ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1911, Page 14

ASSOCIATION.

(By "Vanguard,") Last Saturday saw the finish of what will doubtless be conceded on all sides a particularly interesting competition. Although Swifts won, and substantially at that, the points of difference between it and the other elevens is Hot Very pronounced. It has by fto meafie been a one-sided affair, as has been mote than orice demonstrated by the decisive defeats Swilte have sulfered at the hands of those over whotn it ultimately triumphed. In the circumstances the contest, iot the Charity Cup should be interesting, to say the least of it. In any case »ne can safely look forward to, the keenest ot struggles for primary honours next season. Corinthians and Sb. John's will have by that time lost their greenness, arid Mental Hospital will doubtless be all the better lor being a bit more seasoned. The disappointing teams are perhaps Rambiers and V.M.0.A., both "ot whom are but a shadow of their former selves. The Brown Shield match against Canterbury ia to come off on Saturday, the 16th Of next month. If Wellington is to bring back to the Empire City the much-coveted trophy, it behoves."somebody" to get busy. Three weeks is none too much time in which to prepare for the fixture, especially when it is considered that Canterbury has this season already had the advantage of playing two or three representative games, tt is not so much that the Wellington men are in need of actual training so much the matter of combination. In short, they want to be afforded opportune of as 1 the fact that they want practice in. getting to know each, other. Each man should be fully cognisant of the respective positions of his confreres and their Various little peculiar tricks of style. A good move on the part of the association is its intention (as is understood to be &he case) to land the team in Christchurch on the Friday morning and thus give the players a day to get over the effects of the sea journey— one could hardly call it* a "voyage." When it comes to picking a representative eleve^ the selectors might do worse than give Hollis, of V.M.0.A., A trial as goalkeeper. Webster's competence is not«^ questioned, bat there is very little to pick and choose between the two guardians. Besides, Hollis is a young man, with an excellent record of service, &nd if only to prevent him from becoming discouraged, should certainly be given a chance to defend Wellington's colours against Canterbury. The to acquire a permanent pl&ying-jground for soccer in Wellington appears to be gaining support. One notes with satisfaction. that Swifts &fe' moving' actiVely in the matter, and it behoves other clubs to follow suit. The success or failure of the project now practically lies in the hands of the players themselves, and united" and concerted ac«ion>will carry the day. Boiled down, Wellington "soccerites" are simp. ly being asked to ■ help; themselves. Verily "the Lord helps those who help I themselves!" According to a Southern scribe, "thej same fraternal relationship prevailing between Rugby and Association in Dunedin is observable in Invercargill." The Otago Centre had a complicated matter to unravel at its last meeting, When H. Elliott, who had been requested to attend in connection with a charge Of professionalism which it was alleged he had made against the Mornington Club, failed to appear. One or two witnesses were examined,' a member of Mornington Club stating that in the pavilion at Culling Park Elliott had called M'Clelland (the player accused) over to him and said, " Jfou'll get your j £1 all right." Another witness said he had heard Elliott in a tramcar make the following remark to ' two (gentlemen : "We don't pay any of our players £1 to play in the match." Elliott had then mentioned M'Clelland's name. A third witness deposed that he had also heard Elliott make the remark referred to, but did not hear him mention any name. It .was resolved to ask Elliott for an explanation of his non-altendance, and, ia the event of an explanation not being forthcoming, to hold a special meeting of the committee to deal with the matter. The match at Invercargill between Southland and Otago disclosed (says "Left Wing" in the Otago Witness) the satisfactory Circumstances that ia the matter of football efficiency Southland is drawing closer to Otago. The scores Were not so widely disproportionate as usualj and in the early stages of the game, when Southland had one goal to Otago's nil, the visitors were thinkinff pretty hard, ' *