ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[Bt "Centre-Half."! THE TINKER AND THE LAW. BOUNDING UP BAD LANGUAGE. Tinkering With The Rules. If there is one tiling more than another upon which tiio "soccer" authorities may congratulate themselves in their endeavours to set their game upon a prominent position in the eyes of the New Zealand sporting public it is that the everlasting tinkering with the laws of the game which is constantly upsetting the peace and harmony of the Rugby authorities is absent altogether from the "soccer" camp. This is as it should be. The English Football Council is tho Tsar of Soccerdom. It maintains the laws and constitution of the game unspoilt by experimental legislators, promulgates edicts' which must be obeyed, and generally preserves that solemn dignity of pose, and conservatism of action, which commands the awe and respect of all subordinate

councils within tho Empire and over the seas. Tho simple code of the game is its very strength. Tho "pointer" who is to be found in every kind of sport finds that tho "soccer" ground offers but a small and restricted field for his ingenuity. It is a curious fact that tho faster tho "soccer" game is played the cleaner it is, whereas the Rugby game, with its initiating complexity of rules, tends to become a "roughly" game. Bearing these things, in mind loyalty to the English Council and strict observance of tho rules of the game Bhould be the metier of all footballers in these Dominions. Players and Referees. It is to be sincerely hoped that suoli incidents as were brought to light at this week's meeting of the W.F.A. Management Committee are rare, and will in future bo rarer. A Petono player was summoned before tho committee to answer a charge of having used bad language to the referee in tho JohnsonvillePetone match last week, and from the manner in which ho gave his evidence ono infers that he regarded his offence in a very casual light. He line been convicted on his own admission of having used the language complaincd of, but tho sentence of the W.F.A. has been deferred pending inquiry into the player's allega-' tion that tho referee struck him. If this allegation be sustained then the refereo will have to answer for a very serious indiscretion. But apart from this aspect of the case, and regarding only the proved facts, ono can only say, from a full knowledge of the details of the offence,

that the sooner that I'etone player is out of the Association game the better for its reputation. We don't want that sort in "soccer." That sort, by the way, isn't wanted nnich anywhere. Crowding the Goalkeeper. Although the attendances at Association championship matches in Wellington are not such to-day as to cause any inconvenience to the general run of players there is one position which is hampered by the "crowd," week after week. The favoured point of vantage from which to witness a game is with many, the goalline, and it is no unusual thing to soe a string of anything from fivo to twenty spectators standing undor and alongside the goal-posts. Goalkeepers are not usually nervous persons, but when close work about the posts takes place the custodians of the goal should certainly be given every opportunity and not bo hampered by the spectators. Only last Sat-

urday the goals of Swifts and Corinthian teams were each heavily supported by barrackors. On one occasion the writer counted 16 along the western goal and at the same time there were nine under the eastern goal. The mattor is in the hands of the referees, who have only to stop tho ploy until llio ground is cleared to put an end to tho^troublo. Temper—Openly Displayed. Corinthians are to bo congratulated on the improved form thoy displayed against Swifts last week, They havo several new players in their ranks now, including Hall, formerly of Thistle, and Also an oxWellington representative. He is a de-

cided acquisition to the team. With a little moro'oondition, Corinthians would probably havo won through, but they faded away in tho last quarter. A regrettable feature of tho match, was the open display of temper by several players. On occasions the offenders in this direction deliberately played the man instead of the ball. In fnct, on two occasions men left the ball altogether to

give chase to opponents. At- one stage of tho contest it appeared as though blows would be struck by two well-known players, but fortunately for the men concerned, and for "soccer," less liot-headed inen intervened, and peace was restored. Duncdin Senior Championship. Tho first grade competition at Dunedin is at present being led by Koslyn-Wai-lcari, vrho are one point in advance of ICaitangata. The relativo positions of tlio various teams are:— ' Ih um * S. o £ ° ° £-a S (X, p Q OS.O eO 8. Roslyn-Walk&ri 3 2 0 1 0 8 5 Kaitangata 2 2 0 0 5 1 4 Maori Hill 3 1 1 1 11 fi 3 Northern 3 1 1 1 10 8 3 Rave'isbourae ... 3 1 1 1 7 10 3 Christian Bros. 3 1 2 0 7 7 2 Morningtou 3 0 1 2 4 4 2 High School Old Boys 2 0 J 0 4 13 0 The Gams in Canterbury.

The "sncwr" game is malting huge strides in South Canterbury, according to tho "Weekly Press." Teinuka lias every likelihood of placing two teams in the field, the Titnaru Club two or tbreo, the Rovers one, and Waimate one. making a total of six or seven. A school league should now bo formed as soon as possible, as it is only fair that boys from Home should have the same opportunity of playing their favourite game under more favourable circumstances than those obtaining at present. A controlling body lias been formed, with Jlr. Jas, Emslie as president and Mr. H. E. Ilorwell secretary and treasurer.

The Canterbury Football Association has inaugurated a junior league, with five entries. The formation of n M-hrml league is going on npnee, and flit- afiiriiitiiui hopes In have eight or nine tenuis nmnlnjr by the end of (ho month. Mr. J. Ward, of Wellington, hM prnmiwd to prori <lfl nKdilj far UW eohool boyt.