CUP TIE DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 13

CUP TIE DAYS.

SOCCER CONTESTS. JUNIORS AND SENIORS MIXED. CORINTHIANS BEAT NORTHCOTE. The continuation of the Falcon Cup tics, with the mixture of senior and junior teams, provided unusual interest in the games under the A.F.A. last Saturday, and in the main the display of the lower grade competitors was surprisingly good. While Metropolitan gave a somewhat weakened Ponsonby side a stiff struggle for victory, Corinthians. a newly-formed combination from the Newton district, ousted Northcote from the competition. In the replayed tie between Tramways and Belmont the former proved much too good for the senior babies, who, however, had to take the field with a disorganised team. North Shore outplayed Manurewa at Devonport, though the score, G—l, was rather unfair to the juniors. The four teams for the semi-final are Shore, Tramways, Ponsonbv and Corinthians.

In the game between Corinthians and Northcote there were several lively exchanges. The seniors did not settle down to really effective play till well on in the game, and then their display became a story of missed chances and brilliant goalkeeping by A. Jamieson, of Corinthians. The blues never appeared to throw niuA vim into their game till near the close, when they struggled desperately for the equaliser, but it was then that the Corinthians' custodian rose to the occasion and ensured victory for his team. The weakness in the seniors was in their lack of understanding and combination. The defence failed several times owing to the backs and half-backs intermingling, which caused confusion in front of Lyon, while the feeding of the forwards was per medium of aimless kicking. Individually the players generally succeeded in man-to-man tackling, but position plav was forgotten, and that was what allowed the eager Corinthians to gain their one goal lead. The forwards individually were triers, and it would have been to the advantage of Northcote to have plied Welbourne, a really promising youth, with the ball more than they did. Their finishing was altogether indifferent. On the run of the play it could hardly be said that Corinthians had any advantage, but it is goals that decide in Soccer.

In the Corinthians, as in many of the junior teams in the game to-day, the players are willing, sometimes to an unnecessary degree, but the finer points of the code are often sacrifi<"ed to a surfeit of vigour. There are those who today consider that the pith is being taken out of the Soccer game by over-strin-gency in the administration of the laws, and there may be some ground for that attitude in certain cases, but dangerous play must be eliminated, and there were examples of it on {Saturday. Good, honest-to-goodness shoulder-to-shoulder charging in man-to-man bouts is the essence of thrill, and should be one of the features of the game, but reckless throwing about of limbs must be discouraged. The Corinthians would profit by the cultivation of positional play. Their covering up was not always as accurate as it will have to be in the next round. Jamieson, in goal, was certainly the saviour of his side. He is a keeper easily of senior standard, and knows the tricks of the trade. Dyson was inclined to be rash in his clearances, and J. Grimes showed alacrity and wisdom several times in coming to the rescue. The middle line of Corinthians lacks most in placing and opening up the game, as a result of which the forwards were often out of place in their endeavours to pick up stray passes. The side, nevertheless, has promise, and always dies fighting

TRAMWAYS IMPRESSIVE. If the Corporation side can be relied upon to reproduce the form they showed last Saturday, there appears to be little to prevent them pulling off the trophy they now hold —the Falcon Cup —and probably the championship, too. The team played with great combination and cohesion that it has shown this season, and the finishing of the forwards was very accurate. There was a nice balance in the side and the display given is the best football seen on Blandford Park lately. Batty had not much to do and Simpson was at the top of his form at back. Christie was the outstanding player in the rear division and his work in spreading the plav and letting the forwards away to the best advantage was a demonstration of the centre-half's function to perfection. Fvffie and Porteous also fitted into the combined work admirably. In

the attacks Spong

had a day cm form and was most deadly in his centres and shooting for goal. Tinkler gave a surprise display at inside-right and lent added thrust to the attack, while Davis jrave Spencer several very advantageous openings. The centre was always in the thick of the game and his hat-trick was the result of deadly shooting and rare opportunism. Hopkins was not a success at outside-left, and Simm would probably have been more profitable. Trams seem to have struck a winning seam. Incidentally, the writer has to acknowledge an invitation to a very attractive social evening which the Trammies are holding in St. Sepulchre's Hall on Thursday evening.

It was a pity Belmont were not at full strength last week, for after their recent displays Blandford Park habitues were expecting a good deal from the side. But the team struck the Trainways at their best and certainly were no match for the winners. Chesnev brought off some meritorious saves, notably Spencer's penalty. Murphy was missed at back and Liithgow, who

has twice taken the field when he would have been well advised to have kept his bed, gave a sur-

prisingly good dis-

play. Nicholson, a third grader who came in at left-half, fonnd Spong and Tinkler too much for him, but he tackled the oppoaifckm with

commendable determination and pluck. R. Bach worked hard at centre-half without being a sensational success, and Mackay, also a promoted player, was always a trier. The forwards did not show the combination they did on their former appearance on the Park, W"hich was undoubtedly due to the strength of the opposition. X. Bach at centre-for-ward has not the quality of leadership in quick judgment and accuracy in distributing the play. Trewheela fluctuated in his play and was not always reliable, while Adams was more or less obscured by Christie. Hamilton was a great grafter and impressed most by his manner of nursing the ball when tackled and his elusiveness in making openings. Allen had several dangerous runs, but his infield passes were usually smothered by Trams' defence. The play of the losers lacked nothing, however, in dash and certainly is promising.

