ASSOCIATION NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18557, 18 May 1922, Page 9

ASSOCIATION NOTES

By Corner Kick. DATES TO REMEMBER; June 14, Otago v. Australia. June 17, New Zealand v. Australia (first .test). The First Grade teams’ positions up to and including last Saturday’s games are

My readers will doubtless be interested to have rh£ following information, which I have gathered in respect of the “Aussies” : The' side’s colours are light blue and maroon. As far as the New South Welshmen are concerned, the best talent in the State is available tor the tour. They will arrive in Wellington by the Ulitnaroa on May 24, and will be aocordfed a civic reception by the Mayor of Wellington that evening. According to programme, they are to arrive in Dunedin on the evening of Monday, June 12. It is hoped that as many Soccer players as possible will assemble at the railway station and give the visitors a rousing reception 1 when they arrive in Dunedin at 9.25 p.m. _ They will do the greater part of their training in the mornings while here on one of the Oval Grounds. As far as the New Zealand team is concerned they are to assemble in Dunedin not later than Tuesday, June 13, and go into training. Each player will bo required to produce a medical certificate ox health. I do not know what colours have been decided upon by the New Zealand Council, but it is fitting that they should be “All Blacks,” with the national emblem—the fern leaf. Each member of the team will be presented with a New Zealand cap. I understand that the O.F.A. drafted a preliminary programme for the entertainment of the visitors at its meeting on Monday evening. They are to be accorded a civic reception here by his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) on Tuesday, June 13, at 12.30 p.m. It is kindly co-operation with a sister sport that has prompted the Otago Rugby Football Union to grant the O.F.A. the use of the commodious Carisbrook Ground for both the Otagp and New Zealand matches, and all Soccer players are under a debt of gratitude to that body for its material assistance in ensuring the success of the tour. There is nothing that the (Australians will appreciate more in the way of a -hearty welcome than a good attendance to see them in action against “The Diggers.” I have no doubt, too, that many Rugby players and followers would like to sec them “at it” simply because they are Australians, and I am sure they can be counted upon to uphold the prestige of their countrymen. For this reason, if for. no other, it is hoped that the other sporting fixtures in this city on the day of the first test—vis., the 17th June — will be postponed. I find that the results of some junior matches played a week ago are not yet in to the O.F.A. This is just straight-out neglect, and might I suggest to the executive that if the results are not handed in at the proper time they enforce the rule which provides that neither team be allowed to count the match. Team captains and secretaries, not to mention delegates themselves, should look to this matter. To a new club like Taieri might I be permitted to make a few suggestions. First, mark your ground clearly in white, if possible. ■ Sawdust is no use.- If you are getting First Grade matches on your ground, look to the ’.provision of goal nets as early as possible. Third, get some of your club officials who are not actually playing to see to the small-boy nuisance, and prevent his kicking a ball alongside the playing area. Through the generosity of Mr T. F. Batt a gold medal is to be presented to the Otago player in the match Australia v. Otago who, in the opinion of the selectors, puts up the most meritorious performance. Two surprises on Saturday—the narrow and lucky win of Old Boys and the narrow miss by Seacliff. This latter team will yet give some of the town teams a surprise. Murray (late of Y.M.C.A., and in last year’s representative eleven) should considerably help their forward line in concerted action. Old Boys apparently put up a_ ragged display, and Taieri showed marked improvement, their forwards especially so. I understand Duncan at full-back and MUIoV at half-back were responsible for some fine defensive work.

Old Boys will have a severe test next Saturday when they meet Knitangata at Culling Park. It should be a splendid game, bearing in mind the fine game, last year in the cup final when these two teams were the contestants. Old Boys then won by three goals to two. On the topic of Soccer in secondary schools a few remarks by “Vanguard” in the Wellington Evening Post will no doubt make interesting reading to followers of this column. In the course of a general article he says: “Towards the end of- last season the N.Z.F.A. circulated head masters of secondary schools and colleges throughout the dominion, the letter being drafted in such a way that mere diplomacy, circumlocution, and indefinite wording would not serve as an answer. TJie circular required a ‘Yes' or a ‘No,’ and in the main ‘Yes’s’ and ‘NoV came in. The blank refusals were unmistakable. and about counterbalanced the ‘Yes’s’ in point of numbers. “There are hundreds of boys.” comments “Vanguard,” ‘‘at the secondary schools keen to play Sfoccer. for that is the game which they have learned as ‘primary’ boys, but because they have progressed in their education they are forbidden, under threats of very uncomfortable punishment in some cases, to play their old game. Now, a boy can be led to the football field, as is done in quite a few secondary schools, but he cannot be made to play Rugby. If ho is a Soccer enthusiast—and a high school boy is truly enthusiastic if he is at all interested—he cannot b© compelled to take Rugby seriously.” Fortunately here in Dunedin the Soccer boys at our main secondary schools get a fairly free hand, and we are glad to hear that in Christchurch Boys’ High School also there is apparent a more broad-minded attitude with the advent; of a new head master. Inquiries arc even afoot from the New 1 Zealand Council a« to the prospects of Otago High School boys billeting a team from Christchurch. A very pleasing step forward it will be if the local boys have shortly to accept a challenge from Christchurch for the Skerrett Cup. “Corner Kick,” rends, however, that even though Soccer teams will be “tolerated” at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, Soccer players will still have to attend a compulsory Rugby practice once a week. Could one imagine a more farcial procedure? In Wellington conditions are apparently much as they were. Wellington College Soccer boys, evidently in considerable numbers, are still, according to “Vanguard,” forced to take their Soccer as members of various city clubs. “Corner Kick” would like to know whether the New Zealand Council, like the League Management recently in Auckland, intends approaching the Minister of Education to have the embargo removed. The Third Grade competition • stands ns

as follows 1 Played. Won. 1 i eS fi Goals lor. Goals agst. Cup points. Kaitangata 3 3 — — 12 — 6 Old Boys 3 2 — 1 14 7 5 Mornington 3 2 — 1 5 2 5 Northern 3 2 1 — 7 3 4 Southern 3 1 1 1 7 8 3 Mount Zion 3 1 1 1 6 7 3 Maori Hill 3 I 2 — 8 8 2 Taieri 3 1 2 7 10 2 Seacliff 3 — 3 6 17 N.M.C.A. 3 — 3 — 1 11 —

follows: — *3 o t-> c; d «• C fc 3 e/> s. e. s :> 1 o 9 C5 o High School 3 3 — — 14 2 6 Maori Hill 3 2 — 1 6 2 5 Southern 3 2 i 12 6 4 Mornington 3 2. i 6 6 4 Tech. College Old Boys 3 1 — 1 0 5 3 Y.M.O.A 3 1 3 4 D 2 Old Boys 2 1 — 16 5 2 Christian Brothers 3 — 3 1 2 8 1 Northern A 2 — 1 1 5 6 1 Tnieri 3 — 3 23 Northern B 1 — 1 1 2 Northern B entered late.