ASSOCIATION GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12085, 14 August 1917, Page 3

ASSOCIATION GAME.

LEA G F K 00} I PETfTT ON. The above competition was continued in the Senior grade on Saturday. The chief attraction was the meeting oi Nomads and Rangers-United at English Park. As was generally expected. Hangers were too. good for their opponents, and won by a big margin. The result of this match practically seals the fate of 'the competition, for Nomads had 'to win the match against .Rangers and Linwood to force a playoff with the latter team. The only remaining hope, and a very slender one at that, now js for St Albans to repeat tho dose they administered to Nomads recently, on Saturday next, when they meet Linwood, at English Park. While football is a game of glorious uncertainties, 1 very much doubt the ability of it-he Saints to "get home'' on this occasion. The. large crowd that assembled at English Park witnessed a very fair game. It was unfortunate for Nomads that Watson and Taylor were absent, especially th c former, who is tho mainslay of the team. In fact, tho Blue defence is all sixes and sevens when this player is away. Rangers, too, were not represented at full strength, for they were without the services of Pilling and Nelson. Mills was expected to turn out, but as he has only played ono match this season, his absence cannot bo said to have weakened the team. Referee Knox soon got the game under way, and the pace at. once bccamo fast; in fact after play had been in progress some time the pace slackened off considerably. Harwell alone stayed tho journey out, and as a result placed fivo goals to his credit — tho entire score coming from his foot. Ho is a most aggressive player, and always takes a deal of watching. He is particularly dangerous once in front of goal. "George" Swift can testify to this after Saturday's encounter. Barwell goes right after the ball, whether tho chances are of the best or ndt, and this policy places him very handy if the full-back miskicks, or tho goalie makes a faulty clearance. In this manner ho scored the only two goals gained by his side when they drew with Linwood, his fast following up enabling him to equalise on time. This is a bit of past history, but it serves to show tho advantage of Harwell's method. In this respect he is better than any other forward playing m Canterbury to-day, and the amalgamated club is indeed fortunato in possessing such a dashing forward. Nomads should have scored on more than one occasion in tho firsn, spell, and it was painful to see Frickleton's beautiful centres go to waste. Nomads forwards suffered by comparison with their opponents in the matter of picking up centres, Bangers first two goals being well-placed centres neatly picked up and piloted into tho net. In the second spell Nomads sot up some good attacks, but they were not sustained, and the game ended all in Bangers' favour. Bentley turned out for the amalgamated club, and held his end up well. "Fred" is a 'useful man both as club manager and player if required. Nomads again rearranged their team after the game started to go hard with them. This practice is very frequent with the Royal Blues, but it is veryquestionable if it serves any useful advantage. At such a late stage of the season each man should have a certain position assigned to him, otherwise there..will be small chance of developing any combination. This applies to" one'or two other clubs also. The match at Linwood Park carried a good deal of interest with it, as B G.H were expected in some quarters'to' have a chance of checking I.mwood's career. Their fine performance of Saturday week, in defeating Rangers F/nited. certainly made their chance look somewhat promising. Inn wood, however, were right out to wm, and had a goal to their credit within a few minutes of kicking off. They got in before B.G.H. had i'tfund their ieet. This was the onlv score during the nrsS spell, though each side strove hard. \fter tho interval, the combined movements of the Greens proved too much for the " Povs," and four more goals were registered, and .Linwood won by live goals to nil. Mill was in his best mood, and claimed three of the goals. "Cuff had too much pace for his opponents, and easily outdistanced them when once in possession of the ball. Smith scored a neat goal, but should have got more. He had a day off in the shooting department, for he was well placed on several occasions. Flood made the final score. He essayed a, solo run from mid-field and showed good footwork in threading his way through the defence, and ended his run with a very fast shot which gave Bruerton no chance. Simpson filled the outside right position, and played very well for the first quarter, but then died away. However, he put in some good corner kicks. Elisor and Harris, made lew mistakes in the half back line, and got thenforwards away well. MacFarlane, tou, was excellent in defence, and as a result Bennett, in goal, had a very light afternoon's work. Nicholson and Coomber were the most aggressive of the losers, the former getting in some good shots. He has plenty of pace and can swing in a good centre. Tho left winger, Marshall (who is the fastest man in the team), would have been dangerous with a less powerful defence. When on the run he was bard to catch, and if he would only centre earlier he would bo hard to reckon with. He passed well to Campbell on several occasions, but the latter had a day off. Cablo showed sound judgment in defence and attack. His'kicking was always crisp and clean. Altogether ho'is a most useful man. Hillgrovo played capitally at soloback. Fie never made a mistake and played Ins best game to date. He lacked nothing in strength and direction. Bruerton made some good saves, and could not l)o blamed for any of the goals that were, registered against him, as all wore shot from point-blank ranee. Tins player has given verv consistent displays in goal all through the season -most of the time with a somewhat weak defence in front of him. "Harrv" goes ;nto camp at the end of the playing season. George Black refereed in a n >ost efficient manner, and on no occasion was the game allowed to get out of hand The promptness of his decisions should be taken up as an object lesson by other members of the Clt V Saturday's matches hav o practically decided the League championship for mi. Linwood Corinthians, by steady and consistent pl a . y , }, aVo Stained a good lead right through. Thev hare S> m,t° tb 01 ' 6 n Wi , a «' iMt Sfc table n„\ JSS '!i e . b T n d'doubt. The table up to and includ ng last Satnv day's matches i B as follows:--

