FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 206, 25 May 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

ASSOCIATION. /• • SENIOR LEAGUE MATCHES- ' Tho elements on Saturday wore sufficiently . ';i bad; for tho 'Rugby, Union ; to postpone. their 1 , fixturos;->hiitj ' : iiotwitlistandiiig tho iiiccssaiit : .thOii- 'sdccer''/games ;were; played; Tho Basin .Reserve "match,:. AYandcrcrs v. Rovers, - , •; ■ iwaj.^vatehed' by/a.feiw.spectators', -both-tiie' r weatlier and .tiio stato'.of the ground and ball, proventing interesting play. Aftor -'a' hard-. fought; gamo Wanderers won by olio/goal to nil. -.Tlio'Diamonds' v. Swifts match;at tho : Athlotic Park: was owdri'^/by'tiio: former ■ teairi : . by-threo-goals ,to nil.- At Petono,- after a. :-somewhat .'interesting .match, . : tho • Petone ': .team - thei Ramblers ■' by t-hreo goals, io. two. jThistleSvv;- Y.M.C;A. was played at ■ ■■ forincr team .. again : fail-dd to; break . its duck,". and was do-- '. 'feate<l:by: t-en goals ; to, nil.fTh'o .Thistles wero u the': field -with only,;.foiir:j.jnoriv.The following ar'o ■ tho re- ; 1 of tho/first:.division matches.':— | DIAMONDS,'3J SVVIFTS, 0. : WANDERERS, 1; ROVERS, 0. PETONE, 3! RAMBLERS, 2. IOj'THiSTLSS, 0. ' : " - SWHTS "v.'DIAMONDS. : ; Swifts mot at tho Athletic tlie' game rosultiiig. iii' for tho /Diamorids'-by;three, goals.'.to nil.- Tho■:Swifts'; ;,' wonthetoss,'and.. White' elected to attack ; tlio ..]Diamorids loft got awav ; - but l'ye-Smith intercepted and put the ball ,to "his right , wing.. ; v-^lSso&sipnj''' but : his eeritro , weiit; 1 behind;>,Tho,')Diariipnds' left' Continued '•:to;giye:'thti;SWifts , :fdefencb:a'lot of trouble, 1 but: , woro;;unable''to scorc":uiitil jnst on linlf- -': •, c'onvcrted 1 . a centre from-Roddy.:-i The: players : elected. to change - • routilj iirimediately-;at ;half-tim'o.V, Tho > Swifts -.', : fojivards brokfr'awdy several .times,i but.-Fitz-; , t ■ garnld;had,.nob iriuch' troublo in"dcaling ,v.'ith. ,tlie .shots?jut'.'iil;i;Oßlack.. broke 'away on tho -.. ,;Diambrids'^rigH-t';and centred;riicely,^.Redd,y-, /; reccivedv-thb -1)^11^-.and- scored the Diamonds'} , : secotid r goal.- ';,Thb',third-.goal resulted from a : - sustaincd-'attack on-tho" Swifts' goal, tfie baH.- ; ! ;; r ';eyehtuaU^goingjtlirpugh- : ofE-one. of ; their, owri ; { ''tako; iplay-followod, untilMr. -Aiild 'soundod -the - whistlo. On ,- tho ■ - - day's;.play. Diamonds' - dosorved: their, win. ; ' But;-,' what;,: should;- hayo;- bqen; an' ■ interesting; -': ganio spoilt'sb^'the; liigh wind, blowing ; . across tho-ground. Roberts; at back, T'avlor at half-back, and Hathaway, in the forwards, ■..' .were; the.mo'sfc-.noticoablo. of tho Diamonds. :'. Jamieson, had- no chanco 'with any .of the shots ;.Whifli_.score;d.;viGraves played a good ;. : ;igaine,iii.;.tlielSwifts': defence, and Whitp fed . ' •; ; • his ['forwards', well.'-. Rogers; was; the. .best; of. • • tho>Swifts forwards. > The gamo ended: Dia- ' :monds,.3;;Swifts,:o., ■ , ~.. ■. '

