ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By Cent'ie-Hal?.)

Last Saturday's reverses sustained by Swifts and Diamonds have again led to an'alteration in the position of the leading teams, Ramblers now being one point ahead of Swifts, who in turn are in front of Diamonds by a similar margin.. There are two weeks' fixtures yet to be played,' and any of the leading teams may be upset in forthcoming matches. The. competition is, to say the least of it, now in a very interesting condition, and it is hard to foretell the winners, though Ramblers would seem to have the best chance. Ramblers' Victory, ' . ; Last season's champions, Swifts, wer* again deieated by Ramblers, this time to the tune-of four goals to one, and the defeat may be well described as a- decisive one, as the Reds were outclassed in all directions. Ramblers'played-the better football in the forward line, and the sotuu'.U' back game, and after their second goal tlie result was never in doubt. The game could hardly, however, be described as a first-class exhibition of "soccer." /Swifts gave .a patchy exhibition, and were very disjointed after Swift got hurt. Ramblers,' outside of some fine runs and shots by Edwards, ""did no very brilliant things, their superiority being marked more by'better concerted play, and, at any rate, better judgment. Swifts had something of a hist chance when awarded a peualtv kick, but Scott (captain) made an awful mess of it. 'Why was not Vcssey entrusted with the kick? Then, a-gain,- the placing of Swift in goal could hardly be said' c to have been a masterpiece ol generalship, for he could not make any attempt towards saving two goals scored against him, while in any case he stood the risk of making the injury lo his' leg worse. Coining to the players, Webster,, in goal, had very few difficult shots to deal wit I *. Cross. played a very' useful game at full, his placing, to his forwards being very effective. M'Mahon was also very sound; but his kicking was much wilder than usual. Jackson was tho best of the halves, and. bpovtius placing the ball well to his forwards, he nl trimverv' nicely intercepted the passes, to Vessey. Paget, was as solid as usual, but Hart has been seen to better advantage, especially in feeding his forwards. Bdi wards, on the extreme left, was-'in one of his best.moods, and gave am excellent display, his shooting and centring being ■dangerous always. Coward and Tretheivick contributed well to the success of the side, while Smallbone on the right wing was in his usual good form. On the Swifts side, it must be said that jU'Leau was very disappointing ..In <*oal. Last season this player ■ kept' an excellent-'goal, but he has not been at all up to the mark this year. Some of the goals scored against'him have been ridiculously easy ones. . P.ve-Smitii did ■ some "ood work, but. on the whole., was, not lip to his usual standard.. AVi!™n was not up to senior form. Kirschbers. the representative half., was many times found wanting, esm>o'ially when the lxil) was sent out to Edwards. Tn addition, he was beaten everv time: the throw-in was against him. As usual, his placing was excellent. Graves, in the centre, worked as hard as ever, but he would be far more effective if -he would pay nioTe attention. to the ball, and less to the man. Guise was not nearly ,so good as usual. .. ~ In the forward line the Swifts were sadly wanting. The usually prominent Vessey was well looked after. Ho, however,'scored the only coal for his side. Scott is very lazy. If he would only trv more on his own initiative the result would be beneficial to the side. Mount was verv 'disappointing at outside-left. Still, it 'is only fair to say that he got very few opportunities.. Mr. H. Yeoman was tho referee. Y.MX.A, v. Rovers. The Y.M.C.A.-Rovers fixture' of Satindav Inst was nn -iiilerestn.;; fixture, Iroiti 'the fact that it decided whether Y.M.C.A. were to remain at the bottom of the list or not. However, they managed to inflict defeat upon tho wearers of the "white shirts" after a splendid exhibition of "football, by 4 goals to 1. For Rovers, Penlington (in goal) had u'lot of hard work to do and did it well. The iiili-buol;B were rather weak.iu their defence, and their kicking could be much improved. Bradbury, at centre-half, was a tower of strength to his side, there being plenty of dash in his. play. Of a set of forwards who were outclassed, I Gibson and Astin were conspicuous. The? latter, in the second spell, -should have had more work to do. - , Coming to the Y.M.C.A. team one' must compliment them upon improved combination. It was' just a touch of last, season's style. On "their showing last Saturday they should' give Ramblers a good "go" Hollis (in goal) showed some of his old form, and the goal that beat him was a lucky one. The backs defended in good style, and the placing of the halves was a treat to watch, Millar showing to advantage. The forwardsall worked .well, and combined srdendidly. Mention should be made of Timperley the fleet outside-left, who was the "bright ntar" on the\ field. A Drawn Game: Artillery v. Olympic. The ground was in excellent condition, considering the shfce of the weather, when Artillery A tried conclusions with Olympic for top position at tho end of the first round of the Wednesday League competitions. The game was a spirited contest in more ways than one, the spectators who braved the elements being treated to one of the best games seen here" 1 this season. The sides were