CHAMPIONS

DEFAULT Fail To Put In An Appearance i ((Prom "N.Z. 'Truth's" Auckland Rep.) ""THE champion soccer team of last sea- •*■ son the holders of the Chatham Cup, Auckland Tramways, caused a sensation last week when they failed to fulfil a fixture set down for a floodlight match against V.M.C.A. m the first round of the local eliminating round of the national competition. The circumstances under which the default took place are interesting. Two weeks before, when the entries for the cup competition closed, the local control board announced that the games would have to be played under electric light conditions, and it was on that understanding that Trams entered for the competition and to defend their title to the honor of being cocks of the walk of Soccerdom. ■• • The following week, however, they announced Uiat they .intended .to. test the legality or the games being played by. artificial light and appealed to the N.Z. Council on the matter. That body upheld the decision of the Auckland governing authority and refused to interfere m what was purely a local matter. On Wednesday evening last the game was down for decision between Trams and V.M.C.A., who were drawn m the first round, Thistle -having the previous week beaten Manurewa m a match played under floodlight. The 1 transporters, however, failed to put In an appearance and the game ac- ; cordingly went to Y.M. by default. . Not for many a

year has there been an incident that left such an unsavoury taste m the sporting palate as the failure of Trams to fulfil their obligation. It is felt that the team, m a fit of pique because their objection was overruled and they wore ordered to play at night, deliberately flouted the powers that be and would not turn out. The ' explanation

: has been given officially by the club that i they were unab'e, owing to injuries to players and indisposition, to place a team on the field. Trams are without doubt the best team m Auckland, if not m New Zealand, and their refusal m this ignominious manner . to defend the title to the highest honor m the code m New Zealand is a severe 1 blow to the sportsmanship which soccer ; claims as its heritage. I It will be surprising if Auckland this season retains the Chatham Cup, for there is not a team with the , playing ability, cohesive development j and scientific perfection of the transporters.