FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4978, 30 May 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL

RUGBY NOTES. (By “Touch.”) There is not much to be added to last Monday’s report of the Poueke-Melrose match. After haring further considered tho game, “Touch*’ is more firmly convinced than ever that it lacked brilliancy. As said before, the game was thoroughly exciting and “willing,” the spectators saw all that they had hoped to, and consequently general satisfaction was felt, an! so the financial side of lootball is not likely to suffer. v Melrose, pursuing a mistaken policy that has characterised the club ever since it was raised to senior ranks, wont afield to find a new man instead of promoting a junior. It would be too much to say that this crass lolly lose tfie club its chance of winning, but it must be noted that the new man (Falconer) did not justily his selection. He could not take a hail when close-pressed, and fie twice missed good chances tor scoring, because he could not take passes cleanly. He worked well in deteuce, but lacked method. This latest lesson should impress itself upon the Melrose selection committee. The hard-working and clever junior team should be drawn on for a man in such cases; but lately we have had the spectacle of an ISDU Melrose man being dug up for a mateh, aud then superseded by .an equally old player from way-back, v. bile the oone and smew of the club (the juniors) are passed over. The Melrose oluh is not the only Wellington offender in this way; but inasmuch as it is the most persistent one, these lines are penned for the club in particular and lor Wellington footballers’ benefit in general. Two sturdier and more dashing sets of forwards than the Melrose aud Poneke packs of Saturday last it would bo hard to discover—and when the game was finis-bed there was no fault to be found with either set on tho score of hard endeavour. though from a football point of view more loose rushes would have been preferable. Calnan and McAnally, on the respective sides, still vie with each other for hhrd work and dash, standing clear of their follows in merit, though closely followed by J. Spencer and Mann. As a matter of fact, there was not a weak joint in either forward pack, and when one mentions Adams. Mclnnes. Galium and Hardham, of Melrose, D. Wilson, Murphy and Galbraith, of Poneke, as being outstanding, it must yet be noted that theye were jiossibly more prominent than tlieir fellows, because they had the luck to be seen at the right time. George Spencer was very safe at fullback, and he kicked with fine judgment. His collaring, too, was meritorious. Hi s vis-d-vis Stevens, could have done better in regard to collaring. Wallace played splendidly for Poneke at five-eighth, his knack of picking up the ball from tho feet of tho opposing forwards and getting in his kick being very clover. He, however, was not so accurate with his line-kicking as he usually is. The veteran “Cocky” Itoberts showed a few glimpses of his old form, and he got in serviceable tricky kicks from the wing of the scrum that often relieved pressure.

Twohill displayed more confidence than he did in the preceding match. For the sake of his. football, however, he would do better to remain in a junior team for another season, while" he acquires physique. ' Ho is the makings of an exceptionally! good player, but lie at present runs the risk-cf having, his brilliancy all knocked permanently oufof him. Gray played with great dash, but not so brilliantly as in previous:games. Slattery snowed pace ami sound condition, but his inability to take a pass cleanly greatly discounts his usefulness. Wrigley did a lot of hard work for Melrose, and took the bumps with his usual hardihood. Goodwin showed to more than usual advantage, and the Claridge brothers got creditably through the small amount of work that came their way. The attendance of the public at the match was highly .satisfactory from a financial point of view, there being a muster of about 3000.

The set of games to be next contested are Melrose-Old Boys, PonekerPetone, Wellincton-Oriental. If Old Boys are still as short of lasting capacity as they were in their game against Pen eke, they will lose in a similar manner in the Melrose fixture”. In the belief, however, that they will have taken their experience to heart, and .that ! they will now take the field in the best of condition, I tip them to win the Melrose heat by a small margin. Poueke should win from Petone, and Oriental —who' have lately been improving their methods—should win from Wellington, though this result is by no means a foregone one.

