Visitors Defeated

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 6

Visitors Defeated

WIN FOR PHILOMEL Stubborn French Defence DESPITE strong rival attractions, there was a big crowd at Blandford Park on Saturday to witness the Soccer match between H.M.S. Philomel and the French cruiser Tourville. Unfortunately, the heavy rains had again reduced the surface to a quagmire and anything like scientific Soccer was out of the question. The visitors showed a sound knowledge of the game, but tired in the end, when Philomel won by three goals to one. There were no surprises in the final matches of the championship. Trams, Thistle. Ponsonby and Onehunga being winners.

PHILOMEL V. TOURVILLE The opening of the naval engagement was delayed for half an hour until the game between Trains and Y.M.C.A. was concluded, and the band 1 of the Tourville entertained the large crowd with some excellent itiems which /ere heartily applauded. There was fa rousing cheer for each team as it t hied on to the uninviting arena, the French side looking very smart and trim in bright green jerseys and immaculate shorts, while the New Zealand sailors seemed equally natty, but solider, in their crimson shirts and spotless duck shorts. It was not long after the start that showers of rain and mud gave both teams a real battlefield appearance, but the only casualties were occasional eyes full of mud. and both sides went at it gallantly regardless of the elements. PHILOMEL’S EARLY LEAD During the journey through the tropics the visitors had no opportunity of practice or training for so strenuous a struggle, and many had not kicked a ball from the time of leaving France till arriving in Auckland. In spite of this, they played with great elan, producing ample evidence that, on a dry ground, they are quite capable of 'giving a finished display of footwork and combination. They frequently robbed the “Phillies” of the ball by clever tackling, which often took the player’s feet from under him with a rapturous splash, as he “hit the deck.” Before the matelots had properly settled down, the New Zealand force had out-manoeuvred the French defence, and “splodged” its way through for Thompson, to beat Parfout from close in. The visitors ralied spiritedly, and there were lively exchanges, Etienne at outside right being especially conspicuous in some dashing runs and strong centres, with Schaeffer supporting him well. Both sides found it hard for the inside men to connect with centres from the flanks, and the wing men had all the advantage of the grassy sides and corners. There was no further score, and New Zealand led by ope goal to nil at half-time. THE TOURVILLE EQUALISES The band responded to an enthusiastic encore of a bright variation on “Tipperary” during the interval, and the teams restarted with fresh vim after a temporary clean-up. Both goalies were soon busy repelling lively raids, Murch and Parfout both being smart in catching and kicking and fisting clear. A long kick by Le Jacq ! went to Tbuaut in midfield, and the centre-half drove hard out to Etienne on the line. The flying French winger flew down the good going with a great burst of speed, and cut in to beat Murcli all the way with a hard drive. There was a prolonged salvo of cheering at this equalising effort, and both sides buckled to in a muddy combat 'or victory. PHILOMEL ON TOP Playing full-time spells, the visitors to flag in the churned-up mor- . ass, and Philomel ended by dominating the situation through superior fitness lor such conditions. But the fullbacks, Le Jacq and. Dreau, offered a “Verdunesque” resistance, while Parfout, in the last ditch between the posts, was repeatedly cheered for his clever and daring saves. Just on time an unfortunate penalty decision gave Gilmour a spot-kick which put Philomel one lip, and from the kick-off the reels burst through again and rushed the * oall in from a melee to settle the issue iecisively. There was a loud burst of cheering, j j and then an impressive silence as j everyone stood to attention while the ' band played “God Save the King.” Re- ! newed cheering greeted the spirited playing of the “Marseillaise” as the un- j iaunted tourists of the Tourville rushed or a hose-down. EXCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS After the match, during an exchange ol! compliments and congratulations, the officers of the Tourville sprang a surprise by asking Mr. Andrew Menzies, chairman of the A.F.A. Control Board, to accept a handsome bronze medallion bearing an artistic representation of the cruiser Tourville and the famous Admiral Tourville, as a token of the ship’s company’s gratitude for entertainment provided by the A.F.A. and Soccer enthusiasts during the visit. Mr. Menzies expressed the deep appreciation of the association in receding such a memento, and said the debt was all on Auckland's side lor the willing manner in which the visitors had enable so memorable a match to be staged here, and on behalf of the- Soccer players and supporters he wished the visitors bon voyage for the remair - der of the cruise. TRAMS’ FINAL WIN As a curtain-raiser Tramways played the final game in the championship, meeting Y.M.C.A. in the last game and retaining its unbeaten record in the championship series. Tlie preliminary match was half an hour late in starting, but when the kickeff occurred it was a question of “sudden death” for Y.M.C.A. Humphreys, the Y.M. captain, had not arrived at the start, and Tramways moved off with a sweeping movement which accelerated in the mud until Stretton finished it with a strong cross shot which gave Hilliard no chance. This was the only score, and a dreary game in the mud was unduly prolonged to full time in the first spell, but fortunately abbreviated in the second half after keeping the big crowd waiting half an hour for the delayed start of the feature game. Y.M. made some spasmodic but futile attempts to lower

