Soccer Knockouts

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 485, 15 October 1928, Page 6

Soccer Knockouts

Trams and Ponies Survive For Falcon Cup Final Corinthians Die Game AFTER heavy rain in the forenoon on Saturday, there was a good attendance at Blandford Park when the weather cleared. The Falcon Cup semi-finals saw Trams and Ponsonby survive for the final knock-out. The first-year junior team, Corinthians, put up a splendid fight against Ponies, and only succumbed by the odd goal iu en after extra time. The game between Trams and A .A. was dull and disappointing. Trams ran away with a fonr-goal lead and a tame cup-tie ended in the elimination of Y.M.C.A. V 4—2.

An interesting prelude to the Cuptie semi-finals was an early curtainraiser between a junior Ponsonby eleven and the Chinese Tung Jung Club. The Celestials showed a good knowledge of the game, some players showing clever ball control and footwork, but the surface was sloppy and the ruti of the ball too hazardous. The Tung Jungs held a *wo-goal lead at half-time, G. Wong Kew and F. Chung « scoring neat goals. The Ponies* colts showed better saying power, and ftom goals by Reid. Ataher and O’Dell ran out winners by the odd goal in five. At the conclusion of the game the Chinese committee presented Miss Marjorie Armstrong, the Ponsonby Queen candidate, with a magnificent bouquet draped with the Chinese national colours. CORINTHIANS WORRY PONIES Ponsonby was without Miles, Bell and Stewart for the Falcon Cup tie, and drew on the reserve list for Kinghorn, Lock' and Gavan, but were still confident of an easy victory’ over Corinthians, a club of young “liomies” only organised this season, which had shown e-ood form in the second division. The wet ground was drying up fast with the sun out and a stiff breeze blowing. Ponsonby started with the wind and soon tested the Corinthians' defence, but A. Jamieson, in goal, was very safe until Innes dashed away dov-n the line and squared perfectly for Gavan to collect cleverly and net* Then Corinthians gave Ponies their first shock by a smart reprisal when Brown opened up a good concerted movement. Sharpies and Nichol got through on the right and the ball came into the centre for H. Jamieson to trap and slip to Grimes, unmarked, who made no mistake in equalising. TAKING THE LEAD Encouraged by this success, the colts repeated the dose when the same right wing again proved too volatile for Williams and Locke, and over came a dropping centre which II Jamieson again gathered with the skill of a veteran, and beat Watts with ease to put the youngsters one to the good. These repeated shocks put the Ponies on their mettle, and they set out to escape the extinction threatened them. Play was fast and lively, the White’s defence being strong and sound, wbile they retorted with lively raids which kept the Ponsonby defence busy, and the game hung in the balance until nearing half-time, when Innes put his left wing on the attack, and a partial clearance of a shot from E. Williams saw Wilson rush in and net. A few minutes later Dyson miskicked the greasy ball !n his own 18 and Gavan was smart to snap up the chance and put Ponies one up as the half-time signal sounded. LEVEL AGAIN The second opened with a startling run by H. Jamieson, who broke through from midfield and sent across for Fitttn to retrieve unc lob ; over the backs’ heads. Grimes got his toe to the ball in the nick of time, and the game was all square* again. From this out it was a ding-dong struggle, and both sides struggle d ali out for the winning point, Corinthians being very j aggresive. and only some brilliant sav- j ing by Watts kept them at Day. .At; the other end Ponies made periodical raids on the Whites’ goal, but A. Jamieson was equally safe between the j sticks, while A. Holman, with Dyson, wore staunch backs. Time sounded with the score three-all, and the teams : turned round for extra time. GRUELLING FINISH In spite of the previous strenuous j spells and a holding surface. both ! teams resumed hostilities with vigour, j but over-anxiety and wild finishing efforts spoilt scoring chances to either side. The crowd cheered lustily as attack veered to counter-attack, and it was anyone’s game until the last change-over, when Wilson secured near half-way, and broke through on his own to complete a brilliant solo run with a low drive which A. Jamieson dived for, but could only just tip into the net. A great tussle ended in ’ Ponies surviving by the odd goal in seven. SOME PROMISING PLAYERS Watts was as safe as ever in goal, but the Ponsonby defence was none too sound against the dashing Corinthian forwards, who frequently left their older opponents standing. Sharpies and Nichol were a lively right wing, with Fitten and Grimes almost equally good, while H. Jamieson in the centre was right up to senior club standard, and held the line together with sound judgment. But for an excusable failing to get flurried in front of goal. Ponsonby’s downfall might easily have been achieved. Innes, as usual, shone out in the Ponies* van and Gavan improves with experience as the pivot. Wilson’s individual run for the final goal was a splendid match-winning effort. The Corinthian backs were a sound pair, and Brown showed great promise at centre-half in getting through a tremendous amount of work. A. Holman had a big task in holding Innes and Balloch, but came through the ordeal with great credit, and the future of Corinthians will be watched with more than usual interest. After such a lively opening bout, the crowd settled down in anticipation of an even harder and stiffer tussle for survival between Trams adn Toung Men. Both sides fielded the fullest available strength, and the Y.M. Soccer Queen, Miss Mavis Ross, was warmly cheered on making her debut to set the game going. Both sides went at it willingly from the kick-off. and there was every sign of some solid play, when the referee wisely decided that an early intervention might curb over-keenness and a tendency on both sides to start “mixing” it. A series of free kicks proved an effective damper, but the after-plav became very straggling and lifeless. Trams were early in the lead when Reid in-passed, for Spencer to slip ! between the backs, and cross-drive to j upright. The ball found the right side of the post, and glanced into the net. A .AI. made an attempt to draw ; level. Humphreys and Chalmers being

