ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 13

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE FALCON CUP CONTESTS. TRAMWAYS DEFEAT THISTLE. NORTH SHORE ELIMINATED. The Auckland Football Association commenced the annual knock-oat competition for the Falcon Cup at Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon, when the two matches of the first round were played, and Thistle and North Shore were eliminated. In the principal match of the day Thistle was defeated by Tramways, with the score 3 goals to 2 in favour of the latter club. There was a large attendance of spectators, who witnessed a thrilling encounter, notwithstanding the slip-, pery state of the ground. Eight to the final whistle the issue was in doubt, while the game bristled with spectacular and exciting incidents throughout. It was a memorable struggle between two clever and evenly-matched sides, and though Tramways scored a well-deserved and popular victory, there was really nothing between the teams on the day. Ponsonby sprang a great surprise in the early match, defeating North Shore by the large score of 7 goals to 1. It is true that the North Shore team contained several players who were nursing injuries and had to go quietly, but'the PonsOnby eleven gave their best display of the season, and deserve full credit for a sweeping victory. TRAMWAYS V. THISTLE. McElligott won the toss for Tramways and decided to defend the bridge end. From the kick-oil Thistle was aggressive, jumping into its stride in a delightfully smart manner. A. Christie, the Scots' centrehalf.. placed nicely to J. Christie in the forward line. The inner right evaded Portcou3 and gave the ball to Ahern on Thistle's right wing. Ahem swung across a grand centre. Kemick and Dunsmore missed it." but Kay ran in from the left and beat Batty with a rising shot at express speed. From the restart Thistle attacked again. Another .centre came from the right wing and once more Kay spurted through the opposition to repeat his performance. Thistle had two goals on before Tramways had thought of starting. Immediately play became fast and furious. and what was to be one of the hardest tussles ever witnessed in Auckland commenced in real earnest. The ball flew up and down the field at a brisk pace. One moment Tramways was bombarding its opponents' citadel and at the next Thistle was hotly attacking. Clever move and counter-move delighted the onlookers, with every man on the field striving his- utmost. For Tramways McElligott was early prominent with clean tackling and clever placing. Ho set his right wing in motion and, from a great centre by Simm, Dodds sent in a clinking drive, which A. Christie headed clear from the goal-mouth, amid great excitement. Thistle was taking its turn at -attack and forcing matters on every occasion. Helped on by a free-kick, well taken by Tinkler, Thistle bombarded Batty in the Tramways goal, to find the custodian defending well. Simpson emerged from a mix-up with the ball at toe and shifted the scene of action to midfield. Every inch of the way was being stubbornly, contested and the l'eferee was kept busy, infringements occurring frequently. For Thistle Reid and Ferguson in the back line were playing splendid football and Tinkler, at right half, was constantly conspicuous. Kissock, the Tramways centre half, was also giving a masterly display, ' seeming to be always where the ball was. He made a beautiful opening for Spencer, who let drive for goal. A stinging shot was well on the target and Morris brought off a splendid save. The game proceeded with neither side able to force an advantage until Porteous sent the Tramways left wing on another spirited raid. Pretty play between Davis and Lewis resulted in a centre from the latter. For once Reid failed to connect and Dodds was through to score an excellent goal, giving Morris no chance to save. The interval was called shortlv afterwards with the scores:—Thjstle.,2; Tramways,. 1. All expectations of a strenuous second half were fully realised. Spencer, of Tramways, trot an opening shortly after resuming, but was iust beaten by the bounce of the ball. Thistle 1 then "attacked in determined style nnd there were anxious moments round the Tramways goal. Kemick had two fine openings and just missed op both occasions. Ensuing play saw Tramways having slightly the better of matters, but its opponents were always dangerous. Players of both sides were put out of action temporarily and the referee had no easy task in keeping-the game'under control. From an opening made by "Watson, Dodds and Simm worked down on the Tramways right. Simm nlaced the ball to the froal-mouth, where hot • work followed and "hands" against a defender gave Tramwnvs a,penalty. Snenper made no mistake, with the kick, bringing the- scores level, amid roars of anplause. For Thistle, Kay moved to centre forward, nutting even more vigour? into the attack, but the Tramways defence held. Kissock eventually started Spencer on a smart run to the oth*r' end. The centre forward nassed to Dodds.and then Simm received, to centre with iudgment. DAvis was in Position, but could not drive it home and Supncer rushed ip to shoot successfully, putting Tramways in' the lead The finil stages developed into , a battle royal. Thistle, led bv Kay, made valiant efforts to equalise and several of its shock attacks appeared likely to overwhelm Tramways, but it wes not.: to b» 'Just, before full-time was called Thistle forced a corner, Ahern riiloted ball from the play with rare skill. A. Christie headed sharply for goal, but Kissock jumped and saved .the situation, heading clw, A rousintr encounter ended a few minntea later with the scores .-—Tramways.' 3; Thistle, 2. , ;

