Championship Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 473, 1 October 1928, Page 6

Championship Soccer

TRAMS DIVIDE POINTS Ponsonby Wins Comfortably AS the result of Saturday’s games, Trams and Ponsonby still head the table and will meet to decide the championship next Saturday. Onehunga surprised a weakened corporation team by securing a well-merited draw, but Ponsonby won easily from Northcote, 3—o. Y.M.C.A. was not worried by Shore, which took the field two nten short for a listless game. Manurewa won the Daere Memorial Cup, after a strenuous game, defeating Newmarket by the odd goal in five.

The glorious spring day drew quite a good crowd to Blandford Park, and under ideal conditions the spectators were rewarded with one of the best contested championship games seen for some time. Onehunga reproduced the fine form shown in tlie early games of tho competition, when the Manukau men showed every promise of a successful season. But while Trams improved with every game, the West Coasters fell away as the competition progressed. ONEHUNGA OPENS STRONGLY The Trammies’ attack suffered through the absence of Spencer and Davies, who were both out of action owing to recent Injuries, and the centre forward’s scoring capacity was greatly missed. The Onehunga team introduced the local Soccer Queen candidate, Miss Nelly Bentley, who was loudly cheered in performing an unofficial kick-off. Thus inspired the Onehungans, who went off with great dash, and soon had the Trams’ defenders hard pressed. Simpson relieving with some strong kicking. Then Whimster broke through 4 and sent a perfect cross to Gill, who trapped cleverly, and was nearly through when bowled over from behind. The penalty kick was entrusted to Rivers, and the naval man drove hard and true for the net. Batty made a desperate dive to save the goal, but the ball had too much power behind it. and Trams were one down. ONEHUNGA’S GOOD DISPLAY | Throughout the opening spell Onehunga held the upper hand, and only some vigorous defensive work by the Tramways’ backs, with some clever clearing by Batty in goal, prevented the Manukau siders from increasing their lead. The Trams’ van lacked cohesion, and was easily held by the opposing defence, the veteran Lewis being the only forward to show out with an occasional solo effort on the left wing. The Onehunga halves were feeding their lively front line with well-judged placements of the ball, while 'Whimster, Rivers and Gill were showing some clever individual and combined touches. Play was fast and open, the youngsters bustled the Trams’ defenders effectively, and were unlucky in failing to find the net again. Rivers and Jones nearly hit the target with stinging shots. TRAMS TRY USEFUL CHANGES Before reopening hostilities the Corporation club introduced Miss Takle, the Tramways’ Soccer Queen candidate, who was also loudly applauded for a preliminary kick-off. On tho restart proper it was seen that the Trams had realised the possibility of a lost game, and perhaps a lost championship, so had decided on a drastic rearrangement of its forces. Christie, who was not so nappy as usual, changed with Reid at centre forward, while Strettori, who was unduly risky in his own “IS,” went to the inside right berth in an exchange with Hopkins. The new formation proved more effective, and the transport men soon began to get the upper hand. Reid was outstanding as centre-half in spoiling the Onehunga. combination and initiating dangerous attacking raids on the opposite goal. Christie broke away and brought Mellor to earth in cleverly saving a strong daisy-cutter, and another hard shot from the ex-Thistle player nearly registered a goal. A BURST BALL AND A GOAL Reid sent Spong away on .a determined race for goal, but the volatile Trammy had the mortification of finding his final hefty drive produce a punctured ball, with the collapsed case flopping into goal. Starting on a new sphere the city men essayed another attempt to even mattei's, and clever combined work between Reid, Christie and Lewis saw the latter put a prfect centre into the goal-mouth, which bounced chest high for Christie to tear in and breast through. A STRUGGLE FOR VICTORY

With tho score equal both sides fought hard for the winning point, and both goals were strongly attacked

in turn. The defence on each side, however, proved too solid for the attackers. and while the Corporation had slightly the best of lively exchanges, the resistance of Mellor, Peterson, Butler and Bentley was very sound, and an even contest ended with a division of points with one goal each. The result leaves Tramways a point ahead of Ponsonby, with one more match played by the Corporation club.

Mellor made his second appearance in the Manukau goal and proved himself a safe and agile custodian. He collected some very warm shots in the second spell and cleared them effectively, but had no chance with th«> one which passed him. Butler and Peterson were a sound paid of backs and Bentley was in his best form at centre-half, in both defence and attack. The Onehunga forward line showed up best in the first spell, with Gill, Rivers and Wliimster outstanding in some clever footwork. The latter made a number of sparkling runs down the line. Gill was the cleverest forward in the game, he and Rivers leading Christie and Stretton a merry dance. Batty, in Tramways’ goal, was as safe as ever, and Simpson put up a vigorous defence, Stretton being inclined to take undue risks in the penalty area. With two such brilliant halves as Tinkler and Reid in the forward line, the Trams’ middle division was weak, and Christie found the Manukau youngsters a lively handful. The defence improved when Reid, who was inconspicuous in the front line, took up the pivotal position in the second spell. Spong and Lewis were the best of the Trams’ van, the inside men being unimpressive. FULL POINTS TO PONIES Although Ponies fielded three juniors in their match with Northcote. they had no difficulty in taking the full points by a three to nil victory. Ponsonby ran into the lead early, when Innes put over a good centre for Gavan to put the finishing touch to it. and then Roberts, who substituted for Lyons in ’Cote’s goal, ran out to save and missed, for Innes to square across and Evan Williams put Ponsonby two up. Play livened up a bit in the second half, Ponsonby, with the breeze keeping up a lively attack, but Roberts brought off some brilliant saves in the Blues’ goal. In the closing minutes a combined rush by the Ponsonby forwards carried play into the Northcote goal-mouth, where Williams scored again in the mix-up. SHORE SHORT-HANDED Y.M.C.A. had an easy task in the curtain-raiser at Blandford Park, when Shore turned out two short and wefe unable to find substitutes. Gerrard, Jay and Woolley were absentees from the Shore side, while Paton, the Y.M. goalie, was given a new experience at outside right. In spite of the shortage handicap the Shore players held Y.M. fairly close in the first half, when Chalmers scored twice for Y.M. and Hart for Shore. A tame finish saw* Y'.M.C.A. victorious by 5 goals to 2. DACRE CUP TO MANUREWA The final knock-out for the Dacre Memorial Cup provided a strenuous match on the Domain, when Manurewa annexed the trophy after defeating Newmarket by three goals to two. Early in the game a penalty to Newmarket for “hands” saw Potts put them in the lead, but Manurewa equalised when Lees surprised Craxton with a long pot shot. Newmarket went ahead again when Hewitt finished a fine line run with a splendid cross shot which found the corner of the net. Manui’ewa pressed hard but Craxton saved brilliantly, until close on half-time, when H. Donaldson scored from close up, and the sides turned round with, the score even. The game was hotly contested in the second spell, but both teams defended doggedly until Craxton was caught with, the ball and bundled into his own goal. Newmarket put up a great fight to even matters, twice finding the crossbar, but failed to score, and an oddgoal victory went to the outer suburb, whose form has been very consistent this season.