ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 61

ASSOCIATION.

By Left Wing.

The final incident in an eventful season was more surprising- than any that preceded it. The ,four drawn games throughout the ] season, indicated clearly enough that Moraington and Kaitangata were of even merit. It was only by adding 20 minutes to the playing time the previous week that the teams were separated in the Cup competition, Mornington winning. That at the very nexit_ meeting, the composition of the teams being practically, the same as previously, Kaitangata should positively drub Mornington by 7 goals to 1 is extraordinary. The, case is not without parallel, however. In 1909 City beat Northern in the Cup final by the minimum margin of 1 goal to nil. The same teams next played off for the Charity Banner, and Northern won by 7 goals to nil. Napoleon's dictum that in warfare the value.of the "morale" as compared with the physical is im the proportion of three to one is accepted as correct, and it applies with equal force in sporting contests. In the match on Saturday there was a fair balance of capability, but the "morale" evidently became unbalanced, so that as Kaitangata began to get a goal or two the moral effect upon that team made for greater confidence, and more resolute tactics, .whilst Mornington became demoralised.'-

The following' notes on the game are from a Kaitangata correspondent:"The gaxne> could hardly be called brilliant, it being too one-sided for that, and it was not nr-rf■."■ or interesting as. the previous g> y.ed at Kaitang'ata between the two teams. The sudden, lightni.rig nature of the Kaibansrata scores in the first 'spell;—4- Spate in 17 aninutes—completely knocked the heart out of the visitors, and they never at any stage of the game looked anything like winning. Kaitangata men entered the field with grim, determination largely written on every face," and this "spirit, backed up by the solendid combined- play of the team, accounted for the outclassing of the visitors in every department. The Kaitangata forwards were simply a. machine—Johnston and Neil being the motive power necessary, and overran the_ Mornington tack division, time and again. Jack, in jjoal, found the shots from' Johnston, Jap Thompson, and Neil too solid: altogether, for cominer in. like bullets from close range he had absolutely no chance. He seemed to lose heart daring the second spell, and before time left the field limping."Young was far the beet back on Morn-

ington's side, and played good defensive football right up to the call of time. Kelly was responsible for eome good play, but found the Thompson brothers (Jap and Isaiah} a rather big order. Frazer, Haag, and Shadwell did not seem, to be able to get going against Johnston and Co., and when they dad get the ball they did not seem to be able to do anything with it. Haig early received a severe charge which shattered three teeth, but he pluckily stood to hia guns and put in the best work he could under the circumstances.