Trams' colours, and the transporter, were content to retain the narrow lead, and made good use of the line for defence. PONSONBY RUNNERS-UP By a conclusive victory over Celtic the Ponies are again the renners-np

l . he senior championship i points behind thl unbeaten Trams. -Neither side tvasafull strength at \ ictoria Park on a very heavy sur . face and a keer wind with ooca. sional rain squalldid tot improve matters. Ponies opened the scoring with, goats bv Forman and u Stewart when CeltiC Ull <« nna -1 \

At full strength, and with the brss£ behind them, the Celts tried hard pull level, J. Hunter scoring before the turn round. Early in the spell Wright equalised with a 2 drive. Then Ponies rallied strontrlr and came with a great rattle tu crumple up the Celtic defence and run out winners by six goals to two- Dick Arch Morrison and It. Stewart (2> all adding to the score. A feature o* : Ponies’ lively attack was the success of young Huston Stewart at centre forward with a hat trick. He is on* ol: the most promising colts Fonsonbv has promoted for some time. OH, KAY! Thistle overwhelmed Belmont a* Cornwall Park, when the inimitable Kay slammed a quartet of goals

into the net and brought his tally to the record total of 52 goals for the season. In his last four appearances Kay has scored 18 goals, including three against Wellington- Belmont went down on Saturday by seven goals to nil, Kay getting a hat trick in the opening spell and

a fourth goal early after the restart Then Xorman Gumming. Chalmers and Davis helped themselves to one apiece, the Belmont defenders finding the powerful Thistle thrust too prickty to handle. Belmont made a few lively raids in an attempt to score, but the Scots' rearguard was rarely seriously troubled. SHORE’S LAST LOSS In its final championship bout Shore suffered another defeat at home when Onehunga secured full points by scoring the only goal in an even, dingdong game. The ground was in good order but the football was not very inspiring, and the home side failed to maintain its improved form against Trams the previous week. Shore bad the better of exchanges in the opening spell. Jay and Hutter on the opposite wings sending some strong centres to goal, but the inside forwards failed to connect and Zuill was as safe as ever in the Manukau citadel. The score-sheet in the first spell was blank, but right after the restart a high shot from Whimster deflected from the cross-bar off Wise to the net. and in spite of some determined rallies by Shore the visitors held the single goal advantage to the end. THAMES VALLEY BEATS AUCKLAND B REP. TEAM FAST GAME AT PAEROA (From Our Oicn Correspondent) PAEROA, Sunday. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people witnessed the representative match between Thames Valley and the Auckland B team on Saturday. The game was a hard-fought contest, mainly between the Auckland backs and the Thames Valley forwards. It was fast and open throughout. _____ Tries for Auck-

land were secured by Bell, Kahu, Abbott and Falwasser, none of which was converted. SandersWalters, M and Graham scored for the Valley. Di 1 limore converted one, and M :Larea kicked a penalty goal. a Falwasser ana Abbott showed out

well in the Auckland backs, both porting in some fine runs. Allen, Rae and Wilson were also conspicuous. Soloman and Kahu were pick of the forwards. . The Valley forwards gave a*P»J display. They harassed the Auckian backs incessantly with fast, rushes. Every man played well.

CLAY-BIRD SHOOTING NEW LYNN GUN CLUB At the fortnightly shoot of the Lynn Gun Club on Saturday, the - seven birds’ match resulted m a for TV. Run die (11yds) with the P« sible, TV. Hazard (13yds), and TV. ner (13yds), tied for second place six each. . _ r^ A 15-birds’ match for a trupny ** sented by Mr. F. Hazard was * G. H. Brown (17yds), with the possroF. Hazard (14yds) being secona. A 10-birds’ shoot for members have never won a trophy in resulted in a tie between ley (16yds), L. Ramsay Hazard (14yds), F. Hazard W and L. Hyauiason (11yds). *n shoot-off TV. Hazard won en tn ' bird; L. Ramsay shot 21. Th® . r ’ was presented by Mr. F. TleGee The first-miss-out sweepstax® won by C. Hoffman (11yds), 0 oJ ,j. seventh bird, with G. H. Brown -