ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

9 (By Centre-Half.) Once More the Weather. Tho recent week-end which has afflicted Wellington has been as 0110 of the plagues of Egypt to the "soccer" players, and the only consolation they havo been able to derive from their disappointments and discomforts in connection with their club fixtures has been that they were not alone in their extremity. A wet, cold Saturday afternoon in early , winter is a sure and certain test of real enthusiasm. Then it is that tho half-baked sport shivers and wills as he prepares to pack his jersey, etc., in readiness for his trip to tho battlefield, and then it is. fairly frequently, that lio decides'that the condition of things in general is "not good enough." lie stays at home—and lets his team down. Brooklyn United suffered in this wise la=t Saturday, for ll'.ey could only muster a i-orateh team nMm men. lleiico their defeat by tu nil at I In; hands of Wanderers. Games Mostly Fair. t The quality nf Saturday's play all over v.as merely fair. The Hospital men had ; » runaway win in their match with Dia-

monds, who had too many young players ill tho ranks to hope for much, profit out of an encounter with such a seasoned team as the Hospitallers havo proved themselves to be.

What the result of tlie Y.M.C.A.-Swifts encounter would have been had the caretaker at Kelburne Park not merciiully intervencd in the interests of his ground —and incidentally of the chilled spectators—and stopped the match, at half-time, would be hard to say. Y.M.C.A. certainly had tho advantage, and from the mediocre form displayed by the Swifts back division would probably have given their opponents a fairly good drubbing. But tho fortunes of war are ever fickle, and never more uncertain than in tho sports arena. Corinthians were slow to wake up in their match with St. John's at Wakefield Park, but once they had measured the strength of their opponents they doggedly ploughed their way-ploughed is a good word under the circumstances—to a wellearned win. ' . . Tho Scotchmen just managed to win in their match against Brooklyn, and no doubt felt somewhat surprised when they encountered an unexpected firmness in a line that they thought could bo broke across the knee, so to speak. It is to bo sincerely hoped that to-day will proviuo cheerier conditions for this afternoon s sport, and that some fast and open games will gladden tho hearts of the spectators on tho line. Some Stray Notes. "Soccer" enthusiasts in Wellington will 1 regret to hear that Mr. A. F. isewbold, i secretary of the Wellington ltcferecs' Association, and a keen "soccer" sport, is at present laid aside by an illness which, it is stated, will keep him away from his employment for at least six weeks. Sir. JS'ewbold ihas always been a willing worker for "soccer" football in Wellington, and nothing he has taken up has seemed a troublo to him. His loss to the game at this particular time will bo much felt, and "Centre-Half" is only echoing tho sentiments of "soccer' players generally when ho wishes Mr. r*ewbold a speedy recovery. Mr. B. L. Salmon, secretary of the flew Zealand Football Association, has been advised that Waihi wishes to affiliate with the parent body. It was stated that tho new association has three teams playing the game. After a lot ot argument and trouble •tho W.F.A. have had a fixtures card printed. But the clubs have had nothing to do with it, and neither has the Management Committee. It came as a surprise to members oil Wednesday evening when Mr. Williams, the secretary, announced that Mr. li. Yeoman, a member of the committee, had presented the association with '100 cards in neat design. Naturally, Mr. Yeoman was thanked for his generosity. , Senior players will be pleased to learn tliat 011 Tuesday week,-June 3, a Canterbury team will visit AYelliagtoii, and play a friendly game with our representatives. The match will not be a Brown Shield fixture. There is a possibility of some of tlie Brown Shield matches being played on tl'ie Association's new ground at Ililbirnio this season, but it is a sporting chance only. As far as can be gathered at present there arc four challenges m for the shield. They are Otago, laranalci, Canterbury, and Manawatu. The New Zealand Council has suggested that the first match, that of Otago v. Wellington, be played on June 23. Another good suggestion was that the following matches be played within three weeks of one another. This is an excellent idea, and no doubt the various associations concerned will readily fall in with tho suggestion. Last year the time allowed to elapse between matches was too long altogether, with the result that two challenges which had been sent in early 111 the season were compelled to bo hold over until this season. The associations - in question were Otago and Taranaki, and they are first on the list this season. Tho South Wellington sixth division team has a good record to its credit. The team has played 3 games, won three, goals for 23, goals against nil. Tho team is an exceptionally strong one for^ sixth division, being strong both in attack and in defence. Bell, tho right full, is a very good lad, being very safe. Tho fourth division team defeated Kaiwarra last urday by 4-to 1, the game being played in pouring rain. This team is not so strong as it has been in former years. All grades have made a good 6tart for the now season, and the ooys are very , keen. The Championship Ladder. Tho various teams in the senior division competition stand as follows as a result of last Saturday's matches:—

•V • . tj « H j? § "w cj'rtt.'irt -m .2 ,® a u c o oto o r* 1-3 fi CFq E-i Thistle 3 3 0 0 12 3 fi Y.M.C.A 2 2 0 0 12 0 i Diamonds 3 2 1 0 10 8 4 Corinthians ... 2 2 0 0 9 • 4 Mental Hospital 2 2 0 0 12 1' A Swifts 2 110 12 2 Brooklyn United 3 1 2 0 5 11 - Wanderers 3 1 2 0 G 12 2 Rovers 2 0 2 0 1 G 0 Brooklyn 3 0 3 0 3 17 0 St. John's 3 0 3 0 1 9 0

[Note-Swifts and T.M.C.A. met on May 10, but at half-time, when the scoro was Y.M.C.A. 1, Swifts 0, the game was abandoned on account of the rain, and will have to be replayed.]