SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 13

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES .

—-——- (By

PERSEUS.)

Chatham Cup Final.—By knocking out Wellington Y.M. on Saturday, the Auckland champions continue their unbeaten career to further honours. All Auckland will be with Trams in spirit in the final at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, when the Auckland winners meet the redoubtable Seacliff side from Otago for the final knockout and possession of the Chatham Cup, and the winners’ medals. Seacliff has always run a strong Soccer combination, although not so prominent in recent years. The’hospital men were the first winners of the trophy in 1923, and reached the final in the following two seasons, being the only club to figure in the final on three occasions. Auckland Harbour Board beat Seacliff 3 —l in 1924, and it is hoped that the men of the Auckland Transport Board will repeat the dose in 1929, and claim another national honour for Auckland. Saturday’s Knockout.—ln spite of tempting interprovincial fixtures being staged elsewhere by th© other two codes, the fine day on Saturday, and allure of a dry ball, fast surface, and lively knockout Soccer, drew a great crowd to Blandford Park, and the visitors should not be at great expense in making the trip. It was a pity they could not have had a day’s spell here to recover from the fatigue and staleness of the train journey. It might have made a big difference in the issue, as the "Wellington lads had all the best of matters in the first spell, but tired in the second half of a tough tussle for the knockout goal. They certainly hustled and bustled the transporters in a way they have not been accustomed to this season. But the luck of th© Trams held good, and once again a fortunate penalty was of priceless value in saving the situation. Our Champions' Weakness.—The hold-up of the Trams’ front line was not so much the result of any special excellence in the Wellington halves; neither as a trio nor individually were they as good as Fyvie, Christie, and Tinkler. But the Trams themselves robbed their thrust of most of its penetrative power by a foolish change in tactics and formation. The “M” attack has been talked of by experimentalists, but the value of the ”W” for-

mation under the new offside law lias been demonstrated beyond argument. Had the champions’ goal-getter, Spencer, played his usual game of hanging between the fullbacks near the offside border line, while his wings dashed down the line and centred before being tackled, the result of the first half would have been very different. The only time Spencer was sighted in this position on Saturday saw him score a brilliant goal in his best style from a first-time centre by^Spong. Next Saturday’s Final.—Trams will apparently need all the goals they can get next Saturday, and they must not rely on gift penalties for victory. There is always a risk, with a side like Trams, that fortune may give them the other way. Spong should return to his farmer effective way of going ahead while the goihg is good, and centring on the run before being tackled. The reverse and feeble left foot tap is futile, and puts his own forwards offside. Williams and Bell should play deeper, and drive to their wings in midfield, or through the centre to Spencer, when nearing their objective.

With the veterans. Hooper and McCormac, in the Seacliff firing line, the Tram defenders will need to keep a weather eye open, as Hooper is a dynamic opportunist, and McCormac a dangerous winger. Above all, the defenders should watch their step, and their feet in, in tackling, and avoid taking undue risks with a strange referee. With the side at its best, Auckland has every confidence in our champions, who carry everyone’s best wishes for a successful trip. * * * Future Programme.— With the senior championship played out, it appeared at one time that the Falcon Cup knockouts would mean the end of the season for the senior clubs sent to sleep

in the ealry rounds. There was general regret at this premature finish fgr so many players, and there was approval of the suggestion to increase the number of senior grade clubs next year. But fortunately a welcome extension has been found with the handing over of the last year’s Suburban Association Cup held by Thistle. It is now proposed to make this a ‘‘senior cup” for competition by senior clubs only, and this will engage those who may not survive the Falcon Cup ties. Approaching and Poaching Players. —Once again there is a revival of indignation at the manner in which some clubs are approaching players of other sides with the object of team-building for next season, and various ways and means are being discussed of checking the practice. Often the clubs are the last to learn that their players have been seen and tempted to join up with some other combination. The writer has already suggested adopting the amateur rules of the F.A.. whose experience in dealing with the problem is sufficient guarantee of the wisdom of its practices. The rules of the F.A. may sem unduly harsh, but they areall "for the benefit of the clubs and the good of the game. * • • The English Rules. —Under these rules, an amateur player is not restricted in his choice of clubs, but once he is registered for a club, no person or other club shall induce him to play for another club without giving at least 14 days’ notice in writing to the club the player has signed on for. Even if the player makes the first approach, the notice to his club is necessary. The approaching club cannot give notice in respect of more than one player of the same club, and after approaching one player may not give notice to approach another player in that club within 28 days of the prior notice. No person or club may induce any amateur player to transfer by the offer of work or other consideration. A club infringing the F.A. rules of approach is debarred from registering any further players from any source without special permission from the F.A. Council, and both clubs and players are subject to further penalties for breach of the rules. BUSINESS HOUSES DRAW Following is the draw for tke second round of matches to be played tomorrow in the Auckland Football Association's Business Houses competition: Power Board v. Hellaby, Ltd.. Victoria

Park No. 2, 4.15 p.m., Mr. E. G. Caton: Farmers’ Trading Company v. Shell Oil Company, Victoria Park No. 1. 4.15 p.m.. Mr. Jackson; Takapuna Dairy Company v. Training College, Victoria Park No. 3. 4.15 p.m., Mr. L. J. CheckDomain Group.—Hotel Employees \\ Kents, Ltd., Inner Domain No. 1, 4.15 p.m., Mr. Fletcher; Auckland Milk Company v. Parisian Tie Company, Inner Domain No. 2, 4.15 p.m., Mr. T. Cowden; Abels, Ltd., a bye. All delegates are specially requested to attend the next meeting of the association on Monday, August 26. CHATHAM CUP FINAL TEAM FROM SEACLIFFE Press Association DUNEDIN. Today. The Seacliff (Dunedin) team in the Chatham Cup final against Tramways (Auckland) at Wellington will be: Jackson Anderson. Rogers. Murray, Munsie. Maxwell, McLaughlan. Simmons, Hooper. McCormack, McLean.