ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2133, 27 April 1914, Page 7

ASSOCIATION.

THE GRADE MATCHES BEGIN* Saturday afternoon saw tho opening lof tho championship matches. • The : [ weather was' anything but good, and ,rain had made the grounds somewhat slippery. Despite these drawbacks good football was witnessed, considering that it was tho first day of tho season. Thistle, last year's champions, had a win by default from Brooklyn United, who, failed to put in an appearance at Duppa Street. Corinthians commenced tho season well by inflicting a severe defeat on Wanderers, and Swifts won a, good game from Rovers. Brooklyn brought off a surprise by beating the veterans (Diamonds) by 2 goals. At Porirua, Mental Hospital team had a runaway victory over Y.M.C.A. The figures of tho matches wero as follow :— Hospital 7 Y.M.C.A 0 Corinthians ~ 6 Wanderers o Swifts 3 Rovers 0 Brooklyn 2 ..Diamonds 0 CORINTHIANS-WANDERERS. After an interesting match on ilio Basin Reserve, Corinthians dofeated Wanderers by 6 goals to nil. The win seemed to bo largely duo to tho. fact that Corinthians displayed a more intiraato knowledge of the finer points of the gamo, but it was evident that neithor- side was in form, and many good oportunities wero lost. Bad kicking was very noticeable. A word of praise is duo to the defeuco of Wanderers, and especially to Webster-in goal. Had ifc not been for his resourcefulness, there is little doubt that the score against his side- would have been bigger. Ho played superbly, and ho was obly assisted by Shaw and Johnson at full-back. Half an hour slipped away beforo Corinthians broke through their opponente' defence, and Gibson (centreforward) was responsible for the first goal. A few minutes',, later Jarmy (centre-half)- piloted, tho ball through,and the third goal was ■ registered, as tho result of close play in the goalmouth. : .■ , ■ Corinthians set tho pace during the opening stages of tho second half, andgave Wanderers a busy time defending. Tho lighter team' responded well, but tho weight l of Corinthians woro them down. Roberts, who played a good garao on the' wing, presently mado a nice opening and passed to Gibson at the right moment, tho latter finding tho not. A few-moments later Cribson scored an nnmistakable.,..gpnl..,,;-,A'ter some give and take.play,the,hall.,was worked down towards Wanderers goal, and Ballard put. tlio finishing touches on !an'!mg ; ,tbp, ball in .the:!.Jiet:,.!Mi?-,A.;E{ Wells,,was,. referee... . ■.

,<V HOSPITAL—Y.M.C.A. Hospital had things all their own way in their- match against Y.M.C.A.,..and beat tho visitors to Porirua by / .goals to nil. The match was played in heavy ; rain, and combination was out of tho question-■■ The Hospital team was prac : tically the same as that which. took the: field last .year, but on tho,other hand now faces wero noticeable amongst Y.M.C.A. At the outeet Hospital, who were much the : heavier team, rushed their opponents, and Skinner put in a good shot. Tho ball rebounded from Hollis and Roots, who was in a capital scoring position, put tho ball through. Somo long-range kicking was new indulged in by tho backs on both, sides, but to no apparent advantage. Hospital ovontually instituted a determined atr tack, and Elliott centred nicely. Coato (Y.M.0.A.) endeavoured to clear his goal, but in. doing so. headed the ball into the net. Hospital, 2; Y.M.C.A., 0. After resuming, tho visitors mado efforts to score, but hard liickiug spoilt their chances. Hospital still kept a strong hand on tho game, and Hughes brought their score up to 3—nil. before the wliitle sounded for half-time. . . . All through the second spoil Hospital practically did as they liked with Y.M.C.A., and five more goals were added—Heath (2), Roots, Skinner, and Elliott being resnonsible for the increase. Mr. E. Windley was referee.

BROOKLYN—DIAMONDS. A surprise was occasioned on tho Association's now ground at Kilbirnie on Saturday, when Brooklyn defeated Diamonds by 2 goals to nil. It was a good oven game righf/ through, and tho better team won. During tho first half there was no score, though both sides played good football. If anything, Brooklyn <voro the superior team in this half, and they gave the Diamonds' goal-keeper (Walls) a warm time. He, however, was always to the fore, and warded off some capital shots. On tho other hand, the Blacks made tho men from tho hill suburb, work hard on occasions, and had it not been that their shots at goal sometimes lacked sting and sometimes were wide several scores would undoubtedly have been achieved. Diamonds attacked strongly in tie second half. Tho Brooklyn hacks were very sale, however, allowing nothing past them. After some play of this nature tho tables were turned. Brooklyn attacked strongly, and eventually their efforts were rewarded. Barnett,' obtaining possession on tho wing, placed the ball to Davis, and Diamonds hesitating, were lost. Shortly boforo timo Barnett bad another opportunity to score, and took it. Shoofcm£ from near the side-line he sent tho hall flying into the poal-mouth. It struck tho bar and landed in tho not. Sir. R. Hutcheson was referee.

