ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 894, 13 August 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(Bt Cent«e-Hal».) Atrocious weather, sloppy gronnds, and soakod and muddied players were the distinguishing features of tho Association games on Saturday last. Thistles drow with Y.M.C.A. at Kelburno Park, after one of tho most strenuous contests of tho present season, wliile Swifts inflicted a decisive defeat upon Rovers by 5 goals to .2. ' . Thistle v. Y.M.C.A. Tho main points of the Thistle-Diamond match have already heen very fully reviewed in Monday's report of the match, ■and there is no need to labour them. Ono is bound to say, howover, that Thistles fully deserved their success in gamely ' holding up against what in tho earlier stages of the gunio looked like a' suro "knock-out." Hall and Jardine, the backs, and Rowan, in goal, wero tho heroes of tho match, but the halves and forwards might have showed to better advantage. The Y.M.C.A. forwards woro a eager lot, and their wrng play was .distinctly good. Blues and Stnpos will have

to fight it out all over again, for even with the extra teu minutes' play each way. tho evens could not bo mado odd. Their set-to at the Basin Reserve this afternoon should bo an exciting one. Swifts v. Rovers. This game, although played in the rain and imid, was one of the best exhibitions of football seen . hero this season, tho handling of. the greasy ball by both teams being a treat to watch. Ono niiist w,nipliment the Swifts' forward • line upon the splendid combination displayed all through the match, Mathieson in particular being very prominent. P. Pye-Sinith was pressed into the service as outside right, and acquitted himself very capably. It is' a pity that the selectors have not thought fit to include this player permanently in tho team.;. his- centres are good, and-he is always up with the play. Coming to tho three half-backs, it is hard to particularise because they ; all worked hard and well. Duley and ,T. Pye-Smith were as safe as ever at fullback. Spottswood, a new man in goal, needs a great deal of coaching before he can be thoroughly relied upon by his side: On tho Hovers' side, to say they deserved their defeat would 'be rather hard,' but some of the chances they had to score should have been taken advantage of. The forwards played. well, but were not so 'good as their ■ opponents, showing a want of .steadiness on a wet nnd slippery ground. Cashman, on the right wing, would do better if lie did not get into tho centre of the field so much. Of the centre halves, Bradbury played a fail- gamu, but received no support from his two wing men. The two full-backs played up to their usual form, the placing of T. Duignan being better than in previous games. Boys' Matches, Strong complaints jm being made that many referees have not been turning up recently. This has been particularly noted in the lower grade 'matches. ' The secretary of the Y.M.C.A. Boys' Club wrote to the Management Committee dur T ing the past week, stating that no less than five referees failed to appear last week. Mr. Salmon pointed out .that.he bad alreadj brought the matter before the Eefcrees , Association, which was doing everything in its power to see that the officials turned out. This is a very serious state of affairs, which may vitally affeot the whole of the Association game if not Mopped at once. Apropos of the foregoing, the following letter from Mr. B. A. Anderson comes'very opportunely.— "1 would like to draw attention to the management, or, perhaps, I should say the lack of management, shown in the direction of boys' football •by the Wellington Football Association.' Referees are appointed for Miramar who cannot turn out, and tho boys, discouraged by the cost of getting out, and the uncertainty of a game on arrival, are beginning to lost interest. 11 members' 01 thb Management Committee who are not refereeing would take an occasional, personal interest in boys who have some footba.ll in front of them, instead of following a class which contains a large percentage ot "hasbeens," they would be doing, far more for the game than they are at present. As far as I can make out, we. will probably lose a lot of ■ boys next season, with a great possibility of losing them all, if somo . steps are. not taken to better existing conditions. 1 would like to also point out that neither the boys' coaches nor referees knowi what tho position is ' 1 wh"n town grounds are not available, as was the case last Saturday."

