ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1919, Page 12

ASSOCIATION

(By ".Vanguard.")

The game between Porirua and Diamonds last week was a depressing one to watch, although the ; players seemed to enjoy themselves. The play was dead and quite devoid of any sting. Diamonds were certainly at a disadvantage in being two men short, but they did not use the right tactics under the circumstances. They played one back, Browning, but they did not play the one-back game, consequently Porirua were not discomfited, and were rarely offside. If a team, through force of circumstances, is compelled to play one back, they should make use of the certain advantages that occur in that style of play. The Diamonds, by showing more confidence in their back and. keeping well up the field, would have worried the Porirua defence a great deal more than they did. The Porirua defence had,a fairly easy time. W. Neera rarely had the pleasure of handling the ball, and Cross and Wallis, as backs, were never seriously troubled. The halves, Thompson, Rene, and Whitehouse were kept fairly busy, and performed well, but both Thompson and Whitehouse kick far too hard, and should use more judgment. The forwards were weak, collectively, and only on rare occasions was there any sign of combination. Hughes was too. well watched, and got very few opportunities. Riordan played a good game in the forwards, and was one of the few that put some life rnto the tame, although he is at times inclined to be a little too vigorous. H. Mungavin, making his last appearance, at least for this season, played' splendidly on the left wing, and made several grand runs.

Webster, in goal for Diamonds, did not j have a-great deal to do of a difficult nature, ■ although he saved one beauty ] from Hughes. Browning, at full-back, had more kicking to do than any other j player on the ground, and" got through | a heavy afternoon's work with much credit. Of the halves, Auld, at centre, played a splendid scientific -game, and was mainly responsible for " bottling " the local forwards. The forwards were good individually, but, like their opponents, did not show a great deal of combination j and naturally their efforts were not successful. O'Shea played well, and showed much of his old-time cleverness. A PRESENTATION. At the close of thePorirua-Diamond game, a pleasing function took place in the dresßing-rooms, when a presentation was made to H. Mungavin, who is leaving for Levin to take up farming. The presentation took the form of a gold medal, suitably inscribed, and was made by Mr. Windley on behalf of the Porirua Club. In the course of his remarks, the speaker referred to H. Mungavin's association with the Porirua Schoolteam a few seasons back, when the team established a world's record. His play of last season resulted in his being selected to represent Wellington against Canterbury in the Brown Shield game at Christchurch. He wished the player concerned every success in his new venture, and hoped he would not be entirely lost to Association football. In responding, Mr. Mungavin thanked his comrades, and said he would always remember the happy days both on and off _ the field. Soccer would always receive his support, and if the opportunity occurred he would again don the jersey. MARIST v. BROOKLYN. There were three outstanding features in the senior game, Marist v. Brooklyn, at the Basin Reserve last Saturday, the excellent gbalkeeping of Belhamie, the dash of the combined play of the Green forwards, and tbe number of opportunities lost by far too many Brooklyn players thro-gh their hesitation or inability to get off the mark. Belhamie's goalkeeping tuts been commented on previously, and*it is sufficient to write that Marist's score must have mounted up, probably into double figures, bub for his pretty work. Though Brooklyn forwards broke away on many ocdasions, the most prominent players being Kellaway, Loadsman, Manly, and Galloway, the Marist forwards had things much their own way throughout the game. Lowe and Carruthers played a great game, and the other three men, M'Elligott, Marshall, and Mooney, were little, if at all, behind in their showing. AU players have something to learn from M'Elligott's ■ neat dribbling rushes. Time after time hesitation for a second lor a fraction of a second resulted in | Brooklyn players being beaten for the leather, and very often the kicking was very wild. Of the backs, Bihg was the best of the Brooklyn defenders. Turner, too, played a nice game. Cashman and Thomas served the Marist forwards well, but Casey did not show up as he did on the previous Saturday. E. and M. Fitzgerald were not called upon to exert themselves unduly, and Hayes (in goal for Marist) played "passenger," not through any fault of his own, but because Brooklyn did not get near his goal at all during the first spell, and only on occasion during the eecond. An unfortunate position arose during the early part of the game, following a 12-yard penalty lack awarded Marist for '"hastds" directly in front of the Blues' goal. Brooklyn protested that the 12- ---. yard mark was short, and after a few moments' delay the referee moved1 the ball back a couple of yards or so. Lowe took the kick, and Belhamie returned. However, as Lowe-had not waited- for" tha whistle, the kick was disallowed. Naturally the spectators, whose sympathy was generally for Brooklyn, - raised somewhat of a fuss. The hall was replaced, and Lowe did the only thing possible under the circumstances—purposely miskicked and sent the ball well over the bar. That, by the way, was the first ocasion on which he had failed to find the net from a penalty this' season. He broke his average-, but did so in true sportsmanlike manner. Opinions among i players and spectators alike were divided as to whether th© referee should not have played the ground as marked in the first place. The Brooklyn team is not to be complimented on the manner in which _it takes the field. An assortment of white tennis shirts, white, blue and white, and1 blue jerseys does not improve the appear, ance of any eleven. INSTITUTE'S WIN. The Thistle v. Institute match, played at Association Park on Saturday, calls for little comment. As stated in The Post's report of the contest, the game was one of the most disappointing of the season, the display of Soccer being far bolow what it was expected to be. This, it is stated, was due to the strong breeze that was blowing, making accurate kicking an impossibility, and depriving players of that "control of the ball" whioh is so essential in the game. Institute had the satisfaction of being able to "down" Thistle by one goal to nil, thus getting even with the Blues for their victory over them by 3 goals to 2 when they previous-' ly met on the Basin Reserve. It is true that) the goal was only the result of a penalty, but it was' enough to win, and I am not 'at all sure that Institute secured tho honours of the day undeserved. Thistle's play was most disappointing. Their forwards did. not appear to possess the pace that is usually theirs, and 1 should say thai in this respect the Institute team was the superior. The back rlivieionft of befch towns, on thp othci' hand, were evenly; matched j both ehftw^d

