ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1187, 24 July 1911, Page 7

ASSOCIATION.

GOOD GAMES AND POOR ONES. Two of. the 'Wellington Football Association's senior first division league matches—at Kelburue and at Porirua— provided an exhibition of really good football; the others were, to use a colloquialism, "from fair to medium." The players were exceedingly fortunate in finishing before the beautiful spell of fine weather whiqh prevailed all last week came to an end. The following table shows the results of the senior games at a glance:— Hospital 0 Diamonds 0 Swifts 4 Ramblers 3 , Corinthians 4 Rovers 2 Thistle 4 Wanderers 2 ! Y.M.C.A 5 St. John's 0 " HOSPITAL—DIAMONDS. A great game resulted from the meeting of Hospital with Diamonds at Porirua. Both wero at full strength, Diamonds playing the three brothers Lowe in the forward Hue. .Unfortunately, several Hospital men were suffering from mild attacks of influenza, which robbed them of their usual "lire." A stirring.first half saw no score for either team, Diamonds having slightly tho best of the play, whereas, in the second half, Hospital were slightly the superior team. Lowejput in the first shot—a wide effort —and loung made aifineiattemptjfpr.llis side. Cockburn cleared from Lowe, who also fired over, aud.Pearson followed suit at the other end. Shearer was penalised for jumping, and Tyrer, with a fine ef-fort,-just grazed the post. Play was now very fast, Diamonds; with good kicking and fast following up being dangerous time after time, Taylor's head work being often noticeable. Hospital advanced with some short passing, which Diamonds, by stern defence, prevented from achieving results. Roberts was splendid at back, being very sure, while Wallis and s[organ were a stout pair of defenders with their strikingly diverse styles. Barnett drove in a beauty, which Cockburn, however, cleared in capital style, and then Davis, with an open 'goal, drove by the post. After Roots had shot wide, some intensely exciting play took placo round Diamonds' goal, a corner bv Phillips being headed across' goal to Elliott, who headed wide, thus relieving the pressure. Tyrer swung in a lovely contre, which Davis placed ovor, and half-time arrived; giving the teams a "breather" after a strenuous first half. •

Play was resumed with unabated vigour, Hospital attacking with verve, but Roberts, Fitzgerald, and Patrick were not. to bo beaten. Black screwed in a finecentre, which Cockburn cleared in great style, with his backs unplaced, but, tho brothers Lowe were very persistent, Knots and his confreres, however, being just as solid as their opponents. Shearer got clear, but the goal-keeper saved in sensational style, and Phillips, when well • placed, had the bad luck to "slice" his shot behind. Pearson ran through twice within scoring position, but Patrick saved, Tyrer driving the last rebound over the bar. ' A very fine open game, thus ended with honours oven—a fitting conclusion ro a hard and willing encounter. Mr. R. S. Lithgow was referee. Y.M.CA.-ST. JOHN'S. This match, played on tho Basin Reserve, was a tame affair from start to finish, Y.M.C.A. eventually winning by 5 goals to nil. During the opening stages play was of an even character, both teams attacking and defending alternately until Smith (outside-left for Y.M.C.A.) made a beautiful run up tho line, and, beating several St. John's men, centred at the right moment; Brown (centre-forward), being handy, registered the first goal. Shortly after Smith got away, and passed tfl Godsalve, who, in turn, passed to lirown. The centre-forward put in a gocd shot, the ball hitting ths cross-bar and rebounding into tho field cf play. Here Phillips pounced upon it, and landed tho leather in the net.—Y.M.C.A., 2; St. Johu's.nil. Some give-and-take play then ensued, until Brown registered tho third goal. St. John's now invaded their opponents' territory, but the defence of Y.M.C.A., although not brilliant or even pood, was fair. In his own half of the field, Wilson (Y.M.C.A.) secured,., and passed out to Smith. The latter centred nicely with a good screw kick, and Bron'n again had the satisfaction of scoring for ,his side. The fifth goal camo from an excellent "centro" hy Murphy, Godsalve heading the ball through in capital style. Mr. H. Godbcr was referee. ROVERS-CORINTHIANS. Hovers and Corinthians met at Miraraar, and a fair game was witnessed, Corinthians winning rather easily. At ths commencement Rovers.—who played ten men— pres-ed, and, from a passing rush, succeeded in scoring, Gibson getting home with a long shot. This was. however, almost "tho Inst of tho Rovers,'' for Corinthians took things in hand, and, before very long, Ives scored an "equaliser," after beating two or three opponents. Mid-field pluy was then the order for some time. However, just before halftime, Jamieson made an individual effort, and scored with a shot, from the line, and thereby established a lead for Corinthians.— Corinthians, 2; Hovers, 1. On resuming, Corinthians wero early in pnssspr.ion, and again a score was registered in their favour. Following some mid-field play, Rovers put. on a determined pressure, and gradually wore Corinthians down. Bradbury s-oized an opportunity, ind scored tho second goal for Rovers, lust on time the Corinthian forwards got an a combined rush, and il was left fnr tves to scoro the fourth goal for his side — Corinthians, I; Uovcrs, 2.

