ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

' ' (By Centre-Half.) :■ r The need for goal nets in senior matches has been forccd on "Centre Half" of late. A good- many reasons can bo advanced why the posts should bo, netted, the,'first being that it is sometimes difficult''for a-referee, to:see whether a ball goes outside or inside one of the uprigjits or. just under or over tho crossbar. Again,'it is sometimes the case that the spectators' orowd round the gaolkeeper when watching a game. Tho nets would prevent them doing this. Only last Saturday ' at Noivtown I'ark the referee was .in doubt whether a not ball had grazed tho inside or outside:of one of the posts,'and had to oxfamine'the post to moke-.sure. The writer understands-that the English League rules insist on goal nets being, used. ; ■ St. Johns ' put up a" good, fight 'against Y.M.C.A., and should not be discouraged through being defeated. Gibson, centre forward, was iii great form for Y.M.C;A., and, • with Timperly .and Kingwell, got in some very effective work."-'.'Timperly' is improving overy match, and'one of his goals on Saturday was a splendid effort. . Ail outstanding feature of tho game was the defence of Po.ttitt. Tho. half-backs . in. front of him were not brilliant, but all the forwards were good: ' .-Phillips' is improving, and so likewise is Kingwell. : Scholefield was the shining light of the St. Johns' forwards. Their outside right was but too selfish; the others'were'only 'fair.'" Cross again gavo.a really first-class exhibition of back play, and Martin was not to be blamed for what boat him... i "There has been;far too much talkjng and disputing referees' decisions in matches already this year, and my committee intend to put this down with a firm hand."—Extract from a oirgular- sent out to clubs by tho chairman of the Football Association. .: ■ Tho Potone-Thistle' senior game could not be described as a first-class exhibition of :"soccer.". There was no "devil" in the play which could possibly lead to enthusiasm. Tho Thistle --'team ' were lato, in arriving,- and seemed'to have a tired feeling throughout tho game, Hall and Phillips were,- however, ,good excqrtions, and oil his showing tho latter must bo woll in tha running for roproscnta-

• .tit i.oiiouis. Hall was useful, but not brilliant at full-back. Rowan, a goal, mado several good "saves," but bad nothing really difficult to stop. The lengthy cricketer Brioe was in goal for Petone, and while lie handled the ball well at times, he made a, very poor show at "saving" what time Phillips scored Thistles' seoond goal. Bowman was fair at full-back, but should take a little more timo to steady the ball wlion kicking. Nunn, a Petone lad new to "soccer," creatod a favourable impression as a halfback, and with a little more oxperienco should be a decidedly useful player. Yet another Ronai appeared for but he also lacks experience. However, he is a good worker. liall,- on tho left, was the best of the Petono forwards,. but appealed too frequently, at times neglecting the ball to do so. Robertson waa an absentee from the Petone team, owing to ttn accident. Had this player been in has place at centre half, the result of the gamo might have been different. ' ; _ The reforeeing of Mr. W. Wood came in for favourable comment again at Newtown Park last Saturday. Nothing in the way. of "unnecessary" play escaped his notice, and after a few of the players had beon penalised, an interesting game was_ witnessed. His friendly advico to the boys, in the preceding match was well heeded and applied. Oldnall was easily the best of the Rovers backs last Saturday. - ' His "saves" werq brilliant; and the three goals' registered gave him absolutely no chauco... Duignan, at full, played a patchy game. His tendency to "sky" the ball is a great fault. Martin, who. partnered Duignan, was not up to his usual form. Of the halves, Bothell did some useful work, but both,he and his partners were at sea on many occasions. ' ; . Miller played the. best forward game, for Rovers. He is a fast and tricky forward, but could do with feeding from the halves. "Sid." Gillespie showed good pace, and sent in- two "very near" shots. Barry, at_ centre, .was energetic, and, at times, conspicuous. His shooting, however, was not 01 tho best. . Irvine, Wanderers' goalkeeper, was in tiptop form. 1 Some of his "saves" and clearances being brilliant. .. . . Mays ana Hatcher, halves, are a good duo. They feed their forwards nicely, and are tricky with the ball. Webster, a substitute, played a careful game. ■ 'lie hero of the Wanderers forward division was Ash, who scored the three goals. For trickiness he is certainly one of the best ill Wellington, having learned the game thoroughly; There was no blank in the forward division where Dalziel, Cornish, Ash, Bradbury, and Gwilliam combined .well, and were a constant source of worry to the Rovers backs. THE BROWN SHIELD. The competition. for tho Associatiop blue ribbon,- the Brown Challenge Shield, is a matter of interest just at.present, challenges' having been-received from Taranaki and Canterbury. The winners.:of ;tho shield to dato are:, 1892, Wellington; 1893, Otago; 1394, Canterbury; 1895 and 1896, Auckland,; 1897, lluahine; 1898, Auckland >.1901, .Otago'; 1903,' Wellington; 1906, Wellington;' 1907, Auokland; 1908,. Wellington. ■'-. The matter of new rules'to'govern the. competition aro at present under consideration, 'and will ,be brought up for final discussion at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association at the end .of the month; ; The .proposed rules are:—(l) The trophy shall oe : , called the Brown Challenge Shield, and shall be open for competition amongst all associations affiliated to the N.Z.F.A. (2) Tho N.Z.F.A. shall award; the trophy .'to the Wellington Football Association, winners of tho Brown Shield tournament,-.season 1908. Tile shield shall belong to the:N.Z.F.A., but shall bo held in trust for that body by the president or. vice-president of tho champion association each season. (3) Such association shall hold the shield'subject to ohallenge by any other affiliated association, but shall not be called upon to play matches other than those tho council ; shall consider advisable. (4) All challenge matches shall be played on tho ground of tho holder of the shield for tho time being. The proceeds of each match shall be apportipned as follow:—10 per cent, gross gate to the N.Z.F.A. ;-75 per cent, net gate to. the challenging association; 26 per cent, net gate to the holders. (5) Any association desiring to : challenge for tho shield shall give notice to tho N.Z.F.A. not later than : July I'in each year. A fee of 10s. shall accompany each challenge, (6) The associations concerned 'shall - mutually agree upon dates to be arranged for challenge games, but, failing, such arrangement, .the N.Z.F.A. shall arrange the dates. No-match shall; be plaved later than September'3o.' (7) No ono shall bo allowed'to. play in a; match for the Brown Shield unless ho was born within the district for which-lie . desires to play,' or has Jicen resident of Buch district for not less than three inonthß immediately preceding the match, or. has taken up his residence within such district,, and can prove to the satisfaction of tho council that ho is about to become , a permanent resident of such district. No on 9 shall represent_ more than one association in' each season without the consent of the counoil. (8) The council shall -decide , all questions concerning the status;of any player, and' its decision shall be final. (9) The council shall have power to deal with all matches not heretofore provided. (10) The council shall arrange for all 'officials' ;for each gamej : and,! when funds permit, their expenses shall be paid. (11). The'playing-ground for the competition'shall; be as follows:—Maximum length' 120 yards, minimum length loo;yards, maximum width 80 yards, minimum width 70 yards. 'All lines must be clearly marked according • to the "Laws of the Game." Full time must be played., In ■■ the case of drawn games an extra 15 minutes each way must. bo. played to decide'tho game, impossible. (12) Tho council shall have power to add to these' rulos, due notice to be given to affiliated- associations. No such additions shall romain in force after tho" following annual . general meeting, unless they shall be. confirmed thereat. ; Tho above proposed conditions have been forwarded to the' various .associations, and delegates ,will voice the opinion of their associations at. the annual, meeting. ,