ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1175, 10 July 1911, Page 6

ASSOCIATION.

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF SEASON. ' CORINTHIANS DEFEAT THISTLE. On the Basin Keservo on Saturday Corinthians brought off (he surprise of tlio season by defeating Thistle, ono of the teams lending for the championship, by 3 goals to '2, before a crowd of bctween sflO and 700 people In addition they registered- their first win this Boak>ll after a; well-fought and exciting game. In fact, the Basin Keserve resembled a miniature Athletic Park on Saturday, foi excitement ran high and not until the whistle blew for time was the match lost and won. Swifts are now lending for the championship with 20 point's to their credit, while Hospital and Thistle aro running a neck-and-ncck race for second place, with 18 points each. Following arc the results of the First Division matches:— Corinthians 3 Thistle 2 Swifts 6 St. John's Z Hospital 3 Rovers 1 ' Diamonds b Y.M.C.A 1 Ramblers 2 Wanderers 0 CORINTHIANS-THISTLE. From the outset piny was of , a fast naluro in the match Corinthians v. Thistle. The ball (ravelled up and down, the field at a rapid rate, and for fhe first 20 minutes it was , an even "go" between two determined teams. On one or \vooccasions Corinthians should have done better with the chances they had, but tha fault lay with the half-back line, which did not keep close enough to the for.wards during attack. Consequently, when Thistle's forwards managed to set (Uβ ball, and beat' (heir men, they were enabled to get going well belore being tackled. With a rush (lip Blues (Thistle) swooned down , on Corinthians' goal, where (hey gave the lilack and Whites an anxious few minutes until Claphnm, left fullback, relieved with a good kick. The ball was quickly transferred to Thistle's end, where Jumie.son, with a l'cnt attempt, landed it into il'Ardlc's (in goal) lumds. The latter punched out in good stylo, but failed to clear his goal-iuouth proper, ly, and Haley, outside-left for Corinthians, taking the ball neat'ly with his head, put it' through, thus establishing the first lead his side has ever had in a match. Some hard play .now ensued, and iM'Lcllan, inside right for the' Blues, putin a hot shot which Cathie punched out'. The game became fnst and furious at this .stages and tho Scotchmen were trying hard to equalise, but the defensive tactics indulged in by the Black and Whites frustrated any attempt to score. About this time Corinthians' second goal was wcured. Jl'Ardle, right-back for Thistle, handled (he ball in the penalty area, and. Ives, taking tho kick, made no mistake. Corinthians, 2; Thistle, 0. From nowuntil half-time Thistle pressed their op-, pononte severely, the outstanding feature! of the play being the number of corner , kicks conceded by Corinthians. As soon as the ball was kicked off, This* (lo rushed it up lield, and a score looked certain, but play was just as quickly transferred to (he opposite end, where Ives put in a particularly "hot oue" and M'Ardlo ran out, taking a. big risk, but managed to v save. Again Thistle attacked strongly, but the defence was there. The Black and Whiles were beginning to feel tho pressure until Ash (Thistle), who had a good chance, lo score, kicked over the bar. For oil-side play on the part! of' Corinthians, Thistle were awarded a free kick. Clapham, left-back, placed the ball nicely up iield to Achosou, outsideright, and he- in turn passed to his insideright, M'Lcllnn. Tho last-named lauded tho ball in tho net. Corinthians, 2; Thistle, 1. This success seemed to put more life into the Scotchmen, and (hey attacked vigorously. Fleming, outsidoleft, made a line individual effort up (ho line, beating three or four opponents. However, the ball was returned, and alter some sUenuous give and take, play, Ives Die fiiclcy centre-forward for the ]31aek and Whites, secured and, beating two or three Thistle men, shot hard and (rue, at close o.uarters, the ball lauding in t'he net amidst a roar from the spectators. Corinthians, 3; Thistle, I. Shortly after this, another score by Curtis looked certain for the lilack and Whites, but M'Ardlo