ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 297, 14 September 1927, Page 8

ASSOCIATION

WELLINGTON OUT OF CHATHAM CUP

THE LESSONS OF 1927

“Goalie”)

(By

With the defeat of Marist by Podsonby at Auckland on Saturday, all hopes of Wellington occupying a prominent place in any of the Dominion competitions disappeared. On recent form Marist were justified in entertaining high hopes of defeating the northern team, for they had performed so well that wo wore optimistic as to their chances. Ponsonby only just scraped home by tho odd goal in three, but it was enough, and (he final will be between Ponsonby (Auckland) and Northern (Otago). The venue is to be in Wellington, but the New Zealand Council will have fo get a move on if it wishes to secure one of tho city reserves, otherwise it looks as if they may havo to go to Association Park. This is the first time sin-e the inception of tho competition four seasons ago that the Northern and Ponsonby Clubs have reached tho Dominion final, although the cup has previously been won by Auckland and Otago teams—Harbour Board (Auckland) in 19’5, and Seacliffc (Otago) last year. Tho season now about to close has been a very lean one indeed for Wellington in fiie matter of representative matches, from'-the Wellington-Canada match to the defeat of Marist at Auckland last Saturday. Not one of five fixtures has been won by tho Wellington representatives. The defeats suffered by pur teams in tho Football Association trxjhy - games are not altogether conclusive evidence that Wellington is below the standard in the other throe centres

Otago licked our men on (heir own ground fair and square, but the Wellington teams which travelled to Auckland aud Christchurch were not by any means the liest sides which could ho picked at the present -time in Wellington.

No blame is attachable to the selectors in thoso two instances, as several of the best players were unable to procure tho necessary leave of absence. It must be admitted too that the number of leally good players in Wellington at present is small. Newtown Park is booked up for next Saturday, and the following Saturday would have been booked up also but for the cancelling of a League fixture. The W.F.A. will require a ground for a week or two yet for the serior B championship is not quite completed. It is hardly fair to Diamonds Club to keep them on the bank for two or three weeks, while Y.M.C.A. is playing out for the championship, for Diamonds may require to keep the team as fit as possible, for they havo still a chance in the championship. If Y.MC.A win the remaining games their position will be unassailable, but Marist and Diamonds are both in the position of runners-up. and Diamonds want to be second if thev cannot be first. If Y.M.C.A. should drop a point then Diamonds can lie in points, and win on goal average, for their goal average is a very fine one. But if Diamonds have to put up a strenuous fight to defeat Marist, a fortnight’s rest will not do them any good. Diamonds havo not been given too much of the limelight that falls upon teams playing at the Basin, and they have performed well enough to have justified a prominent ground more often. Tho club always has a good following. Now that the team has shaken down, if they ca” keep the men together. Diamonds wi’ 1 ovtend Y.M.C.A and Jtarist next season. The Australian boys were again defeated by Wellington on the return visit, but the conditions were such that the visitors could not do themselves justice. They had been travelling all night in tho train from Auckland; they were stiff and travel worn, and had already played four in a little over a week. There was a genuine desire, in Wellington to see the boys in action again, but tho strain was just a bit tor much for them, for they had to travel

south on Friday night to fulfil the South Island engagements. Mr. S. 11. Ferguson, who managed the Wellington primary schools’ representative team which achieved such signal success in the primary schools’ competition in Auckland, was disappointed that his boys were not selected to meet the Australians to see what sort of a display they could put up against the visitors. Having regard to all the circumstances it would have been a more even contest, and the local lads would have done themselves credit.

next primary schools’ competition la 1 < place at Huntly, where excellent progress has been made in schools’ football, and the senior code is also getting stronger. Now that Soccer m tho schools has had such a good push owing to the Australian visit and by reason of the success' of the schools’ competition, no opportunity should bo. iost in taking every advantage of tho splendid spado work which has been done. The New Zealand council is pledged to send a team of Now Zealand schoolboys to Australia, and this return visit is not likely fo be delayed very long. This is also going to havo a big pull and encourage the development of Soccer in the schools, for this movement should, result in an annual contest of file kind. Every care is taken of the boys on either side, they are billetted with the parents of members of the local team or members of the local association, and this, together with the fact that they have two managers, is sufficient guarantee of their well-being There can be little doubt as to the eduaational value of these exchange visits, and if the Education Department saw fit to give the scheme a measure of support it would be wall worth whila. . Meanwhile, another point upon which the local and Dominican associations should focuss attention is what becon es of the Soccer liovs after leaving ’lie primary school and the age when they can play senior Soccer? A few keep in the game in the intervening years, but not many. This is one of the weak link? in -the chain.

The Championship. All that is left to interest us now this season, is tho last games of the championship. Even these now are not very important, although Y.M.C.A. has to meet Brooklyn and win to make sure of the championship. This is an almost sure two points for the leaders. Brooklyn are at the bottom of the table with four points, and have no hope of staving off relegation to the B division after two years of but poor success in the A division. Next season will see the Brooklyn team contesting for Senior B honours again, while Petone, this season’s B champions, will be advanced a grade. This suburban team has drawn some fine players to its ranks, and its advent in a higher grade next vear will be looked forward to. Marist, who have for the last five, years been within sight of the championship but have never actually won the honour, have again been just beaten narrowly for first place. Two weeks ago they gave the leaders a severe biding, but tho top form then displayed by every member of the team came too late. However, there is little to choose be> tween the two teams: both have produced some fine football on the Basin Reserve this season and. with Dianwmns who may. yet s’mre honours as run ners-un for the championship with Mar ist, are real assets to the code in Wellington

Basin Reserve Cosed. With the finish of the fixtures at th» Basin Reserve last Saturday, the end of Soccer for the 1927 season came. The remaining fixtures will have to take place at the much maligned ground— Association Fork.