SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 7

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES -f— (By Perseus) -

Ring Down the Curtain. —The long season finally closed at Onehunga with one of the finest cup-ties seen for a long while, and those enthusiasts who made the long journey to the Manukau ground were amply rewarded by the most thrilling match of the season. Both teams were in the pink of condition. and the summery weather was tempered by a fresh sea breeze. It was anyone’s game, at any stage of it, and Trammies were the lucky ones to bring home the cup and even their gallant opponents “could scarce forebear to cheer” as the winners rolled away in their bus. Onehunga went out in a blaze of glory and put up a sterlingperformance for a first-year senior club.

Referee Baiting.—lt was regrettable that the finish of the game should have been the occasion for a deplorable exhibition of referee-baiting, and it was fortunate that the appearance of two blue shakos in the offing kept the temper of the small crowd of poor sports within bounds, and it was not to the credit of the home club officials that some members flying the Onehunga rosettes lent themselves to aid such a demonstration. There is no fairer official with the whistle than Alarine Tuttle and his control on Saturday was a model of efficient refereeing in a hard and keen game. If Onehunga is anxious to have home games next season the members will need to put their house in order and elect an executive which will maintain the honour and dignity of the club and protect the game from such displays. An Unprofitable Season.—The atrocious week-ends which have been general throughout the season had the in-

evitable bad effect on the attendances at the games and it may be assumed that the season must result in a loss. Thanks to the foresight of the chairman, Air. Andrew Alenzies, the local Football Association was clear of any liability for a share in the loss on the Canadiafi tour, and the New Zealand Council will have to draw on its art union “nest egg’’ to recoup the deficit. It is a matter for regret that Air. L. C. H. (“Peter”! Dawson will relinquish office as secretary to the A.F.A. at the end of this year, owing to pressure of business, but will continue to take an active interest in the code. * * m The Question of Grounds.—During the summer months the controlling

authorities and the club committees should keep a watchful eye on securing and preparing new playing areas. The Onehunga ground with a moderate expenditure on grading and levelling would make an ideal field for Soccer, and at Nortlicote the use of the Harbour Board sand pump for a few weeks would make anpther good area available in all weathers. New areas are in preparation at Point Chevalier and a new ground may be secured at Cornwall Park or Epsom. It was an unfortunate contretemps which prevented Blandford Park from being used on the final day and it is hoped that the dispute over control will be settled without recourse to costly litigation.

Au Revoir. —ln bidding a seasonable au revoir, “Perseus” would express to the club officials and members of the managing body his thanks and appreciation of the valuable assistance given during the season. There have been occasions when the actions or attitude of clubs or the management have not appealed as being in the best interests of the game and criticism has been offered in the hope that the code would benefit by the advice, proffered. It is always more pleasing to praise and applaud, but there have been rare occasions when a grain of quinine was called for to reduce some patients-’ temperatures and tempers. We have the sure and certain hope that with the wonderful growth being made the future of the game is assured. It is for the responsible officers of clubs and management to see that it develops on sound and clean sporting lines, because some day.- perhaps,

“We will not be asked if we lost or But how we played the game?” THE KNOCKOUT CONTESTS

In the local cup-tie events Ponsonby set out in a sensational fashion by defeating the previously unbeaten Thistle in the Chatham Cup, and then, by hard training and dogged determination, the Ponies went through the eliminating rounds to secure a meritorious knockout in the final at Wellington, when they secured the national trophy from the South Island winners by the odd goal in five. The final knockout series for the Falcon Cup were staged when public interest was flagging and players were showing signs of staleness and indifference. Tramways, who had failed to produce the previous season’s form in the muddy going, made a welcome revival and, after being narrowly defeated by Thistle, survived the knockout on an appeal and retained the trophy by the odd goal against Onehunga. Y.M.C.A. was another team which was inconsistent in the form shown and disappointing in the concluding games, after showing some splendid team work and scoring capacity. Xorthcote were the unlucky occupants of the bottom rung, but the wooden spoon had to go somewhere, and with so many promising young juniors in blue the despised booby prize is not likelv ta remain long in the strawberry fields across the harbour.