ASSOCIATION GAME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 7

ASSOCIATION GAME.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. Saturday morning gave promise of it being a good day for the opening of tho "soccer" reason, but towards afternoon a. northerly wind sprang up, and made matters very unpleasant for both players and spectators. However, taken on tho whole, there were some good games, especially considering that it was the first of the season, and it was only in one or two instances that full teams wero not placed in the field. Groat interest was centred in the- meeting of Ramblers and Mental Hospital, because of the fact that they were last year's winners of tho senior and junior competitions respectively. Although defeated, Hospital put up a really good fight for their first appearance in senior football, and the teain should prove a stiff proposition to opponents in the near future. Corinthians, a new senior team, were defeated by Wanderers, a. junior team last year. Want of training was very evident in most of the matches on Saturday, the onlv exception Using in the game between Swifts and Y.M.C.A. Following are tho results of tho senior matches:— Swifts beat Y.M.C.A. by 5 to 2. Diamonds beat-Rovers fay 2 io 1. Ramblers beat Hospital by 5 to 3, Wanderers beat Corinthians by 7 fo 1. Thistle beat St. John's by 2 to 0. SWIFTS-Y.M.C.A. Diippa Street ground was the scene of a fairly exciting game between Swifts and Y.M.C.A., the former team winning by 5 goals to 2. Both teams were hampered somewhat by the strong northerly wind which swept the field. Immediately after the kick-alt, Y.M.C.A., playing against the wind, pressed their opponents hard, but the defensive tactics indulged in by the Swifts' backs broke up what combination "Y.M." showed. Play was transferred to tho vicinity of "Y.M.'s" goal, and Roberts, inside-right, for Swifts, put in a shot which Hollis had plenty of luck in saving. A pretty forward rush instituted by Phillips, inside-right, and taken up by the Y.M.C.A. forwards, looked dangerous, but Graves, the hard-working centrehalf for the Reds, saved the situation by n timely kick out. Shortly after this Jlatheson, inside left, lost a capital chance to p;core, and, after :i miskiek, Smith, taking the ball at his toe in his own half of tho field, carried it right down the centre, and, beating Pye-Smith, centred nicely. Phillips being handy banged the leather into-the net. thus scoring tho first goal of the match. Y.M.C.A., 1; Swifts, 0. The next score came from » miskiek by Pye-Smith, and Smith, taking advantage of this, again took the ball to Hie "oal mouth, and scored from a long shot, Whittle, Swifts' keeper, making "hardly any attempt to save. Swifts' turn now came, and Scott, outside-left, secured and centred beautifully! Forsyth, in trying to clear, put the ball through his own goal. Success seemed to have livened up the Rod?, and they enme at the attack a"aiu. This time the ball travelled from Hubban lo Harry to Vessey, mid the lastnamed, catching it fairly on his toe, made the scores equal. On-one or two occasions Hollis saved splendidly, and Conte, right-full-back for Y.M.C.A., played good football. Vessey, playing well, had a shot at close rnnge, and registered the third goal for his side. Shortly afterwards a pretty piece of play took place between Mathesoii

and Send, which enabled the latter to scare. Vc.-soy had to retire at this stage of the jjunia' owing to a twisted ankle. The final score came from a good piece of work by Harry, Mathosou, and .Scott, and, al the critical niome.nl, llu< Swifts' captain did Ilio right thing at the right time, and scored. The linal score thus was: Swifts, , r >; Y.M.C.A., 2. Mr. 11. L. Uodber was referee.

RAMBLERS-HOSPITAL. Hospital iiiirl Ramblers mel on the hospital ground. A very fast, and at times exciting game ensued, both sets of forwards putting in sonic tine work. Phillips scored a goal with a splendid shot, afler raring.both backs, petting his ankle hurt during his effort, however. Ramblers quickly-equalised with a rather fortunate goal, Johnson's short shot striking the keeper's hands, and liouiicing in at the font of the post. Cockbiirn, ingoal, saved a fine, long shot from Cross, and, at this stage of tile game, his work was brilliant. M'Ninch gave Hospital the lead with a low shot following a corner, but Ramblers equalised from a penalty against Shaiid, for a charge lhat. hardly deserved the extreme punishment. Half-time was called with (lie scores equal, this about representing the merits of the, team*. More fast play was the order during the. second half, Wallis and Cross, full-backs, putting in some fine defensive work, Cross being a tower of strength to liis side. The samo may bo said of Hart, at centre-half, whose tackling was of a high order. Following a corner, Ed--ward headed a fine goal, giving his side tho lead; and another soon followed: from a scramble, this being scored by Hart. Elliott scored number three for his side, tho ball striking the post, before entering the net. The last goal for Ramblers was put through by Edwards, after sonic pretty work by the right-wing, the visitors thus winning by ato 3. The outstanding men of the game were Cross and Hart for Ramblers, though Jackson and Ivirschberg, at half, were the deciding factors to whom 'Ramblers owed their win. For Hospital, Cockburti gave a classy exhibition, in-goal, Wallis was in fine form at back, while M'Niuch worked hard at centre-half. Phillips was unfortunate in getting hurt at the commencement of tho game, and this rather disorganised the Hospital forwards, thus making Ramblers' task not quite so hard. Mr. AVindlcy was referee.

