ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

THE DEEDS OF A SOGGY DAY. [Bx Centre-Half.] The senior first division competition, on

The Antarctic Visitor. Last Saturday was a day to test the enthusiasm of "soccer" players, for a nioro inhospitable afternoon has seldom fallen to the lot of footballers. A squally southerly, breathing tho chill of an Antarctic blizzard, gavo the hapless goalkeepers something more to think about than mere football. Visions of pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, etc., cite, clouded their normal vision, and paralysed their faculties. Out on the battlefield the vanguard and back divisions slipped and slid, and splashed about on the spongy turf, eut ludierous capers, and called it football. There were bright spots here and there, of course. Some fortunate •teams played on fairly hard grounds, but there were many flagging spirits, dafaulting players, and here and there a referee, of whom it was reported that there was "no appearance, your Worship." Tho hardships of the day told severely on tho bo.Ts' divisions, and it is extremely doubtful whether «a single sixth division team mustered all present. The Management Committee, to its credit, has taken duo note of this aspect of the question, and at its meeting this week decided that on future similar occasions the sixth division fixtures will be declared off.

Rather Simple?

Arising out of Saturday's weather, and the disorganisation caused to. the Association's fixtures, St. David's Clnb, at. Pctone, had a bone to piqk with the Management Committee. St. David's were to hare.played St. John's, but-some person unknown as yet 'took upon himself to inform Secretary Williams that the Petone Ground was awash. .A.,W. forthwith rang up Mr. Salmon, of tho Postponement Committee, and the la.tter postponed the match. St. David's duly mustered' for the' battle, only to find, that matters had. gone wrong. They made inquiry, and . waxed exceedingly wroth. The club secretory wrote a very pointed lotter to the Management Committee, stated that the Petone Ground was perfectly dry, and inquired, in effect, "Why is this thus?" Apparently, tho man who informed Mr. Williams that the ground was under water had assumed, from the 3tate of tho weather, something which was not according to fact. All that the Management Committee could do, in the circumstances, was to scratch its head, so to speak, and wonder whether the miscreant who had led them astray could be brought to justice. If it is any satisfaction to St. David 5 Club, they will be interested to hear that their secretary has succeeded in making the Management Committee look rather—what shall .we say?—rather simple? Alas! And alack! A Good Match. The Mental Hospital men are beginning to find their fset in tho senior ranks, and, by Saturday's fino win over Diamonds, may fairly claim to having "won their spurs." The game was played under rather more favourable conditions than those decided in town, as the ground was well sheltered from tho blustering "southerly" by the main buildings, and beyond a few drizzling showers there was nothing to hinder tho players frpm placing the ball, tho wind net being felt. Diamonds started as if they were goiny to carry all before them, playing their traditional kick and rush game, which was the best under the circumstances, with a wet ball and slippery ground. After each goal had been visited in turn, Williams pounced on a return from CockbHrn, who could only pull down a hijh shot to see the ball driven past 'him by the forward, who had followed up fast. Goal Number Two soon followed, scored in a similar manner, Hathaway being tho man on the spot . to meet the keeper's "save" from a high shot. Hospital were not idle, but Davis slipped whe-n the goal was at his mercy, and on another occasion the ball was only scrambled away from the goal-mouth in tho nick of time. The game was mostly in Diamonds' half, but on a sudden break away Diamonds claimed for a goal, the ball being dead on the goal-lino before being cleared by Cockburn. Mr. Lith£ow, however, negatived the appeal,—a case of hard luck, but somewhat counterbalanced by their second point, which was clearly knocked down before being centred and netted.

So, when half-time arrived with the hot coffee, Diamonds were looking on tho points as quite safe, but that "there's many q. slip" still holds good was joon exemplified on resuming. Phillips had rearranged his forwards, with the result that improved methods were brought to bear, some- long swinging passes ending • in., a fine middle from Pearson being placed by Phillips beyond tho reach of Patrick. Maintaining the pressure, Tyrer met a rebound from Patrick, and with a "first time" equalised. The game was now- fast and furious, Black and Lowe, with Hathaway (striving their utmost, but mostly in individual efforts), were kept in check by the sterling qualities of Shand, Hoots, and Wallis. With more method than their rival forwards, the Hospital men were always dangeroue, and, when Elliott beat Patrick from a perfect centre by Pearson, pandemonium reigned. It was a splendid feat to/ mako up a leeway of two goals against such a strong team, and Hospital fully deserved their victory.

Turning to the players, Roots was the finest player on the ground. Throwing untiring , energy into his piny, ho was the stumbling block to Diamonds, especially when Hospital were making their great effort in the second half. Consistent, reproduction of this form should earn him his place in the representative games. Shand, at right-half, was untiring; and Black and Lowe had very little rope from him, his tackling being first-class, while- one fine long eliot in tho first half almost scored.

