ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1735, 28 April 1913, Page 6

ASSOCIATION.

THISTLES AND ST. JOHN'S. Thistles beat St. John's by 2 goals to nil at Wakefield Park oil Saturday atterlioon. Thistles commenced to press their opponents from tho outset, and kept the yellow and Blacks busily defending practically all tho first spell. Tho Blues first score caiuo from a combined rush by their forwards, and Barnett, outside-left, being responsible for the finishing touches to a good piece of play. Once again Hustles forwards got away nicely together, and, having taken the ball down to their opponeuvs' goal-mouth. W. M'Ardle scored number two for his side. Shortly after this St. John's appeared to wake up. They gave the Blues an anxious few moments. What looked as if it would have been a certain score was spoiled by overeagerness, and Thistles, gaining tho upper band, transferred play to tho opposite end, wlifcro iho ball remained until lialltime was called. During the opening stages of tlie second half the game, although scrappy at times, was of au oven character. Kickerby, tor Thistles, was responsible'for making one or two pretty openings, and ho was ably supported by Atchison. On the other hand, St. John's would liavo dono better if their players had combined moro than they did. On one or two occasions tho Yellow and Blacks had tho misfortune to miss scoring just by inches. Generally speaking, Thistles' forwards gave their opponents a lot of trouble, and managed to keep tlio ball in St. John's territory most of tho time. When the whistle blew for timo tliore was no alteration in tho score. Mr. W. Auld was reterec.

Y.M.C.A. AND WANDERERS. Y.M.C.A. decisively defeated "Wanderers bv 5 gouls to nil at Wakefield Park on Saturday. - Both teams showed a lack of combination,' but there was sorno good individual play. The first goal of tho mutch camo from a nicely centred ball from the right. It was smartly returned, and Phillips, being handy, shot a splendid goal. Y.M.C.A., 1; Wanderers, 0. Goal number two was not long in coming.-, After a determined rush on tho part of Y.M.C.A., Baker obtained possession, and put in a good straight, dropping shot from a long distance. Y.M.C.A. had most of tho play during tho second half, and being a much faster team than their opponents, mailaged to keep them penned in their own half o£ tho field most of tho time. Vincent scored the third goal for Y.M.C.A. with a good shot from an advantageous position. On two or threo occasions Baker gave Kettlewell (in-goal for Wanderers) some hot shots to return, but tho 'keeper was equal to tho demands mndo upon him. After several attempts, and much driving of tho ball at Wanderers' goal, Hughes succeeded in scoring goal number four for his side. Shortly afterwards Vincent increased the score to five goals just before timo was called. Mr. F. O'Connell was referee. SWIFTS AND ROVERS. From start to finish of tho contest between Swifts and Rovers there was never a suggestion of brilliant football, although at times tho game promised to become interesting. Howevor, tho promise was never fulfilled, and the gamo draggad its length without the pulse of any of tho spectators being stimulated to nn extra beat. Followers of the game last season must have noticed the absence of several well-known faces on the respective sides, but tliero is still a goodly percentage of old hands in the arena. As far a* (he scores went, there was little to cliooso between the teams, but Swifts held-a superior posit inn when "no-side" sounded, a goal in the second spell putting them ahead of their opponents by one point. In tho first half play was fairly even, and at half-time the scores were even, each side having scored a goat. From :> scramble in the goal-mouth Witty scored for Swifts, and W. Elford equalised mutters for Hovers, scoring from a mis-kick by Penlington. Throughout the second spell the Swifts men maintained nn almost continuous siego on the Hovers' goal, but tho lack of finisli in their attack detracted from its effectiveness. At (lie end of the game they had only put on one more'goal,, although this sufficed to win the match. The goal in question was scored by Kendall, Swifts outside-left, and was the result of a smart individual effort. Mr. J. Inco was referee. DIAMONDS AND BROOKLYN. Experience and matured cunning told in the development of events during tho first division contest between Diamonds nnd Brooklyn at JCclburne Park on Saturday afternoon, the Blacks having a walk-over victory against tho men from (ho liill. Tho one thing (li.it stood out in the defence of the Brooklyn meia was Hie plucky and resourceful work of their roal-keepe'r (Wnkeham). While Ins rival ill- the other end was walking about to keep his feet warm, hands in his pockets, and a cigarette in his month, the Brooklyn custodian, was kept on the top all (ho time repairing the leaks in the defensive lino of his backs and half-backs, ami making heroic attempts to block the artillery of tho nggrossivo Blacks. the ranie as a game, was lair, but like all one-sided contests, liecamo a i very monotonous affair. Twice towards tho close of (he second spell tho Brooklyn forwards broke through, but they lacked both the judgment required to out-manoeuvre the backs, tiud tho steadiness of aim-at (he

