ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 143, 19 June 1899, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

SENIORS.

ROVERS V. GRAFTON.

Grafton won by 4 points to 1. For the winners the scorers were Holland, Goldie, and Brodie, the latter putting two goals through; and for Eovers a goal was scored by P. Hay. All the scoring was done in the first spell, the game being very even in the second half. UNITED V. V.M.C.A. One of the best Association Cup matches of the season took place in the Domain on Saturday between the United and V.M.C.A. teams. I V.M.C.A. won the toss and elected

to defend the northern goal. Arundel kicked off for United, and play sooa became general, United having slightly the best of it, C. Heather getting in a good shot, which was well stopped by the goalkeeper, who returned the ball to his forwards, and they soon had United's sroal in danger, but shut wide. From the goal kick J. Heather obtained possession, and dashing down, the wing, centred to Arundel, who put in a good shot, but the goalkeeper was equal to it, and kicked well up the field, where the V.M.C.A. forwards took it along, and Downs had a shot at goal, but the goalkeeper hit it out, only to have it returned by Yates from a difficult angle, and which he failed to stop, thus allowing V.M.C.A. to make the first score. From the kick-off United tried hard to make matters even, and J. Heather, Eice, and Cash had tries at goal, but the defence was too strong, and half-time was called with the score V.M.C.A. 1 to nil.

On re-starting1 V.M.C.A. got on some good rushes, but spoilt them by bad passing, while the United forwards, although.working' hard, found the opposing backs rather too strong1 for them. About half-way through the second spell C. Hemery got away with the ball at his toes, and wound up a good dribble with a fast shot, which, was a bit too g-ood for the goalkeeper, makiag- the score 2 to 0. United now made strenuous efforts to avert a defeat, C. and J. Heather working like Trojans on the rig-ht wing-, and getting in several long shots, which went close enough to keep Y.MiC.A, goalkeeper on the alert, but their luck was out; their backs could not give them, ranch assistance as it took them all their time to keep V.M.C.A, from adding to their score. However, from a good bit of forward play on United's part, Rice got in a shot which the goalkeeper stopped, but when attempting to kick slipped, and Arundel being close at hand, banged the sphere through, making things a little better for them. From now till time, although both sides were trying hard to score, they were not successful, and the whistle sounded with the game in Y.M.C.A.'s favour by 2 goals to 1.

For the winners, Hayman and Cowan were very safe at full-back, Clark was the best of the halves, and Downs, Yates, and Hemery of the forwards. The V.M.C.A. forwards get too close together, and in one another's way.

For United, the Heather Bros, were the only ones who really played up to form, Arundel and Bellamy being very much off colour, while Talbot does not kick hard enough. The game was spoilt a good deal by the ground being too narrow, and the goals not the proper width.

The V.M.C.A. and North Shore match nest Saturday should be very interesting, as the Shore drew, with United.

In the Association matches to-day Queen's Park beat Rovers by one goal to nil, and Diamonds beat Swifts also by a goal to nil.