ASSOCIATION NOTES

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 142, 16 June 1906, Page 14

ASSOCIATION NOTES

TBy Vajsgtjaed.] The senio>" teams have entered on the second round of tho championship, and their positions are now at an inteiesting stage. Diamonds aro leading with a score of 11 points, Northern Wanderers are second with 9 points, and Swifts third with 8 points Then coino St. Johns 4 points, Kovers 3 po.uts, and Y..M.G.A. 1 point. Judging iiom tho bcorts ol the respective teams, and the form the teams ha\o suown duiing the year, n would stem that tue ngut lor championship honours \\ ill be fought out between Wandeiers and Diajnoiid> On Satuidoy last Wanderti'3 beat ivovois by 'I goalfa to i. Diamond* deieaied Y.M.CJ.A. by 4 goals, to nil, and Swifts beat St. Jonn's by 4 goa»s to 1. The rat ks of both Sv.ffts and St. John's were weakened on Saturday by absentees. W. Mouat and i'erks, owing to minor injuries, had to be icpiaced by Cable und . Harper, and Elson and Betheil, lor the saw© reason, hod to be replaced by Graves and Harlcy, necessitating a rearrangement of the rear division. The game was played in a cold, showery, southerly gale. Swifts had muih thu better of thu play, and deserved tLeir victory. St. Jc/hn's weak points were in defence and in shooting, especially in the latter. A. Mouat was fho only forward who shot anything up to torni, even taking into account the fact that Anker scored St. John's only goal. During the second half of the game Taylor strained himself, and had to retire. Features ol the Swifts' play were two beautiful coriii.r kicks b> Graves, the goa..kecping oi Woodhams in the second spell, and the combined /ushes of the forwards. The strained relations between tho Auckland Football Association and the New Zealand Football Association are likely to be satisfactorily settled betoro very long. One ol tho Auckland delegates to the governing body has been advised that the northern association is calling a special meeting to reconsider the question of again joining the N.Z.F.A., and Mr. C. Mayall, the Auckland secretary, who sent the advice, added —"l have not the slightest doubt the original resoiutioil will be rescinded." He further stated that tho Auckland assistant secretary would be in Wellington this week, having instructions to wait upon the N.Z.F.A with reference to coupons, etc Tie fixture between Northern Wanderera and Rovers on Newtown Park attacted a lair croud ol spectators. 'i'ue game could hardly be classed as being above the average. Tho cross wind blowing to a largo extent caused the ball to find its way continually into touch. Tho Rovers' goal was tho outcome of some good combination by the left wiug, O'Shea putting on the final touch. Tho Wanderers livened up conniderably in the •second half, and flashes of some pretty combined play were shown. The goal that Davidson secured r-as a beauty, Penlington having abao'dtely no chance of saving it. Of the Wanderer*, Davidson, Irvine and Clapham were the pick. Kerswell, the centre forward, was a passenger. Ho missed chance after chance during tho concluding portion of the first half. Towards the finish he livened up somewhat, but ho hardly appeared to bo claps enough as a pivot to a forward rank..

The Rovers' gave their more classical opponents a very good game. The halfback line of the loser 3 was Q good one. Ono was pleased to sco 13. Kenai again donning football livery. His play throughout was well up to his reputation. In Smith, the right half, Rovers appear to have discovered a good player. Of the bades, Martin was easily the pick. H. Eonai did not play his usual game. O'Shea was head and shoulders above, his fellow-forwards. Tfiis player has football in him, and more than one of tho Wanderers' selection committee would like to sco him. In their ranks. lhe Diamonds - V.M.C.A. fixture fought .on No 2 ground, Miramar, caught the full blast of the cold showory southerly gale that raged on Saturday, and consequently was nob productiva of what ono iriight term good football. At times there was an element about_ v that was distinctly objectionable. TripEing was indulged in, pushing with the ands was prevalent, and there was far too much playing the man instead of tho ball. Theso factors at times produced rough, play, which should have been checked at once by the referee. Both teams participated in objectionable tactics, but tho Diamonds were by far the greater offenders Fitzgerald in goal for Diamonds did all he was ' called upon to do in his usual finished manner. Roberts at fullback was very safo, his partner (a junior) being rather unreliable. Thorley, Taylor, and Roberts played. we 'l in tho half-back lino. Tho latter has a great tendency to play the man. The forwards all played well, especially in tho second spell against the wind, Ready, Hedges, and Hathaway being most conspicuous. For V.M.C.A., Miller in goal should certainly have saved., two of tho goals ; nevertheless, he cleared several hard shots F. Aircy at left -full-back was slightly behind his last Saturday's form ; however, he put in somo splendid work at times Storr filled tho right full-back position for Saturday, and played excellently. If ho wero a permanent player the V.M.'s rear would be considerably strengthened. Wilson at right half, and who played Junior B last season, is improving every Saturday, and with a littlo moro knowledge of the finer points of the game should make a good half. -E. Airey at left half had the mislorluno to strain' his kneo oarly in tho game, but nevertheless put in some very serviceable work, foung at centre half appears on tho light side, and is lacking: in dash. The work of the forwards all through was patchy. Palmer on tho loft wing is a weak shot and rather on the 'slow side ; all the same, ho is a grafter. Dawson at centre fOlf 01 ward is the makings of a gcod forward, but wants to keep his place more. Macklin and Miller on thi right wing combined fairly well at times, but their effoits to scoro wore in The Taranaki Union approves of the clubs in South Taranaki running a junior competition, and suggests thai conic enthusiast should be invited to donate a cup to bo played for. In ordf* to encourago the gamo in this district, South Taranaki will (according to an exchango) reecho favourable consideration wneu tho grounds for tho representative matches aro to be decided upon. The gnmc played last week at Ilawera bctr.cen the Hawera and Kaponga toams did not provide any remarkable di;> lay of fvxitball Only two or three of tne players were at all piomLnent in tho game Seeing that the Kaponga men failed to score with two penalty kicks and that la\o of the Hawera goals wero scored "when the Kaponga goalkeeper was out of the goal there does not appear to have been much difference between tho teams It will probably take tho gi eater part of the season to educate a number of the players to Association football. Tho iiltham Club is fortunate in having in its ranks a majority of old players. E. Sale, who it was thought hac? given tho gamo up, has again _donned the jersey. With condition ho will be as dangerous a scoring man as ever Followers of the gamo will be glad to sco Sale back in the field, as players of his calibre arc few and far between. Austin Smith, of Auckland, probably the best exponent of Soccer who has ever played in Now Zealand, has signified his intention of donning the shirt for Shore, not as a senior player, but more as a coach for tho juniors. His knowledge of the gamo will materially assist the juniors. An exchango states that in his younger days nu better dribbler was found on tho soccer field than Austin, and if ho could prevail on the juniors to go in moro for that department o£ tho game soccer would become moro inteiesting to spectators, as any player with a, certain amount of "boot" can kick a ball up and clown tho field.