SOCCER SIDELIGHTS PASSING NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 474, 2 October 1928, Page 11

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS PASSING NOTES

- (By

Perseus

The Open Championship.—The senior championship is still in the balance between Ponsonby and Tramways. The Corporation club holds a lead of a single point, but the Ponies have played one game less, and the final struggle is more open than it has been for several seasons. The present arrangement is for the leaders to meet on Saturday and the game is sure to be a great draw. A win to Tramways would about settle the issue by giving them a three-point lead, but a win to Ponsonby would give the blue and black brigade an advantage, while a draw would mean a replay. Trams were checked on Saturday by Onehunga sharing the points in a meritorious draw, just as Ponies missed a point the previous week by drawing with Young Men. It would seem as though the two teams on top should now be allowed to settle the matter, as Xorth Shore has intimated that no senior team is now available owing to the home ground being closed for training and practice. 4c * * Picking The Winner.—lt is unfortunate that the byes in the second and third rounds have resulted in one of the contenders having a game in hand, but the position was unavoidable when one club dropped o\it. At that stage Ponsonby held a big lead, but fell to Shore and dropped a point to Y.M.C.A. Tramways, like the Ponies, began the season badly, but have not tasted defeat for many moons. The green and blacks had a narrow escape on Saturday, but pulled themselves together in the second spell to split the points. After being short-handed Trams are now suffering from an embarrassment of riches, with two centre-halves like Reid and Christie, while Tinkler is in the forward line. With Spencer, Davies, Simm, Tinkler and Spong in the front line, and a sound partner with Simpson at fullback, the Trams would take a power of stopping. But Ponsonby have a lively front line and a sound defence, and one of the titbits of the season should be the final tussle for the top of the ladder between the two. * * * An Enthusiastic Rally.—lt is pleasing to record the very enthusiastic manner in which the clubs are rallying round the Soccer queen contest, in response to the appeal by the A.F.A. for help to establish Blandford Park on a sound basis as the permanent home for Soccer in Auckland, and improve the ground for the seasons ahead. The severe test the stadium has been subjected to this winter has proved in a most convincing fashion what a great asset the code possesses in its present home, and it would be difficult to estimate its prospective value as Auckland develops. The disruption which occurred in mid-channel this season brought all the clubs together in a determined spirit of solidarity and lovalty, and the keenness with which they are now competing in friendly rivalry to outpace each other in the queen of Soccer contest is a healthy and encouraging sign for the future of the code. It is also gratifying to note that the great revival of public interest in cvcling has justified the reopening of Blandford Park for the wheelists at an early date.

Some Famous Double Winners.—lf Ces. Caere can succeed as well in Soccer at Home as lie has in well in Soccer at Home qs he has in cricket, he will soon be in the front rank of all-rounders, and Join the select band of sportsmen who have shone in both England's summer and winter games. Prominent dual winners who come to mind are Patsy Hendren. now on his way to represent England in Australia, who only retired from the Soccer field last season. Jack Sharpe, of Lancashire, Andy Ducat, of Surrey, Hardinge, of Kent, are among the moderns who were top-notchers at both cricket and Soccer; while in the olden davs bigr Bill Gunn, the original big gun 'of Notts, was a solid player at both. c. B. Fry. of Sussex, and T. X. Perkins, of Kent, were brilliant first-class batsmen and great amateur Soccer plavers in the famous Corinthian combination, which ranked equal to the best professional teams. Ces Dacro was hinting at taking on golf as a side line in his spare time, and it is certain that it would not be long before lie would be paralysing his opponents with the length of liis drive, if nothing else- but golf is a summer game in Britain, and the Soccer field would be a lucrative pasture during the long winter months. Dacre Cup Final.—H. Donaldson, the Manurewa skipper, played a g rea t game against Xewmarket fn the final for the Dacre Cup L. Anderson, Manurewa's outside-right, was unlucky to be knocked down by a motor-car, which deprived him of his place in the final for the cup, but he was an interested spectator with his arm in a sling, and was delighted to see his team win in an exciting finish. Will Manurewa bring off the double ? It has won the cup, and

will now meet Glen Eden for the junior championship, and this game should provide a great tussle. Manurewa supporters were delighted -with the team’s victory on Saturday, and shouldered the Manurewa skipper oil: the field when the final whistle went. INTER-HOUSE SOCCER The games and grounds for the final round of the Business Houses’ Association Football competition, to be played to-morrow, are as follows: Abels, Limited, v. Hellaby’s, Limited, Blandford Park, 4.30 p.m.; Farmers’ Trading Company v. Kents, Limited, Domain No. 2; Booth, Macdonald and Company, v. Auckland ?ower Board, Domain No. 1. Following are the positions of the teams in the inter-house Soccer competition:—•

