ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 62

ASSOCIATION.

Br Left Wing. The following table shows the relative positions of the Senior teams in the cup competition: —

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. —First Grade.— Mornington B, 4 goals; Kaitangata, nil. Wakari, 4 goals; Maori Hill, 1 goal. Northern, 11 goals; Roslyn, 1 goal. —Second Grade. — Ravensbourne, 6 goals; Wakari, 2 goals. Northern A, 1 goal; Southern, 1 goal. Maori Hill, 15 goals; Battalion, 2 goals. Roslyn, 3 goals; Northern B, 2 goals. —Third Grade. — Eavensbourne A, 2 goals-. Northern E, 1 goal, i Mornington JE, 2 goals; Northern C, 1 goal. Maori HiH, & goals; Hoslyn A, nil. Southern claim a win by default against Eoslyn No. 1. —Fourth Grade.— Mornington F, 1 goal; W atari, 1 goal. Eavenabourne, 7 goals; Northern F, 2 goals. The final of the Senior competition must now be fought out between Mornington A and Northern, unless both Wakari and Southern can boat Mornington A and Battalion can beat Northern. Mornington A, though a point behind Northern, have played on? match fewer. Before these two teams meet—the last cup match of the season—Morningtou A have the chance of earning 4 cup points as against; a possible • 2 for Northern, and the position would then show Mornington A a point in advance. Northern, who have a bye this week, should, of course, account for Battalion on the following Saturday. The hill team, however, have a more difficult problem. They meet Wakari at Culling Park on Saturday, and a. most interesting and close game should ensue. Theoretically, Mornington A can beat Southern the following Saturday, and then comes what should prove a famous contest between the leading teams. Altogether, the competition promises a good ending. In the first round Roslyn defeated Northern fairly easily. In the second round Northern turned the tables decisively. "A good forward line against an out-of-con-dition team" is offered as the explanation of the reverse on Saturday. Of course Roslyn has lost heavily of its strength since that first match, and Northern has been improving in inverse ratio. The hill team made a sturdy fight during the first spell, but lost vim altogether towards the close of the match, when Northern scored something like six goals in about lb minutes. Tiley, in goal for Roslyn, had a difficult time, but came through very creditably, despite the score. Northern played a nice, combined, patsing game. Chadwick again showing to advantage This playec'd return to form this season has- been moat marked.

The Northern team was curiously shuffled on Saturday. Ratley, still sore from the Kaitangata match, played on the right wing for some time to keep out of danger, and Irvine played inside to him, whilst Riley took a position in the half back ranks. Later Irvine was seen amongst the halves. The defeat by Northern on the preceding Saturday evidently caused a- slump, amongst Kaitangata footballers, for the team' that came up to town on Saturday to play Mornington B' included only four seniors'— Thompson (goal), J. Penman (full back), Ramsay (centre half), and' Campbell (forward). Mornington B were thus enabled to wipe out the defeat of the first round. In the first spell Kaitangata attacked a good deal, and the left wing forward, whose name seemed to be Farmer, got near the goal several times. Campbell, who was the only good forward on the Greens' tide, also dropped) in some long- shots, but M'Leodi, in goal, in spite of the sun. in his eyes, dealt with all the' work that came his way. During; this spell play was very ragged on ,both sides. Passes that were meant to go "orward often went in the wrong direction, while the ball was screwed about in the centre indiscriminately. The second spelt saw a great improvement in Mbrningtoira play. The forwards developed combina- [ tion, and Gardner, who shifted' from rightwing to the centre, led* and 1 directed systematic attacks with fine judgment. I' hare not aeen him play better than he did in. ! that spell. Hie received a tremendous thwack *on the free with the ball hot from. | the foot of the burlj Ramsay. Notmau supported- Gardner ably in this speiL Allen, on the; left wing, is one o£ the most serviceable- of the Mornington B forwards. He does his. work quietly and xm-^ selfishly, not hanging on to the. ball till" he is smothered. Nicolson played a very, sound, game for the Bluest The continued' interest of the Southern Club in Culling Park is gratifying, and their efforts are worthy of support at the hands of other clubs and supporters o£ the game. The- Southern Club has in view a three-roomed cottage; which, it can obtain at a reasonable figure, for removal ti Culling Park. The fund* available for the purchase and removal are not quite sufficient, and the Southern Club has 1 approached the other clubs for small subscriptions. In addition, the O.F.A. has granted the Southern Club' permission t» collect the gate money in connection with the match. Mornington A v. Southern on August 10 towards this end. Ail players will participate in the advantages accruingfrom the possession of a pavilion at Gulling Park, and it is reasonably hoped that ail will assist: An inquirer from Invercargill asks: — "Can you please inform us by letter as well as through the paper, whether a goal can now be scored from a corner kick without any other player touching the ball?" — The answer is "No." An Invercargill correspondent sends me the following notes: — The .competition for th« oup stands as follows: — 1

