The Association Game.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 15

The Association Game.

LAST Saturday's matches were played in ideal weather, but the city grounds were a tribe heavy. The "star" garao was that between Swifts and Mental Hospital, and in anticipation of a good go a large number of enthusiasts went out to witness the match. They were in no way disappointed, for the game was well fought out from start to finish. A certain section of the barrackors were rather one-sided, and this ifl to bo regretted. Although one is barracking for a certain team, and no matter how much he desires that team to win it is only fair and sportsmanlike to applaud any good play on the part of his team's opponents. Swifts were out to win, and although they did not defeat Hospital by so big a margin as Hospital defeated them in tUo first round they were the better team on the day’s play- ...

Penlington, in goal for Swifts, was eafe, and considering this was only his eocond game this season ho did well, one shot from Boots being particularly well saved; but ho should not have allowed Tyror to score Hospital's second goal. Bye-Smith and Wilson played brilliantly at full-back, Wilson coming completely out of his shell. Of the half-back lino Bickerby was the shining star, and ho certainly outplayed his vis-a-vis Boots. It was very refreshing to see the way ho used his wits when extricating himself from tight corners. Graves is to bo commended for the way ho looked after Phillips and never gave that worthy a cluuicc to show his scoring ability, iho ' forwards Roberts, Barry, Vcssey, Mathoson, and Scott worked very hard, and the way Vessoy snapped up tho opportunity to score Swifts’ fourth goal was great and only helped to show tho way this player is always on the ball.

On tho Hospital side Cockburn in goal

-was perhaps tho host, aud it is very doubtful if there is a more resourceful goalkeeper playing in Wellington at tho present time. Wallis and Morgan were undoubtedly off and were more to blame than Cockburn in lotting Swifts’ four goals through. Boots was the best of the half-backs, but ho did not play his usually heady game. Of the forwards Elliott and Tyrer were tho best. Phillips did not shino as usual, being too well watched by Graves. Davis, who is usually prominent, is no good when ho je np against a faster man.

A great deal has been said about the second goal of Swifts being scored by the aid of a dog that had rushed on to thejfiold. “Penalty” lias heard the matter discussed by tb.' players, and has jxlso heard, one or two prominent officials -who were at tho game express the opinion that the dog did not to their mind interfere with the play. Anyhow it only stands to reason that if Mr Goclbor, tho referee, who was always up with the play had considered that the dog had interfered ho would have stopped the ■game and thrown, tho ball down.

During the first spoil of the game Balmain v. Nary at Sydney last week one of the Navy men was seriously injured and had to leave the field. The action of the opposing skipper in not allowing a substitute to take his place was considered by a section of the spectators as very unsportsmanlike.' The New South "Wales Management Committee have now ‘‘passed a resolution to tho effect that a substitute may take tho place of _ a player injured in the first half, provided tho opposing captain consents, and 1 iin referee is satisfied that the injury to. the retiring player necessitates his leaving the field.

A letter from tKo secretary of the Tasmanian. Football Association •to the K-2.FJL. states that the game is progressing very satisfactorily at Hobart. Xiast weeVs “Referee** contains the gratifying news that the Sydney Association are sending a team to Hobart

(By “ Penalty.”} Notes on the Week’s Matches and the Players.

under tho management of Mr S. Lynch the popular secretary of tho N.S.W. Association to help boom tho gomo in Hobart.

As everybody is aware, Wellington is tho headquarters of tho Now Zealand Football Association, and also of tho New Zealand liofereens' Association. During tho past week ono or two followers of tho game who are very much interested in Its welfare have brought up the question of the constitution of the several management committees of tin four governing bodies (the Now Zealand Football Association, the New Zealand Referees’ Association, tho Wellington Football Association, and the Wellington. Deforces’ Association) in this city. Their' lino of argument is that anybody who is a member of tlie management committee of the Referees* Association should not bo eligible for a scat on the management committee of tho Wellington Football Association, and that a member of the council of the New Zealand loothall Association should also bo barred trom occupying a seat on tho same committee; also that an official of tho local Referees* Association should not bo an official of tho New Zealand Referees Association. I will take the case of the local management committee. Two of its members are on the Vvellington. Referees' Management Committee, ana one of the two is also on the New Zealand Football Council and tho New Zealand Referees’ Association, while the other gentleman is on the Now Zealand Referees’ Association. One other member of tho committee is also on the Football 'Council. The contention is that where anybody is interested as anj official of more than one body ho can-i not do full justice to them all. It is. urged that things may occur in comimttee of, say, the Wellington iootball Association, and then go on to the council* where some members of the Wellington; Football Association also sit, and that then, instead of looking at these matters in the same way as they did when tha Wellington (Football Association wciadealing with them, th 4 latter bodies, delegates have to take up an attituua on the council’s side—and this, despite the fact that they are in possession ol the views of the Wellington lootball Association and full information which naturally they cannot divulge on account of its being obtained in committee ol the Wellington Football Association. Of course. If clubs are averse to this position of affairs it is plain the remedy is in their own hands. It would ha, interesting to know the views held by club delegates in tho matter.

