SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 339, 26 April 1928, Page 11

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Prospects for To-Morrow FOUR UNBEATEN TEAMS AT BLANDFORD TO-MORROW’S senior games should have an important bearing on the position of the clubs, and with four unbeaten teams appearing in the two games at Blandford Park, one of the most attractive rounds of the first draw will be played off. Tramways v. Y.M.O.A. will be the prin- • cipal game, but the opening game between Onehunga and Thistle may prove an even more interesting struggle. Both matches are very open and should provide the keenest contests of the season so far. At Devonport the Shore meet Northcote, while Ponsonby have been drawn against Belmont.

The meeting of Thistle and Onehunga in the curtain-raiser should draw a record gate for the early event, and but for the difficulty of the Trainmies getting a team away during t/e 'Saturday rush hours this game would probably have been made the feature one. Because both teams won their first two games comfortably against the same two teams, although Belmont had Thistle feeling a bit “windy” until the final quarter of last Saturday’s game. Thistle beat Ponsonby easily in the first round, but the Manukauside men did the same last Saturday; so on performances and goal averages there is no difference much between the teams. A BATTLE OF STYLES With the ground fast, and the ball running true, the game is sure to provide a great battle between contrasting styles. Thistle is a really clever combination; probably the best club one the Dominion has produced, and when at full strength there is not a flaw in the mechanism of its play. Both forward wings are a splendid pair in different fashions. Kay', on the left, is electric in his spurtis, lightning with his centres, and has an ideal partner in Hislop. On the opposite wing Cumming is less pretentions, but more consistent, and the accuracy of his lob centres into the goal area is phenomenal. His partner, Dunsmore, is now one of the cleverest inside forwards in Auckland, and improves with every match. The half line is a grim trio, with dogged tackling, which feeds its forwards assiduously, and is equally good in defence and attack. Reid and Ferguson are a stalwart pair of backs and sound defenders, but may be shaky if worried and hustled by the opposing line. But sickness and casualties may weaken the usual team and add to Onehunga’s chances. ONEHUNGA ON THE UP GRADE The Manukau men, since reaching the Falcon Cup final last season and narrowly missing the trophy, have lost all the shyness of last year’s debutantes, and now step themselves out full of confidence and defiance. The team possesses both weight and pace, always two useful assets. As a combination it may lack the finesse and finish, which marks the team-work of the Scots, but with hustling and bustling tactics it is just the sort of eleven to throw the Thistle machinery out of gear. Whowell is about the weightiest player in Auckland, but has surprising speed and staying power, and is a tower of strength in the last line of defence. Bentley, at centre-half, is a solid pivot, who uses his height and weight to advantage, being equally good in defence and attack. ■Mellor, on the left wing, is one of the fastest forwards in Auckland. Whimster on the opposite line is one of our most promising juniors, and these two should keep the Thistle defenders galloping. Thomas is a tricky inside forward who needs watching, while Gill at centre is fast developing into one of the most dangerous scoring forwards. The issue is very open and should provide a stirring struggle, well worth missing lunch to witness. Y.M.C.A. V. TRAMWAYS

The Young Men have started the season with two highly creditable wins, having lowered Shore’s colours in the opening game, and running all over Northcote by six goals to nil last Saturday. The Y.M. have settled down to serious training, and make no secret of their ambition and intention to be at the top of the ladder this season. The Young Men’s front line is certainly one of the strongest scoring combinations playing. Hoban on the wing has developed a great turn of speed, while Humphreys is always a dangerous scoring factor near goal. Dick is a powerful inside player, but the newest recruit, Grant at inside left, is showing the best of form and impressed the critics last week as a firstclass forward with representative possibilities. If Chalmers, from the Waikato, appears, the line will be perfect. Baton in goal is in great form this season, and a difficult keeper to elude, and the veterans, Clanachan and Otter, are playing great games. The halfline is fairly sound, without being brilliant, and if it can hold the Trammies’ wings the chances of victory for Y.M. will be enhanced. UNLUCKY TRAMWAYS Some element of ill-luck still dogs the steps of the A.C.C. men, and last Saturday Tinkler fractured his wrist as the result of falling heavily after clashing with a Shore forward. This means the All Black being on the bank for some weeks, and the pivotal position in the team at centre-half is not easily filled, unless, as is rumoured, McElligott has made a good recovery and may be seen out again. Tramways put up a great game against Shore last week, and will fight hard to retain its unbeaten status to-mor-row. The Trammies’ van is sure to cause the Y.M. defence some anxious moments, and the young halves may be overwhelmed. SHORE AT HOME After the shock of a loss at home in the opening round, Shore appeared to better advantage 1 1 headquarters last week, when it played Trams to a draw after a splendid contest full of life and dash. Smith in goal was not an improvement on Lipseombe, but Woolley and Jay seem to have recovered the scoring capacity they formerly displayed, and both their net shots were the result of clever, wellplaced drives. With the rearrangement of the forward line Shore should have an easy win on its own domain over the ’Cotes, who gave a poor display against Y.M. last week, but may improve to-morrow. PONSONBY V. BELMONT The Ponies travelled to Onehunga last week and missed the bus badly,

