CHATHAM CUP FINAL OTAGO’S SOCCER WAIL PONSONBY “POOR SPORTS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 11

CHATHAM CUP FINAL OTAGO’S SOCCER WAIL PONSONBY “POOR SPORTS”

On the return of the Northern Club to Dunedin from Wellington, without the Chatham Cup, the Soccer contributor to the morning paper made an attack on the successful “Ponies” by referring to “the poor sportsmanship displayed by the winners.” Apparently the All Bla„ek, McCormack. was one of the team which travelled to Wellington, but it was doubtful if he would be fit to play. A member of the Otago Football Association management, named Ruddiman, also accompanied the team, and just prior to the start of the game the Northern men asked if Ponsonby would object to a substitute being played for McCormack, although the proposed player was not qualified for the Chatham Cup contest. The “Ponies’ ” captain, Bob Innes, said they had come down to play under Chatham Cup rules, and it was not in his power to agree to any infringement of the rules. McCormack played, and was the most dangerous man in the Northern atta.ck until the second half, when he went lame. THE OTHER SIDE The Southern scribe says nothing about two Ponsonby players being knocked out for the rest of the season, or the “Ponies” having to play against a howling gale, with nine men, in the second spell. Bob Innes learned his Soccer in Otago, and comes from an old Soccer family there—the McMillans, who represented Otago before Bob, their nephew, was ieorn—and whether at football or cricket, on the field or off, Bob Innes is admired everywhere as a good sportsman, who would not point or take a mean advantage at any time. The Northern club has forfeited its deposit with a frivolous protest to the New Zealand Council. Meantime, an apology is clue from the “Daily Times” to the maligned “Ponies” for its unwarranted accusation of poor sportsmanship. —PERSEUS.