ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 9

ASSOCIATION.

ifa'st■ that ;Y.M.C;A. : had.-a' 'byo,'la'st Saturday has / enabled Swifts to; :head, the Senior Leaguo First Division poll for the: time being, jibut. Y.5L.C.A.. arq still practically, on equal terms, as. .they .havo played oiio match les3 .'than: Swifts; .Diamonds : stand third, on the, list; /.as "they -have : 13 : points,"to " thoir

credit, ■ and- have played tho same number of matches: as Swifts, and one more than Y.M.C.A., whoso points also total 13. The championship has praotically resolved itself into a. fight between threo sots of .teamsSwifts, 1 Y.M.C.A., and Diamonds in the first flight, St. John's and Rovers in the Becond,' and Thistle, Wanderers, Ramblers, and Petono in the .third. Either St. John's or Rovers arc capable of "extending" the host in the competition, and, although they are not consistent in their form, they may upset the calculations of any of the threo leaders. .Thistle,. with their present team, should make a better showing in the second round. With tho competition only half completed, tho position is decidedly, interesting,' and every series of matches will now, bo watched with additional interest unless one of the leaders obtains an indisputable lead. This does not seem probable from present indications. : Probably tho .brightest aspect of the "soccer" game at i the present time is the boys' matches, and; tho enthusiasm which the youngsters have taken to the game. Referees who have control of tho boys' games have been impressed by the play of a number of lads, and predict a quick rise from the lower ranks as soon as the youngsters get a little more weight. Some of the third division players at present, _. although only babes at the' game, are said to be quite equal,to junior "men." .. ■ "A pleasant afternoon's exercise" is about the best that can be said for the .RoversRamblers, match, which was transferred from Newtown Park to Miramar, and was consequently thrown out of joint before it commenced.' The game, such as it' was,- £ ell ".to" Rovers by 4 to 1,- but the score was not an indication of the play, the losers putting in more than half the time, attacking, but being unable to score. Smallbpne, on the Ramblers outside right, played a very fine game, and Anker Was fair. Edwards was easily the best of the Ramblers backs, and appeared to be the only back who. worked with, anything definite in view. • Barry was tho best of the Rovers forwards, the others being much of a muchness. Old-• nail in goal was the star back,.none of the others' being anywhere near form. : ••'. Harry Waters, of Management Committee and Referees' Association fame, was called on to fill a vacancy in the Ramblers forward ranks last Saturday, and shaped well considering his somewhat roimded'figure, and .lack of staying power. . When - sustained effort was essential, the spirit was very willing, but tho wind was weak. ':'■!'■ '■"•' .The Second Division Senior League table makes, interesting reading this week. Diamonds loads with four points ahead of Mental Hospital. Both teams show fine defensive figures. Diamonds aro probable champions; but, they have three stiff .matches, with Rovers, St. .John's, and Letter .Carriers, still to play. The race, for runners-up rests between, four or five teams, who each have an equal chance of honours; though Hospital should about secure the position.: The Charity Cup contest this year, should be a .very interest ing.fights Here.is"thoiable:—;.

■■'■■.' Players', arid 1 , officials connected with the Association game iii i, Taranaki pay more dearly for their, football than any other adherents of the "soccer", code in the' Dominion (says the local "Herald"). They. not : only.dive : their hands'deeply; into their .pockets for the g'amo; they, pay ihtimo and. energy. ■ Last Thursday week;' for instance, -men.at' their own expense travelled to Str'at-"' ford from Eltham, liaponga, : New, Plymouth,, and..\Yaitara to .participate in, a '.trial game from' which tho Taranaki' representative team was' selected..-'• The. sides.: were North" v.'South..-, Naturally.,: most of the. players ..were. Unaccustomed 'to each .'.other's play,;. and';.tho game ' from J; a --.-'..spectator's 'point of- view suffered in consequence;; - Although the'work of. the contestants; was; weak tin combination, ,it,; showed- that,;. Taranaki ; , .possessed isomo■ stronff;individual ; .players.: ; ': v : . ; v- :;''.'.' ■ It 'has been .a wonderful; season 'in - England -for: new: records;, and Ne'wcastlo United have carried' off 'the championship,for : the third :time in 'five seasons with the greatest number '.of . points ever- known. ~; Ft is a strange contrast,that.while Newcastle United haveigained.more.points.thair any other'team -rcomparcd ~with 'last'"season's ..'of 1907-8.. have ruthlessly- sacrificed. more 'good-;conduct .marks'., than; ; any other team* Not oven the winning of the English ' Clip can atone for; the loss of 15 points,, and a fine of £250 inflicted 'by the management' committee of * the; League for the,',playing of .'.unrepresentative teams by Manchester .United-in the League tourney.: Evidently, the; players-of Manchester United, . sacrificed everything'else, to' capture: tbe As-' 60oiation : Cup... The'-League declines to aliow its_ competition. 'to:be.'.trifled, with. As the United cannot get the majorityof their players to',sign:their.registratiori'.forms for 1909-10, they have been reported to the Foot-' ball Association. The situation, reminds us that Manchester' City/were fined £250 by tho. Association after winning ! ,,the Cupj and they were deprived of the best of ,their players. Success 'at the Palace is'evidently. th© forerunner of, trouble for the Manchester clubs. —"Athletic News.": ■■ : -; ; -; . '.■-: '■■''~'-.•■ .For, tho s ,English Football Association Cup final ,the .'catering 'arrangements,-.were,; as usual,- on ah'enormous'scale. : There were about thirty; bars-and :refreshment,: buffets, and three,largo '■■ marquees for refreshments ,'frtm :1 a.m;;: two' dining-rooms, with seating for 1000,; at a time; and. tea. and light refreshment rooms, with a seating, capacity of . 3000 at ./one .time. , -.-'■ Oyer, 1000, waiters were'..in attendance. '. Messrs. Lyons prepared the, following':—6o,ooo slices of bread and,'butter, 20,000 , rolls, ■'.20,000 pats'' of butter, 10,000 loaves to cut sandwiches: and bread and .'butter, ■■ 14,000 sandwiches, -3600 pork pies; 50,000 pieces of cake, 10,000 buns, 10,000 scones,' 5000 pastries,: 21,600; bottles of mineral water,- 100; of ■'. beer' and stout, 2000 'bottles of,, whisky and other spirits, ,1000 gallons of milk, 1200 pounds of tea and coffee, ]arge-quantities ; .of cheese,: 75 rumps'rof beef for'; steaks, 25 ribs of beef, 100. shins of mutton for chops,' 200 fowls; a great number of'sacks of-potatoes, cauhV 'flowers,'cabbages, and other vegetables,: also a very, selection; of fish; and: other provisions.- V ';'■;;,! ~';: ; ' :".

' ,\ i ■ i .* A 3 . < a o S "S "3 >i "tS's .5 ' > ° 2,° ° t0 o ft* p n wOho^p^ Diamonds 8 8 0 0 32 2 16 Hospital 8 5 2 1 27 5 12 l.il.C.A 9 5 2 2 89 '15 12 St. John's 8 i 3 1 21 12 11 Ponrua, A ■ 8 , 1 2 2 17 14 10 Rovers 8 i 2 2 13 U 10 Wanderers 0 i 1 4 2G 2G 9 Letter Carriers ... 8 3 1 1 10 19 7 Marist Old Boys ... 8 1 2 ■ 5 12 18 1 Pelono 7 1 2 i 3 li 4 Ponrua B i 81 0 7 5 31 2 •thistle , 9 0 1 8 3 11 1