PONSONBY V. NORTH SHORE. Winning the toss, Ponsonby played toward the bridge goal. North Shore's initial' attack was repulsed by Williams and it' was not long before Innes- and Hunter were associated in a bright, move t on Ponsonby's right. Driven back in their first attempt they came again, and Hunter ceiitred crisply. Whowell missed the clearance and Ponsonby's centre forward; Watterson,. was through to score a amart PonßOnby was one up after , a few minuteß' play. Shore endeavoured to 1 retaliate, but its attacks seemed to lack the customary vim and finish, while there was almost an entire absence of concerted movement. On the other hand, Ponsonby was swinging the ball about in capable style and combining cleverly. Dacre made great efforts to rally the Shore's attack and Bucceednd in penetrating several times to Pomonby'a area, where Williams. Pickett and Lane effectively cleared itheir lines. Then were came, a dashing breakaway by Ponsonby. Morrison, wbo was playing well at right half, placed well to his forwards. Innes drew the defence with great judgment and crossed. LMnott shot in from the left wing with only the goalkeeper to beat and put Ponsonby two goals in the lead. Ensuing play saw North Shore still un- ! able to get going. Often the team swept i down on the Ponsonby goal, but the attacks came to nothing. The finishing was, weak, and .freQuently the forwards got m each other's way. On one occasion Woplley wan about to shoot from a good position when Jay's* over-eagerneaa spoiled the chance, relieving from a North Shore onslaught, Kennedy, of Ponsonby, placed mcely to W Knott. The inside left kicked hard Up field. Gerrard slipped .in clearing and the miskick was gathered in by. Watterson on the run. He shot truly. Lipocombe stopred the. ball, but L. Knott raced up to Be pfayLg nt ßparkling t 'football, Ponsonby continued to dominate the situation. Snore s efforts increased, but all attempts to fpenetrate were frustrated. A centre from Hipkins went to Dacre. whose shot was , too ■ M "h From the goal-kick Morrison received and "sent Innes away on Ponsonby s right. A great, passing rush ended in a good snot from Hunter. Whowell rushed across to clear, out missed. L. Knott was in again to score his third goal in succession and make Ponsonby's total 4. It was not long before the Ponsonby foiwards were sweeping down on Shore s goal again. Innes sent in a beautiful long-range shot which Lipscombo failed to hold. Once more L. Knott was on the spot to drive home sthc advantage. Half-time sounded shortly afterwards with the scores;—Ponsonby, 5; North Shore, 0. ' On resuming, Shore pressed and a.long shot from Dacre , was only inches wide of its objective. Morrison eased the pressure for Ponsonby, who worked the ball to the other end. From a throw-in Innes lifted the ball to the North Shore goal-mouth. With a ,fine first-time drive Watterson beat Lipscombe from ten yards out. Ponsonby was now six goals up. . . North Shore's chances of winning were now very slender, but the team kept pegging away and during -an onslaught on Ponsonby's goal a defender was penalised for an infringement in - the penalty area. Baxter took the spot-kick and turned it to full account, securing Shore's only goal of the day. , . • * In the closing stapes there was some Bpectacular play, but the interest was gone. Ponsonby continued to dominate'; matters. W. Knott caused some amusement by endeavouring to give goals to his brother. The outside left failed twice from eany nositions, Just before the final whistle, Innes scored, a splendid goal with a sreat drive." Ponsonby ran out an easy victor with the scores :-Ponsonby, 7; North Shore. 1.

