FALCON CUP SOCCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 213, 9 September 1935, Page 13

FALCON CUP SOCCER.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND. Y.M. AND GRAMMAR QUALIFY. SUBURBS FAIL TO AVOID RELEGATION. The last game in the senior champion* ship competition and the eemi-final tics ot the Falcon duo were played on Saturday and disclose a remarkable paradox, Y.M., who are at the bottom of the senior division championship, have played their way into the final of the knock-out contest, the Falcon Cup, while Poneonby, the season's champions, failed to defeat the second teain on the table, Mount Albeit Grammar, in the semi-final of the cup. Eastern Suburbs met Thistle in their championship <: il me, but could extract only one point, whereas two were necessary to place them on a level footing with Metro. College, third from the bottom. Y.M. and Suburbs will be the teams to pass into the second division of the senior grade next season, though Metro. College have yet to play the leading team of the second grade to justify their retention jn the first division. Thistle and Comrades have still to meet each other to complete iheir senior grade programme, .but the revolt has no bearing on the championship in any way and may not be played. The season is fast approaching its close. The final of the Falcon Cup. the Thistle Cup between the Chatham Cur> Weal finalists and the winners of the Falcon Cup, and a representative match with the Xavy are expected to see the fall of the curtain. The senior championship now reads as follows:— Goals. Ch. P. W. ti. T>. F. A. IMs. Ponsonby 12 !) 1 2 ISC 17 20 Mount Albert. 14 S 5 1 41 H4 IT North Shore .14 7 4 3 3."i 20 17 Thistle ..13 <> 4 3 41 31 15 Comrades .... 13 (i 5 2 38 44 14 Metro. College 14 3 S 3 12S 50 9 Y.M.C.A 14 2 8 4 2!) 33 8 East. Suburbs 14 1 7 G 33 46 S

BRIGHT SOCCER AT DEVONPORT.

The open invitation of the North Shore Club to come and see Soccer as it should be played'; met with a hearty public response for the Shore's special engagement vim the New Zealand Navy on Saturday, and with the close-cut and heavily-rolled lield lit for tenuis or cricket, everything was in favour of sparkling Soccer, the only drawback being a blustering breeze from the Cheltenham end. With the aid of this Shore set oft with a shock attack before Navy were properly under way and netted in the lirst minute, holding the lead till half-time. Then Navy evened and led by the odd goal and looked certain winners, till McCluskey ran right through the squadron to equalise, and dour defence by Shore against the breeze secured a drawn game of real merit, as a liard and fast display of good Soccer. Navy adopted the close game with many clever manoeuvres, but Shore tackling was keen and the defence solid, though better gunnery in the Navy van would have gained a victory. The squadron team lacked the stars of the Imperial sloops, but was a.well-balanced sitle with no weak spots. Stearns was very sound in goal, and Watts a cool and robust hack, while Buss, as pivot, and his wing halves, Atton and Orlord, were a good middle line both in defence and attack. Baye and Lougbone were a formidable right wing, and Uarwood, at centre-forward, showed himself a smart opportunist. Murray, hi goal for Shore, was repeatedly cheered for smart saving, and the backs and halves were sound defenders. Moore shone out on the forwards' right wing and was unlucky to lose a smart scoring shoe through a team mate being off-side. McCluskey was always dangerous and a typical goal, in which he ran past four defenders, was the brightest spot of a sparkling game, while Ernie Ekman's goal, ■with an unorthodox , trapping of Moore's pass, ran MeCluskey's feat close aV a feature of a line game.

JPONSONBY OUTPLAYED.

