SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 480, 9 October 1928, Page 11

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES

(By

Perseus

Tramways’ Championship.—By its triumph on Saturday the Tramways Club placed the seal of victory on its championship ambitions, and is to be congratulated warmly on its hardearned success at the top of the table, thus regaining the premiership it secured some seasons ago. This triumph of the Corporation Club is all the more merited on account of the difficulties which surround it. Being practically limited to the municipal service men, and mostly married men, the club has no junior teams to draw on as a reserve supply, and replacing sick or injured players is always a difficult problem, and no exception could be taken when the team coopted Christie and also secured the occasional and very useful help of Reid from the flagship of the fleet. Apart from this the transport men have often to rush from duty to a game, and then tear back to pick up their running; or at times they are called upon to make a financial sacrifice and pay a substitute to secure time off for a game.

A Popular Combination.—The loyalty of the tramwaymen to their club and the code has made thew very popular with the public, and it is a pity that all the clubs are not characterised by the same esprit de corps and keenness. Last season a series of casualties and illness gave Trams no chance in the championhip, but the club came to light with a late run and landed the Falcon Cup just when the others were beginning to fall off. This season, too, the start was disastrous, but the team soon pulled itself together and piled up a brilliant series of wins which swept it to the top of the ladder. Now the green and blacks ai'e chasing the winning double by an attempt to win the Falcon Cup knockouts, for which they are favourites. The Trams team contributed the solid substance of the Auckland eleven this season, Batty, Simpson, Tinkler, Christie, Spencer and Davis representing the province in the thrilling trophy games with Wellington, and all of them playing a brilliant part in retaining Auckland’s unbeaten record in the matches. A special word of commendation is also due to Mr. Sid Drew, the hard-working club secretary, and the energetic trainer-coach for their untiring services.

The Luck of the Ponies.—Close on the heels of the champions come the popular Ponsonby Club, one of the oldest in the Soccer code here, with a record number of teams in the various grades, and by far the largest playing membership. The Ponies, like the winners, made a bad break from the barrier and lost a couple of games before getting into their stride. Then they galloped ahead with -a brilliant sequence of victories, and held the top rung of the ladder for a long spell until Trams caught up and passed them. A chapter of accidents weakened the western combination, and an unexpected defeat at Devonport proved disastrous when the championship seemed assured. The half line was weakened by the loss of George Wright and Clem Bell, and Innes found difficulty in sorting out a suitable partner or posse for his electric play. It was unfortunate that the club was not at full strength for the deciding game on Saturday, but the Ponies put up a gallant fight and with luck a bit with them might have secured a further test.

Shore’s Defection. —The withdrawal of the Shore seniors from the championship in its closing stages has been the subject of some very uncomplimentary comment in Soccer circles, and possibly some explanation may be forthcoming at to-night’s meeting of the A.F.A. All that is known at present is that a fortnight ago the club intimated in writing that its senior team was scratched for all engagements for the rest of the season. In spite of this a championship match against Y.M.C.A. was staged for which Shore made a half-hearted attempt to raise nine men for a farcical game. No satisfactory reason can be ascertained for Shore’s action. With the second and third teams to draw on, there seems no legitimate excuse for failing to field an eleven and so meet its obligations to the game, the other clubs, and the public. When a club nominates for an important competition it is morally bound to see it through, and if a club deliberately defaults the circumstances certainly call for somle inquiry.

