ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 8

ASSOCIATION.

Perfect weather prevailed for Saturday's matches. A fair number'of spectators .assembled at the Basin Reserve and Newtown Park and some interesting play . was witnessed on both grounds. The games resulted as follow:— Thistle (1); v. Ramblers (0). Diamonds (2); v. Wanderers (0). Y.M.C.A. (2); v. Swifts (0). SENIOR LEAGUE—FIRST DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. v. SWIFTS. A large number of spectators witnessed the Swifts v. Y.M.C.A'. match at tho Basin Reservo on Saturday. The gamo was well contested throughout, but poor shooting by Swifts' forwards threw several possible scores away. '• Shortly after play commenced Swifts attacked strongly and Graves had a shot, which Gofton cleared. From tho kick-out Forbes and Timperley secured and after passing through tho opposing backs, Timperley sent in a fine shot, which Tattle saved brilliantly. Rogers as the result of a fine dribbling rush was enabled to shoot, but his effort was very weak. The'Gibson brothers who wero both playing well, had two ineffective shots at goal, ono of_ them striking the cross bar and the other gliding over tho top. Talbot had ail easy chance of scoring for Swifts, but his shot went wide. "Forbes secured from the kick-out and, after a fine run down the wing sent in a centre, which Kerchbcrg intercepted. Shots from Y.M.C.A. came in fast, but Tattle stood the onslaught well and after clearing two in succession, was beaten with a head shot by W'. Gibson from close quarters. Swifts rallied but" wero unable to scoro and tho first spell ended— Y.M.C.A., ly Swifts, 0. On resuming it was evident that the light forwards of tho Swifts team meant business. A fino passing forward rush gavo Oilier an opportunity to scoro, and his shot though good missed by inches only. Rogers outplayed several Y.M.'s backs by trickery, but finished up with a feeble shot. Timperley came away with some neat foot work, and sent Tattle in a long dropping shot, which was cleared. Two corners wero awarded to Swifts, and Talbot sent in beautiful kicks. The first was secured by Talbot who sent in a head shot, which Gofton saved by conceding a corner. Hayward missed an easy chance of equalising by a bad shot. Len White gavo Gofton a hot shot to save. At this stage tho bad shooting of the Swifts was evident. They secured in good positions, but invariably sent the ball wido of the_ posts. Y.M.'s, from a corner, secured their second goal, at tho agency of Forbes, who sent in a shot that gavo 'rattle no chance. The Y.M.C.A.'s deserved their win, and were the bettor team. On several occasions they, however, departed from clean "soccer," and their light opponents suffered in consequence. Gofton, Chapman, and R. Gibson played well amongst tho backs, and Forbes, Timporley, and R. Gibson were probably tho pick of tho forwards. For Swills, Tilth m goal, a recent convert to "soccer," played exceptionally well, and made some remarkablo saves. Pyo-Smith and Elson did useful work at full, but "Jack" was off colour. Kerchberg, White, and Graves played sterling games at half. The forwards combined well, but the opposing forwards spoilt their chances by using too much weight. In neat footwoork tho Y.M.C.A. forwards wero outclassed. Mr. George Kain was tho roforec, and tho gamo ended: —

Y.M.C.A. ■ ... 2 Swifts ... 0 ' DIAMONDS v. WANDERERS. After a well-contested game, in which the forward tactics of the Diamonds gave them an advantage over, their opponents, the former team emerged victorious by 2 goals to nil. Play opened with Wanderers on the defensive, and Diamonds' forward lino strongly attacking, thoro being several good individual rushes. Irvine (Wanderers' goal-keeper) had his work cut out to defend his goal, and mado somo excellent saves. This, coupled with the splendid long-kicking of the backs, Cornish and Jardine, who repeatedly drove the ball hard down tho field and so relieved

