ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14927, 1 September 1910, Page 10

ASSOCIATION.

By Left Wing. Writing prior ito the match Southland v. Otago Wednesday team, " Half Back," in tiho Southland Times, described the Southland team as stronger than any which had met Otago for . some, previously. Six, Home players were included in tho eleven.' Three men from Nightcaps and one from Bluff wore amongst tho ohosen. Association . interests on Saturday were centred at Culling Park, where Ravensbourne and Boslyn-Wakari met to play off their remaining fixture, previously put off owing to inclement weather. The gam® also being a sort of semi-final for the Charity Banner, the meeting of these two clubs gained additional importance. Keenness for tho struggle could bo plainly 6een amongst the. players from the start, and a good contest was anticipated. The expectation was amply justified, as the game was played with vigour practically right tough. Roslyn-Wakari, evidently determined to wiii, put-on the pressure from the start, and stioceeded in securing a lead of 2 goals at haJftimo. In tho second spell their vigorous fiwt half began to tell, and Ravenabourno then served up some of the form which has brought thorn to the high position they hold on. tho season's play. Continuing to press, they pluckily pulled uie, game round, and with a meritorious draw qualify to play the Northern champions for tho Charity Banner. If they wish to hold their oral on that day a change will have to bo effected. Neither of the wings is strong' enough to oause the Northern defence much anxiety. The half baoks shouM pay closer attention to their placing, being apt to pass across too frequently, thus, besides makmg no ground, allowing tlw opposing defence to reoover.- If they want to hold luuch chance agarost their formidable rivals they must, play more of a forward game. Too much is made of beating a man. Their game should ho to draw out tho dofence and then place, well, forward. Barlow is the player of the eleven, and if properly played to will causo any Otago defence trouble. Middleditch is a promislflg back, but the penalty ho gtive away on Saturday showed little "head work." m goal, is good for his size, whioh ■ is a drawback, as was shown on Saturday when lie tried to fist out a dropping shot which was through the goal before bo could reach it. Ho has, however, served, his cJub well, and would serve them still better if he would attend solely to his legitimate business. > It to risky to dictate to the referee, especially when it is remembered that Rofereo Ritson is the Mine spirit of a body of men determined, to stamp out, amongst other things, insubordination. The following faMe shows the final positions of teams m the SECOND GRADE COMPETITION. 3M .& § i i •§ i 8..S p, . ~ ' S M fl O S OIS Christian Bros. 13 11 1 1 48 21 23 High School ..13 7 3 3 53 27 "17 Southern ... „ 11 6 4 1 21 22 13 Alliance .. .. 12 4-4 4 22 24 12 Roslyn-Wakari 11 S 4 '2 31 12 Northern 11 6 '! - 32 28 12 Maori Hill .. 12 3 9 — 23 37 6 .. 12 2 8 2 18 5B 6 Cycle Corps .. 11 2 8 1 18 36 5 . The visit of the Canterbury representative team is jiow assured, the tearp being' announced to arrive in Dunedin by tho second express to-morrow. The Otago toav. has been slightly altered, Irvine being placed full back along with Moyhow, Fraser (Morning'ton) taking Irvine's place at half back and T, Ritchie replacing Chndwick in tho forward lino. Owing to the lateness of the advice from Canterbury, it has been impossible to largely advertise tie match, but the reputation whioh Canterbury players have earned for clever, consistently good foctbali, taken in conjunction with 'the facts that Otago is putting in a strong side confident of vietorv, and that the match is to bo played 011 Carishrook Ground, should ensure a large attendance of the- public. Commenting upon the Brown Shield match between Otaso and Wellington, '•Vanguard," hi the Evening Post, writes: "Otago men relied a good deal on the snort, 'nippy' pass and hustling tactics. Baillie, their centre forward, was a magnioent worker, always in the fray. Evans, at outside left, was a fine stamp of player —eager, fast, and hard-working. It was unfortunate that ho twisted' his ankle in collision , with Kerechberg, and his .cervices were missed after he. retired. Among the baoks, Aspmall, Mayhew, and Elliott desorve praise for thoir solid defensive work, their kicking , being, powerful and wclldireeled. ' KnowJes, in goal, was good; not quito so finished as some visiting goalkeepers the writer has seen. Generaliv speaking, the visitors had good combination, and surprised not a few by the prompt way t.hoy got to work-and forced the pace. It was the spirit of retaliation they provoked in tlie Wellington forwards, that, accounted for some of tho. finest attacking work by the Wellington forwards early in the game. 'Great Scott, look at that pace! 1 ' exclaimed a spectator when Timperley secured, and booted against tho wind towards goal, dashed after the ball like an arrow, hotly pursued by two or three fleetfooted Otagans, beat them through sheer superiority of pace, and drove at goal when well .within the penalty area. Knowlos darted at the leather and blocked it but.' Timp' deserved to score:" '

Tiro English socoor team touring South Africa arc ;i fin& combination—tho most sporting and tlio happiest touring j>a.rtv , . G struck (writes a Referee correspon--001)1 ill Pretoria). There aw amateurs and professionals, tho kittor preponderating, and they are a big happy family. Thov are smashing rbcords both in "gates" and bi B At t-ho Wanderers, Johannesburg in their firet match, there were 15,000 spectators, and, mark you, onlv four-turnstile to admit. T.he crowd Tho taking for tip one matoh covered the whole ■guarantee for ™ „ sv(wl matches. Besides the.v lost over i,250, as the crowd broke loose, 'broke r"' cn^ !S ' , everywhere. Over 2000 got in "on the nod." In the lollowing match adequate charge-box proyiMon was made. In Pretoria the largest sporting crowd (over 6000) over seen hero ro, M up, and tils Englishmen gave a fine exhibition. South Africa has a lot to learn about soccer from these Englishmen.