ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8776, 4 July 1914, Page 14

ASSOCIATION GAME

(By “Goal-keeper.”) Last Saturday’s Thistle-Corinthian game was one to ho remembered. It was even a finer exposition than that ,given in the Hospital-Connvhian fixture of a month previously. Ihistw had by far the lighter team yet in the first naif-hour of tho game had scoied two goals to their opponents ml. Alter tnat, however, weight began to toll. Corinthians knew their advantage and used it, with the result that the game closed with the scores. Corinthians 5, Thistle 2. To-day Thistle have to meet another heavy team, viz., Hospital, and their experience of last Saturday should bo useful to them. A good plan of campaign for a light team to adopt is to press the game all they know in tho first half, taking long Chances at scoring, and devoting all energies to piling up the points. The second halt should be chiefly devoted to solid defensive p:ay, with the aim of preventing their opponents scoring. Y.M.C.A., who are fourth on the championship ladder, and who are another fast, well-trained team, but light, should take the hint as well. With “head-work” this team should come very near the top rung before the season closes. The fixtures committee of the W.F.A, is experiencing considerable difficulty in satisfactorily arranging the matches. Owing to the weather, some teams have finished the first round, while others have one, two, and oven more matches to play to complete it. Byes cannot be given Saturday after Saturday, and of necessity, the second round had to be entered on. Players can rest satisfied, however, that tho management committee are doing their best under trying circumstances. The New Zealand Council has not yet met, and it is impossible to predict its attitude towards the recent defiance of the W.F.A. with reference to its ruling in the Crouch case. It is probable that a meeting of the governing body will be held next week. There will be a general meeting of the W.F.A. in about a fortnight to consider tho filling of the vacant seat on the management committee caused by the forfeiture of Mr T. Chapman of his place. At the same meeting a notice of motion by the secretary (Mr A. Williams) will probably be brought forward.

Arrangements for the soccer bazaar are going merrily ahead. The function will take place in the Ska,ting Rink in September next, and is going to be a big thing. Professor Cardston. the well-known organiser, is to be engaged. The W.F.A. and the Tramways Band are amalgamating for the purpose of raising funds by this bazaar. The Canterbury - Otago - Southland tour is still in the air. The matter has been postponed for a week to enable information to be gained relative to the expenses of such a team, though one would have imagined that a railway timetable, with its accompanying advertisements, could have supplied the needed knowledge in five minutes. Referees and their ways differ. Of course some latitude should bo allowed to individual members of the Referees' Association, but of the varying strictness of controllers of the game no more striking examples could be given than the cases of the Thistle-Corinthians match last Saturday, and the Corin-Uuans-HospUal match of about a month ago. There was a very wide gap between the standards of the two referees. There is no implication’ of dissatisfaction on the part of players or spectators —the standards of each gentleman controlling the game were just vastly different. ’ To-day all Christchurch games Will be suspended, local interest being centred at Lancaster Park, where Hawke’s Bay try conclusions with the now famous red and blacks, with a view to changing the resting-place of the Brown Shield. The northerners in the past have not given holders of the premier trophy much cause for anxiety, but nevertheless on th.s occasion they are quietly confident that they will give Canterbury a decided run for their money. The Brown Shield was presented to the N.Z.F.A. in Wellington by Mr Brown at a “smoker” after the conclusion of the Wellington v. Canterbury interprovincial match on June 20th, 1891, and has since represented the highest honour among the trophies attached to 'soccer in New Zealand. It was first played for on tournament lines commencing on August 26th, 1892, in Ohrtstcburch, when Wellington defeated Canterbury by 9 2, and on the following day accounted for Otago in the final by 6 —2. Up to and including 1900 the shield remained as a tournament trophy. Towards the end of 1900 a scheme was brought down by which a match or rnatcues would be played in each centre each year. This was carried out in 1901, Auckland going to Otago and playing Wellington en route. In 1902, however, only Wellington kept the compact, vis.ting Otago, who tailed to respond by going to Auckland, so that the tournament idea was again resorted to in 1903 in Wellington, the home team winning the finals. 1n’1904 and 1905 the New South Wales tours were on and shie.d contests dropped. In 1906 the tournament was played off at Taranaki, and again won by Wellington. In 1907 at Auckland the home men took charge of it. In 1908, in Dunedin, Otago were successful. The same year a conference of delegates from all the associations was held, when it was decided to recommend to the New Zealand Council that the Brown Shield trophy should become a challenge trophy on the lines of the cricket and Rugby challenge shields, and this is still in force. Canterbury’s team to do duty today shows two changes from the lot who opposed Westland, namely, Tennant in place of Bennett, and Tanner in place of Reid.