ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 25, 29 July 1895, Page 4

ASSOCIATION.

The Senior Championship. The Swifts beat Thorndons by one goal to nil. The Swifts played uphill with the wind in the Srat spell, and from the start kept np a strong attack. 'I ho Thorudon backs defended well, Staples being very prominont. The forwards of the same team broke away several times, and on ono occasion saemed almost cortain of scoring 1 , but Jacks cleared after a hard run. Several corners fell to tbe Swifts owing to the high wind, bnt although Heather put in soveral good kicks, nothing resulted. 'I he game rnled very fast, the ball going up and down the field at a very rapid rate, and after some good play on the right wing by Cramp and Heather the ball was centred, and Macdonald placed a neat goal for the Swifts. Half-time was called shortly after withont any addition to the score. Thorndon on changing over had the advantage of the wind, and kept the ball in the Swifts' half. Staples, who was now- playing forward, went very near sooring on two oocasionß. He sent in two splendid shots, whioh, however, Smith proved capable of clearing, receiving irreat applause from the onlookers. The Swifts were mainly on the defenoe in the second spell, though Thompson, after a good run down the field by Heather, managed to put the ball through again, but the referee allowed an off-side appeal against him. The Thorndon forwards, although trying very bard, were unable to break the Swifts' defence, and the game ended in a win for the Swifts, as above stated. For the Swifts, the whole of tho back division played a good gamef Heather and Thompson being the most noticeable of the forwards. For the losers the whole team played very pluokily, tho forwards passing with good judgment, btaples and Smith perhapa being the pick ; Hawthorne at half-back was also in good form, giving the Swifts forwards a lot of trouble, and Carter kept goal in splendid fashion, being kept very busy in the first spell. Mr. Dasent was referee. The matoh between the Rovers and Diamonds resulted in a viotory for the latter by two goals to nil. The Rovers, with two men shorl, played uphill in the first apell, and were repeatedly called upon to defend their goal, Auld stopping dangerous rushes time after time. From a good pass right into goal by Morrison, M'Hattie just managed to put the ball between the posts. Good shooting, however, was almost entirely out of the question, and in this spell no further Boore resulted, though Hepworth was called npon to save on more than one occasion. In the seoond half of the game the Diamonds easily held their own, ana made determined efforts to increase their score, and after one splendid rush, in whioh the scorer took a prominent part. C. Earle scoured the second goal for the Diamonds. The Rovers were then playing with nearly all their team as forwards, but although they were in dangeronß proximity to their opponents' goal several times, were unable to score, and the game resulted as above. The moat conspicuous of the Rovers were Auld, Barclay, and Richardson (backs), and Vernie and Fraser (forwards) ; and of the Diamonds, Bonlßton, Taylor, Burns, and Kerr (backs), and C. Earle and Morrison (forwards). Mr. N. Bell acted as referee, and Messrs. Hamilton and Crowes were the line umpires. The matoh Queen's Park v. Thißtle ended in a draw, eaoh side sooring two goals. Fergusson won the toBS, and eieoted to play up-hill with the wind and sun at his back. Martin started the play, whioh the Thistles carried into the Park's quarters, and for some time Shields and Andrews had difficulty in clearing their lines. Millward put in a good dribble up the left wing, transferring the ball to Fergusson, who in turn passed it to Cowden, and the latter saored. The Park forwards now got away with the ball, and after some good play Martin beat Blair with alow shot, thus making-* he scores equal. The Thistles made repeated efforts to score, Hailwood in partionlar putting in Rood -work, and shortly before half-time were awarded a corner. C. M'Leod took the kick, and passed to Hailwood, who cleverly headed through. Halftime was called with the score Thistle 2, Queen's Park 1, the Thistles having had the best of the play. On resuming, Queen's Park made things very lively, the play at times being very rough. Blair and Petti, grew were doing splendidly, but Martin was not to be denied, and he sooredgoal No 2. Thistles then started a rush, in whioh Cowden and Hailwood were prominent. For the remainder of the name Queen's Park were oontinually around the Thißtle goal. Blair, Pettigrew, C. M.'Leod, Millward, Cowden, and Hailwood were best for the Thistles, Andrews, Shields, Martin (2), Hill, and Plenderleith playing beat for Queen's Park. juniob ~ovr. ' ' Swifts second met the United on the Railway ground. The SwifU, with a good dribble, suooeeded in putting tho boll through. This livened the Uniteds up, and Pautell, with a splendid dribble, floored. The Swifts again got down on the United's goal-line, and Overend put the ball through. In the seoond spell Clarke soared for the United, making the game even. Thorndons defeated Diamonds by 4 goals to 3. qi«rk, William*, Lowe, and Orr >