ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

THE FALL OF TEE CURTAIN.

(BY Centhe-HALF.) ■ ■ ;

'Although it can hardly bo said that ' the ;season, which closed ' on Saturday , last, has, been quito as successful- as in: ■the. past from a-Mnior standpoint; I ;.still the success of all the lower grado competitions has been unquestioned, and it is. hero that tho future of , "soccer" in Wellington is. being built upon a very sound basis. There' are those', who consider that .the .welfare of the game depends upon : the strength and number of senior teams. !■■■ There can, however, bo no question that' every possible attention and, encouragement should be givfen to grades below the .'senior for . two reasons: .Firstly, seniors'■ are well able to take care ; of themselves; and, secondly, juniors are the seniors of, the future, and! every possible: care now given them can only have, one result in tho future—success. v ■ How Fared the Seniors? • At one time it was considered that Swifts would win the first division competition, easily, but accidents to players' and unexpected reverse at tho 'hands' of Hovers seriorisly affected the Maroons' chanccs, and they 'dropped back. Then Eamblers and Diamonds took up the running, but,a somewhat easy victory by Eamblers when these two teams met gave the latter a lead, which they maintained to the end. and thus gained well-earned success after a very well-balanced season, ..■ Next in order of merit; come i Thistle, Y.M.C.A., and Hovers. Thistles wore . an "in-anfl-'put": team; ono never knew whether they wojild play really well or ill. '.Hovers may be said to have been of tho same class. Neither of these club*will do much ijood for themselves until ■ : they instiwto junior teams. Y.M.C.A. ...; were extrruely ■ disappointing, l for.' after their brilLvnt show.ing, of t£e previous

season, sonic real "good work was expected—but hot'.realised. Defections of players accounted for this in many ways. Further their "star" forward, Timperley, not been well this season,; a big loss in;itselL .'The Charity Cup produced on the. whole much better 1 football than the league, and it is ;wOrth .noting that the two oldest clubs in the association, Diamonds and Swifts, met in the final. Tho sudden return of the Swifts'to their best .form-was altogether too, much for their once-most successful cup fighters, and the Maroons romped homo by 4 goals to 1, after having previously defeated Hovers by 5 to 1, and T.M.C.A. .by 3 to 1.

A Promising Second 1 Division. • Some excellent contests took place in tho: second division competition, and 'eventually. Mental' Hospital met . and defeated Wanderers in a play-off. The same ■ two-teams again met in the Challenge Cup final, the Hospital again being successful. The suburban team is /to ,be congratulated upon its dual successes, and it might perhaps bo not out of place at this time to: suggest that 'the club <night try a season: in'first division ranks next year. Other teams which the writer would- like to seo return to senior ranks are Wanderers and St. John's. Both of /these clubs have, shown excellent football, 'throughout the: season, and would be again welcomed in senior company, i Lower grade .results-brought out', St. ■ David's as. winners, pf 'tho, third, division cup. and Wadestown : again held the Henderson memorial cup. T.M.C.A. Boys' Club, accounted . for;:, the; fourth division cup -and challenge > ,cup,' f and' the fifth 'A 'arid ;B cups, while the sixth'division tro- : phy goes to Porirua.' "*/'• -. The Real Strength of "Soccer." , One. has only to watch the boys' games to see how markedly, these must affect the future-.of. "soccer." ' Leaving: alone the excellence of the boys'■ behaviour,, an "asset in; itself, : they //are, to be congratulated on' the' very fine form shown, and if they continue to . bo as well .coached, the. standard. otfootball must, be, •much-improved,; before 'many, ; years 'are over., ,The i.Y.MiC.'A.i Swifts,' South Wellington, .Brooklyn," \Rewtinnp ; Congregational,, and "Marist; School "Clubs many . 'excellent 'boy players. ' It «; might. 1 be/not' out'of place .to mention hero':that the Boys'. Sub-Committee re^leserving, of . special; mention? for :theeht¥ußiasm' they display ,in . encouraging boys', , teams .' in every shape and' form.- - There : -ivere,, it. is understood, - : about four boys' •" team's . in 1003;; this 'season;!no', less,' than;forty-seven have: taken.,part : in: the .various divisions —an. astonishing'increase.

