ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[Bx Centee-Half.] - The position of toe teams in. the First Division championship are as follow:— ■a a ■ « oi o . £ , w a -u C 30"2 2 rt — ~, £ ~> Q O O to O k P. 0 M -3*. ft Swifts 9 7 0 2 20 11 14 Thistle 9 7 0 2 -23 12 14 Ramblers 0. G 1 2 26 14 13 Hospital 9 6 0 3 28 1G 12 ;Y.M.C.A. ......... !) 5 0 4 14 15 10 Diamonds 8 4 13 24 17 !) Hovers 9 4 0 5. .15 18 "8 Wanderers ...... 9 2 1 G 14 18 5 St. John's 8 1 1' .6 11 21 3 Corinthians 9 0 0 9 5 44 0 Comparisons. ■ Tho first round of the Senior league was completed on Saturday, with the exception of St. John's v. Diamonds. A difference of two points only divido tho four top teams. Swifts take pride of placo with a slightly superior goal average to. Thistle. Ramblers come next, being one point behind, and Hospital two points down arc fourth—a highly creditable position considering that this is their first season in the senior competition. They have scored tho highest number of goals (28), while Swifts have least against thorn (11). Tho second round promises to provide a very fair struggle for supremacy, and cither of'the four: teams mentioned may win the title, though Y.M.C.A'. may have to be considered should any of the teams above them may mako a slip. Hospital-Thistle Match. A peculiar feature of the contest between Hospital and Thistle was. tho extraordinary number of captains on the field, whoso audiblo asides, and comments became such that Mr. Lithgow was compelled, in self-defence, to lecture the selfappointed ones. Many a game is won by tho tongue beforehand, but not yet does it win games on the field, and players but voice their lack of sportsmanship when they are so noisy, as was the case on Saturday. Is it too much to ask them to remember that the hard-working referee, whose services aro voluntary and unpaid, is also looking for some litUo pleasure from tho gamo in return for his endeavours to administer even-handed justico to both, teams?

The Game Described. , The game was full of life, and tho pace good to tho end. Thistle had n strong following, and theso wero highly delighted at their team's victory. For tho ninth time in succession Hospital dofended the western goal. Thistlo made the first attack,, and it was. early to bo seen that it would be a close contest. Aitchison soon enmo into prominence, his duels with Wallis being very interesting to the spectators. Irviho and Phillips, as became old clubmates, wero keen on returning each a "Roland for the other's Oliver," to the intense diversion of tho crowd, and honours wero . about even. Thistlo forwards made more clfcctivo uso of tho ball than their opposing front rank, tho passing invariably gaining ground, whereas tho Whito forwards wero apt to pass "too square," the differenco in' tactics being very noticeable, as the Thistlo vanguard played right on to tho backs, whilo tho Hospital ns u body failed to do so.

Taking tho gamo all through, Hospital had tho greater number of chances to score, but failed to take ' them, while. Thistlo seized on to thcii'3, and for that ready opportunism deserved tho points. Phillips had a chance to equalise with a penalty, but drove tho ball straight at

M'Ardle, who could hardly avoid saving. He failed to get the ball clear, and Hospital made a great effort to force it through. Their shooting was off tho target, however, many shots sailing over the bar that should have provided work for M'Ardle, Davis, Tyrer, and Roots all being out in their altitude. Tho last-named was in great form, and Ash found him a tough opponent. The erstwhilo Wanderer is developing embonpoint, but he played a smart game, his overhead hooking being very effective. Elliott and Phillips wero tho best wings for Hospital, tho other men lacking enterprise. For senior backs, Clapham and Hall "balloon" tho ball far too much, the former especially so. Men of their experience should cultivate a nice low volley for service on a windy day. On tho whole, tho game reached,a fairly high standard, the honours falling to tho Thistle as the slightly superior side on tho day's play. "Otago's "Cautioned' List." Tho New Zealand Council's decision in the case of the Otago Association's actions ro Connor will bo hailed with pleasure, the sentenco by tho southern Association being in direct opposition to tho laws. It is to be hoped that tho New Zealand Council will go a step farther and call for very full particulars of the wonderful "caahonjd" list, which savours too much of a police court record. Football is a sport, in which such a list should find no place, end a player contravening the laws should not be considered a "suspicious character," liable to have previous convictions brought up against him, Bricks Minus Mortar, Disappointment seemed to held sway on Kelburno . Park last Saturday, when Y.M.C.A.' met .Rovers. What was wrong with the teams 1 was clear enough; for each member seemed to try hard enough, but cohesion was lacking, especially with Rovers. So it was that the "bricks" Wero thero in sufficiency, but put together without that valuable "mortar," tho "house" invariably fell, more of its own accord than by force of opposing elements. Rovers did improvo a little at tho finish, but thero was much room for it. Lowe, 'on the wing, made some good dashes along tho line, and centred fairly, but so often as those centres . were • sent in so often did Coate and Bruce have the pleasure of a long kick, for the other forwards kept.lagging, and were arriving Into every time. Tho goal Rovers did get was well headed in, but they could only secure the ono goal. The backs and goalkeeper (Rowan) played very fair games, but the halves wero below pitch. Wanted—Halves' Support. Y.M.C.A. w-ere in slightly better form; they had the all-important "mortar" among their forwards, hit their "house" •fl'as cold, for;it was devoid for a great part of the gamo of that valuable furniture—the ball. Occasionally they received .a little support from the halves, but it was shaky. The fault of the toim was the half-line, .while Coate (back) was not so "safo" as usual. Bruce, the. other back, was careful, and filled Forsyth's position creditably.