THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 14

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

FALCON CUP SEMI-FINALS. FINE FOOTBALL WITNESSED. THISTLE'S TIMELY EFFORT. Typical cup-tie football was witnessed at Blandford Park on Saturday when the semi-finals of the Falcon Cup competition were played under the control of the Auckland Football Association. In spite of the heavy rain in the morning the ground was in fairly good condition. The principal contest between Tramurewa and Thistle proved a thrilling atfd, at times, brilliant struggle, tho teams being level at tho call of time. Extra time was played and Thistle staged a fine recovery to gain the decision by the odd goal in five. The first half of the game was all in Tramu.rewa's favour, and the Thistle goal was surrounded by a cordon of attacked who could do almost everything but score. The second half was almost a repetition, but in this case Thistle were the attackers. Tho Tramurewa team struggled valiantly to hold tho goal lead gained in the first half, and it seemed that success was to reward its efforts, but just as the referee was about to sound the final whistln Woods went through the Tramurewa defences to level (he scores. The extra half an hour of play saw Thistlein the ascendancy for the most part, but Tramurewa fought, hard and could be considered unfortunate in some respects to lose the game. A sound performance was given by Gerrard in tho Thistle goal. lie received some very welcome support from Chapman and Williams, his two fullbacks. Although tho last-named pair have played better games together their exhibition on Saturday was highly pleasing. The halfline was not. particularly impressive in the first half of the contest, but improved later and was responsible for keeping a tight grip on the elusive Tramurewa forwards. Formidable on Attack. Wright was always where the work was hardest, and, but for a certain wildness in his transfers, he was a formidable figure on attack. Watson was the better of the wing-halves. The forwards played well at times, but slumped equally badly on other occasions. Cumrnings and Woods put in several smart dashes on their respective flanks, but usually were weak with their finishing shots. Stewart was the best of the remaining forwards, although he did not ' get many opportunities to thrust through the opposing backs.

The Tramurewa backs were subjected to a severe pressure during the game and rose gamely to all their opponents' onslaughts. Batty kept well and Simpson and Tinkler were noticeable for solid defending and clean kicking. Christie was a tower of strength in the centre-half position, but Fyfio and Balloch, after a good start, faded away arid did not support their forwards enough. Mill was the most dangerous forward in the Tramurewa van, being unfortunate on many occasions in not piercing the Thistle defence. Bell worked hard as did Spencer, while McMillan promoted several dangerous movements. Lacked Sparkle. While interesting enough, the contest between North Shore and Y.M.C.A., in which the latter gained a two-goal victory, lacked the sparkle which characterised the principal game. North Shore took the field two men short at the beginning, but two more straggled on, one before half-time and the other after the spell. Under such conditions it was little wonder that Y.M.C.A. gained an early lead. When North Shore made a determined effort in the second spell it was rather late in the game for the recovery to be effective. Milliard, Mowat and Chalmers showed up prominently in the Y.M.C.A. defensive section. The best of the forwards were Humphreys, Thornes, Hamilton and Kay. A. Smith guarded the North Shore goal in the second half in fine style, and Hart and Gerrard offered a staunch resistance in the last line of backs. Elwell and Haines played good games in the forwards. The decision of the control board of the Auckland Football Association in withholding the final of the senior grade championship until October 17 is open to adverse comment There seems little sense in putting back a fixture which promises to be one of the best of the club season until a time when public interest in any sort of winter sport is on the wane. The players are also showing the effects of a strenuous sea c on, so the sooner this important fixture is decided the better. Another minor representative fixture will be witnessed at Blandford Park on Saturday, when the Auckland team will meet the' South Auckland representatives. The game promises to be a good one.