ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 21

ASSOCIATION.

(Br Centre-Half.) LAST DAY OF THE SEASON. The Survival of the Fittest. The process of elimination which, For the past few weeks, lias been going on among tho Wellington "Soccer" clubs For the purpose of lillotLiug the Charity Clip, and which has been carried on by that time-honoured method of tho survival of the fittest, reached fiinality lastSaturday, when the two remainmg contestants! came together at Kelburuo Park, fought, and left the season's fittest, proud holders of the Charity Cup. The Final Elimination. They came on the Held, twenty-two able-bodied men, trained to the hour. Mightily did they strive Furiously did they attack; brilliantly did they defend. Hut Jiot- one iota would either side concede; they were matched to perfection, and the palm of victory lay long in tho lap of tlie Kates. Hospital attacked early -in the gamo, and soon -called Y.ji.C.A.'s 'keeper out to save. But Y..M.C.A. defended well, repulsed better, and eventually became the aggressors. I'lay was carried into Hospital's quarters, but again Hospital's forces rallied, and the seeno was swiftly changed. Not an inch of ground was there that was not contested; not the least advantage was given unless a greater might bo obtained. Two forces of equal strength and endurance had met, and the struggle was worth tho seeing. Half-way through the (first spell,' " got the ball between the posts, amid shouts from the black mass of spectators oil the bank, and then— an ominous hush. The referee's decision was sharp and decisive, and offside play was given against Y.JI.C.A. ; Disappointed, but not discouraged, they returned to the fray. The brief respite at half-time brought renewed vigour, but tho will of tho Fates was now being made manifest the wind had turned in Hospital's favour! The game at length ran its course. Rush had siicceedod rush,; combination after combination had been tried and found wanting; tho score sheet was still, .white, and the possibility of another loomed. But it was not "to be. The captains of both teams agreed to another ten minutes' play each way, and the l'ates had their will. Hospital gradually worked their way up the field; an opportunity presented itself; a pot shot was attempted; the ball flew high; the wind caught it—and the Fates laughed. The thing was done. Tho Eliminated. Hollis played a magnificent game. Never has he figured better in the. soccer field; far worse form has he shown in his representative matches. Two truly great saves stand out prominently in a game in which mediocre football was not seen. The first occurred in the opening spell, wlien Hollis blocked an almost .unstoppable ball, and. kicked /'it an almost impossible distance.--The following half saw the other save. ■ Hospital had put the ball in from close quarters, and. tho direction which tho ball took would have carried it under the bar by about a haud's-breadth. Hollis rose to tho occasion, both literally and figuratively, and Hospital's attempt was vain. Hut, vanitas vamtatum, he forgot to take into consideration tho vagaries of the wind, and so let through tliaf deeisivo goal. 'So certain' was he the ball would go over the bar that lie' made no attempt - to save—anil twelve months lay between Y.M.G.A. and the Charity Cup. 1 Coad and Coto were sound 111 their defence, and combined well with the forwards. Neither are hefty, but both are well trained. • ; •, ' Reid, a newcomer to Wellington Association eirclos, and an ex-Otago representative plaver, was decidedly Iriekj, and has that knack of placing the ball wherever lie wishes. The game, however, was a little too fast for him. Wilson and Roberts were always whore the trouble was thickest-, and more than justified their inclusion in the. team. 1 Of the- forwards, little can be said of one that cannot be said of another. It auvtliiug, they were too eager, although combination was by -no means lacking Carruthers would'undoubtedly have been a'big acquisition, but, as' it was, -it would have been difficult to have made a better show. The Survivors. Strong, big, 'well-trained, thoroughly experienced arc terms which.sum up the Hospital team. Superior to Y.JI.C.A. in weight and experience, it is a matter of wonder how evenly matched tho two teams were when on; tho field. Cobb, now to goal-keeping, was particularly neat, and, at times, clever in his saves. Not many opportunities of showing his skill were given him. Cross and Wallace were fully capable backs,, and brilliant indeed would be the man who got past them. Cross, in particular, was sure, although at one time'lie appeared to be a little over diligent. Duncan, Roots, and Sliand "avc a good demonstration in combining, and were the means of opening several good opportunities for their forwards. Roots was in his usual representative form, though it is surprising, however, how easily he "goes out when tapped on tho liead. Hughes was the shining light among the forwards, but they all shone with unusual brillianeo. Heath was the final instrument used by the Fates to carry out their wishes, and right modestly did lie carry the honour. Sixth Division Championship. The South Wellington Sixth Division team lias won tho championship this season with a goal.average of o.a. They have played 12 gamps, having scored Go goals for with none against. Although the South Wellington Club has been playing the gamo for some' five years, this is the first team which has won a championship, Tho club was formed in 1908 by Mr. J. J, Roberts, and has. since 'progressed by leaps and bounds until this season it has increased its number of teams from one to four and its membership from 14 to over fifty. Tho club has turned out some good players, olio of whom is Liversage, now playing senior for Diamonds. Livcrsa"? was playing fourth division football only two years' itgo. During the last two years tho club has looked aftei-'its sixth division team well, and the reward has come tit lust. Mv< liobcrts will now , have cause to remember the first year iu which the club' w«is' fornioil. He ui!J see that his first endeavours were not. iu vain, because South Wellington is now recognised as one of the premier bovs' clubs in Wellington. The club is solely for boys, its highest team being iu the fourth division.