conspicuous with some solo stunts, but the Y.M. van was not showing its usual cohesion. A drab spell, with some more hold-ups, saw Trams start up a get-together movement, and make up for all the time lost at the stops by rattling up three goals in about 10 minutes, the Y.M. defence crumpling badly. KNOCK-OUT BLOWS The lirst goal came from a wellworked right Hank attack, sprinting down and repassing, for Tinkler to pop one over where Reid ran in and headed past Paton. Then Hopkins hopped off on a lively dash down tli© opposite wing, and his final drive found the crossbar, to deflect downwards. Spencer applying the finishing touch. A speedy fourth goal against Y.M. came from an opening by Christie, which gave Spong another clear run and a corner kick. Reid was the man on the spot this time to breast his way through the crowd and rush the ball into goal. A deficit o t four goals left Y.M. limp and listless, while Trams slowed down again, end desultory exchanges continued till half-time. YOUNG MEN REVIVE Owing to indisposition. Grant failed to appear on the restart, and Y.M. set out to make up leeway with bat If men. It seemed a forlorn hope, but the team showed out better with a man short, and while Trams were satisfied to rest on a four-goal lead, the Young Men did all the leading in am attempt to draw’ level. Humphreys w'orked like a Trojan, and rallied his men to the attack, being rewarded himself when a solo effort found the net, and then Chalmers broke through unopposed from a dubious position and raced to Batty for the second goal. Humphreys had another go on his own, and ran right through, but Wi% distinctly unlucky in finding the goal disallowed for an apparently accidental handling. Even this prospect of evening up the score failed to awaken any life in the game, and the lukewarm play saw the spectators migrating u brighter spots after so lengthy a orogramme, which concluded with a win far Trams by four goals out of six. FRIENDLY AT DEVONPORT The Onehunga team was shorthanded on its arrival at the Calliope Dock for a final friendly game of ths season against the flagship. Mr. J& P. Miller, the referee, obligingly filled one gap, and the Navy supplied two other emergencies. Miss Nellie Bentley, the Onehunga Queen candidate, was cordially received by the men-o’-warsmen on her appearance to set the ball rolling. The ship’s team proved too good for the weakened Manulsau-siders, and an enjoyable match ended in a victory for the Dunedin by three goals to one. Tite, Sevi, and Milne were the successful marksmen for the cruiser, and Lindsay was the scorer of Onehunga’s solitary point. OVERSEAS SOCCER RECENT RESULTS The following are the results of rej cent games played in Great Britain: ENGLISH LEAGUE First Division. ; Blackburn R. 2, Everton 1. i Liverpool 2, Newcastle U., 1. Aston Villa 7, Bury 1.. Leeds 2, Burnley 1. Sunderland 4. Huddersfield 1. Derby C. 1, Manchester C. 1. Bolton W. 4, Portsmouth 2. Sheffield Wednesday 3, Birmingham L i Manchester U. 1, Cardiff 1. ! Arsenal 2, Wegt Ham "3. ! Leicester C. 3, Sheffield U. 1. Second Division Millvvall 2, Middlesboro 3. Chelsea 2, Clapton O. 2. Hull 3, Reading 0. Wolverhampton 1, Southampton 1. Swansea 2, Grimsby 1. Notts C. 2, Oldham 0. . Port Vale 3, Preston N.E. 2. Barnsley 2, West Bromwich 0. Blackpool 2, Stoke 0. i Bradford 4, Hotspur 1. i Bristol City 2, Notts F. 5. SCOTTISH LEAGUE First Division Aberdeen 2, Ardrie 1. Clyde 1, Ayr United 0. Dundee 2 .Third Lanark 2. Falkirk 2, St Mirren 2. Hearts 4, Cowdenbeath 1. Motherwell 3, Celtic 3. Queen’s Park 6; Hibernians 1. Raith Rovers 3, Hamilton A. 1. Rangers 8. SL Johnstone 0. SYDNEY SOCCER FINAL ( United P.A. — By Tele graph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Sunday. In the final match for the Sydney Association football cup at Gladesville, Hyde beat Woonoona by 2 goals td 1, LINDRUM STILL LEADS PROFESSIONAL billiards Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday. The position of the scores in the billiards match at the end of yesterday £ session was: Lindrum, 5,800; McConachy (in play), 5,225. The best breaks were as follow: Lindrum. 455, 270, 244 121; McConachy, 442, 425, 332, 119. 1°»