ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 18048, 16 August 1922, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Doubtless the Otago Football Association and the Referees’ Association will bo able to give a titling reply to your correspondent John 11. C. Robertson; but may 1, ns one of the “sports" (a woman), offer a few comments ?

First of all, does your correspondent remember that game two seasons back when Harkness, tho Mornhigton goalkeeper, threw the ball outside tho post, and had a coal awarded to Kaitangata as the result? It was not W. P. Smith or Mr Storey, who refereed that game, was it? Oh dear, no! Only one of tho only two {referees that will ever please the .Kaitangata supporters —viz., a Kaitangata referee. That wrong decision cost Mornington tho competition; that year; but I would venture to assert that none of thoir supporters went headlong into print crying about it. Ilis remarks concerning W. P. Smith would be rather amusing if they were not bo misleading. I would correct J. R. 0. Robertson when he says W. P, Smith is i said to be ono of the finest -referees pro--1 curable by stating that he is undoubtedly 1 the moat competent referee acting in j Soccer circles at the present -time (outside of Kaitangata, of course). The main cause I of the trouble at Kaitangata earlier in tho i season was really duo to the fact that the Kaitangata people do not know a good referee when they see one. They have been so used to having their games mis- ' handled by Messrs Clarkson and Middlemass (always to tho detriment of the visit- ! ing team, needless to say) that they rather I resent a decent, fair-minded referee offici- ; ating at any of their games. Can Mr 1 Robertson explain why a great number of Mount Zion supporters specially invited Mr Smith to travel to tho mining township and referee their next game with Kaitangata? Their reason for the invitation was -that they were after fair play, which, they assured writer and others, had. been impossible to obtain at their local “derbies” in tho past. Put that in ypur pipe and smoke it, Mr Robertson! Regarding his criticism of Mr Storey’s refereeing in last Saturday’s match, I cannot argue about tho first goal he alleges Catto -fisted through, not being in a suitable position to see same; but I am certain that tho last goal scored by the same player was certainly not an “off-side” one. The position was this: Stevens (Mornington’s outside left) took the ball well down the line, the whole vanguard following up, all in line and in position, and (mark well!) behind the ball, with, the opposing backs in front of them. When Stevens crossed he ' squared the ball (slightly backwards if anything), and it passed "across in front of Richardson and M’Auley, and on to Catto, over on the right. The latter was in lino with Bain, Walker, and M‘Gregor, who were all slightly more than a couplo of yards off the Kaitangata rear pair. To quite a number it may have appeared at first glance that M‘Gregor and Catto were j really off-side, owing to M'Auley being so far out of position. What he was doI ing so far over on his partner’s side has | nothing to do with me, however. Possibly it was a case of “wind up,” and ho [ thought it advisable to go over and help Richardson stop Momington’s famous flier. I would here mention for your correspondent’s information that he should always bear this in mind when discussing “offside ” i it is not where the player is when he receives the ball, but where he was when the ball was last passed My next bit of advice is to the Kaitangata players themselves, and that is; always play the whistle. Don’t stand and appeal to the referee whilst a goal is being scored. Dickel (Morningtou’fl splendid back) has learned this to his cost. By the by, did J. R. C. Robertson notice three handlings of the ball on the part of the Kaitangata halves that were not penalised by the referee? Wearing black spectacles, it is quite possible ho did not. I wonder will ho admit that quite a number of referees j would not have granted a penalty. for a I pure unintentional handling of the ball as Sir Storey did in Saturday’s match? Had the boot been on tho other foot, I am quite certain Rarity and others would have gone black in the face gesticulating to Mr Storey, and I am positive we would have had at the very least an extra half-column about it from our Kaitangata correspondent. ,

I am in sympathy with Mr Robertson over tho numerous defaults by town dubs this season, but I cannot see where ho can blame the Otago Football Association for that. Personally, I think that defaulting clubs should be made to pay half of the Kaitangata 'team’s expenses on their trip to town. As far os I can gather, all tho clubs have defaulted chiefly through their inability to get a semblance of a team to travel. 1 am afraid your correspondent forgets that business comes before pleasure, and that, as times are at present, a man has to consider his job more now than he has ever had to do in the past. Possibly this has a very great deal to do with the large number ot defaults experienced this season. I sincerely trust that our Kaitangata friends will have much better luck as regards visitors next season.—l am, etc., Leon. Walker. August 15.