ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By Centhe-Half.)

"Obstruction": How Defined. Very opportunely comes the following letter from. Mr. C. -E. Fordham on the subject of obstruction in football:— "In other cities.of this' Dominion and Australia, an opinion prevails that tho action of a man who charges an opponent ■ who is not actually playing-.tho ball is an illegal - one. I have been told* by referees that they have had difficulty in tfie past on this very point when refereeing interprovinciul matches. I know opinions .differ as' , to the legality of obstruction. I believe in Otago obstruction is not allowed, and if you can get the following opinion into print, so that tho visiting team may benefit by reading it, you may do some good :— "Wo often hear our players and spectators giyo voice to the opinion that obstruction. is illegal, and many keen followers of the gamo havo agreed with them and blamed our. referees for not penalising such acts when committed. 1 would point' out to theso gentlemen that the 'referees' chart' does not anywhere stato that obstruction is illegal. In vol. 1, page 212, of 'Association Football,' a work edited by Mr. Alfred Gibson and Mr. William Pickford, the latter gentleman, who is looked upon as one of the greatest living authorities on the game, has a special article dealing with 'Phases of Football,' and ho treats with what no know in the colonies as 'obstruction' in the following manner:—

"Tho 'referees' chart' says on tho point:—'As regards rough play, the referee has absolute . discretion. Where ho considers the conduct of d playei dangerous, or likely to bo so, he should .caution- the offender, nnd, if tho offence be repeated, order the player off tho field.' Mr. Piokforcl then goes on to say:—'With these weapons in his hands, I think a referee is fully equipped to battle against rough play. That lie must do so the laws leave no opening for doubt; but exactly where charging is legal, and where it oversteps bounds, is left much to his discretion. It will bo, 1 thin!:, fair to say that to charge ■ a player oft the ball, ,to charge an opponent who is trying to get to the ball, or to take a pass, or gain some advantageous position, is not illegal, provided that it is not douo with recklessness, dangerously, revengefully, spitefully, end bo on. The minimum of vigour to effect the purpose is all that a player is entitled to use. In cases of "keeping the man off." obstructing an opponent, pro-

tecting oneself, or oiio's goal-keeper, or other comrade, a player has no right to charge with violence, but ho is entitled to liustlo as much as lie pleases. And in .dealing with rough play, 1 hope no referee will have the mist'orhmo that befell a friend of mine, who was told witluawc, si'ter ho had sent a plnyer off, "Please,' sir, you've ordered oft' a Sunday School teacher!" '" Second Division Championship. The deciding match between Wanderers and Hospital for tho Second Division Championship, played on the Basin last Saturday, was a very strenuous encounter. Both ; teams ' had concluded their league fixtures with a similar number of points—2o, 10 games won. and 1 lost, tho goal records, for Hospital' being 67 to 15, and AVanderers 33 to (!—very creditable performances. Members of each team had trained hard for the match, and stepped on to the field in the pink of condition. As an exhibition of football the game was spoilt by the gale of wind blowing from end to end of the ground. Considering the conditions, a very fast gamo eventuated, thb ball travelling up and down tho field at a great rate. After a quarter of an' hour's play, Phillips pounced on the ball, which the AVanderers' keeper was endeavouring to clear, from a shot by Davis, and planted it safely in the net. The AVandonrs were awarded several ■ frec-ldcks in dangerous proximity to their opponents' goal,-but Cocker proved very safe, clearing splendidly with the AVanderers' forwards on top of him. Determined tackling by the Hospital halves, and sure kicking by the backs, kept the AVanderers out, while just- before half-time AVilton scored what seemed to bo a legitimate goal, but the referee ruled J Davis off-side. Changing ends, Hospjital had all the play, taking fourteen earners in succession, but owing to good goalkeeping by ■ Garnett, coupled-with the high wind taking control of tho ball, there was no. further ■ score. A fine screw by Elliot and a splendidly-placed corner by AVilton were only just cleared in time. The game finished with Hospital winning by the half-time score, one to nothing, and carrying off, the championship for the first time in their career, after an existence of only uiree years. ]?or the winners Phillips, Pearson, and Elliot were prominent amongst the forwards. The half-backs all played' a sterling, game, while -the backs were safe. Cocker's clean sheet in-goal is his. best testimonial. For the Wanderers, M'lnness was in great form, as also were Barker and Garnett (in-goal). Their forwards never got going, being overweighted by the opposing defence, whose tackling left nothing to be desired. Thus the final record of the teams for the season is:— • ..• , ■ Jj j '3 ■" ° a & '§ In "« "3 "S £■■ ' & 3 5 o■. (2 Hospital 12 11 1 68 15 22 AA r anderers 12 10 2 33 7 20 Mr. H. Xcoman controlled the game in a very efficient manner, giving his decisions promptly, being always up with the play, and putting his foot down firmly on anything approaching rough play. , Stray Notes, A gold medal has been. presented to Austin, of the Y.M.C.A team, by the manager, of Walker and Hall, for being tho player of most' service to the Wednesday, team. Two silver medals have also been presented to G. Adah- for being the next player of most service to the team, and (j. M'Kay for the most improved player respectively. The former medal was presented by Mr. R. T. Kearney, and the latter by Mr. T. F, Phillipson. The process of selection was carried out by yote, in which the whole team participated.