CUP SOCCER OFF

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1038, 31 July 1930, Page 12

CUP SOCCER OFF

N.Z. COUNCIL MUDDLES MATTERS CHATHAM TROPHY GAME The North Island final for the Chatham Cup contest, arranged for Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon, between Petone (Wellington) and Thistle (Auckland) is now definitely cancelled. Thistle has also decided to proceed no further in the competition. AFTER the eliminating’ knock-outs, Thistle had won through to represent Auckland, and Petone had outed all opponents in the Wellington area. The stage was all set for the North Island final here on Saturday The first cloud* was a telegram from the New Zealand Council on Monday raying Fetone desired a postponement of the knock-out for a week, and a Slight letter telegram was sent in reply stating that all local arrangements had been finalised, and in view of a strong local counter-attraction on August 9 the Auckland Control Board was unable to agree. First thing on Tuesday morning, the Auckland F.A. secretary, Mr. S. R. Massam, wired again, advising the council that a definite decision would be communicated after the weekly meeting that evening. At the meeting Thistle agreed to put off the game, and a night wire was at once sent notifying the council that its request for a postponement had been agreed to. MESSAGE CAME TOO LATE Yesterday the council wired that.the agreement to postpone the match had come too late, Petone having made arrangements to travel and that the game must be played on Saturday. Auckland replied that Thistle had advised all players that tbe match would be played on August 9, and suggested that this would suit Ptetone in view of jrs request for the postponement. In any case, Thistle could not play on August 2. The reply yesterday afternoon from the council ?£ated its final decision was that Chatham Cup tie must be played on Saturday,, and Petone was travelling up on Thursday. The Thistle Club rmet last night and found it could not now field its full strength for Saturday, and declined to play Petone after Agreeing to the olitinge of date sought. Some Thistle players are not in Auckland, and were advised they would not be needed, and others were not available at such short notice.. Thistle decided to scratch for the engagement sooner than be forced under such muddling, by the New Zealand Council fo reinstate an abandoned day, but agreed to play its championship game with Celtic instead,, as the result has not much bearing on the competition. Thistle had been busy making arrangements to finance the Trip south in the event of defeating Petone, and is very disappointed at the turn events hajre taken The position will now have to be cleared up by the New Zealand Council, but its methods certainly call for some explanation, as Auckland considers that such hopeless muddling is enough to Itill all enthusiasm for the national trophy