ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

FALCON CUP CONTESTS. THE FIRST ROUND DECIDED. NOTES ON PLAY AND PLAYERS Among both players and spectators there was a noticeable revival of interest in Association football on Saturday, when the first round of the Falcon Cup knock-out competition was decided. There can be no doubt that the cup games were needed to give fresh impetus to enthusiasm, for the season has been too long and this, together with numerous wet Saturdays, has tended to make the competitions monotonous. The Association would be well advised to finish the cup contests right off and at the same time clean up any remaining league matches that can be played between the eliminated clubs, Saturday's results leave Thistle, North Shore, Ponsonby and Tramways to contest the semi-finals. Although the first round produced no really brilliant football the games were ail decidedly interesting and it was very pleasing indeed to see the number of juniors included in the first elevens who acquitted themselves with credit. ihe clubs who did so are to be congiatulated on then' enterprise in trying out these young players, Nothing can spoil the career of a promising junior footballer quicker than never getting a chance, and in the long run the best interests of senior football and the game itself are served by giving the youngsters an opportunity to show what they can do in good company. Tramways' Narrow Win. In their cup match with Hellabys' the Tramways United eleven was fully extended on Satuiday. They just managed to get home by a single goal and on the day they could not have won by a larger margin. One of the reasons for Tramways' failure to show true form was that most of their backs were off colour and another that in the first half the whole side displayed far too much caution, lacking dash and initiative. The latter point is borne out when it is remembered that they got the winning goal in the second half and generally dia much better by taking more risks and swinging the ball about. Of course, Hellabys were by no means a weak side and Tramways had a strong wind to face in the opening session; but the wind was not sufficient to make so much difference, while the opposition from Hellabys was not nearly so formidable as that of North Shore on the previous Saturday when Tramways beat the league leaders with forceful play. Of the Tramway defence honours on Saturday were with Porteous and Simpson, while Flatty again showed brilliant form iti goal. The latter player is now right at the top of his form playing well up to representative standard. McElligott and Hopkins were much below their usual form, while Watson was not nearly as good as he was the previous week. The forwards ail worked hard and cleverly. Copeland, the centre, threw away one or two golden chances in the first half by passing out to his wings when he should have let fly at goal, but he more than retrieved these mistakes in the second session, scoring a brilliant goal. Davis and Spong were responsible for a large amount of good work while the wings, Simm and Lewis lifted the ball to centre in fine style and put in some great runs down the line. Outstanding in the Hellabys' defence, and the best back on the ground was Wilson, the left fullback, late of Watersiders. If Saturdav's display is his usual form he has very few equals in Auckland. Whowell, his partner, was also very sound, playing his best game of the season. Watts, the goalkeeper, another ex-Water-sider, defended his charge well. The halfbacks were disappointing. G. Martindale was the only one of the tnree to show anything like form. In the writer's opinion, Mellor and Rirnmer, on the left, were the pick of Hellabys' forwards Had the rest of the line been np to their standard there might have been a different tale to tell. Brittain, usually fullback and sometimes centrehalf, filled the centre-forward position on Saturday. He did very well considering the great change in position, but fell away toward the closing stages of the game. Northcote Eliminated. The Ponsonby-Northcote match was a lively encounter in which interest was well maintained throughout. Ponsonby deserved their win, for on the whole run of play they had decidedly the better of matters. Northcote were by no means out of the picture altogether, but they lacked the finish and team work which would have enabled them to add the finishing touches when the opportunities offered. Apparently there is no lack oi good goalkeepers at Northcote. Cbesney, their regular custodian and Auckland representative, was unable to play on Saturday. Lyon, the second grade goalie, filled the vacancy, and the seniors Ifisi nothing by the substitution, for Chesney could not have done better than the tall junior. An outstanding feature of a remarkably good display was a wonderfully quick recovery and he must have saved twenty good shots from all angles. Hibbert was the better of Northcote's fullbacks, while none of the halves was up 'co senior form. Ihe forwards all played useful games, Bell, Tremain and 'McDonald being perhaps most prominent, and in that order. Ponsonby's reconstructed eleven was quite a success. The team work was good and the players adapted themselves to the conditions cleverly. The half line proved to be much the strongest department. Kennedy, Neesham and Morrison made a very solid backbone for the team. Neesham gave one of his best displays, and Kennedy was equally good. Morrison, a second grade man, who usually plays fullback, acquitted himself splendidly, being much too good for the opposing forwards on many occasions. Craxton, the goalkeeper, was in excellent form. Green, another junior at right fuAback, shone throughout in tenacious spoiling work, although his placing was faulty on occasions. Williams was brilliant at times but not quite as consistent as usual. In the Ponsonby forwards the play of Ward and Hunter on the left was very good. Both are members of the second eleven and should do well in future seasons, for they display a sound knowledge of the game and their footwork, for such a wet day, was well up to senior standard. Cheeseman did fairly well at centre forward. He is another junior who will profit from experience. inner, and A hern got through at lot of useful work, although the former often tried to do too much on his own, an tmusual thing for him. Thistle and Y.M.C.A. Played on the Outer Domain, the Thistle-Y.M.C.A match was not a great game by any means, although it was always keen and vigorous. A strong wind spoiled the game to a considerable extent. Y.M.C.A. kept "ballooning" the ball, and in consequence skilful footwork was conspicuous only by its absence. Thistle were the superior side, and although they were on the defensive for longer periods than the scores would indicate, thoroughly deserved their win. The winning team was sound in ail departments with an intelligent understanding between the halves and fullbacks. Jack, in goal, was exceedingly safe. Of the forwards, Kay was the "most effective, doing the bulk of the shooting, though Hi slop, Dodds and Dunsmore were often responsible for some particularly clever concerted work. Thistle were unfortunate in having to play most of the second half without Buchanan. Bell, who filled the centre-forward position in the absence of Humphries, was not altogether a success, although he scored the opening goal. There can be no doubt that right half is his proper position. With Bell, Tinkler and Dickson, the Thistle half line will be hard to beat, and they should stick to this formation if ! they want to get into the Cap final, i For Y.M.C.A.,who had several of their juniors playing, Kirkpatrick, Marshall, McMiken and Lewis did weil individually in the forwards, but lacked cohesk* and finishing power. Of the defence, Dick, Shenkin and T. Sparling were always : prominent.

MATCH AT HIKURANGI. [BY 'JSi.EGRAjPH.~OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAKEI. Monday. On the Waro ground at Hikurangi on Saturday Y.M.C.A. and Hikurangi for a second time played a drawn game in the final of the Bromwich Cup knock-out competition. Play was exciting from start to finish, Booth opened the score for Y.M.C.A. and Wilson goaled again for the same side before A- Lawson opened Hikurangrs account. After the interval Lawson evened matters and Hellens established a lead for the home team. Croft, however, scored again for Y.M.C.A. With the score three all an extra 15 minutes' play was ordered, and Booth secured the fourth goal for Y.M.C.A. Just on time Pickett equalised and consequently there will be another meeting between the teams in a fortnight's time to decide the cup winners.