FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

ASSOCIATION NOTES. [Br Lvn'ksman.] The following table shows the present position of tho senior teams in the premiership competition :

Three more matches will see tire completion of the Senior Cup competition. The Saturday night throng, whose privilege it is to settle various matters connected with cups, “like” (Northern's chance. But after all, likes and dislikes are mostly a matter of environment. Which reflection, needless to say, is one that cometh in the morning. Of all the arguments adduced, the following at least is as devoid of sentiment as a Waterbary wa-tch. Kaitangata beat Northern with two goals to spare, and what man has done man may do. But from Battalion they were able to snatch only a bare victory by one goal. To Battalion, therefore, must be obvious the logical deduction from their next meeting with Northern. The bright young student of football statistics will, no doubt, perceive the unwisdom of hazarding stray coins on the possibility here indicated. Prom his own abundant knowledge he shall frame syllogisms to show its utter absurdity. It would be a pity to rob him of his opportunity, and so everybody shall be satisfied. _ The matter is mentioned merely because it is the one most likely to lie overlooked. The actual decision of the N.Z.F.A. to hold the tournament for the Brown shield this year at New Plymouth is the first intimation that the question was occupying the attention of the Council. Last year the authorities invited suggestions from the affiliated associations, though finally the shield went a-begging. There is a growing feeling, in Otago at any rate, that the method of competition by tournament in one centre involves more financial risk than can be honestly Liken by a single association. It is obvious that the majority of the games comprising the tournament must be played on days other than the weekly half-holiday, and consequently before a meagre crowd. On the occasion of the last tournament played in Dunedin the local team happened to be drawn and defeated in the first, round. The game between the two yisiting teams was so sparsely attended that it resulted in a financial loss, the burden of which had to be borne through subsequent years. Clearly the privilege'of bolding the tournament is not one to be jumped at. This year the Council will meet all expenses, hut for the guidance of Auckland next year, and of Otago in 1908, it is stated that the centre in which the tournament is held will be required to make all necessary arrangements. Apart altogether from lu * lle S ed severance of Auckland from the N.Z.F.A., and the reluctance of Otago to swallow the bait, it is arguable whether the tune is not ripe when a system of interprovincial matches might with advantage replace the cumbersome system of the feudal period. The O.F.A. might find time to consider the matter in that aching and “motionless” void in their deliberations left by the final settlement of the Gnllmg Park fencing question. The following note in a local Kaitangata paper was no doubt intended to be road by Dunedin Soccer players ; ■ “As an additional means of raising money for the erection of the pavilion on the recreation ground an art union was run in connection with the late bazaar, and tile Pavilion Committee forwarded SCO tickets to various bodies in Dunedin. The results from that City do not show a spirit of comradeship ‘in sport, only sixteen tickets out. of the 500 being sold. Some few months ago various clubs in Dunedin decided to raise the money for a somewhat similar purpose, and sent tickets to Kaitangata, from the sal© of which was, I'ealied the sum of £ll 10s. The sporting men here say that when art union tickets again come from town they will know what to do with them. Moreover the delay in the drawing of the art union was caused by the Dunedin tickets not being sent in by the date they should have been. _ In fact, the clubs in town were ‘ too tired ’ to send them, for lie j hooks had to be collected by a Kaitangata resident who was in Dunedin. Evidently the sporting people of the Oity are lack- - in that power which, is utilised in dnviajT their ears.”

From the tone of the above—though the reference at the end is beyond me (it may be humorous, which would explain)—l gather that out country friends are swelling with righteous indignation. When they subside a little, they might ponder on the remote possibility of the purchase of an art union ticket being actuated by a love of a-rt for art’s sake. And, in passing, this aspect of the question may bo commended to many who are similarly exercised over the collection of sundry speculative shillings. The strength of the Northern team lies in their forward line. Apart from Ratley, easily the finest exponent of half-back play in Otago, their back play, comparatively speaking, is only ordinary. But to prevent misunderstanding, it must be recognised that the ordinary performance of the Northern team,, from a club standpoint, is of a high rank. They are fortunate in being able to fill vacancies in their forward line with capable juniors. Drake, as a centre forward, shows distinct promise. Such shooting powers as ~he may possess have not yet produced any noticeable results, but ho feeds his wings conscientiously. A master of this first essential in a centre forward was his ex-club-mate Harry Siedeberv. a shining light in hockey circles. Though the dazzling sprints of M’Clelland contributed the more to the public entertainment, _ which must be duly considered as an important factor in the success of any pastime such as football, the right wing double, Irvine ami Timlin, did the hard slogging work of the forwards against Mornington on Saturday. Alany keen critics would bo quite content to trust them with representative responsibilities in their respective positions. I have to acknowledge receipt of a ticket to an entertainment in the High street School Gymnasium on Thursday, August 16. The function is under tho patronage of the committees of the Alomingtou and High street Schools, and is to be"held for the purpose of raising funds to provide jerseys for the schoolboys’ football teams. The friends of Booklass, of the Boslvn, Gluo, will regret, to learn that the injiuy to his knee, received in the match against Southern on Saturday , has necessitated his removal to the hospital, whence the latest information received was not. of an encouraging nature. Goalkeeper Jack, ol Mornington, has proved himself a worthy successor to Smallbone, who saved the Otago team from disaster at the time of the Welshmen’s visit to Dunedin. Jack’s cat-like agility and unerring pouncing at every elusive movement of tho ball formed a notable feature in the Mornington game on Saturday. The knowing ones predict a keen straggle for rep. honors at loft full back between Young, of Mornington, and M‘Nish of Wakari. Speaking at the Wakari send-off to R. A. Farqnharson last night, tho president of tho Referees’ CTub made, feeling reference to the quality of the endurance expected at the present time from his followreferees. It seems (hat, many of these victims of over-pressure ore required to officiate in three consecutive matches, lasting from one o'clock till quarter-past five. And the extent of their thanks received amounts to one cheer per game. Replying to the toast of his health, honored by some fifty footballers at the same function, Mr Farqnharson made a rattling good speech, tint was characterised by sound judgment and a, rnanK- insistence on tho. doctrine of hard work as the road to success. (A temptation to interject a frivolous aside about other Rhodes to success is hereby strenuously resisted.) In that portion of his remarks which was of purely football sisnificance, he mentioned that two of the testimonials necessary to establish his qualifications for a Rhodes Scholarship had been furnished bv the Otago Football Association and the N.Z.F.A. It was n source of much gratification to him to think that he had been the first Association player to win the honor, and that tho Soccer game had been recognised as n sport equal to any other branch of athletics followed in New Zealand. As an old High School boy who had played Association in the dnvs when the game was looked upon with disfavor, __ he hailed with delight the day when it was recognised equal!v with the sister pastime. He assured the meeting that it would he his pleasant duty to furnish players in Dunedin with any information which they might require concerning English football. He realised that with him lav the responsibility of showing, as circumstances permitted, the tvne of Association footballer bred in New Zealand. As he leaves Dunedin bv the first express on Afonday. “Linesman” takes this opportunity of wishing him hon voyage.

u, X. ji ■r. _"S ‘o Ph £• 5 &} *3 c 5 ? rJ 6 Northern 11 8 r 52 17 17 Kaihmgala 11 8 2 i 27 16 17 Wakari 11 8 3 0 06 18 16 Southern 12 7 S 2 58 18 16 Mornington 13 8 5 0 51 25 16 Boslyn 11 o 8 0 14 36 6 Green Island ... 12 2 10 0 28 40 4 Battalion ... .. . 11 0 11 0 7 6o 0