Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 98, 17 May 1902, Page 6

Association Football.

Surpii'e again assorted itselt in the wmii or games last Saturday, at.d backeis may now lay (Men mono\ on any of the competing teams. Perhaps, the biggest surprise of all was the defeat of Diamond at the hands of Queen's Park who vecuied the only, and winning, goal winlst playing against the wind. All three senior games, were surpii&e& as tai as the score was concerned St. John's, who aie not to be scorned, ga^ c even their own suppoiters dubious foieoafets of the result against Sv.ifts. the ohampion eleven of last season But the call of time left four goak to them credit against an unregistered scoie for Swifts There is no gainsaying the fact that St. John's held the game in hand from start to finihs The dashing pla\ of a cool set of forwards, and their cool and effect i\e passing tactics g;n c one the impiession of runawa\ steeds kept well m check bv a tight rein Out at Petone, the Roveis defeated the suburbanites h\ the tremendous score of six goals to nil Ver\ seldom doe.s a. senior eleven register such a number of goalfe aga.inst their on n class of plaveis, and the score on tins occasion when better results were expected calls for more than bare mention Rovers started the season w ith gloomy praspects owing to the same old taJe" of insufficient and capable Waver.:, to fill their senior team Todri and Henderson oame to the rescue, and blight ened those darkened hones, which, bv this time o' day, must be very rosy Petone footed the ball for the first time this season with several new and promising players, including Hawkins, late of the Swifts' Club. Mi. A Asburv, the football coach, is also included in the Petorie ranks, and the result of their

hi^>t gaane, under Mr. Asbury's eoa,c,lung and inclusion in the team, v. as awaited with mteiest The downfall of the Petoiui eleven is easily accounted for. Thieir tactics were not long in being detected b\ the observant gold and blacks, with the lesult that A&bury wa.s the subject of close attention and he was well attended to by centie-half Paton Pet one nev or recognised their mistake m placing too much leliance in Asbury. K\en opportunity a forward got he relinquished his hold on the ball to enable Mr. Asbury to have possession, w ith the sad result to Petone of their chalice® of scoring being frustrated. Numeious openings presented themselves, especially on the Petone leftwing but they neglected them They spoilt themselves, gave Asbury too much to do, and repeatedly put play of the same, character into Rovers' hands which tliev fulfilled creditably. A great deal of the result of a game depends upon the ingenuity and foresight of a captain. Ido not know who was lesponsible for Rovers' excellent and effective tactics, but (5-0 well lepays them w ith an undoubted decisive victory I have heaid it said Asbury's exhibition was a disappointing one But let it be recollected he was not afforded much scope to display his skill. No openings were given him. Dribbling rushes and shots at goal only came his wav on one occasion. Also, it was his first game in the colonies, and time may tell, and bring forth his "good old hasbeen" fancy touches. If St. John's are not on the top rung of the ladder, or near it, at the end of the season, then my valuations of the cla&s of play of the respective teams is not worth mentioning At the present time they are a hard-working, earnest, and combinative eleven, especially in the front rank For a young team, with some new players among them, they bid fair to develop into a first -class combination But, beware, St John's 1 I have heard expressions from the lips of some of you that make me fear voiu are hkelv to suffer from "ssw elled head " The Queen's Park-Diamond heat was not what might be termed a o-ood game of football, bv any means. There was too much kick and bustle accc" amed with excessive chatter. Of course, the talk has nothing to do with the game, but it is most annoying to onlookers, and is not' too pleasant to those playing round or about the "chatterbox." Captains are the pea-sons to talk, and then only when giving instructions, and, stranae to s ay, you invariably find the captain silent, and one of his players u&uipuig his position, and playing the flute for him From the blow of the whistle, to denote commence play, and the like signal to cease play, the °ueen's Park w ere on the attack The play w as very indiscriminate Individual lights shone conspicuous, ouuip; to the game drifting into that style of pla\ . Diamonds' backs were lamentably weak The forwards of that team v. ere severely handicapped bv the inability of the halves to help them Theie aie evident signs of serious and important business for coming meetings of the Wellington Football Association In futuie only delesates or exofhcio officers will be admitted to the sanctum of Management Committees. This is only a,s it should be The Asssociation has been too lax in this lespect m j ears gone' bv, and perhaps an opportune time has ai rived for gi eater stnetness. Delegate McKeow en was not far out w hen he said that during his connection with the council of the W.F.A personal feelings had often over-ridden club feelings, and that the latter had prevailed over the interests of Association football. This is yen' true, and delegates oft times forget they sit at the table representing then club and watching the interests of their sport, not meieh to voice their own opinions and display apathy in connection with the general interests of Association football The Fourth Class Association was* e\ identlv going to slip the attention of the W.F.A.. but for mention of the subject b\ a delegate. The Fourth Cla.«s has its handicap in not being supplied w ith giounds, a* no funds arc received fioni fourth class clubs, and the cost of giounds are bevqnd question. The best of a bad 10b is always made for the young players who, nevertheless plaA their games, somewhere under hea\ v disadvantages Mr R H. Davenport the football patriarch will undertake the responsibility of the 'boys" if he can be supplied with referees. Secretary Salmon has work enough with liigher grade referees, and lie would certain lv be overw eighted if obliged to carry out this unenviable task also. So the Management Committee of the W.F A. have undertaken to accede to Mi Davenport's lequest.