ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 66

ASSOCIATION.

Another deciding battle will take place on Culling Park on Saturday. The formidable strength of Wakari will be presented against Mornington A, and the issue , will decide whether Mornington A and Northern will meet with even Cup points at the Caledonian Ground on September 5. Wakari cadhot reach the Cup, but if they defeat Mornington they will bring Northern and Mornington level, and their s will be tlie distinction of having defeated both, the leading teams. The Brown Shield tournament is drawing near, and is exercising the minds of players lltex-ally foom Ajne&hvoJi to die BI«ff- Tfe-e arrangement likely to obtain now is that four teams will play on Wednesday, September 91,9 1 , and the winners will play the' {remaining two teams on Thursday, the final being 1 played on Saturday. Thie will I avoid the bye on Thursday which would have resulted had the six teams played on Wednesday. It; is naughty to laugh at your parent, and, besides, it sometimes involves the amused in physical pains. But the O.F.A. would be pardoned its discreet smile when members learned that tie N.Z.F.A, had seriously believed that the O-F-A., as the outcome of an hour's special deliberation, had arrived at the remarki able suggestion that on the first day the ; -winner of the match commencing afc 1.30 j p.m., should turn to and play another i match at 3.15 jt.va. ! Tie local body fased arrangements upon the six entries indicated, and the parent in some way interpreted this as an arrangement for Cve beams.

Wellington is likely to have practically a fttll-strength team at the tournament. A Mouat, is, according to a northern paper, the only player whose services will not be available. Already arrangements for special training at one of the gymnasiums

is talked of. In Dunedin it is expected of players likely to be considered that they shall be training regularly, so as to be thoroughly fit. Wednesday players ere eligible for selection, and no doubt some of them will be seen at the trial match on August 29. Mornington A have Allen (their goalkeeper) and the sun to thank for a narrow victory over Maori Hill on Saturday. Allen brilliantly saved in particular two splendid shots from M'Cleliand, thus narrowly averting scores, while it is practically a certainty that Mornington's goal, wnich was nicely dropped in by Robertson, would have been- saved by Smith had not the sra dazzled him. As it was, he made a fine attempt to save. The ground was hard, the ball frisky, and the players keen. As a result the game was very fast. It was also pleasantly conducted and not uninteresting. Maori Hill played largely to M'Clelland, and Mornington backs, in consequence, shepherded M'Clelland with affectionate faithfulness. Vigorous, uncompromising attentions are the penalties of greatness in football. . Bairrington hovered round M'Clelland with steadfast persistence, and on the occasions when the" speedy winger negotiated the Barrington obstacle, the sturdy figure of Grant offered another difficult problem. M'Oleiland has been seen to much greater advantage, even against odds, no less formidable. In the first Bpell he did not often get away, largely because he did not seem to be seriously- exerting himself. When he did get away lie was always dangerous, and one 'of his shots was barely stopped on the "line by Allen. In the second spell he got away more frequently, and sent in a number of good centres, but Maori Hill's proverbial weakness before goal, taken in conjunction with Mornington's sterling defence, kept the ball out of the net. The outstanding back oe the field was undoubtedly Aspinall. His defence was superb, the strength and judgment of his heading was admirable, and hie instep kicking was something to copy. There was much big kicking among the backs_ — a remark, which is becoming 'painfully tiresome by repetition — but in this respect the same was no worse than five-sixths of the games played during the season. Grant sinned by a n excessive use of the out-line. Young's da«h was deferred to by the polite Maori Hill forwards. Grenfell and W. Beeby were exceptions to the general rule of hard kicking. Murphy was sadly slow. The goalkeeping was excellent on both sides, Smith's display being barely excelled by the expert guardianship of Allen. Robertson, played a strong game as centre na.lt for Mornington. The new inside right, Lawson commands the ball capitally, working it in the most narrow limits, but with this skill went the common weakness^ that he did not go- forward. He lay too faT back, and was of very little support to Nelson on his wing. . „ . j > Points which cropped up m Saturday s games: In a second grade match, from a comer kick the ball passed through the goal without touching a second player. iNo goal," was- the dacision, and some of the players issi&ted upon probing their unacquaintance with th<e rules by vigorously claiming for a goal. In a third grade match a defender announced m an aggrieved tone that the forward who received straight from the- , corner kioker and headed .through the goal -was off-side. The rules make it very clear that when a corner kick, is taken no man can, be off-side .until the "ball has touched a second player. But alas ! (let us only whisper it) on. the previous week a respected senior of long standing and of some repute mildly objected £b a foul because a man had played a ball with the arm " above the elbow " ! Saturday's Second; Grade play improved Ravensbouirne.'s chances for the cup in that Northern were defeated by Mornington. Ravensbouroe lead by 2 points, but have yet to meet Northern. This fixture will probably be played' at the CaledonJan Ground on September 5, prior to the Morn-ington-Northern, match, and should prove an added attraction. On Saturday the scores were: Mornington 1 5, Norfcherni 1, yet curiously enough the losers had more opportunities to score than did the winners. Momington dashed in at the- beginning and got a start with three goals, and Northern, mostly through weakness in front of goal, failed to approach that lead. Northern Seniors, with the exception of Sh-epherd, practised agaixMSt Ravensboura© afc Ravensbourn-e on Saturday 'to keep the> -jointe oiled in preparation for the big fight a-gainst Mornington A om September 5. Shepherd's list of misfortunes was added to last week when a chisel, dropping from a. height, penetrated his boot and entered his foot, necessitating stitches in both. He expects, however, to be ready for the final.