SWIFTS—ROVERS. Kolburno Pork was tho arena for the conflict between Swifts and Rovers. The match was marked by spasmodic flashes of skill that saved it from becoming too casual. Rovers attacked early, but their opponents repulsed this, and kept them on tli'e defensive for tho greater part of tho game. Elford initiated a rather good ran on tho left-wing, and centred accurately, but the ball was returned up-field, and a free-kick gave Swifts a good chance. Martin, however, saved the situation. From a break-away Swifts' forwards came along tho field 'well but again Martin saved. Swifts, however, came on onco more, and this time were successful in overcoming the defence. I—o. ■ ' ■ The second half opened' with a display of vigour on both sides, with Swifts slightly the more aggressive Richard got a rioat goal, and Macklin followed his example a moment lator. Tho three scores registered against them, galvanised Rovers into making a desperate rally, but it was too late, and tho match closed' with the scoro reading: Swifts, 3; Rovers, nil. Cliiof-Armourcr Hawkins, of H.M.-S. Psyche, was referee.

OTHER CRADES, THE SECOND DIVISION.: Following are- the results of the lower

grade matches played on Saturday afternoon:— Thistlo defeated Swifts by 4 goals to t. Cockburn scored threo goals for the winners and Stewart one. Kaiwarra defeated St. David's by 5 goals to 3. Kaiwarra defeated St. David's, u-3. Gosuey (2) and Nicol scored for the losers. Third Division. y.M.C.A. beat Marist by 7 goals to 3. Daubney (2), Henry (2"), Webb (2), and Henderson scored for tho winners, and Newman, Koirby, and a Y.M.C.A. piayon for Marist. South Wellington drew witTi St. David's, 3-3. Franiclin, M'Leod, and Tempest scored for the latter. Fourth Division. Brooklyn defeated Y.M.C.A by 2 goals to 0. Mauley and Adams scored. ■ Karori (4) v. Stars (2). J. Russell (1), H. Russell (2), and Hodge (1) scored for Karori. Marist (3) v. Island Bay (0). H. Marshall and A. Marshall scored, whilo an Island Bay player put tho third goal through. Institute (10) best Seafcoun (0). Brownloy (2), Paten (4), Haiversoir (1), Aamodfc (2), and Boreliurch (1) were tho scorers. Owing to the non-arrival of the- refereo the St. Da-vid's-Pctono match was not played. . Fifth Division. Marist A defeated Petono by 3 goals to 0, the, scorers being Hickey, Fitzgerald, and M&honey. Y.M.C.A. (7) v. Seatoun (0).. Karori (3) defeated Y.M.C.A. (0). The following scored:—Lissingtou, Foster, and J. Russell. . Island Bay drew with Mansts—no score. ' . , ... Wadestown (6) v. Congregational (0). D. Kaywotid (2), I/. Kaywood (1), B. Hughes (1), and' H. Hughes (2) scored tho goals. ■ . Sixth Division. Marist (Hawkestone) beat, Brooklyn by 7 to 0. Quinnell (3), fiollars (2), Taylor (1), and Costelloe (1) were tho scorers. Island Bay drew with Y.M.C.A., no score being registered: , ' fnstituto A beat South Wellington by 3 goals to 0. Pitt, M'Cabe, and Hart scored. .

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO. (By Telesraßh.-Presa Association.) Dunedln, April 25. The Otago and Canterbury representative Association football teams met on the Caledonian Ground, in the presence of 1000 spectators, to-day. In the nrst spell Otago faced abright sun, and Canterbury played against a strong breeze: Tho Canterbury forwards early showed clover tactics, but throughout the match their, shooting was ill-directed. Wα Otago forwards were less tricky, but had more dash and ehot with more- deadliness. In the first half, tho visitors had slightly the larger share of the attack, Otago worried the visitors with long, nard shots, and finally Campbell netted with a powerful one. This was the only score in the first half. The Dunedm men were tho first to make good in tho second spell. Liddell broke away fronv midfield and crossed well, Evans closing in and banging the - ball past Bennett. Otago, 2—o. The visitors wero aggressive for most of the spell, but within ten minutes of time had failed to score owing to faulty snooting and safe goalkeeping. THen catno sensational scoring for tho space of three minutes, Canterbury notching threo goals and led d— i. Taylor, by skilful efforts, brought off the first two scores; and Norman registered the third and: final by a long, hard drive.