THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13778, 17 June 1908, Page 4

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

The Waikino-Auckland " rep." match eventuated on the Eden' Park ground em Saturday last, and was easily won by the latter by 12 goals to nil. The Waikino team were minus several of their best players, owing- to the men having to go on "shift" at different times, thereby altering their plans. Barrow, who is acknowledged a fine goalkeeper, was unable to accompany the team. I cannot conceive why the Waikino skipper should have kept Stausfield in goal, considering that he had never been between the sticks before. Had lie tried some other player in the second half the new custodian might have proved better, as StammVkl seemed to have got disheartened at his inability to stein the onslaught. Stapletoh is a fullback worthy of the position, and the way lie beat his man arid the cool manner in which he met the rushes showed himself full of grit and pluck. Davidson was a team Tin himself, and when he went centre-forward he showed himself to be as tricky as of old.

Tho Auckland forwards were a fins, l o t although to play i" Brown shi»ld ccmp*- -'";, tition one or two ■ alterations would hate U> ■'ss! be ma do. Salt* (wing} did tit>t prove n_.i.r'je>, in tho . new position, but Marshall (hi -centre) did . some- fine work, Wbaley had the, "' shiver*" and doe? "nut want the job again between tho stick* unless lit» can fee! the ball occasionally. What hehad to do lie did cleanly. I notice that the Management Com suit fee . have issued subscription cards for the. purpose of collecting funds to wild » representative warn to Dunediii to defend the Brown shield, which is now in Auckland. Thi* .' shield was original!)' a challenge shield, but-V: owing to the conditions not being suitable .;,., it was decided that it. should be played for '" in a different centra each. *ea*on, and *':. rota was set up. Owing to «rcnm-tanirit-best known to the Otago player* they ,wcr« • ' \ unable to tcud a team last reason to coin- .'■; peto for the ' shield, but. -according to th« rota the*- are next on the U»t, U is hoped that all" "sports" will make an effort to . :: enable the local association to get the amount required to send a strong team re-, - preventative of this city, and enable them to , bring back the shield, winch ha* been greatIt admired since being" on view in Partridge's window. Card-* can be procured by : applying to the secretary, or donation* can' be- left with any member of the committee, who are as follow*:— Messrs. Heigh R. Takle, Robinson, Smithyimm. Borne, Cash, Richardson {secretary')," Armstrong, and . Woatherbnrn. ■ It is believed in local "soccer circle* that if the strongest team can be induced to travel that our city will retain the shield, as some splendid players are doing, battle in the different club* each week. There is some talk of altering the existing state of 'affair* governing the rules nuclei ,„, which the shield is played, ami I certainly think the New 'Zealand Association, should revert to the challenge condition* as obtaining for Rugby football, cricket, and hockey shields. ■■