THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 17

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

THISTLE STILL IN THE LEAD . FINAL FOR CHATHAM CUP CHANGE IN VENUE SUGGESTED The senior Soccer championship sanies on Saturday effected little alteration in the competition table. With the second round of matches well under way, Thistle continues to hold a very comfortable lead, and there appears little chance of it being prevented from securing tho premiership honourfe for the second season in succession. The most interesting contest at Blaiulford Park was the meeting of Comrades and Thistle in the curtainraiser fixture. Comrades gave a very clever display, and was a trifle unlucky not to divide tho points at least. Thistle, which is undefeated in competition games this season, came as near to having its colours lowered 011 Saturday by its youthful rivals as it has had at. any other time this season. It is interesting to note that the Thistle team, of Christchurch, has also been undefeated in competition games so far this season. It won the Cantorbury championship competition last Saturday, finishing with a lead of five paints over Western. Tho Thistle side was successful in the South Island semifinal of the Chatham Cup competition, so that there appears to be a reasonable chance of its meeting Auckland Thistle; winner of the North Island final in tho ultimate final of the competition.

An interesting point was raised by the control board of the Auckland Football when it mooted the advisability of approaching the Dominion Council with a view to having the final of the Chatham Cup competition played in Auckland this season. The rules of the competition lay down that the final is to be played at Wellington, but the several reasons advanced to support the suggestion of Auckland as the venue merit favourable consideration.

It is estimated that it would be cheaper to bring the South Island filial-, ists to Auckland than send both the South Island and North Island winners to Wellington. By adopting Auckland as the venue, the boarding expenses of the Thistle side would be negatived at least. Then, again, there is an even more important point which should influence those concerned in their ultimate decision. With no Wellington team in the final this year, it would be hopeless to expect more than a passing interest in the fixture were it to be played in Wellington. At Auckland there would bo a decided local interest, and from a financial point of view thd change of venue would appear to be for the better. It is only fair to assume, however, that Thistle, after its exertions in the eliminating rounds, was anticipating the trip to Wellington with considerable pleasure, -and evidently actuated by this thought, the association has withheld its decision to apply to the New Zealand Council, until the Thistle Club has been given a chance to give its views of the suggested alteration. To Aucklanders the fixture would be a welcome one. The opportunity of seeing the two leading club teams in the Dominion opposed to each other under cup-tie conditions would create a great deal of interest, and, together with the challenge match for the English trophy with Canterbury, would help to provide a splendid finale to the representative season.