FOOTBALL BY NIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 12

FOOTBALL BY NIGHT.

" ELECTRIC SOCCER."

BLANDFORD PARK VENTURE

SL C CESS FL" L TOUR N A MEXi

" It's lo\ely. daddy, but what a lot of half-times there are! " Such was the comment of a youthful Soccer enthusiast at Blandford Park last evening, when the seven a side tournament under artificial light was in progress. Possibly there was the germ of helpful criticism in the remark. Fifteen football matches in two and a-half hours is certainly full measure, and it may be that fewer teams and longer fairies would prove more satisfying. Those played last night were of eight minutes' duration, and it is certainly asking a good deal of a side to establish anything in the way of an understanding in a four-minute

"halt".'' With eight teams in the tournament" and ten minutes played each way, a side would have a better chance of justifying itself and spectators who had come from far afield would have the satisfaction of seeing their favourites in action for a more satisfying spell.

This mild criticism ended, it may at once be said that the experiment oi the Auckland Football Association in staging night football was in all its essentials a complete success, and the enterprise is one which deserves well of the public. The unsettled weather prevented a large attendance last evening, but fully 600 people were present, and on all sides one heard expressions ol admiration for the success of the lighting plan and the general management of the tournament. The feasibility of play by night was fully proved. There was a minor contretemps when a heavy shower caused one or two of the 1000-c-andlepower electric globes to explode, necessitating a temporary "black-out," but no doubt the necessary protection can be given, and with the addition of possibly two more lights, the playing piece could be made almost as bright as day. As it was, last night's play could be followed with ease, particularly from the stand and the touchlines. The Pres« seats, which afford such an excellent view by daylight, are in no wise superior to the outer enclosure so far as night football is concerned.

Like a Billiards Table.

over forty brilliant lamps shedding their beams on the ground, Blandford Park looked for all the world like a giant billiards table, the likeness being intensified by the verdant green of the turf, the clear lines marking out the field of play, and the white ball which was the centre of interest for all. The impression of unreality which was created by the lighting added to the spell. It is not difficult to imagine night '•soccer" taking a firm hold on the public fancy.

i ootball of the tabloid type naturally contains plenty of excitement and the spectators had full value for their very modest admission charge last evening. Five goals in eight minutes must be somewhat of a record for the code, especially when it is added that they were all scored by the same player. The hero of this dashing performance was Kav. the clever Thistle forward, who practically beat the Y.M.C.A. in the first round "off his own bat." The vagaries of football fortune were exemplified in the second round when the Ponsonby B team defeated the doughty Thistle I—o. and again in the semi-final when the fast and talented Tramway's team could beat Bon Accord by only one goal.

There was no slacking of interest as I the final approached, and both semi-1 finals were closely contested. The decider produced a splendid tussle between Tramways and Onehunga, the decision and the special trophy awarded for the winners going to Tramways by the narrow margin of one corner, no goals being scored. And so ended Auckland's first ''electric soccer" tournament. Whether the Football Association decides to continue the series or not it may rest assured that the venture has done good, proving the virility of the splendid old code, and affording a tribute to the enterprise of those who control it in this part of the i world. Details of the matches are appended:— First Round.—Tamaki beat Manurewa by 3 corners to 0: Thistle 5 (McKay 5), beat Y.M.C.A., 0; Onehunga beat Northcote and Birkenhead United by 1! corners to 0; Metropolitan, 1 (Pollard), beat Rangers, 0 : Tramway 2 (Spencer 2) beat Ponsonby 0; Belmont. 1 (Allen) beat. Philomel 0; Bon Accord, 2 (Dunsmore 1. Tremain 1), beat Celtic. 0: Ponsonby B. 1 (Foreman), beat Corinthians 0. Second Round. —Onehunga. 1 (Petersen), beat Tamaki, 0: Tramways. 3 (Spencer 1. Bell 2). beat Metropolitan. 0; Bon Accord beat Belmont by 1 corner to 0; Ponsonbv B, 1 (Morrison), beat Thistle. 0. Semi-final.—Tramways. 1 (Spencer), beat Bon Accord, 0; Onehunga beat Ponsonby by 1 corner to 0.