ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[Bl "CBNTBE-HiM."]

THE RAIN IT RAINETH. The Ladder of Fame. The results of last Saturday's senior championship matches leaves Hospital with a clear load of eight points over the runners-up, YM.O.A.* yluo have 11 points to their credit, as against the Hospital men's 22. The runners-up last week were the Diamonds, but as their, match with Wanderers was not played on Saturday, they have still to "make good" for tho second place; Altogether, the Hospital men have played eleven niatohes. They .have won the lot, scored 42 goals in the aggregate of their victories, and their goal-keeper has been beaten only four times. This in itself is a record to bo proud of, and by comparison with _ tho otHers affords much food for reflection. So far as the finale of the championship is concerned, a food deal of the interest has departed, owingf to the distance which spans the present leaders and ninnersup, but some excitement may be provided by: the competition for second and third places on the ladder of fame, and Diamons, Y.M.C.A., and Thistle havo all a sporting chance. Also, in tho near vicinity, but a respectful distance behind the doughty ones, are St. John's and Swifts, witfi the Ooririthiana hovering about in the offing. The next piece of football excitement will be furnished by the Charity Cup contest, but it is yet too early to prdceed to the serious task of picking winners. An untoward earthquake might ewallow up the Hospital team and disorganise all one's speculations. At present, the position is as follows:—

tr -._i & 4 As<2Odfc Hospital Jl' 11 0 1 42 i 22 YitoiA/... .;.ll 6 2 S Iβ 14 .14 Diamonds 9 6 1 2 18 15 13 .-...■......;... 11 5 1 6 18 15 11 St. John's 11 l 2 ' 5 21 18 10 Swifts 10 4 2 4 ,16 19 10 Ramblers .10 1 5 4 8 18 7 Corinthians .(...; 11 3 1 7 19 25 7 Wanderers .(. 10 2 2 G 7 30 6 Hovers 10 1 2 7 12 21 i

Another Ground Muddle. It was thought that the Postponement Committed of the' Wellington Football Association would have learned a lesson frtfiri theft predecessors of last year, but appareutly tlw "ground muddle 5 ' is still going on. Dunug the 1911 season-the best as far as weather , oonditious ■were concerned that we have experienced-r-tnere was one occasion on which the Corin-thians-Swifts fixture was upset on account, of the Postponement Committee not noti' lying the teams in. question that the ground at "Kelburne Park wa3 unsuitable tor play. .'Oil that occasion, the blame was placed on the shoulders of a corporation official. After having been tho sole topic- conversation in football circles durini the week previous, the game was looked forward to with, much interest. At a subsequent meeting of the Management Committee, the question was fully gone into, and it was said that "such incon--veniences to players, would not occur again." .. What happened? Practically the 6ame old trouble all over again, and it happened more particularly 1 lost Saturday. There is no doubt whatever that, there" wag a. muddle over grounds last week-eiid, and players were 16ud in their condemnation of tko unsatisfactory way in which notices of games being transferred from city reserves to Miramar were attended to. It is usual—at all events it lias been the tisual custom—for notices to be put up in prominent placo3 in the city, before noon on Saturday, informing teams whether their matches were to be played at Miramar or not. This only refers to wet Saturdays. Last Saturday, however, after a wet week, the Weather turned out fine, and although players, and supporters, looked fox these notices regarding grounds, none were visible at-noon on the day in question. As a matter of fact, several members of various teams went to appointed grounds on city reserves, only to be told by the respective caretakers ..that there would be; no matches' there. Off these .players and supporters went to Miramar, with the result that, having mi6sed the special cars, they were forced to take schedule trams, and they did not reach Miramar until an hour after the appointed time for matches to commence. Some of the games did not start until a quarter to four, and these were finished in darkness-

Steps to Stop the Trouble. The whole question of transferring these matches, and who was responsible for the notices appertaining thereto, was discussed at this week's meeting of the Management Committee, and certain member 9 spoke strongly on the subject. The outcome of it all was that Mr. H. M'Keowen, chairman, was deputed to wait upon tho Reserves Committee of the City Council, with a. View to bringing about an understanding by which the superintendent of city reserves will in future notify, various people in town by nbon on Saturdays that tho reserves are not for play. Notices will be put up, and it.is to be hoped that this will overcome all the difficulties that have existed in the past. I/et Us hope so. •

A Rainy Excursion. -' , • Poverty Bay has experienced nrach misfortune regarding weather conditions since they sot out on their southern tour. Last Friday week, the day.on whioh they passed through Wellington, en route to Christchurch, it was raining heavily, and the weather wag bad generally. On their way down in the Maori they "hit i a uoutherly," then a fog came down outside liyttelton Heads, andfthey were lato in arriving at Christchurch. In the Cathedral City conditions were just as bad as they were jn the North Island. It had bean raining for days, end tho ground on which tho match was to have been played was like a lake. In fact, it was 6aid that when Mr. Yeoman, the referee, went to inspect the playing area, on Saturday morning he saw nights of seagulls resting on-top of the water) with no ground to be seen at all. Praise is due to the. Town Clerk of Christchurch for the way in which he assisted the locnl association, rs well as the visitors, in the matter of obtaining a ground. Eventually the Christchurrh Hockey Assooitaion generously cave the. Aes"6iatinn poonlo the uso of their field on St. Albans Park, and there the matoh wns played. The ground, however, was in n fearful state—a quagmire, in fact. After tho game, that wirt of St. Albans PaTk was unrecognisable. The Povertv Bay we.n were unstinting in tlipir praise of the sportsmanlike action of the Canterbury Hockey Afwicintion, mnd it wa* only nn occbutit of thfc Inttet body that the match whs played at all. , During their three days' stay in Hie southern city.tlie weather was anvttiinff but eof<\. and tho trin back tn Wellington nn TtieSflnv ni?ht "shook all rr>»mliprs of the team." On arrival nt Wellington it was still rninins. and it ra'"»d until the Priv-m-h , Pav men left for Wnnganni on Wednesday irorninir. T«afest renorts from Wanganui stated that it was ro'nihg up there. Frnm aDnearanco." it seemed'as if thn visit/its were doomed to meet "Mr. ftnin" at all quarters. It was a most- di caopointins tour from every of view, and our rorthorn friends will I'lvp pnu?e tn rprnpuib" , their quest after the Brown ■ Shield in 1912.

Some Stray Notes. A prominent football enthusiast in Wellington received a lotter from the Hawko's Buy Association, asking him if ho would represent them as second delegate on tho Now Zealand Council. Just prior to the •receipt of the. letter tho enthusiast in question had accepted representation on behalf of another association, and replied to that effect. Word has been received hero that Mr. Crouch, who was at one time a prominent members of tho Wellington Football Association, . hns now been apiiolnted second delegate for nnwko's Bay. The North Shore Club is more fortunate than tho town clubs,, in that after wet weather the grounds at Devonport dry very quickly. Only on one occasion in the lMist six years has tho custodian of the Devonport Domain declared tho piwind unit for play.—"Auckland Her--024-"