"Touch” feels justified in a little jubilation (of the. very mildest quality) because he picked two winners'out of the three in last Saturday’s senior fixtures. The jubilation is not because of undue elation, but because "Touch”- has thereby saved his "guesser’s license,” which was in great danger of being estreated by ‘‘Touchline” because of ‘“Touch’s” inability to pick one winner in three a few weeks ago. , The-'representative team, selected last Monday by Mr h'ache. has been favourably. criticised and also partially condemned by local authorities. The placing of 'a five-eighth -man at full-back (Wrigley) has . been animadverted upon by a large number .of people especially in view of a deterioration in Wrigley s play this season as compared with last. George Spencer, on the other hand, is an improved player upon his form of last season, though he still exhibits the really avoidable sluggishness which in a large measure discounts his usefulness. But for a certain amount of hot-headedness on the part of Buddie that player might have had a chance to fill the position—but this, with his bad habit of “speculating,” puts him "right out of court.” The three-quarter line is a sound one. S. Wilson has a large amount of dash and resource, while Gray, of Poneke. is undoubtedly one of the best backs Wellington has had for a long while. Slattery, the third man, is a good man spoilt through over-eagerness. If he would be content to jog-trot until he got possession of the ball and then exert his undoubted strength of running and fleetnoss, he would improve his play by about two hundred per cent and become one of the best men in the rear division. At present, however, he. has a very bad drawback in his inability to take a pass properly—often dropping it altogether—which handicaps bis merits severely; and bearing this in mind. "Touch” would, on present form, have picked B. Claridgo or C. Bush in preference. Nevertheless, I will not be in the least surprised to find Slattery rising to the occasion on Wednesday next. The experiment of playing two fiveeighths is likely to be successful, especially in view of the fact that the Wairarapa wing-forwards '"Armstrong and McKenzie) would make "chopping blocks" of the best wingers Wellington could put forward- The extra back should give result in both a sounder defence and a stronger attack, besides giving great satisfaction to ‘*The Mad with a T.ivf-r”— whose lucubrations were republished in th ; = column last woek. The two men selected for the position of five-eighths (WslUme and Johnson) could probably not be bettered, and F. Poborts. at half-back, should give satisfaction.

In the matter of forwards the selector had a hard t»slc. for the really good forwards this season ar© many. Dodd and "Watkins as front-rankers, are nrohablv the best pair that could have been chosen in the absence of Mc-Minr-who is undoubtedly the best "booker”

"Wellington lias bad for a number of years past. McAnally (as the lock) is in a useful place, though ho shines: in all departments of the forward game, a commendation which applies equally to Calnan, who is right np to his old form. Cross is unlikely to play owing to his recent accident. .1. Spencer amt Hardham are a hard working pair who are well worth their places, but. Sweeney (though undoubtedly one of the very best when

“fit") should not be in the present team, because of lack of condition, ' Tho names of Judd, Wylie, Adams and one or two others strike the mind with a passing wonder that they have not been included, but no doubt the, selector saw good grounds for passing them over. Inasmuch as “Touch” holds no briefs for players he has gome- diffidence about drawing attention to special men. but without saying that they should be found a place in a representative learn he would draw the selector’s notice to a quartette of forwards —Melnnes and Galium (Melrose). Drake (Old Boys), and "The Pard” (oilier name not known to “Touch”) of Athletic—all of whom have Ixsen showing excellent form of late. The three first named are young and welldeveloped players who should be encouraged. ' Mclnncs ,is a junior who should never have been put out of Mc.roso first fifteen, for he is a “hard grafter,” fleet of foot, and “heady” into (he bargain. Having said this muc-i “Touch” lets the subject drop for good, feeling sure that the selector if he has simply overlooked this man because of lus recent promotion will do him full justice in tho future. •‘Second String’’ supplies me with tho following comment on the Petoue-Avel-lington heat of last Saturday: The Petone Club proved too good for Wellington, by a margin of 10 points. The city team was placed at a. disadvantage by only being represented by fourteen men in the first spell, Kivell not being present. This was a severe blow to Wellington, as the backs were unable to make any play, on account of the fast Petone forwards swooping down on Gray, the “serum” half, when the "hookers” sent the ball out of the pack. This was a frequent occurrence in the first spell, ’and an extra man in the field would have allowed Gray to “feed” the three-quarter line. Gray played a resourceful defensive game under depressing circumstances, and his performance will. I think, place him in' the running for the rep. senini half this season. Scott Wilson, the Wellington centre threenquartcr, made >eve,ral strong runs, but.his play would have been more effective had he passed earlier than ho did. Ho scored a try in the second spell, and in doing so carried several Petone “leeches” over the line. Blacklock saved splendidly at full back, and always found the line. McKellar was expected to do "big” things, but proved a “passenger,” on account of a “knee,” which caused a perceptible “limp” after the first five minutes. The Wellington forwards did not use their woight in the “scrums,” and they were not, fast dnongli for tho Petone vanguard., A. Wilson, Bice, Taylor and Burnett were the pick. Tho Petone backs were all at “sea” last Saturday. Heberley, the (serum half, threw far too low, which allowed Wellington to gain ground on more than one 'Occasion. Tlis passing was very erratic, and with the exception of. Braid and Barber, they neglected to 1 find the lino. M. Ryan was in good form with his place kicks.* He converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal. P. By an did some fair work, but this division will have to show a distinct improvement if Petone is to make a bold showing against Poneke. The Petone forwards played splendidly, and they bore the brunt of the play/ Judd, Hardham, Hansen and) AVright gave their opponents no “quarter.” The Petone vanguard included AV. King, who played in place of Tannahill. who has left the district. JUNIOB NOTES. (By "Tokomariro.”)

