ASSOCIATION NOTES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 9

ASSOCIATION NOTES

(Bx Centre-Half.) SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. The following table shows tho relative positions of , the Senior League First Division teams in, tho list for the championship competition, .which closed on Saturday last. (Two points for a win, and one for a draw; :—

The most astonishing feature of the finish for. the championship honours of the first division of the Sonior League matches on Saturday last was the unexpected of the Rovers, a team' which up; till then had every prospect of either carrying oft the coveted honour or placing off with Diamonds in a final contest. However, collapse thoy did, and to a team which, on this season's results, they should have had no difficulty in defeating. Ramblers, the team referred to, are _to be complimented' on tlioir win, .and their success was duo in no small degree to the first-rate play,, of Mouat and Anker in tlioir forward line, and the admirable support given thom by Jackson and Ballingall iii. tho halves. Rovers, right: through, were decidedly off colour; if anything, a slight distinction might bo made with regard to O'Shea , (in the forwards) and Bethell ■(half). • '■

A team selected from the second division of the Senior' League will visit Ma6terton on September 17. The Senior Charity Cup series of matches commence to-day. "llangcr" sends the following:—"The win of Diamonds in the championship competition this year should provido an object lesson, to other "clubs, on the, importance of keeping a friendly eye ou their junior players. Where would the champion team have been had they not included in their' senior ranks the Lowe Brothers and Peter Roberts, juniors all three. Much, credit is due'to the Management Committee of the Diamonds Club for their foresight in such matters. There is one thing worth mentioning, however: Ten of the eleven players who played last Saturday have played for Diamonds since the commencement of the 1905 season, winning the championship four times during the last five seasons. This is the result of hard training and good fellowship among tho members of the team. I would have .been pleased to have seen Mick Fitzgerald 'selected as the representative goal-keeper to go South. For the last fonr years he has had the smallest number of goals scored against him. This no other custodian can boast of. I am very pleased to see_ that Joe Taylor has been chosen, for he is a hard worker and feeds his forwards well. In conclusion, let me offer the Diamonds my congratulations, for every man is a born New Zealander, learnt his football in Wellington, and can give 'and show some of the English players points in the game." The Senior League First Division competition . ended rathor unexpectedly last Saturday. The Ramblers' defeat of Rovers was a great surprise, and gavo Diamonds the cup. The_ Diamonds certainly deserved their win against Y.M.C.A., and- had all the best of ,tho game. Some interesting matches are expected when tho charity cup games commence, and it is prophesied that Rovers will go very close to securing it. Perfect weather prevailed for Saturday's, matches, and a large crowd of barrackers witnessed the Y.M.C.A. v. Diamonds match on the Basin Reserve. Mr. Waters was a strict referee, .and controlled the game well. Diamonds , had things very much their own way, and won comfortably by three goals to nil. "Peter" Roberts and "Joe" Taylor were their "star" backs, although the others played sterling games. The forwards were at times over anxious, but did their share of the work well. Y.M.C.A. had an off day and played very much below their usual form. Gofton. saved innumerable shots in fine style, and w i as the best' of the backs.; The. forwards, with the exception •of Gibson, wore "decidedly off," arid spoilt many good chances by inaccurate passing and hard kicking;

• ' <2 « Team. H S • » n -p z rs rs C ej O' w rt rt ,t3 ~ £> O u o o o k > . a. Q ■ cs o Diamonds ...... 14 11 ' 2 i: 40 10 23 5°7ers 14 9 '2 3 32 12 21 \ .M.C.A 14- 10 4 0 44 17 20 Wanderers 14 5 7 2 20 23 12 Swifts 14 5 7 2 17 22 12 Ramblers 14 4 : 8 2 18' 29 10 Petone 14 3 10 1 14 27 7 Thistl# 14 3 10 1 10 57 7