ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON v. NELSON. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1904, Page 2

ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON v. NELSON.

THE AUSTRALIAN GAME.

The mutches on Saturday were played in fine weather, and wore remarkable for the number of close finishes. Three of the stnior games resulted in a draw, and one in a single goal victory, this latter result being effected in the St. John's—Petone match, which ended in a win for the town team. ST. JOHN'S v. PETONE. The Petone, team ha» shown more improvement of late than any other team in the competition, and on Saturday put up a good fight against St. John s. Ihe Latter team plnycd against the wind in the first '.spell, and attackfcft vigorously nearly th& whole time. They combined excellently, and eftected several scientific passing runs, but their shooting ot goal was poor, 'mo only score In the match, was effected in thi« »pelL The ball waa beautifully centred at the- halfway lino by the right wing forwards. Urodio socured and made a clear ruu to Petono twenty-five, where he passed to 'A. Mouat. The lattor took the ball to the goal, y where ho returned to Brodie, who frcored with a fast shot. In the second h-Tlf play became ragged, duo in a. largo measure- to over eagerness on the put of St. Johji'n, and the excellent defence of j Petone —more particularly of Brioe and H. Rcnai. Tbo latter broxe m> tho coin* binntiou of the opposing forwards time after tiino, ,and on several occasions turned defence into attack |jy placing tho | ball to'his left wing forwurda, who made several dangerous rushes on tho St. John's goal, In this spoil the shooting was particularly wretched. The game onded with th<> scores—.St. John's 1, Petone niL Mr. Gifford gnve every satisfaction us referee. ROVERS v. V.M.C.A, Rovers, playing with the wind; at the outset attacked vigorously. V.M.C.A. kept their goal iutact until penalised for an infringement of rules within the penalty area. W. OlSlwa took the kick, and registered first Sftore with a fast shot. Upon the resumption of play Boyd secured the ball from a weak return by M'Lean, badly beat the V.M.C.A. custodian,, and registered tho second goal. In the second half V.M.C.A. obtained thci^ first score by Hodge kicking in from tlie corner, and then through the goal without another player having touched the ball. Subsequently V.M.C.A. again attacked strongly. From a miskick by Godber. Miller secured the leather and equalised the scores—2 all. Mr. E. Betholl was tho referee. SWIFTS v. DIAMONDS. This match was evenly and stubbornly contested, and resulted in a draw one goal each. Tho blacks, playing against the wind, were penalised in their own half. White, with a fine kick, *ent tho leather into tho Diamond's goal month, and the ball cannoned oil an opposing back through the goal. For the greater part of the spell Diamonds played a strictly defensive game, nnd so saved additional scoring. The second spell started with a combined attack by tho black vanguard. Thero was a series of corner kicks, and from a beauty put in by Roberts, the Diamonds equalised. Tho game ended without further score. Mr. Porter was roforco.

The match at Nelson on Saturday between the Wellington junior representative team and Nelson resulted in a draw, the scores being two goals each. Hodges and Robinson scored for Wellington, and Sherwood and lladcliffc for Nelson.

The Newtown and Federal Clubs met at Mimniar on Saturday. The match was won by Newtown by 27 points to 13, and that club is therefore now in the load for the Stewart Dawson trophy. A match was played at Petone on Saturday between, the Petoue and City Clubs. Petone wtm by 15 points to 12.