THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 5

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

LEAGUE MATCHES. The second series of matches for the various Association championships took place on Saturday. A heavy southerly gale was against perfect football, but nevertheless, a good deal of interest was taken in the games. As on the opening Saturday it was noticeable that 'several of the grounds were not properly marked out. The first division matches resulted as under:—

Diamonds (2) defeated V.M.C.A (1). Swifts (1), defeated Rovers (01. Thistle (2) defeated Ramblers (1). DIAMONDS, 2; Y.M.C.A., 1. Considering the weather conditions under which the Diamonds and Y.M.C.A. had'to meet, the gamo was a really good display of football. A southerly gale mado it impossible to kick hard with any degree of accuracy, and as a result Bhort passing rushes were adopted. Soino of theso, notably by, the Diamonds left wing, were really pretty pieces of work. Occasionally the ball would drift out to tho right wing from one of these dashes and when it did, Black, the Diamonds outside right, mado the very host use of it. Had it not: been for - tho magnificent display given by Hollis, the Y.M.CA. goalkeeper, Diamonds score would have been oan&idcrably hishar

than ti. Time after timo that player brought off brilliant "saves," and a better exhibition of goal-keeping has rarely beon seen in Wellington. A pretty piece of combined work, in which Lowe and Riddy figured early in the game, gave the former a good chance, but the hall went d couple of feel outside the posts. Diamonds sent another shot in" almost immediately, hut it went wido of the mark. Y.M.C.A. then kept Diamonds on the defensive, but at length the latter assaulted again and Lowe got clear away to the goalkeeper. A goal appeared to be assured, but Hollis rushed out, and, snapping the leather from the toes of the Diamonds man, cleared cleverly. Another very .fine "save" by this goalkeeper followed, and then Y.M.C.A. attacked strongly, Schofield almost scoring before the invaders wore driven out. \

Diamonds had the best of the second ■half, but principally through the untiring work of Timperly and Schofield they were kept fairly well in check. The Diamonds forwards took tho ball right into goal mouth, and here, for about 15 seconds, there was a wild struggle with the odds all in favour of half, a dozen Diamonds against the Y.M.C.A. goalkeeper. In the end, however, Hollis won' out and cleared his, goal amidst applauso, oven from Diamonds. A long attack by Diamonds took place about the middle of tho spell when Reddy centred' from the left and enabled D. Roberts to pass to Black who was in front of the posts. The outside right sent the ball between t'ho posts, not giving the defending, goalkeeper a chance. I—o. A second goal for Diamonds followed soon after. Tonge was entrusted with a penalty, and although Hohia stopped the ball he was unable to clear it, and Tonge, following up, shot. the , ball through. 2—o. Before the end of the game Y.M.C.A. reduced their opponents' lead bv onG goal, Scbo field scoring.. Diamond, 2; Y.M.C.A., 1., Mr. J. B. Paton wis referee.

THISTLE, 2; RAMBLERS, 1

The Duppa Street ground, on which the Thistle-Rambler match was playod, was exposed to the full force of tho "southerly," which'swept up the Island Bay Valley with a violence which made scientific football an impossibility. Ramblers won the'toss, and, with the assistance of the gale, play wen-t immediately into Thistle quarters. 'A good shot by Anker was "saved" by ' Rowan, and then Waters was given a fine opportunity, which, however, he did not take advantage of. After repulsing an onslaught by-Thistle, 'the , Rambler men attacked again, and'a good'shot by Sniallbone found the, mark. I—o. The' reverse put vigour , into the Thistle' players, and a nice piece of . passing by Simpson and Duncan ended in the lat-ter-shooting across the goal and enabling Slater to score. I—l.1 —1. Thistle continued to press, and before halftime Irvine had placed another goal (2 —1) to their credit. In the second half Thistle had all the best' of tho play, but the sound defence of tho Ramblers prevented any further score. Mr. J. Davidson was referee.

SWIFTS, 1; ROVERS, 0. Windy Kolburne was the scene of a | spirited, albeit somewhat unscientific contest' between Swifts and Rovers. The first spell opened with a vigorous attack by the Swifts, playing with the wind' behind. Rovers met the onset with spirit, arid,for ,somo minutes the contestants, attacked .and counter-at-tacked in mid-field. Then, with some clever combination by Swifts' left wing, tho ball was worked up to the Rovers' goal; where a "snary skirmish ensued, and Penlington (in- goal) had to seep lively. . Ho had just punched the ball out 1 for the third time, when Vesey, Swifts' outside right, neatly headed it back and scored. ; (1—0). Wormed up by this inverse, Rovers, headed- by their fleet centre , forward (Gibson), mad© vigorous attempts;to even matters, but were outclassed", by their opponents' forward lino, which, though far from perfect,, excelled in combination and footwork. Onco or twice during, tho spell, Swifts looked dangerous, but Rivers' inner defences were on the alert, and the back division, did good work in relieving the Whites from awkward situations. .The latter portion of the first spell was uninteresting. Some .of the shots at goal were fearful' and wonderful to behold.