tho pressure about the goal mouth. The first spell ended even all, no score. Tho ball,had.no sooner been-put into play at tho commencement of the "second spell than it became evident that Wanderers meant business, and Diamonds played a waiting game for a little while, evidently being unable to initiate a combined attack oi> tho enemy. After about fifteen minutes' desultory tactics, tho Diamonds' forward line broke away, and Hathaway, with a high over-head shot, got the leather past Irvine. Diamonds, 1; Wanderers, nil. Wanderers now played hard to even matters, but although they repeatedly invaded their opponents' territory, they seemed to lack the ability to act swiftly when opportunities offered. Having fought their way through, almost to the goal mouth, the energy of their rush seemed to have spent itself, and they dallied with the ball, thus giving their opponents time to come up, strengthen the defence, rally, and finally cscapo with tbe ball in their possession. Towards the call of time, Diamonds again scored; Hathaway neatly ccntred tho ball to Hcnlow, who cleverly negotiated a goal. The score then stood at 2 goals to nil, and remained unaltered until the whistle blew. Two corucr kicks in Wanderers' territory looked dangerous, but were rendered fruitless by the vigorous tactics of tho defenders, and the game ended: Diamonds ... • ... 2 Wanderers 0 There is no doubt that the deciding factor ill the match, as it has been in all those contests in which Diamonds have carrici; m the honours, was their forward tactics. This stylo of play, in which tho attack is developed with disconcerting suddenness by a fast forward line, must, when supported by good combination, tell in a game, and it has given Diamonds their undoubted superiority in the field. This style of play,. further, has been made more conspicuous by the more conservative tactics of. their opponents, who have been content to cover feet whilo the Blacks have covered yards. Cornish and Jardine (backs), and Irvine (goal) did splendid work for tile vanquished team, while good all-round play was done by tho Diamonds, the honours, if any, falling to the Lowe brothers, of the inside right and left forward line. 1 THISTLE v. RAMBLERS. This match was played in ideal weather, but on a ground too small for senior football, as tho full-backs can boot the ball from.goal to goal. Thistle won thetoss and when tho teams lined up for the kick-off it was seen both sides had reserves in the ranks. : Thistle forced the play and from a shot of M'Lellan, Oldnall the Rambler's goal-keeper had to throw himself full length and give a corner to save, his lines. Cummins, however, put behind. Mouat was seen to advantage in the Rambler's attack, and Duncan who was playing right full-back for Thistle had 'to concede a corner. Jackson (Ramblers) left-half took ,tho corner kick and also put •behind. Sandford and Blackwood were playing a fine wing game and gave Coward, Rambler's right-half, a deal • of trouble. Sandford tested Oldnall with a fine shot and although tackled by Hall and Lawrie cleared in good style. . Mouat, who is speedy and clever, gave Rowan (Thistle) a hot shot to got rid of which he did by his characteristic fisting. Hall led a sustained attack on the Rambler's goal. The backs, ' M'Laren and Edwards, were playing a solid game and equal to all occasions. The Thistle's halves were tackling and passing to advantage. Once however, from a pass of Anker's, Richards, Ramblers inside right, missed an easy chance of scoring, and half time arrived with ■no score.

On resuming play Hall, Thistle's centreforward, was limping very badly. -Mouat made a grand dribbling ■ run \ tho full length of the field and a goal seemed certain, but M'Ardle dashed across to the rescue and lifted the ball well out of danger. Grand combination was seen between Hall, Sandford and Blackwood. Their passing at times- was a treat to witness, and Oldnall and others had a- busy afternoon during the attack. Aftei •a fine combined dribble, Hall passed the ball to Blackwood-who by an overhead kick completely deceived 1 Oldnall and'scored. This livened' matters up 'considerably. and Anker, Rambler's rcentre-forwAirdjti gofci thtoligh time and again only to finish by wretched shooting. Thistle's outside right, an ex-Rugby player, had a solo run and beating Jackson and Edwards almost scored, Oldnall managing to put his shot round the post. It was a feature of the game, the way the junior or reservo players could beat their more experienced opponents. Hall during an attack on Rambler s goal was winded and play was suspended for a short time. He was more or less a passenger for the remainder of tho game which ended in a well-earned victory for Thistles by 1 goal to nil. Mr. Godber gave every satisfaction as referee.