ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[Br "Centee-Haw."]

WHO WILL WIN AT PORIRUA?

How tho Teams Stand, •2 S. '<5 h 9c, o ic-dg . . ft £ >J 0 ftSPwdO^ Hospital 0 D 0 0 31 3 18 Diamonds ...... 8 (i 0 2 16 13 12 Y.M.C.A 0 7 0 3 ■10 13 11 Swifts Mil H 15 9 Thistlo 9 ± 0 5 13 11 8 St. John's .9 3 2 i 18- 13 8 Ramblers 3 14 3 7 12 G Corinthians ... 9 .1 0 fi 17 18 C Wanderers ... 9 2 1 C i 27 S Rovers 8' 1 1 6 8 17 3 The position of the teams in tho senior championship competition, as set forth in the above table, does not disclose any prospect of on exciting finish to the contest this season. Hospital have a clear lead of 6 points from the runners-up, Diamonds, wlio, in their turn, have a narrow margin of lead—one ■ point only— from tho Y.M.C.A. men. Swifts, with 9 points, exactly half tho total of the Hospital's amount, may be considered to be out of it," although it is rumoured that the maroons may spring a surprise in the Charity Cup series. But that is by tho way. The Big Match at Porlrua To-day, Corinthians, who defeated the Hospital men in the second round of last year's championship series, occupy a humble position—third from the bottom, to be ex-act—but-on present form and with prospective additions to their fighting strength, may be expected to climb up a rung or two, perhaps three or four, before the end of the season. En passant, the Hospital men are rather looking forward to their meeting with the Corinthians to-day, as last year's licking is to be wiped off the 6late—so gossip says. In other words, the Hospital men are "looking for" the Corinthians with tho proverbial "axe," and as the refereo appointed for tho contest is understood to be of an indulgent temporament, tho match is expected to bo rather sensational in tuore ways than one. N.B.—Tho_ accommodation for spectators at the Porirua ground is ample. Brown Shield Match No. 1. It hes been mutually agreed between Canterbury and Poverty Boy that tho first Brown Shield match of the season shall take place on Saturday next (July 13), at Christchurch. Canterbury have been unfortunate in not being able to secure a ground' whore a "gate could be charged, but holding to tho adage that "half a loaf is better than no bread," they have obtained permission to play tho match on the Public Domain and hio/ve also been granted tho right to tako up a collection. This is better than nothing, but it'must be unsatisfactory to our northern friends. Tho Poverty Bay Itlnorary. The Poverty Bay men are due to arrive in Wellington on Friday, July 12, by the Victoria, and proceed on to Lytteltoh the same day. They are scheduled to leave the southern port by the Mokoia on Saturday evening. Arrangements ' havo also been made for them to play the Wanganui Association's representatives at Wanganui on either July 17 or 18.

On Monday, July 15, the Poverty Boy representatives will piny a picked team from H.M.S. Pioneer at Kelburno Park, Wellington. Mr. H. Yeoman has consented to act as referee. The Proposal to Play Wellington, Poverty 1 Bay's delegate oa..the_ New ..Zealand Council endeavoured to arrange a matoh against Wellington', but tho proposal was found impracticable. A suitable date could not be arranged, and tho "question of a "gate" could not bo entertained on account of the local association not having a suitable ground, and also because the match would have to played on a week-dny.' This, again, is most unfortunate. It would have given Wellington, and also Poverty Bay (which, by the way, is quite a new association of about two years' standing) a chance to ascertain how their respective teams stand in regard to each other. Then, again, as the northerners had played Canterbury (the present holders of the Brown Shield), the fixture would' havo afforded us somo idea as to how our own meh : would shape against the shield holders. However, it is littlo use sorrowing over tho inevitable. It is too much to ask a team which is coming all the way from Gisborne to stay at Wellington, for a couple of days in order to play a matoh for nothing. Tho,expenso would be too great. Otago Down on Misconduct. The Otago Football Association Executive Committee very properly took a serious view of the conduct of a player who was recently reported for using an objectionabjo expression towards a..referee, and having regard to past misdemeanours on the part of'the-same player, decreed his suspension until tho end of season 1913. Association football should be played so that ladies may find pleasure in watching it, and the referee who permits tho use of improper languago on the part of either players,or spectators fails in his duty. Accepting his own etatement, the referee in tho match referred to made a mistako in not cautioning tho same player when, earlier in the same match, he made uso of improper language, oven although it was used towards another player. Further (says "Left Wing," in the "Otago Daily Times"), when the offence reported occurred the playor should have been ordered off the field at once, even although there remained only one minute to play. It is indulgence altogether misplaced when referees permit players'to behave in an unruly manner. I have heard of a referee who was abused by ,' o player at tho close of a match, and ■ yet' failed to report tho circumstances.

Some Stray Notes. An incongruous spectacle was provided Bt Culling Park, Dunedin, on Saturday— to wit, a line umpire doing his duty squarely, but at the same time ''barracking" earnestly for his team. Discontinuing the Wellington mid-week matches is regrettable. Surely the "powers that be" have ac!«d a little too prematurely in this matter. Could they not have waited for, say, a fortnight more? It must be regardod as an indication of the substantial progress made by Association football in Tasmania that on June 15 the authorities in tho island State were enabled to inaugurate at Launceston the first of what is hoped will be annual contests between representative terms from North and South Tasmania. It was won by South Tasmania by 2 goals to nil. Although Association football has made marked progress In Auckland, there aro soveral first division teams who meet with great difficulty in putting full teams in the fiold. The game cannot succeed as it deserves until the playeTs as a body show more enthusiasm. Too much work is left to a comparative few.—"New Zealand Herald." Wanted.—As many players and enthusiasts of the Association game as can spare the time to take up duty as referees in junior matches. A,t present there is a scarcity of "whistle blowers," although more teams aro entering for the various competitions each week. "Karori Cadets" is tho namo selected by a new fourth division iteam. Their application for affiliation was accepted last Wednesday, and they piny their first match against Brooklyn to-day. It is said that the "Cadets" could easily muster enough "men" to form another team. Lot us hope that they will do so. There is one man'in Wellington who does as much (if not more) than anvbodv for boys' football. This is Sir. Frank O'Connell. Ho is a silent worker, but his influence is felt. Mr. O'Connell has been instrumental in bringing many boys' teams into the fiold, his latest addition being the above-mentioned Karori Cadets. Somo littlo time back we heard that tho W.F.A. intended to colcbrato its twenty-first birthday, and. subsequently, it was decided to hold a dinner. What has beon done When is the func. ...ttWLJlsming &tfX •