FALCON CUP FINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 219, 16 September 1935, Page 14

FALCON CUP FINAL.

MT. ALBERT GRAMMAR WIN.

PI.TTCKY FIGHT BY Y.M.C.A.

PONSONBY AND COMRADES DRAW

The final of the Falcon Cup between Y.M.C.A. and Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys produced a thoroughly satisfying contest on Saturday, and at one time it looked as though Y.M., the bottom team of the grade, would carry off the trophy and meet the champions, Ponsonby, in the Thistle Clip. But Grammar came away, strongly before the close and carried off their first senior trophy by 5 goals to 3. Ponsonby just managed to divide the points with Comrades in a championship game, and Shore and 2\avy had a really spirited return encounter at Devonporfe that attracted a large attendance of spectators. There was a pleasing improvement in the standard of play on Saturday, and the players appear to be accustoming themselves to the hard ground conditions. Final positions of teams:— Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Ponsonby 13 9 1 3 3S 19 21 Mount Albert .14 S 5 1 41 r>4 17 North Shore ..14 7 4 3 33 '2(5 17 Thistle 13 6 4 3 41 111 15 Comrades ... 14 6 5 3 40 4<j 15 Metro-College .14 3 8 3 '28 30 0 Y.M.C.A. T... 14 2 S 4 20 iW S Eaet. Suburbs 14 1 7 6 33 46 S

STRENUOUS CUP-TIE SOCCER.

There were no dull moments in the Y.M.Granmiar Old Boys clash, the game proving easily the best of the contest this season. The dominant aspect of the game was the vigorous, dashing and not uncombined display of Y.M., which made the more astonishing their position at the bottom of the championship table. A team that cau produce, football such as Y.M. showed in the cup final would, seem to be a loss to the code, but then points are the deciding factor and the misfortunes and bad luck that have dogged Y.M. for the whole of the season are no doubt part of the sume, and will bo taken in the true sporting spirit. The team should have no difficulty in playing themselves into the first flight next season. Mount Albert Grammar were never allowed to settle down to their usual. game and not till the closing stages were they even slightly predominating.

Smith had no chance with the goals scored against him. Movat was obviously nursing an injury and was far from his usual reliable form, but Dobson played a sound same with much . enterprise. The Y.M. middle line was the factor in breaking up the attacks of Grammar. Ross, Chapman, who turned out in spite of a damaged leg. and Sims were a robust, determined and combined trio that gave the opposition no scope whatever. In the forwards Y.Y.. were excellently served by Humphreys, McFarlane and Churchill, the last naiupd also in spite of injuries, but the extreme wingers. Jlurane. and Donaldson, were decidedly weak. W.M. lost nothing in prestige, in fact gained materially even in defeat.

Warren was altogether unreliable in goal for Grammar—that is till he got rid of his gloves, then lie seemed to field the. ball much more safely. Holdsworth and Shaw were safe at back and cleared without delay. In the half-back line., Ward had a good deal of work, but was not so safe or accurate as he has been, while Turley at right half, as well as Horrocks on the other flank, alike suffered in comparison with games earlier in the season. Isut the strong, wholehearted game played by Y.M. was not altogether unaccountable for this. Horrocks was the best of the half-backs. In the vanguard Jepson played a steady, judicious game., and was ably seconded by Spencer. Fyvie seemed to meet more than his match In Ross, Y.M. right half. '' Xoble and Woods, Mount Albert extreme wingers, were, progressive and useful members of the vanguard. It was a really bright and lively contest, and the winners are to be congratulated on their success.. ■~'.•» .

PONSONBY-COMRADES GAME. Th» match between Comrades and Ponsonby provided a hard and fast contest, and the result, two goals each, was just about a fair reflex of the play, although Ponsonby only played ten men. in the second half, Alullane being injured just at the finish of the first spell. Comrades also played ten men for a good part of the. first spell, E. Hooton coming on just before Muliane went off. Ponsonby fielded several substitutes in their team .while Comrades also tilled up with juniors, and they all performed quite cre-ditably. The game did not lack in vigour, the exchanges being very lively, but both sides have given better displays of team work. Yearbury filled the role of goalie for Comrades quite capably,. but seemed troubled under pres-sure,-Jetting through two easy goals. E. Hooton (a junior! filled the right-back position Tvell, getting in some good defensive .work, and ably backed up his colleague, McKenzie, who played his usual solid • game. The half-back line gave a sound display, Saunders coming from right back into the line and playing a good game. W. Hooton was as reliable as ever in the centre, Wihile Ritchie (a promoted junior) on the left showed promise. The front line displayed combination, but there was a decided weakness in front of goal, the shooting lacking sting , and direction. Francis, Hayward and Carter played well, but Evans and Fletcher have been seen to much bettar advantage.