A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. Y.M.C.A. AND NORTHCOTE. Having drawn byes in the opening round of the Falcon Cup. Y.M.C.A. met No;rthcote, at Devonport, in the championship competition. Overhead and surface conditions were ■ perfect, and after an exciting struggle before a fair attendance, Y.M.C.A. won in a close finish by the odd goal in five. With the sun behind it Northcote attacked from the start, and after narrowly missing a score Burford burst away on the left and swung a fast centre to Bell, who caught Thomaß napping and scored. Fast play followed and Lyon saved cleverly from Mime, while Burford returned in good style and Treniain was checked by Clanachan. Aorthcote continued to press. Willicims .forcing a corner and Marshall hitting the bar with a hard cross shot. Otter .tan down on Y.M.C.A.'s left and Hibbert cleared from the goal mouth while Northcote tried some shots which were well cleared by Thomas. Then Kennedy and Paton got past Hollows, the ball going to Humphreys, who evened the score with a neat shot. Fast even play followed and both goals had narrow escapes till half time sounded with the score even, one goal each, From the restart Y.M.C.A. broke away with a strong rush, in which Milne and Humphreys led the van, the latter netting from close in. Nortlicote set up a strong counter attack, and Bell again slipped between the backs to even matters with a good shot. , From this stage the Y.M.C.A. forwards settled down to a strenuous attack, in which Otter. Milne and Humphreys were conspicuous, but several good movements were checked at the critical stage by offside rulings. Ultimately Gebbie gave Y.M.C.A. the lead with a long shot from a free kick which curled past, Lyon. Northcote fought hard to equalise, but kicking too hard forward spoilt some promising attacks, and time sounded with the score: Y.M.C.A., 3; Nortlicote, 2. JUNIOR GAMES. • SECOND DIVISION. Dacre Cup.—Philomel 7, beat Northcote, Y.M.C.A., 3, v. Metropolitan, 3. THIRD DIVISION. Kiwi 2, beat Northcote, 0. FOURTH DIVISION. W.Y.M.1., 5, beat Onehunga, 0. Bouskill Cup.—North Shore, 4. beat Mt. Albert Grammar. 0. Eden Rovers, 3, beat Thistle, 1. Y.M.C.A., 2, beat Richmond, 1. FIFTH DIVISION. Comrades A, 4, beat Mt. Albert Grammar, 0. Mt. Albert Grammar B, 1, beat Comrades B, 0. Technical College, 4, beat Metropolitan, 0. W.Y.M.I. defaulted to Glen Eden. SIXTH DIVISION. Northcote, 2, beat Mt. Albert Grammar, 1. North Shore, 3, beat W.Y.M.1., 0. Comrades A, 8, beat All Saints, 0. Comrades B defaulted to Carlton. SEVENTH DIVISION. Comrades B, 3, beat W.Y.M.1., 0. Comrades A, 2, beat Tamaki, 0. North Shore, 5, beat Northcote, 1. Belmont A, 1. beat Carlton, 0. • Comrades G, 0," drew with Carlton, 0. HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Saturday. ' A full programme of soccer matches was played under the auspices of the Hamilton Football Association, to-day. Hamilton Wanderers and Frankton Railways met in the senior game, which aroused keen interest. Keen and vigorous play was witnessed, Wanderers winning by 7 goals to 2. WANGANUI DEFEAT MANAWATU. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WANGANUI, Sunday. . In a Soccer match yesterday, Wanganui defeated Manawatu by 5 goals to 4. The game was one of the best seen on the local ground for several years. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. Association football matches played yesterday resulted as follow Senior A: Hospital, 3. v. Y.M.C.A., 2: Marist, 2, v. Thistle, 1; Institute, 3, v. Waterside, 0. CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday.: Association football matches played yesterday resulted Nomads, 2, v. St. Albans, I: ICaiapoi. 3. v. Villa. 3; Sunnyside,. 8, v. Now Brighton, 1. NELSON, Saturday.. In an Association football match this afternoon Nelson (holders) wore defeated by Buller in the Emms Cup competition, the challengers winning by 7 goals to 0. The Buller team showed all-round superiority. Nelson's attack was weak. At halftime Buller was leading by 4 goals to 0. The visitors' passing was of a very hi eh order and the local team had no chance against them. *■ ;