THISTLE-WANDERERS. Thoso win went out on Saturday afternoon tn watch tko Thistle-Wanderers' iixhire at Duppa Street vfire not favoured with a very brilliant display during the first spell. Play started late owing to a difficulty in securing a referee. Soon after operations had commenced trouble tvas imminent, for it appeared that cei , -

tain players had, oi thc.iiglit they had, accounts to square wiln certain opponents. .So football brcam» only ;i MTonunrv consideration,' and frequent bickerings were heard. Meantime \\iimlerer> were having [he ndvantage of Ihe K aine, and a penaily-kick a;nin.'.t Thistle was turned to account of Holt. I'lay, s-iu-h as it was, boraino slightly belter on 'ihi.-tlp's part, and after some Rood work by Ailcheson on Ihe right wins the Kill Was ,-ecurrd l>.y Ash, and pawed neatly to Simpson, who scored. Many sound were placed by Wanderers, but. M'Ardle "s.iverl" them all, the snell ending vrith honours oven.

The second spell was coni-idernbly quieter, and Thistle, using their leftwing, were '.hewing good combination. J heir second goal was prettily secured by himpson from a long pass by Hall. .Shaw and Parsons worke.l hard for Wanderers, and though the pressure continued, Shaw finally managed to kick well out to Ward and Rogers, who rorried play to Thistle's quarters, where a resultle.-s "earner" took place. Hunter bud two attempts at K oal, but Thistle's backs "saved." Soon Wanderers backs were again in action, and a scramble in their goal ended in Lindsay scoring Thistle's third pail. A prolonged stay in Wanderers' territory was ineffectual owing to Thistle'.* inaccurate shooting. Again Wanderers got free—this time to record their second goal—rv quick shot by Hay ward. Thistle were still willing, and from a penalty another goal was placed to their credit by Ash, the game ending-Thistle, 4; Wanderers, 2. Mr. Bowles was referee. SWIFTS V. RAMBLERS, At Kelburne Park, in glorious weather and with tho turf in good order, Swifts met Ramblers. The. Fed and Whites had not lorgotten tho sound drubbing which they had received 'at the hands of the Maroons when they mot in the first round, and on Saturday they put in the field the best eleven that has represented them this season. A new bock and centrehalf (Koiling and Carrington) were present, and' Hart was moved up to centreforvard, this improving the team out of sight. Swifts relied on the same lot, with :he exception of Penliugbn, an erstwhile Hover, who was between the sticks. A goodly | number of spectators—mostly Swifts' '"barrackers"— assembled, and the game was exciting and full of thrills from :he time the referee (Mr. Paton) started the game. A few minutes from the start Hart, centre-forward, pounced on a miss by Pye-Smith, and with a long, low drive at Penlington put his side one up. The keeper stopped the shot, but it was too hot to hold. This put Swifts on their mettle, and Roberts uiadt several pretty runs on the right, generally coming off best in the tussles with Cross. Vcssey found himself well placed, and sent one through out of Webster's reach. Smallbone at this stage, executed some pretty movements, and with W. J. Hart always on top of the backs, the Maroons were kept busy, and Hart, not to bo denied, again beat Penlingtou, but the whistle had already blown for off-side. The game continued fast and hard, and as our friends of the "handling code" say, there were no "beg pardons." Matheson was always thereabouts when solid work was required. He and Scott wero playing well toother. Vcfso.v served his side again by beating Webster with an oblique shot. When half-time was called no one could winners. From the kick-off Ramblers' forwards served mi some nico pass-'np, and gave Pyc-Smitn and Wilson no time to think, and with their half-hacks close up behind them they were playing a fine game. This good work produced a goal per Carrington and Campbell. Two all. Swifts then became very anxious, ana -were nulled up several times for off-side, a goal also bpinp disallowed. Matheson, however, soon nut his side one up, and received manv hand-shakes. Then followed, n. break away by Hamblers, and Smallbone, by fast' following up. made thirds square again. Nerves worn now hip-lily strung, nnd Swifts seemed to realise that even a draw might be a serious matter to them. So the pressure wns put on. and kept there tintil the "citadel fell." Webster fightiTig hard to the last. One "f the best games seen th's srnfnn thus er.d"d in favour of Swifts by four goals to three. JUNIOR DIVISIONS. The results of the various junior division, matches were as follow:—

