ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 141, 13 June 1908, Page 14

ASSOCIATION.

The members of the previous Auckland representative teams are combining to play a team from HALS. Pioneer (or from H.M.S. Encounter), on Saturday, June 20. The team to play the bluejackets will be selected from the follow-

ing list (which will be added to in the meantime): —Dugmore, Wright, Shawbridge, K. Goldie, Yates, Melclrum, V. Richards, C. Heather, Asbury, H. Goldie, Bellamy, Coates. The "Old Auckland Reps," as they are yclept, are also playing the newly selected representatives for the present year. This match will probably take place on Saturday, June 27. The English Cup for the past season was won by the Wolverhampton Wanderers, who defeated Newcastle in the final on April 25, when 74,967 people were present. For the last ten years the I Cup final attendances were 68 947, 110.820, 75,948, 33.065, 63,102, 61,374, 75,609, 84,584, and 74,967. Discussing the proposal to send an Australian team to England, a Sydney -writer remarks that one is not inclined ito think that even the best team ot ;an average equal to "third rate amai teur" could come up to second League J standard in England. But the greatest i drawback is the financial one. According to an estimate, over £4000 would need to be guaranteed before the Australian team left home. It would be a pleasant surprise, indeed, to know that Soccer enthusiasts could find that sum so easily. The trip to England is a shadow only, which, if pursued, would cast a heavy gloom over its followers. One does not agree with the view that there are no attractions for English amateur players to visit Australia, particularly with an easy series of football matches to be played. But Australasia's chief concern in the matter of internaj tional football is to firmly plant the gama there, and to improve the standard of play. This may be done in a far greater degree by the visit of an English team than by the visit to England of an Australasian team. "What constitutes a trip?" asks a London contemporary, who was informed by a Plymouth resident that he had witnessed a player, who was dribbling the : ball, being tripped. He did not fall, but' !he lost possession of the ball. The re- | feree when asked why he did not award I a free kick said he should have done so i had the player fallen, but until he fell Ino foul had been committed. This is a

ease, perhaps, in which a word on the point may be useful. There is no such j rule. In the definition of terms trip- ■ ping is stated to be throwing or attempting to throw an opponent, and it is j not essential that an opponent should ! actually be touched, or fall. The in- ! tentional attempt to trip is punishable, i and doubtless the object of this is that ' the habit being a dangerous an 4 tmi proper one to form, and contrary to the ; fair usage of the play, it should bo ! checked at the inception. After all, most !of us make mistakes. But at the same time no licence should be allowed to the tripper. He is an element that the game is far better without. i The management of a game is more essential in these days almost than subtle decisions on the laws. The human nature on the football field is more important than the off-side regulation. In the hands of a tactful referee a ■ game flows im evenly. In the hands of '! a tactless official it is one continuous blundering. In investigating scores ot cases due to referees' reports it is generally found that hall the trouble is caused by want of ta-ctfulness in handling a game. > For the benefit of those who are apt to doubt some of the extraordinary happenings that puzzle people at football, the "Athletic News" records a queer mii cident. A long shot .was made at goal, 1 and the ball slipped through the goalkeeper's hands into the net. The referee allowed the goal. But when the ball was picked up it was found to be buret and was fast collapsing. Thereupon the defending side claimed that tne reieree should rescind his deeisioiv, as the ball -was no longer up to the standard required by the laws. The referee allowed the goal, on the main ground that the state of the ball when it reached the goalkeeper was not such as to handicap him in his defence