Soccer Championship

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1041, 4 August 1930, Page 6

Soccer Championship

Y.M.C.A.’S GOOD LEAD ' Trams and Ponies Miss BARRING accidents, the senior Soccer championship this season goes to Y.M.C.A., which is still unbeaten, and holds a lead of seven points over its nearest opponent. In Saturday’s games both Celtic and Ponies remained on the same mark, Thistle downing Celts 3—l, while Ponsonby crashed heavily at Onehunga 4 —o. and Trams could only divide the points with four all against Corinthians, so Young Men forged further ahead with a clear 3—l win over Manurewa.

After a fine frosty week the weather was ideal on Saturday for lively Soccer, and Blandford Park had dried out fairly well, with some gluey patches which upset calculations at times. YOUNG MEN’S EARLY LEAD The early game is never a very enthusiastic affair, and the match between Y.M. and Manurewa was no exception in being somewhat tame and lifeless. Kay reappeared for Y.M., but gave Thornes the outer berth, so that the star could nurse his “wonky” leg while exercising it. Chalmers was the first to shine out with a dash along the fright, when he showed a clean pair" of heels to the Rewa defenders, and finished his solo with a crashing shot which found the target, and Kay followed with a neat cut in which showed that ho was back to form again. Y.M. eased up a bit after this productive start, and Manurewa took a hand, the veteran Corbett opening up play with some clever placements, and Palmer had Hilliard on the aui vive at times. Palmer made no mistake when Riddolls knocked away under pressure, and the Y.M. goalie had no clianco of saving the consequent penalty. Y.M.’s third goal came from a long dropper to the goal mouth, which Parkes knocked into the net under pressure. At the interval Young Men were two up and in no danger of defeat. ’Rewa showed up better in the second half, and did most of the aggressive work. Otter suffering a broken nose in doing some hot defensive toil, and Hilliard was the busier of the goalies. But the suburban side was weak in front of goal, and missed many chances of scoring by failing to press home attacks to close range. There was no scoring in the second spell, and an uninspiring game ended with a three to one victory for the leaders CELTS’ UNFORTUNATE START Thistle had to field several substitutes to fill its engagement with Celtic, Ferguson and Wright being greatly missed in the defence, and another Cumming turned out as outside lefL with W, and J. Kennedy and J. Stewart filling the other vacancies. Celtic was at full strength and appeared to have the better chance of victory, but could do nothing right, and the fatal weakness in front of goal was more pronounced than ever. The luck of the refereeing was also all against them, an offside decision from the referee at half-way despoiling Mclntyre of a certain goal, while one was awarded against the Celtic goalie for carrying the ball over the line where no line was visible, and it was impossible for the referee to see from his position whether the whole of the ball had passed ♦hrough the goal. SCOTS’ USEFUL ADVANTAGE In stemming a Thistle thrust Gray ‘vas knocked out and retired temporarily Stewart made a good opening, which McLeav fastened on to cleanly. *•» ”d cut through to put the Scots two uo at the Interval When play ’-esumod Gray cam*' on with his face bandaged ■nd Peter Kay had a lot of extra work in ’ ‘'u H hek bu* tore into t with crust hut a sprrt run by > ’umraing end d with him r -the bal 1 to his brother and "■harli** had only *'all t" beat on the un and put the Scots a 'ucky thre-? up. CELTIC’S GREAT EFFORT

From now out tlis Celts took charge, except for some scattered and spasmodic raids by Thistle, and the Scots’ backs were kept at high pressure packing the goal and driving back the insistent Greens. Gerrard in the Scottish citadel gave the best display of goalkeeping seen at headquarters this season, and only faulted once when he fisted clear for Gerry Hunter to drive back the only scorer for Celts. Grant was feeding his front line with splendid judgment, and Peter Kay’s placements in returning from fullback were always to his men. and for half an hour there was a continuous barrage on Gerrard’s charge. Corner kicks were dropped under the bar time after time, and Celtic could do everything right but find the net. Gerrard was aided by the sturdy defensive work of Hibbert