but are hopeful of breaking their duck to-morrow against The new arrivals in senior Soccer. Neither team has yet won a. game, and it should be a lively struggle to-morrow. Ponsonby is hopeful of securing Chalmers, of Hamilton, who performed so well against the Canadians and Wellington last winter, but >Y.M. are also trying to claim the South Auckland flier. Belmont gave Thistle a shock last week, and is hopeful of notching its first win to-morrow. TO-MORROW’S TEAMS Senior Division Y.M.C.A.—Baton, Clanachan, Otter, Mowai, Riddols, Malcolm. Hoban. Dick. Humphreys, Grant, Chalmers. Reserve: Dawson. Belmont. —Chesney, Murphy, A. Folias, R. Bach, Lythgow. N. Bach, Savidan, Allen, Adams, H. Follas, Trewheila, Hollows. Onehunga.—Cumming, Whewell, Rimmer, Rutherford, Bentley, Terry, Whimster, Scandle, Gill, Thomas, Mellor. Reserves: Cheeseman, Hall. Northcote. —Lyon, Hibbert, Niel, Meek, Taylor, Campbell, Wellborne, Holmes, Williams, Thompson, Wylie. Shore.—Smith, Colebourne, Cerrard, Renshaw, Gilmour, Jones, Moore, Cleal, Woolley, Jay, Bradshaw. Ponsonby.—Hall, Pickett, Wililams, Morrison, Miles, Potts, Innes, Bell, Stewart, Williams, Wilson. Tramways.—Batty, Porteous, Simpson, Stretton, Watson, Fyffie, Spong, Sutcliffe, Spencer, F. Davis, Simm. Reserves: Bell and McElligott. Thistle.—Zuille, Buchanan, Reid, Carter, Dickson, Cummings, Dunsmore, Mooney (2), Kay, J. Stewart and Whitley. Second Division Onehunga.—Morris, Wolfenden, Butler, Woodhall, Waterson, Jackson, Huston, Griffiths, Cotton. Westcott, Ritchie. Tamaki.—S. W. Hoyte, S. Morgan, K. Caldwell, S. Bowler, N. Brown, W. Watson, J. White, S. Johnson, S. Diamond, J. Brown, E. Still. Rangers.—Wilford, Rawlins, McKain, McCaig, Rae, Balloch, Kennedy, Johns, Polwin, Coyle, Belworthy. Northcote.—Stott, Roberts, Westall, Munro, Cockburn, Elsby, Ashworth, Munro, McKernon, Northey, Newman. Birkenhead.—J. Roberts, Battershill, Hilton, Holman, A. Clark, F. Mullanis, Pugh, P. Mullanis, Scholes, S. Holman, R. Roberts. Glen Eden.—A. N. Other, Kay, Alp, L. Jones, J. Jones, Calvert, Graham, Ingram, Woods, Ansteed, H. Alp. Reserves: Belsham, Yates, Mellor. Philomel.—Murch, Gold, Marshall, Smith, Brenn, Woodruff, Taylor, Walsh, Langley, Sevi. Hatherway, Walker. Shore.—Wynne, Hart, H. Smith, Richards, Ross, Pine, Walters, Dow, Haycock, Archer, T. Smith, Macintosh. Catch 12.40 train. Takanini.—W. Roberts, Bennett, Elliott, Goodman, Gale, Mayor, Totty, Cooper, Lewis, O. Neil, Cain. Third Open Division Y.M.C.A.—Hilliard, McComish, Riddols, Clifton, Smith, Hutt, Farmer, Eddie, Tombs, Birkenhead, Jones. Emergency: Thompson. Belmont.—Chester, Robinson, Mackay, Hale, Buchan, Gee, Bull, Wheatley, Senior, Penning, Farrington. Tamaki.—J. Simpson, N. Gandy, R. Purdy, R. Watson, F. Reeves, Scott, M. Stevenson, W. Barton, J. Reeves, H. Dawson, G. Stone. Birkenhead.—Wiggle B. Roberts, Brown, Fernley, Neaves, Rix, McKinnon, Tremaine, Armitage, Burford, Norling, Hutchinson. Third Intermediate Division Y.M.C.A.—Smith, Schierllng, Whaley, Thornes, McKay, McKinven, Herbert, Yendell, Pollard, Gaughan, Atkinson. Emergencies: Pickering, Thompson. Belmont. —Yarnton, Gamble, Nicholson, Williams," Wallis, Ripley, Wylie, Pollock, Saxon, Marshall, Ridings, Marino. All Saints’.—Williams, Taylor (2), Corringham, Final, Parkinson, Willis, Cunningham, Marshall, Holt, Bryant. Rangers.—Hall, Deason, Kerr, Suther-

