ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 4

ASSOCIATION.

FIRST MATCHES OF THE SEASON. | FIRST DIVISION. Diamond* (4) v. Swiita (3). St. John's (2) v. Wanderers (1). Mental Hospital (4) v. Thißtle (0). V.M.C.A. (2) v. Corinthians (0). Hovers (4) v. Ramblers (1). The Association football season opened on Saturday. The rain of the evening had made the grounds somewhat slippery, and the strong northerly wind blowing rendered anything like fin© play exceedingly difficult. DIAMONDS (4) v. SWIFTS (3). The Diamonds-Swifts game was played on the Diippa-street ground, and, on the whole, was interesting. From a run by^A. Lowe (left wing) Robinson scored for Diamonds after some close play in goal, and for some time after this the blacks had the best of the game, Hathaway (oentre forward) and .Robinson (left half) showing up prominently. Fromi a free kick in front of the goal Hathaway scored a second goal for Diamonds, and later A. Lowe centred to Black, who headed the ball through; ' leaving the score Diamonds 3, Swifts 0 at half-lime. In the second spell Diamonds, playing against the wind, scored another point, Hathaway beating the goal-keeper with a good shot. Then Swifts got to work. From* a comer, Mathieson scored, and repeated the dose twice in quick succession few minutes later. The Swifts attacked time and again, and more than once the inside left was given a chance, but he invariably kicked too high, and the game ended — Diamonds 4, Swifts 3. For the winners, A. Lowe (left half), Black (inside left), Hathaway (centre), and Bamett (right back) did the best among a battling crowd. For Swifts, Rickerby (centre) failed to maintain bis reputation, and Matbieson (inside left), H. Guise (outside left), and Roberts (outside right), were the most prominent. Mr Litngow ivas referee. HOSPITAL (4) v. THISTLE JO). Hospital had much the beet of the first half of the game with Thistle today. A wet, greasy ball was very hard to manipulate. Boots early had a shot that went very dose, and Tyrer crowned a pretty dribble with a shot into the far corner of the goal, thus opening the score for Hospital. Ends were changed with the score unaltered. Roots scored two goals with slashing shots, the first following a corner by Phillips. Hospital dominated the play with the exception of a, few breaks 'away by the Thistle forwards. Just before the play closed, "Loadman scored t^e fourth goal, -Hospital' winning by 4 ' goals to nil. For the , winners, Roots, Phillips, Tyrer, and Hughes were most prominent. For Thistle, M'Ardle and Miller were the most noticeable. I- Mr.- A. F. Newbold acted r as referee. V.M.C.A. (2) v. CORINTHIANS (0). Newtown Park was very slippery, and players in the Y.M.C.A.-Corinthjan. match experienced much difficulty in keeping their feet. The-fcam displayed by both teams was poor and rarely exciting. After some interesting play, V.M.C.A. opened an. attack on the left wing, and kept up a steady pressure throughout the first half, and w^re rewarded with a goal by Phillips. V.M.C.A. still kept play in Corinthian's Jialf, but) failed to add to their scope. In the second half, from a rush started in mid-field^ the Y.M.CA. forwards swooped down upp*n the Corinthians, and Phillips had no difficulty in snatching? a second goal. V.M.C.A. kept, up tsiis attack, but .there was no further score. For V.M.C.A. Phillips was prominent throughout, while Smith and Beavis at outside and inside left respectively did good work. Cdade, at centre-half, was solid, both in attack and defence. Coatee showed up to advantage. Ives, Treverick, arid Gregory were the only ones that were prominent among the Corinthians. Mr. B. Yeoman was referee. ROVERS (4) v. RAMBLERS '(I). Ramblers were decisively defeated by i Rovers at Miramar on Saturday, only succeeding in scoring one goal to their opponents' four. A stiff northerly blew unceasingly throughout the game, and it was probably this, coupled with the fact of the evident lack of training*that caused the play, notably in the first half, to bo of an uninteresting nature. Rovers, although they faced the' wind, easily had the best of the first half, but neither side succeeded in opening a scoring account. The commencement of the second speU saw Ramblers' play improve considerably, with the result that W. Hart drew first blood for his side. • Hovers pressed v«ry hard after this reverse, and Grant at length evened matters for his side. Some time latei Duncan put in a shot for Rovers which nicely beat the goalkeeper. Duignan at this stage was very prominent, making a, fast run nearly the length of the field, bat his shot failed. Again this player was to the fore, and it was through his agency Rovers were placed in a decisive lead. There was no further score. ST. JOHN'S (2) v. WANDERERS (1). Pla.y in this match was considerably marred by the slippery state of Kelburne Park. St. John's combined better .than their opponents, and it was through their superior combination that . they were victorious. The conditions of play were also hampered by a strong wind, and it was noticeable that in each , spell the team with the wind behind held the upper hand. Wanderers, who Kicked off against the wind, were immediately m trouble, their opponent whipping the ball down to their twenty-five and several times, going very near to scoring. They were eventually successful in their persistent efforts, Thompson placing the ball between the posts. St, John's 1, Wanderers 0. Later on St. John's added another point to their 6core, the contributor this time being Bruce Immediately after resumption of play Wanderers, who were now favoured by the wind, began to retaliate, and, working the leather down towards St. John'e territory, managed to secure a goal through the agency of Loyeday. The game eventually ended in favour of St. John's, by two goals to one. The player who stood out most on the* winners' side was Shaw, while Cuniminge on the same side played a sound game. For the loßere, the Parsons brothers and Shaw were particularly noticeable. SECOND DIVISION. Trias won by default from St. James. Wadestown defeated Swifts by 4 goals to nil. Roberts (2) and Overend and Hendle scored. Petone defeated V.M.C.A. by 4 goals (all scored by Curtis) to nil. Wanderers beat Brooklyn by 2 goals to 1. Diamond© defeated Rovers by 3 goals to 1. May scored for Rovers, and I Wheldon, Dumbleton, and Coad for the j winners. j THIRD DIVISION. St. David's defeated Petone by 3 goals to 1. The Brooklyn-Johnsonville match ended in a- draw — one goal each. Marist defeated Newtown Congrega.tional by 1 goal to nil, after a keenlycontested game~ Carrutheis .. played

