ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 30

ASSOCIATION.

(By Centre-Half.) HOW TO POPULARISE IT. Put the Good Games on the Basin Always, If the control could just manage to always put really good games on tho Basin Jieservo on Saturday afternoons, then, without a scintilla of doubt, the "soccer" game would catch the public a good deal tighter round the heart strings than it is doing at present. ,'K !or instance tho match between Hustle- and Diamonds last Saturday. It was a good hard game from start to finish and it is pleasant to record that it was watched with interest by 1000 people. Fancy 1000 people watching a "soccer" cup match, in Wellington! And I think that that number will bo increased eacli Saturday if tho public is always sure that a good match will be placed on tho ground of grounds—tho Basin Heserve. Last Saturday's Affray at tho Basin, Although Diamonds were defeated by Thistle, they put up a great fight. For Hustle, Edwards at left-back was very safe and Miller, his partner, had plenty to do, but his kicking was weak'.' Barnett, on the left-wing, played a good hard game, but Diamoiids looked after his movements very closely. The fleet outside-left managed to make somo capital openings, however, which Gibson, at centre-forward, should have turned to better advantage. Leadsman was ono of the "stars" on the day's play. He was always on the ball, and anticipated its flight and position in a style which was good to watch. Taken all round Diamonds played an excellent game. The Lowe Bros."on the left wing were well marked, and, under the circumstances, they were unable to do tho amount of work which had been expected of them. Barnett, tho Blacks' centre-half, played one of the best games on the field. His passing to his forwards was well and cleverly done.

On Being a Referee. Mr. B. L. Salmon, tho referee, had a lot of .work to do, and did it well. There were occasions' on which his decisions did not meet with' the approval of a certain section of the crowd, and that section went almost so far as to forget that they were supposed (o be gentlemen. A referee cannot see everything, and, even if he could, lie has to use his discretion on certain matters concerning tho play. If a referee blew his whistle for every little breach of the rules, the public would soon get very tired of the game. Of course if the public want whistle they can get it, and if they want football they can get it, but they cannot have both together. A Word on Goalkeepers, Good goalkeepers are hard to find as a rule, but it is quite, evident that Wellington rs well off i» this direction, this season. Besides the three prominent men of last season, namely, Hollis (Y.M.C.A.), C. Webster (Wanderers), and Rowan (Thistle), two new men have been unearthed this year, and they bid fair to become rivals of their older players in representative ■matches.

It is strange, but both the goalkeepers referred'to—Webster '(Corinthians) and Belhamie (Brooklyn United)—have "como out of their shells" at Porirua, _ For the second time this season a visiting team's goalkeeper has covered himself with glory, and saved his side from defeat at the. hands of Hospital.' Tho player was Webster (a brother of Colin's), a recent arrival from the Old Country. Last Saturday in tho match Corinthians v. Hospital, Webster- showed what -he was really capable of doing. It takes a. good man to save shots-from the artillery of Hospital, and Webster proved his worth without doubt.

On a previous Saturday the new senior team, Brooklyn United, were playing Hospital at Porirua, and on that occasion Belhamie, a new ."goalie," who had not been heard of before, covered himself with distinction and gavo Hospital a taste of what it was like to be unable to get goals. It is said that these two exhibitions were not mere flashes in the pan, and a lot more will be hoard of theso two now 'keepers as time goes on. , There is this about the whole matter, however: Hollis, Webster, and Rowan havo rivals for the position ofgoalkeoper to Wellington's representative team, and they will havo to look to their laurels. ■ Hollis (Y.M.C.A.) did not give a very favourable impression, on the - day that Wellington .played Canterbury on the Basin Reserve. His clearing could be much improved, and he would do much better if ho got down to ground 6hots. Rowan (Thistle) has always impressed the' writer. He clears particularly well, and is always safe in a inolee. Ho has one fault, however, and that is that ,h.» does not'field the ball as much as ho'should. Rowan speculates in kicking an approaching ball far too much. Ho has a punch which is second to none in Wellington, and furthermore it is always reliable.

Colin Webster (Wanderers) is ono of tho most reliable all-round goalkeepers in Wellington ,at the present time. He is not afraid to get down to-a ball right at the very toes of approaching, forwards. He clears well, and never gets flurried. He is an old hand at an old same, and that speaks for itself. . Championship Positions. The following table shows the positions of tho various teams in the First Division Championship at tho conclusion of last Saturday's games. It will be noticed that somo teams have played one match more than others, this being on account of a bye having to be allotted each Saturday':—

• ' ■ o *>' • o . g B osß ™ •3 >? '" Q 9<stcj= t, £ Q A C 3 C3<! O Thistle 7 7 0 0 23 G It Corinthians ... G i 2 0 19 6 10 Hosnital G 4 1 1 18 5 0 Y.M.C.A 5 3.1 1 20 G 7 Diamonds G 3 1 2 18 1G 7 Swifts « 2 1. 3 9 14 5 Wanderers .... G 2 2 2 12 1G G Brooklyn U. ... 7 2 1 4 8 1G 5 St. John's G 0 3 3 7 15 3 Brooklyn 7 0.1 0 7 26 1 Rovers G 0 15 2 17 1 Dur First Brown Shield Match. Next Saturday, Juno 21, will see the clash between Olago and Wellington tor the Brown Shield. It is understood that the match will be. played on tho Basin Reserve, and the gamo is to commence at 2.45 p.m. According to southern reports, the Otogo team is a good one, and it is anticipated that our representatives will havo a hard nut to crack. It must not be imagined that tho locals are going to have a walk-over, as they did against Canterbury, i

At the time of writing the names of Wellington's shield defenders were not ascertainable, but it is understood that the team will be very littlo different from that which played Canterbury on June i). While on the subject of Brown Shield matches, it might be stated that, provided Wellington retain the shield after Ohio's visit, Wellington will play Tara*naki on July 12, Canterbury 011 August 2, and Manawatu on i August 2,1. These matches aTO all subject to Wellington retaining tlie shield after previous matches. A fifth challenge lias been received from Auckland, and the latter has benn referred to Wellington by the New Zealand Football Association to deal with.

Miss Harwell, matron of the General Hospital, Great. Yarmouth, stated at the annual national conference of nurses that women masqueraded in increasing number* in the nurse's uniform in order to mislead the public, and it was becoming a public danger. She was afraid it would be impossible to protect the uniform, but she suggested that the nurses themselves might, to pome extent, be protected by the compilation of a public register of hospital certificates. A false claim to such a certificate should be made a penal offence. It is stated that the General Purnoses Committee of the London County Council have decided to recommend a grant of ,£50,000, under certain conditions, towards the acquisition of the Crystal Palace. Croydon has voted ,£20.000, Penge lias promised ,£IO,OOO, and Cambenvell will probably contribute .£20,000. Thus .£IOO,OOO is practically assured of- Hie ,£lir>.oon which local authorities are expected to find. The purchase price of the Palace is .£2.10,000, of which the Lord Mayor lias promised lo raise half by a Lord Mayor's Fund. There are 27 Poyal families in Europe, two-thirds of which are of German origin. Only one couple in over 11,000 live lomr enough to celebrate- their diamond wcuding.