The Poneke-Oriental fixture played on the show-ground at Petoue on Saturday was. almost wholly a forward game. Hie backs were never called upon to do much, and as far’ as Oriental rearguard was concerned, they performed their share of the work very half-heartedly. As I said before, they lack confidence, and seem to be more concerned about the forwards’ doings than about negotiating openings themselves, which on many occasions would not only end in possible but probable scores. The Oriental forwards, on the other hand, are a hard-working pack, but the Poneke vanguard invariably got the upper hand. In the scrums and the loose they showed the wearers of the white and black-, that they have yet a lot to learn in this department of the game. Mitchell and King were prominent, for the reds. The former played a dashing game; ’ He was always on the ball, and ncver'failed to make the most of any opportunity that presented itself. MoColl, playing in the new place of half-back, was out of bis latitude. He played a hard game, but there was too much of the “forward" about it, and his passing at times was faulty. ' , Poneke’s win is all the more creditable, inasmuch as several of their best players —particularly Galbraith—were called upon to fill breaches in. the senior ranks.

Wellington and Victoria-College played a stubborn game at tie show-ground, and; although the College retired beaten they' were not disgraced. Their stand, against’ suohT an old-established club was most praiseworthy. If they continue as they have begun, better things may be expected from them at, no distant date. For the winners, Boyes and Patrick, the front rankers, got from nearly every scrum. Hamilton and Baskerville were also very prominent amongst the forwards, while Johnstone and Meßeth were the pick of the backs. Delavard and Gelanders played well in the College forward division. Bogle did good work-in the rearguard. Peloue went under to Old Boys ..on Saturday to the tune of 14 points"to nil—a result that was anticipated, by few. Girdlestone filled up the biggest total"forbis side with a try, a conversion and a penalty goal. ■ ' The defeat of St. Patrick's College by Southern, by 21 points to 3, did not come as a surprise. Before saying anything about the game itself, it is only right to renmra that both teams have ground for serious complaint against the Beferees’ Association, or against any person who may have accepted that body’s responsibility of providing a referee. It is certainly going too far to undertake the office of referee and then to leave thirty players in the lurch. The teams waited for some considerable time, and then spent a very long time in coming to an agreement about appointing a referee from among the spectator's. The choice of the captains fell on a College boy, who, considering the circumstances, played his part very well. The game was finished in the dark.

During the game a regrettable incident occurred. ‘Jansen, one of. the Southern wing-forwards, was ordered off the field for deliberately striking the boy opposite him. After adopting a somewhat bellicose tone and manner towards the referee. Jansen left the field of play. Acting . under the advice of a spectator, he almost immediately returned, and disputing the referee's authority, stated his intention of playing. The College captain was about to withdraw his team from the field .when wiser counsels prevailed, and Jansen returned to the touch-line. The chief characteristics of the game were needless and persistent talking and unnecessary roughness. Some players seem to consider that the football field is an excellent training ground for elocution, and an appropriate place on which to test their wrestling abilities. For the Southern team Bean, at wing-three-quarter. made excellent nise of his few opportunities. He has pace and dash, and is not afraid to use both. He is inclined to run a little too much. The touch-line is useful at times. Bethune, on the other wing, was patchy, with a tendency to make his 'plav on the spectators' aide of the field. Brewer, at, halfback, put in a strong claim for consideration by the junior selectors. The forwards arc a strong, fast and even lot, hut inclined to be rough at times—a proceeding that mars good football. ■

