Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 109, 2 August 1902, Page 25

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

The stift southerly wind, accompanied by intermittent rain during the closing stages of the games, on Saturday robbed them of mtei est to both, players and spectators. Swifts secured an easy win from Petone which team was without the valuable services of Bernsten in o-oal. Swifts played one man short, but had the best of the game all through. Drizzling rain made matters unpleasant. Asbury and H. Renah were the most Eromment of the Petone eleven, and luff. Isaacs, and Philips showed up A\ell for the Swifts^ team. * • • Rovers, who were playing several juniors, suffered a defeat at the hands of Diamonds. They were considerably handicapped by the absence of Kerr and Henderson. The young players shaped well, but the play was a trifle betterclass than they are wont to play, and, in consequence, they did not respond as readily as the absentees would have done. The Rovers had hard luck on more than one occasion. The ball struck tlie cross-bar once, and several times just grazed the uprights. They made numerous attempts to reach Diamonds' goal mouth, but the latters 1 defence •was 1 consistent enough to check their invasion. Long shooting was their only chance under the conditions, which they apparently did not recognise. Hathaway is developing into a persistent off-side player, and, to an onlooker, it would appear a habit of his — a bad one, too, for his team. Has the referee anything to do with enforcing tJi© laws of the game? Taylor and Pat on, for their respective sides played good games, and Godber's sterling defence for Rovers was most conspicuous. * * * The four players who deserted the Marist Old Boys on Saturday, and only

left them with seven men to fight a hard game a,t such a juncture of the senior competition, should have their names recorded as "no sports." Their absence is attributed to the Canterbury Wellington Rugby match. Thus seriously handicapped, the Old Boys made a brave stand against the Queen's Park team, and creditably pulled through with only two goals legistered against them. The seven players who faced the music against the well-equipped Park team deserve congratulation. In the first spell, when Queen's Park were taking full advantage of the wind, every man stood his ground, and defended in capital style. The wind disorganised the Park's team to a certain extent, and rendered futile their endeavour to reach their opponents' goal in the second half. # ♦ * The motion proposed by Mr. A. T£. Gibbs, at the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Association last w eek , relative to the mterprovmcial srames between Otago and Auckland this year, is practically the same as the Wellington delegate was instructed to support. The motion was to the effect that unless Otago fulfils the agreement contained in terms of the conference held in 1900, and approved for repetition this year by the New Zealand Association, Wellington will not visit Otago. Mr. Gibbs further added that if Otaao breaks faath with Auckland, the shield, now held by Otago, shall be awarded to Auckland. This arose out of Otago's intimation that they could not visit Auckland this year, but could only come as far as Wellington. The r&ason put forth was the desire of the Otago Association to nurchase a ground. The intention of the Otago Association is commendable, and shows their forward and progressive policy, but the interests! of the game, as a whole should not suffer for what seems to be the selfish disposition of the Otago centre. Their action may be followed bv another centre on another occasion and must naturally result in a deadlock between the centres and crush the inteiprovinoial games a fate which the New Zealand Association must do all in their

power to avert, and they have taken a sitep in the right direction in adopting Mr. Gibbs proposal. The scheme for interprovincial games which Mr. Roberts submitted to the New Zealand Association, will find its supporters and opponents. When the present system of intexprovinoial erames was suggested by Mr. M. Fraser, many looked at it with an unfavourable eye, and it is only natural to expect that a deviation from any usual course is likely to arouse discontent and disapproval. In short, the system as suggested by Mr. Roberts, is that the leading club in each centre should play each other. The only obstacle that presents itself is the despatch of the championship team. If the leading team cannot get away, or if only part of it is available, who will fill its place? However, we must await the decision and opinions of the other centres before proceeding further with the new scheme. * * ♦ The weekly smoke concerts, under the auspices of the Wellington Football Association, have been renewed. On Saturday evening, a ping-pong tournament will take place. During the evening, the Marist Old Boys' Club will contribute the programme.