Trams on Top

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 479, 8 October 1928, Page 6

Trams on Top

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL A Two-Goal Victory THE Soccer honours in the senior division this season rest with Tramways after a stirring victory over Ponsonby by three goals to one. There was a record crowd for a club match this season at Blandford Park, where conditions were ideal for the strenuous struggle. In the preliminary game Manurewa added the junior championship to the Daere Cup win by defeating Glen Eden 4—o.

The surface was in first-class condition for fast football, and conditions overhead were perfect, the fine spring day drawing a large crowd, despite counter-attractions, to witness tlie most important club game of tlie season. The spectators also had the fever of spring in their blood, and there was far more spirited cheering than usual as the ball flew with a lively run from goal to goal. The transport supporters were aided with tlie familiar clanging of discarded tram gongs, while the Ponies were urged on with rival motorbus horns, rattles and bells, and interest in tlie game never flagged from start to finish as the teams played themselves right out in the race for the laurels.

POPULAR QUEEN CANDIDATES An interesting interlude was the parade of tlie Soccer queen candidates before the big game, the colours of the rivals flying in a gay streamer from the masthead in the order of present voting strength. The competition is running with great popularity, as it is certain to secure a large sum for the Blandford Park fund, and the dainty young candidates were loudly cheered as they faced a snapshot barrage, and there was an appreciative roar as a fashionable lady’s shoe went flying with the ball as Miss Hilda Takle, the Tramways’ nominee, essayed a hefty kick-off. SENSATIONAL START

The arena had scarcely been cleared and the spectators settled down to enjoy a keen contest than there was an electrical thrill in the first minute. From a throw-in near Ponsonby’s goal line Tinkler lobbed tlie ball across to Spencer who touched on to Reid, and the navy man made no mistake at point-blank range. Ponsonby was without Stewart and Bell, Pickett coming into the back line with Miles at left-half, while Hunter and Balloch formed the right wing, with Innes in the centre. Davis was a conspicuous absentee from the Trams van, Reid, of the Dunedin, filling the berth at inside left, while Spencer made a welcome reappearance in tlie centre. DOGGED STRUGGLE

Rattled by this early shock the Ponies made a desperate rally to recover tlie lost ground, and made some speedy raids on the corporation’s citadel. The Ponsonby team was very lively and fit, but the changes resulted in a loss of combination, the front line particularly being less cohesive than usual. A run by Innes appeared dangerous, but the Tramways’ backs smothered up, and he passed out for Hunter to drive wildly over the bar. There were lively exchanges, and both goalies had to watch their step in repelling swift raids, but play generally was of the cup-tie type and the shooting suffered from over-anxiety. Batty was getting most of the clearing work in hand, and a neat centre from Hunter saw Innes head just past the post. The hard surface gave tlie dry ball an extreme amount of liveliness, and a high bounce frequently baffled tlie players. Ponsonby was keeping the bail in the air, but Christie and Simpson were defending stoutly with dogged determination. WATTS SAVES A PENALTY

At the Ponsonby end a strong snapshot by Reid ricochetted off Pickett’s shoulder and Watts palmed the ball behind with smart anticipation and action. Following a corner play was in the Ponies’ 18 when Miles was pulled up for pushing an opponent, and Spencer took the spot kick. The unperturbed Watts again displayed his penchant for handling penalties, and cleared the hard drive amid loud cheers and salutes from the Ponies’ gallery. There was no lagging among the players and a fierce attack by tlie Blues saw Evan Williams narrowly miss when a hard shot rebounded into play off the crossbar, while at the other end Tinkler was unlucky with a screw-shot which lobbed along the bar bar to fall on the roof of the net. GIFT FOR TRAM MIES

After play veering swiftly from end to end Christie sent Reid away to pass on for Hopkins to centre. Spencer headed towards Watts, waiting in goal to collect and clear, when McCosh made the fatal blunder of cutting across to clear and kicked feebly into his own goal. It was a slice of luck for Trams and put Ponsonby in the painful position of two down and three to win at half-time, a score which the even run of the game did not warrant. PONSONBY PULLS UP

After the welcome breather the Ponsonby queen candidate. Miss Majorie Armstrong, gave her boys a lead for luck, and some desperate exchanges followed with the pace still cracked on. A corner to the Ponies saw Wilson drop a nice placement into Trams’ goal mouth, where Innes tore in and headed past Batty, reducing the margin to the odd goal, with a salvo of applause from the big crowd behind the goal.

Tins success stimulated Ponsonby to a great effort to even matters, but the Green defence was very solid. Innes battled hard to struggle through with some strong individual efforts, but lacked support from his inside men. Tramways were always ready with lively reprisals, and Watts had to step lively to stop some warm shots. Nearing the end Tinkler broke away, running past Miles and Williams, and centred for Spencer to nip in and slam the ball to the net with a characteristic touch, a great game giving Trams a well-deserved victory. GOOD INDIVIDUAL PLAY The game was more marked by clever solo efforts than combined team work. Both goalies were at their best with little to choose between them. Simpson was a tower of strength at back, with Stretton much steadier than usual. Christie was the outstanding halfback on the Held, playing Havoc with the Ponsonby forwards and initiating most of the Trams' offensives. Spencer was the star in the Tramways’ van, with Tinkler a good second, while Keid was very useful on his other hand. Watts again distinguished himself as a penalty stopper, but the Ponies’ backs were never too safe, although Pickett played a good game after his long absence. The Ponsonby halves stuck gamely against the lively Tram front line, but McCosh found the three

inside cracks a bit too much of a hand-v ful at times. Innes shone out on his own among the Ponsonby forwards and battled hard to break through, but he was lacking in support and the right wing which got most of the ball found it difficult to get past the defence. The game was pluyed in % good sporting spirit but was held up at intervals for some dubious offside decisions. MANUREWA LANDS DOUBLE The curtain-raiser between Manure wa and Glen Eden to decide the second grade championship found th© Munuk.au suburb too hot a proposition for the Edenites. The game was full of interest from end to end and by no means so one-sided as the score of four goals to nil might indicate. The southern suburb made the most of its scoring opportunities while maintaining a very staunch defence, and by adding the championship laurels to its win in the fiacre Cup knock-outs the Manurewa Club has strong support for its claim to senior status next season. On Saturdays form it would certainly put up a good game against th« weaker senior clubs like Lahore and Northeote. Parkes in goal, with C. Donaldson and Beaumont at back, were stout defenders, while Lees at centrehalf again caught the eye as a centrehalf who could hold his own in any company. L. Williamson at insideright and 11. Donaldson at the insidelelt position are promising forwards, and the veteran Bill Palmer should be most useful in educating the junior champions in the finer points of the game. Glen Eden put up a dour defence against its lively opponents, the Alp brothers being the mainstay ot the losers. Ahearn, the old Ponsonby player, appeared in the green’s front line but found the opposing defence a bit too strong. YOUNG MEN BEAT BELMONT Although the championship position was unaffected, botn Y.M.C.A. and -Lveimont showed their keenness by turning out in full strength for a pleasant match on the Outer Domain. Belmont held \ .M. in check for the first half, when the teams turned round with the score sheet blank after an even spell. Humphreys and McAuslan scored for Y.M. in the second spell and Belmont went down by two goals to nib Belmont was hard, pressed for a goalie, but Lou Ford, the enthusiastic committeeman, stepped gallantly between the sticks ami gave quite a! sound display. His smart stopping of a penalty shot from Thompson was applauded, and the veteran was effective in clearing some hot stuff from Chalmers, Humphreys and Grant,