SOCCER FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 247, 18 October 1934, Page 18

SOCCER FOOTBALL.

grant benefit. SATURDAY'S MATCH. TRAMWAYS V. THISTLE. " You can take it as definite that Thistle will field their very strongest team in the Grant benefit match on Saturday against Tramways, ' stated -yr. G. Sawers, president ot' Thistle, this morning, in response to a query regarding the Blandford Park attraction which will mark the close of the season. Watson, right half, who is suffering from "a swollen knee and Hislop, who has had a severe 'Hu attack, will be the only absentees from the team that won the New Zealand championship this season, -unless anything unforeseen occurs before Saturday. Tramways will also be at full strength, and will field practically the team that won the Xew Zealand championship in 1931.. Christie is the only doubtful starter at the moment, but otherwise the strong and clever combination of three years ago that reached Dominion premiership will be seen in the old colours. The teams should produce a standard of play that has not been seen in Auckland for several seasons. NEW CUP DECISIONS. ACTION OF CONTROL BOARD. Revised results of the finals of the Falcon Cup and the Dacre Cup were decided on by last night's meeting of the control board of the Auckland Football Association. As a player in the Thistle team which defeated North Shore in the Falcon Cup was not registered within the prescribed time the board decided to award the trophy to Shore United. This was after throwing out the protest last week from the Shore club on a technicality. A further letter received from the club intimated that if the board would not uphold their bylaws by virtually disqualifying the Thistle team, the club would refer the matter to the New Zealand Council. As regards the final of the Dacre Cup between Abels and Thistle in the second grade, the former club played a man who was under suspension. Under these circumstances the board decided that it had no option but to award the Dacre Cup to Thistle. The New Zealand Council wrote concerning the recent disbandment of the Auckland Referees' Association by the board. The council intimated that, following a request from the New Zealand Referees' Association, it would receive a deputation from that body. The council asked if a member of the control board could be present. The matter was left to Mr. F. M. Ritchie. It was also reported by the council that the referee in the Chatham Cup final lias cautioned an Auckland Thistle player for persistent appealing, and that the council was issuing a reprimand to the player in question. The question of the personnel of the senior and junior divisions for next year was discussed freely, and it was decided not to make a definite decision until the clubs had been circularised asking their intentions next season. It' was officially stated this morning that the Thistle Club had entered no protest, or made any complaint ill regard to Abels playing McLeay on Saturday. An official remarked that Thistle recognised that the better team won, and even without McLeay they doubt if the issue would have been any different. The club knew nothing of any irregularity regarding Abels' centre.