THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17885, 13 September 1921, Page 7

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

_Tho results of Saturday's matches .leave | H.M S. Philomel and North cote to combat the final in the Falcon Cup knock-out competition. The meeting of these two teams should provide a splendid contest- Although the Navy men were not placed in the senior competition, which Northcote won, they are a powerful side, who have the advantage in training and also in the fact that their team has not been subjected to changesThe match at Devonport Domain on Saturday between Y.M.C.A. and H.M.S. Philomel was well worth watching, although over-eagerness to score spoilt many of the combined passing movements which make the Association game so attractive to the spectators. For the sailors. Hooper was. as usual, the leading light in the forwardsHis dashing play was mainly responsible for at least one of the goals, and in company with Lexton he was continually dangerous, especially in the second spell. Hopkins. on the leffc wing, played his best game this season, and scorcd a clever goal. The i halfbacks all played well, with Corbett at j centre well on his game. Doree, in the back line, played splendidly, and was well supported by his partner. Batty, in goal, played a brilliant gameYor Y.M.C-A. Braithwaite played a sound back game, although he was considerably worried by Hooper's fast following up in the second spell. Neesham and Walbran did well in the half line, the formeT player's placing to the forwards being a treat to witness. With the exception of Williams. who appeared to have, a day cfi, the forwards all played good individual games. A local enthusiast, who witnessed the match at Wellington on Saturday week, in which Auckland won ths Brown shield, Epeaks very highly of the play of Roberts and C. Dacre, who filled the positions of right fullback and right half in the Auckland team. These players were opposed to Campbell and Ballard, Wellington's crack left wing combination, of which so much was expected. They were so well marked, however, that not once did they get a chance to shoot effectively. Great praise is also given to Corbett at centre, half, and Hooper, Hayes and K- Innes in the forwards. The selection of L. Dacre as one of the fullbacks in the. North Island team came as a great surprise to local followers of the game. Although nobody will deny that Dacre is a spendid player, he was not Included in the Auckland team, the position being filled by Roberts. As the latter has apparently fully justified his inclusion. :t is hard to understand why he was overlooked, i