THE CHATHAM CUP HONORS

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 17

THE CHATHAM CUP HONORS

Tramways Should Hold Seacliff (From ,f N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) Chatham * Cup honors are at stake this Saturday, Tramways, of Auckland, starting favorite against'the South Island winners, Seacliff, of Dunedin. AS predicted m "N.W. Truth," V.M.C.A., rv the Wellington finalists, found the speed and stamina of the Tramways team too much for them m the North Island final and faded out after leading 1-0 when the half-time whistle sounded. V.M.'s nuggety team and bullocking tactics did not avail against .a side somewhat faster . all round. Yet it looks as though Tramways, having defeated the Wellington champions of last season, have won their hardest tussle m the series of. final bouts. ' Seacliff just shaded Thistle, ■ the Canterbury finalists, m a dour struggle marked by good play. But there is no certainty that Tramways will let Seacliff play anything like as good a game when the finalists meet on the Basin Reserve this Saturday. It Is Interesting to see Seacliff among the last two clubs m the national knock-out contest, as this club Is one of the only two combinations that has ever taken the trophy south since the competion began. If one thing is, obvious, it. is that the standard of club play m the North Island is higher than the south can spring, for m, seven years the Cup has come to the North Island five times,, though for the past two years Northern, of Dunedin, have made a great fight m the final. Seacliff won the trophy m 1923, the second year of the life of the Cup, and the only. South Island success since that date was that of Suiinyside, four years ago. -' ScsLcUfC's victory m Christchurch, by the only goal of the match and after : extra time, ban mean only one thing — that \hey are not much above the level ,of average South Island form. That being so, Tramways should hold them tight, especially when the first spell has taken some of the sting from the dashing southerners. Nimble and sporting as Is.-, the. South Island game, It lacks the more solid qualities of defencefound m the North. And Tramways have speed as well.. If the Queen City men bring home the bacon: they with notch the fourth^Auckland success m eight years, a tally which will take some explaining. It can be explained m pnly one way— that they play good Soccer up there. And it looks all sot for the Tramways team to get the Cup.