Despite the fact that Canterbury had to play Manawatu on an open ground where no charge could made, a fair amount of coin came in. The attendance was 1600, and the collection realised about £li 10s.

It is decidedly interesting to note tho growth of the Public Schools League. Last week there were four teams in the field. To-day there will bo nine, and next week the total will bo ten, so that means five games. The secretary ot tho Keferees* Association has asked me to. invito applications through theso notes for gentlemen willing to act as referees on Saturday mornings in the Schools matches.

There is a oartiui section of the public who attend the big matches on Saturday afternoons apparently for the sole purpose of criticising the referee. It is no difficult matter to sort this section out, and the most regrettable feature of it is that these critics are old players. They would be doing far bettor service for the game if they would only take to refereeing themselves, instead of Saturday after Saturday adversely criticising the referees. They above all should know the referee’s job is difficult enough already, and there is no necessity for any one to make it mou difficult.

invited them to examine tho results of out* matches for the last five years. During this period we secured promotion to the first division of the League, wo wo n tho championship of the first League, we defeated Bristol City in the final for the English Cup in 1908-9, obtained tho Football Association Charity Shield, and on two occasions the Man-ch-yster Cup. Surely such a record is proof of tho effectiveness of our methods. An Extra Half.

A method of keeping the lead, employed by some captains, and one with which X do not agree is tho one X mentioned at fine beginning of the article, and 1 would like to say a tow more words abcmt"Tt here. X refer to tho method of bringing a man out of the line and'playing him as an. extra half. There are two distinct disadvantages to this. of all when there are four hallba.ctks in a lino they are likely to get in each other’s way and so throw the tine ' out of order. Secondly when you only have four forwards, they have to open out considerably which means that they' are yards out of their original posiand consequently they are put olf their game altogether. I remember a director of a well known club telling his team, who were leading at ( kaif time, to keep the hall in the air. Thifci advice was given because his men had a distinct advantage in 1 height over, the.kr opponents and would be able to get to tho ball first on its descent. X do not agree with this; 100 much of it would tend to spoil the game, for fooiiball should bo played on the ground, no£Tu the air. This practice that directors have of giving advice to their teams is not a good one. It is amusing at times to -hear tho instructions players get from some of the officials of their clubs. 1 could write a splendid series of stories told me by players, telling how a director instructed theni to win tho mafidh in the second half, when they were a goal to the good and had stiff .bretsa© to face, but it would be off the ,Unee of my article were I to do this, and it would ridicule a few of the socalled experts who have never kicked a ball and would be unable to do so were they to try. A .parked Man.

A method some captains adopt .when they have obtained the lead is to pick out the most dangerous man on the opposimg .side and give one of his men iustrraatlon to stick to him and follow him round wherever he goes. It is very amusing to see the way some players cany out these instructions. 1 have seem one of my men followed through a whole game. If lie wandered right across. to the opposite w r ing ho .was followed 'ey his opponent, much to the amusement of the crowd, but not to the unforlaiuato man who was being- so closely maifced, who was rather inclined to lose his 'temper. I don’t think this is a particularly good way of holding your advantage, for while the most dangerous mam is being watched others are being neglected, and this is bound to end in disaster.

There are many different ways of arranging a team, but how often do we see them arranged in anything but the orthodox style? Kot once in a score of times unless a side has Tost the services of «no of ifs players. I remember seeing a captain arrange his players in a most remarkable style, because at the time he ivas winning. He played a goalkeeper, one full-back, four half-backs [and five forwards. This arrangement is ofteii seen when a side is losing but it is exceptional for the captain of a winning team to arrange l;is men in this way. Before the new offside rule, which keeps a player on side so long as he is 1 in Jus own halt of the field, came in force, this method w-as quite a good one, but now I think it slightly risky to adopt it, for in my opinion the one back game is doomed. With a clover set of forwards who keep their eyes open and use their heads, goals should come veryfast against only one back, so I think we may condemn the one back system, where holding an advantage is concerned.

This discussion on "How to hold an Advantage" is all very well in its way, .but the first and most difficult thing that appeals to me is how to obtain the advantage. The best way for a captain ■to succeed in this is to see that his men .keep cool and use their heads to the -very best advantage.