. ROVERS V. WANDERERS

' Few . .spectators braved tho : ;elenients'; to. witness, tho,ltovors v. Wanderers match- at : the. Basm -Rosorvo on Saturday. Wanderers fi.' wid eleqted. : ;to -a' ; ■: hardiirid^herly^wirid-'at;thar; "bicks. V Shortly ; ■ '.after, the kick-off -Rovers '-.wero,''jplacbd' on:.'tho' . .;'dofensiye,' : !arid, two,;c6rrie'rs were 'given,'againstl - - them.. ; The ■ ball ,was; too heavy -and slippery : to judgo; the . kicks -accurately; and no score ■v- resulted .from either- corner. Rovers rallied, ,V.,but : 'the£.'ha'd 'the,'wind,VaccSmpariied by heavy ; gro^d/i2i'.ph/^'asi'OM , '-fin6;' passmg- ; -;r«ishes.' were orgariis^'-'-by^bothnsets-.of-.forwards. ' However, tho' slippery state of the ball spoilt ;. most", of the 'attempts, and until the'-closing ' stagfes of;thevfirst; spell neither -side had displayed ilny-brilliancy.,. A rush inaugurated by-Rovers' towards gave Barry a ehancq to' shoot -at- goaliVbiit Irviney-.-in goal; saved the ; . Bi]6uato^:?;r^aTidm<'h'ad^'ajshpt:forVAVianv. :derersi : ;.andi'had,'.hard 'luck :iii-not-registering' ... a .score : R'oyers''?guai'diari, skved' the - shot tin';.fihe ahdv tli6';'first ' spell, : closed; without'''either;side;'.scoring: ii" -' •*, .; / V werein difficulties .soon'afteri'.tho'. •< spoil;:-ajid:'Rovers-' wore, putting' forflv■''■their.--:,'.bbst;.effprts;;'tb 'Scorri..!v; Erratic? shdoting "and: . miskicks by Rovers gave Wanderers a chanco: ■' - TheyVtooli[-it;-'arid ■'a - fortvard (riish/; iii; which. Ash, Gwilbam, and Reid-wero prominent, saw the.firstrn'ametl; player,.rpgister-thefirstgoalin the/game/^iTlie• reyerso -had ; .'a;good:-'efiect 'on' Rovers,vand-steadied .them.down,. Their play- , .thc'wirid.as'Wanderers continuously; to the onslaught, and : .'atly./d^^aed^St^r^rntory';".- Bethell . hadva shot but. the,greasy ball , missed,.the..goal by a few inches.:. Barry, who:,Vwas -'playing a ' greatgame,' had; - hard./.luck".; He.; niariaged.-.the '.ball. in'.fino . l a^lc;;but:had no' dcceii-fc ellancca of having! ■ a' shot. ' Other Rover players hazarded shots' , ;at ,varyingjdistances,.,but;in.' most cases they : During-tho. sec-' orid had several corner kicks, : but; failod •.to-'Scoro off. them. Tho Wan-. : iofEorts" to 1 in-;' fcore;:;.but'- referee's; ..- whistle'sojinded' tiriie.:the score'-reriiaincd'lin- ■ ';alto"i;cd:;.';.).'Oii. thip'.iday's pi ay. Rovers, lia'dj if Their backs '•/'lday^-,it^j' ; j)nt^e'Ji)^'rd':ai^on'was;'not :quit^v®'tVh6.mb:'pn';ihdA.wei,' , .' , slipnefy' ground.'' Wanderers put up a good game,' aiid deserve . their{yictoryi ..:The bAcks -Wore very safo, and the forwards; had,bM .luck; on a' few -.occasiohsj •' but throughout .'the'game !tliey' showdd good ~ was i- Wandercrs ■... '1 : . \Roveis,, 0

