ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 9

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By Centre Half.) The match, Rovers v., Y.M.C.'A;,.-at Athletic Park, attracted few spectators. The adverse weather was probably tho cause, but. those who journeyed there and braved the elements witnessed an interesting game. Gofton, in goal for Y.M.C.A., played a very safe game, and his saves were largely responsible for the Rovers' small victory. The other backs of the team played solid games, Chapman probably showing more knowledge in defensive tactics than his fellows. ' ,

The forwards lacked proper combination, but' individually played well. The Gibsons and Irvine showed up well,' but condition was wanting among many of the Y.M.C.A. team. • For Rovers, Gofton, in goal, did much useful work. Ho was capably supported by. " Tommy " Duignan and Martin. Duignan, though a young player, was undoubtedly the most useful back on the field, and was a tower of strength to his side. Of tho halves, Bethell was prominent at times, and usually corrected errors of misjudgment. Barnett and Reynolds both did their share of work, and did it well. The Rover forwards had' more combination than the opposing' team, and in cloverness had all the best of it. Their- " shots " at goal wero not too well judged, for during tho match there wero" several "closes." " Bert" Salmon, who refereed, had to "tootle" his whistle several times before the teams put in an appearance on the field, and in consequence the final stages of the game wero played in semi-darkness. The match between Hospital and Toa, who are keen. local rivals., was an interesting object-lesson of the advantage of combined play ovor kicking and rushing. Tho Toa, resplendent in their new green and red uniforms, played with 'plenty of dash, but met a defence that never faltered, the Hospital backs kicking the heavy greasy ball with surety, enabling the forwards to go down the field and score three goals in quick succession, tho result of some fine passing and shooting. Immediately after starting tho second half an unusual incident occurred. Toas had notified the referee of a change of goal-keepers, but on again changing failed to do so. The referee had no option but to award a penalty to_ the Hospital on tho man playing the ball with his hands. Jacobs made no mistake ' with his shot, the ball resting comfortably in the net before the keeper could reach it. The game up to tho> finish was very keen, but the Hospital scored four more goals as the result of good passing and accurate shooting. The 'Toa keeper showed fine form; saving several shots in splendid stylp. Walker received a nasty cut on tho lip, but' after having four stitches put in returned to tho field, and had the satisfaction of scoring as the result of his pluck. The game ended with Hospital 8, Toa 0. Mr. Bernard gave great satisfaction by his refereeing, his quick following up being a feature. ' For Hospital, Elliot, Jacobs, Shaw, and Mitchell played well, and for Toa the Wi Heoras and Baker worked hard. Teague (3), Elliot (2), Jacobs, Mitchell, and Walker (one each) scored for Hospital.-' •_ ". Association football is booming at Porirua, with threo second division teams in the field.

Hospital used their goal nets for the first time on Saturday, and up to the present they liavo proved of great_ convenience to visiting goal-keepers, Hospital having in three matches scored 20 goals to two scored against them. : The patients take a keen interest in tho nlav. Tho St. John's I—Porir.ua match was well fought till half-time, biit two goals separating tho teams. Then a succession of accidents and goals followed, nine of tho latter and three of the former bcinn recorded. Goldsmith received a severe kick on tho muscles of his log, Wilkes a thumb put out, whilo two St. John's players mistook each other's heads for-.the .bill, with , serious results to'ono man] who .received a. nasty cut over tho oyo. Tho match resulted: St. John's I, 10 goals; Porirua, 1. Three of

tho goals wero accidentally scored by Porirua men against their own team. 1 •A frequent error is made by linesmen in giving tiio ball out of play beforo it actually is so. Tho wholo of tho ball must bo over the line before it is out of play, and tho line just clear before it should bo signalled as unplayable. Tho Diamonds-Ramblers match 011 i Saturday was somewhat of a surprise packet so far as Ramblers wero concerned. Everyone expected Diamonds to run rings round them, and overjono waß not' ouij; Burgraed, but.

