END OF SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 18

END OF SEASON.

THISTLE CUP FINAL MANTTREWA'S TRIUMPH. VICTORY AFTER PLUCKY FIGHT. One of the most stubbornly-contested cup ties seen on Blandford Park this season was that last night between Thistle and Manurewa in the' final of the Thistle Cup competition. Sustaining a two goal deficit in the first half,' the 'Rewa played with, great determination, drawing level before full time, thus necessitating extra' time in' which the; B ''wrade champions added two goals, ; winning the cup..-The: teams were:— Manurewa. — J. Williamson-, A. Donaldson, Ross, Brown; Lees, Clark, Anderson, L. Williamson, Palmer, Ha'rt, H. Donaldson. Thistle—Gerrafcl, Dorman, Hibbert, ' Carter, McCpsh,. H. Cummings, L. Cummings, Chalmers, Hamilton, Kay. Referee ? Mr. A. Kyle. ; : v The B-graders are to be heartily congratulated on what was, without a. doubt, a meritorious and thoroughly deserved victory. Condition played an important part in the decision, and in- this .respect Thistle certainly faced a heavy handicap in having had several Aveeks of enforced idleness. The game throughout was a contest of skill as against vim and vigour, and because Thistle "were never allowed to settle down to combined football, and studied tactics and their, defence ■wavered before the slashing onslaughts of Manurewa, the trophy went to the country side. From first to. last the match was. choke■■full.-of incident. -The most prominent feature was the bustling methods of,Manurewa, demonstrated on every occasion on which a Thistle player approached the ball. The swooping movements of the 'Rewa repeatedly carpeted the black and white forwards in aggressive movements and lusty kicking, if at times wild and directionless, relieved pressure; Thistle up to the time of their second goal deserved their lead, but this success seemed to lull them into a false sense of security, while it only spurred their opponents to greater effort. Kay got both goals for Thistle, one from a penalty, but before the teams changed ends, Marris' citadel had many narrow escapes. The teams changed over, however, with the B graders two down. . ■ After a short spell of attack by Thistle at the opening of the second half, Manurewa took up the running and more or less held the upper hand till the end. Thistle had several dangerous raids, mostly due to the very erratic positional play of Lees, Avho left his place and his opponent utterly neglected, but there was always sting and thrust in the 'Rewa attacks. Marris rose to the occasion with many clever and daring saves, but when the defence crumpled his task became hopeless; Manurewa's opening goal followed a clever manoeuvre by H. Donaldson, on the left, and a timely centre which was taken up by Lees and driven hard into the net. Then; after Palmer had unaccountably missed, two open goals, Anderson got through to equalise and time was called shortly afterwards, necessitating extra time. The prolongation of the game told its tale on Thistle, and after a short time, Hart, with one of the cleverest efforts of the night, put his. team in the lead, for Anderson to put the issue beyond doubt a short time later, the game ending: Manurewa 4, 2. Trophies Presented. During the interval ;of Vthe ThistleManurewa match; the ; trophies won' during the season in the junior and senior grades were presented to the successful clubs by Mr. L. C. H. Dawson, vice-pre-sident, who suitably complimented the winners. In the senior A grade, Tramways took the Falcon Cup, the Thompson Shield and the Skeates Cup; senior B, Skerrett Memorial Cup as champions, Manurewa, •whp were also later presented with the Thistle Cup; second grade champions, Pascoe Shield, North Shore; second grade knock-out, Dacre Cup, North Shore j third grade knock-out, New Lynn.