iTho Charity .Cup Final. ' The .final:'in r the-Charity'.-Cup between■ .Saturday --lasfc--at''Porirna,'"was'-ia'very; fast and; exciting ;game,: .and;,resulted in the'Hospital, winning, in-decisive'- fashion by 5; goals to 1. It was an ideal day. for football,y the.'.gronni splendid order, with a'light, breeze blowing .from end. to end. Losing the toss Wanderers ■ locked off ; with , the sun in their' faces. Hospital - quickly showed that they meant business; and alter Phillips had hit the post, with :a hot shot, Heather-handled in' .the'penalty,'area,: from which/.. Phillips's' shot gave Garnett no chance to save. field, no quarter :being: asked'by''either.:team. : But: while the whole/of- Hospital . front rank combined- beaiitifullj,:;the : ;' Wanderers forwards- were; disjointed,Vonly-.Powoll, : Hayward,:. and Eodgers; .on. the,, left-wing'. .6hpOT^4ny-:c6n'certed'' : p^;' , -iS:'om i a'.cipr--'nert.finely ~ placed .-by , Wilton; .Phillips headed a splendid' goal—two to nil, at I which score the issue seemed; safe.Wan- ■ t derers made great ' efforts to .'reduce, the deficit,, led on by : Rodgers, but ? the desure' I'kicking of the, v backs, averted:, danger. Half-time arrived with Hospital leading i-by,.a,-to 'nil.,,'-Changing, ehds':the . game' ■was still very fast.. A, fine run by Davis was. capped by,a, great shot, completely beating. - Garnett. Hospital - n6w dominated the; proceedings; and held the Wanderers well in hand. A penalty,', conceded by Davis, enabled- Wanderers to register their_ only ■ score," shot being- taken .byHunter, who.- gave Cooker no' chance. ■ Barker, ll'lnness and Hunter defended : Stoutly, but could not keep : out the eager •flf^W'-foj^ardsi'viaiiot-.scoiriiig a: neat goal' froma . corner , ifinely - placed • toy Pearson. .Garnett' was:; keeping" •in highest .style, tut was ...beaten once ;more,. this Jani6' by/;Pliillips ;who' 'finished .a solo effort ; with; a; rocket 'shot: from- 25' yards ! ont,; the ball.'/striking the under side: of the bar- with tremendous force, and rebounding behind the "keeper" into . the ' je.'- . Wanderers;; made a last rally, but the .fwhistlo blew-- with ; no * further -score, Hospital. : walking ; off -the;, field with a well-earned victory by 5 goals to 1. Mr; J. a. I'aton controlled the game in his lisual style,. holding ;the teams well in hand, despite . the exciting nature of 'the contest.- For;; Hospital;, J.,-Rutledge at left-back was in- great form; his :timing and . returns being- magnificent. ; ;■ For 'a back he.ls- oa the'light side, but; h'is skill; gots-Jiim.,out of -many a tight corner, and;, his play has. been, ono of the features of the; Hospital season. •" He plays ;the /real ifbotball,'" and will be ,"a great lossto the team, having, taken up a tovernmeht' appointment in Wellington. Wilton's ■. speed ;at outside-right was. a' great, asset. Combining beautifully with ■filliot,. ,wlio was in: his. best form, the .right-wing, worked, - through : /"the. defence .time after time, the. outside man putting in. some fine centres., '.Davis , was a hard worker, '-and ; led"- and;, linked 'his for,wards in fine .'style. -Phillips ,scored three go'als,;- which -is the . whole., duty .of ; the captain, and played a determined game. Pearson did all that. was required of ? ' corner--, kicks being \ admirably ..placed. . Luand, Jacobs,, and Richmond at half all played, a: never-say.-'die game, and continually 'worried the opposing' forwards,; never, allowing : them to settle down. . Morgan was safe' and sure, the. light Wanderers forwards weight a' big. obstacle. Cocker, had. little to do in goal,/but proved safe: when .called on. llie Wanderers, 1 as a •twin,..lacked cohesion, their ; centre and left-wing alone showing -any.'-' combination. . The .forwards ;>vore on; the light side, but played , hard to get' through the opposing defence. Rodgers,; Powell, and Hayward; were: the; prominent men, the right-wing being-'.weak; -.Barker, : centre-' .half, with;-Mnness, - worked .hard,' 'but tileformer .spoiled his effectiveness; by kicking,'too"hard ."and bad placing. Heather and Hunter were good at times, but were unreliable when, under,pressure. Garnett' in goal was the best man on his side and-could not be blamed : for the. defeat! Some of 4iis saves wcre.ummense, ; clearing splendidly with' the, eager Hospital forwards on .top" of'-himv'..This' was the third meeting of tho team's, Hospital winning both League and Cup.finals, and losing .the. League fixture. Hospital won throe of its Cup matches, and scored 19 goals, three goals being scored against - them. Wanderers won two •of thoir .'.matches, lost one, 'scored two goals, and had fivo goals scored against'them. ■

Prospect and Restrospect. iDospito the 'fact: that this season has been a- very favourable one for players ,Irom every point of view, it might, perhaps, not be too early to say that pros,'pocts for.-' next season arc .very bright. ■It, is almost, a certainty that...there will be. two extra. : senior teams, while several ipf. tljo lower'grade teams will be raised a division. , The boys', divisions are all Expected' to show an increase, and this is; a department of the ; game-to. which extra attention should be given. Much ;gdid has been ; . done to " tho, Marlborough .Schools League by- the visit of the Wellington boysTteam to Blenheim ; last Saturday, when ! the'visitors..won by 4 goals to 1. Tor their first season, the home side showed Splendid form, and must bo congratulated' upon the showing, they made against! tho strong team Mr. B. L. Salmon' tookf-over with him. Mr. A. Jlortimore.ithe secretary,' hopes , to have nine .tcams'i next season. . :. The', standard of refereeinp -'has Undoubtedly improved this 'soasou,> and Messrs. Fordham and Nowbold vir6. to be. congratulated upon the improved- morale of tho Referees' Association.The . ground . committee has worked hqrd this season, and met with a good deal' of '-.success. But. the . association has -B£en ';very fortunate in not having to play u many first division games at Mirainar, .where the grounds are dreadfully more attention must be •■given to grounds 3n. the future.: . MoH of. , the local-'associations aro, now completing

their guarantees for the proposed N.S.W. tour next year, and before .long the New Zealand secretary (Mr. B. L, Salmon) hopes to be actively engaged. in making the necessary arrangements. How to improve the game is a burning question with us in the colonies. Of course, ,the. boys' teams are improving under their coaches, but what is wanted is the visit of an English team. Britain is the homo of soccer, and until we see a real good team touring the Dominion it will be next to impossible to learn tho finer points of the game. Mr. A. E. Gibbs should be now hammering at tho doors of tlio Football Association on the subject, and we can only:hope that he will meet with success.