"The Mornirrgton forwards suffered as a consequence of the failure of the halves, and were without combination. Baillie played a great game, and had he been better supported by hie colleagues the difference in the score would not have been so great. M'Clelland broke away characteristically at times, but generally he was too well watched by Stephenson. Tabernacle and Simpson were good in patches, but Forbes was right off colour. "T. Thompson, in goal, for Kaitangata, had not extra much to do, but occasional hot shots found him safe. Tim Thomson played a great game at full back, but Penman, on the otter hand,-was unreliable and completely off his usual game. T. Stephenson has never played a batter game than on Saturday, and the way he worried such a clever player as M'Clelland encourages great hopes for his future usefulness. To say that Middlemass played his usual game is praise sufficient. Rarity was as tricky as ever, and wore the usual happy ©mile. Johnston won the game for Kaitangata in the first quarter of an hour. His accurate placing to the wings, to say nothing of his goal shooting, staggered the opposition party. Jap Thompson was at the top of his form, and was always a dangerous man with the ball. His brother found him of great assistance, and they worked' splendidly together. W. Neil played a great game, and on Saturday showed that he can shoot when he likes—it's a pity he would not try for the nets a little oftener. Cuthbertson showed up well, and placed in same•.fine cross shots. '-.: "The Mornington style of play was the short, quick, passing game, which was of no avail against, the Kaitangata half back line, while the Kaitangata forwards played the long passing game to much better vantage. • The way Johnnton and Neil fed the outside men with fast, well-placed kicks was quite the feature of the. game. Mr R. Oliver controlled the game, and his decisions were rarely questioned." . The season 1911 will certainly be remembered as a remarkable one, not alone for the surprising circumstance that three teams tied for the premiership^-—an unprecedented happening locally,—but for the increase of public interest .in the gaihe. When the fine points of. the Association game are understood it is an intensely interesting pastime, both to players and spectators, as witness the phenomenal attendances, reaching on one occasion to more than 110,000, at matches in the Old Country. Except in patches, the standard of play seen locally is at its best probably scarcely equal to what wo would call third grade football in Britain. Yet the play seen this season has been sufficiently good to interest and attract increasing numbers of the r>ublic, leaving it to the imagination to assess the drawing power of soccer by the time New Zealand has drawn within hailing distance of first grade or first league form. A writer in the Dominion affects to recognise in The healthy development of Association football the early demise of Rugby. That Association football is a growing, spreading power is obvious, but that there is any likelihood of its supplanting Rugby in the near future —whatever may happen in the remote futuresis an absurd' contention, most effectively shattered by the fact that the estimated attendance at the local Rugby match on Saturday was 7000. In view of the large number of young men who could and should take part in healthful, recreative .games, there is-ample room, without foolish rivalry, for not only the different varieties of football, but for hockey, harriers, and all other branches of winter sport. Talking of comparative standards of Home and colonial play, it will have to be recognised that• in the Homeland the game has been developed to such an exact science, that it is only those who have played tlie : game from school days who can hope to acquire that skill in the manifold fine points of the:game needful to qualify-for inclusion in the highest grade. Consequently we must look" more and more to the'schoolboys to raise the standard of play in New Zealand, and the boys should he taught to study and copy the best methods of such players as Johnston, Baillie, M'Clelland, and visiting players, such as the Fullartons. The members of the local committee controlling football amongst the schoolboys is deserving, of praise for the very considerable amount of time and' thought they give to the management of football in the schools. Their reward is in the gratifying number of teams competing—no fewer than 26. Although as yet no formal step has been taken to put it into effect, the idea that Southern and Alliance should amalgamate is gradually crystallising in the direction of the formation of a united club, to be designated the St. Kilda Association Football Club. . , T For the first time in the history of Indian football an Indian team, the Mohan Bagan, consisting purely of Bengalis, has won the Football Association Shield, beating crack teams of British regiments, including the 2nd Rifle Brigade, the •&<! Middlesex, and the 2nd East Yorkshire Regiments. At the final, on July. 31, there was a scene of extraordinary enthusiasm. It is estimated that 80,000 Bengalis wore gathered on the Calcutta Maidan. The vast majority saw nothing of the game, and were informed of its orogress by flying kites. When it was known that the East Yorkshires had been beaten by 2 coals to 1 a wonderful scene was witnessed, the Bengalis tearing off their shirts and waving-them. The absence of all jracial spirit was noted. The European spectators were good humoured, and the Bengalis cheered' the losing team. For the. preceding few weeks nothing had been discussed in Bengal but the prospects of tho Mohan Bagan winning the shield.

! OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. I The weekly meeting of the Otaero Football Association Executive Committee was held on Monday, Mr A. M'Hutchon. presiding'. CtTP AND CHAHITY BANNER SQUABBLING. The Secretary of the Ka-itangata Club protested against the oup being awarded | to Mornington, the grounds of the protest being that Mornington had played

Kelly, who, it was alleged, had not been duly transfrred from Cbristchurch to Morningtom Club; that lie had not been registered before the match; also that he had not tendered his clearance to the O.F.A.