pleased, to see them pull up so well. They havo improved very well indeed, and it now remains for them to sustain their new reputation. Combination tells every time, and it' told in Ramblers' favour on Saturday. Mowatt is very neat in his work, clever with his feet, and plays with fine judgment. Lowe plays a fast and sure forward game. With'a few of his sort in the forward lines of two opposing teams, followers of the game would see some first-class football. Ho ought to havo been better supported than he was on Saturday. It is a bad thing to have a preponderance of theory over practice, but it is just as bad the other way round—all practice and no theory. It is by the application of theory to practico that we get scientific knowledge in its truest sense. This is true of "soccer" or any game. A player should not only play the game—ho should study it tactically, as a man studies a chess board. Only, in actual practice, he lias to make up his mind instantly, and act. Now hero is a suggestion; it may, or may not be practicable, but I give it for what it is worth. Let the team get together some week night and study a "problem" game; either on a blackboard, or on paper, or on a table with blocks to represent tho players. The last is the best. Then let what represents the ball be placed 0,1 table, with .the field in a certain position. One of the players is presumed to bo in possession of the ball, and is threatened so and so, and supported so and so. Problem —what should ho""do?

SENIOR LEAGUE—FIRST DIVISION. ■T3 £ . * "S C* 01 0 to- IS. 0 • cj |CI » « S c» o w rt w . rt • rt w L> 0 O o ' P H? P C 5 O ■ O Rovers ... ... 4 3 — 114 3 7 Sivifts ... ... 4 3 — 1 8 1 7 Diamonds ... 3 2 — 1 9 3 5 Y.M.C.A. ... 4 2 2 — 8 6 4 Wanderers ... 3 2 1 — 11-2 4 Ramblers ... 3 — 2 1 3 10 1 Potone 4 — , 4 — 2 10 — Thistle 3 — 3 — — 20 — SECOND DIVISION. i. » j? £ £ ■ "S .5' m O M ~- V * C 3 1d g J j-.v rt o w ej cl c 3. ✓ v 2 ►>■'«? o o o S p ft p C 5 o D Hospital ... 3 3 — — 20 2 6 St. John's I ..v 3 3 — — 16 16 Diamonds ... 3 3 — — 9 3 6 Swifts ... ... 3 2 — 1 8' 4 4 Ramblers ... 3 2 — 1 5.2 4 Wanderers ... 3 2' — 1 7 5 4 Letter Carriers 2 1' — 1 5 4 2 Toa ... ... 3 I—2 3 13 2 St. John's II ... 2—l 1 1 2 1 Watersiders ... 2 — 1 12 5 1 Rovers ... 3 — — 3 3 13 — Y.M.C.A. ... 3 — — 3 2 10 — Porirua , ... 3 — — 3 3 20 — OTAGO; LEAGUE. The following table shows the positions of the teams in the Otago. Senior Cup competition:— • . -P O tO • rA rJ- ' ti 4J B H " t rS £■■ ' 'c? o rt 'ri ncJ ft .-4 .r o t.-o o a , r . : -ft P. hi fl cs cs■. o. Mormngton. A...' 2 2' — — 14 4 4 Northern ... 2 1 — 1 2 1 3 Southern ... 2 — — ' 2 11 2 Wakari ... ... 2— — 2 4 4"2 Maori Hill ... 1 —— 1 3 3 1 Mornington 8... 1 — 1 — 3 9 — Roslyn ...• -... 2 — 2 — 2 7 — j CANTERBURY LEAGUE. The first round of the Canterbury League competition was played on Saturday last at the South Parle, . Christchurch. Christchurch beat Sydenham- A by four goals to nil j the latter's B team defeated Celtic by 1 goal to nil. Tho positions of the teams are as follow:— . ■ v ' ■4J , Pi -g a •d s - * f is .2 .-J2 ' c 3 o w rt' —< 0 M O • Q ri " P J S C 5 O o Christchurch .„ 1 1 — — 4 2 Sydenham B ... 1 1 — — 1 — 2 Sydenham'A, ... 1 — 1 _ ' 4 — Celtic ... 1 ... 1 — 1 — — 1