ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3551, 15 June 1912, Page 9

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Centre-Half.”) 3 be first round of the senior competition came to an end on Saturday last, and although two games have yet to Do re-played, the table to date will make interesting reading. It is as follows:

The game at Taruheru on Saturday provided some pleasant and keen football, and although the winners were good value for the 3—l victory, the -Taruheru men kept their opponents out for nearly three-fourths of the game. In fact, as the timo for the closure was approaching, the visitors were getting anxious over tlieir chances of obtaining the winning goal.

Winks was apparently feeling the the effects of his recent accident,’and did not play up to his usual standard, although be was by no means a spectator.

Meikle made liis first appearance this season for his old club, and put in . some good work with Hughes on the right. It was from two of his centres that Greene registered the first two goals for the Y.M’s.

G. Hughes, playing at centre-half, was well in the picture, and assisted both forwards and defence as occasion required. v * * *

The old familiar pair at back, Webster and Gardner, gave a. good account of themselves, and did well in

keeping tho aggressive Sharpies out, who was at times dangerous.

Sling.shy and Whiteley put in a lot of good work,at back for the losers, and were principal factors id keeping out the Y.M. forwards, while Statbam put in some good.passing rushes with Sharpies in their front line.

Turanganui did not put up the showing that was expected of them last week, and G.T.A. showed their superiority by piling up a score of' s—o. Sumner was again absent, which no doubt had a discouraging effect to his side. - . * * » The G.T.A, forwards require a lot of keeping out, and Oates had a big handful in dealing with the inside trio.

The Brown Shield Match.

t jp The Association, at its meeting on Tuesday last, dealt with the coming contest with Canterbury for the Brown Shield. The date submitted (July 13) having been accepted, the Selection Committee set about their task of finding the full strength to represent the district by first selecting -14 players! All “probables”! That there is an average of four men for eacli position with an equal chance of getting a place would at first seem to be the case. But I understand that the real reason for this procedure was not based on this view. If, however, there are several “dark horses” being tried, it would be interesting to know if the selection will be made on to-day’s form in the trial games—which would have the effect of brightening the chances of several players who may be mere “flashes in the pan,” and lessening those of consist-ently-good men who may probably be having “a day off.” On the other hand, the selectors may be uncertain as to the comparative merits of several of the players to fill certain positions and hope by this means to arrive at a satisfactory decision; but even then I maintain that the selection cannot fairly be-made on the result of these games. In any case, the responsibility of so important a task must have weighed heavily upon the selection committee to occasion such a glaring display of indecision, as it must be apparent to even the most casual follower of the game that at least-nearly half of the 44 players who are turning out under the eyes } of the Selectors have not even the slightest hope of obtaining a place in the team. It is to J>e hoped, however, that when the final selection is made it will not have any reason to cause such an outburst of adverse criticism as was manifest over the inclusion of several players in the recent Hawke’s Bay match who obviously readied this “pillar” through their clubs’ representation on the Selection Committee. It would have seemed only fair to have included in this important body one or two capable judges who are not in any way connected with any of the individual teams—and there are quite a few—which would have tire effect of making the chances of selecting a satisfactory side look more rosy than at present seems to be the case.

P w L D Goals for ag. pts. Y.M.A.C. ... ... 4 4 0 0 24 3 8 G.T.A. ... 4 3 1 0 18 6 6 Taruheru ... .3 1 2 0 4 10 2 County ... 2 0 2 0 1 10 0 Turanganui ... 3 0 3 0 2 20 0 ■if * *