land, Anderson. Milford. Smith. Kennedy, Surtees, Scorgie, Waugh. Reserve: A. Smith. Eden Rovers.—Dormer, Christie, O'Neii, Ruddle, Jessop. Sharpies, Baldiek, Bruce, King-, Poole, Lloyd, McLean, Lids ton, Newman. Shore.—R. Scott, Morris, J. Bartley, Barnhill, Chubb, Homiston, Trevithick, Reid, Bush, Bartley, Saxon, Davern. Fourth Division Belmont.—Madden. H. Hale. Probert, Brentnall, Follas, Williamson, Hutchings, McGregor. Haycock, Furness, Warren, Parker, Blythe. Onehunga.—Pawley, Grindrod, Showier. Wilson, Harlick, Sager, Marbeck, Rutherford, Lindsay, Henderson. Strang. Reserve: Parker. Tamaki.—A. De Silva, R. Stone, C. Hawkins, .7. Barry, G. Diamond, H. Darwin, H. Claridge, C. Harper, U. Russell, M. Hutton, R. Adams. Carlton. —Jackson, Shanly, Cashin, Lynch, Johnston, Cameron. Johnston, Douglas, Johnstone, Gamble, Davey. Freeland. Burnley.—Bowater, Clews, Boughtwood. Spry, Ward, Blair, Mullane, Clprk, Gay, Oliver, McLeod, Milton, McGregor, Greer. Birkenhead.—J. France, E. France, Hughes, Borrows, Milner, Organ, Kendall, Laing, E. Taylor, Whitcombe, J. Taylor. Reserves: Burford, Rackett, Kinley. Glen Eden.—Morman, Low, Strang, Marlow, Allen, N. Rogers, Hitelien, Wilson, Constable, Jones, Wilson, R. Rogers. A. Rogers, Reed. Shore. —Shand, Horsley, Goldsworthy, Kerr, McCluskey, Gladding, Whiteley, Moran, Webb, Blackie, Healy. Comrades A.—Donaldson, W. Smith, Kinnaird, Crockett, Hooton, J. Pearman, Skinner, J. Smith, Brighton, Turner, Lonergan. Comrades B.—Pago, Jaimeson, Arthur, H. Strange, Egen, G. Croul, Forest, M. Francis, Wright, McCulloch, Olesen. Fifth Division Belmont.—Nicholson, Hall, Galloway, Williams, Meiklejohn, Burnett, Robinson, Ward, Ashwin, Denny, Hankin. Reserves: Holloway, Kissin. Onehunga B.—Clarke, Potter, Caple, Wolfenden, Davis, Gates, Keegan, Wiberg, Lindsay, Jackson, Showier. Reserves: Insley, Skynner, McDonald. Tamaki.—R. Harrison, S. Austin, W. Rae, N. Adams, T. Barry, D. Caldwell, A. Keys, N. Turner, I. Watson, W. Watson, J. Akhurst. Carlton.—Sandom, Shale, Moyle, Turner, Cameron, Wallace, McDougall, Williams, Dixon, Shanly, Sorenson, Atkins, Sutcliffe. All Saints B.—Parkinson, Watson, Moore, Dowling, Booth, Archer, Turkington, Williams, Brov/n, Bourke, Jones, Marshall. Birkenhead A.—JJalloran, Speed, Hoggett, McLachlan, Tunny, Mullaine, Stott, Blair, Burns, Parrish, McPha.il, Fisher. Birkenhead B.—Nebin, O’Connor, Brown, Duffet, Griffiths, Bone, Stockley, Borrows, Blackledge, Walters, Small. Reserve: Organ, Cole. Shore.—Cleal, Ormiston, D. Smith, P. Smith, Cowie, Lillicrap, Farquharson, McClusky, Ferguson, Eckman, Gibbs, Turner. Comrades A.—Burns, Tyler, Swanberg, F. Strange, Knight, N. Pearman, Little, Sloan, Marvin, Evans, Pennycouk. Comrades B.—McKenna, Whittaker, Groom, Arndt, Hayward, Connor, Gardner, Goodwin, Croul, Shannaghan. C. Smith, Barnes, Tregilgas. Sixth Division Belmont.—Yarnton, West, McLeod. Croydon, Kay, Adams, Blair, Smith, Wheeler, Dixon, McDevitt. Tamaki. —D. Moir, R. Browning, N. Jordan, R. Browning, N. Gilbert, R. Neville, J. Holdsworth, P. Lynch, E. Darwin, A. Jordan, Rangi Ripikoi. Reserve: J. Negus. Carlton. —Marshall, Matthews, Snedden, Burton, Selby, McDougall, Atkins, Williams, Cleal, Fielding, Macdonald, Thornhill, Morrin. All Saints’ B.—Matthews, Deighton, Finer, Williams, Moore, Elley, Hakanson, McHardy, McCarthy, Booth, Farquhar. Comrades A.—J. Ryan, Fearon, Pennycook, Silva, Hayward, Ward, Dormer, Richards, E. Ryan, Miles, Owsley. Comrades B.—Tryson, Irwin, Dallimore, Robinson, Nolan, Farrelly, Edgar, Kyle, Stubbing, Boyce, Cook, Bosley. Shore.—Baker, Batty, McKenty, Dymond, Kennings, Bates, Cameron, Eckman, McGregor, Stevenson, Blancfteld, Munro.