ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 53, 30 August 1913, Page 14

ASSOCIATION

(By "Vanguard.") There was no blowing of trumpets, no beating of drums, to herald the opening of the Charity Cup contest on Saturday. No; at 3 p.m. one team, Rovers, were waiting on a shocking ground at Miramar, to see if their opponents, Brooklyn United, could muster up a full team. Such did not seem likely, and the appearance of only four men belied the name "United." The situation was saved, however, by an embassy, who, journeying ovef to an adjoining field, returned with a host of Brooklyn junior reinforcements, who had been victorious in an unfought game against StJ John's. This saved a default; Brooklyn United faced their opponents, Rovers, and the dreary game, which extended right on till 5.10 o'clock, was commenced. /However, this much must be said for the game : it "was a fair average of its kind in Wellington this season, and, indeed, was interesting on account of the astonishing relapses and recoveries of both sides. It was a few minutes to when the game was due to finish when a player placed both sides on a level again, and the despairing linesmen and pressmenj and the referee (whom, I'm sure, won't nu'nd being included) watched with horror the advent of another half an hour or so's wait in the cold as the teams changed grounds, and, according to Charity Cup rules, played another further term to decide th© game. The extended period, however, did not bring the desired result, the match having to be replayed again to-day. As stated before, the ground was in a shocking condition, and abounded in miniature ditches and mounds, while the lines were barely discernible and intersected with ruts and cartwheel marks to the extent of a geometrical problem. Fortunately the referee was able to commandeer the services of a solitary juvenile watcher on the line, and the boy at length returned with some sticks, which were stuck in the ground as signposts df the whereabouts of the line or where the line ought to have been.