saved the situation. An exciting piece of play now took place in the Corinthians' goal-mouth, and from a scramble the ball was put through. But just a second or two previously tho whistle had , gone for a breach of tho rules by a. Thistle man, and a free kick to tho Black and Whiles relieved the pressure. At. this two Corinthian men, Bnrnsley and Smith collided, and the former had to leave the field with an injured jaw. From the resulting kick-on" Ives lot his side down heavily by giving their opponents a penalty for "hands." Ash took tho kick and put (he ball through tho uprights. Corinthians, 3; Thistle, 2. With soven minutes to go Thistle now attacked in dead earnest, and the gawo 'became very lively. Bi-.lli sides were straining every muscle, .".nil a score looked a certainty, but the cli'fonce of the Black and Whites was («o solid. Corinthians took a hand a {attacking froci now until t'inio was called, and a. great game finished, amidst, applause, with Thisllo beaten by oiio goal. DIAMONDS-Y.K.C.A. The senior match, Diamonds v, . V.M.C.A., was played at Kelbnruoin ideal-weather, Y.JI.C.A. playing throughout with ten men. Diamonds attacked from the kick-oft', and gave tho goalkeeper plenty of work. Owing to th« Stripes playing the one back game, li'tnieruus off-sides were given. Black (Diamonds) opened tho scoring account with n good piece of whiT-furward play, culminating in a stroiif; drive. Shorliy i.itiT Smith ran down, and by f-nrpriH' the Y.M. right-wing got pa p t Patrick. Honours were I hen even, bill it was only a flash in Iho pan, for almost immediately the Blacks rushed up the tield; A. Lowe tricked the backs, and,' getting close in, beat llollis. Half-time then sounded, Diamonds kicked off on resuming, niul, running right through, scored almost without, a Y.M.C.A. man touching tho ball. The same feat was accomplished in the next two or three minutes, and, for tho remainder of (lie game, it. was only a practice-at shooting for goal for.

the Blacks; even W. Roberts put a. goal to his credit, one of tho defenders obscuring the vision of Hollis. Tho Y.M.C.A. goal-keeper's sound keeping was tho principal factor in averting what might nave, been a much heavier defeat. Diamonds thus won by 5 goals to 1, Mr, J. G. Patou 1 iv;as referee. SWIFTS-ST. JOHN'S. Tho match between Swifts and St. John's took place at Duppa Street Reserve on Saturday. The conditions were ideal, and, with both teams at' full strength, it seemed possible that a very good gamemight bo witnessed—especially as nt. John's are materially improving. From the kick-off Swifts asserted their superiority, and, with good combination, were repeatedly within a measure of success, but they seemed to attach littlo importance to St. John's, and wore rather inclined to take things easy. They wero very soon forced to change their tactics, however. Shortly, after tho commencement, Swifts got going, their forward «win"ing the ball about well; but erratic shooting spoiled their chances. Matheson fiot.nn opening from Scott, and mado no mistake with his shot. This reverse was the. means of putting more vigour into St. John's, who struggled hard to net an equaliser. On ■more than ono ■ occasion their efforts were all but crowned with success, but somehow tto forwards seemed to lose control of thn ball when in close proximity to goal. Swifts again turned their attention to St. John s goal, and,< after, a nice passing bout, Matnieson scored the second goal for the Maroons.St John's, however, wero not at all discouraged,, and their efforts were finally rewarded. From roidfield Shaw secured, ami scored with a long dropping shot. Swifts, 2- St.; John's, 1. Following this, bcott and Mathicson had real hard luck in not finding the net. Roberts, however, seized an opportunity and scored a third ftnd , fourth goal for Swifts. St. Johns retaliated,'Gosney scoring- after, somo good forward play, making-the score 4-r-* in favour of Swifts, who added two more goals-before the call of time. Although St. John's were defeated, their display ereated a better impression than that of last / week. RAMBLERS-WANDERERS.. At Miramar Ramblers defeated Wanderers by 2 