangerous in the Onehunga attacking line, and Nimmo was a useful connecting link in the central position. Lyon's clever clearances were a feature of Northcote’s defence, and Taylor, Hibbert and Thompson worked hard to keep Onehunga at bay. In the first half the Northcote attackers were scratchy, but with a rearrangement in the second spell they showed improved form. Burford and Hall being conspicuous in I securing a drawn game.

P. W. L. D. Points. F. A. Ch. Pts. Thistle .. . 8 26 6 Ponsonby . . . 8 b 2 1 24 15 11 Shore . . . b 2 1 24 14 11 Tramways 3 4 1 15 1ft 7 Navy .. -. 3 b 24 22 6 Y.M.C.A. .. 4 17 27 6 Onehunga . 1 b 2 14 25 4 Northcote . .. 8 1 ti 1 14 31 3