It was then, expected that, - with" the advantago of the. strong /southerly, Rovers' forward line, which though illorganised, was very fast, would make things very warm for the Reds on, the, resumption of play. The kick-off, however, was signalised -by a smart advance by the Swifts! The Rover backs relieved cleverly, and the next phase of' the game; saw' the White forwards flying up the field. ' They outpaced the opposing forwards, passed'through tho half-back line, outmanoeuvred the backs, and . then collapsed, - unable, mainly through, lack of judgment, to carry their attack to a decisive point. M'Lean, Swifts' goal-keeper, had no difficulty in , catching tho ball, and dodginghis enemies sent the leather sailing down tho field, ,' Rovers were never really dangerous after that, - and during 'the greater , part of the, spell , they had enough to do to ward off the attacks of their enemies.' The Swifts' forwards, closely attended by their halves, who nursed the vanguard with considerable skill, rushed the Rovers' goal time after time, and on more than'one oocasion would have scored in fine style had it not been for the crossbar. Another sharp attack by the Swifts was followed by desultory play in mid-field, and the game , ended in favour of the Reds by one goal to triL Mr. Yeoman was referee. , . ,-

. SECOND DIVISION. St.. John's had an easy win against Toa at Porirua, finishing up with eight goals to, Toa's one. Toa wan tho toss and played with.the wind, but through wild - kicking failed to take advantage of the gale that was blowing. Saints' forwards broke away orn several occasions, and iat last their superior taotics secured them the first goal: from a shot by Wanior. Shortly after this Toa were awarded a penalty through a St. John's man misunderstanding the lineman's energetic signalling. They were successful in tho effort, the ball, aided by the wind,> going between the posts like a catapult. , A few minutes later Saints' forwards, after a clever combined attack, again found themselves in the vicinity of Toa'B goal. After some give-and-take play Dick secured Saints' second goal with a beaitiful drive from the wing. The latter half of the game was a sories of attacks on Toa's goal, which left Meikle, Egley, Warner, and Dick with two goals each to their credit. The Toa forwards made the mistake of hard kicking against , a wind that took the ball away from control as soon as it rose a few feet from the ground., Mr; Wiudley gave general satisfaction as, referee.

Wanderers easily defeated Berbampore, scoring. 9 goals to their opponents' nil. For tho winners, Rogers (3), Woodcock_ (2), Haywood. (2), Garret and Ritcliio (one each) were the scorers. Mr. Hayton refereed.

. At Petone, Y.M.C.A. defeated ilia suburban leam by 2 goals to nil, after a hard' game. .

Brooklyn wer= too strong for ilio Webb Street team, defeating them by 4 goals to nil. Holland (2), Greeks and Quilter (1 each) scored for the winners. Marfot Brothers (3) defeated St. Augustine (2). Hill, Bowden, and Overend scored for tho winners, and Lister and Martin for the St. Augustine. . Mental Hospital 4, Diamonds 0. Scorers for .Mental Hospital: Elliott (2), Phillips (1), Jacobs (t). . 2, PetoiMJ U.

THIRD DIVISION

Diamonds 3, St. John's 1. A good game was played between these two teams. Wilton, Wheldon, and Black showed good form for tho winners. Y.M.C.A. 4, Ramblers 0. St. David's .4, Brooklyn 2. FOURTH DIVISION. Petone 3, St. John's 0. St. David's won by default from Ramblers. . - Swifts A 9, Rangers 0. The scorers were'C. Guise (4), H. Guise (2), Abel (2), and Balks (1). , Khandallah 3 (Overend, Bowden and Carolane), Swifts B 2 (Eadis). FIFTH DIVISION. Y.M.C.A. 4, South Wellington 0. Tho scorers were: Homo (2), Tullett (2)., Island Bay 3, Rangers 1. Swifts 1 (Bowden), Institute 1 (Oakey). SIXTH DIVISION. Island Bay 3, Institute AO.