by the results that their defence was unpenetratable in the ordinary way; there was little to pick and choose 'between them.

The Thistle team included two new players—Dick (an old " nineteen-four-teener," just returned from knocking out the Huns), who filled the role of centre forward, and Duncan, another old-timer, who discharged the duties of " goalie " in place of Eggerton, who is sick. Duncan proved to be an excellent substitute, displaying admirable initiative, which saved his side time and again. He "delivered the goods " all right.. Dick, however, did not seem thoroughly at home; it will probably take him some time to settle down before he oan give us of his best again. Edwards and Hart, outside and inside left respectively, played fair games. Of the backs M'Arthur and M'Kenzie, the "fulls," were never seen in better form, and did really well, while Reid, as centre half, was always up to the mark. M'Goram, left half, also generally showed that he was able to deal with the situation when occasion required. The Institute forward line is really a most formidable lot. They are excellent chargers, are nippy in everything they do, and, what is more important still, are judicious in their lacking. Their star performer on Saturday was Smith, the right wing, while Halley, on the left, was well up to his usual standard. They are a remarkable pair, these two, and their centring is a treat to watch. Porter and Houston, the insiders^ were responsible for much good work, while Lambert, as centre, was in his right place. The three half-hacks, Crane, M'Girr, and M* Arthur, were all in good form, as also were Bell and Wanden, the full-backs. Tarrant as usual was safe at goal. ■ "Vanguard" has received- the followin? letter from the hon, secretary of the Institute Club :—" In your notes of last Saturday you mentioned the fact that ' a good coach, who knew every point of the game and how; to utilise his material, would make Institute,a very dangerous combination.' Well,, Sir, my committee instructs me to inform you that the Institute team has at present' probably tho best coach in AVellington, a man who undoubtedly knows tho game in every detail, and whose experience has placed our teaml where it is topjay in the league championship. This gentleman's name is Mr. F. Ross, a man who has done more for Soccer in Wellington than anybody outside the association, and we think that your remarks are a bit of a slight to this gentleman, so if you would kindly publish this letter next Saturday it will probably set matters right."