Falcon Cup Knock-outs

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 7

Falcon Cup Knock-outs

Shore and Bon Accord Draw

Thistle was at full strength, with Dorman filling the right back position and Rowat going to centre-forward. Realising that pace and- bustle were an asset. Y.M. filled the wing positions with two hefty colts, Ross, of the secondary school reps., and Thornes, of the Y.M. third string, and both fully their selection. Thornes in particular showed great pace and good ball control, while Ross is fast with a powerful physique and determined style of getting away with the ball. Y.M.’S STOUT DEFENDERS The feature of the game was the splendid defence put up by the Young Men's back division. There not a weak link in the chain from goalie to the half line. Hilliard brought off some audacious and dazzling saves, while Mowat was outstanding at right back with his powerful tackling, great pace in recovery and sure kicking. Otter played a dashing game with some powerful clearances, and Chapman at centre-half was on his toes right through and constantly nipped in with some effective spoiling work. Malcolm set himself to shepherd the elusive Kay, and nursed the Scots express so efficiently that he changed to the central berth after the interval.

With the exception of the dashing young: wingers the Y.M. van was not impressive in the first spell, the same old fatal hesitancy and disinclination to hustle things being noticeable with •the inside men, and good crosses from the wings were leisurely cleared by the Thistle goalie and backs. Someone must have reminded the Y.M. captain in the interval that goals are necessary to win knockouts, as Humphreys rallied his young mates in good style, and some smart teamwork saw Thornes draw the defence and present Humphreys with a sitter, which he slammed to the net in good style. The Y.M. captain followed this up with a brilliant solo stunt when he fastened on to a neat pass from Chapman at top speed and dribbled past the defence to net with a sizzling shot high up in the corner. THISTLE DISAPPOINTING With a two-goal lead the Young Men paid particular attention to defence in the final quarter, varied by frequent lively rails which kept their opponents on edge. The form of the Tramways’ conquerors was very disappointing, the Thistle forward line showing none of the keen thrust which has made it the most dangerous in Auckland at times. Two or three changes in the formation failed to produce any cohesion or combination, and only Norman Cummings was anything like up to normal, but his good and accurate centres were all wasted, neither Kowat nor Kay in the centre being able to connect with success against the blanketing tactics of the Y.M. defence. The half line was too slow and lumbering for the speedy Y.M. wings, and Chapman was too quick off the mark for McCosh. Hibbert and Dorman put up a solid defence at fullback and saved the Scots from a more crushing defeat, while Gerrard could not be blamed for the two goals which eluded him. JUNIORS BEAT SENIORS The Onehunga seniors struck a tough proposition in Manurewa. champion of the senior B division, and thr6 southern suburb made no mistake in administering the K.O. to the Manukausiders with a three-goal margin. Manurewa was without the veteran Palmer, but dug out another useful old-timer in Hawkes, who held his line together with finish and fed his wings with good* judgment. The game was typical cup-tie Soccer and Onehunga's attempts to settle down to combined work and short passing tactics were broken up by the bustling methods of the younger club. Lees at centre-half was a dynamic factor in both attack and defence, and his play was full of ginger from start to finish. With a little more finish and less impetuosity the ’Rewa pivot would be in the front rank of centre-halves, as he is a great spoiler and a glutton for work. Manurewa took the lead early in the contest when Williamson essayed a long pot which glanced past Zuill off one of his own backs. It was not long before the bustling 'Rewa van- • guard forced the defence to fault again and H. Donaldson nipped in to double the lead. Onehunga rallied with a strong raid to reduce the balance and Moon received from Whim--ster to cut between the backs and net smartly. Lively exchanges in the second half found Manurewa still the stronger side and spasmodic raids crumpled up the Onehunga defence. H. Donaldson broke away and beat Zuill all the way with a curly one from the line, and Hawkes put the issue beyond doubt by fastening on to a weak clearance and smashing it into an open goal for a well-merited win. TRAMS’ EASY TASK The champions were not seriously troubled at Cornwall Park to give Celtic its quietus, although the Trams were without Simpson, Tinkler and Fyvie in the back division. Owing to the novelty of a hard ground and a stiff cross-breeze it was some time before the teams could settle down and get within striking distance, and the champions got a shock when Batty had difficulty in disposing of a hard drive by Wright and J. Hunter nipped in to open the scoring and put Celts one up. That woke Trains up and they soon equalised through a perfect corner kick from Stretton, and lively play up to the interval saw Bell and Williams put Trams two in the lead. Trams dominated the game in the second half, when judicious feeding by Christie kept the Tram van moving and Spencer helped himself to two smart goals, another by Bell making the tally half a dozen.

THREE FOR SEMI-FINALS

BLANDEOK-D PARK was in ideal condition on Saturday for fast knock-out Soccer and two exciting games were staged. Manurewa was too fit and fast for Onehunga and won comfortably by 4—l. Thistle and Y.M.C.A. was a hard tussle for survival, but Thistle failed to penetrate the Young Men’s solid defence and was knocked out after a lively bout by 2—o. Trams were not pushed to beat Celtic by 6—2. but in spite of two spells of extra time, no decision was arrived at in the Shore-Ron Accord bout, honours remaining even at one all.

while Gavan netted a second point for'' the Celts, “NO-DECISION” BOUT As anticipated, the struggle for survival between the senior Shore club and the junior Bon Accordians was a desperate one on the Domain, and even after extra time no decision was arrived at with the score equal at one all. There was some misunderstanding about the allocation of the ground, and a late start followed by extra time left the Falcon contestants all by themselves at the finish, and all to no avail in a game which was reminiscent of a similar one in the same cup competition on the Domain between Shore and Thistle, when two lots of extra time were called for to decide the knockout. Shore had the advantage of the breeze in the first spell and did most of the pressing in a lively go, Hutter dashing in to connect with a centre from. Whiteley to secure an early 4 lead. The forwards on both sides found the 1 opposing defence a solid proposition, Reid and Rae being safe at fullback for Bon Accord, while Gerrard was conspicuous with some dashing defensive work for Shore. The senior club had a chance of increasing the lead with a penalty shot, but Jay was unlucky in hitting the wrong side of the upright from the spot kick. In the second spell Bon Accord took the benefit of the wind and did most of the pressing, Corbett showing all his old skill in placing the ball to his forwards, bufc erratic shooting and sturdy defence by the Shore backs kept the Scots out until the end was just in sight. Then a final rally by the claret and blues started a hot melee in the Shore goal area, and Dunsmore battled through with the ball to equalise. In the extra spells Shore with the wind had the better of the first, but failed to score, and the final round saw Bon A'ccordians attacking*hotly but finding the Shore defence too good for them. FRIENDLY GAMES At Calliope Dock the newly-formed Arapuni Club paid its first visit to town and was entertained to a friendly gkme by the men of the Diomede. The cruiser’s team proved too strong for the men from the big dam, and a pleasant, lively game ended in a naval victory by three goals to one. On the Devonport Domain the Belmont Club filled the vacancy caused by Ponies scratching with a game against the cadets from the Northumberland. The young mariners showed a sound knowledge of the game and good combination, an even match ending in a draw of one goal each.

F.A. TROPHY MATCH

WELLINGTON TEAM Pres* Association WELLINGTON, Today. The following will represent Wellington in the Soccer match against Auckland on September 28, at Auckland, for the F.A. Trophy: McVean; Gibb and Guest; Jeffrey, Campbell and McLeod; Barton, Rigby Condon, Smith and Craig.