THE SOCCER GAME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 2

THE SOCCER GAME.

SOME STRAY NOTES. The disgraceful incident enacted at Richmond Park after the senior match last Saturday has been condemned by all lovers of clean sport. It is the first case that has come directly under my notice, during 25 years of close connection with Soccer, of a referee needing protection from a player's violence, but 1 have many times seen players protecting referees, even to the extent of receiving personal violence from a mob of disappointed spectators. If it is the duty of players to protect paid referees at Home, how much more it is their duty to protect a man who, for pure love of the sport, gives up Saturday after Saturday to make possible the pleasure of others. The referees of Canterbury are doing splendid work, and have the whole-hearted support of the large majority of players, and it should be the duty of the officials and players of the-ly'omads Club.to send to the Canterbury Referees' Association a Avhole-hearted; and manly apology, and to dissociate themselves from conduct which, unless the club takes the action indicated, is likely to besmirch the a club which, until now, has been a synonym for all that is gentlemanly in Canterbury Soccer. As far as the Canterbury Football Association is concerned, "its action Would have met with more general 'approval if it:

had inflicted a heavier penalty on the: plaver most concerned. . The Canterbury Referees' Association has been fortunate enough to se-: curd the services of Mr J.'J. East as ; secretary. He' is the late secretary of the Tarafraki Football Association* and. on his arrival at the beginning of the' present season, joined' Rangers Football Club. His untiriiig efforts as secretary of the Rangers' social affairs have : been largely conducive to the success of the C.F.A'.'s youngest club. Mr East's: task of finding the referees necessary' for the twenty-one games each Satur-; da v is by no means an easy One, but it is "felt that his personality and persuasive powers will soon be the means of bringing: the to full; strength. next C.R.A, meeting: will be held at the : YJVLC.A. at 8; p-HV on Monday next, and a. hearty invitation is extended to player? and friends/ A. persistent rumour is. .afloat that - T*; Forest, who was to partner, Cornish in' the Brown Shield match on. August 8, is suffering from a twisted ankle, and s will not be fit to play. Canterbury's; representative team is experiencinghard times. : The loss of Fullerton, Tanner, Forest, and .Grant, will, seriously affect its chances.., . The lively lads in blue from H.M.b. : Psyche are to meet a. second representative team on August 8, at Richmond Park, the kick off to be at 2.30 p.m. This match shouid prove a great "draw." The C.F.A.'s decision to start the match half an hour before the: representative game will give the visiters a chance to see part of the Shield game * WANDERER. POSITIONS OF tEAMS. The following tables show the present positions of the teams engaged in the Canterbury Football Association's competitions:— SENIOR GRADE. Matches. Goals.

No tax imposable upon motorists is likely to produce an amount which will approach the amount required to meet the cost of upkeep of the roads (says '' Autos'' in the Wellington "' Post"). This is quite generally recognised, and it would be absurd to imagine either that it would, or that the motorist should be saddled with the .enormous bill. But whatever return is left out of the tax after the cost of administration, it should be distinctly understood that the motorist shall get as much benefit as possible from the spending of the money, and it ought to be properly understood that the special fund will be vised as an additional subsidy for amounts .spent by local bodies on the improvement of their roads.

■A r" P. W. L. \ D. for. agst. Pts. Nomads 10 8 2 0 31 11 16 Sydenham 9 C 1 2 17 10 14 Rangers 8 3 3 2 18 17 8 6 Sunnyside 8 3 5 0 17 19 Linwood 9 2 5 2 13 18 6 Ch. United 8 1 7 0 9 27 SECOND GRADE. Matches. : . A Goals. r P. W. L, D. for. agst. Pts. Woolfton 10 7 2 1" 419 16 15 Sydenham 10 6:2 o 27 17 14 Nomads 10 6 2 2 34 24 14 Linwood 9 4 4 1 •20 29 9 Itangers 8 3 3 2 13 13 8 C Ch. United 6 3 3 0 14 14 Spreydon 9 1 7 1 16 26 3 St. Albans 10 1 .9 0 19 22 THIRD GRADE. Matches. A Goals. r P. W. L. D. for. agst. Pts. St. Bedes 10 10 0 0 43 6 20 b.g.h: 9 8 1 0 54 8 16 Rangers 8 (> 2 0 42 13 12 St. Allans 10 5 4 1 32 22 11 Nomads 10 4 5 i 22 23 9 Spreydon 10 1 8 l 6 40 3 3 S. Matthews 9 1 7 l 5 35 Linwood 8 0 0 2 5 52 2 FOURTH GRADE.. Matches, Goals. ( . P. W. L. D. for. agst. Pts. Sumner tt 4 1 1 22 8 9 ' B.G.H. 7' ■2 1 4 1'3 10 8 St. Albans (i 3 2 1 8 9 7 ' Nomads 7" ' 0 4 3 *y 18 3