ASSOCIATION CODE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 13

ASSOCIATION CODE.

ATHLETIC AND R.S.A. FOR CHATHAM CUP. (Notes by “Hotspur.”) Interest in the Soccer code locally at the present time is centred in the elimination contest to determine who shall represent Manawatu in the Chathnm Cuj> competition. The match to decide the question will be played on Saturday between the two leading teams of the district —R.S.A. and Athletic —unless St. Andrew’s A succeed in their representations about the match which thev wero obliged to forfeit. At the time of writing these notes that ;club’s application had not been before the Association, but “Hotspur” has little doubt that even if St. Andrew’s A are allowed another chance to play it will be either Athletic or R.S.A. who will eventually carry the Manawatu banner. ELIMINATION ROUND. The elimination knock-out competition in connection with the Chatham Cup has resulted so far as follows: R.S.A. beat St. Andrew’s A by default. Athletic beat Foxton, 3 —o. R.S.A beat Rangers, 2—o. Final: R. S. A. v. Athletic, next Saturday. . . Both matches in connection with the Chatham Cup last Saturday had their peculiarities. For instance, Rangers gave the premier team of the Manawatu (R.S.A.) all they could do to scrape through. At half-time there was no score, and with the change over Rangers had wind and sun—what little there wfts of either—behind them, ai:d it looked as if they would be hard to beat or even to draw with. However, the R.S.A. eleven got right down to it and saved the day with a 2 —o score. It was a hardly‘fought if not a brilliant match. There is no doubt that the best team won, but on more than one occasion recently Rangers have caused their “superiors” some keen anxiety right up to the closing stages. Foxton electrified the spectators by their splendid shoving against Athletic and wliat would have happened had Travers, senr., been playing in the ranks of the coasters is a matter for speculation —a rosy one so far as Foxton supporters are concerned. Throughout the teams fought it all out and there was little to choose until the closing stages of the ordinary full time, when Athletic made desperate attempts in secure a margin for the sake of their placo in the senior competition, but when they did have a shot, and it was not rarely, the defending goalie saved splendidly, and the full time whistle blew with no score either side Following the sounding of the full time whistle, when play so far as th© competition was concerned, concluded, two spellsof 10 minutes each were played to arrive at a decision for the sake of the Chatham Cup issue. Foxton gave way under the stern pressure of the untiring Athletic men, who scored two goals in about ten minutes and added another before the final full time whistle of the day blew. It was then nearly dark and verydifficult to pick up the drift of the ball either overhead or along the muddy ground, but a goodly band of enthusiasts stayed till the finish. Athletic thus gained one point for a draw, making them two points oelrind R.S.A. in the competition with an equal number of matches played, and earned a Chatham Cup victory. They have now to beat R.S.A. in the competition to draw with that leading eleven and thus earn the right to meet them again afterwards. That is a substantial hurdle, and had Athletic won last Saturday, as everyone confidently expected them to do, they would only needed to have beaten R.S.A.'on their next meeting to take first honours in the competition. However, all supporters of the code will concur in according honour where it is due so far as the thoroughly organised, consistent and enthusiastic R.S.A. Club is concerned. One has, too, to bear in mind Foxton’s sterling battle last Saturday. The coastal team have always been “'game,” turning up to fill engagements, in. seasons past in face of defeat after defeat and hereafter their prowess will be held in much more respectful regard. They have shown what they are capable of if they get going—really going. St. Andrew’s A and B mixed their teams about to make some showing of a competition match and the B team won by 4 goals to 3—the first win to go to the credit of the B fet. Andrew’s division, although, of course, it was not the original eleven young players who were responsible for the netting of 4 goals last Saturday. CONDITION OF FIELDS.

The condition of both fields last Saturday, having regard to the circumstances, was very bad, more particularly in tho case of the ground adjacent to the hostel. There was great patches of slushy mud which would have made Rugby difficult, but which rendered the playing of Soccer in the vicinity a farce. It was a pity when such issues were at stake, and probably in large measure it accounts for the inability of the brilliant individual players in tho Athletic ranks to show their usual dash and cleverness. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE.

RUGBY TO SOCCER. ALL BLACKS’ OPPONENT CHANGES OVER. An English paper recently to hand states that an international Rugby player, J. Brough, who played against the All Blacks, is to try his skill at goalkeeping • for Liverpool Association Football Club, who signed liim on as an amateur. Brough, who is a young fisherman of Silloth, Cumberland, is to be given a trial in goal when Liverpool play their practice matches in the summer.

He was regarded as one of the coming big figures in Rugby. Brough’s action in changing from Rugby to “Soccer” has one famous parallel. J. W. Sutcliffe was an international in botli codes, while his youngest brother kept goal for Sheffield United in the Cup Final last month. Sutcliffo, like Brough, made his name in Rugby, and then took up the other game. Beynon played for Swansea Town after figuring as a Welsh Rugby international;’and E. Hammett, who played Rugby for England three seasons ago, was a Welsh amateur international “Soccer” player.

p. W. L. I). Goals. For. Ag. Pts R.S.A 3 7 — 1 39 7 15 Athletic 8 5 — 3 21 12 13 Rangers 8 5 3 — 20 19 1C St. Andrew’s A 9 3 6 — 21 25 e Foxton 8 2 5 X 6 21 5 St. Andrew’s B 8 1 7 — 9 33 2 Flock House ... 7 2 4 1 29 28 ’• 5