My Wednesday contributor writes as follows : — The Wednesday competition has advanced to a very interesting stage, and the tuw«]e between Southern and Telegraph should be well worth witnessing. Both teams will be represented by their full strength, and given a fine day a great game will be witnessed. Southern will be strengthened by the inclusion of Finlay and' Middleman (who have been on the injured players' list for gome time), while Telegraph will have the same eleven aa have been playing all the season. Southern are confident of turning

the tables on Telegraph (last year's champions), but a grams is never won until tho final whistle 'has sounded. I hear from good authority (saye my contributor) that a Lairg-e. iromTser of -riiis year's Senror players are- likely tab© playing on Wednesday next year. This- is a. matter for congratulation to the 0.W.F.A., aa it shows the popularity of the "Wednesday games. It has been finally decided by the N.Z.FJL that the Wednesday Association cannot enter a team for the Brown Shield om tibe grounds that only one- team from each centre is allowed to enter. 'It is to be hoped that when the O-F.A. are selecting their representative team- they will take into consideration some of the Wednesday players of .'he calibre of O'Connor and Lambie (backs), and Smith, Aichison, and Sligo (forwards). Comments on matches played on August

12: — Ingli6 (2 goals) v. Tramways (1 goal).— Tramways were somewhat unfortunate in losing by a goal to two penalties. However, Inglis deserved to win on th© play. Wretched shooting, in which all their forwards and sometimes the iia-lves indulged, kept them from scoring. Sometimes they worked the ball with a fair amount of pre-

cision. till nearing their opponents' goal when a weak kick over the line would spoil everything. "Walter was the only forward to «how any prominence : he has a

nice idea of how to use his feet. Milligan T was the star of the- halves. Joss at times ployed well, while Cumming, a recruit, showed promise. Pickaxd' nad little to do, and did it well. Tramways are inclined to adopt the kick-and-rush style of play. This is a mistake. I However, they a>re only a three-weeks' -pld j team, and probably will show a vast im- i provement next season. Their forwards at times mads individual efforts, which gener- j ally fizzled out for want of support. Duff j is a speedy winger, and gained a lot of : ground for his side. Dobson's kicking was of great service in defence, and' Foley .was , very safe. One or two of the Tramways.' men think tihey were not very leniently dealt with in having two penalties awarded ' against them. 1 The referee, however, was quite within the letter of the law, although ' some referees would have passed them by. l After all, Association football is not played j with the hands, and tha best plan is not ;. to put the referee's severity or leniency to the test. Telegraph A (12 goals) v. Telegraph B (1 goal). — This proved a much more interesting and (till the lost half-hour) exciting contest, the B's putting up a real good fight, j and at times keeping the A'e backs in tight , corners. The score, 2 to 1,- at half-time indicates that the game was by no meansan uneven one in the first spell. The defence of" Christian and "Palmer , (full fcSLcks) kept the A's -forwards well out of the danger zone. In the second half, however, the B s , tired- and 1 the A's, playing with good com- }

