ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 10

ASSOCIATION.

Br LBrr ft'iso.

Kaitangaio. and Northern A, still runningl nccic. and neck witn 17 points, have pui.ed away Irom the rest of Hie iiela to the extent ot a point, leaving a. gap ot 4 points between themselves and iho next pa a' (also even), Mornington B and KoslynH'ak.m, Morningion A nave again to walk humbly betore tneir 13's, who passed the A's by a point through the medium of a conclusive 5—2 victory over Christian Brothers. Ravensbourna are still climbing, although Maori Hill deserve credit for finishing only 2' down against this compact Haveiisljourne Eleven, who nmke use of the gymnasium regularly every week. It will bo interesting to watch how many out of the sceond round of matclict; are won by lkvensbourne. To knock both Northern A and Kaiiangata out of the running for the (nip is possible, but it is a contingency so minute tint few would care to predict it. The Charity 1 Banner competition holds intcre;img possibilities as to who shall be the four leading teams in the Cup competition to play ofT for it. On the run of the match between Mornir.gton A and Northern A the latter were the more often in goal-scoring poflition. and on the wholeavero the belter team Of the "scientific'' display that was promised, however, Mornington's forward* conI ributed more than Northern's. It was a thoroughly interesting game, although not nea.rlv m keen as the match between Roslvu-Wakari and Northern A. Taking goaf for goal, Northern were lucky to win, for. .after a'.l.'a goal from ii free kick from halfway is not frequently in tho realm of

practical football, although, as on this occasion, it sometimes comes oil. The wind carried -a well-directed shot from Reid 'into the goai mouth, and the slippery goal area did the rent.

There was more than enough of hard kicking in th's match, the halt backs frequently wasting effort by placing at tho iocs oi the opposing Lacks. Kelly undoubtedly, lost tho match for Mornington A m tho first spell. His clean miss in tile first case gave a gift of a goal to Evans, ar.d later his slowness enabled Evans to. come from behind and sneak the ball from him nnd score. In the first half, too, both Kelly and Young on one oceas ; on paused when close in to goal, and allowed the ball to drop and the goalkeeper to take his chance. In the scoond spell both Kelly and Young did much strong defence. For tho rest, Ifaig, one of Morningtoiis most ardent supporters whether in debate or play, deserves credit for the valuable game lio played ns cent re ha lf. He /was always aliout," nnd he generally did right.- Sbadwell was again a persistent obstacle to Northern's advance, and incidentally a «'»bject for attention bv tho referee. Frazer's work was not less earnest, but his passing was not always the perfection of judgment. And it is not for lack of example, on 3aturday(and not alone on that day) Baillio and Simpson gave some of tho pretlieetexamples of when and how to pass that have been seen on Culling Park for many a day. Campbell is another student of' the fine art of passing. The goal he gave Simpson was an excellent sample. Campbell's drive nt goal is tho hardest we have seen for some time. Reid, who stopped it once at close quarters, and simultaneously stopped play for a minute or two, could feelingly testify to the accuracy of the foregoing statement. In the second spoil in pariityrar Mornington team, against the wind, kicked hard in the hope of gaining ground. Mostly the olfoct was to give Northern backs plenty of time to return. Mornington missed Forbes. Vernon is possibly nonter. but a man who repeatedly falls (ns ! lie did on Saturday] instead of getting away v.'ith the ball couid never be the equivalent of Forbes, who wastes no time in getting ahead, and is always up with the play and ready to head a goal from a cro&> from the opposite wing. Some of Vernon's centrcs when he did got moving were very nioe. And what of the victors? Again Northern A have added to thnr prospects in the popular estimation as Cup winners. Evans has come amongst them with fresh inspiration. . Abandoning his old habit of loitering along the line, requiring the ball to be sent to him before he would make an effort, ho is now found thirsting for work, hunting for the ball, crowding into the <:oal mouth when the ball is coming in from the other wing, and revelling in being in the thick of it,. In fact, in his zeal he is beginning to show signs of getting out of his position too fir and poaching. He was in the midst, of the work that ;ot the three goals on Saturday. Bailcs was less accurate than usual in crossing, many of his centres going behind to inner forwards, Timlin appeared to lack tho usual faith in his backs, or else it was a part of the club's policy for tho day to make tho defence specially secure, • for Fudgo also played deeper than usual. With the exception of Evans, Northern forwards did not deliver many dead'y shots.

The backs are a sound lot. Shepherd's proper position appears to have been discovered. Ho played a very bright game at left half. ' Rcid was' at times inclined to chango placcb with Timlin. Patience and persistence characterised Dryden's work, and ti'mo and again he picked the ball from the r toes of an adversary. But is he developing a taste for fiddling! Let him avoid any such fata! temptation. .Millar was again an outstanding buck. Ho ia not a fullback, but a half-back. He has not a massive kick, but wants instead to make an opening and pass. Taylor, as usual, was a tower of strength, and Black was in good form. ' Why do players take unfair advantago of ,an unprotected goalkeeper? When a goalkeeper holds the ball it is a fair principle that he must go through—good and hard if necessary. But when the custodian has delivered tHe ball the player who will finish his charge hard into tho goalkeeper, and perchance push him with his hands, has a voj'y low idea! of chivalry and sportsmanship. Thrice was this unsportsmanlike action visible at Culling Park on Saturday—once by a Mornington man and twice, by a Northern player. There is a meanings about the thing in that it happens just after the ball has left, and tho eye of the referee is necessarily following the sphere. _ Why will a man accept of lino umpire if he feels so keenly that he cannot refrain from addressing the players in action? "Keep your hands down!" was heard from the tense lips of a line umpire at Culling Park on Saturday on two occasions, Northern playere being addressed on each occasion. From the pavilion at Culling Park on Saturday there prodded Irom certain excited young barrackers remarks calculated to incite players to improper tactics. The officials would do weM to put a prompt period to 6uch tendencies on tho part of ill-balanced spectators. . Why did Mornington permit one of its men to appear in a senior match wearing other than tho club's uniform? J. Harrison who has returned from Auckland and settled again in Duncdin, i 6 keen for a game, with leanings towards his old ,club, Northern. If he has not lost his form he would be a strong factor in a tight Cup encounter. The referee in the match Ravensbourno v. Mornington B has explained that in the case of the penalty kick given when a Mornington bank struck the ball before the ball passed through the goal, he had whistled for the penalty before tho _ ball passed over the goal-line. The decision, being tho referee's, stands, but it will not meet with general approval. In any case, the decision ho abided by on tho ground had to stand, oven although he should later have stated it was erroneous, for no power can reverse the referee's decision oncc he lias allowed the play to proceed. In such a case a match could only be unset by proving the referee incompetent, which no one would dream of attempting.

Quite a feast is provided on Culling Park for Saturday. _ The titanic struggle will be between Mornington A and Kaitangata, and it will bs worth llie early start for the park to see the match, which commcnces at 1.45 p.m. Northern A v. Mornington B will furnish an interesting return at tho close of the. former match.

All interested in Soccer would be pleased to see A. Cook, of Roslyn-Walcari, about again, even although the leg that was biokcn stil! requires tho support of a stick.

Kaitangata and Old Boys have worked up a friendly rivalry, and this perhaps affords an example of what home-and-torye matches may do. Of the four matches played by these clubs Kaitangata con claim victory in two, played at Kaitangata, while Old Boys have been successful in the two matches played in Dunedin. Tho match at Kaitangata was singularly free from anything in tlie way of rough play, there bsiig but ono doubtful tackle penalised. The best of feeling was shown throughout. At the conclusion Old Boys treated the spectators 1 to a hakn, which was much apprcciatcd.