R VMBLERS \ PETONE Tho Ramblers v. Peton-i fixture was played at Potono under moit unfavourable feather conditions'. 'A.heavy; northerly gale,-, with occasional showers of ram, soon made the ground-.aiitl j ball' Very: greasy. vEamblers wpn,'.'.tho.;itosSji'; ; and' played -with tlio wind. Potono;' kicked;,off,;V.and good combination mado",things:.very.. warm: ; .for.'ltamblers. The attack ,wtß, ! ; hoyvever, istalied' of?, and Ramblers iiii;;turn. attacked; -IJard kicking .with' the high ; wi their. attacks.Vli'rom a throir' in^.Atikeb'go^p.o^^io.n/-au^ : <'centr(!d nicely to Saunders,"; who aceptedj the: pass and re"-: gistered.a goal. Petone_kicked* : olf, "and Taplin, from tho wing;'; sput in a beautiful / shot, which hit the; cross-bar ami' went behind. After changing /ends, Potono continued to attack, ,and Sparrow- missed an easy shot. He mado-'up for" tlys a- little later by'scoring a .fine g0a1... With- .thovscores, equal Ramblers livened up, antLSaundcrs. witli .a gcod .'ccntro, enabled .AVnJersjto.put.in a' hot shot, which' the. guardian; failed to . stop; Petoho at.'this stage put forth -their'best', efforts to eqiialiso, and from-'a scramble'in'front: of Ramblers' goal, MSparrow ,scored his second goal for Petone., Bpth'j'teains, did;, tlieirt utmost to gain superiority,;'iPeton'eV wero, awarded a. corner ■kick,". and' : Hawkuis, j«rho took • it, sent ball'.;JbiiQk«ito^Rdhal:v:H*s jt". into the goal'niouth," .'where tho. ..ever-watchful Spar-. : rojr .headed;' thus' scoring his 'third goal'.' SThis'was the 'final score in the game,, and yyheir the .whistle sounded tho scoro! stcod:— . ' ... -'

r Petone,, 3 goals ;■ Ramblers; 2 goals. • -Fori Ramblers Mouat,'■ Anker';', and Waters played 'well; * arid- ;di'£en'e special I mention.' Saunders is iiot ; pla'yiiig: as. well as last season; and .did hot show up to advantage. Old.nal) 'in,'. goal'-? Ws very''safo, and did ' gopcl work.''The' Hack's lacked judgment, kicking too hard .when' attacking!' 'and ./too high, against the :wirid. ,;Of "the Petpne front rank Taplin/Smythd and Sparrow- wero .' tho pick.Of tho backs M'Kinrion - in; goal 1 saved splendidly, Hawkins .'at-left half fed his forwards With - great 'judgment; Joyco and TJcthell ;also did ;well. '■ TIJISTLIS v. Y M 0 A. . - This 'garni'' was'■played- at Newtown Park under iidverso ! conditions; as it jvas raining hard,: - and a ; : strong wind was blowing. . At tho timo to kick-off only four of tho TJiistlo team.had.arrived,-and a canvass amongst tho Club's, supporters was necessary to try and complete the team. The piny t!as forced by tho YiM.C.A. right wing, but repollcd only for a short time. They eamo again, and centred for W. Gibson, who Scored. Naughtori; inado 1 an ' excellent .• opening for tho Thistle, but'whs ! hot supported .Tho Thistle players cdiild "not ; keep their, feeti as most of- the' substitutes wero: playing in ordinary boots.. The 'Y.M.G.A. forwards ciimo again -in'--a-body; and W. Gibson scored tlio 'second goal.. . Tho game had not re-started five-minutes when ,W. .Gibson, from twenty. distance, shot the third goal. About