bination, soon ran up a. score. , i Southern A (3 goals) v. Southern B i<i Koale).— A Tery hard and faefc game, fought . Sut to the finish. Had tfc© B team been quicker in seizing the opportunities that presented themselves they may have turned the tables on the As. Guthrie, full, back for the- B, put up a great game, tackling in deadly fashion and-., kicking with judgment. Of the forwards Alex. Shgo and Nightingale were about the pick The A team showed good combination, the backs feedin* -the forward® regularly. Unhke theB's, the A forwards weie quick to seize any opportunitks that came their way. 80-t-tinc in "cal, waa safe, as were Dobbie an<l Middlemlss, full backs. Th« halves are a solid lot, while the forwards are playing well, the pick on "Wednesday's play being"Richards and Fin Jay. i

The match Peat and Telegraph A v. Post and Telegraph B was played on CormUruwi . Park. The A team made the pace from the start, but good defence by Christian and Balmer kept them out for a }f^J spoil, and it was well on to half time before C. Goodmanson opened the A teams account by scoring- with a low" shot. The same player, a few minutes later, again beat the B goalkeeper rwurtenM jJie , second goal.' The second half opened with the B team pressing and MWeill, with ( & high shot, beat Berry. This sudden i reverie put the A team, on their mettle, , and they made a- determined- attack. The defence at tfe» stage fell to pieces, and eoaJs were scored in quick succession, by Milbuwi, O'Connor, and Lambie A rearrangement of the B- team proved wto*, and within a few minutes of time Smft, M'Kitterick, and C. Goodmanson (3) added moretothetotal. Mr T- Bxoomfield. sounded time with the scow* A team 12 goal 3, B team. 1 goaJ.

" OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The weesly meeting of the Otego Football Association was held on the 10th, there- being a satisfactory attendance ot e The resolutions carried at a special meetins on Thursday were confirmee*. ln <* e comprised-(a) a suggestion that m the event of cix teams entering for the Brown Shield Competition, three matches should be played on Carisbrook on Wednesday, September 9, the first commencing at 1.30 Arthur Street v. Albany Street, on the North Ground, at 1.30-Mr E. Robson ; Port Chalmers v. Musselburgh on Tahuna, No 2at I.3o— Mr Wyburgj High School v. Ravensbourne, on the Asylum Ground, at I.3o— Mr M'Taggart; Normal School v. Oa.versham v .on the Caledonian. Ground, at 1.30-Mr L. Cameron -George Street v. St. Clair r on Foxbury No. 6, et L3o— Mr W. Spence; Forbury, a bye.

There was a fair attendance of_ delegates at the ordinary meeting of the Otago FpotbaU Association held on Monday evening. Mr Irvine was present as delegate Erom tne !&££ CM> P in rfa~ <* Mr Oa™»The Secretary of the New Zealand Football Association wrote «g»«taW.-aMJ-neetion. with the Brown Shield tion, en alternative scheme of matenes which fixed games for Wednesday (September 9), Thursday, and Saturday for six Sum and included no byes.-It was resolved to endorse the suggested arrangem Another letter was received from the New Zealand Association pointing out tna-t according to the rules no referee could penalise for blocking.— Noted.

Bt Left Wisa. The following table shows the positions jf the teams in the Senior Cup eompetiion : — . •§ i 1 I 'g . . 5 <D CO * S. g *, g -3 -a ft 5 £ ,5 ft 6 a o iforaiflgton A ..10 9 1 0 49 12 18 Northern .. ..10 7 1 2 36 11 16 ffukari .... 10 6 1 3 29 11 15 Southern .... 11 4 4 3 22 26 11 Roslyn .... 11 3 7 1 16 33 7 Maori Hill .... 10 1 8 • 1 9 22 3 ifornington B ..10 1 9 0 13 59 '2

Wednesday's competition. The following table shows the positions >f the teams engaged in the Wednesday Kimpetitions : — $ £ % Si 13 Jouthern A .... 9 7 0 2 37 11 16 ?ost and Tele. A.. 10 7 1 2 47 9 16 southern B .... 9 4 4 1 20 11 9 jaidlaw and Gray 9 3 4 2 22 32 8 L and T. Inglis „9 3 4 2 17 23 8 tramways .... 5 1 3 1 9 11 3 ?cst and T«le. 8.. 9 0 9 0 5 60 0