Soccer Prospects

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 11

Soccer Prospects

FINAL KNOCKOUT TO-MORROW Tramways v. Onehunga CLOSING OF THE SEASON TO-MORROW sees the official closing of the 1927 Soccer season, when the final knockout for the Falcon Cup’ takes place between the Onehunga and Tramways teams. A first-class programme has been arranged for ringing down the curtain. The preliminary game at 1 p.m. will be the final knockout in the third grade, followed by a match between the local Chinese reps, and Carlton, which should attract an interested crowd.

TRAMWAYS V. ONEHUNGA HPHE knockout contest for the possession of the Falcon Cup should provide a thrilling struggle, as both teams are very evenly matched on form, and both will be right out to secure possession of the coveted trophy. Although neither team fared too well in the championship series, both have shown greatly improved form in the past few weeks and have been in harding training for to-morrow’s final. t Onehunga has arrived in the final with the scalps of Ponsonby and Y.M.C.A., being the first club to defeat these teams for several matches, while Trams knocked out Shore’s chances for Cup honours, and played a very close finish with Thistle after an even game last Saturday, which has since been awarded them on appeal. Although Onehunga only made Its debut in senior Soccer this season, the club has fully justified its promotion to majority, while the Onehunga juniors went through the second division championship without a loss, and have brought out some useful players for promotion to senior rank. In McPhee the West Coast team has a goalkeeper whose display on Saturday last against Thistle was one of the best witnessed this season. MePhee has a wonderful anticipation in getting across to shots which seem certain to net, and it will be difficult for the Trammies to elude him tomorrow. Wliowell is playing a great game at fullback, and is about the weightiest defender in Auckland this season. He is ably seconded by his partner; Mays, who is one of the most improved players this season. Bentley at centre-half is another burly defender, and a great grafter in breaking up attacks or starting offensives. In the front line Mellor is about the fastest forward in Auckland, with good ball control and a stinging finish to his dashing sprints which usually register on the target. Hcandle is useful on the opposite wing, and Waterson in the centre with his inside men are not slow in pouncing on scoring chances. A win for the Manu-kau-siders would be popular with the crowd and a fitting climax to their ambitions in entering the senior grade with a team which was an unknown quantity. THE HOLDERS’ CHANCES Tramways, as holders, are more than keen on retaining 'the trophy and anxious to recover some of theii lost glory of last season when they only once'tasted defeat. Certainly the team has shown greatly improved form '■

since the grounds dried out, and the

cutting of fares to Blandford Park by one-half has mad© the Trammies more popular with the thrifty section of the community. There will no doubt be a few disgruntled spectators who consider Trams lucky to reach the final on a technical point, but there was nothing unsportsmanlike in the protest, and any other club would hiwe done the same in the circumstances. The final selection of the team for to-mor-row is not yet available, but in Simpson and Porteous the civic side have a fine pair of backs, the former being a resolute defender who covers a tremendous amount of ground in the course of the game. Tinkler and Watson are a first-class pair of halves, and if Watson can hold Mellor as lie did Kay last week, Onehunga’s scoring power will be greatly reduced. Spencer at centre forward is showing to much better advantage on the hard surfaces now obtaining and Dodds has freshened up during his long absence. The wing men are speedy and Sim is always dangerous if left long unmarked. The destiny of the Cup is difficult to prophesy, but in experience and knowledge the advantage lies with the holders.