ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 218, 12 September 1916, Page 8

ASSOCIATION.

THE SEASON CLOSED. The reason just concluded has been one; tl.at will long bo. remembered in Soccer history. Tlip committee commenced the season by deciding on an age limit of 20. thie being J'under the military age.'" This step was'Ukfn in support of "the] voluntary system" for the reinforcement o* the Expeditionary Forces • then away on active service. \Vhile it meant hard-| ship for a few who were over the age and unable to get away this season, the, a<tion of the'A.F.A. met ■with the gen■era I approval of players. The boys of this 3'ear's first, division rose to the occasion, and some of the 'cleanest and most cleverly contested parata ever witnessed in Auckland were the result. That the standard of the football played wae of a high order wat proved at the end of the season, -when representative teams were selected to play against the Soccer players in the Eighteenth Reinforcements and the remaining old players. The first resulted jin a decisive victory for tho younger I players, and the second, when faced by what has been deerribed as a really strong side of experienced players, they weTe beaten, after a really excellent panic, by the narrow margin of one goal. ' the result being 4 to 3 in favour of age j and experience. North Shore, the successful club in the first divieiou. worn closely followed by a ripping team of playcTS. Richmond, who ■were the 'holders of 18 championship points against the Shore's 19. lam pleased to state that many of the player-, in this division have during tho. season i reached the aye that they are accepted by the authorities, and have enlisted, and arc either in training or waiting to be railed up. The second division, saw Mt. Albert and Evcrton set to in a stubborn endeavour to gain the top-notch, and after varioue re-plays, etc., the latter club carried off the honours with 11 points to thp.ir credit, with Mt. Albert .and Richmond close up. with 10 each. The. fifth division was carried off by the same dub as last year, Dcvonport Presbyterians. 19 points, Richmond following with 17. Thie grade wae noted for its cloee games, and draws were the order of the day, the leading team having had no less than five, while that team of epoTte. Technical College, had four. Those who saw the sixth division play ing tlieir games (saw football as it ->iiould be played. Friendly, and of the cleanest order throughout were the matches, and the little gentlemen who composed the teams in this competition are a. body of boys for the A.F.A. to be proud to have under tbeir controL Last yeaT. it will be remembered, Belmont and North Shore. after five matches were found unseparrjble, and wore bracketed joint winners. This season the same teams are in tho two firet positions, with Xorth Shore -\ slightly in the lead, being 21 paints, while Felmoni and Xorth Shore are credited with IS each. A feature of the season's play has been the plucky way some of the team have turned out Saturday after Saturday to certain defeat, ibut determined to do their share to keep the good old game going till our soldiers Tetuni to take it up again. It is impossible to eec what next season will 'bring forth, but the r. layers aTe to be congratulated on their performances during thit exceptional season. The following is a table of positions and performances in all grades for the 191G season. -.. Tho trophiee won by the various grades in the Auckland Football Association competition will bo presented at the Sports Club to-night by the president, Mr J. Pascoe, and all past and present players are cordially invited to be present at 8 p.m. .AUCKLAND FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION , . FINAL RESULTS OF COMPETITIONS FIRST DIVISION.

Goals Ch. Fit]. W. L. l>. For. lAgst. Pts. North Shore 12 0 2 1 40 12 m Riclnnond .. 12 0 3 0 25 10 IS Y.M.C.A. .. 12 r, 7 O 28 30 10 Everton 12 0 11 1 <10 -12 1 SECOND DIVISION. Goals Ch. PIS. \V. L. D. For. Agst. Pts. EvRrton S 5 2 1 34 !» n 2at. Albert-. 8 4 2 2 27 10 10 Richmond .. S 5 3 0 32 14 m Devonport P. S 4 3 1 ir> IS O' ■North Shore 8 0 S 0 10 67 0 FIFTH DIVISION. Goale Ch. Pld. W. L. l>. For. A«et. Pts. Deronpoxt F. 12 7 0 5 23 9 Iβ Richmond .. 12 7 2 3 25 0 17 Technical S. 12 1 7 4 Iβ 27 6 Brerton 12 2 S 2 8 27 6 SIXTH DIVISION. Goals Ch. Pld. W. 1,. a>. For. Pts. N. Shore A. 12 10. 1 1 4» 10 21 •Belmont ... 12 8 2 2 37 9 18 Northcote ..13 '8 2 '2 32 10 18 Devonport P. 12 e 6 O 21 22 12 St. Heller's .12 2 S 2 13 6 Takipnna .. 12 • 2 .9 - 1 - 13 - Sβ - 5 "N. iShnTP R. 12 2 10 n 3 Sβ A