Association Football. By Centre Forward.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 108, 26 July 1902, Page 23

Association Football. By Centre Forward.

Saturday «as an ideal da\ foi football. A light bieeze swept o'ei the giound, but did not mterfeie with the play, and only assisted playeis to keep cool during some veiy fast games. * » * That the Swifts should ha\ c won against Manst Old Boys is beyond question. The first half of the game was veiy evenly contested, and, if anything, was in Old Boys' fa\oui. With only one goal to their credit in the fust half, Old Boys' chances in the second half were of the ver\ worst In the second spell they seldom leached any advantageous position in Swifts' territory, whilst the latters' forwaids indulged in repeated bombardments at the Old Boys' goal mouth. The game unexpectedly lesulted in a draw, each side scoimg a goal. The result was due solely to the Old Boys' ''keep," who played a magnificent and creditable game. If a player of equal merit to those of Saturday in the Old Boys' team, excepting F itz" had the custody of the uprights, the score for the opposing side might have reached nigh on double figures. 'Mick" does his work in an unostentatious manner, and seldom, if ever, plays to the gallery- The amount of work he was called upon to do oan be gauged from the fact that play was in the Old Boys' twenty-five almost neaily all of the second spell. The Old Boys' team, as a whole, were lamentably weak, and their exhibition was considerably below any yet given, whilst Swifts were in the pink of condition, and even 7 man seemed ' as fit as a fiddle." It is, therefore, all the more suiprising that Swifts could not manage a win. The only player worth singling out for special mention in the Old Boys' team is "Tots" Earle. He effected many saves, and did the lion's share of the work. His assistant, Casey, was not a, brilliant success. Salmon, in goal for Swifts, had very little to do. The goal which was registered against him was from a penalty taken by McLeod. The shot was too stiff for a better man than Salmon to stop. White and Duff were very safe at full-back. White was not playing so consistently as in forer games. He repeatedly missed his kicks, and endangered his side on more than one occasion. However, his good play at times made up for his little faults Reynolds, left half, was the pick of the halves. His style of play is hard to equal among our local halves. He attacks and defends with eoual skill, a;nd has a thorough know ledge of the game. Phillips, in the centre of the foiuaul rick, played a pretty game, and effected some good passing dribbles At times he simply waltzed round the opposing forwards, and, but. for several mistakes made bv his wing mates, he might have done more creditably than he did. Jack and Hale played well togethei , but their passing was somew hat maccui-

ate They did not &eeni to co-opeiate with Phillips, although at times their individual play was brilliant. 'Dave" Isaacs, played a haid game, but wa,s inclined to be off-side too much. The same remark applies to Sin\th. Both were penalised foi this ofience at critical points, in the game. Isaacs is playing better than was expected, and if he continues in his present fine foim much moie will be heaid of him. The Queen's Paik-RoM>rs heat resulted m a decisne \ictoi\ for the foimer b tlnee goals to ml At half-time no seme was leeistoied on eithei side. Ro\eis should lia\ c scored m the first xpell as they had the sun and wind at then back but they missed opportunities whilst Oueen's Paik took every advantage. * * • With Amies, McWhannell and, abo^e all Kobei, absent fiom the St. John's team on Satuidav, it was expected Petone would "shake them up." But it was not so Although Petone had veteian Hawkins playing again, they failed to register a score, whilst St. John's managed to rest content with six, a particular failing of theirs. Jt * * In all senior games on Saturday, the want of training was apparent. Perhaps the only team which showed form or the effects. of training was the Swifts. No doubt, the absence from the turf , on account of wet weather, accounts for the poor exhibitions given, but that is no excuse for the apathy disnlaved by most clubsi and r>layers in that most inchspensible adjunct to success — training. Mr. W Smithvman who is an enthusiastic sportsman, and an ardent referee, m the Queen City of the North, canned the whistle in the RoversQueen's Park match on Saturday, and gave even 7 satisfaction. Pat" Hales should know the rules of the game ere this, and not "rush" a penalty kick. Many w ere the w onderings of both teams when "Jack" Macdonald whispered to Referee Leslie just as McLeod was about to take the penalty kick for Old Boys on Saturday To the witnesses it seemed peculiar, not to say incongiuous.

The " Labour Question " is, we know, A pioblem haid to solve, But if its piogiess is but slow, Results in time 1 evolve. But in the case of cold 01 cough, Results aie swift and sine, If we but take to duve them off Some Woods' Gki< \t Peppermint Curb