ASSOCIATION GAME.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 2

ASSOCIATION GAME.

BROWN SHIELD MATCH

CANTERBURY (9) v. POVERTY

BAY (2). Tho Canterbury Association representatives, as tho holders of the Brown Shield, were called upon to defend their right to the trophy on Saturday aftornqon against a challenging team from Poverty Bay, this being tlio first representative match of the season. Tho Association game .has been established about fivo years in Poverty Bay, and made considerable progress during last season, the results of the fixtures played then encouraging the executive to issue tho challenge for Saturday's game. Tho visitors wero somewnat unfortunate in their journey down, as their steamer from Gisborne missed tho mail train at Napier by a very small margin, with the result that they did not reach Christchurch until Saturday morning, their experiences on _ tho way down not being particularly pleasant. Naturally the -cluvllengers wero hardly in condition to do themselves justice,, although ,it must bo admitted that ; they wero up against a very strong combination. The result of the gamo was an easy win for Canterbury, who proved themselves to be much superior to their opponents, chiefly in,the matter of combination,-TBheir forWa'r , _ 'in ' E articular showing a lot of : dash, and" eeping up a persistent -attack on their opponents' goal. The visitors sprang a surprise on the holders of the" Shield, by registering a goal immediately after the start of the game, but when the Canterbury, players settled to their work they soon had their opponents' measure, and had their shooting at goal been more accurate in tho second half their score would have been oven The visitors seemed lacking in dash in the forward line, and were too slow in taking advantage of their opportunities.'With all. Rugby matches -and hockey fixtures. postponed on account of the bad state of the grounds, there was a good attendance of the public at St. Albans Park. The condition of the ground naturally affected the play, and the game also suffered from the irrepressible desire of the spectators to stand inside the lines. Taking everything into consideration, however, it wa3 an interesting display. The teams were: —

Canterbury (Red and Black).-j-Goalkoeper, Curtis; backs, McDonald, Wardell; half-backs, Howie, D. Fullarton, W. Fullarton, (captain); forwards, Ward, Bissett, Taylor, Pitt, Norman.

Poverty Bay.—Goalkeeper, Crighton; backs, Webster (captain), Hughes; half-backs, Oates, Summer, Westenholmo; forwards, Read, Winks, Greene, Wallace, Hannah.

Poverty Bay won the toss, and play- ' ed with the slight wind behind them. They quickly took play to the Canterbury line, and Curtis, making a rather weak clearance shot, Winks put in another fast one, which beat the Canterbury goalkeeper. Poverty Bay 1, Canterbury 0. Almost immediately after the challengers made another onslaught, but Winks put the ball just outside tho posts. Tho Reds then settled to their work, and as the result of some pretty combined work between Ward and Pitt, the latter, equalised tho score, Crighton failing to stop a comparatively slow shot. . Poverty Bay 1, Canterbury 1. Canterbury were 'promptly attacking again, and Pitt, working into a good position, shot at goal, and though Crighton partly stopped the ball, it went past him into the net. Canterbury 2, Poverty Bay I.*A rally by the visitors was of very brief duration, and after a couple of close attempts by Ward, Taylor registered the third goal for Canterbury, the ball cannoning off an opponent. Canterbury 3, Poverty Bay 1. Good defensive work by Webster checked the next attack, and then Wallace put in a capital single-handed effort, but was fouled when looking dangerous. The free kick was of no advantage to the Yellows, who were soon hard pressed again, Bissett being successful in a shot at close range. Canterbury 4, Poverty Bay 1. Almost immediately after from a I corner-kick by Ward, Bissett headed to Pitt, and the latter shot successfully. I Canterbury 5, Poverty Bay 1. Canterbury kept up the attack, but Crighton stopped several shots in quick succession, and Wallace and " Winks ', were prominent in a Poverty Bay rally i but the latter lost his chance by taking too much time in manoeuvring for position. Trie Canterbury forwards soon had control again and Bissett put in a shot which Crighton was unable to reach. Canterbury 6, Poverty Bay 1 •Just beforo the .spell ended' the visitors made another effort, but Winks shot wide of the mark. The opening of the Besimd ha , f toned Canterbury quickly oa .tlio -atUick. Webster and Oates . displayed very sound defence, and Hannah and Read backed up their efforts by «o_e dashing forward work, but the 'Yellows were unable to keep their opponents in check tor any length of tftne. The Canterbury forwards, who were well served by their half line, w«rV persutcntly and practicallye T erv

man in the front division had several atterdpts to send the ball into the not. In some oases it was stopped by the Poverty Bay goalkeeper, but in. tho majority -it went either ontsid© or over the goal. Eventually Taylor kicked hard at close range, and the ball cannoned off an opposing back, and found the goal. Canterbury 7 : Poverty Bay 1. .' Tho Reds wero hack again a moment later, and Norman centred well. Taylor slipped as the ball reached him, hut Ward came in and sent it back, and Taylor beat Crighton with a fast shot. Canterbury 8, Poverty Bay 1. This score was followed by a removal of the scene of and Read and Winks, with a dashing bit of work, went down the field, Winks registering the visitors' second goal with a fast shot. Canterbury 8, Poverty Bay 2. The closing stages of the game were all in Canterbury's favour, and just on the call of timo Ward centred nicely, nnd'Taylor again put tho ball into the net, the game ending: —

Canterbury 9. Poverty Bay 2. Mr H. Yeoman was referee