That eld wnrhorse "Joe" Taylor was ever in the thick of the fray, and it is not to be wondered at that his hair should show signs of diminution, so persistently does he apply his head to the ball. Arne Domini took a hand in-the second half, bnt his was mostly a case of "bellows to mend." Swifts v. Ramblers.

Ramblers, without Smallbone, Johnson, and M'Gillivray, made a sorry display against Swifts on Saturday. • Webster should endeavour to cense his old habit of swinging his arm round an opponent's neck, lest a worse fate befall him. Crc-s defended soundly against some smart forwards. Kirschborg was the best of three fair halves. The richtwing was very weak. Wilson, at centreforward, never got goine; properly, not that Perks was beating him, but everything seemed to ro wrong. Edwards wants a dry ground, but he did not cet that on Saturday. Bethell was quite his match, and the Ramblers crack winger seldom got past him. Swifts pressed a follower into takintr Whittle's place, and ho had anything but a. "hot time." Pye-Smith and AVi'son woro a. pair of solid backs, Gsorge being just as good as his partner. Guise is consistent, tKough not showy. Perks did very well. Mntheson was the best of the. forwards, and his strong rushes and honest charges were quite refreshing, after the fiddling tactics of soino of the forwards we havo in Wellington. Colin Webster has no desire to hnng on to the ball when Mntheson is about. Vcssey is inclined to show "feeline" when unset by a heavier man now and then. Roberts is ,i i>olished forward, and cot a pretty gonl on Saturday. Harry did surprisingly well, and, alongside Roberts,' might yet be a good man. "Davie" Scott reside, amends for a lot of poor finishes by the way in which he snapped up that pass on Saturday and shot past Webster. Swifts must be considered fortunate in getting full points. They have a harder

task in front of them when they visit Hospital at Porirua. Some Gcnoral Notos. Association players are to bo congratulated on the advent ot Mr. R. S. Lithgow, who is in the first flisht of referees. His administration of the. DiamondsHospital mime was well nigh, perfect. His offside decisions were mvnn.-.blv correct, especially in one where nineteen" referees out of twenty would have allowed a goal, In this wise: Roots had put in a smasluns drive ftorn tin I yards distance which, on striking the Kn. rebounded to Tyrer about fi teen yaieU out. Tyrer shot it home. Mr. Lilhcou blew his whistle on the ball striking thn bar, having noticed Tyrer being tfaccd offside by a back moviiiE down tho field. A fine point, but correct. The F \ lias recommended to tlio international Board that a throw-in be allowed to the opposing side instead of a free-kick when ths law relating to the throw-in is broken. The punishment fits tho crime very neatly, and is a decided improvement in the law. The Porirua Sixth Division champions are showing fine scoring abilities this season, having put on twenty goals without response in four matches. Iheir coach, an old Aston Villa enthusiast, endeavours to inculcate some of the tactics employed by tho famous Midland club, with a nleasing response from the youngsters, who certainly do not indulge in the vice of selfishness, so fatal to raanv a good team, in Harris and Eastwood they have two very good shot?, the latter being a remarkably fine marksman for a lad, and their coach, Mr. T. Harris is to bo congratulated on the form of his little team. The boys owe much to another enthusiast, Mr. Mungavin, whose assistance is invaluable. To-day's match between Hospital and Swifts may have an important bearing on tho championship. Both teams have defeated Diamonds 'by the odd goal, aud have strong forward lines. The Swifts have an unbeaten record, but Hospital have a long score to adjost with them, never having beaten their visitors in any game since the formation of the club. This defect, however, they trust to remedy this afternoon. The Hospital ground, though on the small side, is eminently fair for both teams, being, perhaps, the best annointed ground in \YolJington or suburbs, and a fine exhibition of the game is looked for. J. Ash was never known to train before as he is now doing for Thistle.

H.M.S. Cambrian Football Club is asking for our First Division representatives to meet them durinp Coronation week. The writer opines that the JackTars will have a high opinion of the class of football played hero when they have .got. througirwith tho aforesaid representatives. Nous verons!

last Saturday's results, stauds thus:— 3 ■" - "3 . » S £ *? a ■» a '3 a .3 >' o 6 to "3 t< £ j a < & Swifts 5 5 0 20 1 10 Thistle .... 5 4 1 ' 13 i S Rnmblcrs 5 ■! 1 ■ 17 0 8 Diamonds 5 3 2 12 n 6 Hospital 5 3 2 If 12 C Wanderers .... S 2 3 12 12 4 Rovers 5 2 3 10 12 i Y.M.C.A 5 2 3 8 10 i St. John's 5 0 5 i 17 0 .Corinthians ... 5 0 5 1 22 0