Tho College team played a very’ plucky game. Their play was a great improvement on that of previous Saturdays, Ihe score against them was put up at-the end. of the second spell, when at least three of their players were suffering from injuries that rendered them of little or no service to their side. McDonald and Geaney in the forwards, and Murphy and Campion, in the backs, played pluckily and well. Geaney especially at wings forward played an excellent game. Shades of country football! The Southland “Daily News” says:—“An Invercarjfil! junior football team that recently visited a country district to play the local champions met with an unexpected experience, fully dno-half their number suffering injuries of a more or less serious nature as a result of the play. That thing;, were serious is evidenced by the fact that several players- are to be seen about the town with arms in slings. It is stated that the country team fared but little better, and that one player received a out in the head which had to be stitched. It would appear that after the game got, fairly on its way tho players became heedless of the whereabouts of the ball, their desire being to do ao much’injury ns possible to their opponents. It was not an uncommon sight tx> witness a man lying prone on. the ground as the result of n butt, or some such similar expedient, and an opponent to rush up and deliberately kick at his head or face with all his force.” The fixtures to r the Junior Championship for to-day are as follows: Petone v. Oriental, at Petone. Southern v. AA r e! 1 ington, Show Ground. Poneko v. Melrose. Show Ground. Athletic v. Aricto’ria College, Hutt.

St- Patrick’s v. Kia Ora, Berhampore. The Southern-AVellinptou and PonekeMelro.sc games should furnish two of tho best contests of the season. As to tho probable victors it would be too much of a prophecy to hazard an opinion ns to tho result.’ Petone should just about defeat Oriental if they play np to form, ami Athletic and Kia Ora. I anticipate, will register wins in their respective match os.

Discussing the play in the fifth class game between St. Patrick's College and-. Athletic, won bv the former by 20 points to nil. "Arbiter” writes;—"The Athletics - appeared to me to spend most of their time "talking fioht." and seemed to consider that the Newtown Park for the time being was a boxing ring. If * the young wearers of the blue and black have * no higher conception of football than their performance on Saturday would lead one to suppose they may expect very sound thrashings from most of the other teams in the fifth class competition. If they would play the game and cease "lecturing" they would unhold much better the honour of the public schools from which presumably, thev have lust come. The combination of the College team, both Imck and forward, was excellent. and their passing rushes completely paralysed the weak defence of the Athletic rearguard., Hainan (3), Petera, and O’Connor scored for the College. Threo tr'eq were converted. ( . . The following table shows_ the Position of the iuiror teams competing for the championship: Matches. Point*. as d 2 ? „• Is ..Sc J2 ►£ o o be p£ I? hA P pn Wellington ... 4 4 —■— 52 6 8 Poneke ... ~.3 3 Melrose ... ... 4 3 1 Old Boys 4 3 I S 3 19 6 Southern 4 3 1 Athletic 3 2 1 Potoivo 4 22 Oriental 4 1 -3 Victoria College ... 3 0 3 —•' 3 41 - TCia Ora ... ... 3 0 3 - St. Patrick’s College 4 0 4 - THE ASSOCIATION GAME. (By "Line Umpire.’’)

■ The initial stages for this year’s school* competition were. taken- last Wednesday, when a social was held at the In. snrance Institute Rooms for the purpose of presenting medals to last year’s champions; the Marist Brothers’ school. - Advantage was taken of the gathering to invite masters .and hoys from all the schools, hut the wet weather doubtless prevented many from attending. The at. tendance of some sixty or seventy boys and several masters must therefore be considered very satisfactory. Among those present were several members of the crew of the H.M.S. Penguin. Mr A. E. Gibbs (president of the Wellington Football Association). Mr P- J. Courtney (hen. sec. of the New Zealand Association). and,the various,members of the Management Committee of the’ local- Association. There was a very fair attendance of local-players, seeing that the previous -wet Saturday had been against many tickets being sold. An excellent programme of musical items was rendered by Messrs Richmond, Davenport, Parkes, Salmon, J. Warren. McKinnon, and Roberts, while a good exhibition of club swinging was given, by Mr Kaldwell, of H.M.S. Penguin, - The chairman, Mr Gibbs, in the course of his remarks pointed out that it was almost certain that there would bo more teams in the competition this season than there were last season. He held been informed that the Thorndon, Terrace, Newtown. and Wadesiown schools would ent?r elevens. He failed to see why any school now playing Rugby could not enter for the soccer Competition, as there was plenty of room for both games in all the schools. There had also been some talk of the Public Schools' Association objecting to the Marist Brothers’ school again entering the competition, but although, the Association had not considered the matter, ho was’ certain this school would not be excluded, as it had given a big support to Association football in the past.; Considerable applause was raised when the chairman intimated that Mr R- H. Davenport was presenting a shield for competition amongst the boys. The names of the winning teams are to "be engraved on the shield each year. This announcement did not, of course, cause very much surprise amongst the older members of the Association, as Mr Davenport’s keenness for promoting the game amongst, the boys is well-known. Now that the "rec” is a thing of the past. Mr Davenport's energy is evidently finding relief in a new . direction, although at'present the Pearls are fortunate enough to receive the benefit of his "small" but by no means "voiceless*’ services.

