ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 70

ASSOCIATION.

By Left "Wing. I

The following table shows the positions of the respoptive teams engaged in •th© First Grade contest: — '

morning ..on • . « j- " , . , . •* j * •Won by 2 goal 3to nil, but forieited to Southern owing to breach of rules. Kaiiar.gata won by default against Koslyn"Wakari. Some nice football was witnessed at the Gardens Reserve on Saturday, amd this in spite of the fact that the ground was very greasy, and) that the covering over the" old creek had subsided, leaving a hole nearly '3ft deep adjoining the western touch-line. It was mutually agreed that when the ball disappeared down this hole it should be regarded as having gone out. H. Aspinall's absence was a serious handicap to Maori Hill, the substitute being anythino- but an equivalent. There was any amount of patchy work, but this was quits redeemed by the splendid bouts of passing and" bsading, the well planned and neatly-executed manoeuvres, the strong forward rushes, and, pervading all, the pleasant suggestion of delight m the game for the game's sake. The first spell was Northern's, as the score of four goals indicates plainly enough, but Maori Hill held the advantage in the second half. The one goal that Maori Hill got in the firs,i spell was easily preventiblc had Shepherd ctemed himself the seemingly irresistible delight of attempting to beat a- forward. Prior to the ©coring of this goal lie had on several occasions cleverly, if somewhat, needles-sly, tricked past the advancing forwards, but he attempted it once too often. An unmistakably strong and back, this player seems to overlook the effect this pleasant little habit of his is likely to have upon his reputation in the eyes of selectors . Considering the state of the- ball and •the ground the goal-keeping at both ends must bs regarded as distinctly creditable. Shepherd the -younger gives promise of developing into, a first-class keeper. Lamban diid the work of a Trojan for his side, and the halves in front of him all did useful service, although they failed to prevent Evans ssadinar in some- fine centres. Vinicombe's advancement at least imported some daeh into the play of the Hilt forwards. His two goals, although at faii'ly shore ranee, were smashed in without apdlogy. He had a .glorious rhance for a third, but lost it •because of heeding one of tho tiresome appeals for off-side. He was lying man offside position handy to the goal mouth, when the ball glanoed off a Northern player and cams towards him with an excellent chance. Loudi cries cf "off-side" caused him to l^t ibe opportunity pas?. Honesty. it would appear, is not always" the best policy. Porter was the best back on Northern's eide, his play being heady throughout. Northern halves as a whole did not support their forwards, but hung back, leaving an unbridged gap. Cameron placed .neatly on to his forwards waiting in position n&a-r the goal on several occasions, and D. Simpson was conspicuous for judicious heading. J. Morrison was assigned the curiously unaccustomed duties of right wing forward, and showed that he had notions concerning the new office. He was concerned in three of the goals. Riirrby, on the right wing for Maori Hill, caught the eye", especially in "the second epoll, in which, towards th» closp, on several occasions he out-manceuvredi Shepherd and rlelivcrad his shot. Tha following comments a-re contributed:—The Mornington City match was not a particularly elevating oma to watch. The first sx>ell was dreary, City running rings round Morninsrton, but. failing to finish effectively. The second spell was' fitful, vmh displays of questionable tactics followe*! hy quieter play, pioclucic? good football. Mornington's policy of keeping t.be men away from the tall rather than keeping the ball away from the man was not a defensible one. and partly contributed to the unhappy relations of th? players, but both teams were offend-ars. and no just excuse can be offered. City backs show up Ptronglv in & fence. Mavhew was .perhaps the most prominent. His kicking was sura and powerful, liis tackling viVoi" ous. but above reproach. Wyness, centrehalf, proved) his worth both on attack and defence. ' His ability to hold the ball aio matter how it comas at htm makes him a useful man. Mornington backs attended the City forwards too claselv fo allow latitude for tricky footwork. Raeburn, up to the time of his enforced retirement, was playin,? finely. Bradley found time to entertain, the spectators and" converse generally with all and sundry. Nevertheless he appears to bs City's scoring ma-n. Youne was <he choice of Mornington Docks while playimz in that position. A 6 a for•ward it is his activity that commends him most. Grant as a full back was railhead of Grant as a forward. Watson's Jirst -game as a ssnior justified his place in the team. Forbes and Baillie were cnore than useful. Sharp (of Southern), Whom City generously permitted fo nla.y as » substitute, assisted the Blues in place" of

T Fraser, who appeared on the ground la.te. The following frank comment by the referee upon the City-Morningfon match will, it is hoped, be put to wise account by those specially referred to. In some respect, be says, the game was not ersditablo to seniors. Personally, be had got fair treatment, no serious exception having been taken to bis rulings. But there was | far tco ' much talking and trickery, and I of tb" two teams City were most at fault. The captain of this team, he continued, ! should jexerciee a stricter control o\>er I some of his men. With regard to the ! «-oal which Mornington had questioned he was on the goal line when it was scored, and had not the least hesitation in deciding that the ball had crossed the line before it, was cleared by Allen. i It would be a pity if, owing to the j indiscretions of one or two of its members, ! the Oity Ciub should gain a permanent reputation for doubtful practioes, for such an unenviable 'repute, once jgcined, is difficult to shake off. The club is m its infancy ; it has had, and still has. difficulties to contend! with. Its birth was timely, filling a muchJelt want. Th<* members of the club have demonstrated that they have ample skill to raise them above the necessity cf adopting the illicit tactics with which ths loSS-skil!ed player sometimes seeks to make up for his poor ciaftsmanship. The club's reputation is in the hands of its membsie, whe may easily, by exhibiting week by week clean, j clever football, cfe&ipate any unfavourable ' imrw-ession that may have besn created. I Soccer football this year l-.as so far been for the most part notable by reason of the sportsmanlike manner in which the •garres have been conducted. This is «s it should be, and as the governing body intends it shall continue to be. It has been rumoured that Cbadwiok ! and M'Clelland may play for Maori Hill this season. The unusual experience of a ball glancing off a referee's head through the goal was witnessed in coarvction with one of tho matches on Batur-dav. The goal was, of courts, allowed. On another ground ths high wind set the raf-sree two unusual probl&ms, which he soJved correctly. From a. stroncr throw-in the wird carried the ball right bstwesn iho, gcal posts. As the hall .had not touched a player after it left tho thiuwer's hands tb« dec'sion was a £oal kick. In tha other co?.e, from a goal kick the wind carried the ball right back ovor the line. The decision was "a corner kick."

-a /£ City « Nbrth-srn ... 6 Kaitangata • • 5 Roslyn-Wakari . 6 Southern ■ .. <5 Maori Hill . - 5 1 I 5 1* 4 . 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 1 3 1 5 a „ ? *— Q C 5 0 14 1 20 2, 9 1 9 1 6 1 11 0" 7 * I -ay ' a os - s O U 4 10 9 9 11 6 5 5 14 5 14 3 18 2