SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 11

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITIONS OF THE CLUBS As a result of Saturday’s play the position of the teams is as follows:

Y.M.C.A. v Thistle A heavy downpour the previous night and continuous rain on Saturday morning caused the games set for Blandford Park to be transferred to the only area available at the Outer Domain. The afternoon cleared up fine and a large attendance lined the ground, which was muddy round the goal area and iq, scattered patches, but carried plenty of grass for the most part. Play was very fast from start to finish. Thistle appeared without Reid at fullback, the vacancy being first filled by Dickson and then by J. Stewart, Sharpies coming into the forward line. The Young Men fielded a strong eleven, and their play was characterised by keen determination throughout. A Shock for the Scots Y.M.C.A. set out with dashing raids against a keen cross wind, and before the champions had got fairly into their stride a clever combined movement between Humphreys, Goodman and Hoban saw the latter score with a shot which gave Zoull no chance. En»

eouruged by this early success the Y.M. continued to keep Zoull busy and occasional breakaways by the Thistle van were smothered by the active nursing of the Y.M. defenders, and Paton was very safe in goal. A free to Y.M. was cleverly saved by Zoull, and then a second goal came from Goodman speeding down the line and sending across for Dick to slip through the defence and score neatly. Smarting under this second reverse the Scots swarmed down on the Y.M. goal, and after a lively melee broke through for Sharpies to score. Humphreys’s Brilliant Solo The Y.M. team soon counter-attacked and was beating the Scots at their own game. The Thistle backs were bustled o ft their feet by the aggressive Young Men. and Humphreys secured near half way to slip past the halves ahd then hurdle Dickson’s slide tackle to secure again and score one out of the box. „ It was one of the finest individual goals seem this season and the teams turned round with the young ones again two in the lead and the outlook gloomv for the champions. Scots Rally StrongTy The Scots set out at top speed to make up leeway in the second half,, and for some time had all the best of things, but Otter defended splendidly at full-back and Bach was assisting him with solid tackling and kicking. Kay was getting in some of his oldrime dashes, but his centres were i mostly wasted, and chances were missed through over-eagerness. Thistle got one between the posts, but after the whistle had gone. and then D. Stewart fastened on to a line centre ] from Kay and nipped in to reduce Y.M.'s lead to one. Young Men Again Y.M.. with a two-goal lead, had been j concentrating on smothering tactics, j but mow set off on reprisal raids and \ from one of these Bridges dashed down j

tlie wing and sent into the goal-mouth for Humphreys, who snapped up a rebound neatly and notched the fourth goal for the Young Men. Play became willing and ragged after this, stoppages for temporary casualties being frequent, and there were no “beg pardons” about some of the clashes, Y.M. being the principal sufferers. Thistle rallied strongly again and from a mix-up in Y.M. goal D. Stewart scored again. In spite of grim struggling to avoid defeat the Scots were unable to draw level, and Y.M. scored a highly meritorious win over their doughty opponents by a one-. goal margin. Y.M.'s Improved Form The Y.M. team has shown greatly improved form by going through the second round of the championship series without defeat, and the team now is one of the best scoring lines in the competition. Humphreys was in great form and had his opponents guessing most of the time, while feeding his wings with great judgment. Goodman and Hoban have developed into a fine right wing and gave Ferguson a lively time marking them. Riddolls was in good form at centrehalf and stuck grimly to the task of breaking up the Scots’ attacks. Otter was a tower of strength at fullback and frequently saved the situation with strong tackling and hefty clearances. The sloppy goal areas gave both keepers an unenviable job, but both Paton and Zoull brought off some brilliant saves, and the Y.M. goalie gave a cool display in many tight corners. Neither could be blamed for the high scoring. Thistle Below Par Tlie champions were not up to their usual form in either defence or attack. Kay showed a return of his old form, but lacked support. D. Stewart improved in the second half and notched two neat goals, but the other forwards failed to overcome the shepherding of the defenders. At halfback Christie worked like a Trojan, but roved too much, and found the three inside men too much of a handful to hold. Neither Dickson nor J. Stewart was a success in Reid’s vacancy, and Ferguson was harassed a lot, but put in some solid defensive work,, though faulting at times under pressure. Y.M.’s early lead and persistency in retaining it with profitable raids seemed to get Thistle rattled, the usual combination becoming erratic and aimless. ONEHUNGA DISAPPOINTED Tramways were due to meet Oneliunga on the Manukau ground, and many spectators were disappointed when the corporation team made no appearance and the match had to be abandoned. No official intimation had been given of the default. Shore v Diomede The two Devonport teams met in a friendly tussle on the Dock ground, where a lively game ended in a win for Shore by I—o. There were some entertaining bouts between the opposing captains, Baxter and Jones, with honours about even in some skilful tussles. Walters scored for Shore in the first half, and although the Diomede men had the better <:f the game in the second half, the defence of Gerrard and H. Smith at back, with Lipscombe’s fine display ■ in goal kept the Navy score sheet blank.

Goals P. W. L. D. F, A. Pts. Thistle .. .. 13 10 2. 1 38 15 21 North Shore . . 14 9 3 2 39 28 20 Ponsonby 11 6 3 2 34 22 14 Y.M.C.A 13 5 5 3 32 37 13 Navy Depot .. 14 5 6 3 41 35 13 Tramways .... 12 3 6 3 19 20 9 Onehunga .... 12 2 7 3' 19 37 7 Northcote .... 13 1 10 2 20 48 4