Mr H. B. Barrett who took such an interest in the schools’ competition last season. is at present in Carterton, having been transferred there "from ,To Aro school. In a letter which was read at the above "social” lie wished the competition every success during the present season. The writer stated that he . did not see there was any chance at present of school "soccer” in the Wairarapa, but had come across several socoeritea in

"grownupdom," and the chances of his raising a team were excellent. The colours of the Kent Terrace Club are registered as dark blue jerseys with, light blue eash. This makes four clubs which have adopted some shade of blue as their club colours. Royers have light blue shirts. Queen’s Park blue dnd white, wh’le Petone has light blue and dark blue. Nearly all the leading teams at Home have their nicknames. Here are a few Everton are known as the "Toff semen. O’een’s Park as "Sniders." Bury as the "Shakers." Portsmouth as "Pompey.” ana Notts County as "The Da-mbs.’’ The Rugby TJnion has offered its shed at Miramar to the City Council for use at Newtown Part, but ?c far no advantaee seems to have T>eeu token of tne offer A dressing shed is badlv needed up at the Park, and d is hoped that the City Council will bestir themselves in the matter before long. The Swifts Club is having a run of bad luck with its players this season. Churchward received a nasty kick in the St- John’s match wh : ch has forced his retirement since. Then Frank Doherty was injured in the. Diamond game and could not play against Pctone, Cloake has got knocked about, while last Saturday Beth ell, of the juniors . received a nasty smack on the knee which will keep him from football for some weeks and

with which ho had to visit a medical man. this being the first case under the now accident scheme. iletheli’H C.i-(* in■similar to the aeeident which Kober received ‘n the trial match lust season Apropos of ivober. f believe this is the first season in which he has missed playing soccer since about 18110. Although his profession takes him from one end ol New Zealand to the other he has generally manured to last out a football season in one of the centres. J saw him in Christchurch in .January, when he mentioned lie would yet no football this season—if, indeed, bis knee ever allowed him to play again. lie was over in -Nelson recently. ... Messrs Bibbs and Anld, who were relieved of refereeing last week were in nv'denfo wt -Newtown Pnrk. .mt hud Mr Hawtrey (of the Hawtroy Comedy Com].any; up to liavo a look at the st-John's-Rovers match, while veteran Anld was prevailed upon to don the Rovers colours at full-back. Mr Hawtrey, it may bo mentioned, is an old Association player. IMr Hobart*, who was recently appoint* ed the Wellington Association’s delegate to the New Zealand Football Assentation, evidently intends to waste xio time (vide his letter to the “Kvoning Post” last Monday).

Any reference ‘to the Swifts-Petono game would be incomplete without touching upon one unpleasant aspect ol Hie game—that is, the amount ot talkrng that was indulged in. With a less strict referee the game might have degenerated into a ‘‘debating society." the suburban team wore-tho chief offenders, and clicir skipper McKinnon, should assort nis authority and see that this sort ot thing is immediately stopped./ Petone are last gaining a reputation in this way and rclvTt'O aftv.w rcrorefi comes u\vivy xhoidecided * never io oilioiate where inn team is playing. * to say that the* Pefono skipper did not in any way lust week makti the rcteveo s task nnv lighter. , .., ...... « S. AlcLeaji gave a splendid exhibition of goalkeeping in the Y.M.C.A.-&wiits junior fixture. The Swifts were nil round his goal right from the start, but it was not until well on in the second spell that they managed to beat him. and they then scored 5 goals 1 in rapid succession. Adair and Hodge, late of Rovers, also did good work, while the* rest of the team stuck pluckily to their guus ihf? Swifts-wore unfortunate hi losing Hot he II early in thef game, the lelt back having received a nasty kriiock on the knee. Ivlsnn, Churchward. Isaacs and Harry worked hard for the winners, for whom the scorers were: Isaacs (”). Jack. Moss and Churchward.