Ponsonby lacked their usual team work especially in the backs, who did not support the front line as ..well as they gener-

ally do. . .Watson, in goal, gave a sound display dealing" effectively with anything that came his way. AVilkins (a promoted junior) partnered Hagget at full-back, and they got through a hard afternoon's work in good style. Sims was not as successful at half-back as he is in the full-back position, but gave a good display nevertheless. Jones, in the centre, showed constructive play, but found the young and virile Comrade forward line hard to hold. .Masters has played much better games. The front rankers gave a clever display, but the loss of Mullane upset the balance of the attack, and several iifceJy movements broke down for this reason. McCallum. and Farnan were clever on the ball, while Kdwards, a promoted" junior, at outside right, showed considerable promise. Eiggans worked hard in the centre, but without much success, the defence marking him well, and giving him no latitude.

GREAT DRAW AT DEVONPORT. The Shore Club could not have selected a greater attraction for' winding up its 1930 season at home than the return match with the New Zealand Navy, as the spectators' appetites were whetted by the sparkling drawn game with the squadron the previous Saturday, and there was a big muster in anticipation of another lively bout of good Soccer, reminiscent of the Shore-Philomel struggles in the good old days of pre-Blandford Park Soccer. There were several changes in the Naval ranks, the selectors being , anxious to get the best to represent the service in its match with the Auckland representatives. Both overhead and underfoot everything was made for a good display of bright football, and the crowd was well rewarded for its voluntary contributions by a hard and thrilling draw, with Navy equalising the score at 4 all, just as time was called, to end a thrilling contest . ■

With the aid of a slight breeze Shore was lucky to be 3 up at half time, the Naval marksmanship being faulty, and territorially there was not much advantage to either side. Navy abandoned long-range practice for close-up raids in the second spell, with greater profit in the shape of scoring hits. Lavis was satisfactory in goal for Navy, while Watts was a tower of strength at full-back, and used his weight effectively. Buss as pivot was prominent in every department but shooting, while seott and Davis as wing halves Bave m P py «- both in defence and attack. noorlv W T ls K St an<J elusive, but finished eff«-m. f . Lo - ngb ?" e and Little being the most tuectiie in the van, and working hard to even the score in an uphill struggle in both tackling and feeding McOufkev was closely shadowed, but* nearly got through on his own at times, and Moore was responsible for some good target work on the extreme right, while Ernest Ekman and Stevenson were great grafters in the inner berths. MIDGET GAMES. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. Onehunga 2. beat Comrades 0.

GRADE GAMES.

SECOND GRADE. >•• CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. Abels A 5, beat Onehunga 1. DACRE CUP SEMI-FINAL. Ponsonby A 2, beat Metro-College 1. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. SEMI-FINAL OF KNOCK-OUT. North Shore 5, Comrades 4. FOURTH GRADE. KNOCK-OUT. Metro-College 3, Dcat North Shore 0. Y.M.C.A. B 4, beat Y.M.C.A. A 0. FIFTH GRADE. KNOCK-OUT. North Shore i>, boat Comrades 4. Comrades A 4, beat New Lynn 0. SIXTH GRADE. KNOCK-OUT SEMI-FINALS. Ponsonby A C, beat Ponsonby B 1. Comrades A 4, beat Y.M.C.A. A 3. SEVENTH GRADE. KNOCK-OUT SEMI-FINALS. Y.M.C.A. B 2, beat Comrades 0. Metro-College Deat Y.M.C.A. A by default. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. ! Senior.—Howden Cup knock-out: Hamilton Wanderers 4, beat Claudelauds Rovers Intermediate. — Russel Cup knock-out: Hamilton Wanderers 5, beat Claudelautis Rovers 1. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Otago 3, beat Canterbury 2. WELLINGTON. First A Division, Alf. Williams' Trophy —Marist 0, beat Hospital 4. First B Division, senii-flnal Victory Cup (replay).—Scottish Wanderers 2, beat Seatoun O. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. TEAM FOR HIKUEANGI. A representative team to play • North Auckland at Hikurangi on Saturday next will be chosen from the following: — Higginson, Brownrigg, Berryman (Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys), E. Hooton, A. Francis, Bunting (Comrades), PricChard, Selby, Bracken ridge (Metro.), Chambers, Bond, Walters (North Shore), H. Edwards (Ponsonby). Players must assemble at Y.M.C.A. at 7.30 to-morrow evening.