ROAD CYCLING.

THE MANUKAU CLUB. VICTORY FOR TITCHINER. A Toad race over a 17-milea course at Mangere was decided by the Manukau Cyisle Club on Saturday afternoon, B. Titchiiier winning from a field of eighteen riders. The result was;—B. Titchiner. 6m, 1; v. Sanders. 6m. 2:, C. G. Galbraith, 2m, ;3. Time, 50m 21 3-ss, * "W. TI Bray registered fastest time from scratch, 46m 16 4-ss, and finished only 15s before F. J. Casey, also on .scratch. Wilson's time, 46m 17 3-ss, was third fastest The club will hold an 11-miles event over two' laps of the Hangere course next Saturday. -

AMATEUR BILLIARDS.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. STEVENSON BEATS MASSEY. The first round of the Auckland provincial amateur billiards championship was completed on Saturday evening, when C. A. Stevenson, Taumarunui. defeated A. Maßsey, Auckland, by the narrow margin of fivo points in a game of 500 up. At his third visit to the table Stevenson made a break of '2B. Massey replied with a 24 and a 22. and reaching the 100 mark first, continued to lead until past 4(10. Stevenson then began to improve in bis scoring and gradually took the_lead, to win an exciting match by 500 points to 405. This was Stevenson's first appearance locally and by defeating Massey, who is a well-seasoned match player, he performed very creditably. The second round will commence at. the showrooms of Measrp. Billiards. Limited, this evening with a match between M. D. White and W. Hackett.

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. COST OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.* [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 " WELLINGTON. Saturday. At the annual meeting of the New Zenland Tennis Association, Mr. ; Denniston, who presided, said the association had the largest number of affiliated members of any body in the Dominion. He considered that the more tournaments there were held the better tennis there would be. . Mr. Gray said the cost of running the New Zealand championships seemed ridiculously high, and he thought it the duty of the committee to endeavour to cumil expenses. An expenditure of £2OO was absurd. - The chairman acknowledged that the ex - penditure was high, but said it was unavoidable. It was not so high when it was considered that the committee had to cater for such a large number of players; There were over 1000 at the tournament Mr. "Goldie believed that until the championships were held at one particular centre the tournaments would never be satisfactory from a financial point of vieiv. An Auckland motion, recommending that the selection of balls be made by the various delegates and ; that affiliated associations be given notice of the date on which it was proposed to make the selection; was lost. ■ The roeetin? unanimously granted affiliaiion to the Maori Association, and Messrs. Ngata and Tahiwi were welcomed as delegates. The following officers- were elected:— Patron, -the, Governor-General; president, Mr. Griffiths (Auckland); vice-presidents, the presidents of the various associations; delegates to the International Association. Mr. "Woodward; management committee, Messrs. Denniston, Berry, Henderson, Irons. Longuet, Whitenursons. Tahiwi; secretary and treasurer. Mr. D. M. Kean: auditor. Mr. Austin; New Zealand Appeal Council. Messrs. Peacock. White, Foden, Goldiie, and Professor Wilson.