.this. time another 'stranger commonced playing for the .Thistle, and completed the team, but not for long, for J..Blackwood got disgusted and left the. field—a big blow to the Thistle. ■ ■ Naughton -and M'Mjllan almost : scored for tho .Thistle, but play was quickly transferred to' the other end, where W. Gibson put his. side further iahoad'with-a grand • shot.'! Saul was playing full-back .for tho ■\ iThistlo manfully against odds. . There was no . denying tho Y.M.C.A. "with so little opposi;tion to check them. • ; Thcy .'soon wero hover-, ing round the Thistle's goal, and after smart • isaros ; by .Rowan, 'Forbes' scored for Y.M.C.A. .Diroctly after a penalty agains.t Hancock was i; given. Moore' was. entrusted with tho kick, . and Rowan was ordered'to keep in goal. Ho t iCloverly. saved tho. shot, only to seo Moore meet' the'r.ebonrid .and put;the ball through. 1 Half-timo was sounded, and it was decided to . : play; thirty-five, minutes each way.', v. Tho .'game was resumed, Thistle, still- playi: ing,ten men,.and.represented by. all colours. ; After,., a''-brief , incursion by Naughton, ; •Y.MlC.A'.'s' right .wing,, .'which' .was ,'always ' dangerous, got under way, and Timperley . scored with a fine oblique shot. Around tho goals was-just'-a i'quigmirc, and the players could not keep their feet. AY. Gibson added another goal to his big, list.' Hancock fool-' ' ishly handled, and' tho penalty kick' was taken • by, tho Y.M.C.A. goalkeeper, who mado no mistake with it. ' Y.M.C.A. forwards wero having quito a: day. out; three . sticcessivo ■' .corners were given against Thistle, and after ; repeated saves by Rowan ho was.again beaten 1 byW. "Gibson. •' All wero glad to hear, tho : whistle sound for' full time. ' A football match ~ was Yiioyer .played 'ißinder worse, conditions. . Tile game ended: — v. . y.M.C.'A.. ... .' ... 10 . Thistle -- ....- ... . ... .0 ( SECOND D!VISION. Y.M.C.A. v. ROVERS. ' , , :' Fearful weather prevailed for thi3 lftatch, jfhich was,played, at Miramar. Goo<l football ■was impossible "owing to tho heavy-wind. As the -Y.M.C.A." have .'not; been successful this' season, it was.decided to reorganise the team. This move was successful, and- tho form and combination shown on Saturday- far excelled all previous games. - Starting -with tho wind, tho;.Y;M.&A. soon; put their' opponents on tho. defensive;- and,' after about ten minutes' play, one of the. Rovers handled in tho pe'nnlty area. Kingwell took-the kick, and scored. Tho;Y.M.C.A. .continued' to :force . matters, : and;'.'from a good .centre'.by' Self, Kingwell ..sbored his second goal. Just before half-time Elford -'scored tho, third coal for "Y.M.C.A; - ' ; .-'ln'vtho second 'spell tho Y.M.C.A.x played a :purely- defen'sivo game. sl 'AU the -back division; did, well, especially Baker in goal. .It was owing '/to a' miskick by'; one of tho .M.C.A. men that. Rovers scored a goal. This'was the last .'.score, anci the gamoicilded:' —Y.M.C.A., 3; Rovers, 1.,;' ' SWIFTS'v. MENTAL HOSPITAL. • Swifts journeyed, to Pprirua and succeeded in' defeating tho . Mental Hospital 'team' by five goals to.nil, The winners" wero. assisted '.by tho wind,m'the.first spell, arid it was not -long : before' they \were . attacking; .M'Lean opened/the;scoring witli. a jrood cross shot,, ; arid, continuing/the. attack, both; Moffatt .and Pye-Smith should have "scored. Elliott, for. the. Hospital,-: led;- some; -good- rushes, into Swifts', ground,- but,received:' no support from his . forwards.;;; ; Wilson - rolievecT with a long kick, and -tho Hospital . full-hack mulling, vM'Loan.riish.cd .away .with the.ball and scorSl ji '.second.' coal.:,' Assisted, by! the,wind and rain in the, second, balf, Hospital .looked'dangerous,,;and Elliott tried,'olio ;or two shots,, ,but'the" Swifts', backs;.wero safo. 'At length their, forwards attacked, -and from,throw-ms M'Lean sent.in two good;centres,:.from which Moffatt and Pye-Smith ;adde<l goals. Elliott wa« again prominenjt for the home team, and sent.in.a warm, shot, which went just out'sfdri. of the. not, Asajh the home team was .dangerous, ■ but; they. drily;, gaineda corner.Then the Reds attacked,;and good work by Kirschberg and,-Dean led to iMoffatt, scoring. Swifts' ; fij(tli..;qjjdi;'Jjnal'spai.' :.'Befoi;o time, Elliott,:for-i Hospital, ■'put in two fine shots,, but they both .'.Went o'utsido.y Mr. E,' WirnU ley refereed. '.• ; WANDERERS v &r JOHN'S A : AThis' match;.was : played at No: : 3 ; Miramar. South',' in rather disagreeahlo weather. St. John's had tho advantage of a strong, wind, ' and,, for - a time, ' : play.. was'.;co'nfiried l ' , tb';:tho Wanderers' /"territory; but ".the; ■ backs :r£' . . lieved,; a : nd;'-;Wanderers getting well up. the field, had: a shot at goal. A good return by St. . Jolrn's ' placed the;''W 7 andorcTs'• , goal jin danger, but a" free' 1 liick] St.' John's forwards wero now keeping tho Wanderers on their own sido of tho ! field, but tho defence of WaiVderersy Was ; vci-y solid;. Battling against' the .. wind, .- Wanderers mado little |ioadway, and St. John's icustodian' was never, railed upon . to, save. • There n'os. no score. : when the whistle i sounded ; half-timo.,/■ Tho Wanderers, playing, with: the wind,: started briskly,'/and,' from clo'so quarters, Pickering scored a:.beautiful'goal.. They-were now-hav-ing the best, of matters aiid; were' giving St.' John's'dcfonce a hot .timb, ' A combined nisi' by. the Wa.-iderers' forwards, enabled. Taylor l to 1 score. the' -iecorid :'vg:>a].;/ Tho .whistlo sounded,-and the game ended:—' Wanderors; 2 ; St. John's A, 0 InV.the second grade.match,' "Wanderers't;: St. 'John's,:.the formei'-won. by- 2to nil. JUNIOR LEAGUE MAtCHES. . The Y.M.C.A.. v., Petono-, was won by the former by, 3 goals to oiie. Warne, AViikins, and -Wilson did the . scoring for . Y.M.O.A. Scambury, Wilkins,' and Warno were 1 particularly noticeable ariibngst tho forwards for Y.M.C.A.,: ..arid Wilson arid Pritciiard amongst, tho rearguard.-For Pctone, JTitzgerald was the most prominent ;player'.- . •'The, Swifts >v.- Peto.uo game; resulted in a win foivtho; former .team bv 2 goals to 1. Playing: with the' wind, in. the first spell; .Swifts scorcd.two goalsj. one by.Overendj and the other', tho) result of. -a scramble • in ftont of Petario's goal. In tho : second spell, Peptone netted one goal,- but were unable to equalise. •

