Soccer Finals

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 477, 5 October 1928, Page 7

Soccer Finals

DECIDING GAMES TO-MORROW First and Second Division Champions TO-MORROW’S big- games at Blandford Park will decide the first and second division championships for the 1928 season, and a record attendance for the season is anticipated. In the preliminary games Manurewa and Glen Eden meet to decide which suburb will take the junior laurels, while Tramways and Ponsonby, who have been running neck-and-neck at the top of the senior ladder, will come to grips at last, and two of the most thrilling games of the season should be witnessed as the Park is in ideal condition for a firstclass display.

The opening match will find two of the most promising junior clubs engaged in a tough battle for the second division honours, and both clubs have established strong claims for promotion to full senior status next season by their impressive displays this winter. Manurewa won the Dacre Memorial Cup last Saturday after a dour and ding-dong go with Newmarket, only the odd goal in five deciding the destiny of the cup after a stirring struggle. The Manurewans are right out to win the dual premiership, and place the Pascoe Shield alongside the Dacre trophy. Glen Eden is another weighty and powerful combination, which was only eliminated from the Dacre Cup competition by Newmarket after spells of extra time. Both the country suburbs have been training strenuously for the hard duel to-morrow, and the match should provide the liveliest curtainraiser which the early birds have witnessed this season. “TRAM M I ES” OR “PONIES?” Tramways and Ponsonby, after the long season’s programme, are still within a single point of each other, the corporation club holding the one point lead, but has played one more game. The position of the teams is: Goals P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tramways 17 11 3 3 43 24 25 Ponsonby 16 11 3 2 51 24 24 This shows how evenly matched the clubs are, and to-morrow’s game must leave one or other on top. The goal average between them is also close, both having the same number of goals scored against them, but Ponies hold hi* advantage in the shooting department. In Batty, Simpson, Christie, Tinkler, Spencer, Davis and Simm, the Trams have seven finished players, who have represented the province, and Roid, of Dunedin, is full up to major provincial standards with his splendid ball control, finished footwork, and brainy play, while Spong has been in great form on the wing. Ponsonby, though not fielding such a galaxy of stars, is a splendid combination, which won the club championship of the Dominion last season by knocking out all opposition in the Chatham Cup contest. The Ponies have a sound defence and a lively forward line, which slings the ball about freely, and will worry its older opposition by its speed of foot and swift long passes. Watts in goal has been playing a sr*at gamp, while M. Williams and Miles at back, and Morrison, McCosh and Bell at half, are solid defenders the gift of converting defence Jnto attack. Bob Innes is the inspires leader of the van with a promising colt, Balloch, as his inside man. The wing. E. Williams, and Wilson form a clever combination, and the Jjne is held well together by D. Stewart. A rousing game should see the curfain rung down on the championship series with the result of both games Ver y open. THE TEAMS Senior Grade Northcote.—Lvon, Taylor, Munro, RobMunro, Meek, Elsby, Welbourne, Rolnies, Tremain, Newman, Campbell. Onehunga.—Mellor, Butler, Peterson, Woodhall, Bentley, Jackson, Graham, onfllths. Rivers. Gill, Jones. Belmont.—Chesney, Follas, Murphy, Rbach, Lithgow, Nicholson, Allen, Hamilto®. Furness, Adams, Cleal, Ripley. Y.M.C.A.— Hillaird. Mowatt, (Janachan, Dick, Riddolls, Thompson, Paton, Chalmers, Humphreys, McAusPonsonby.—Watts, M. Williams. Miles, Morrison, McCosh, Bell, Innes, Balloch,

D. Stewart, E. Williams and Wilson. Reserves: Locke and Gavan. Tramways.—Batty, Simpson, Stretton, Fyffie, Reid, Christie. Spong, Tinkler, Spencer, Davis, Hopkins, Porteous. Second Grade Glen Eden.—Gerrard, B. Alp, A. Alp, Allen, H. Alp, Calvert, Ahern, Jerrim, Anstead, Wood, Hitchins, A. N. Other, Mellor. Tamaki. —W. Hoyte, S. Johnson, L. Morgan, S. Bowler. N. Brown, W. Watson, J. White, G. Diamond, S. Diamond, K. Caldwell, G. Stone. Fourth Grade Onehunga.—Carlyon, Harlick, Showier, Wardrop, Sager, Strong, Wolfenden, Henderson, Lindsay, Rutherford, Shanly. Reserve: Shanly. _ Tamaki. —A. De Silva, H. Stone. R. Stone, J. Barry, T. Barry, 11. Darwin, H. Claridge, R. Baskett, L. Clark, Henry, Burnley.—Bowater, Clews, King, Blair, Ward, Spry, McLeod, Clark, Guy, Coulthurst. Youngs, Boughtwood, Rollins. New Lynn.—Buchanan, Hogg, Russell, Simpson, Low, Anderson, Woods, Smith, Carr, Jameson, Galloway, Howell, Carr. Manurewa. —Parkes, A. Donaldson, Beaumont, Browie, Lees, Clarke, Palmer, L. Williamson, Lowe, Hart, 11. Donaldson (captain). Fifth Grade Onehunga.—Long, Potter, Capel. Wolfenden, Davis, Gates, Keegan, \\iberg, Lindsay, Jackson, Gibbs. . Tamaki.—R. Harrison, W. Rae, 33. McChesney, S. Austin. D. Caldwell, N. Baskett A. Keys, N. Turner, T. Watson, W. Watson. J. ‘Akhurst, T. Darwin. CITY AND SUBURBAN Senior Grade Thistle. —Zuill, Ferguson, Ritchie, Howat Carter. Lawson, Jessop, Stewart, Nicholson, Mooney, Kay. Richmond. —Convey, Britton, Aughton, Rutherford, Nimmo, M. I.auglilan, Ray, Urquart Nisbet, Buchanan, Calder, Brown, Roiall, Cuthbert. Bon Accord. —Orford, Mays, Reid, Siurrav Brown, Biddle, .Cummings, Dunsmore, Webb, Hislop, Feeney, Cumm*Celtic.—Morris, Kay, Curran, Bennett, O’Hagan, Jenkins, Foeher, barne, Wylie. Scandle, Davidson. SOCCER CARNIVAL PONSONBY LEADS VOTING The initial count of the voting of the Oiipen Carnival, under the auspices of Um Auckland Football Association, has Placed the queens in the following positions: —Ponsonby, Miss Marjorie Armstrong 1: Onehunga, Miss Nellie Bentley’, ‘•'• Business Houses, Miss Marjorie SimpSin 3; Belmont. Miss Delia f o las, 4, Tramways, Miss . HjWa Takle, 5, Y M C.A., Miss Mavis Ross, G. The voting is very close, and the_ next count on Saturday afternoon will in all probability alter the positions. SOCCER CHAMPIONS The North Shore Association Football Club wound up its season with a social at Devonport last evening. Dr it q. Bennett, president, mentioned that tlie fifth grade and the third and fourth grade were championship winners this year. The fifth grade had not been beaten, and had been five times champion in the eight years the "rade had been establishd. In 1926•>7 ?8 tlie team had scored 268 goals, while only nine had been registered against it. In addition to the KnockoS? shield (fifth grade) and A.F.A. fifth division cup, the team members were presented with medals donated by Mrs Ekman. The team members are (including emergencies), Messrs Ormicton (captain). Cowie (vice-captain), Fleal Gibbs, Lilliecrap. V. Smith, C. P. Smith, C. Ekman, Ferguson, MeClucky, Farquarson, McKenty and McGill-’