and Woods, and Thistle heaved a si*:-' of relief when the siege was liftedon the sound of time wiUi a 3—l verdict in its favour. In attack X. Cumming and McLear were Thistle's best, llislop being i n . disposed and not fit for a hard go. For Celtic Peter Kay was in great heart, and is one of the most improved backs in Auckland. Grant was Tireless in both defence and attack, and Je^.kfa> P shone out at wing half. The forwards were good in midfield work, and carried the ball down in great style, but in front of goal they were feeble* and ineffective, having neither a scoriae marksman nor someone who could head the ball effectively. TRAMWAYS V. CORINTHIANS Football conditions were ideal at Walker Park, a firm turf and fin* weather contributing toward a fast and interesting struggle between Trams ar; Corinthians. Corinthians, b** reason of their vigour and dash, had the best of the exchanges in the first half, but they wer? favoured by a strong wind. Trams, oa the other hand, having started out with a weakened team, were doubly unfortunate when Williams badh sprained his ankle ana was forced to go off. Trams left the impression of a disorganised team. There was plenty of good individual work. Spencer. Christie and Simpson being outstanding in their own departments. There was. however, a serious lack of co-ordina-tion and understanding and in the first spell the transporters were badly jarred. * The second half saw the order # «C things greatly reversed. The Whites, who before had been combining to advantage. slackened off considerably. Trams exerted a desperate and relentless pressure and Corinthians were hemmed in on all sides. Spencer, for Trams, had bad luck before his effort* were finally- rewarded, while Davis ahwas unfortunate in not finding thr mark earlier than he did. Hilton was Corinthians* star on Saturday- He brought off the hat tricK in the first half and although two of his goals consisted of converting wellworked centres from Ahern and Wood respectively, nevertheless he deserves credit for being on the spot at the right moment and ready to deliver tt -- go<»ds. Lyons, in goal for Corinthians. wa« something of an enigma. His efforts in the early stages were praiseworthy, but later on he seemed to go the way of the other Corinthians and made some outstanding slips. Batty also was no: up to standard, but occasionally a

-t: impse of his old form could be seen. Spong’s absence on the wing wbs very noticeable in Tramways* rank- 5 and many of Christie's favourite forward passes went astray. On the whole, the score of four all gives a fair indication of the relative merits, tbousii play was at all time very erratic. PONIES WELL SETTLED

Weather conditions were excellent when Ponsonbv lined up against onehunga on Saturday. The Onehunga ground was dry and hard and in gooo playing condition as a result of the recent dry spell. Ponsonby kicked off and Onehunga. started to attack immediately. Its aggressive tactics soon found it round the Ponies’ goalmouth and Surtees and his backs endured a hard five minutes, during which time both Whims ter and Gill were near J» scoring. It was evident from the stai * that Onehunga was showing much Improved form, whereas Ponsonby wa. hardly up to scratch and would have to play hard to win. The first score came at>ou £ ‘ minutes after the start. I’p to then l onsonbv hud r.ot had much of the gani*. but its backs had just managed tho pressure and give the forwards chance. The home side was fY 1 ' pressing again. The ball was . Gill, who was temporarily unmarseand he sent in a low drive to the corner of the net. Surtees appeared to it ay us coins out ami made no to stop it. Shortly after GUI received a pass when in almos same position. This time he a hish shot which Surtees w*?*" able to reach. Stung by this setßa „ l the Ponies set to work to recover for a while play was in Onebung»_ half. But the Ponsonby tor***** failed to produce any effective corn l * ation and when half time arrived side was stil! two down. The second half, although more - was more or less a repetition first. The Ponsonby forward line ~ still unable to combine at all i could not make the most of its ' The halves, too. were ffenertiff ’ played and were unable to xeea forwards. Toward the end of the Onehunga increased the pace ana able to notch another two coalsTho homo team well desert victory, since the form ,„ n about tli© best so far this' Especially in the lirst halt it o-,, the Ponies in all department. ' game, tail and Whimstar well and Moon was often intbe light. Alexander also played ' left half- He seems to like thl» tion better than fullback. In the team there was no really OU V'f a 0 »e.l player. The two hacks as anybody, but the rest of the lacked finish and. on the whole, looked like winning the game. PETER DAWSON CLP Press Associa'.io* GREYMOUTH, Sunday. Canterbury yesterday A Vest Coast, the holders, for the t Dawson Cup. and was defeated *>,