Ditiiiiends, playing 0110 short, further strengthened their position in the Junior Championship by defeating St. Johns by one goal to nil. after an even game. -Diamonds were early aggressive, but their attack was staved off. and the ball rapidly passed down the field by the St. John's forwards. Vaughan bad a shot at goal, which Woods saved. Another Black attack forced the yellows to concedeAa corner, from which St. John's cleared; Reddy secured, and after beating several opponents scored one at goal from a difficult angle. This livened St. John's up, but erratic shooting spoilt their chance of equalising. In the second spell each side attacked in turn, one shot of the Diamonds hitting the bar. Woods at tho other end was severely tested, but kept his goal intact, and there was 110 further score. Ecddy. Hay (3) t Guy and Woods, of the winners, and Smith, Vaughan, Circle and Wilson, of the backs, played well. To-day's senior fixtures are: —Swifts y. Eovers, Queen's Park v. Petone, and Diamonds v. St. John’s. Swifts and Queen's Park should on their present form secure further points, but it will be hard to pick tho winners of the other fixture. Diamonds have yet to beat St. John’s, but the attack of the yellows is much below that of last year. The same remark also applies to tho Diamonds, but the defence of tho latter is stronger. I am inclined to select St. John’s as the winners. ■

The St. John's and Hovers was a hardfought game from start to‘finish, and very evenly contested, neither side having much the advantage; a draw would have more correctly indicated the. relative strength , of. the two teams. St. John’s shewed if anything a little more combination than the Eovers; the latter, with several new men in their team, were evidently not quite at homo together, but this is a fault which time should) eradicate.

The goal-keeping on Both. aides was kccllemt —no mistaken were made. ’ The , only score registered- waa effected, byi Mount with a neat low header from a well-placed corner kick; he waa within a yard ,of the goal at the time, and flJlaohin had not a possible chance to save.- ■ ;. '

Of the -St. John’s team in tho field; Amies at back and Geo. Williams at half shone conspicuously; the latter dealt very effectively with hia namesake on the Boyers’ left. Ho very quickly dropped to the fact that F. Williams, whenever ho got the hall, invariably sent it out to Muroh, and so was able to intercept many good passes. It ia a wise thing for a forward to vary his play, so as to puzzle the half as much, as possible. The forwards were not at all brilliant, A. 'Mount being tho best. Of tho Rovers, Godber, ailthough once or twice very patchy,-was on the whole safe. ■ ; ■ . ' ■ The three halves were very fair. Eaton was not, quite up to form but grafted hard as usual.. Reynolds showed great improvement on his pervious match, but can play better still. O’Connell, late of the Diamonds, was the other half. lie showed good form for his first game, and will. I expect, improve—should steady himself a' little more, and then he will do much better.

Of the forwards, the left -wing was very good, and Murcia showed he has the science of tho game in him, and will make a good outside left—he and ‘Williams combine very well at times. .Pye-fjm'ith and O’Shea were weak, and wits isolated a good deal, and‘ did hot {Jet’.’niuch work .to do. O’Shea, who is a new man. to Wellington, was poor in the first half, which Waa , perhaps excusable, its he has not. I understand, touched a ball for eighteen months. In the second half ho was twice the iuan ho was in the first spell, and improved right to tho end of the game. 1 shall expect to see him j>lay" soma very good games before the season is finished, aa ho evidently has it in him. The veteran, Auld turned out for tho Rovers at his old place—aught full back—and did splendid service for his side. At one period of tho game his wild Irish blood took possession of him, and ho was seen at times streaking among the forwards like greased lightning. Football is evidently too exciting for him now. Newtown Park was not marked out on Saturday,' and both teams as well as. tie referee, weije at" a disadvantage. The Itavera, probably lost a goal on that account as several spectators and players aver that the ball was over the line when St. John’s goalkeeper fell on it and scooped it out. The'referee waa not close enough to judge, but had tho -goal line been marked the point would have been easily decided. Tho W.F.A. should make arrangements to have the ground marked out every Saturday.

