ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 288, 29 August 1908, Page 9

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

s Pi (BT^CBsrsE-HAiiF.) i /)cl -ytEtaJJotf. »*> -C.V..-1.-i SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. FIRST division. •

; : A i CLOSE'FINISH. ', •;'! ! A glance at tlio above table reveals rather an interesting position with regard to • the three leading teams. To complete tho chainpiohship! round,. Diamonds, who with Rovers are in the lead, must play Y.M.C.A., while their rivals will meet the Ramblers. If Diamonds defeat Y.M.C.A., and Rovers defeat Ramblers, then tho victors in either match will play off for the final. If, on tho other hand, Y.M.C.A. turn the tables' on Diamonds (and this is by no means '.unlikely), and Rovers (as is not at all likely) draw with Ramblers, Y.M.O.A. will bo cast with Rovers for the final. In the moro probable event of Rovers winning their match, and Y.M.C.A. theirs, the former will emerge from th 9 most closely-contested struggle in the history of Wellington •"soccer,"' with a narrow mar2in "of one • point ahead of the others.;. " .. . \ '

SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM.' " :; The following conditions have been attached to the invitation sent to the South African Football Association by the New Zealand Association, asking the former to arrange for a representative team to tour New Zealand. The conditions arc framed on a somewhat, similar basis to those drafted in connection with the tour of the New South Wales representative football team • which came. hero in 1904:— 1. Tho N.Z.F.A. will be responsible for tho payment of the fares of not'more than fourteen or fifteen players and the manager from South Africa to New Zealand, through the Dominion, and back to South Africa. 2. Accommodation will bo provided for the players during their stay as a team in New Zealand. • . :• ,3. A series of matohes,.,to be played; ono niateh .or more in each centre, and ; one or jiriofe against a New Zealand - representative team;-two matches per week, at intervals to suit tho travelling arrangements while on tour. , ■ ' i 4. The duration of tho tour in-New-Zea-land to occupy about seven or'eight weeks.! :5. The N.Z.F.A. ■ to bo entitled to -all gate receipts and profits,'' and to bo under no further liability than as'above stated, i' ■6. The team to .be under., the • control of !the N.Z.F.A. while in New Zealand. :.. 1 7. A first-rate team only to bo sent.

! " Ex-Rep " contributes the. following criticism of the selected, rep. team:— i " It has been freely said that tho representative team selected to do duty, in the Brown. Shield Tournament is one of ' the 1 weakest ever picked to represent: Wellington, but" whilo I do not altogether ,agree with this expression of opinion, I must certainly say that the team as picked is weak and tho selector's judgment is at fault. "AVby'.is C. O'Shea being played aa an inside : player and .not. as centre: 1 Ho is undoubtedly' the best centre forward hero this • season, and his work in tho RovcrY.M.C.A. fixture last Saturday was faultless. He invariably feeds his wings, well, and keeps the ball low. Gibson, tho man selected, for centre, is on tho other hand rather a wild player, and his placing to his wings is. more often done with big kicks, not a desirable way of assisting the wings, who havo to gather the' ball before ,thcy can get away. "No fault can be found with tho inclusion of Gwilliam and Forbes on their respective wings, but why has Timporley been left out, and the combination of the Y.M.C.A. right wing thus spoilt, especially when the cry of the selector has been all for combination? Ash is a forward I, havo uavor i

liked. Ho is certainly very tricky with the ball, and all that sort of tiling, but I would sooner have seen a player like Lowo or Barry, who would make" considerably moro headway towards goal. " The half-back line must bo classed as distinctly weak. Ilenai can be depended upon to play a good solid game, but tho inclusion of W. O'Shea (if available) would have" improved the halves very much, as this player is undoubtedly head and shoulders above any other half this season. Taylor is a good club man, but a weak-represen-tative , player-rra most curious fact, but he has never yet played anything like club form in big matches. Rcnai, in the centro, would .be an' added strength. - Jackson is a very in-and-out player; sometimes he plays a fine game, and sometimes he can let his side down badly. He has the bad habit of dribbling too much at times. ' "Duignan on this year's'form thoroughly deserves a place in the team. Past reputation must havo got Roberts his placo. 'i'hero are very few critics who would prefer him before Cornish or Pye-Smith as a right back, and by the' way was Pye-Smith considered as a half?

"On this year's form Irvine is undoubtedly a bettor goal-keeper than Oldnall, though tho selector has thought otherwise. Oldnall 'was easily the best goal-keeper last season, but'lrvine on this season's performances would have''been the choice of " nine [men out. of:every-ten." • > Tho Senior. Second • Division Selection Committeo is now busily engaged in considering the selection "of'a team to play Wanganui, and:perhaps in Masterton. A number of good players are available, and no doubt' the selected team will givo a f»ood account of itself, and give a good exhibition of soccer in either place; "Hyco" supplies,the following notes:— : "If the Association gamo is going to make progress in Now Zealand and become able to meet teams from South, Africa or Britain on equal terms, tho methods of administration nrill have to alter; take the Wellington Asciation Committee for instance:—(l) They appoint a referee in charge iof twenty-two : players to watch that they don't infringe the rulos. It is impossible for him to, do this efficiently, ', and consequently some players take advantage of the latitude allowed,' and the game suffers and deteriorates. The referee should havo by all means neutral linesmen appointed by a special committer to assist him in his arduous duties.. (2) Members of the Management Committee should not participate m barracking their favourites. (3) Tho referees aro not consistent in their- rulings. Sometimes'they allow back-charging, holding, jumping, and tripping •••to pass unnoticed; .then .sometimes they blow the whistloior.the 'same' offences. The confidence of the., players, is lost; and .tho gamo deteriorates, especially from -point\of- view, and may result in a;player being ordered off and'punished, when, tho sole, cause is through the referee not being firm.- (4) The present consti-the-Wellington Board of Manago mfent is open-for severe criticism. One club had tho influence of four votes, another has three, and four clubs havo only one vote, whereas two on account of their-infancy-have no. vote. This -is' in tho Senior division. No player-shonld-be■ on tho committeo li -a player is brought forward for. misconduct. Each club should have.one direct representative on tho board. The chairman, treasurer, or. secretary should not be . directly l interested in any club. 'Accordmg:;to ; statistics, the fclubs with the most s influence : as regards vofces'have enjoyed playing on tho Basin Reserve more than any others. Somo clubs with no votes haro not yot had tho privilege. (5) No charging or blocking should bo allowed if not actually playing tho ball. I hopo . these suggestion's ,will;icome up 'for consideration at the next annual meeting- of ■ the Wellington Association." . . ' » '