Nightcaps have still three matches to play, while the other clubs have one each.* This will conclude the cup rounds. The feature of the matches has been the improved form shown by the InvercargiU* Club. This factor alone is working; wonders in the interests of the game locally. For the first time since the initiation of the game down south, Nightcaps have run lp against a foe of equal merit. Probably a more, friendly game than the one of last Wednesday ha* never been played between the two clubs. Invercargill left town with, a fine compact team, in fair training, and the Nightcaps boy* turned, out in admirable spirit to fight the battle of the ball. The result of the game—a draw, two goals either way—is a fair indication of- the* merits of the teams. That- the score wa» not larger was due to the splendid tactic* of the rival custodians, for work came their way at times sharp and sudden, although^ the full backs on either side were keen. The play was of a determined nature, fcrafc dean and fair. Of the Nightcaps, M'Kenzi* and Thorpy, the full backs, were- substantial barriers to pushing tactics; while the majority of the Whites' attack came from Lewis and Richardson, a fine pair of forwards, in evidence eight through the game. In Cavanagh the Blues have a reliable goal* keeper. His showing against the Nightcaps' proved his ability and acuteness, while his past association with the, Rugby game stood him in good stead in the taking of the ball. The backs and halves of the Blues were safe, and it would be invidious to make comparison. In these particular departments the Blues are generously provided. More concerted action on the part of the forward* could be expected, although it is the writer's opinion that the Blues have never possessed a smarter- set. On Saturday Murihitu journeyed north and met Invercargill in the Park Ground". An interesting match, resulted in 'a. win for tho home team by 6 goals to 1. The visitors are a young team with heaps of dash, but the passing game could be considerably improved upon among- themselves. D. Hamilton, ex-Rugby representative, showed out brilliantly with his dribbling tactics at centre forward. However, it is impossible to dribble single-handed through the Blue backs, and so a. lot oi his energy wss wrongly directed 1. However, the team has improved considerably since it was formed 1, Mid Bluff will yet have an eleven strong in the soccer world. Underwood 1 visit 'Caps this w«ek, when a battle of the giants is to be expected. The northern boys are fine exponents, of the «ame. Through it all one sees evidences of Mr Bell and his devotion to the frame. Messrs Jackson (Nightcaps), 6. Howie, and E. B. Patrick (Invercargill) have been selected to pick the team to play against Otago. A Home versus Colonial players' match will be held prior to the tour north, constituting the only trials proposed. It i« the intention of the LA^F.C. to hold a social at an early date. A- strong committee of ladies and members has been formed, and success is certain if energyand acumen count for much. OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The usual weekly meeting of the O.F.A. was- held on Monday evening. Mr P*.

. Braith waite presided, and -tj^ere were a number -of delegates present. A letter of apology for absence was received from Mr Crawley. COBHEBPONCESJCE. The New Zealand Football Association wrote informing the association that an arrangement with the New Zealand Rugby "Union had been arrived at whereby each body would inform its local centres of other local centres' suspensions, .etc. The association was asked, therefore, to discontinue referring disqualifications io the O.R.F.U. except through headquarters. — Received. A letter -was received 'from a -member of the .suspended Green Island Club asking that a letter (enclosed) appealing against the disqualification of ,Green Island players be forwar-ded to the New Zealand Football Association. — It was -decided that the «ppeal be «ent -to -the New Zealand Football Association, and that several alleged inaccuracies be pointed out. A letter -was received from the-O.R-F.U. stating that the committee of that body could not see its way to endorse the disqualification placed by the association -on Green Island players.— Received. The Southern Fourth Grade Team wrote to the effect that it had not turned Tip oh tbe Asylum Ground because the captain bad been unable to inform, most of them as to the change of ground, and it had gone to Corinthian Park.— Received; match to be replayed. * The" Bub-oonnnitfeee appointed to inquire info a Kaitangate player's 'conduct in a match on Saturday, 20th inert., reported the result of the inquiry. The referee also forwarded further details as to the incident. — It was resolved that the player be suspended till the -end of the season. It was decided tta* all clubs the affiliation fees of which had .not been paid be •written to. Mr P. Bmithwaite tendered his resignation fo: private and family reasons.— Accepted with regretv a minute to be drafted •expressing 'appreciation of tiie valuable services Mr Braithwaite had rendered to the association game during the years he had been connected with the association game. Mr Anderson (hon. secretary) was- appointed treasurer vice Mr JJraithwaite.

<v _* o ft North-em . . 16 12 Mornington A . . 14 11 Wakari . ..14 7 Kaitangata . 13 6 Boslyn . . . . 13 6 Mornington 8.. 15 4 Southern. . . 13 4 Maori Hill ..14 2 Battalion .. 12 — a -~- ? o v 3 a 2 1 1 2 5 2 5 2 7 — 8 3 6 3 11 1 11 1 i & 6851 44 23 22 28 24 19 13 SP r VS o O 25 16 24 29 35 44 34 36 66 9 <■ Of-. 26 24 16 14 12 11 11 5 1

invercargill Jnderwood . . Nightcaps . . Ifnrihiku *§ 1 I S* 3 £ 5 3 11 53 2 — 8 2—l 5-— 5 — H 0> - «"a 1 I** 14 6 7 ♦ r 6 5 * 5--1 10 0