WANDEREHS-CORINTHIANS. Corinthians, the new team, met Wandeiers «t .\ewtown Park and were not able to hold the fort agaiust their experienced opponents. The game, as was to be expected, was not of tho best quality, for one sido were practised in combination and the other "raw." This does not mean that Corinthians were totally outclassed individually, for they had at least ono man .who will take a great deal of beating at centre-half. The forwards were weak with the exception of Smith and Haley. The backs were individually fair, but need to study their kicking more. Wanderers kept up a lively attack and secured seven goafs— the result of combination. .Most of the play was kept to tho AVanderers' left forwards, who worked neatly together. Cornish was particularly noticeable and but for the splendid efforts of Hoots (Corinthians' centre-half) the score would have been considerably greater. Corinthians' only goal was well shot by Smith (centre-forward) from a "corner," while Wanderers' scorers were Rogers (4), Powell, Trevethick, Cornish, and Hunter. The Corinthians' team was rather an experiment, and it is understood alterations are to be made; the material for a strong team is at hand, but in Saturday's game it was not used to tho best advantage. Mr. E. C. Hayton was referee.

THISTLE-ST. JOHN'S. Early proceedings in tho match Thistle. v. St. John's, played at Kelburne Park, seem to foretell a runaway victory for Thistle, but ten minutes sufficed to warm St. John's to their work, aud thereafter matters were more interesting. Thistle kicked olf and following up well had St. John's backs busy. A free kick gave Thistle a chnnco to shoot, but delay spoilt tin , opportunity, and by a bright piece of play, in which E. Shaw- (St. John's centrehalf) was prominent, operations were transferred. A good cross-country pass enabled St. John's to make the acquaintance of Thistle's backs, but they were driven back. A breach gave Thistle a chance. The shot was saved, hut Hal) returned a hard shot which beat M'Karlnne. Thistle, 1; St. John's, 0. 'Both sides' combination was poor, Thistle being slightly the better. An opening was affctded St. John's, but M'Ardle was sure and cleared nicely. Several oiie-man dashes were made, but it was not till Ash got away that matters looked i dangerous, but half-time intervened. The second spell opened with St. John's making' the naec and they looked "possibles," but Thistle managed to get out. However, St. John's tried ncain, but the all-important item—combination—was absent, and they could only pet within a few yards of Thistle's goal". Thistle struggled out and Ash and Clapham got to shooting distance, but Clapham's shot missed. Ash's attempt whs well saved, but later the tricky Thistle had his revenge and sent in a "hot 'un" which was ftnnped. bnl: before M'Farlane could, clear. Ash woe down on him and scored. Ono more nttempt by St. John's was met bv strong 'lefence. It t»« only a flash and the ember? were fastboraniinfr dull, so Thistle worked back to St. John's, qtiartr>*R wh"re "In.y eh<i»d. Thistle, 2: St. John's,'o. Sir.'A. Xewbold was referee.

OTHER GRADES. THE SECOND DIVISION'. Brooklyn, 4 goals, beat Wanderers, 1 goal. For the winners. Herzog (1), Beavis (2), and Barnet.(l) scored goals, and Heywood (1) scored for the losers. Mr. H. Smith was referee. Pctone beat. Y.Jf.C.A. by 2 goals to nil. Brooklyn beat St. David's by 3 goals to Third Division, Swifts beat St. John's by 11 goals to 3. Mr. J. Bates was referee. Brooklyn beat St. David's by 3 goals to nil. Fourth Division, Marist Bros, beat St. David's by 3 goals to 1. Fifth !'A" Division. Swifts beat Wadestown by 6 goala to 1. Mr. A. F. Xewbold was referee. Brooklyn beat Y.M.C.A. by 5 goals to nil. Mr. H. Smith was referee. Fifth "B" Division, Marist B beat Y.M.C.A. by 3 goals to nil. Mr. Vessey was referee. Sixth Division. Institute beat Y.M.C.A. by U goals to nil. Mr. S. Fisher was referee. NEWCASTLE AND BRADFORD CITY. By Telegraph—l'rqss Association-Oopyrteht (Roc. April 24, 0.10 a.m.) London, April 23. The football Association Cup match, Newcastle v. Bradford City, resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. There were 80,000 spectators.