ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19740, 13 September 1927, Page 16

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH CUP TROPHY. AUCKLAND'S STRONG POSITION. PONSONBY FOR CHATHAM CUP. By drawing with Canterbury on Saturday Auckland has probably earned the right to hold the English Football Association trophy for another season. There is only one more match to be played, this being between Canterbury and Otago next Saturday. To take ,the trophy from Auckland Canterbury will have to beat Otago by four clear goals. Although the victories gained by the local representatives this season have not been so clearcut as was the case last year, a definite superiority has boen demonstrated. It has been claimed in other provinces that the task of Mr. Phil. Neesham, sole selector in Auckland, has been a very simple one, and that the players chosen to represent the province have been so outstanding as almost to select themselves. Against this it may be argued that Auckland has never been able to field its strongest side this season owing to injuries. Kay and Hislop have not been seen together in any representative team, while Baxter, the most outstanding half in the game, has been unable to travel, and was away on H.M.S. Diomede during a great part of the season. In looking for a representative side this season Mr. Neesham was confronted with no easy task, as at least 20 to 25 players had serious claims to the honour. That his selection in each of the games for the English trophy has proved a success reflects much credit upon his judgment. The form of many players who have not been chosen this season is demanding attention, and it would be almost as easy to pick two representative elevens.

The team that drew with Canterbury on Saturday did not come up to its usual standard, the forwards in particular failing to strike form. The defence, as usual, was sound, while the halves were the strong link in the team, Carter being particularly prominent. Both wings were good, but the inside forwards, although individually clever,, did not combine to advantage. Batty was sale in goal and had a fairly quiet day. McDougall was the outstanding player for Canterbury, his saving on many occasions being sensational. Canterbury relied on the long swinging passes, and often had Auckland in trouble. Trotter worried the Auckland defence, and was well supported by the other forwards.

Chatham Cup Match. The ground conditions at' Bland ford Park on Saturday were not conducive to a very high standard of play. However, the ground underneath was much firmer than it has been for most of the season,* and the ball had a fair amount of life in it. Ponsonby thoroughly deserved its win oyer Marist, as it was more aggressive throughout. Watts was fairly sound in goal, and Pickett and Williams played sterling games. Morrison, Wright and Mooney did well, and got through a great, amount of work. The forwards were tireless, and their positional play was exceptionally good under very trying circumstances. For Marist Hic.key gave convincing proof of his ability as a goalkeeper. Rudolph was the stronger of the backs, who both played well, being responsible for some solid defensive work which kept Ponsonby from increasing its score. The halves were good at times, but failed to hold the Ponsonby attack. Thomas worked hard, although hi 3 placing was faulty at times. Barton was the outstanding forward on the field. He made some sparkling runs which should have been improved upon by the inside forwards. Condon proved a good leader and all five forwards showed a sound knowledge of positional play. The team' would probably have shown to more advantage on a firm ground. The game was tought at a thrilling pace. Knocks and minor injuries were common, but a fine spirit was displayed by both teams, and there was an absence of anything approaching rough play. Fine Play by Innes. That Ponsonby owes a big portion of its success this season to the sterling football and able leadership of its cap tain, R Innes, will be readily conceded by most followers of the game in Auckland. Innes, who is a New Zealand-horn player, first came to Auckland from Dunedin in 1916, and he has since been prominent in senior grade football in Auckland. For the first four years he played for North Shore, and since 1920 he has played continuously for the Ponsonby Club. He has been capped against every touring team that has visited the Dominion, and represented New Zealand in three out of four test games played during the recent Canadian tour. Innes has proved himself a prolific goal-getter, and it would be difficult to find a player who has shown such consistent form. Ponsonby will carry the good wishes of all Auckland supporters when the team travels to Wellington to meet Northern, the South Island finalists, for the Chatham Cup. This will be the third year in which an Auckland club has contested the final. In 1924 Auckland Harbour Board beat Seacliffe (Otago) by 3 goals to 1, while last year North Shore lost to Sunnyside (Canterbury) by 4 goals to 2. The competition was introduced in 1923, each province having won once. Championship and Falcon Cup.

With the end of the football season in sight., the championship is still in doubt, and the Falcon Cup contest has not yet commenced. The Auckland Football Association will require to make the fullest use cf the playing Saturdays which remain. That the championship should still be in dispute with only a few matches to be played emphasises- the equality of the teams in the competition. It is obvious the Thistle Club has laid a very strong claim to the honour, hut its failure against Navv Depot and North Shore means that the latter club now leads it by one point, and further matches will have to be played to decide the issue. The following table shows the positions of the clubs in the senior grade championShip; - Goals. P W. D. L. F. A. Pts. North Shore . 13 9 22 38 21 20 Thistle .. 11 9 1 1 33 " .1? Ponsonby ..11 ft 8 3 27 21 13 Navy Depot ..14 5 3 6 41 35 13 y M.C.A. .. 13 4 4 5 31 37 12 Tramways .. 32, 3 4 5 19 ?'} 10 Northcote .. 13 22 9 23 48 6 .. 11 1 8 7 19 37 5 The Falcon Cup knock-out competition is sure to provide some thrilling encounters. Many of the teams have been showing improved form, and with all representative fixtures out of the way, clubs will be able to field their strongest sides. Navy Depot will he a much harder proposition with aH the ships in port, and if it can maintain the form displayed against Thistle, the winning of the cup will be well within the bounds of possibilities.