Thistle team ■ are having. a practice game at Miram'ar this afternoon. !-. ■ Hovers met Y.M.C.A. at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. Both. teams 1 had their full strength. Y.M.C.A. were favourites before tho match started,' but play had not long begun whon it was seen that Rovers were out to win. They played by, far the bettor football and combined well together, while Y.M.C.A. very rarely played with the, dash arid combination that we used to'. observe. Gofton, in goal, played a really : good game, saying some very hard shots, including, a penalty'kick. , He did not get 'much' support from his full-backs, • Chaninan and Walton, whV bdth\skied:-the'':ball. ; ,'. A', penalty :'was fivon against the latter. He is a' powerful icker, but does not .help his forwards. Of the Y.M.C.A. halves, Gibson was easily the best, and worked hard for his side. Woakness was shown right through by tho halves. Crofts and Irvine on tho left-wing wero very weak; the former does not seem to lose his old habit of lying off-side, and was pulled up repeatedly for this offence. Gibson, at centre, did not seem to "get going," although his goal was 1 a good one, scored through individual work after heading several of. the Rovers defences.

Forbes and Timporley, on the right, were pcglected by. their halves, and- too" well' watched by tho opposing halves to do much harm. Forbos.on one occasion sent a lovely ccntro across,' but rash shooting on the part of Irvine-nullified his, attempt. , Ponlington) in goal, had not much to do. Be had no chance with "W. Gibson's shot. Martm and Duignan were : a safe pair; the latter I, have never seen piny a better game, his spoiling tactics being superb. i The halves all played well, Barnett being the ■ weakest : of tho trio. Bethell seems to get in the way at ; the right moment. W. O'Shea's work with his brother at times called forth applause from the spectators. - Cashman and Barry, on' the right-wing forward line for Rovers, • played a good, hard aud fast game; the ■ former's ■ goal, which made Rovers 3—nil, being a beauty. • 0. O'Shea, at centre, was 'the star player on the field. Ho completely outmanoeuvred the opposing players, - the spectators loudly applauding; him time . after. time.';" Miller and Martin, on the-left wing, wero only fair. Miller has a bad habit of overrunning the ball, and his shooting was very erratic, • The representative team published on Saturday is drawing forth a lot • of ■ criticism, both favourable and otherwise. Personally, '1 think it oould be improved upon by the following Irvine should have had his place in goal on this year's play. Duignan is not experienced _ enough for interprovincial games;. Cornish should have had 'his place. Jackson, at left, is a very in and out pkyer, one Saturday playing a good game, whilst the next he is hardly fit for a junior team. W. O'Shea should fill this position. W. J. Taylor is and always has been puro and 4 simply a club player; never once ha 3 he : shone as a ; representative. Len Whito -would strengthen - the team, being, a player who works right- to the'finish, and has.always "come off" in representative fixtures. Ho has been very consistent this year. E. Renai, of Pctoue, I havo not seen play this season, but he must bo playing well if he is a better man than Thorloy (Diamonds). C. O'Shea should have' been "placed with Gwilliam on the left, apd Timporley with Forbes on the right otherwise I think tho forward rank will give ail oxcellent account of themselves. In ; choosing" the team .the selector, of courso,. would know whether the men as mentioned 'abbvojcould travel, or'not. Surely tho old question; of finance is not; cropping up again this season? If so,-then I do not envy the sector his position in getting away a team fit to: represent Wellington. Rovers, I hear,' are losing Martin, .'their, inside left; who -is being transferred; his place will bo hard'to. fill unless the.v havo got a junior man whom they can bring up. -F. Williams would _ not bo a bad ono to introduce again, 'and if ho could be prevailed upon to play for tho. remaining'cup matches would just about strike form by the timo the charity matches commence.

' ' • * . : 45 ' • .-'J I. Team. "2 ■ • . . 5 „ 'V J "S £ "3 a .5 . " • .3 o t. o o o h ? iJ B O. O'h Diamonds -13 10 2 1 37 10 21 Rovers ' 13 9 1 3 32 11 21 Y.M.C.A. ...... 13 10 3 0 44 14 20 •Wanderers : :li 5 7 2 20 23 12 Swifts 14 5 7 2' 17 22 .12 Ramblers 13 3 8 2 18 29 8 Petone 14 3 10 1 14 '27 "7 Thistle ■ 14 3 10 1 ,10. 57... 7