. The Marist.' A team'; -met and. defeated South"Wellington by 3 goals to nil. For tho winners the' goals wore scoured by O'Brien, Burke, and Ready. .■ Tho. Marist; B . drew with the Swifts. Neither side scored, vilfough the "B's" narrowly missed: two goals towards the finish; Little and Guthrie defended well, and Stratford mado -no mistakes as . goalkeeper. O'Sullivan, as outsidd right, played a very good game. • .. .' /: ' .!/ ; : A:,special. meeting, of. the Roferees Association will bo held in the. Y.51.C.A. Rooms on Wednesday' evening, at .7 p.m., when,all , new' memberswill be oxaniined. . . RUGBY. "Y ' , MATCHES. (DX TELIiGUArII.—SrKCIAL COUItESI'ONDENT.) , ' Palmerston, Jl,.iy 23. The Ilankms Shield competition was 'continued to-day under excellent conditions, both senior' games being keenly contested. Kia To?., with the wind in their favour, attacked almost continuously all through' tho first;spell, scoring- nino to nil—ono try and two penalties-kicked by M'Minn. In tho second spell Palmerston took a turn in attack, putting on < eleven points—tlireo trios (one 'converted)—while Kia T'oas, who gained by. their opponents' errors, 'registered tlireo moro tries. Kia Toa'attacked vigorously in the first spell; having a slight breezo behind them. .

The Feilding Old Boys' game was evenly, contested, v the Old I)oys having the upper hand till; about twenty minutes boforo the call of time. When the first spell ended Old Boys had scored a converted try to a try. Shortly after the second spoil commenced, Old Boys' secured another , try, and after pressing hard for somo tiino Foildiiig wore awarded a freo kick, Carrol potting a goal, aftor which ' Feilding scored throe trios in quick succession, the gamo ending IS to 8. Junior results were as follow: —Palmerston 0 v. Linton 3; Kia Toa 11 v. Feilding 11, a draw. '' Third-class.—Kia Toa 11, v. High School 5; and Feilding beat Palmerston.' IN OTHER CENTRES. ' - ' ,• ,(FT' TEi.EQIUrH —_P!tESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, May 23. To-day's senior football matches resulted as follow ;—Alham.bra 3 y. Port Chalmers

nil; Southern G v. University nil; Dnnodii 8 v. Kaikoriu 6; Zingari-Rielimond 11 v Union 3; Taiori liovers 5/v. Pirates nil.

