ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. The Opening Match.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6832, 21 April 1890, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. The Opening Match.

" Motley'ts the only wear " might well ; have beeu the motto of the new Associa- ; tion Club on Saturday, for such a variety ' of shirts has seldom been seen in Christ* i church as "the Colours'" side displayed j on the well-known United Cricket Club ! grouud for the opening niutch. Sides had j been picked by Messrs T. Maude and A. E. I Moas, the former taking the "Colours" men, and the latter the White. Among them both were Association players fresh from Home, whose old College or Club uniforms had much to do with the I briiiiant diversity mentioned above ; ! others who were evidently enthusiastic | novices at any kind of football j whatsoever; a sprinkling of well-known ! Eugby Union men good-naturedly come ; to the sister game a helping hand or, ; rather, foot ; and, lastly, a pair of veterans j — goalkeepers tor this occasion only — mado : up the twenty-two. < Oue of these, Mr ; W. P. Eeeves, who has hardly appeared ! on a football field since the early days , ot interuroviticial matches with Otngo, ■ had the misfortune, towards the end of the game, to come into collision with one cf . tho opposite side, his oppouent's head coming into contact with Mr Eeeves' ; face, and inflicting some damage. ! 'Ihe game was naturally somewhat I devoid ot that strict discipline and attention to places which are prime necessities iv a well-organised Association match. It ; was, however, made clear from the many j instances of good individual play shown I during the afternoon, that the Club ; possesses abundant material for at least one ! good team. If the talked-of match with | Dunedin on the Queen's Birthday can be ■ arranged, our men bhould be able to give , a really good account of themselves. Some j have not forgotten tho lessonß they learnt i in England, while some of the novices, who had on Saturday only the light of nature ': to guide them, are capable, with drilling, of ' developing into really good fast men. Their chief defects were excess of zeal and : ignorance of passing and centring the | ball. These may easily be remedied. We i look forward to oeeint- many a good Asso- ! ciation match yet on the old U.C.C. ground . in Hagley Park. The Colours were, throughout the first spell, slightly too good tor the other side, although they were beaten, one goal being obtained from a corner kick just at half time. Afterwards, with the wind in their i favour, the Whites played up better, and ' the game was very even. Several good rushes placed the Colours' c-oal more than ' ouce in jeopardy, Eavon's remarkably '-. steady play at hill-back staving off the I danger. Cogblan, Hutton, Hall and Giifurd showed up well among the forwards. | For the Whites, tho captain (Moss) ■ showed himself an experienced player j A. ; Harper at half-back, H. E. Ehodes and ; Turubull as forwards, played a good, hard and useful game. There was surprisingly litcle handling- of the ball, very few free kichs beiny called for. Afternoon tea was provided for spectators and players after the game.