Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 256, 27 May 1905, Page 20

Association Football.

All ideal day was experienced at Muaanar laot Satuidav, but the attendance oi spectators, was not as laigc as usual. Howevei, the cout«»tb \\eie decidedly above the a\ erage, and evidently many player* read the football notes in the Lance, a;, I noticed that individual play, as stated by me last week, was almost altogether eschewed. As a, aesult, the pacing indulged in was, quite a feature of the game, lhas is the sort of science that wins matches, and it v, to be hoped that for the future players will remember this, and play the passing gain© tor ail it is worth. There is>, howevei , another thing that I must complain about, and this is that I saw any amount of foul play indulged in by players, and in most cases theieferees allowed the play to go on. Giantmo- that the referees who officiated are all 5 oung and a very enthusiastic lot, vet thu, soit of thine should not be allowed to continue, and should be put down with a firm hand. I would like to suggest to the Refereew' Club for which body, by the way I have the greatest respect, that it could with advantage get one, 01 more, of its> members to give a. lecture on the rules of the game. Probably, when I harve a little spare space, I shall give a few hints to referees myself. + * * However, now to the games. Queen's Park played V.M.C.A., and after a very even game the former team gamed a somewhat lucky goal, which gave them a win by two goals to one Both teams placed splendidly, and Clapham (Parks) again played a fine game at full, being well hacked up bv McArdle. Of the halves, young Fos Clark played very well indeed, and for his size, is a little champion. Mawsan,' left wing, was again the bes< of the forwards, and centred the hall particularly well. Davidson also played well. For V.M.C.A., too much praise cannot be given to McLean, in goal, and Airey, full-back, for their displays. Time after time the ball was splendidly cleared from goal, and it was extremely bad luck that McLean had to retire as the result of an injury he received. Hodge, the skipper of the team, also played well, but should keep his place more. Thus team consists of young players, and, on gaining a little more knowledge, will take a power of beating. They are all very keen, and have asked a well-known referee to visit their rooms for the purpose of giving them a lecture on the rules. ♦ * * The Swifts A played their B team, and, as the former won their first match thus season by five goals to nil, it may fairly be assumed that they have now turned the lane, and will now place many more wins to their credit. I have always had a great opinion of the ability of the team, and probably they are now going to show me that my opinion is worth something after all. I was very glad to see Len White getting back to % that form which vised to delight his admirers, and he will yet trouble the selectors. Waddell was at last played in his proper place — centre-half — and played well, as also did. J. Pye-Smdth at left-half. Medoalf also is rapidly regaining that form, with which he pleased all enthusiasts who saw his displays' at the latter end of last season, and gained a couple of goals as his share of the afternoon? s work. Ooates also showed up much bettei than previously. Stevenson, who has been transferred to the B's, seems, for some (reason or other, to be completely off this season. He should have stopped a couple of goals. I was struck bv the display of Elson and it is hard lines for "him that he !■> unable to gam a place in the first team. However, his time will come yet. Of the "B" forwards, Anker and Muir both played good games. * * In watching the display between Rovers and St. John's. I was not at all surprised at the good showing made by the former team. I hear that they went out looking for this match, and — well, they nearly won it. Still, a draw — two goals each- — was a very satisfactory state of things for them, as the yellow and blacks take a lot of beatane. The game was an extremely fast one the play continually sweeping from «nd to end of the field. The corner kicking, taken by Cook (Rovers) was a treat to witness and from one of them the ball was headed through St. John's coal.

Beautitul combined play 1-ed to St. Johns iiists>ooie, which was got by A. Mouat. The second spull was even fastei than tlio fiist, and eaoh team again gained a goal, though both side* missed sevelal chances by narrow margins. Webster played lus first game foi Ro\ers, and I thouglit lie should have saved the first goal. However, towards the end of the game he made a magnificent save, which evened thing*, up so taa as lie wars concerned Renai played well at full-back, but ho was completely outclassed b" the display given by G Martin ttho placed the best back game on the ground. Taylor, at half, surprised me by the fine, game he played, and of the foiwardis, who all played well, piobablv Cook, Wiilliams amd O'Shea were a bit above the otliei^ lorns kept goal well for St. John'~, ancll Dick Nagle is evidently risjng to the occa.sion since Amies departed foi Home. Bissett did not pla> as ell a^ usual, but G. Williams and A. Moiu.it both played fine samci-. * * * At the Thursday meeting of the Wellington Football Associatio 1 Messrs. Courtney, Roberta, Williams, and White were elected a^> n Ground Committee, and will probably confer shortly witli delegates firom the Rugby Uivon for the purpose of s< Q eang can be done in the way of obtaining grounds for future =earonts. This is a move in the riant direction as, m all probability the polo eround will not be ava'lablc after tins season.