PONSONBY THROUGH. Metropolitan put up a great fight against Ponsonby in their Falcon Cup game, and although Ponsonby held a decided advantage throughout the game, Metropolitan were always dangerous, but missed many chances. Beaten, but not disgraced, about sums up the position for Metropolitan. Flashruan, in goal for Metropolitan, gave a sound display and brought off some smart saves. Andrews gave an outstanding display at lull-back, his strong defensive work being a feature. Robinson ably backed up Andrews, and is a promising young player who tackles well. J. Colledge was solid at centre-half and got through a hard task in great style. McLaren was outstanding in the half-back line, being clever both in attack and defence. Waldron also proved a stout defender at half-back and was responsible for much useful breaking up. The forwards all shaped well, but lack of finish in front of goal was their chief fault. They were also much too crowded together on attack, of which fault Ponsonby defence took full advantage. Pollard, at right wing, put in some great work, a lot of which he nullified by weak finishing. Fryett. inside-right, was fast and clever, but displayed the same weakness. Holmes played a real good game at centre-forward aiul was always in position. Mussam, at inside-left, also played a good game, but was inclined to crowd his centre. G. Colledge, on the left wing, was the best of the forward line, putting in some brilliant runs down the line.

Watts, in goal for ronsonbv, did not have a great deal to do, but was safe when called upon. Miles played a solid game. his strong defensive work being first-class. Morrison, who partnered Miles, did not play as well as usual. Roberts turned out to fill a gap and played a useful game. Innes played lefthalf first spell and did well. He went to centre-forward in the second half to force matters. Wright was below form and seemed ofT colour, being very slow. The forward line did not impress, lack of thru«t and poor combination being evident. The solid , , trickling of the Metropolitan backs probably upset the line. With Innes' advent at centre in the second half the attack improved .considerably. Hunter, on the right wing, was fair but was well held by the opposing half. Williams had an off flay and was very weak. Stewart played a bustling game, but did not get a chance to shine. Balloch was about the best of the line, doing a tremendous amount of work. Wilson was also good on the left wing, scoring a good goal.

WELL PLAYED, MANUREWA ! There is truth in the old saying that a side is just as good as the other side will allow it to be, and it is equally true that weak opposition seldom brings out the best in a victorious side. An instance in point occurred at Devonport Domain on Saturday when North Shore registered a G—l win over Manurewa in the second round of the Falcon Cup competition. One has no wish to disparage the value of their victory; still less does one desire to minimise the merit of the plucky fight which the visitors made, but the fact remains that play was patchy and that the opposition of a junior team failed to produce the best of which Shore are capable. More, perhaps, than any other team in the senior grade are the Devonportonians influenced by the quality of the opposition. A well-balanced attack has always found their defence sound ana reliable, and a clever and vigorous defence has invariably stimulated their forwards to clever things. Also (as on Saturday), has the reverse operated. Manurewa's team is young and vigorous, and it comprises one or two players ot real promise, but, as a whole, it" is not yet up to senior status. Every member, nevertheless, deserves credit for his work on Saturday. Particularly noticeable was Lees, the auburn-haired centrehalf, who was a tower of strength in defence, and was by no means lacking when it came to the gentle art of sending a pass forward to the extreme wings, passes, moreover, of the "anticipatory" [ type, such as leave a forward a fair run to an uncovered position. Excellent work was also done by Anderson, at outside-right, by Martin, in the centre, and by Parkes, in goal. The visiting custodian had one or two breathless moments in the second half, when shots by Bush and Renshaw had him guessing, but on more than one occasion be did valiant work, and the score against him inijrht have been much heavier with no discredit to him.

Turning to the home side, one places Jones first and Tipton second amongst a team which was never really "together"' despite a 6—l win Colebourne was uncertain, Gerrard made more mistakes than usual, and the forwards were erratic and ill-balanced. Ren-

Shaw scored three goals, one of them

being the outcome of a smart bit of opportunism, but in spite of this success one is still of opinion that he is more suited to the half-back line than the forward rank. Jay and Bradsha-w did one or two clever things, Bush was always on the look-out for an opening, and Moore, badly fed as he was, put in several characteristic runs and centres, but the forward line, like the rest of the team, was disjointed.

Shore have been troubled for some tin* for lack of a really reliable goal*

keeper, but it would appear that at last they have found a recruit of promise. Staples, a Navy player, filled the breach on Saturday, and showed both judgment and resource. He is certainly worthy of a further trial.

Juniors jottings will appear on Thursday.

SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. The Suburban Association played the second round of the Dickson Cup on Saturday and as a result Bon Accord remain undefeated. The association reports that the encounter between Thistle and Richmond was productive of a very keen struggle, and that the display of Bon Accord against Thistle brought some nice football to light. The four teams of the association are fast working into combined effectiveness and cultivating attractive team work. The ground at Grey Lynn, though at present somewhat rough on the surface, is improving week Ly week and the management states that during the close season it will be ploughed and harrowed and sewn do%vn ready for next season. This week-end a visit will be received from a Putaruru team, and there will also be a fixture with local Chinese teams, which, with the Dickson Cup tie third round, will provide the afternoon's programme. The rivalry on the waterfront amongst the employees of the Harbour Board was again demonstrated on Saturday, when there was a return match between King's and Prince s wharves. On this occasion the latter had their revenge after a gruelling game to the tune of 2—o. Yates at outside-left and Crookes were outstanding for the winners, while for King's, Drayton outside-left, Dan Jones left-half, and Brooks at back, were prominent. With the burning question of Soccer supremacy on the wharves still in doubt the contenders are determined to play a "rubber" when a great tussle is assured.