Bright Shore Juniors.—lt is refreshing to turn from the peculiarities of the Shore seniors to the sterling performance of the club’s junior teams in the third intermediate, fourth and fifth grades. These three teams have carried all before them in these grade championships and knockout competitions, and the brilliant success of the youngsters throws a rainbow of hope over the club’s future prospects. A

word of special praise is due to Mr. Ekman, the club's delegate on the Junior Management Committee, for his single-handed enthusiasm in attending to the club nursery. The Shore has always been particularly strong in the teams playing under the Junior Management Committee, and this season has been no exception. Aspirants for Seniority.—By winning both the second championship and the Dacre Memorial Cup, the Manurewa Club has established a strong claim for promotion next season. The team on Saturday proved itself a lively combination of young players, who know the game and can keep at it hammer and tongs to a hard finish. If raised to senior status the experience gained would soon put them in the first rtiglit, Corinthians are also still in the Falcon Cup and a very promising young team. Close up in their claims to higher status are Newmarket, Birkenhead, Philomel, Tamaki, Glen Eden and Rangers. Senior A and B competittions next year should be well worth another trial, with promotion for the two top B clubs and relegation for the two lowest A ones. But other mystery suggestions are still in the air if listeners-in are to be believed.

Inter-house Competition.—The interhouse competitions have provided some good mid-week games this season, and Hellaby’s are to be congratulated on winning the Farmers’ Trading trophy on their initial appearance in the contest and going through the season without defeat. The purveyors’ club ran a strong senior B team a few seasons back, which was a hefty side and produced some tip-top players.

The “Farmers” had a series of wins in the business house competition, but fell away this season. To-morrow at Blandford Park a winding-up day has been ararnged, when the Hellaby champions will meet the pick of “the Rest,” who will include such ancient and modern stars as Jock Corbett, Phil Neesham, Bob Innes, Bill Palmer and several prominent Saturday seniors. The preliminary game between Abel’s, Ltd., and the Auckland Chinese should provide an attractive item, as the Celestials always draw a good crowd. The small charge at the gate will be devoted to helping the candidature of the business-house Soccer Queen, Miss Marjorie Simpson.

Manurewa’s Good Finish. The Manurewa Club finished the season in brilliant style last Saturday by defeating- Glen Eden by 4 goals to 0 for the championship of the second grade, thereby securing the Pascoe Shield. It has also won the Dacre Cup, defeating Newmarket in the final after a hard game. During the season just finished, Manurewa has lost only two matches, one with the Thistle in the second grade in the second match of the season, and the one referred to in the Falcon Cup. If it has been done, it is a long time since a club won the second grade championship and the Dacre Cup in one season. The successful season has been brought about by the whole-hearted-ness of the players, and the good feeling between the players and their trainer and sole selector, J. H. Smith. HUNTLY GAMES fFrom. Our Own Correspondent) The Sunshine Cup final ended in Junction United romping over Thistle by five goals to nil, thus adding another trophy to the Howden Cup, and the winners of the South Auckland competition. For a club which boasts of only 12 members this is truly a remarkable record, and it is quite likely the Ansell Cup will go in the same direction. In Saturday’s game Garrick (2), Datimer, Bate and Hunter were the go-getters under Referee J. Bate. Mr. James Douglas handed over the trophy to Captain Garrick after the match. INTER-HOUSE SOCCER TO-MORROW’S GAMES The starting times of to-morrow’s games have been changed. The match between Abel’s and the Chinese will start at 3 o’clock, and the kick-off of Hellaby’s v. The Rest at 4.30. OVERSEAS SOCCER RECENT RESULTS The following are some recent results of matches in Great Britain: ENGLISH LEAGUE Second Division Bristol City 1, Suthampton 1. Middlesboro’ 3, Notts County X. Oldham 0, Wolverhampton 4. Reading 2, Port Vale 1. West Bromwich Albion 3, Chelsea 0 Preston N.E. 3, Millwall 4. Stoke 5, Swansea 0. Grimsby* 4, Bradford 2. Notts Forest 1, Barnsley’ 3. SCOTTISH LEAGUE First Division Ayr United 3, Cowdenbeath I. Heart of Midlothian 6, Falkirk 2 Partick Thistle 8, Hamilton 0. Raith Rovers 0, Dundee 3. St. Johnstone 1, Kilmarnock 0. St. Mirren 1, Clyde 0. Third Lanark 2, Rangers 5.