goals to nil. Ramblers.forced the game from the kiefcoff, following up one dangerous but fruitless attack in their opponents' goal with another onset which' ended iii an'easy goal; scored by Edwards from the left-wing. Some comparatively even 'play followed, and Wanderers began to assert themselves. Hay ; ward led an. attack-on. the Ramblers goal, but failed to score, his excitement getting the better of his judgment: Give-and-take play ensued, and, lasted till the close of the spell. On resuming, Wanderers attacked, and throughout the'second spell showed much improved form. Trovethick' and Hayward led hostile expeditions into ttio Ramblers! territory, but met with no success, although ■Webster, the goal-keeper, had to keep on the qui-vive. Hayward nearly scored with a hot drive Soon after. Two counter-at-tacks by the Ramblers' forwards looked dangerous, but the Wanderers' back lines wero on the alert. A third was successful, Cross taking advantage of a timely opening in tho defences to score with a ready shot. ■ The remainder of the play was uninteresting. Mr. 11. Smith was the' referee; MENTAL HOSPITAL-ROVERS. Rovers went flown before tho prowess of the "Mental Hospital men at Porirua fin Saturday, being beaten by 3 goals to 1. Tho first halt:was all in favour of the local men, who closed their scoring account by half-time. 'lii the second half, liovcrs, playing with great spirit,-man-aged to score from a lively scramble in. front of -their -opponents' goal,' and-'so-took; the' edge off their defeat. - Altogether tho game was an Excellent pne, play being of a'.high standard throughout. Mr. 41.-Williams was referee. • . JUNIOR DIVISION, The results of the matches in the junior . divisions'are'as follow-.-—.■■":. ._,::,.;. .-,. ■'■; " Second Division. Diamonds (S) defeated Y.M.C.A. '' (0), Fcorc.r-;, for .winners: AVheldon. (s)t Low'e, 'Black and Lynn'eb'urjh , (oiie' each). Brooklyn'.' drew, .with Wadostown—one all, Tho g'amn wns hotly contested, neither side scoring in the second spell. • ■ :. Third Division. TMone beat Johnsonvillc B by 13 goals to nil. -••.■.. ■ Swifts and St. David's tied—one all. St. John's defeated Y.M.C.A. by G goals to 1. Zorn, Hopkirk, Denny, Morris, and Fox scored for the winners. Johnsonville- defeated Brooklyn by 1 goal (C. Murphy) to .'nil. . Fourth Division. The St. David's v. , . Institute game was Hrawn,' neither side scoring. Y.M.C.A., after a fast and interesting game, defeated Newtown Congregational by'nine goals to three. During .the first quarter of an hour Congregational put on two. goals to Y.M.C.A.'s nil, but from then onwards Y.M.C.A. assumed the upper hand and scored no fewer than nine goals (Baker i, Macklin 2,-Bryant 2, and Tempe,r.t.on :1) to. a ..further one by Congregational. By winning this match Y.M.C.A. become . runners-up for the foui'th division championship, won by ■Brooklyn by one point. , ' Fifth Division. ' . . Y.M.C.A.' defeated St.' David's, by i goals to .1. Swifts defeated Brooklyn by 2 goals 'to ail. • - Institute beat Rangers by i goals to 2. .■ Sixth Divisiai. Institute A beat 01.C.A. B by 2 goals to 1. Mence scored for the winners. Porirua won by default from Y.M.C.A. Sixth A Division. Marist Brothers defeated Institute by 8 goals to 1. M. Mahoney scored all goals for Marist, and Wilson for Institute. IN OTHER CENTRES. BROWN SHIELD MATCH ' (By Telezraph.-Pross Association.) Christchurch, July 8. ■The Association football match for the Brown Shield was played this afternoon and resulted m Canterbury retaining tho trophy. The first spell ended without a score, but in that period tho Canterbury forwards had given proof that they were superior to their opponents, showing more pace and combination.. Their shooting at goal, however, was erratic, though in tho • second, half they showedconsidernblc improvement jn this direction, and quickly put-on two .goals. Otago registered one (,'oal irom a penalty kick, but Canterbury then attacked again, and registered two inore goals, winning by ■!' to 1. , Palmerston North, July 8 The Association football match between Celtic and Jackeytown played to-day resulted in a draw, each team scoring two points. •