FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 231, 28 September 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

ASSOCIATION. SATURDAY'S TOUGH MATCHES. Visitors to Iho Bayswaler ground on Saturday wore treated to an afternoon of excellent football, both from the tcaniß of capable youngsters who had fought their way pluckily into the final of the championship in the sixth division, aad from the brotherhood and Everton senior teams, who have twice played drawn games hi the struggle for she' possession of the Falcon Cup. The boys also played a drawn game, the fifth nut of seven lnntchos played between Belrr.ont and North Shore this season. THE DRAWN OUT CIT. The fact that the M-nlor* have twice failed to decide which should take the Fak-on tup U >ory interesting, anil must stand to the credit of the teams for doggfdness and eiidur.ince. but it is exceedingly awkward. Already the season in f.ir advanced, and at least two more Saturdays mu»t In- given to the teams in the second division to decide their championship. Such W 3 *- keenness wjs sho.vn in the Falcon Cup '-om petition that 'en t.-uins entered, and, a» several of them including jUnioT player* (the competition boing open to all), the second division games had necessarily to stand down. Thia wa* slow for the juniors who were not so fortunate as to be included in cup team-, but the position was unavoidable. To make matters worse the final resulted in a draw between Brotherhood and Everton, and the next Saturday allotted for the replay was impossibly wet. The further draw is the limit. It was suggested that extended time hnve been played on Saturday to decide the cup winners by a process of exhaustion. The suggestion was made with more force than reason. It seems a pity that so much argumentative vigour and fluently-expressed conviction should be lor.t from the executive administration of A.F.A. affaire. Possibly nothing less than a dictatorship would meet the position, however. The unfortunate faM remains, nevertheless, that the Falcon Cup rules expre**!v fjtate that extension of time shall not be resorted to in the case of a final. As matters now stand, there will have to be two more Saturdays of play in any case, so that it would seem to be expedient to run the Cup final and one of the junior series next Saturday. An added misfortune lies in the fact that senior players are dropping out week by week to go into training for the Expeditionary Force. The clubs are »ti!l in rxistcnee. however, and the supply of reinforcements from tlie lad* who are too young to enlist is not yet exhausted. BROTHKRHOOD-.S SHOOTING MEX. Brotherhood showed up splendidly in forward work on Saturday, and the shooting was good. Had it not been for the extra steam raised toy Everton in the second spell the Brotherhood live would certainly have got goal*. Aβ it ■wa*. Knaggs had really bad luck with one clinking shot which struck the up-, Tight. It was his goal all the way. and Craxton could not have been expected to stop it. The goal which he did net came from a splendid shot from Temp«rton from the left wtag. Craxton fielded it magnificently, but Knnjgis was ■waiting for the clear, and had the ■width of the goal at his mercy to place his ehot as he pleased. The Everton goal did not carry so much merit, but it was bagged through the alertness of Baker and mistiming by Oldnall. EVERTOV.S DOGGED FIGHT. The' Everton backs put up a splendid fight, Craxton. Roberts, and Pitkin playing with notable soundness, while Booth iva» a tower of strength at centre-half, and was strongly supported by Hod<on. Baker and Brewer were the most effective forwards, the former being a galvanic force to his side throughout the game. Weatherspoon played well in •the second half, when Marsh also showed to advantage, but Bird was not up to his usual form. The Brotherhood forwards the whole five of them, eusiained their reputation as the smartest Hne we have in football this season. Winks, at centre-half, is ■worth going to see at any time, and he j manoeuvred bis team with consummate | skill -while doinjr his own work cleverly and calmly. His supports. Lee and McCallum. backed him admirably, and Cor-1 rin and Jackson formed a defence that could cope with almost any difficulty. Oldnall retains his old shrewdness and naj/terly goal-keeping ability. THE BOYS , GAME. R was a graceful act on the part of toe executive committee to deefde to bracket the Bclmont and North Shore boys equal fot the sixth division championship. The teams deserved the honour. Their game was as pretty an exhibition of football as could be desired, and they played like sportsmen. What one admired even more than the individual keenne« s of the lads was the definite endeavour to play as a team, parsing the ball about in a way that would put many seniors to shame. The Shore team has splendid backs, and Huiton. Burges-s, and Gratton distinguished themselves by excellent play, while young ( olcman. was a ehrewd and actrre forward. The Belmont lads have three fine inside forwards in Hook. Barton, and Verran. their combination work being exceilingly good. 1., Sommervillo and Man Mil are half-backs that will make a name for themselves yet, while Murphy at full-bark deserves special commendation for his Mire kicking and thoughtful placing. The team ha 9 great strength in its goalkeeper, Francis giving a splendid performance. ' j