Second Division. Corinthians defaulted to "Wadestown. Third Division. Johnsonville (A) beat Petone by 1 goal to nil. St. John's beat Johnsonville (B) by i goals to nil. The winners played two men short. St. David's defeated Y.M.C.A. by 3 goals to nil. Swifts defeated Brooklyn by 2 goals, to nil. Edge (1) and Guise (1) scored for the winners^ Fourth Division. Institute were very badly defeated by Diamonds by 6 goals to 1/ Guildford (2), Bpwden' (1), Overcnd (1), Kelly (1), and Sievers (1) scoring for the winners. Kelly played a very jood game, and kicked a "corner," whicTi was neatly headed in by Overend (left-wing). South Wellington wero defeated by Swifts (1 to nil), Phillips scoring for the winners. Brooklyn beat Congregational by 3 goals to 1. Y.M.C.A. beat St. David's by 2 goals to 1. Fifth (A) Division. Brooklyn overwhelmed St. David's by 13 goals to nil. Marist Brothers beat Swifts by 1 coal to nil, after a very keen tussle. Fitzgerald scored. Fifth (B) Division. Rangers and South Wellington played a drawn game. Sixth (A) Division. Institute beat Rangers by 1 goal to nil, Kelly scoring for the former. Sixth.(B) Division. Y.M.C.A. (B) defeated Y.M.C.A. (C) by 8 goals to 1, Sterling CD,. Perry (1). Leslie (2), Pound (2), Drunimond (1), and Brownley (1) scoring for the winners, and Forsyth for the losing team. Public School Matches. The Wellington Football Association's schools' competition was inaugurated at Duppa Street Reserve on Saturday morning, when Marist Bros, beat To Aro by five goals to one. Tho only other game played—South Wellington v. Thorndon—ended in a draw, neither side scoring. It is oxpected that next week at least three games, and possibly more, will be played. IN OTHER PLACES, (By Telczraph-Prese Association.) Dunedin, July 22. Association games resulted as follow:— .Rnslyn-Wakari. 2; Kaitangata, 1. Christian Brothers, 2; Mornington, 2. Northern, 2; Maori Hill, 2. LEAGUE FOOTBALL. IBs TeleEra,Dtt.-Press Association.) Auckland, July 23. The New Zealand team of Northern Union footballers arrived hy the Wimmera this evening. LEAGUE TEAM FOR ENGLAND. Dy TclccraDh— l'rcss Association—CoryriEhl Sydney, July 22. Messenger has definitely decided not to join the football team for England. (Rec. July 21, 0..i.j a.m.) Sydney, July 23. Frascr ,and Darmody will replace M?.=senser and Nicholson in the League team for" England.