ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1906, Page 14

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

[By. Vangtja3d.]

— — 1 All of the senior matches were played ' at Miramar on Saturday, consequently one ! had an opportunity of comparing the two distinct styles of play which are in vogue this season. Ono style is the Old Coun- j try game, and the other the game of the colonials. The former is pretty and embodies the features which make the | g»ime attractive — tricky passing, a monipu- ' lation of the ball with the feet as accu- ' rately as a skilled Rugby player manipu- ', lates it with his hands, and general allround work in which players use their wits in order to gain their points. The game of the colonials is fast. The ball is booted about unmercifully and play lorced up and down the field all through the match. Ihe passing is generally well forward, and it is a caso oi the man re- , reciving the pass having to gallop to , secure the ball in order to be in a posi- ' tion to send it on to a colleague when tackled. In short, ileetness of foot and stamina are relied on more than wite and j clever manipulation of the ball for the I winning of a match. Both styles of play have their advantages and disadvantages. The Home game, whilst being attractive to the eye, lends itself to selfishness, gallery play, and "fiddling," which create an element strong enough to militate against a team's chances of winning a match. The game of the colonials, on the other hand, whilst providing a certain amount of excitement and introducing factors necessary for winning matches, does not provide for the cultivation of science, without which no game can hope to secure the attention of the public and without which no game can hope to stay. ' Each game has elements which could be profitably introduced into the other, and when we do see in Wellington a blend of the two we may "hope to see the game ua popular as it h in the Old Country. Diamonds improved their position in the Senior League by defeating Swifts by ' 4 goals to 2. 'ihe game was an exciting ! contest, being exceedingly fast, especially , in the early stages. Swifts scored two goals before Diamonds obtained a point, then Diamonds opened up the play, and standing the pace better than Swifts, got the upi).r hand. Waddell, at centre-half for Swifts, was again in great form. Ho scored both of their goals, one being the outcome of a free-lack, and the other with a high shot. Oilier played well on the left wing. On one occasion he put in a beautiful centre. Taylor only had the goal-keeper to beat, but placed the ball over the post although the shot was from a six yard's range. Hathaway and Needham each scored twice' for Diamonds, the latter obtaining one of his goals by a fine overhead kick. Northern Wanderers ag in delighted the spectators with a fine exhibition of the game in defeating St. John's by 3 goals to nil. The latter team had a fine forward line, but were weak in backs, consequently the opposing forwards had every opportunity of showing up to advantige. Ir,vine, at centre-half for Wanderers, played a skilful game, which was only militated by his occasionally sticking to the ball too long. Claplinm, at full-back, Kerewell, at goal, and D. Wilson, inside left, were also respon&ible for clever work. St. John's missed Perks from the centre-half. His phce was trken by M'Ardle, but not by any means filled. W. Mouat got a knock on the Knee early in the game and was handicapped during the remainder of the play. •" A. Mouat, Anker, Hodge, and Williams all played gamely, and with a fair ainotint of combination, J. Nagle acquitted him?elf well at half, and W. Irons did fairly well in goal. The g;:me between Rovers and V.M.C.A. ended in a draw, the scores beinc one all. F. Airey, V.M.C.A. left full-back, is playing quite up to his old form this season. He was the mainstay of the backs on Saturday. His brother made his first nppeiranco rgarast Rovers, and by his fihowing should strengthen the half-back line. v Adair, at right tull-back, has a bad habit of stopping the ball before getting in his kick, nnd throVgh this nearly landed his ride in difficulties several times on Saturday. *■' Millar, in goai, did all he was called upon to do creditably, but had no chance of stopping the goal by O'Shea. Fer'ans, rmong the forwards, is playing a much better game than he has done for the past two seasons. It is to be hoped he will be able to see the season throuch. V.M.C.A. are evidently in want ot a centre-forward who can shoot. Several beautiful centres by W. Miller on Saturl clay went begging or were lifted clean over the bar.

Hampden Park, Glasgow, the magnificently appointed ground of the famous Queen's Park Club, stood the test splendidly recently of its first international match between England and Scotland. It was the scene, too, of a Scottish victory, when no victory was expected, and it held a crowd which was easily a record one for Scotland As the gate drawings amounted to £4300, which does not include ticketholders, there must have been 100,000 people at the match, and everything pa&bed off without mishap. In the bright sunshine which prevailed the spjctacle (according to a Home writer) was a brilliant and imposing one. It was, indeed, just a trifle awe-inspiring to look upon the great mass of humanity which had already takenup its position all round the amphitheatre, and to see the roads and streets outside literally black with thousands upon thousands eagerly hurrying towards the turn-stiles. The holding capacity of the ground was so well taxed that it was thought advisable to close the gates shortly before the time of kick-off, and many thousands who had cut matters too finely were denied admission. The game resulted in a win for Scotland by 2 goals te 1. One of the English halves retired from the game soon after ' the commencement and his team had to j play through the remaining .portion of tho match with ten men. The record of matches now stands at 16 victories for Scotland and 12 for England, seven of | \ the games being drawn. i Wales, although the stronghold of K> •- by, is well represented in soccer, and drew — four goals each — in its recent international contest against Ireland. One interested in junior football writes complaining that the enjoyment of junior games is marred by the incessant heckling of referess, particularly by players who ought to know better. A large majority of the juniors, he says, have only a slight knowledge of the rules of the game, and they seem to be seized with a burning desire to display their ignorance by arguing and protesting at any decision the referes may give against them. He points out that this objectionable conduct could easily be stamped out if the referees were : I stricter and asserted their authority more.