ASSOCIATION CODE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 13

ASSOCIATION CODE

Few Representative Games In Wellington SEASON REVIEWED Only two senior interprovincial matches, both against Canterbury, bad taken place during the season, stated the report of the Wellington Football Association, to be presented at the annual meeting on March 29. The game played in Wellington on the King's Birthday nad reunited in a draw, 3-3, after a most interesting game. Rater in the season, a challenge had been made for the F.A. trophy, the II eliington team being beaten in Christchurch, 4-o. It had been disappointing that more niterprovincial matches could not be placed, but the utmost difficulty had been experienced in arranging suitable dates wild other centres. A challenge to Auckland for the Frank Campbell Rose Bowl and also to Otago for the F.A. trophy had

had to be abandoned because dates convenient to all parties could not be obtained. . . The committee believed that the playing o£ interprovineial matches was important to the welfare of the game, and to that and had sent forward a remit to the New Zealand Football Association suggesting that the F.A. trophy be competed for along the lines of tlie Cricket Assotiation's Plunket Shield rules, each centre playing the others once each season. _ lliat would ensure that each major association would play at least three interprovineial games each season. Though ■Wellington players as a whole had had little representative play, the Waterside club, which won the Chatham Cup in most convincing style, had travelled to Auckland and had also met the champion Dunedin team. Mosgiel, in the final in Wellington. The associations congratulations were extended to Waterside on winning the Chatham Cup and on their consistent and brilliant play throughout the season. Nine Wellington .chilis had entered tor the Chatham Cup competition last season, compared with four the. year before. It was apparent that the revised arrangements whereby assistance was provided bv the New Zealand Football Association for teams travelling, had made it possible for clubs to face a prospective win—with travel to another centre as a result — with some degree of equanimity, Flyger Cup. On the recommendation ol the junioi management committee it had been decided to challenge Auckland for the lilyger Cup. The Wellington boys bad been beaten, 3-1, but the experience gamed and the general success of the visit had emphasized the desirability of continuing the competition. The good, work of the selectors and the referees was referred to in the report and. the thanks of the association were also extended to the director ot parks and reserves, Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, for his efforts in fostering outdoor sport among the men and boys of the community. Mob lion was inadc o£ the diihculty of obtaining sufficient grounds, particularly for interhouse games, and special thanks were conveyed to the superintendent of the Borirua Mental Hospital for placing at the disposal ot the association a first-class ground in Borirua and providing facilities for visiting teams. . It had been pleasing to find that the Interhouse Association had grown from eight teams in 1937 to 12 in 1938. Tlie association had proved itself keen and enthusiastic and was regarded by the committee as a very important section of Wellington Association football. The transfer of teams in the Hutt Valley League had reduced the number of grades to one—the senior grade. The thanks of the association were extended to Mr. Riddolls, whose activities and interest were largely responsible for the continuation of the Hutt. Valley League. College Football. “The visit of a New Zealand secondary school team to Australia may be looked on as one of the highlights of the season,” the report continued. “From eight Wellington boys nominated, four were selected as New Zealand representatives. To M. C. Christopherson, R. McKenzie, J. R. Singer and D. Yeoman, the heartiest congratulations of tlie association are extended. D. Yeoman captained this first boy’s team to leave New Zealand, and the fine showing made by all four on the tour indicates that the quality of Wellington's best boys is as high as that anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. Congratulations are also extended to Mr. J. Y. Walls, who very successfully carried out the arduous duties of joint manager. “The numerical strength of the Public Schools Association was maintained over the past season, but there is much work to be done to improve the standard of play. Though the primary school tournament which was to have been held in Hawke's Bay had to be cancelled because of the measles epidemic, special arrangements were made through the courtesy of the Hawke's Bay Association, making it possible for the visit of a team of Wellington boys. Napier won the first match 3-1, but the score was reversed when Wellington won the second match 3-1. The committee is grateful to the Hawke’s Bay Association for making this trip possible, and for the very kind treatment the boys and managers received. “A fact of some significance to the future of primary school footballers is that inquiries front six primary schools have indicated that of 4.7 boys who left at the end of the 1938 year, 20 are now attending a college which will not allow the introduction of Soccer teams.”