AuoManil, May '23. Tho attondanco. 1 at the Auckland Rugby Football Union's matches hero to-day was spoilt by tho tramway strike. There was splendid weather, and a large number of players wero out in all grades. In the senior matches 'Varsity defeated Parnell by 6 points (two tries), to 3 (one try); I'onsoiiby overran Newton, .winning by 30 points (eight tries,, threo converted) to 9 (one try. two penalty goals); and Grafton-beat North Shoro by 8 points (one. converted try and a penalty goal) to 3 (one penalty goal). A junior player named Griggs had his collarbono broken to-day. Ghristohuroli, May 23. The results of to-day's football matches were: —Old Roys 19 v. Merivale 8; Sydenham 22 v. Limvood nil; Albion 21 v. College nil; Christchurch, a byo.. . • . A Rugby football matoh will tako placo between teams representing the cadets of tho combined Tax, Valuation, and Advances Departments and tho ■combined Treasury and' Audit Departments at the Newtown Park this morning at 10 o'clock. The teanis will be as follow" Taxes " (yellow and black): IJourko, Dixon, Hill, Young, Russell;' Claii;, Lovejl," M'Caw, Dinnie,"GletUiill, Peart, Paul, Hurley,, and Stowart. Emergen-, cies^Robertson, Couch, Vivian, M.'Kay, and M'Clintock. Treasury.": Stafford,.Watson; Ryan,. Clapson, Fisher,. Auton, Rutherford, Heenan, : Jones,' Dowling, King, Gapper, Cairns, Joyco, and: "Welsh." Emergency: W. Ryan. - ' On tho same ground a match will be played between the-Railways A and B teams. ■ Petono High School, played the Wellington Technical School oil tho-'" Rec." ground, Petone. ; The latter won by 16 points to 6. For Petono Cowan (two tries and one'goal), Taylor (one try), Millar.(oris try), and Tobin .(one'goal)'were tho scorers. ' .

RUGBY RULES.

•THE OBSTRUCTIVE SCOTTISH UNION. [isT TELEGBATS. —PKESS ASSOCIATJOU.] _ Masterton,- May 23./- ; "There is'one tiling that is news to; us," .said Mr. ; Harnett, manager of the, visiting team, in an interview, "and that;is the awarding of a free .kick for all; offside play. In ' England,. if offside is. clearly unintentional, the... referee , only gives a ' s'orum." Mr. Harnett-thought the penalty too scvoro unless the breach was wilful. ■ It was suggested to him-'this-would be. a point to bring forward at the suggested conference with the Referees' Association. In;.-; conversation; 'on; ,the .subject of improvement :of . tho rules, Mr. Harnett ' ■ disputed the belief . generally held in _ New 'Zealand . that tho V English Union is to blams. for their conservatism in this matter. Hq stated: that the rules were thoroughly; revised not long , ngp, much cure being' devoted to the subject and many' improveriionts introduced in directions plainly needed;' - but when ;they . :'camo: before tho International Board they wero nearly all rejected at tho,instance.of"thf Scottish Union:. In othor',-respects this Union was always difficult to.deal with.

.: ""'TYhy "dbn!t.- you ■ tell: them- to fall into lino then, or politely inform them you can do without them'? Why 'shorild--England and Walos,' with all their millions of pftople, be -dictated .to by a; small body .like Scotland.' -Horo 'in tho' colonies the Rugby gamo has not: only soccer, but tho Australian game, to contend: with, aiid - if .-.it is to hold its own and., remain the popular favourito it must inarch with tho'times, and.the rules must bp cleared of'some of their cumbrous and obstructive .features."

i Air.■'Harnett thought;.it. might' possibly, com'o.to this; yet.'; England was gotting.vcry. sick at .tlio attitude, .taken' up' ! by. Scotland lately. ..' Their refusal to i join this tqui-\ on palpably- absurd grounds, and also their refusal to play, tho ,Now South Wales team that is going home,-,had left. a'.bad tast'o in. tHqamotiths':6f. 'Englishmen. . :