SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 11

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

PRINCIPAL GAME ABANDONED SHORE AND ONEHUNGA DRAW A CONTINUOUS downpour of rain on Saturday reduced the various grounds to quagmires and made matters unpleasant for players and spectators alike. Only two games were decided, Y.M.C.A. gaining a victory over Northcote by the odd goal in seven at Blandford Park, while at Onehunga a free-scoring game between the home team and Shore ended in a draw of five goals each. Jay was conspicuous with a hat trick for Shore. The Ponsonby v. Tramways game at Blandford Park was abandoned with no score after an hour’s play. POSITION OF THE TEAMS

O decision has been announced yet . as to how Thistle’s withdrawal will be dealt with officially, but if all Thistle games are eliminated Ponsonby will only have lost one game and Shore two. At present, counting all games played, the position of the teams is as follows:

Y.M.C.A. v. NORTHCOTE In spite of the stormy weather and muddy area the opening game at Blandford Park was a bright struggle and full of interest to the spectators, though first-class footwork was out of the question, and the goal diggers had to bullock their way through with the ball. Northcote was the first to find its feet, and as the result of good individual work by Wellbourne and Burford, it soon ran into a two-goal lead. The luck of the blues held good as Lyon tipped a penalty shot over the bar. but the Young Men were not to be denied and a welcome sprint by Wurr along the grass fringe finished with a strong centre, which Hoban connected with neatly. Even play ended in the teams changing over with Northcote a goal up, The increasing rain in the second spell made play still more difficult, and the Young Men showed better staying qualities than Northcote in the grim endurance test, and they had turned a two-goal debit into a credit for a like amount, until near the end, when Tremain notched a third goal for ’Cote, who went down after a hard struggle by the odd goal in seven. For the winners Paton defended well and could not be blamed for the goals against him. Otter was the better ot the backs, but Bach kept a watchful eye on Burford and bumped him off the ball on occasions. Riddolls continues to display improved form at centre-half, while the former occupant of tlie “pos&ie,” Dick, is proving himself a useful forward at inside right. The greatest advance in the Y.M. team is in the forward line, and if Saturday’s quintette could be kept together they should prove a powerful van. Neither could be singled out under Saturday’s conditions, but each one stuck grimly to tlie task of wiping off a deficit and achieving a welldeserved win. On a good ground they will take a lot of stopping, as they are' smart in seizing scoring opportunities. Northcote was again out of luck and finding it hard to move from the bottom rung of the championship ladder. Lyon had a strenuous time in goal and executed one splendid save when he tipped a penalty kick over the bar. The blue defenders did not relish the sloppy surface, but Hibbert strove gallantly to repel the Young Men invaders. In the forward line Wellbourne is a promising recruit, but had not an opportunity of showing his best. Burford was responsible for a certain amount of liveliness on the strawberry growers’ left until injured in a crash with Bach. PONSONBY v. TRAMWAYS Both clubs appeared with very depleted ranks through injuries, and what promised to be a very even game was rendered impossible by the state the ground had got into. The previous game, aided by the steadily increasing rain, had reduced the playing surface to the consistency of a muddy pond with a grass fringe around it, and it was soon obvious that serious Soccer was out of the question. It was not long before players were plastered in mud from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, and a player’s club could only be identified by the direction in which he aimed the ball. Both teams stuck doggedly to 'the task

for the first half, when an unrecognisable collection filed back to the stand for a clean-up. The referee suggested calling the game off, but both teams expressed their desire to carry on, and resumed half-hearted hostilities for another quarter-of-an-hour, when casualties and the increasing difficulty of distinguishing the players led to Mr. Pikesley declaring a cessation of the muddy farce and the abandonment of the match. The association has been singularly unfortunate in the matter of weather this winter, most of the attractive fixtures being marred by rain which lias not only made the state of the ground a matter for concern, but has also affected the attendance and reduced the revenue anticipated. The abandonment of Saturday’s principal fixture means a further delay in finalising the championship, as if the defection of Thistle continues it will be in a very open position, and it may be necessary to carry it to a further stage than was originally anticipated. As it stands now, Shore and Ponsonby are running neck-and-neck for second place, and the final determination may yet be some distance off. SHORE v. ONEHUNGA In common with other playing areas the Onehunga Recreation Ground suffered from the heavy rain, and the surface was not improved by the playing of a fourth-grade curtain-raiser before the big game. A cold rainstorm swept the ground and made conditions uncomfortable for players and 1 the good number of spectators who braved the rainstorm were rewarded with a lively encounter with a plentiful crop of goals evenly divided between the clubs. Both goal-keepers were hampered by the muddy state of the goal areas, and in spite of a liberal top-dressing of sawdust the footing was very treacherous for the savers. The game opened in a sparkling fashion with the Shore forwards breaking through for Jay to open his account in the first few minutes. Then Onehunga replied vigorously and dashing runs by Mellor ended in Cheesman twice finding the Shore net, and then Cotton mixed into a melee near goal to rush through a third goal, and Shore were two down; but hands by Whowell brought a penalty goal, and five goals had been scored in 15 minutes. The interval arrived with the score 4-3 in fayour of the home team. “Hands” against Colebourne gave a penalty goal to Onehunga, which was again two up, but toward the close Shore gained the upper hand and drew level, - but could do no better , than draw with an equal division of the ten goals scored. The game was hfird and willing, with a few minor casualties, but Mr. A. E. Parkinson kept the players well in hand. For the home team Whowell played a fine defensive game at full-back and drove the Shore van back repeatedly. Terry showed up in the half line, and fed his wing judiciously, while Cotton scored a brace of opportune goals. Mellor shone out in Onehunga’s front rank with some speedy dashes down the line and raking centres to goal. He should have been more closely marked when the danger from this wing became apparent. Cheesman was also conspicuous in scoring a brace of goals. For Shore Gerrard played with good judgment at full-back, and H. Smith tackled very strongly. The half line was affected by the sodden surface and the forwards lacked support. Rensliaw played a finished game at centre, and his goal from a corner was a smart bit of head work. Jay was the outstanding forward and notched a neat “hat trick,” the second following a dashing bit of solo work. Moore was hampered by receiving a nasty kick, but Cleal was again conspicuous with well-timed centres. Woolley worked hard inside to him, but his scoring luck is still cut. The hospitality of the home club at the close of play was greatly appreciated by players and visitors, who had suffered from exposure to the weather.

Thistle . . P. W. L. r>. Fr Ag Goals. Pts Ch. 9 31 8 IS Shore . . 10 6 2 31 19 11 11 Ponsonby 9 5 3 l 28 20 Tj-ams . , 3 4 17 17 8 t’Tm.c.a. 21. 3,0 s Navy . . l 24 7 Oneliunga 1 5 10 Northcote 10 1 7 • 2 17 39 4