ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 9

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

njuuwjAi ivii iiv/iuj, (Br Cemike-Half.) "Enthusiast" writes as follows:—Having closely followed " soccer " matclics this season and carefully studied tlio merits of tlio various players, I am of opinion that the following selection would constitute a good representative team which would take a lot of beating:— GOALKEEPER. Irvino (Wanderers.) FULL-BACKS. M'Ardle (Thistlo) and Pye-Smith (Swifts). HALVES. - Graves (Swifts), Barnett (Rovers), and Coward (Ramblers) FORWARDS. Y Taplin (Petone), Hathaway (Diamonds), Hall (Thistle), Mouat (Ramblers) and Talbot (Swifts). . . " Centre-Half" considers it rather too early to enter into a controversy about the representative team selection, but is fairly certain that tho merits of Y.M.C.A. players, whose team aro well in for cup honours,' would not escape tho keen eyes of tho Selection Committee. Diamonds also require more attention, and " Enthusiast" has apparently, only seen these teams playing on off days, to which, unfortunately, most teams are subject. Kelly, who accompanied the professional " All. Black" team 'Home, is now playing "soccer." He is very enthusiastic about the game, and is the best partner Taplin (Petone) has had this season.

Renai donned tho shirt for Petone again last Saturday against Wandorers, and as centre-half played with his usual brilliancy and safeness. / Talbot, who is somewhat on tho small sido, makes up for woight in science. The unexpected often happens in "soccer." Swifts got the surpriso of the season, by the earnest fight that Thistlo put up against thom last Saturday. After a hard fought match, Swifts, who wero if anything tho better team, won by two goals to one, all of which wero scored in the first spell. Several ladies joined the ranks of the " barrackers " at Miramar last week to watch the St. John's ll—Ramblers match. They took a keen interest in tho game, and made themselves heard throughout. Wot weather is unpleasant as a rule, and any kind of shelter is acceptable. Those who play " soccer" on a wet day at Miramar have no shelter for their clothes, which aro often put on wet ithrough after tie match. l When is the W.F.A. going to orcct shelter sheds? Who was tho player that declared that if Petono scored again this season he would immediately retire from "soccer"?—Petono have scored. Mr. T. Shields is one of tho greatest enthusiasts Wellington Association players have over known. During.the summer months he devotes a lot of timo teaching school boys the art of swimming. As many of the members of St. John's II and Ramblors teams, whioh wero playing at Miramar on a ground under water last Saturday, woro not perfect in the "breast stroke," and wero in danger of boing drowned, it would bo as well ,to ■appoint in futuro a referee, of Mr. Shields's swimming capacities, to control such a fixture in the event of his being required to assist in life-saving. A meeting of the Now Zealand Football Association was held on Thursday night, Mr. Geo. Brodio occupying tho chair. About sixty letters wero received and dealt with. • Tho Brown Shield tournamont is to bo played at Dunodin this year on Soptomber 9 and 12. Teams representing Auckland, Taranaki, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington liavo been entered, and it is probable that Hawke's Bay will also send a team. Messrs. Shields and Cornish have boon appointed delegates of tho Hawke's Bay Football Association, which was granted affiliation to tho New Zealand Football Association at Thursday's meeting. Tho Petono —Wanderers match on the suburban ground was a good game. Tho opposing team, though short-handed, showed excellent combination, and sound tactics. The "bustler" of tho day was undoubtedly Taplin, of Petone, who was much in evidence. Crouch was somewhat lacking in dash as conlkoopor for .Wanderers. Davidson, for Wanderers,' played a fighting game, as also did Ash and Cornish. ' Brice, in tho Petono goal, was very safe. ' .