The Diamonds and Queen's Park game was an evenly .fought out contest from start to finish, though the result—a goalless draw—was probably a fitting result to tho uninteresting play. There was little combination amongst the forwards <meither side; tho wings did well, but tho centres-were invariably wasted, and it- is surprising that players like Hathaway or Perkins, when they saw how badly fhoir inside men were doing, did n»t attempt to reach goal by an individual effort. It may have paid to do this, while the game they were adopting was not resulting in anything save goal kicks. Perhaps Queen's Park had a little more of the play, and they had hard luck in twice striking the crossbar.

Neither goalkeeper was severely tested. Gordon did some very good work, but tho way in which he sometimes loses control of tho ball when he throws it down is not commendable. Fitzgerald is.as Cool as ever and one of his saves in the later stages of the gnino wag particularly fine. ■

I.ittle fault could be found with either Robert* or liowncsti. and the former will have 'big claims, lor rep. ho amirs this year. Tho 1 halves., particularly Sjvain. and Taylor, did well throughout, but some good openings which they made were not taken advantage of. The forwards wore never prominent, IJurbus-h doing the bast work: Hathaway seemed afraid of being penalised for offside, and several times hung back when there was no occasion. Ho is not nearly the player of a season ago. Young and Cheshire were weak; tho latter lost an almost certain goal by rashly kicking at tho bull. Huffy was patchy, at tunes working hard, at others getting in liurbush’s way.

Martin made few mistakes at full for Queen’s Park. Once or twice he nearly let Hathaway in, but made clever recoveries. Hun wick was not at ail safe.

Arthur Clark was very safe at right half, and soon dropped to intercepting passes to Hathaway. Ho got all tho beat, of the argument with the opposing wing, and lie.did some capital attacking, work. B. Clark worked hard, but was never brilliant. Downes plays a really good

"lime at left half, ami will show wore improvement yet. But ho must get rid of that habit of putting his hands up. Perkins was prominent in several rushes on the left, but did not receive any great support from any of the other forwards. Naughfoh and Bennett but McDoiigalj and Thillaway wore erratic. Tho Swifts-Pebcme match was not by any means an exhibition of good football. Xho hard kicking by the forwards spoilt what would otherwise havo been a good game. The defence on both side* was first class, but the Potone forwards did not give their opponents much anxiety, whereas the Petono goal was subject to a pretty heavy bombardment at times. Eutwistlp, the Petone keep, brought off ftDine really brilliant saves, and takes a lot of boating. Hus punching out wa-s Al. Thawley and Ilenai played a fine defensive game at back, but Thaw ley. should not lose his temper because he is charged occn.si-c*nally. Football is football, not ping-pong or carpet bowls. Penai (II.) kicked with fine judgment a?d perei.sioii, and did a lot of work, and also a lot of talking. 'M. Penai, at centre-half, showed up very conspicuously, and fed his forward's yery.well, but ho would have more time tq .devote to playing the game if he ceased ho argue about the referees decisions. { Spilman and P.iddrough stood out as the shining lights in the forward cbv>sion,. and had t.hey # been supported with good wings they might have clone better. Spilman's goal was obtained by fast following up and a grand shot. Stevenson, in goail for the maroons, had nothing serious to grapple with. The one idiot which passed him would have given no goalkeeper a chance. Duff, at right full, played his best game, this season, His kicking was strong ami ;well placed, but hw should check thqt growing habit of wandering up amongst his own forwards, or he will land his side in difficulties before long. Macdonald, the “colt” of the team, although stiff ©ring from a sever© cold, played a clashing gam©. He fed his l forwards to a nicety, and his defence was sound. Tayl’or played Ms usual hard game, but more judgment in passing to his forwards would bo a.big improvement.

The Swifts have a decided acquisition ia Hill a late arrival from Scotland. Ho ii tricky, fairly fast, has a first-olaas knowledge of the game, E and can shoot well.-..-His goal was a fine piece of work. None of,- the Swifts’ forwards can be specially; mentioned, as doing good work. They wore all about «u a par. Their shooting -was miserable, and will have to bo' much improved upon if they wish to win matches in the future.