ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

. [Bt Centre-Haw.] CANDID LETTER FROM HOME. Foreword on the Season, To-day will see the opening of the 1911 season. All counted, it looks likely to be a good one. That much we may say soberly without jumping into tho fatuons superlatives of tlie usual style of "spoiling writing." The City Council nave been generous in,tho allocation of grounds and tho association have been fortunate in obtaining eleven grounds at Miramar. On looking over the fixtures for to-day one notices that there are ten senior teams, as against .six last season. Judging by appearances the finish of tho competition snould be a very closooue. Perhaps it may be a win for Eamblers, last year's champions,, but who knows? Entries for the other six competitions are also very good, and two new teams havo made their appearance. These are St. Anne's, in the l'ourth Division, and Ngaio in the Filth B Division.'

Of course it is too early yet to conjecture as to whether Wellington will challenge lor the Brown Shield, but from the rumours which ono hears, it sceniG likely that the wearers of the black and gold shirts will travel south to Canterbury in quest of it. The match may not take place until well towards the end of the season, and by that time it may happen that Utago may be the proud possessors of tho trophy. If this does happen, Wellington will no doubt go further south "to have a go for it."

Thistle and Hospital. On Easter Saturday a friendly match was played between Thistle and Mental Hospital at Porirua, the latter team victorious by four goals to nil. flight from the jump the game was a fait one, and of a fairly even nature, but the shooting powers of the home forwards were too much for the visitors. The two full-backs for the Blues, Chapman and Jarcli.no, did good work, and Hall and Ash made great efforts to scoro but Cockburn (in goal for Hospital) proved to be too safe in defending. Phillips (2), and Davis (2) scored for Hospital, who retired winners after a game which was thoroughly enjoyed by both teams. Thistle were unfortunate in losing tho services of a half-back through a twisted knee in the early stages. Mr, T. Cocker was referee. A Wellington Boy at Home. Writing to a friend in Wellington from Homo, Mr. "Bob" Mackay—a keen supporter of the Ramblers Club and lately a member of the W.F.A. and N.Z.F.A.— tends the regrettable news that he has been under medical care for practically the whole of the tirao that ho has been in the Old Country. However, at time of writing (March 0) ho was almost himself again. After describing the various sights in and about London as they appear to "a poor ignorant colonial like me," he goes on to say:— "Now to talk a little football. I have seen some of the biggest matches of tho season, and have very mixed feelings as regards tho standard of play here. Sometimes it seems to bo very high indeed, buf at others, it is certainly no bettor than what we have in New Zealand, I have seen better f66tball iu club matches in Wellington than Was shown in the West Ham v. Northampton match lost Saturday. West Ham had six of their reserves playing, but' nevertheless, we have always heard that the reserves, 'jrs r.s good as the first team, or nearly ?6. Well, that is n6t a fact.. In my opinion West I Ham are sure to win the English Cup

and I guess a New Zealand team could give- 'West Ham reserves two goals and beat them. My own opinion is that, although the play of such teams as Manchester United, West Ham United, and Aston Villa, is certainly of a high order; the reports which we received out in New Zealand are decidedly exaggerated and, although a New Zealand team would doubtless he beaten by the stronger teams here, they would by no means be disgraced. 1 feel sure that the weaker teams in tho competition would not'beat an 'All Black' team. "As for the talk about tho referees in this country it's all pifflo what we used to hear about them. From what I have seen of them, they arc specialists on the .off-side ruling, but tho other rules aro not watched as well as they are by colonial referees. "Then again, as to the spirit of the game, I may say that I have seen every bit as much (or more) dirty work by the players here as I ever did in Wellington. In fact, in every match I have seen, it seems to be the recognised thing for the team which has the misfortune to get a goal scored against it, to play—well, to fay tho very least of it, a very rough game to make up the deficit. Then again, before concluding, I will just touch on a very vexed question as far as colonials are concerned, i.e., blocking. I have seen blocking to a certain extent in every match I have been fortunate enough to attend, but,'in tho Cup tio (Manchester United v. West Ham) I saw more blocking than I ever, saw in any single match at home."