CHATHAM CUP FINAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 11

CHATHAM CUP FINAL

PONSONBY’S POPULAR WIN A GAME IN A GALE Newton Park was in a heavy state with a howling- southerly blowing down the ground, but with fine weather overhead, when Ponsonby (Auckland) met Northern (Otago) in the Chatham Cup final, before a large attendance. Ponsonby won the toss and played with the gale and sun behind them in the first spell, and went off with great dash, Bell soon forcing a corner. After ten minutes’ play Adshead gave Hunter a first time shot, and he gave the goalkeeper no cnance.—Ponsonby 1, Northern 0. Many openings by Otago were spoiled by the wind, and up to now Bell and Innes showed up prominently for the “Ponies.” The Ponsonby halves were not on their game, except Morrison, who repeatedly broke up the right wing attacks in good style.) The second goal for the Ponies came from a “daisy-cutter” by Tomilty.—Ponsonby 2, Northern 0. The wind baffled both teams, and both Northern backs persisted in ballooning the ball, with the gale carrying It back each time. Some uninteresting play took place for a while, until a miskick by Munsie rJlowed Innes to break away and tes' McQuarie, who saved. Up to now, with the exception of McLean, the Northern team were disorganised. Ponsonby was showing to advantage, assisted by the strong wind. The hopes of the Otago team were raised when Scoullar sent McTavish away, who passed to McLean, drawing the Ponies’ defence lie centred, and McTavish, who trapped to test Watts, who cleared feebly, and McTavish took the rebound but shot wild, missing a golden chance of reducing the score. Pickett sent Hunter away on the right, the ball going to Innes, who beat Munsey and passed to Adshead, the left-winger from the corner tricking Coates and swinging the ball to the centre. The wind curled the ball into the corner of the net —the most spectacular goal of the game so far. j —Ponsonby 3, Northern 0 Bell in trying to head the ball collided with Scoullar, receiving a nasty knock on the right hip, and he had to retire. Midfield play followed until half-time. From the restart Northern pressed strongly, and the Ponies’ defence was severely tested, McHugh missing by inches. Williams sent Wright away, who booted the ball out to Hunter. Innes received and stepping past Coates narrowly missed scoring. Innes played brilliant cup-tie football, but with the wind against them. Bell a passenger, and Tomilty hurt, the Ponies were under high pressure, and finally McTavish broke through to score from well out.—Ponsonby 3, Northern 1. This success heartened the Otago team which, up to'now’, had not shown up as a winning side, and two minutes afterwards a scrummage in the Ponsonby goal, McTavish, who appeared to be offside, received and backheaded the ball into the net. —Ponsonby 3, Northern 2. This further success spurred the Dunedin team to equalise, and in their anxiety to do so miesed many good chances of scoring. Up 2ind down play followed. Ponsonby, handicapped by injured players, proved their mettle by keeping the attackers at bay. Several breakaways by Adshead and Innes, who were playing great football, charmed the crowd by their tactics, and on two later occasions narrowly missed increasing the score Otago strove hard to equalise, but Pickett and Williams proved a doughty pair of backs and kept them out, Williams once saving what appeared to be a sure goal by a sliding tackle. .lust on time McHugh, with a hard drive from 20 yards out, struck the upright, and shortly after the whistle sounded full-time. Ponsonby 3 Northern 2 It was a hard gruelling game, marred by the wind. Innes, Hunter and Adshead were outstanding in the Pf-n----sonby attack, while Pickett and Williams gave a magnificent display against the gale in the second spell.