ASSOCIATION GAME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1115, 1 May 1911, Page 7

ASSOCIATION GAME.

RAMBLERS-THISTLE. From the outset the game between Ramblers and Thistle, at Mirnmar, on Saturday, was a hotly-contented one. Soon after the commencement, what looked like a cnrlain .score for Thistle was beautifully frustrated by the splendid defensive work of their opponents' right-full-back (Jl'Uvcray). Soon afterwards the first goal of the match was scored by Ramblers. From a pretty piece of play on the right-wing, (he ball was passed from Coward d> Johnston, and then to Edwards, playing at inside-left. The latter put in a shot from lh« ruck, which gave M Artlle no chance to save. Ramblers, 1; Thistle, 0. No sooner had the garni' started again when Coward, outsidertaht, again initiated a passing-bnut, tho ball noing from Smallbone to Edwards, who scored uentl.v. Ramblers, still press, in"', gave tho Blues a lot of trouble, Johnstone, centre-forward, hitting I he bar with a powerful shot on 'one occasion. Thistle now attacked, and gave tho Rambler backs nnd poalkcepcr some trouble. I'ho latter cleverly saved a high-dropping shot. Play, however, was

transferred to Thistles , cud of Iho hVKI, and thence In Iho opjio-ite end, wliero CiibsDii, left I ull-baok for Kiiniblcr.s "liackcliargod" Hull, centre-forward lor 'J'hislkv. The referee r:ivo a Ireo-kick, and Clapliam, taking it from about twciilylivi! yards (ml, put. in a pplcndiil kick, and scorod. liamblers, i; Thistle, 1. This nidod Hid Kr.-l spell. Thiat'.o Marled oil" in Hie second spoil with a Strom; attack, ami kept Hnmblors busy in their own Halt" of the iicld l'jr some time. J'.ventually, Hall, after .some manoeuvring, drove hard for tin: goal, and Hie Hamblers' goalkeeper, fisted Hie ball over the bur—a corner. .Some, give-and-take play followed, until Coward secured on ih" right-wing;, and after a splendid run up (ho line, centred. Hart (centre-half) missed the ball badly, and the Thistle forward;; parried the attack to the opposite end of the field. Tim Rame now became very exciting. From a. concerted rush by Hambjcrs' forwards, Sinallbonc secured on the right-wing, and shot hard. Clupliam, Hying to clear the Roal'inoiitli, inadvertently H'ored Jot his opponent*. Kamblers, 3; Thistle, 1. Thistles now played a hard panic. Kamblers had to be very careful in (Jieir defensive work. They conceded a corner, however, and Ash, taking the kick, centred beaiitifullv. .Simpson headed to Hall, who headed I'll.? ball into Uα- net, amidst: a roar from rhe Thistle supporters. Hnmblers, 3; Thistle, 2. The lavl few minutes of the game saw Webster called upon to savo time iifler limp. Ho played brilliantly. When the whistle sounded, Thistles were s-till pressing hard. The game emlstl. Ramblers, 3; Thistle, 2. llr. H. L. Godbcr was the referee. Y.M.C.A.—CORINTHIANS. At Kclburiie Park Y.JI.C.A. mot and defeated C'onithians by two goals to nil after a lively game. Thero was a fairly largo crowd ot spectators, .Corinthians kicked oft, and oneucd with an attack on their opponents' vanguard, but had to retire boforo the superior tactics of Forsyth and Coatcs, whoso kicking showed good judgment. Phillips, of the Y.11.C.A. side, got possession of. tho ball, and made ii smart run. up (he field, culminating in a shot for goal—a low, hard drivo, which Coital!, tho goalkeeper, cleverly met. On their guard v against further surprise attacks of this nature, the Corinthians hardened up their defences, loosened their forwards, and for a time attack and coun-ter-attack featured tho play, each goal being threatened in succession. Y.M.C.A. then scored as tho .result of the initial advantage given them from a free kick, tho ball being smartly passed on from Sl'Kay to Govnn, who cleverly eluded Steven's (Corinthians), and'scored with a nasty drive, difficult to judge. The remainder of the first spoil was not eventful. In the second half tho honours of. the game wore fairly evenly divided, and the tactics adopted by tho Corinthians served to display somo excellent footwork by their contre-lialf (JJoois), whofc dribbling and placing was of a superior standard. Just before tho whistle blew the Y.Jf.C.A. men scored their second gaol, in the fnco of an off-side nrotest—not upholp— by their opponents. Mr. Smith was the referee. ROVERS-ST. JOHN'S. Duppa Street Rewrvo was the scene of an interesting conflict between tho recently promoted junior team, St. John's, and tho veteran J! overs. The older team won by -better generalship. Although beaten, St. John's were not disgraced, and with a little more practice in eonibina-' tion should Ik, heard of to advantage in the future. Shortly after the kick-off Hovers secured tho ball, and took it right down to their opponents' goal-lino where a freekick, awarded