JUNIOR GRADE. At South Park Nomads beat Sumner by three goals to two. afte? an exciting game. Play was hprd and fast rightj through and many interesting patches of play were seen, especially towards the close of the game. For O'Neill was the best forward, his fast following up being a feature of his

ploy. His follow forwards wore too slow for him. and if ho-had been supported hotter tho result might have boon different.- ■ Tho backs, Williams and Piripi. pla.vcd well. For Nomads Cummins, Passmorc and Farmer played well forward, and Lilhurne at centrehalf was again tho star performer! 'O'Flaherty, raised from third grade C, acquitted" himself very creditably amongst the much older and heavier opponents. St Albans and Western fought out n very close game at English Park. Play was very exciting throughout and both teams were in very dangerous positions at times. For St Albans Dofobs and Kirk played well, as did Bowden, Hoy and Coodman for Western. In this match Kirk (St Albans) had a penalty kick which hit the cross-bar and rebounded into play. He then kicked rhrough and was given a goal. When tho ball was in the centre, for the kickoff the referee was informed that tho score could not be allowed and he thereupon cook the ball and ordered a goalkick.

THERD GRADE. At North Park St Bode's beat Boys' Gordon Hal] by four goals to one. Sto Bedo's had the advantage at the start, and very soon had " on© up." Hall equalised shortly afterwards, and from then play continued very even up to half-time. On resuming tho Blacks put new vigour into the .game, and had the best of tho second spell, Palmer being called upon repeatedly to save. For St< Bedo's O'Reilly and Badland played well at back, ami O'Brien and Shaw were also prominent. For the Hall Palmer was very safe hi goal, and Hamilton and Scott were prominent in the field, and West wood also figured at times. Nomads A and Nomads B meti at South Park, tho former winning by two goals to one. The match produced a very poor exhibition of Association football, and somo of the players showed a strong inclination to ignore rules, so much so that with a stricter referee penalties would have been muck mora frequent than was tho case. Fouling was the chief offence of tho game, which was in doubt Tight until the end. Nomads B had the advantage in the first spell, but in the second weight, told, and for somo considerable time they were mostly on the defensive. In the closing stages, howover, they again, assumed tho upper band, and Bridgeland was called on time and again to save. For Nomads A Bridge'land in goal was very safe, and Tviug repelled manv attacks. In the forwards Parsons'and Buxton played well. For Nomads B. Bates was safe in goal and Watts shone i» defence. Silvester, Muir and Foster wore conspicuous m the forwards, as were Roes and Comfort- in tho halves. Nomads A and St Bedc/s arc the two left to pay off lor the Watson Cup, and the matc-h will probably be a cur-tain-raiser to an important Senior match at English Park. LEA OFR COM PETITION. Saturday's Senior fixtures are as foU low: Linwood v. St Albans, at English Park. Xomad.s v. Boys' Gordon Hall, at1/inwood .Park (this is a four-point fixture).

Q a D EH Played. <> c= Drawn. Lost. a 1 ■ 25, for. Goals aguinst. Points Linw'd Corinthians 10 7 ?. 1 •37 10 16 Rangers-United H fl 2 3 1W ■IS J 4 Nomads . , 9 5 4 n 16 10 St Albans 30 3 7 14 42 6 Boys' Gordon Hall 10 2 — 8 17 4G 4