ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

(Bi Centre-Hup.) SHIELD A "WHIT.E ELEPHANT," Is This the Ideal Team? A correspondent has forwarded a letter one extract from which reads as follows: —"In view of the fact that Wellington have 'to meet Canterbury on August 2, I think tho following team wouli be a stronger one than that which represented Wellington against Taranaki last Saturday:—Goal, Belhamie; backs, right, Cross (or Pye-Smith), left, I'axsons; halves, right, Brownlee, centre, Roots, left, Shaw; forwards, outside right, Withiiigton, inside right, Vossoy, centre, Gibson, insideleft. Hughes; outside left, Lowe. The writer then- proceeds to criticise certain members of Wellington's Me representative team. He states that in Par-' sons Wellington, has "the best back in New Zealand." "Rickerby is'too slow," he says, "and does not watch his wing men as a half should." Hughes is a good shot, a tricky player, and uses his weight. He can only feed one wing, however, and that is the left. Hughes never passes to the right, therefore (says the writer) Gibson should be centre, because he can swing the ball to ei'ther wing. Gibson is fast, a good and a clover forward. Vessey_ is a very dashing forward, and combines well. He is well worth his place in any forward line." The writer does not give any reason why A. Low has been, chosen for the position of outside-left in his team. But he is severe on little Barnett, the man whom Lowe replaces. His criticism is as follows: "Barnett is no good against a bustling half." Ho concludes, his letter by saying "that he would like t to 6ee some' mors Brown Shield matches," and he signs himself "Old Vet." , "Them's My Sentiments." There is no uoubt that the team suggested by "Old Yet." would be an c-xcellent combination, and would take a lot of beating. His suggested forward line is one of the best procurable in Wellington at the present time. "Old Vet's." men should be given a chance against Canterbury on August 2. His half-line is good also, and "Centre-Half" fcgrees with him in replacing Rickerby by Brownlee. We have seen Rickerby in two representative matches this season, and it is safe to say that he is by no means living up to his reputation as a half-back. It is agreed also that Barnett should be given a spell for a match or two. It has been hard going for the "wee man on the wing" lately, and, although he is "game," still a rest would not\ do him any harm in more ways 'than one. One Would like to see A. Lowe as outside-left in the team which is to meet Canterbury on August 2. "Albie" is a splendid man in the position, and has always played excellently for Diamonds in club football. The only difference between Low and Barnett (probably this weighed' with the selectors) is that the former seems to fail to rise to the occasion if his team is playing a losing game. On the other hand, Barnett is always looking for chances and is always on his game. Wellington Forwards, Awake! Coming now 'to lost Saturday's match: Taranaki came to Wellington, played their match against us, and went home on Monday morning defeated to the tune of five goals to two. Both goalkeepers came - off _ with honours on the day, especially Shepherd, the Taranaki custodian. The full-backs on either side were good, but the outstanding men wero Bullock and Knight, the two sturdy Taranaki players. Shaw played well at left-half for Wellington. M'Glade, the visitors' centre-lialf, put in a lot of work. Tho only thing that can be said of Wellington's forwards is that they should have don©, better. That is putting it mildly. When will they learn to play together? If something is not done to alter this line very soon, Canterbury will walk, or perhaps gallop, away with that Shield. Perhaps that is what is wanted. Taranaki's forwards were a bustling lot of hard-working fellows. Gwillin, their fleet outside-left, was a tpwer of strength to his side, but he has one fault—he does not put the necessary finishing touches on his play. He has'a good command of the Dall, and has pace, but his "centres" are very weak indeed. Had he finished as well' as he started on Saturday, Taranaki would have had more than the two which they actually 'got. Not Wanted—A Brown Shield. . Judging by the remarks passed by members of the Management Committee of the W.P.A. last Wednesday, they do not want the Brown Shield, in Wellington. One member said that he thought that Auckland's challenge should, not be accepted for this season, but that the northern city representatives be asked to pay a visit to Wellington next month, and take half the net gate. He went on to say that, from a financial point of view, holding the Shield was not a good "speculation." He instanced the gates received at the Can-terbury-Wellington invitation match as well as those received at the Otago and Taranaki matches. In tho first-mention-ed match Wellington: and Canterbury halved the net gate, and each association received a good round sum. It has not been tho case with tho Brown Shield matches, however. For, instance, although the respective gates liavo been large, by tho time all expenses have been met the association holding tho Shield has very little to draw by way of a cheque. Before any expenses are met at all, tho local association has to pay 20 per cent, of tho gross gate to the City Council for the use of the Basin Reserve, and then 10 per cent, of the gross gate has to go to the N.Z.F.A. That is to. say, that 30 per cent, (nearly one-third of the money taken at tho, gates) has to' be paid away before any of tho fund's are proportioned Then the challenging association receive two-thirds of the net gate, and one-third goes to the holders. of the Shield. Out of their one-third of tho liet gate the holders of tho Shield have to pay advertising, etc., and meet entertainment charges for tho visitors. When all these accounts havo been settled, it will readily be seen that there is not much to bo gained by an association who happens to hold the Brown Shield: As several members stated last Wednesday, in support of the original speaker, intcrprovincial matches are' better paying concerns by a long way than Brown Shiold matches.