The last round is being: played tomorrow and should Hellaby’s be defeated at Blandford Park by Abel’s a play-off will be necessary. OVERSEAS SOCCER ENGLISH LEAGUE RESULTS Following are the results of recent Soccer fixtures in England: First Division Leeds U. 4, West Ham 1. Leicester G. 1, Burnley 1. Manchester C. 5, Newcastle U. 0. Derby C. 1, Portsmouth 0. Sunderland 3, Birmingham 4. Everton 1, Liverpool 0. Blackburn R. 2, Manchester U. 2. Arsenal 2, Huddersfield 0. Second Division Notts Co. 0, Preston N.E. 1. Southampton 2, Oldham 1. Chelsea 3, Notts F. 0. Barnsley 4, Bristol C. 2. Blackpool 0, W. Bromwich 2. Swansea 3, Clapton O. 1. Wolverhampton 3, Middlesborough 3. Bradford 2, Stoke C. 1. Port Vale 2, Tottenham Spurs 1. Grimsby 0, Hull 1. Mill wall A 5, Reading 1. POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS Following are the positions of the teams up to and including September

p. W. L. 3D. Goals Hellaby’s ... 7 ♦> 0 1 17 1 Power Board . 7 1 Milk Co. ... 7 4 0 3 12 Booth Macdonald 7 1 Abels 7 12 IS Farmers’ Trad. 7 1 15 Customs .... fi 4 0 34 4 Tramways ... 7 1 5 3 <; 7 Kent’s 7 0 7 0 4 37 0

FIRST DIVISION P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts V est Ham .. 5 4 l 0 14 S S Leeds L. .. 6 l 2 16 13 8 Derby C. .. 6 4 2 0 16 9 S Burnley .. .. 6 4 0 17 13 S Everton 6 2 1 13 12 7 Huddersfield 5 3 1 1 13 7 7 Manchester C 5 3 1 1 16 11 7 Portsmouth . 3 0 7 9 6 Sunderland .. 6 3 3 0 14 14 6 Leicester C. 6 2 2 IS 15 6 Blackburn H. 6 3 3 0 14 14 6 Liverpool .. 1 2 13 9 G Cardiff .. . . 1 13 6 6 Sheffield U. 5 0 12 10 6 Newcastle IT. G 2 2 S 13 6 Birmingham 2 12 10 Wednesday .. G 1 9 IS Manchester L' G 0 4 8 11 4 Aston Villa .. 1 14 4 Arsenal . . . . 6 1 4 L 12 Bury T .... f. 1 0 4 16 Bolton W SECOND 6 15 0 DIVISION P. TV L. D. F. 16 2 A. Pts Chelsea . . .. 6 0 1 3 0 1 11 Notts C. G 0 1 12 3 11 Preston N.E. 6 1 0 21 10 10 Hull 6 0 3 10 9 Stoke .. 6 4 2 0 14 6 S Grimsby . . .. 6 1 14 S s Tott. Spurs .. 6 1 12 12 Southampton 6 1 10 6 Middlesbro’ . . 6 3 1 14 11 7 Notts F. .. 5 1 1 15 13 7 Bradford 6 3 3 0 12 10 6 W\ Bromwich A. 6 3 3 0 12 13 6 Clapton O. .. 6 1 6 14 5 Bristol City . 6 1 3 10 4 Mi 11 wall A. .. 6 1 3 5 9 4 Wo’hampton 6 4 0 10 14 4 Port Vale .. 6 4 0 9 14 4 Barnsley . .. 6 4 0 S 9 4 Swansea T. .. 1 4 1 12 22 3 Blackpool .. :i 3 1 9 13 Oldham .. .. t> l 0 13 2 Reading . .. 6 0 6 0 4 16 0