The first two allegations were disposed of by the secretary's intimation that Kelly was registered in time, and the chairman's statement that the O.F.A. rules did not require a transfer in the case of a player coming from another province. With respect to the third count the secretary stated that in reply to a telegram to the Canterbury Association he had received he following wire:—"Kelly unfinancial." The Chairman pointed out that the O.F.A. rules did not provide for such a case. The Mornington delegate explained that Kelly had learned his football in Mornington with the Mornington Club. Upon his return from Christchurch to work in Dunedin the club had selected him to play, and there was absolutely no truth in the insinuation that it was a ease of " ring in." If the Mornington Club had considered there was any reason why Kelly could not legitimately be played it would never have selected him. It was decided to remit the appeal to the N.Z.F.A. for decision, an amendment to the. effect tfeat the appeal be dismissed being lost. The Secretary of the Kaitangata Club fonvarded per. Mr Middlemass the sum of £l3 ss, being the proceeds from the voluntary collection made at the Charity Banner match between Mornington and Kaitangata on Saturday. The amount constituted a record for any football match at- Kaitangata. The letter went on to refer with regret to the absence of an O.F.A. representative from the Charity Banner, match and 'to the fact that no referee had been sent from Efunedin. The letter was received', the Chairman congratulating the Kaitangata Club upon the excellent " gate." In the matter,of the refesee, the Mornington Club protested against the awarding of the Charity Banner to Kaitangata, the grounds of the protest being that the Assoomion had failed to appoint a referee and the enptains had failed to tgreo upon a substitute.—The matter was referred to the Referees' Club for report. GENERAL. I* was decided to girant Mornington Club £5 15s 6d, expenses incurred in visiting Kaitangata to play for the Charity Banner .and to •Msfcribute rhe net balance to Charities as follows: —Neady Widows' Fund (Kaitangata), £2 2s; Oamaru Hospital, £1 10s; Duoedin Hospital, "£3 r<i u W Jf decided to Sra-n* the Kaitangata Ulub £3 3s towards expenses incurred in travelling to Dumedln. The Secretary of the N.Z.F.A. advised that the council proposed to take up 25 shares of £1 each in the proposed company to be formed by the Wellington Football Association, with the obiect of purchasing a ground, and asked whether the O.F.A. had any objection to offer.—Resolved to approve the proposal. - On behalf of the N.E.V. School team, 0. C. Rawlinson wrote stating that, according to the public school * register, Athol Clements, of ,the Christian Bros.' School team, was over 16 years of age when the matches were played. The writer's appeal to the School Committee had been dismissed "owing to the lateness of the season." He submitted that it was not right that the banner should go to the Christian Bros, team if the player was over the age limit.—Referred to the Sbools' Committee for a report. KAITANGATA N WINS THE CHARITY . , BANNER. .. Up till Saturday last Kaitangata Club, although having inscribed the club's name on the cup awarded for premiership honours, had not succeeded' in'embroidering "Kaitangata" on the Charity Banner, a trophy competed for by the premier team and the runners-up, the net proceeds of the annual match being devoted to charity. As a recognition of the many times this season that the Kaitangata team has journeyed to Dunedin. the Charity Banner fixture between Kaitangata and Mornington was placed at Kaitangata. The interest taken in the match was evidenced by the> large attendance—over 450. The fact that the teams had previously played four drawn games, and had only been separated in the Cup competition by playing 20 minutes extra after the fourth match, led to the expectation that another close con-test-would be witnessed, but events proved otherwise, the local team administering a severe drubbing to the visitors to the tune of 7 goals to 1. During the course of the play Jack left the field owing to injury. In the first spell Kaitangata romped over Mornington, securing 5 goals to nil. _ Mornington notched their only goal in the second half, whilst Kaitangata. still leading in play, added 2. In the absence of a referee from punedin, Mr Oliver officiated. The Kaitangata Club is to be congratulated upon making such a successful Conclusion to a prosperous season. Kaitangata 7 goals. Mornington ... 1 goal.. WINNERS TO DATE. 1895—Roslyn 1904—Northern 1896—Boelyn 1905—Wakari 1897—Hoslyn 1906—Northern 1898—Wakari 1907—Northern 1899—Boslyn 1908—Northern 1900—Eoslyn 1909—Northern 1901—Southern 1910—Northern 1902—Eoslyn > 1911—Kaitangata 1903—Northern DUNEDIN TEAM v. OAMARU. A mixed team travelling as the Corinthians, and comprising mostly Northern and Roslyn-Wakari Seniors visited Oamaru on Saturday, and defeated the local team by 2 goals to nil. . The goals, were both scored l from penalty kicks, Cameron and TimEn being the scorers. SCHOOLS FIVE-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT; • Christian Brothers won the First Grade five-a-side tournament, and Selwyn College the Third Grade. OTHER MATCH. A very pleasant and interesting game took place at IVtontecillo between teams representing the Otago Daily Times and Fergusson and Mitchell. The result was a wjn for the former by 6 goals l to 3. For the winners, Beeby (4), Hickey, and Wilkie f«ored, while Davidson, Ferguson, and Rivers scored for the losers.