Second Division Championships. At the commencement of play last Saturday the positions of the teams in the Second Division'• championship were as follow:— . '• ■ ' ■.■V-α liSla Of l> , i-l 1 fl C"O aOfi,. Hospital lu 9 1 0 58 13 IP, Wanderers •. 9 8 1 0 28 5iG Y.M.C.A ... ; 9 7 2 0 25 1!) 14 Jlarist 0. 8.... 11 7 4 0 2G 17 U Pctone 9 5 3 1 24 19 11 •St. John's 8 i 2 2 32 13 10 Brooklyn 9 4 4 ' 1 22 20 9 Diamonds 8 4 4 0 16 13 8 St. Augustine's 3 2 7 0 12 1G 4 Toa ."I 10 1 9 0 20 46 2 Webb Street ... 7 0 7 0 4 48 0 Borhampore ... 7 0.7 0 2 40 , 0 Hospital v. Bluejackets. ; ■•• ,■ The soccer team of K.llS. Encounter journeyed to Porirua on Thursday. week Inst, and played a friendly: game with ■the hospital team- -one of the best exhibitions ever seen nt Porirua. The navy men showed excellent knowledge of the flue points,of the game,.,the headwork of the defence being very good. In fact, the backs and halves were the best part of the team, while the keeper made some brilliant saves. The • forwards showed some pretty combination at times, working the ball right up to the goal in very smart style,, .but presumably being short of practice, did not shoot when the ' opportunity arrived. Hospital scored three goals to one m the first half, adding aridther. after the change of ends, the result being a win by ito 1. With,a little practice tho jack tars would be a hard nut for any local team -to crack, playing the game frith, enthusiasm, and .in the best sporting spirit. After tea the sailors gave .an entertainment, the songs and dances, being rendered in true nautical style, and were highly appreciated by the patients, each item receiving enthusiastic applause. Needless to say, the Encounter men's kindness was highly appreciated by the staff, who will be glad to 'see the cruiser again in port. Stray Notes.' The Referees' Association has decided to send a letter to all clubs, asking them to persuade as many of their, old players us possible -to join in vefereeing work. If the clubs can be persuaded to tako this question up, seriously, 'no doubt it will mean many additions to the ranks of the Keferees' Association. Clubs should take some interest in the matter, as they depend upon referees for their games, and should therefore do all in their power to increase the membership of the W.E.A. ' . On dit that some members of the Keferees' Association object to be sot down for games below tho first division. He is strengthened, in this . connection by the remarks' made by several of the speakers at the meeting of players called some few weeks ago. If, however, eonie of the referees whose work has been carefully noted are to be allowed to ■referee in ■■first-or even ■ second division mntches, and referee from the centra circle or the touch-line, and give impossible decisions, then will tho games become farces. It may be'as well to state here and now that the appointment board, in fact, all tho managing members of the Referees' Association, are referees whose qualifications are beyond dispute. Surely, these officials between the respective qualifications of referees for higher grade work. Tho by-laws of the New Zealand Football Association are to be; revised by a special committee, consisting of Messrs. F. J. Courtney, L. "White, J. J. Roberta and B. L. Salmon. The present rules are sndly behind the times, and the increasing responsibilities of the governing body warrant a complete new code of laws.' . The sub-committee is also I empowered ■ to define the areas of all the affiliated associations

The boys' sub-committee proposed selecting forty-four players for practice, in view of the forthcoming match with Otago. Two trial matches will bo plaved on the first available Saturday. Mr. J. Paton, the referee down for the Pprirua-Mnrist Bros, match tho other Saturday, had a , fruitless journey to Porirua; but making the best of the situation, joined in a scratch game with quite refreshing energy, showing that he still retained his of the fine points of the game, and scoring a wondurful goal with a deft twist of his liead, completely mystifying the keeper with the "side" which ho. got on the ball. However, Nemesie, in the shape of cramp, proved, however, that "Anno Domina" affects footballers as well as ordinary people. , _ • For tho first time in the history of soccer in New Zealand a Brown Shield representative match is to. bo played in the interests of charity. Half tho proceeds of the Otago v. Wellington match at the Basin Reserve on Saturday next are to be handed over to the committee of tho Children's Hospital Fund. ' Remembering the fact that the soccer people are only just , getting on their logs after years of. ..persistent effort, and "haven't got a bean", to spare, as the saying is, their gonorosity in thia connection is tho more to be applauded