to St. John's relieved the situation. Hovers continued to press and their forwards, playing well together, kept tho St. John's backs alert. On several occasions tho passing work of C. O'Shca, Croft, and El ford was exceedingly good, and the trio was .ably assisted by Gibson at centre. I'rojii ono. of. these, forward rushes, initiated by C. O'Shoa, and finished by Lowe, Rovers' first sco;e came. During the early part of the game Rovers made many breaches of tho nIV-sido rule, but towards the em! of the first spell these were not'"so , frequent. St. John's attacked strongly, and would have, done much better had individual tactics nrit been so frequently resorted to. On several occasions the White halves broke up what little combination St. John's did show. Half-time was drawing near, and Hovers, who had had all the best of tho play, made a combined forward rush towards the goal, and C. O'Shea scored. At the commencement of the second half St. John's rallied, and Dick almost scored a goal for his side. However, the same trouble that was evident in the first spell—want of combination—spoilt his opportunity. Hart took a poinltykick for St. John's, and .should have scored, but failed in the attempt. Then Hovers' turn came, and Croft, taking the ball right up the field, shot and scored. Gibson followed suit a few minutes later. No further scores were registered, and the game ended in Hovers' favour by i rroals to nil. Mr. Lithgow was referee. HOSPITAL-WANDERERS. The finer points of the game were conspicuous by their absence in this match, tho plav being of a very disjointed arid disappointing character, duo partly to Hie superiority of either defence over attack, aud to both teams losing players from accidents and other causes to be mentioned later. It was an ideal day and ground for a'display of football, but, as a rule, aimless kicking was the order qt tho day, a neat, acenrate pass or a judicious placing of the ball being seldom witnessed. Wanderers gave Cockburn a few dangerous shots to disposs ol > 110 , 1 ! he did in clean style, Hodgers and Powell giving him most trouble, while Phillips put in a long, low shot that Garnett just cleared in time. Tho outside-right ot Wanderers displaced the cartilage ol his knee, and Tiad to retire, placing his team at a disadvantage; but though having the best of the game, tho U lute could not score, Phillips missing a few enances, bcin* greatly handicapped by an injured i>nkle. Half-time arrived with no score. The second-half, which was no hotter than the first in the quality of the football, was marked by a regret able incident, which culminated in two of the rdavers being summarily ordered oil i>l file referee (Sir. Press). Just before tinio T evethick got away in a Buspicwusly ofMdo position, and centred to Hodgcr.-, who scoi-ed a neat goal. It was a relief when time was called. AAalh. at back was in good form, as were Shaw and Tyrer at half, while Cockburn in goal upheld his reputation. il Inuess, for Wanderers, was excellent, as wore Barker, centre-half, and Powell and Rodgers forward. Mr. Press was the feferee. OTHER MATCHES. Y.JI.C.A.-St. AnM-s.-Y.Jt.CA. drew with St. Antic's at Miramar, each side scoring four goals. The game was a fast and exciting one. O'Connor, Lvans, Goode, and Henderson c-ach contributed a goal to the score of the Y.M.C.A. team, while Barrett (1), Newton (2), and Boyce (1) scored for St. Anne's. Swifts-Y.M.C.A.-Swifts, after a hard tiis=le, scored two gools for the first spell, their opponents scoring nil. During tlic second half Y.M.C.A., with the wind behind them, kept tho ball the most of Inc time in their opponents' goal-mouth, hut failed to score, and the game ended— Swift.; 2, Y.M.C.A. nil. Y.M.C.A.-Brooklyn.-Brooklvn (2) defeated Y.M.C.A., nil. Scorers for Brooklyn, Pcarco (1) and Thomas (1). Swi(ts-Y M.C.A.-Swifts' Xo. 3 team defeated Y.M.C.A. (same division) rather badlv. scoring six goals to one. Morton scored for Y.M.C.A. M'lndoe (2), Guise (3), Maunders (1) were the scorers for Swifts. K«ngors-Instit;ite (sircth classy-Insti-tute (1) defeated Hangers (0), Leggatt scoring for the winners Institute's No. ■! team won by default. Hangers beat Marist Brothers B by 5 to 2. I'etone and St. David's played a drawn game, the scores being 2 goals each. Swifts tot Y.M.C.A. by 2 goals to 2. Hovers, playing ten men. beat Wanderers by 5 goals to 2. Robinson (I) and Mav (I) scored for Hovers, and llayward (1) and CaiTuthers (1) for Ramblers. Wadcslow:i beat I'etone by I goals to 1 Ma ,T ce, ICeywood. Xorling, ami M'JiPod scored for' Wailestoivn and Tallin for I'etone. Swifts beat Soatoiin by " goals to nil. SI. David's (I'etone) teams . defeated I'etone by 2 goals to 1, were defeated by ■Ncwtown' Congregational by 1 goals to nil, and drew with Wadestown (3 soals),