THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21759, 26 March 1934, Page 12

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

CONTROL BOARD'S REPORT SUCCESS OF PAST SEASON The report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Auckland Football Association to-ir.orrow states that from a playing point of view the past season was most successful. Six senior representative fixtures were played. Two matches for the Frank Campbell Rosa Bowl against Wellington were won by Wellington. A representative team travelled to Dunedin and defeated Otago for the English Trophy. On the team's return journey, Auckland defeated Wes'land. Two matches against the Navy resulted in a draw and a win for Auckland respectively. The Ponscnby Club wor. the Chatham Cup and gained the club premiership of New Zealand. Five members of the Auckland representative team, P. Gerrard. R. Stone. J. Christie, M. Kay a:id P. Zaill. ■were included in. the New Zealand team which visited Australia. The secondary representatives were successful in regair.iag the Skerrett Cup from. Wellington, and also won the New Zealand secondary schools' premiership at Palmersioa North. Five junior representative teams toured, and played 14 games, winning 10. drawing three and losing one. The junior representatives under 21 years won the Plyger Rose Bowl. A pleasing feature o: club football was the increased number of New_ Zealand-born players in senior teams. The number of senior teams wis increased, bat, uafortanately, the grade became unwieldy, and caused the control board to recommend to its successors the reduction of the number of teams to eight for _ the_ forthcoming seasun. Both the championship and Falcon Cup finals were strenuously contested, and Thistle was victorious In both competitions. Comrades won tiie Ritchie Cap far the greatest aggregate of points gained by a club dariag the season.

The vastly-improved state of the playing are* at Hlaadford Park is commented upon, and it is hoped thai, by the draining now in progress, the satisfactory sarface conditions will be a permanent feature. Eulogistic reference is made to the work done by Mr. H. Gribble. who has completed 21 years' service to the co<ie. The reports of the senior and junior divisions, and the Referees' Association show increased activities. The Minor Division Committee, controlling the junior grades and primary schools, _ reported the most successful year since its inception. The division had over ?0 teams ander its control. The association had its share of the financial stringency ar.d. although there wa* an increased atteadaace at Blandford Park during the season, it was insufficient to balance the !cs,s caused by the reduction made ia the admission charges. In spit* of the decreased receipts_ and tse increased expenditure. the financial statement show* a moderate credit balance oa the season's working.