very evenly matched, and the hard tustling tactics of tho "gunners" troubled the Olympic men somewhat, their usually good combination suffering in consequence. Of .tho individual players on Olympic's side Irvine, in goal, was seen to good advantage. Cqrnish,.full-back, played a splendid game' and saved his side repeatedly. He was ably assisted by Perks nt. centre-half. Of the forwards the Mouat Bros, deserve special mention, their efforts on the left wing having a mni'ked effect on the game. It is wonderful how big Artillerymen, who fir" nrr-rtiertlly all Rugby players, hovi. (;>>"" to "soccer." Taking 'this rather •■udilnii metamorphosis info conj.sidorarnm, they are to bo romplimentod on the excellent fight which they are putting nn for the Wednesday Cup. At present they are leading by one point. The outstanding player on their side on Wednesday was undoubtedly Duley, nt full-back, his resourcefulness and powerful kicking bein? of great service. Their centre-half showed splendid judgment nn several occasions. Kibbell also nlayed well for his side. Of the forwards, all wovi-e,l with a will, Darreek. ontsidc-left, boinv .-articulnrly prominent at times. . Mr. IF. G. Mayer controlled a very hnr;! .-.ml fast game in 'a thoroughly impartial manner. His decisions wore, given

with a crispness which some of younger referees would do well to cultivate. Boys' Championship Competitions. The boys' championship competitions have now reached an interesting stage, as will bo seen from the subjoined tables: FOURTH DIVISION. S p 0"2'0 as£Marist A 8.7 1 0 U 13 1-1 Y.M.C.A. A ... G 6' 0 0 28 ;i 12 Brooklyn ' 7 -1 12 28 9 10 Swifts A 7 5 2 0 35 fi 10 Congregational G 3 2' 1 10 13 7 Rangers 7 3 i 0 17 -30 fi St. DaVid's ... G 2 3 19 12 5 Petone ...: Gill 3 19 3 Y.M.C.A. B ... 5 1 4 0 5 21 2 Swifts B ...... 7 0 5 2 31 25 2 Marist B 7 0 G 1 9 IS '1 FIFTH A DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. A ... 8 8 0 0 35 - 2 16 Marist A 8 5 1 2 20 9 12 Brooklyn' 7 4 2 1 20 9 9 S. Wellington 8 2 5. 1 10 1G 5 Island Bay ... 8 1 7 0 7 38 2 Rangers 7 1 6 0 12 28 2 FIFTH B DIVISION. Institute 8 5 1 2 19 12 12 Swifts 7 5 1 1 18- 7 11 Y.M.C.A. B ... ft 5 0 0 24 3 10 Wadostown ... 7 3 3 1 11 11 7 Ramblers ...... 7 2 3 2 12 22 6 Marist B ...... 7 2 4 1 17 10 5 Congregational 7 0 6 1 7 29 1 Y.M.C.A. C ... 4 0-4 0 G 20 0 SIXTH. DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. 9 8 1 0 44' 9 1G Brooklyn 9 8 1 0 32 5 16 Island Bay ... 9 6 3 0 21 11 12 Porirua 7 5 1.1 22 7 11 Marist A .;..... 8,5 3 0 2G 14 10 Institute A ... 9 3 4 2 .13 15 8 Rangers 8 3 4 16 18 '7 Marist B 9 17 1 6 38 3 Seatouu 8 1 G 1 10 19 3 Institute B ... 9 0 9 0 4. 47 0 Encouraging the Boys, «'i' le " sOCO6r " game, state the Auckland 'Herald," is being introduced into the .public schools.. This is the best missionary work done so far. Boys who learn to "'"shoot" at school always hold to' the game, and it iVt,o the growing youngsters the association must look for recruits to fill the gaps made by the retirement of veterans.. The "soccer" game is played a lot in the Dunedin schools, but enthusiasts generally find it hard to overcome the prejudice on 'the part:of teachers to any other: winter sport than Rugby. At the last meeting of the Auckland Association it was decided, in order to encourage the game, to present each school' that decided to adopt the "soccer" cede with a now ball. - These may bo obtained on application to the secretary of-' the association, Mr. W. E. Smithvman. The schools that have taken up the game-adjacent to Auckland are DevonportN and Otaluihu. A King Country school has also applied for a ball. In this .connection, Mr.' H. G. Mayer, mentioned' at Wednesday night's meeting that he had received a letter, from Mr. R. Takle, chairman of the 'Auckland Football Association, stating that' the northern association were- considering the possibilities of sending school boys' team to Wellington at the time when the Brown Shield team travelled, arid suggesting that, if possible, a match between Auckland and Wellington boys' teams bo played as a "curtain raiser" to the Brown Shield game. Mr. Mayer undertook to get the Auckland Association to write officially on the subject,' when no doubt the Wellington Association will be pleased to fall in with the arrangement. It must be very gratifying to those who have stuck to the Association game through thick and thin, through all kinds.of troublous times, and through years of real solid 'work, to find how slowly but surely the "soccer" game is being built up upon that most solid foundation of;all—the boys. "You can have all your English and Home players,"- said a local enthusiast, recently, "give line.our present boys for preference.". . Anil in the end he will prove lo be right. .There are some really fine exponents of "soccer" amongst the'boys, and, if they stick to the »ame and maintain their present promise, wo need fear nothing about the future of "soccer" in the Dominion. Local boys will have plenty of inducements this season. A team is certain to go to Otago, while the prospects of a trip to Blenheim are fairly .healthy. If the Auckland, visit is assured' we can wish for nothing more encouraging. At the same time, it might' be' worth while mentioning that a little encouragement . might be thrown out to fnnrtli.grade players. There are. some splendid players coming on in this class who would well reuay a litMe attention given to th«m. Will Messrs. Holmes, Salmon, and Co. ■ kindly' note? '?*" ' j i