moment of delivering their shots. It would bo n waste of spaco to follow tho ball through its travels about tho field. Suflico it to say that Diamonds scored seven goals—Eades (3), Liversedgo (1), Ferguson (1), and G. Low (2)— while Brooklyn scored one (by Davis). By the end of the first spell Diamonds had unmistakably demonstrated their superiority in pace, experience, ami tactics, tho ficoro then being four goals to one, and given evidence in their general stylo of play that they mil bo a very dangerous combination this season. They will probably, as they improve, bo one of tho throo bast teams in the first division. Mr. J. B. Pa ton was referee.

CORINTHIANS AND BROOKLYN UNITED.

Tho Corinthians-Brooklyn United match was plaj-ed at Mirnniar. No. 12 ground, vrUcro the match was played, is anything but a "soccer" ground. Owing to tho late arrival of the referee, tho match did not commenoo until 3.30 p.m., being half an hour late, the teams eventually turning out under tho refereoship Df Sir. Wells. 'Die opening stages of tho gamo seemed fairly even -until the Corinthian forwards, warming up, developed a splendid passing movement, the result bsiug that O'Sliea. passed (ho ball on to \Y. Hart, who in turn passed his opponents, gave O'Sliea possession, and the latter scored. Brooklyn United responded with a fino rally, and nearly entered the netted haven, but the goal-kcoper (A. Webster) brought off a magnificent save, and was loudly applauded. It was a fino piece of work. Corinthians, then took a further visit to the other end, and, after Willis had a shot at goal—well cleared by tho custodian—W. Hart, playing a fine game, put om tho second goal. Brooklyn United, after this reverse, attacked strongly, and were very persistent in their "endeavours to force the line. Through a fine bit of play they broke through, and the backs got mixed up, the "result l>eing the downfall of tho Corinthians' goal. Inspired by this suecess, TJniteds oamo very near scoring ngain, but tlio valiant Ha.ll sent them on nil errnnd from which they took a long time to return. Corinthians kept thoni well busy defending their own homo. The, Hart Brothers plnyed somo trickjr play, and along with Roberts kept things m the vicinity of tho goal. Corinthians were unlucky in not having a penalty awarded against United, through O Shea being fouled in the dreaded area, but it was not noticed by tho referee, knti-to-end play followed until tho first spelL concluded. ~ Upon resuming the game, it was easily seen that Corinthians had tho advantage, and through the smart passing or the forwards, with tho backing oi tlio half-backs, Willis invaded the goal area, and placed Hart in possession-. Ihe latter drove for tho posts, but the ball struck tlio cross-bar and rebounded to the feet of Willis, who made no mistake and landed it through with a clean shot. Then tho balf-backs sent tho forwards to visit the United's homo quarters, and Roberts, receiving from Butcher, dribbled down tho field and, beating all opponents, drove the ball into the goal. United replied with another spurt down the fteicl, but Hall sent them back with a strong drive. O'Neal them took a turn, and, dribbling through all opposition, placed H. Hart in possession to add another score. Tho game now was all on oneside, and Roberts soon, afterwards added another goal. Corinthians left tho nela victorious by G goals to 1. JUNIOR MATCHES.

SECOND DIVISION. Railway beat St, John's by i goals to 2. May (3) and Powell (1) scored for the winners. Third Division. Congregational beat Jlarist by 8 goals to 1. Helm (3), R. Zom (2), 0. Zoni (1), Omerod (1), and J. Nelson scored for the winners. Fourth Division. • Y.M.C.A. defeated Swifts l).v six goals to one. North (2), Koberts (1), Henry (1), Macdongall (1) scored tries, and another was scored by an opponent. The hwilts goal was put through by a \.M.C.A. player. Harist defeated Island Bay by 5 goals to . Fifth (A) Division. Brooklyn defeated Y.M.C.A. by 3 goals t0 potone defeated Congregational by 1 goal to nil. | Fifth (B) Division, Island Bay dofeated Kclburne by i B °lsfand Bay (4 goals) defeated Kclburno (1 goal). llnUey, Greville, Legatt, and Graham scorcd for Island Bay, and Morton for Kclburne. Mr. J. A. Leddy was the referee. . . Sixth Division.

y.M.C.A. defeated Congregational by 8 goals to 1.