ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 55

ASSOCIATION.

OPENING OF SEASON. The 1920 “Soccer” season opened on Saturday, the weather conditions being, fine, although a trille warm for the players. The Senior Grade comprises 10, teams, and from reports of the various matches some good games should be wit-* nessed. The results of Saturday’s games werd J Northern 3 goals. High School Old Boyg 2 goals. | Seacliff 2 goals, Mornington 1 goal. I Southern 3 goals, Mosgiel 1 goal. Y.M.C.A. 3 goals, Maori Hill 2 goals. ) Technical College 4 goals, Kaitangata goals. J IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND MATCHES. •)! AUCKLAND, April 25. ’* The senior matches yesterday Thistle 8, Ponsonby 2. Tramways 7, Northcote 2. j Shore 2. Y.M.C.A. nil. | WELLINGTON GAMES. •' WELLINGTON, April 25. Brooklyn 2, Institute 1. 1 Watersiders 2, Diamonds 1. Y.M.C.A. 5, Thistle nil. Hospital 5, Marist 3. A representative match was played be* tween a team representing HALS. Dun* edin and H.M.S. Diomede and the Wei*' lington B team. It was an interesting/ fast, and well-contested game. Brilliant ? play was at times shown, and the game ended in a draw —four goals each. j

CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITIONS. ' CHRISTCHURCH, April 25. Technical Old Boys 2, Thistle 1. Sunnyside 7, Villa A nil. Nomads 7, Lyttelton nil. Western 6, Kaiapoi 2. Addington Workshops 5. St. Albans 1* New Brighton 5, Villa B 1. ENGLISH CUP FINAL. WON BY BOLTON WANDERERS. . LONDON, April 24. \ At Wembley the Association Cup final was played in dull, cold weather, in the t presence of 92,000 people, including his Majesty the King. Bolt i Wanderers beat Manchester City by 1 goal to nil, Jack, inside right, scoring in the thirty* fourth minute of the second half. There was a great invasion of London from the provinces for the match, and it was announced early in the morning that all the seats had been sold at a guinea except a few, which were sold, during the day. ( NEW RULES. By Corner Kick. f Two new rules will take effect with’ I the start of this season’s play in New Zealand, and players and spectators willbe well advised to make themselves conversant with these new phases of the game. The most notable and far-reaching one is the alteration to the “offside” rule, making it necessary for a player now to , have only two men, including the goal* keeper (instead of three, as formerly) in front of him when he receives the ball or l when the ball is in play. This change should have the effect of making the play/ faster and give forwards more freedom and opportunities than previously in front i of goal, and heavier scoring should result, j That this is the effect of the rule has been ) fully borne out at Home, where the new { rule was applied during the season just, ( closing, and no doubt play will be simi-f larly affected here. More work will be ( thrown on the half-backs, who will now require to be a fast-moving line, whilst; the full-backs and goalkeeper will also , have greater responsibilities thrown on them. It will be interesting to note the manner in which the teams adjust them-. selves to the new position. Players generally will require to go in for more \ regular training if they are to be sue- / cessful, as the teams that are well trained ■' and have a trio of nippy halves are the ones that are going to bring honour to their club under the new rule. . / Another alteration to the rules is that relating to the “throw-in,” which now | reads: “The player throwing the ball must \ stand with both feet on the ground out-/ side the touch-line, facing the field of , play, and shall throw the ball in over his head with both hands in any direction, and it shall be in play when thrown in. A \ goal shall not be scored from a throw-in./ and the thrower shall not again play until' the ball has been played by another’ Pl Some doubt has been expressed in Wei-' lington circles on that portion of the rule which states “ that the player must stand. with both feet on the ground,” as the instruction to the referee in the latest chart reads: “An improper throw-in would be if a player had not some portion of both feet on the ground at the moment of throwingin.” On this point a ruling has already been given at Home, as some referees had read the rule to mean a flat-footed throwin. On this being brought to the notice of the association it gave its ruling as follows:—That so long as a player has some part of both feet on the ground' outside the touch-line at the moment of throwing the rule has been carried out. So, apparently, the instructions to referees are the correct meaning of the new rule, but it is probable the point will be referred to the N.Z.R.A. for its interpretation.

NOTES. Wang, who will be remembered as captain of the Chinese university team which toured New Zealand in 1924, is now physical instructor in General Fen’s army. This information has been received by a local Chinese lady along with a photograph of Wang in his uniform. G. Campbell, the Y.M.C.A. and Wellington representative captain, who announced* his retirement from the game at the end , of last season on account of a pending trip

to the Old Country, has now postponed bis trip for some months, and he will turn out again this season. .lack Miiburn, who did pood work for the game in Dunedin for mauy years until his transfer to Wellington, is likely to be appointed to a position on the New Zealand Council. His wide experience and knowledge of the needs of the game should be of invaluable help in the council’s deliberations.

There seems to be a fairly general opinion (says a Wellington writer) that the time has arrived when a change in the rules should be made. if any opposition comes forward h uen the matter is discussed next month it will probably come from one or two minor associations, who may consider that they have prospects of annexing the shield. If the proposal is carried, the four major associations —Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago—will play a series jf home and away matches. Each team will be called upon to do some travelling each season, and the extent of the travelling will not be the same in any two seasons; it will be evenly apportioned. The major associations will also have the right to call on any players from within their province to play in shield matches. The proposal is that major associations should compete annually for the Football Association trophy recently presented to the New Zealand Council, and that the Drown Shield should be competed for by the minor associations. The proposed amendments to the rules will form one of the main topics of discussion at the annual meeting, but it is generally expected that they will be endorsed by delegates. Neither of these motions will, i understand, receive the support of the Otago body, which inclines to the opinion, from the financial point of view, that the time is not ripe for the suggested change in the Brown Shield competition. As far as the replacement of players is concerned, it prefers to follow the lead of the E.F.A., which has had years of experience in all phases of the game, and has lot seen any reason to make a change. It is certainly unfortunate for a team to jbse the service* of players in an important game, but while the rule stands at Home, New Zealand should put up with the position. Despite every effort by the officials of the New Zealand Football Council during the off season, to arrange for an overseas team to tour New Zealand this season, it is a matter for keen regret that negotiations with South Africa and Canada came to nought. _ Endeavours are now being male to bring across an Australian team for an eight weeks’ tour, but from latest advices received it does not appear likely that the tour will take place. Owing to fresh demands by the Australian authorities, who now wish the tour to occupy six weeks, and in addition to the players' travelling expenses of 10s a day, they desire to participate in the profit 50-50; an arrangement which the council does not favour.

In the report of the Chairman’s (Mr J. B. M'CaUum) remarks on the home and home matches at Monday night’s meeting of the Management Committee he was reported to have stated that owing to most of the matches against Seacliff having been played on that team’s ground the Dunedin public had been robbed of seeing at least two good matches during the,season Mr M'Cailum has asked me to state that he referred to two seasons ago. when, town clubs travelled to Seacliff every- Saturday, and not last year, when the Seacliff team travelled to D”ned>n everv alternate week