well for the winners, and Neilsen, Liversedge, and Haycroft for tho losers. Turner scored for Marifit. Swifts won from Diamonds by default. FOURTH DIVISION. Brooklyn scored 10 goals against Johnsonville's 1. Swifts beat Institute by 2 goals to nil. A. Johnston scored both goals. St. David's defeated V.M.C.A. by 4 goals to nil. Curtiß scored all the goals. V.M.C.A. C defaulted to South Wellington. FIFTH A DIVISION. The match between St. David's and Marisfc Brothers ended in a draw — one goal each. Brooklyn netted 6 goals against Jbhnsonville, who failed to score. V.M.C.A. defaulted to Institute. FIFTH B DIVISION. Porirua beat Karori by 5 goals to 0. St. David's defeated Swifts by 2 goals to 1. South Wellington defeated Institute B by 3 goals to 1. Seatoun won from V.M.C.A. by default. FIFTH C DIVISION. South Wellington defeated Institute C T>y 3 to 1. Ward (2) and Roberts (1) scored for the winners. SIXTH A DIVISION. Marist Brothers easily defeated Seatoun by 4 goals to nil in Sixth A Division. Manoney (2) and Hickey (2) scored for the winners. V.M.C.A. beat Institute by 4 goals to 1. SIXTH B DIVISION. Swifts beat Marist by 3 goals to-1. Swifts played seven men only. ASSOCIATION CUP FINAL ENDS IN~A DRAW. By Teleeraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 21st April. In the final match for the Football Association Cup, played at the Crystal Palace yesterday between West Bromwich and Barnsley, neither aide scored. The match will be replayed on Wednesday. ' Owing to the strike there were only sixty* thousand spectators.