Soccer Trials

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 632, 8 April 1929, Page 7

Soccer Trials

SPIRITED FRIENDLY GAMES

Prospects of Great Season

THE large muster of Soccer fans at Blandford Park on Saturday to watcli the senior trials came as a surprise to everyone, especially in view of strong counter attractions from races, summer games and military sports championships on the domain. The attendance was a happy augury for a great season ahead, which should be a record one in the history of the code. The try-out between two strong elevens from Thistle and Trams provided clever and lively football, and the curtain-raiser between Young Men and Ponsonby was followed with interest.

THE winter snap in the air earlier in the week had faded on Saturday, and the day was a bit warm for overstrenuous Soccer, but the players showed surprisingly good form for their first appearance, and the arena was in perfect order for good footwork and ball control. There was some disappointment that Corinthians were unable to meet Celtic, as many present were keen to see how the new Scottish combination would shape, but the thrilling try-out between Thistle and Trams was well worth the journey to headquarters to watch. SOME PROMISING COLTS

to field a solid side from the outset. Bon Accord’s full strength is not yet known, but Reid and Dunsmore, of Thistle, are prominent members and several other seniors are mentioned as probables in .the ranks of the Highlanders. In the case of several clubs the full personnel will not be known for certain until the grading for the new season is decided by the Board of Control to-morrow evening. A number of players are “in the air” at present, as they prefer to make no definite commitments until they know the status of the club they are registering for. The redistribution of so many players with the welcome infusion of new blood will mean evening up the clubs a lot, and there should be a higher standard of play and more thrilling contests than have ever been witnessed before.

Ponsonby and Y.M.C.A. each tried out promising juniors in the preliminary trial, when the Ponies colts, ably assisted in the second spell by the evergreen Bob Innes, proved too good for the Young Men’s youngsters by four goals to one, Ponsonby having an advantage in replacing three players in the second spell. Ponsonby has been fortunate in securing Lyons from Nortlicote as the club custodian this season, and when his heart is in the gamd the rangey colt is a tiger for work between the sticks. Locke is a promising fullback, but the Ponies are bustling round to secure another good man in this position as Marine Miles is back to the naval eleven now, and Morry Williams is giving the game a rest. Jock Morrison will be in the half line again, where he is shaping better than ever, and Martin Dick from Y.M. should be a reliable pivot in the centre position. Lornie has returned from League Rugby to his old love and is full of dash. Innes and Balloch will again be a formidable right wing with Dave Stewart in the centre and Arch Morrison also shows good promise in the front line. Y.M.C.A. was weakened by absentees at the final appearance of King Willow, and they also have suffered from transfers to other clubs. Grant and Chalmers will be missing from Y.M.’s powerful front line of last season, but Percy Humphreys has plenty of good young material to weld together for his attack- and most of last year’s defenders will be found in action again. The brothers, H. and F. Chapman, from the W.Y.M.1., impressed on Saturday as useful colts, and Wallace is a hefty new arrival who learnt his Soccer in Lancashire. THISTLE AND TRAMS Thistle got a great reception on making a reappearance at headquarters, and turned out fit and immaculate in the familiar Queen’s Park colours. Some former figures were missing in the defence, none of last year’s players behind the forward line being in the back division, but McCosih, of last year’s Ponies, is a solid defender, and the defence will be reinforced before the competitions start. In the front rank the former champions will be as dangerous as ever with Kay, Hislop and Gumming all at their best. The trio was as clever as ever on Saturday, and gave the Trams’ defence a strenuous try-out. Kay delighted the crowd with his electric sprints and flashing cross shots from almost impossible angles, while (Summing lobbed, across perfect centres with unerring accuracy from the opposite side line. Trams fielded a powerful eleven which included Auckland reps., with Clem Bell and Evan Williams from the Ponies appearing in the front line. The Corporation club does not possess the youth of the other clubs, and could not be fairly judged on Saturday’s tryout, but last season’s dual champions can be relied on to put up a grim tussle when the whistle blows in real earnest. ACROSS THE HARBOUR

Navy will this year figure again as the “Philomel” Club, and is very confident of fielding a senior team which will recapture the reputation the depot cruiser established years ago as a great fighting combination, when record crowds flocked to Victoria Park to cheer for the “navee.” Gilmore from the Shore, with Miles and Rivers, have joined up for the ship, and Reid, Scott, Haeock and others are expected to be attached to the Philomel when the cruisers and sloops return. The naval men proved too solid for Metropolitan in a friendly trial at the dock ground on Saturday, and the matelots should prove a strong side which will make a big bid for senior rank. North Shore has had some settingup practice, but Soccer had to give way to cricket on Saturday. With the exception of Gilmore, most of last year's team will don the black and gold again, and the Shore club has plenty of dashing juniors in reserve to fill any gaps and maintain its reputation for fielding a lively eleven. There is talk of Life Dacre turning out again, while Dan Jones, Gerrard, Colebourne and Renshaw will be available in the defence, with Woolley, Jay, Bradshaw and Bush for the firing line. Nortlicote has now amalgamated with the Birkenhead club, and the union of the two minor boroughs across the harbour should provide plenty of material for a strong senior club with good teams right through the grades. Nortlicote had a very lean season last sear, but Birkenhead was a strong junior combination, and Nortlicote has a strong intermediate team to draw from, so it has every prospect of recovering its former prestige. Belmont had some try-out games at home on Saturday, and will have all last year’s eleven available except Hamilton, who has joined up with Thistle. The Belmont Old Boys benefited by their experience in senior rank last year and fully justified the promotion. This year the claret and blue brigade should be the most improved club in the code.

On the opposite coast the Manukausiders are busy sorting out some good material for the Onehunga club, and are confident of starting off with the same dash as last season, when the West Coasters surprised some of the older clubs in the early rounds of the championship. In mid-channel the Manukau combination was disorganised and temporarily weakened by a number of players transferring, but the club was fortunate in having one of the strongest second elevens, and the senior team was soon at full strength again. This year Zuill, of Thistle, will be in goal, while Bentley. Gill. Thomas and Mellor will be familiar figures in the blue and gold jerseys with a strong supporting lot of hefty juniors. THE NEWCOMERS

Celtic and Bon Accord, which were formed under the banner of the Suburban Association last winter, are newcomers to the A.F.A. competitions and both are applicants for senior ranking. Their debut is watched for with more than usual interest, as the Celts have mustered a strong combination of senior players, with Hall, Mooney, Wright and Jenkins from last year’s Ponies; Grant and Chalmers from Y.M.: Whowell. Rimmer, Scandle and Cotton from Onehunga: and Carter. the ex-Thistle wing half. With others in reserve, including several promising juniors, Celtic should be able