Mount Albert Grammar outplayed the champions on Saturday in the Jb'alcpu Cup semi-nnal in all departments and deserved their 5—2 victory. The champions were most disappointing ana did not appear to be able to adapt themselves to the forceful tackling and vigorous, progressive methods of Grammar. There was' not much combined effort in the game and the pace was speeded up by the hard ground and hery ball. Ponsonby -were forced to change the forward line owing to an injury to innes, sustained some weeks ago, and it was evident throughout the game that only dire necessity had compelled the I'onsonby skipper to take the field. He played the first spell at outside left, with Mullane outside right, but changed in the second half Throughout the mutch, however, he was limping and took a grout risk in turning out at all. The defence was not altered, but did not appear to be able to cope with the fast-moving Grammar forwards, while the school defence was alive and active throughout, and their flrst-time, deadly tackling threw the I'ousonby vanguard out of action most of the s ai « e ; Watson was generally safe in goal and had no earthly chance with the live shots that passed him. Hnggett was not up to his best, but Sims played a very useful game. The half-backs were not outstanding with Jones the best of the three, and in the forwards there was nothing like the combination that Ponsonby has shown. Grammar moved with confidence and vigour throughout. Warren was not In his usual reliable form and treque ntly mulled clearances. Holdsworth and feh.vw were safe and enterprising at back whi . Turley, Ward and Horrocks the middle line, played right on top of Ponsonbj, spoiling their attempts at cohesive action and sending the ball well W'eldto their own vanguard. The forwards were well served l by the inside men, Spencer.showing some of his best form, with !■ yyie also displaying much cleverness and aggression with nromising ball control. Jepbon was alavs reSdy fo take a chance and showed tine discretion in feeding his wings, F.etcir^ e thSii|s^J features in the match which lacked tne zest of cup tie encounters.

SUBURBS UNLUCKY.

Something better than a draw was earned ho,n Thistle scored once from a pen !'>• '" Thistle struck a lucky break in the last five minutes that enabled them to c\eu tne "lowing a keen sense of nnti<:;^ tio f n n sound judgment in the Placing ™ . y clearances, J. Wynne- gave . driving back many Thistle attacks, the-wcond half Suburbs took charge so com pletely that it seemed safe to weaken- tne defence in order to clinch the victory, ns Suburbs' forwards apparently could. CW weakened defence could not drive tnem back before Williamson scored. lu'Sk^r^e^hiitK^rdid not show as much construct, %e abd»t> Ji g goals were Jcored by him and *^«.'^ During tho second in Thistle's goal. gtfWHgrt g™^™^; S 'an¥ r Se^t. thi Witr\he gav U^-St a in al a-].^teonar'spurt, much slower than usual.

Y.M.C.A. VICTORIOUS. nt T ßl l !wH tcU ,V W P eU Y - M - c -A- anfl Metro.' s(»in..«-' lut<m lark lils t Saturday was a SltJom u ° in , teres^ n S fllsplay. The ground LOinlitiuus and a lively ball made Hiin"s Mgwvtaat; difficult, but that wa"''no Ixcufe n l,? e hnM I,le . s . s , kickln - ""it "as indulged "urn* J ? V 1 sWcs - At no sta « e did th« p. ne reach cup tie standard. The work of Croii, PPf , W tlle Metro - sldt '. SP eeJ ° iim i J d J - Dall iJnore were the best of '',' b , il . L ' ks > WWle Burton and McDougall " c ,!'!? °nly forwards to show any form. *." \-M-, Morns, Dobson, Uoss and Page ", *"<; best of the backs, the latter, a • " U ' d } umor . showing considerable w,,,i e- lu rlle forward line Murane, ",", l yS -. fl * ld Churchill played lair Tni?fS' 9} e lilttl ' r 's goal being a good effort. Taken all round, the iranie was ?i verv disappointing exhibition and both teams have given much better displays. l

GRADE GAMES.

■ SECOND GRADE. Onehunsa A 1, beat Mt. Albert A 0. 2 < l,piU Poußonby 0. Ihistle 3, beat Philomel 2. . THIRD INTERMEDIATE. North Shore 3, beat Comrades 1. mar OB - UeSe °' Beat Mt- Albert Gram - FOUKTH GRADE. Metro-College 5, bent Abel's 0. Comrades 4, beat I'onsonby 1. FIFTH GRADE. Comrades A 4, beat Metro-College 1. SIXTH GRADE. Comrades A 2, beat North Shore 1. Comrades B 0, beat Abel's 3. SEVENTH GRADE. t Metro-College 5, beat Abel's 0.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

HUNTIA". Star United 2, beat Hamilton Wanderers 1. Final of South Auckland championship.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

NAPIEJR. "Wellington Rovers 4, beat Watersiders WELLINGTON. First A Division.—Hospitals 3. beat Waterside 1; Marlst 5, beat swifts 0. First 15 Division.—Semi-iinal Victory Cuii : Seatouu 3, drew with Scottish Wanderers 3; Technical Old Boys 3, beat Island Bay 1. DUNEDIN. Maori Hill 2, beat High School Old Boys 0.