OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 17 October 1914, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

[By Habbieb.]

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

THE Auckland Soccer Football Association have just concluded a most successful season. The increased interest manifested in the game attracted record entries necessitating the competition being divided into six grades of the following strength:— Eight teams first grade, twelve second grade, six third grade, eight fourth grade, thirteen fifth grade, and six sixth grade. This made a total of 53 against 44 teams of the previous season, and the large total of 800 registered players. The various championships were very closely contested, many exciting games taking place, in which a high standard of play was maintained. Thie senior honours were won by the Thistle Club, after an exceptionally hard struggle with Brotherhood', who finished only one point behind. St. Johns accounted for the second grade, while Everton annexed the third division honours. Y.M.O.A. supporters wiere jubilant to see their eleven win the fourth «rade, while excitement ran high in the fifth A and B grades which eventually went to North Shore and Mt. Albert nespectively. The sixth grade competition led to the honour being caiptured by Grey Lynn. Only two representative matches were "played* both against Waikato The first eventuated at Hamilton, the second on the Association's ground at Bayswater, but in each instance, to the dtelight of Auckland's supporters, the locals emerged' victorious. Although in possession of their own ground tli** players of the soccer code have laboured under the disadvantage of anything; but the best of playing areas. The continued wet season hampered the committee'© efforts to prepare the fields And another great obstacle #is finance. The qxiestion of securing funds to place the remainder of the Bayswater grounds into a proper condition cannot be too strongly emphasised upon supporters of the game, and no doubt a scheme will be formulated to remedy this difficulty by next season. # The game i® greatly handicapped in having no central ground, for little hope can be entertained of public support with grounds so far from town. Howiever the increasing number of players taking to the game augurs well for its future and probably the workers of the present time will see their efforts rewarded in a few seasons. With the boys the game is taking on well and it only requires the older 'hands to give a little of their time to coaching to make the future of the game assured. Last, but not least, comes the Referees' Association and the best thanks are due their efforts. Though not so strong in numbers as could be wished, they have nevertheless met the Association's requirements. The members have been recognised by the outsidie : bodies who have sought their services in the more important matches.

should remain. Still, the improvement of play is the first coneideration before club associations. A very useful afternoon's practice was indulged in last Saturday, a chance offering thte various selectors to draft out the teams. At Victoria Park practice matches were the order of the day for the Ponsonby Olub. The management selected three pairs of even teamev and pitted one against the other. The result proves beyond aIJ doubt the wisdom of the move, for the reason that the opening of every season bringsi forth many players or doubtful merit. It is only when seen in action that an opinion can be formed of tiheir actual cricketing ability. Many a good net cricketer faile in matches: N 0. Snedden showed! glimpses of his old form by contributing 48. E. Earlly gave a sparkling display in knocking up 40. B Worker was going nicely when he fooliehlv jumped out to a slow one from O. A. Snedden and was stumped. C A Snedden, with four wickets for ten, and V. 0. Kayanagh bore the brunt of the bowling. Both were in rare form. The finest batting of the afternoon was provided by F. Taylor, 68 not out. Possessing fine strpkes in front of the wicket this player punished all the bowling severely. J. Thompson drove and hooked without mistake. He .got the runs desnite his unorthodox methods of wielding the willow. W. McMath bowled consistently but met with little support. Among the juniors Jepson, Bresant and Flynn caught the eye. The former possesses a fair amount of pace and if he does not make the fatal mistake of trvino; to increase pace at the expense of his length should be very useful later on. Flynn batted very nicely. It is not at all unlikely Dick MnigA" will play for Ponsonby, provided the necessary permission of the Association for his transfer is obtained. It would 1 be a pity if this nlaver were to be lost to the game for good. The club has decided to enter five teams in the championship competitions—one senior, one secondi, two third and , one fourth grade team. Competition for places is keen, for the attendances at practices, during last week have been very satisfactory, an average of 35 per night being present. Graftou alrte under way a-t last and at the annual meeting presided nxro r W Mr D. Hay there was a good attendance. Mr S. Caro has taken over the secretarial duties. Mr A. Haresnape is treasurer, while Mr H. S. Eastgate keeps .the watchful auditor's eye on affaire. Quite a number of new members were elected the Club "hopes to secure the services of Dr Grant and Dγ Addison, and H. Ca.ro. All old and intending members should note that practices are held

every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Domain. The final practices take place next Saturday and then the selectore will advance their teams for the grade championships. The school boys' matches started last Saturday and good form was shown. T)aore, of Devonport, hit up 134 not out, and took 8 wickets for 17 runs. The best performance on the day. The Church Association open the season with a balance of £18. The prospects seem bright, for plenty of players are available. Mr J. Laidlaw has presented two cups for competition. It has been decided' to begin the championship matches on October 24th. Cricketers in Sydney were becoming active in the interests of the Patriotic Fund when the last mail to hand left Australia, and had arranged to play several matches m m this connection before competition games claimed their attention. A team captained by V. Trumper included the following:—'Noble, Macartney, Hordern, Kelleway, Carter, Cotter, Cody, Minett, Barbour and Bull. Regarding the proposal of sending another Australian team to America the "World of Cricket" (England) spreadis itself thusly:— A Suggestion—for what it is worth —<could not the Australian Board of Control and the New Zealand Cricket Council join hands, and send an Australasian team? The inclusion of half-a-dozen players from New Zealand would be a big advertisement for the Dominion in America, and men like Reese, Hemus, Sneddon, Sandman. Robinson, Patrick and others could all hold their own with the majority of the players who made a triumphal progress through the States and l Canada in 1913. Not all of these mentioned would be available, of course, but there are others. The match of the season was played l off on Saturday on No. 4 ground in the Domain. The opposing team®. Amateur Sports Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, comprise the creme de la creme of Auckland's beet, and! an. enjoyable and exciting gam© resulted. The teams are keen rivals in the realms of sport and an immense amount of "opinions" changed hands on the result. Prior to the match the teams wlere photographed by the vice-regal artist, Professor Rhodes.